Search

Search list matched with tags “class”

Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute

Why in News Recently, Assam-Mizoram border witnessed firing over a territory dispute, which spotlights the long-standing inter-state boundary issues...

20 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Ayushman Sahakar Scheme

Why in News The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched Ayushman Sahakar, a scheme to assist cooperatives in creation of healthcare...

20 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Rationalisation of Autonomous Institutions

Why in News The Ministry of Finance has recommended that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) “disengage”...

20 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Australia to Join Malabar Exercise

Why in News Recently, Australia has agreed to join the Malabar Exercise on India’s request. The exercise is scheduled to be held in November...

20 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Skinks of India

Why in News Recently, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) brought a study on skinks (a kind of lizard), titled Skinks of India. Key...

19 Oct 2020 News Analysis
10 Years of National Green Tribunal

This article is based on “The hues in the green tribunal’s resilient journey” which was published in The Hindu on 19/10/2020. It...

19 Oct 2020 News Editorials
Israel and Bahrain Diplomatic Ties

Why in News Bahrain and Israel are signing a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations, as well as a...

19 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Nobel Prize 2020

The Nobel Prizes regarded as the most prestigious awards given for intellectual achievement in the world are awarded annually from a fund bequeathed...

19 Oct 2020 Paper 2
Dolphins in Pearl River Estuary

Why in News According to a recent report, Chinese pink dolphins are making a comeback in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE). Indo-Pacific humpback...

19 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Pro-Democracy Protests in Thailand

Why in News Recently, Thailand’s government banned gatherings of more than five people in the face of three months of escalating...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Culture has issued guidelines for holding cultural events/activities in virtual/online mode under various...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Skewed Gender Ratio

This article is based on “The real population worry” which was published in The Indian Express on 17/10/2020. It talks about the...

17 Oct 2020 News Editorials
Atomic Hydrogen Content of Galaxies

Why in News In a significant discovery, the Pune-based Nationwide Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) and Raman Analysis Institute (RRI),...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Bioremediation Mechanism for Oil Spills

Why in News The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chnnai has developed an eco-friendly crude oil bioremediation mechanism technology...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Guidelines for Digital Media Regulation

Why in News Recently, the Centre has announced new guidelines for digital news platforms. Key Points New Guidelines: The government has put...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Bodoland Statehood Movement

Why in News A new organisation (All India Bodo People’s National League for Bodoland Statehood) has announced the revival of the Bodoland...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
India & its Sex Ratio

Why in News Recently, C Rangarajan (former Chairman, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council) argued that there is an urgent need to reach...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Global Hunger Index 2020

Why in News India has been ranked at 94 among 107 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020. Global Hunger Index Annual Report: Jointly...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
First 'Har Ghar Jal' State: Goa

Why in News Recently, Goa has become the first 'Har Ghar Jal' State in the country as it successfully provided 100% Functional Household Tap...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Increased Emissions of N2O

Why in News According to a recent research paper, human emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) have increased by 30% between 1980 and 2016. The...

17 Oct 2020 News Analysis

Warning (2): count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable [ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100]

Code Context


<?php if(count($updates)>0){?>
  <div class="updates">

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'searchlist' => [
		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Assam-Mizoram border</strong> witnessed firing over a territory dispute, which spotlights the <strong>long-standing inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast,</strong> particularly between Assam and the states which were carved out of it.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mizoram borders Assam&rsquo;s Barak Valley</strong> and the boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram is <strong>165 km</strong> long. <strong>Both states border Bangladesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603186135_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603186135_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="380" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ongoing Tussle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Residents of Lailapur village in <strong>Assam&rsquo;s Cachar district</strong> clashed with residents of localities near Vairengte in <strong>Mizoram&rsquo;s Kolasib district.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in October 2020, a similar clash took place on the border of <strong>Karimganj (Assam)</strong> and <strong>Mamit (Mizoram)</strong> districts.</li>
<li>Mizoram civil society groups blame <strong>&ldquo;illegal Bangladeshis&rdquo;</strong> (alleged migrants from Bangladesh) on the Assam side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The boundary issue between present-day Assam and Mizoram dates back to the <strong>colonial era when inner lines were demarcated according to the administrative needs of British Raj.</strong></li>
<li>The issue could not be settled once and for all when the <strong>state was created in independent India.</strong> The result is<strong> both states continue to have a differing perception</strong> of the border.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizoram was granted statehood in<strong> 1987</strong> by the <strong>State of Mizoram Act, 1986.</strong></li>
<li>Assam became a <strong>constituent state of India in 1950 and lost much of its territory to new states that emerged</strong> from within its borders between the early 1960s and the early 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assam-Mizoram dispute<strong> stems from a notification of 1875</strong> that <strong>differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar,</strong> and another of <strong>1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>During colonial times, <strong>Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills,</strong> a district of Assam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mizoram</strong> believes the <strong>boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875</strong> notification, which is derived from the <strong>Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizo leaders have argued in the past against <strong>the demarcation notified in 1933</strong> because Mizo society <strong>was not consulted.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation,</strong> and that is the point of conflict.</li>
<li>According to an agreement between the governments of Assam and Mizoram, the <strong>status quo should be maintained in no man&rsquo;s land</strong> in the border area.</li>
<li>In the Northeast&rsquo;s complex boundary equations, <strong>clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents are less frequent than they are between other neighbouring states of Assam,</strong> like with Nagaland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Boundary Issues in Northeast:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During British rule,<strong> Assam included present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya besides Mizoram,</strong> which became separate states one by one.</li>
<li>Currently, Assam has <strong>boundary problems with each of them.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Assam-Nagaland:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-state-actors-in-nagaland#:~:text=1963%3A%20Nagaland%20achieved%20statehood%20in%20December%201963." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagaland</strong></a> shares a <strong>500-km boundary</strong> with Assam.</li>
<li>It achieved <strong>statehood in December 1963</strong> and was <strong>formed out of the Naga Hills district of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh</strong> (then North-East Frontier Agency).</li>
<li><strong>Violent clashes and armed conflicts,</strong> marked by killings, have occurred on the Assam-Nagaland border since 1965.</li>
<li>The boundary dispute is in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assam-Arunachal Pradesh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both states have a <strong>boundary of over 800 km.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-mizoram-and-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong></a> was granted statehood by the <strong>State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986</strong> in<strong> 1987.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Clashes were first reported in 1992</strong> and since then, there have been several accusations of illegal encroachment from both sides, and intermittent clashes.</li>
<li>This boundary issue is also <strong>being heard by the Supreme Court.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assam-Meghalaya:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>884-km boundary</strong> between the two states also witnesses flare-ups.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-manipur-meghalaya-and-tripura#:~:text=On%20the%20Statehood%20Day%20of,(Reorganisation)%20Act%2C%201971." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Meghalaya</strong></a> came into existence as an autonomous state within the state of Assam in April 1970 comprising the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills districts. In <strong>1972, it got statehood.</strong></li>
<li>As per Meghalaya government statements, today there are <strong>12 areas of dispute between the two states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/assam-mizoram-border-clashes-union-home-secy-talks-to-top-state-officials-6790272/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assam-mizoram-border-dispute'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Ayushman Sahakar Scheme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare</strong> has launched <strong>Ayushman Sahakar,</strong> a scheme to <strong>assist cooperatives in creation of healthcare infrastructure</strong> in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Formulated By: National Cooperative Development Corporation</strong> (NCDC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCDC was <strong>set up under an Act of Parliament in 1963</strong> for promotion and development of cooperatives.</li>
<li>It functions under the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.</strong></li>
<li>Recent initiatives include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-cooptube-ncdc-channel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel</strong></a> (Youth-focussed), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-mitra-scheme-on-internship-programmehttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-mitra-scheme-on-internship-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sahakar Mitra</strong> </a>(Internship Programme), etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NCDC would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore</strong> in the coming years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any Cooperative Society with suitable provision in its byelaws to undertake healthcare related activities would be able to access the NCDC fund.</li>
<li>The<strong> scheme covers</strong> establishment, modernization, expansion, repairs, renovation of <strong>hospital</strong> and <strong>healthcare and education infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NCDC <strong>assistance will flow either through the State Governments/ UT Administrations or directly</strong> to the eligible cooperatives.</li>
<li>The scheme also provides <strong>working capital and margin money</strong> to meet operational requirements.</li>
<li>Further, the scheme provides<strong> interest subvention of 1% to women majority cooperatives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a <strong>comprehensive approach-</strong>hospitals, healthcare, medical education, nursing education, paramedical education, health insurance and holistic health systems such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-indian-system-of-medicine-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AYUSH</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has brought into focus the <strong>requirement of creation of more facilities.</strong></li>
<li>There are about 52 hospitals across the country run by cooperatives. They have cumulative bed strength of more than 5,000. The scheme would give<strong> a boost to provision of healthcare services by cooperatives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme<strong> aligns itself with the focus of the National Health Policy, 2017,</strong> covering the health systems in all their dimensions- investments in health, organization of healthcare services, access to technologies, development of human resources, encouragement of medical pluralism, affordable health care to farmers etc.</li>
<li>It is<strong> in line with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-digital-health-mission#:~:text=Health%20Expenditure%3A%20The%20policy%20proposes,23%20by%20the%20year%202025." target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Digital Health Mission</a></strong> and would bring transformation in rural areas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cooperatives have a strong presence in rural areas, thus, cooperatives utilizing the scheme would revolutionize the way healthcare delivery takes place in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cooperatives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organisation (ILO)</strong></a>, a cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Provisions of Indian Constitution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Constitution (97<sup>th</sup> Amendment) Act, 2011</strong> added a new <strong>Part IXB</strong> right after Part IXA (Municipals) regarding the cooperatives working in India.</li>
<li>The word &ldquo;cooperatives&rdquo; was added after &ldquo;unions and associations&rdquo; in <strong>Article 19(1)(c) under Part III of the Constitution.</strong> This enables all the citizens to form cooperatives by giving it the status of fundamental right of citizens.</li>
<li>A new <strong>Article 43B</strong> was added in the <strong>Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)</strong> regarding the &ldquo;promotion of cooperative societies&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1665800" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ayushman-sahakar-schemeq'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Rationalisation of Autonomous Institutions',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Finance has recommended</strong> that the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) &ldquo;disengage&rdquo; from five autonomous institutions</strong> working under it and <strong>merge two</strong> others, thus <strong>reducing the 16 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">autonomous organisations</a></strong> under the ministry<strong> to 9.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recommendations are a part of the report that has been <strong>prepared in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under rule 229 of General Finance rules 2017.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rule 229 pertains to &lsquo;General Principles for setting up of Autonomous Organisations&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The purpose of the report is to make specific and actionable recommendations for rationalisation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>autonomous bodies</strong></a> with a view to furthering the aim of<strong> &lsquo;minimum government, maximum governance,&rsquo;</strong> ensuring<strong> efficient use of public funds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations for MoEFCC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Disengagement</strong> from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sal-forest-tortoise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> (WII-Dehradun), <strong>Indian Institute of Forest Management</strong> (IIFM-Bhopal),<strong> Indian Plywood Industries Research &amp; Training Institute</strong> (Bengaluru), <strong>CPR Environmental Education Centre</strong> (Chennai) and <strong>Centre for Environment Education</strong> (Ahmedabad). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>&lsquo;Disengagement&rsquo; will involve<strong> two aspects - phasing out government support</strong> to the institution in a time-bound manner, <strong>disassociating from the management</strong> of the institutions and allowing the relevant industry/stakeholders to run them.</li>
<li><strong>Disengagement</strong> by the government <strong>with a three-year timeline</strong> and a <strong>gradual budget reduction of 25% each year</strong> is recommended.</li>
<li>Both<strong> WII</strong> and<strong> IIFM</strong> can be <strong>converted to deemed universities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Society of Integrated Coastal Management</strong> (New Delhi) should be merged with the <strong>National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management</strong> (Tamil Nadu), as both perform similar roles of promoting coastal management. This will <strong>avoid duplication</strong> of activities and <strong>attain economies of scale.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History</strong> (Tamil Nadu), which receives Rs. 14 crore annually from MoEFCC, should be merged with the ministry.</li>
<li><strong>Statutory bodies</strong> such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upgradation-and-expansion-of-zoos-in-ppp-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Zoo Authority</a> (CZA)</strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority</a> (NTCA)</strong>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Biodiversity Authority</strong></a> should continue to function under and with the financial support of MoEFCC.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These bodies should be encouraged to become &lsquo;self-financed&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appreciation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the <strong>first time ever that such an audit has been done</strong> of institutions which took around four years to get completed.</li>
<li>Making WII and other institutions into deemed universities will <strong>give more freedom to the institutions</strong> to initiate more courses and have enhanced faculties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The disengagement will make these institutions <strong>worry for financial issues rather than research,</strong> which should be their prime focus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The environment is a public issue and there must be good public institutions to safeguard it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s disengagement from these institutions is seen as <strong>&lsquo;the first step towards sending them into private hands&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the government feels that funds are not being utilised properly or the institutions are not performing well, their officials should be held accountable rather than taking the route of disengagement as this will have an impact on those students who dream of studying these specialised subjects but cannot afford the high fees charged by private universities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Steps:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the<strong> Ministry of Textiles</strong> has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-handloom-day-announcements-challenges-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>abolished the All India Handloom Board and the All India Handicrafts Board.</strong></a></li>
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for<strong> closure of Autonomous Bodies,</strong> namely, <strong>Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)</strong> and <strong>Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK)</strong> and the functions were proposed to be vested in Department of Health &amp; Family Welfare (DoHFW).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Autonomous Bodies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are <strong>set up</strong> whenever it is felt that certain functions need to be discharged outside the governmental set up with some amount of independence and flexibility without day-to-day interference of the Governmental machinery.</li>
<li>These are set up<strong> by the Ministries/Departments concerned with the subject matter</strong> and are funded through grants-in-aid, either fully or partially, depending on the extent which such institutes generate internal resources of their own. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <strong>grants are regulated by the Ministry of Finance</strong> through their instructions as well as the instructions relating to powers for creation of posts and etc.</li>
<li>The amount disbursed to autonomous/grantee bodies was Rs. 799.55 billion, which,<strong> in 2019-20, was increased</strong> to Rs. 943.84 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are mostly registered as societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and in certain cases they have been set up as statutory institutions under the provisions contained in various Acts.</li>
<li>These are a <strong>major stakeholder in the government&rsquo;s functioning</strong> as they are engaged in diverse activities, ranging from formulating frameworks for policies, conducting research, and preserving the cultural heritage, etc. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Institutes imparting technical, medical and higher education fall in this category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to review the governance of ABs, and devise uniform procedures. Many of ABs act as interfaces between the government and the public. Thus, each ministry should undertake a comprehensive review of ABs under their jurisdiction. ABs that have outlived the cause for which they were established may need to be closed or merged with a similar organisation or their memorandum altered as per the new charter.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-suggests-disengaging-wii-iifm-three-other-premier-green-institutions-6793717/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rationalisation-of-autonomous-institutions'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Australia to Join Malabar Exercise',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Australia has agreed to join the Malabar Exercise</strong> on India&rsquo;s request. The exercise is scheduled to be held in November 2020.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Malabar Exercise</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>annual trilateral naval exercise</strong> between the navies of <strong>India, Japan, and the USA</strong> which is held <strong>alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.</strong></li>
<li>It began as a <strong>bilateral <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-8th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">naval exercise</a></strong> between <strong>India and the USA in 1992</strong> and was expanded into a trilateral format with the<strong> inclusion of Japan in 2015.</strong></li>
<li>The Exercise is <strong>aimed to support free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific</strong> and remain committed to a <strong>rules based international order.</strong></li>
<li>It is<strong> also aimed at interoperability</strong> with an emphasis on humanitarian assistance, surface war manoeuvres, anti-submarines warfare, counter-terror operations, gunnery training and aerial surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>2020 Malabar Exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2020 Exercise is expected to be held in the<strong> Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.</strong> In 2019, the exercise was conducted off the coast of Japan.</li>
<li>Due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> the exercise had been planned in a <strong>&lsquo;non-contact - at sea&rsquo; format.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Its objective</strong> is to enhance safety and security in the maritime domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Australia&rsquo;s Inclusion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The issue of Australia&rsquo;s inclusion in Malabar had again come up for discussion at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quad</strong></a> foreign ministers meet in Tokyo held in October 2020. Thereafter, India invited Australia to join the Exercise.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Quad</strong> is the informal strategic dialogue between India, the USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a <strong>free, open and prosperous&rdquo; Indo-Pacific region.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The move will bolster the ability of India, Australia, Japan and the United States to work together to<strong> uphold peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.</strong></li>
<li>It is also expected to further lay the foundations for the eventual <strong>formalisation of the Quad grouping.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite regular requests from Australia, India resisted issuing the invitation due to its concerns that the move would give the appearance of a<strong> &lsquo;quadrilateral military alliance&rsquo;</strong> aimed at China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2017, Australia had requested for observer status in the Malabar Exercise.</li>
<li>China has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to any expansion of the Malabar Exercise, which it sees as a multilateral naval construct designed to &ldquo;counter and contain&rdquo; it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-China tensions</strong></a> over the situation at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aksai-chin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong> </a>(LAC) may have brought more flexibility to India's decision making process.</li>
<li><strong>Japan and the U.S.A also have been pressing India</strong> for Australia&rsquo;s inclusion in Malabar Exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Cooperation Between Quad Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Japan had signed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-logistics-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>military logistics agreement</strong></a> in September, 2020.</li>
<li>India has signed maritime information sharing agreements for <strong>Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)</strong> with Australia and Japan and a similar agreement is under discussion with the U.S.A.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>MDA</strong> is defined by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/international-maritime-organization-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Maritime Organization</strong> </a>as the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of a country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India and U.S.A. are also stepping up efforts to conclude the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement</a> (BECA)</strong> ahead of the <strong>Indo-US 2+2 ministerial meeting</strong> on 26-27 October, 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BECA, a key military pact, will allow India to use U.S.A.&rsquo;s geospatial intelligence and enhance accuracy of automated systems and weapons like missiles and armed drones.</li>
<li>BECA is one of the <strong>four foundational military communication agreements</strong> between the two countries. The other three being <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GSOMIA, LEMOA, CISMOA.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>GSOMIA:</strong> General Security Of Military Information Agreement</li>
<li><strong>LEMOA:</strong> Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement</li>
<li><strong>CISMOA:</strong> Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Defence and Foreign ministers of the two countries will Participate at the 2+2 ministerial meeting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As India seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain, high-end military exercises like Malabar are key to enhancing maritime capabilities, building interoperability with its close partners, and demonstrating its collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.</li>
<li>The fast-tracking of work on BECA and the decision of the four Quad countries to participate in the Malabar Exercise are perceived to be a strategic signal to an aggressive China.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/australia-to-join-malabar-naval-exercise-next-month/article32892277.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-join-malabar-exercise'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Skinks of India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)</strong> brought a <strong>study on skinks (a kind of lizard),</strong> titled <strong>Skinks of India.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092421_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092421_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Skinks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With 1,602 species of skinks across the world, It is the <strong>largest family of lizards,</strong> having long bodies, relatively small or no legs, no pronounced neck and glossy scales.</li>
<li>It is found around homes, garages, and open spaces such as sparks and school playgrounds, and around lakes.</li>
<li>Skinks are <strong>non-venomous, highly alert, agile and fast moving</strong> and actively <strong>forage for a variety of insects and small invertebrates.</strong></li>
<li>They have a <strong>prominent role in maintaining ecosystems,</strong> however, <strong>not much is known about their breeding habits, and ecology</strong> because identification of the species can be confusing.</li>
<li>In India <strong>skinks are found in all kinds of habitats</strong> in the country, from the Himalayas to the coasts and from dense forests to the deserts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gives a<strong> phylogenetic</strong> (evolutionary development) and <strong>bio-geographical analysis</strong> of distribution of these species in all the <strong>11 bio-geographic zones of India.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092732_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092732_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="320" height="453" /></a></strong></li>
<li>India is <strong>home to less than 4% of the skinks</strong> across the globe. <strong>62 species of skinks</strong> are found in India and about 57% of them <strong>(33 species) are endemic.</strong></li>
<li>India is home to <strong>16 genera of skinks, four of which are endemic.</strong> The four genera of skinks are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Sepsophis:</strong> Sepsophis punctatus is endemic to the northern part of Eastern Ghats</li>
<li><strong>Barkudia:</strong> They are limbless skinks found in the hills and coastal plains of the eastern coast.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Barkudia insularis</strong> is believed to be found only in the Barkud Island in Chilka lake in Odisha.</li>
<li><strong>Barkudia melanosticta</strong> is endemic to Visakhapatnam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kaestlea:</strong> They are also known as <strong>blue-tailed ground skinks</strong> and are endemic to the Western Ghats.</li>
<li><strong>Ristella:</strong> They are also known as <strong>Cat skinks</strong> and endemic to the southern part of Western Ghats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Zoological Survey of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization of the<strong> Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change </strong>was <strong>established in 1916.</strong></li>
<li>It is a national centre for<strong> faunistic survey</strong> and exploration of the resources leading to the <strong>advancement of knowledge</strong> on the exceptionally <strong>rich faunal diversity of the country.</strong></li>
<li>It has its<strong> headquarters at Kolkata</strong> and 16 regional stations located in different geographic locations of the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/celebrating-skinks-zsi-lists-62-species-in-india/article32886528.ece#:~:text=A%20recent%20publication%20by%20the,(33%20species)%20are%20endemic." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skinks-of-india'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => '10 Years of National Green Tribunal',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-hues-in-the-green-tribunals-resilient-journey/article32887705.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The hues in the green tribunal&rsquo;s resilient journey&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 19/10/2020. It talks about the benefits and associated challenges with the National Green Tribunal.</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> is one of the few dedicated environmental courts in the world. The jurisdiction of NGT has an all-encompassing scope, which covers forests, wildlife, environment, climate change and coastal protection.</p>
<p>Since its inception, the NGT has protected vast acres of forest land, halted polluting construction activities in metros and smaller towns. It has protected the rights of tribal communities and ensured the enforcement of the &ldquo;polluter pays&rdquo; principle in letter and spirit.</p>
<p>Within its decade of existence, the NGT has delivered some important judgments and has given a new outlook to environmental jurisprudence in India. However, there are several challenges that act as a roadblock in efficient functioning of the NGT.</p>
<h3>Genesis of NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>M.C. Mehta &amp; Anr. Etc vs Union Of India &amp; Ors. Etc (1986) case:</strong> The then Chief Justice of India, Justice P.N. Bhagwati had suggested setting up Environmental Courts because:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to more cases involving issues of environmental pollution, ecological destruction and conflicts over natural resources.</li>
<li>Increasing need for assessment and evolution of scientific and technical data regarding environmental matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A.P. Pollution Control Board vs Prof. M.V. Nayudu (1999) case:</strong> The Supreme Court in the landmark case, emphasised on the need for a court that was &ldquo;a combination of a Judge and Technical Experts&rdquo; with an appeal to the Supreme Court from the Environmental Court.</li>
<li><strong>Establishment of NGT:</strong> The NGT was established on 18<sup>th</sup> October, 2010 under the <strong>National Green Tribunal Act 2010</strong> for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.</li>
<li>The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Judgment Given By NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the<strong> Almitra H Patel Vs Union of India case,</strong> it directed states to implement Solid Waste Management Rules and prohibited open burning of waste on lands.</li>
<li>In 2012, NGT suspended the clearance given to the South Korean steel maker, POSCO, to set up a 12 million-tonne steel plant in Odisha.</li>
<li>In the<strong> Save Mon Federation Vs Union of India case,</strong> the NGT suspended a ₹6,400-crore hydro project, to save the habitat of a bird.</li>
<li>A December 2016 amendment to EIA 2006 notification &mdash; the amendments basically sought to give local authorities powers to grant environmental clearance to builders &mdash; was nullified by the NGT, terming it as a &ldquo;ploy&rdquo; (by the government) to circumvent the 2006 rules.</li>
<li>Many Projects which were approved in violation of the law such as an Aranmula Airport, Kerala; Lower Demwe Hydro Power Project and Nyamnjangu in Arunachal Pradesh; mining projects in in Goa; and coal mining projects in Chhattisgarh were either cancelled or fresh assessments were directed.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Dedicated Court For Environmental Matters:</strong> NGT ensures enforcement of any legal right relating to the environment and provides relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the burden on the High Courts and the Supreme Court is also reduced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Allows Specialization:</strong> NGT is staffed with judges and environmental experts. This makes it a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NGT also employs legal and scientific methods and assessed environment impact assessment reports before deciding the case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wider Reach:</strong> The quality of time spent on these issues could also be increased as, unlike the Supreme Court, the tribunal could have benches in various States, thereby increasing access to all citizens.</li>
<li><strong>Time Bound Disposal of Cases:</strong> The Tribunal is mandated to make an endeavor for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit to Jurisdiction:</strong> Two important acts - <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/without-land-or-recourse-scheduled-tribes-and-other-traditional-forest-dwellers-recognition-of-forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006</strong> </a>have been kept out of NGT&rsquo;s jurisdiction. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This restricts the jurisdiction area of NGT and at times hampers its functioning as the crucial forest rights issue is linked directly to the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Obstacle to Development:</strong> Decisions of NGT have also been criticised and challenged due to their repercussions on economic growth and development.</li>
<li><strong>Looming Vacancies:</strong> NGT only has three judicial and three expert members against the sanctioned strength of 10 each.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lack of human and financial resources has led to high pendency of cases - which undermines NGT&rsquo;s very objective of disposal of appeals within 6 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Additional Layer to Judicial Process:</strong> NGT was conceptualised to ease out the burden on the higher courts. However, the Supreme Court in L Chandrakumar case, opined that Tribunals could not be effective substitutes of High Courts under Articles 226 and 227. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This eventually leads to cases reaching the judiciary by way of appeal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limited Regional Benches:</strong> NGT being located in only big cities spread across India. However, environmental exploitation is also taking place in the tribal areas of dense forest. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, the justice delivery mechanism is also hindered by a limited number of regional benches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of Regional Benches:</strong> NGT benches have to expand manifolds. These new regional benched should have been based in a place that has the highest forest cover or large mineral deposit.</li>
<li><strong>System of Larger Bench in NGT:</strong> Appeal may be provided against the order of the NGT before a larger Bench of the Tribunal before the matter reaches to the Supreme Court or High Court.</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Administrative Inadequacy:</strong> Vacancies in NGT, needs to be filled as soon as possible.</li>
<li><strong>Collaborative Approach:</strong> There is a need for the central and state governments to work in collaboration with the NGT for balancing between environment &amp; economy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NGT should also identify institutions and experts who can help it to scientifically estimate environmental damages/compensation/fines on a case-to-case basis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the present era, equilibrium between development and environment is of utmost importance.</p>
<p>Therefore, NGT should not be seen as an not been seen as obstacle to development but a way to sustainable development&ldquo;. Thus, the government must address all underlying issues related to NGT as soon as possible.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #a600ff; background-color: #fffbeb;">
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given a new outlook to environmental jurisprudence in India. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/10-years-of-national-green-tribunal'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Israel and Bahrain Diplomatic Ties',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Bahrain and Israel are signing a <strong>joint communique</strong> on the establishment<strong> of diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations,</strong> as well as a number of <strong>memorandums of understanding</strong> in areas of mutual benefit.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603101908_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603101908_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bahrain has a history of open politics and civil society movements, although rights have been curtailed in the past decade.</li>
<li>The decision to normalise ties comes from the belief in the values of tolerance in a region whose people have suffered from wars and conflicts.</li>
<li>The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain became only the third and fourth Arab states to agree to normalise ties with Israel, following Israel&rsquo;s <strong>1979</strong> peace deal with Egypt and a <strong>1994</strong> pact with Jordan.</li>
<li>Under the deal, <strong>Israel would suspend its plans to annex large parts of the occupied <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/west-bank-settlements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Bank</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The West Bank is<strong> sandwiched between Israel and Jordan.</strong> One of its major cities is <strong>Ramallah,</strong> the <strong>de facto administrative capital of Palestine.</strong></li>
<li>Israel took control of it in the<strong> Six-day Arab-Israeli war, 1967</strong> and has over the years established settlements there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on the USA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the second deal in 2020 after the Israel-UAE Peace Deal brokered by the USA. The recognition<strong> grants a diplomatic win</strong> to the USA President Donald Trump ahead of the Presidential election.</li>
<li>The deal buys UAE a lot of <strong>goodwill in the US,</strong> where its image has been tarnished by its involvement in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ceasefire-in-yemen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Yemen war</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Saudi Arabia</strong> made clear that it will not normalise ties without a resolution to the Palestinian issue despite signs of rapprochement.</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For Palestine:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Palestinians have not embraced the USA&rsquo;s vision. 86% of Palestinians believed the normalization agreements with the UAE and Bahrain served only Israel&rsquo;s interests and not their own.</li>
<li>For Palestinians, who long have relied on Arab backing in their struggle for independence, the announcement <strong>marked both a win and setback</strong> for the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/israel-palestine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Israel-Palestine relations.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While the deal <strong>halts Israeli annexation plans of the west Bank,</strong> the Palestinians have repeatedly <strong>urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement</strong> establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shia-Sunni rifts</strong> in the region may get wide and violent.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (representing Shia) have a long history of enmity. For decades, one of the main sources of instability in West Asia has been the cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.</li>
<li>The Sunni-Shiite schism may also provoke violence between Muslims in such places as Pakistan, Nigeria and Indonesia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Interest in West Asia:</strong> A peaceful and prosperous West Asia is necessary for India. Such deals between Arab Countries and Israel are having a positive impact for Indian interests in the region. Also, difficulty in balancing Arab countries and Israel will become easy. Indian interests include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Geopolitical:</strong> West Asia occupies an important position in international relations due to its geographical location and proximity to continents and countries South Asia, China, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa.</li>
<li><strong>Energy:</strong> The region is strategically significant due to its enormous energy resources, trade route links to different parts of the world.</li>
<li>It is the world's largest oil-producing region accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of crude oil exports and 48% of oil proven reserves.</li>
<li><strong>Diaspora:</strong> Indian expatriates have constituted a substantial share of the regional labour market.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Remittances from the region constitute a major chunk of total remittances to India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A balance between <strong>Shia and Sunni,</strong> between Iran and Arab, is key to any sustainable peace.</li>
<li>The US may be a pre-eminent power in the Middle East, but Russia has made a space for itself, spending a lot less money. In recent years, China has indicated its willingness to play a larger role in this region.</li>
<li>India should make its moves before this market and this extended neighbourhood come under the Chinese sphere of influence.</li>
<li>A deal that could, if played right, open the doors for a changed geopolitical arrangement in the Middle East should have a stronger Indian footprint.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-and-bahrain-to-formalise-diplomatic-ties/article32887549.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-and-bahrain-diplomatic-ties'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Nobel Prize 2020',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<p>The Nobel Prizes regarded as the most prestigious awards given for intellectual achievement in the world are awarded annually from a fund bequeathed for that purpose by the Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is announced every year for excellence in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Economics, and a distinguished achievement towards humanity &ndash; commonly known as the Nobel Peace Prize.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Physiology/Medicine</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Nobel Prize has been awarded to American medical researchers and virologists <strong>Harvey J Alter</strong> and<strong> Charles M Rice,</strong> and British scientist<strong> Michael Houghton</strong> for the discovery of Hepatitis C which was discovered in 1982 by screening millions of DNA samples.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The discovery of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-hepatitis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Hepatitis C</strong></a> virus revealed the cause of the remaining cases of chronic hepatitis and made possible blood tests and new medicines that have saved millions of lives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hepatitis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hepatitis refers to an <strong>inflammatory condition of the liver.</strong></li>
<li>It&rsquo;s commonly caused by a<strong> viral infection,</strong> but there are other possible causes of hepatitis like autoimmune responses, medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol.</li>
<li>There are 5 main <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-hepatitis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hepatitis</strong> </a>viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-hepatitis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Hepatitis Day</strong></a> is observed each year on 28<sup>th</sup> July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Hepatitis C is caused by the <strong>Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first, (hepatitis A), is transmitted by polluted water or food and generally has little long-term impact on the patient.</li>
<li>The second type is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids and represents a much more serious threat since it can lead to a chronic condition.</li>
<li>This form of hepatitis is insidious, as otherwise healthy individuals can be silently infected for many years before serious complications arise.</li>
<li>It is transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids, typically through injection drug use and sexual contact.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Physics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-in-physics-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize in Physics</strong></a> for the year 2020 was awarded to three astrophysicists <strong>Roger Penrose</strong> from the UK, <strong>Reinhard Genzel</strong> from Germany, and<strong> Andrea Ghez</strong> from the USA.</li>
<li>Roger Penrose received half of this year&rsquo;s prize for the discovery that a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/blacl-holes-dark-matter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>black hole</strong></a> formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The theory explains gravity, as objects try to follow a straight line through a universe whose geometry is warped by matter and energy. As a result, planets, as well as light beams, follow curving paths.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Genzel and Ghez received the second half of the prize for the discovery of a <strong>supermassive black hole</strong> at the centre of the Milkyway galaxy, now known to be the Sagittarius A*. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a mass four million times that of the Sun and is confined to an area roughly the size of our Solar System.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is a black hole?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term &lsquo;black hole&rsquo; was coined in the mid-1960s by American Physicist <strong>John Archibald Wheeler.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Black hole refers to a point in space where matter is so compressed as to create a gravity field from which even light cannot escape.</li>
<li>Black-holes were<strong> theorized</strong> by <strong>Albert Einstein</strong> in 1915.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>All the black holes observed so far belong to two categories:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One category ranges between a few solar masses and tens of solar masses. These are thought to form when massive stars die.</li>
<li>The other category is of supermassive black holes. These range from hundreds of thousands to billions of times that of the sun from the Solar system to which Earth belongs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In April 2019, the scientists at the Event Horizon Telescope Project released the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-images-of-a-black-hole" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> first-ever image of a Black Hole</strong></a> (more precisely, of its shadow).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The image was made possible by the Event Horizon Telescope which is a group of 8 radio telescopes (used to detect radio waves from space) located in different parts of the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intermediate-mass-black-hole" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gravitational waves</strong></a> are created when two black holes orbit each other and merge.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Chemistry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Emmanuelle Charpentier</strong> of France and <strong>Jennifer A Doudna</strong> of the USA have been awarded the 2020 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize</strong> </a>in Chemistry for developing CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors, one of gene technology&rsquo;s sharpest tools.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is for the first time a Nobel science prize has gone to a women-only team.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors</strong> can be used to change the<strong> deoxyribonucleic acid</strong> (DNA) of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The CRISPR/Cas9 tool has already <strong>contributed to significant gains in crop resilience,</strong> altering their genetic code to<strong> better withstand drought and pests.</strong></li>
<li>The technology has contributed to new<strong> cancer</strong> therapies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>CRISPR Technology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CRISPR (short for <strong>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats</strong>) technology for gene-editing was first developed in 2012.</li>
<li>It makes gene sequencing very easy, simple and extremely efficient providing nearly endless possibilities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Editing, or modifying, gene sequences is not new and has been happening for several decades now, particularly in the field of agriculture, where several crops have been genetically modified to provide particular traits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The technology replicates a natural defence mechanism in Streptococcus pyogenes that use a similar method to protect itself from virus attacks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A DNA strand, when broken, has a natural tendency to repair itself but the auto-repair mechanism can lead to the re-growth of a problematic sequence.</li>
<li>Scientists intervene during this auto-repair process by supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes, which replaces the original sequence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Peace</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/food-crisis-amid-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Programme</strong> </a>(WFP), a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong> </a>(UN) agency, for its efforts to combat hunger, bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and preventing the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The WPF is the UN&rsquo;s primary agency that works upon <strong>Eradicating Hunger</strong> which is one the UN&rsquo;s <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals.</strong></a></li>
<li>The WFP provided assistance to close to 100 million people in 88 countries who are victims of acute food insecurity and hunger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>WFP in India:</strong> It has been working in India since 1963 where it has focused upon reforms in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Targeted Public Distribution System</strong> </a>(TPDS) and provided policy inputs, advocacy and technical assistance for improving access to food.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The WFP has proposed unique initiatives like <strong>Automatic Grain Dispensing Machine (Annapurti)</strong> and<strong> Mobile Storage Units</strong> for the effective implementation of TPDS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Food Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1961 by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food and Agriculture Organisation</a> (FAO)</strong> and the<strong> United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)</strong> and became a full-fledged UN programme in 1965.</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> Rome, Italy.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Economic Sciences</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>American economists, <strong>Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson</strong> have been awarded the <strong>Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences,</strong> 2020 for their work on commercial auctions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The award is <strong>popularly but incorrectly</strong> known as Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, (as it is not one of the five Nobel prizes that Alfred Nobel established in his will in 1895, it is not a Nobel Prize).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was created in 1968 by a donation from Sweden's central bank Sveriges Riksbank to the<strong> Nobel Foundation to commemorate the bank's 300<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> and includes a <strong>10 million Swedish kronor award money</strong> (₹8.33 crores roughly).</li>
<li>Milgrom and Wilson improved the auction theory and invented new auction formats for auctioning off many interrelated objects simultaneously, on behalf of a seller motivated by broad societal benefit rather than maximal revenue.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Robert Wilson</strong> developed the theory for auctions of objects with a common value &ndash; a value which is uncertain beforehand but, in the end, is the same for everyone.</li>
<li><strong>Paul Milgrom</strong> formulated a more general theory of auctions that not only allows common values, but also private values that vary from bidder to bidder.</li>
<li>Their work will benefit <strong>sellers, buyers and taxpayers</strong> around the world. It will help in auctioning goods and services, such as<strong> radio frequencies,</strong> which are difficult to sell in traditional ways.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Auction Theory</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Auction theory studies how auctions are designed, what rules govern them, how bidders behave and what outcomes are achieved.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Auctions are important to economists because they are the most widely used and also the <strong>most efficient mechanism to allocate scarce resources.</strong></li>
<li>The allocation of scarce resources, in turn, matters to economists because there is a limited supply of resources on earth when compared to unlimited human needs, and hence they need to be allocated only to the most urgent needs of society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Application of auction:</strong> Auctions happen almost everywhere in the modern world. Even the sale of groceries in retail stores is based on an auction, albeit an implicit one that is relatively slow to adjust to changing market conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The oldest form of auction is the auction of a bankrupt person&rsquo;s property to pay off his creditors. This simple design of such an auction is the highest open bidder getting the property (or the commodity in question).</li>
<li><strong>Allocation of capital good:</strong> More sophisticated and explicit auction mechanisms are used in the allocation of capital goods such as spectrum and minerals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Over time, the format of auctions has widened to include other commodities such as carbon dioxide emission credits, electricity or the right to collect the local garbage etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For e.g.</strong> a supermarket manager, just as an auctioneer, tries to price his goods based on how much of it is sold during a certain day, week, or month. If there is a huge demand for a certain product and shelves empty quickly, the supermarket manager will raise its price to prevent a shortage. If another product fails to sell as fast as expected, its price may be lowered in order to clear any unsold inventory.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>But whether it is the auction of spectrum waves or the sale of fruits and vegetables, auctions are at the core of allocation of scarce resources in a market economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Auction models:</strong> Different auction models are needed for depending upon the commodities, purpose of the auction and the entities conducting the auction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For e.g.</strong> Maximizing the profit may be the motive of a private auction while making a service affordable can be the purpose of auctioning a service by the government. Wrong auction design can lead to a second-hand market where companies trade among themselves with little revenue accruing to the government or little benefit to the public.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>How an auction is designed, has a tremendous impact not just on the buyers and the sellers but also on the broader society.</li>
<li><strong>Key variables:</strong> Three key variables need to be understood while designing an auction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rules of Auction</strong> i.e. closed/sealed bids, single bids versus multiple bids.</li>
<li><strong>Commodity or service</strong> being put up for auction i.e. how does each bidder value an item.</li>
<li><strong>Uncertainty</strong> regarding which bidder has what information about the object, or even the value another bidder associates with the object.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Literature</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Nobel Prize in Literature 2020 has been awarded to the USA poet <strong>Louise Gl&uuml;ck</strong> "for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal."<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Her poetry focuses on the painful reality of being human, dealing with themes such as death, childhood, and family life.</li>
<li>She is the fourth woman to win the prize for literature since 2010, and only the 16<sup>th</sup> since the Nobel prizes were first awarded in 1901.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Nobel Prize comes with a medal and a prize sum of 10 million Swedish kronor.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Contribution of Indians</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Poet and writer <strong>Rabindranath Tagore</strong> was the <strong>first non-European and Indian</strong> to get a Nobel Prize in 1913 in literature.</li>
<li>India received its first Nobel Prize in physics in 1930, when scientist Sir <strong>Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman</strong> was awarded &ldquo;for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him&rdquo;. This phenomenon is now known as Raman Effect.</li>
<li><strong>Har Gobind Khorana</strong> shared his 1968 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine with Robert W Holley and Marshall W Nirenberg. The trio was honoured <strong>&ldquo;for their interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Mother Teresa</strong> won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. She was a Roman Catholic nun who was born in Albania. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata and worked all her life for the poor. She became an <strong>Indian citizen</strong> as well. She received the prize for her &ldquo;work in bringing help to suffering humanity&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Indian physicist <strong>Subramanyan Chandrasekhar</strong> was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics, which he shared with physicist William Alfred Fowler. He was awarded <strong>&ldquo;for theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of the stars&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Amartya Sen</strong> was the winner of the 1998 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences. He was rewarded &ldquo;for his contributions to welfare economics&rdquo;.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s first Nobel Prize in the field of chemistry was won by <strong>Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.</strong> He received the 2009 Nobel Prize<strong> &ldquo;for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome&rdquo;.</strong> He shared the award with Thomas A Steitz and Ada E Yonath.</li>
<li><strong>Kailash Satyarthi,</strong> along with Malala Yousafzai, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. He received the honour &ldquo;for the struggle against the suppression of children and young people, and for the right of all children to education.&rdquo;</li>
<li>The Indian-American economist <strong>Abhijit Banerjee</strong> was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics along with Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer. The trio received the award for their<strong> &ldquo;experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.&rdquo;</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/nobel-prize-2020'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Dolphins in Pearl River Estuary',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a recent report, <strong>Chinese pink dolphins</strong> are making a comeback in the <strong>Pearl River Estuary</strong> (PRE).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins</strong> are also known as <strong>Chinese white dolphins or pink dolphins,</strong> reflecting the colour of their skin.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pearl River Estuary:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes <strong>Hong Kong, Macau as well as the mainland Chinese cities</strong> of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dongguan. Around 22 million people live in the area.</li>
<li>The <strong>Pearl River Delta,</strong> the low-lying area surrounding the PRE where the Pearl River flows into the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a>, is one of the world&rsquo;s <strong>most densely urbanised, heavily industrialised and busiest shipping lanes</strong> on Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603099617_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603099617_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Current Scenario and Reasons Behind:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dolphins use<strong> echolocation</strong> to find their way in the water and the ships often disturb them in finding their way and even kill them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Echolocation</strong> is a technique used by bats, dolphins and other animals to<strong> determine the location of objects using reflected sound.</strong></li>
<li>This allows the animals to move around in pitch darkness, so they can navigate, hunt, identify friends and enemies, and avoid obstacles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, dolphin numbers in the waters between Hong Kong and Macau have seen a rebound in 2020 because<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has <strong>stopped ferries and hence reduced their traffic.</strong></li>
<li>The number of pink dolphins in the waters has <strong>roughly increased by a third</strong> according to scientists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603099917_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603099917_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Sousa Chinensis.</em></li>
<li><strong>Habitat Range:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Its total range is in coastal waters<strong> from central China southward throughout Southeast Asia</strong> and<strong> westward to the Bay of Bengal,</strong> with highest densities in and around estuaries.</li>
<li>The distribution is <strong>fragmented</strong> such that these dolphins are apparently<strong> absent from fairly long stretches of coastline.</strong> It is not always clear whether the fragmentation is &lsquo;natural&rsquo; or caused by human activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/living-planet-report-wwf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Wildlife Fund for Nature</strong></a> (WWF) says the population in the PRE is believed to be around 2,500, but falling numbers of young could reduce numbers in future.</li>
<li>They have <strong>seen a decline in their numbers in the past 15 years by 70-80%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Agricultural, industrial, and urban pollution.</li>
<li>Overfishing.</li>
<li>Marine construction including bridge-building and land creation for airport expansion and residential/office development.</li>
<li>Transport including fast ferries.</li>
<li>Selling into captivity at marine &ldquo;entertainment&rdquo; parks and aquariums worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Loss of suitable habitat, the mortality of dolphins from entanglements and vessel strikes, and the possible effects of chemical, sewage and noise pollution on their health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN</strong> </a>Status: <strong>Vulnerable.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/global-eco-watch-chinese-pink-dolphin-numbers-rise-in-pearl-river-estuary-73842#:~:text=Chinese%20pink%20dolphins%20are%20making,of%20Shenzhen%2C%20Guangzhou%20and%20Dongguan." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dolphins-in-pearl-river-estuary'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Pro-Democracy Protests in Thailand',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Thailand&rsquo;s government banned gatherings of<strong> more than five people</strong> in the face of <strong>three months of escalating demonstrations</strong> that have targeted the <strong>King</strong> as well as the <strong>Prime Minister.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602937058_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602937058_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Initially, the government allowed peaceful and lawful protests but now stringent control, due to anarchy in protests.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The roots of the current discontentment go back to the <strong>2014 coup</strong> which brought the <strong>junta (military dictatorship)</strong> in power which tightened its grip on power and introduced more and more restrictions on the public.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>2017,</strong> the military introduced a <strong>new Constitution,</strong> which allowed the military to appoint a <strong>250-member Senate</strong> that would play a role in selecting the <strong>Prime Minister.</strong></li>
<li>The country held the <strong>delayed Parliamentary</strong> election in<strong> 2019,</strong> which was seen as a mere exercise to transfer power from the junta to an elected government.</li>
<li><strong>Role of Monarchy:</strong> Thailand&rsquo;s royal family has considerable influence over the country&rsquo;s political system and is revered by citizens. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Many, particularly young Thais, have increasingly started questioning the monarchy&rsquo;s role, its privileges, and the power it has exerted in the country for years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Latest Cause:</strong> Anti-government protests emerged last year after courts banned the most vocal opposition party. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This political party was relatively new, and had been formed in 2018, with the goals to restrain the military&rsquo;s powers and interference in the political spectrum and to tackle social and economic inequality in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Protest:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the protestors are students and young people in their 20s. There is<strong> no overall leader.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Key Groups:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Free Youth Movement,</strong> which was behind the first major protest in July.</li>
<li>The <strong>United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration,</strong> a student group from Bangkok&rsquo;s Thammasat University, which has championed calls for monarchy reform.</li>
<li>The<strong> Bad Student Movement</strong> of high-schoolers, which seeks education reform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demands:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reforms to the Monarchy:</strong> Students submitted 10 demands to the government, asking for a separation of the King&rsquo;s assets and the Crown Property Bureau (quasi-government institution to manage the monarch's property in Thailand).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They also wanted to cut the Palace&rsquo;s share in the national budget, a ban on the King from expressing his political views, and safeguards to prevent him from endorsing future coups.</li>
<li>Some protesters <strong>want to reverse a 2017 increase in the king&rsquo;s constitutional powers,</strong> made the year after he succeeded his widely revered late father King Bhumibol Adulyadej.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Lese Majeste Laws:</strong> The monarchy is protected by<strong> Section 112 of the Penal Code,</strong> which says whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent shall be jailed for three to 15 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This law has remained virtually unchanged since the creation of the country's first criminal code in 1908, although the penalty was toughened in 1976.</li>
<li>Protesters also seek the scrapping of<strong> lese majeste laws.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pro-democracy activists</strong> say that Thailand is backtracking on the constitutional monarchy established when absolute royal rule ended in<strong> 1932.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, the monarchy is too close to the army and argue that this has undermined democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Demands:</strong> The students have also called for the Prime Minister&rsquo;s resignation; a new Constitution; fresh, free and fair elections; and an end to attacks on dissidents and opposition parties such as the Future Forward Party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The democratic voice must be heard in Thai Protests not merely a promise of superficial democracy. For India also, it is a critical time to observe the outcome of the protest but wiser is to engage constructively with the regime in regard to democracy and human rights.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/thailand-protests-explained-6734960/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pro-democracy-protests-in-thailand'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Culture has issued guidelines for<strong> holding cultural events/activities in virtual/online mode</strong> under various scheme components of <strong>Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana</strong> (KSVY).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> and the resultant<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lockdowns</strong></a> have had a substantial <strong>impact on the performing arts and cultural sector</strong> with in-person exhibitions, events, and performances either cancelled or postponed.<strong> Example: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/behrupiya-folk-artiste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Behrupiyas</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The guidelines will <strong>enable artists to avail benefits under KSVY</strong> even if they are not able to stage programs in the physical format as before and will <strong>ensure continued financial assistance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana</strong> (KSVY) is an <strong>umbrella scheme</strong> under the Ministry of Culture for the <strong>promotion of art and culture</strong> in the country.</li>
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>central sector scheme.</strong></a></li>
<li>The ministry implements <strong>many schemes under KSVY,</strong> where the grants are sanctioned/approved for holding programs/activities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Scheme of Financial Assistance for Creation of Cultural Infrastructure.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-national-list-of-intangible-cultural-heritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage</strong></a>, which aims to promote the <strong>13 intangible cultural heritage of India,</strong> recognised by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization</strong></a> (UNESCO).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602936681_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602936681_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1665035" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kala-sanskriti-vikas-yojana'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Skewed Gender Ratio',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/population-fertility-rate-sex-ration-india-6758043/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The real population worry&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 17/10/2020. It talks about the worrisome trend in the decline of sex ratio at birth in India.</p>
</div>
<p>The recently released <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/population-explosion-and-fertility-rates#:~:text=Total%20Fertility%20Rate&amp;text=The%20latest%20estimates%20(for%202017,the%20end%20of%20childbearing%20age." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical report (2018)</strong> </a>which measures the global population projection, highlighted that fertility rate has been declining in India for some time now.</p>
<p>The report estimated that India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/population-explosion-and-fertility-rates#:~:text=Total%20Fertility%20Rate&amp;text=The%20latest%20estimates%20(for%202017,the%20end%20of%20childbearing%20age." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Total Fertility Rate</strong> </a>(TFR) was around 2.2 in the year 2018, which is close to the replacement rate of 2.1. This clearly marks the success of government measures to bring population control.</p>
<p>However, on flip side the SRS report highlights the declining sex ratio at birth in India that has further got reduced from 906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-the-world-population-2020-unfpa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of World Population 2020</strong></a> held that sex ratio at birth in India is lower than all the countries in the world except China.</p>
<p>Therefore, along with stabling of population , government and society needs to address the declining sex ratio and subsequenlty gender discrimination.</p>
<h3>Reasons For Skewed Sex Ratio</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gender Bias:</strong> According to information from the UNPFA, reasons for female infanticide include anti-female bias, as women are often seen as subservient to men, who often employ positions of power.</li>
<li><strong>Son-Preference:</strong> In addition, parents believe they will be better taken care of in their old age by men, as men are perceived as the principal wage earners of the family.</li>
<li><strong>Social Practices:</strong> Parents of girls are usually expected to pay a dowry, which could be a massive expense, avoided by raising males.</li>
<li><strong>Counter Effect of Rise in Income:</strong> Contrary to popular perception, in India&rsquo;s sex ratio at birth declined even as per capita income increased nearly 10 times over the last 65 years, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This could be because rising income, which results in increased literacy, makes it easier for families to access sex-selective procedures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Lower Sex ratio at Birth</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gender-imbalance:</strong> Prof. Amartya Kumar Sen, in his world famous article <strong>&ldquo;Missing Women‟</strong> has statistically proved that during the last century, 100 million women have been missing in south Asia.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is due to discrimination leading to death, experienced by them <strong>from womb to tomb in their life cycles.</strong></li>
<li>An adverse child sex ratio is also reflected in the distorted gender makeup of the entire population.</li>
<li>Acording to World Bank, in 2031, India will have 936 females per 1,000 males, lower than the sex ratio in 1951 of 946 females per 1,000 males.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Distortion in the Marriage System:</strong> Adverse ratio results in a gross imbalance in the number of men and women and its inevitable impact on marriage systems as well as other harms to women.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, some villages in Haryana and Punjab have such poor sex ratios that men <strong>&ldquo;import&rdquo; brides</strong> from other States. This is often accompanied by the exploitation of these brides.</li>
<li>There are concerns that skewed sex ratios lead to more violence against both men and women, as well as human-trafficking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bringing Behavioural Change:</strong> Increasing female education and economic prosperity help to improve the ratio. In this pursuit, The government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-its-sex-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Beti-Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign</strong></a> has achieved remarkable success in bringing behavioural change in the society.</li>
<li><strong>Sensitizing Youth:</strong> There is an urgent need to reach young people for reproductive health education and services as well as to cultivate gender equity norms.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Regarding the services of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)</strong></a> can be leveraged, especially in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stringent Enforcement of Law:</strong> India must implement the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pre-conception-and-pre-natal-diagnostic-techniques-pcpndt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994</strong></a> more stringently and dedicate more resources to fighting the preference for boys.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/medical-equipment-notified-as-drugs#:~:text=Drugs%20Technical%20Advisory%20Board%20is,related%20to%20drugs%20and%20cosmetics." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drugs Technical Advisory Board decision</strong></a> to include ultrasound machines in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Although India has created several impressive goals to reduce its population growth rates, India and the rest of the world has a long way to go to achieve meaningful population policy which are not only based on quantitative control but qualitative control as well.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602934862_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602934862_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-color: #ff0000; border-style: dotted; background-color: #f0ffed;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In view of the complexity of son meta-preference resulting in gender-biased sex selection, government actions need to be supplemented by improving women&rsquo;s status in the society. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZiKwdIpY_eY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/the-coal-to-methane-path-to-low-carbon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The coal-to-methane path to low-carbon&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Economic Times on October 14<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/skewed-gender-ratio'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Atomic Hydrogen Content of Galaxies',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In a significant discovery, the Pune-based <strong>Nationwide Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) and Raman Analysis Institute (RRI),</strong> Bengaluru have used the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-telescope-spots-distant-radio-galaxy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)</strong></a> to measure the <strong>atomic hydrogen</strong> content (of 8 billion years ago) of galaxies when the universe was young.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will <strong>help in unveiling the reason behind declining star formation in the Milky Way</strong> in the present time.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Study:</strong> For the first time the atomic hydrogen gas content of star forming galaxies for a past date (about 8 billion years ago) was measured with the help of the upgraded GMRT.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike stars which emit light strongly at optical wavelengths, the atomic hydrogen signal lies in the radio wavelengths, at a wavelength of 21 cm, and can only be detected with radio telescopes.</li>
<li><strong>Stacking:</strong> This 21 cm signal is intrinsically very weak, to overcome this limitation, the team used a technique called &ldquo;stacking&rdquo; to combine the 21 cm signals of nearly 8,000 galaxies that had earlier been identified with the help of optical telescopes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This method measures the average gas content of these galaxies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Discovery:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Galaxies in the universe are made up mostly of gas and stars, with gas being converted into stars throughout the life of a galaxy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Understanding galaxies requires us to determine how the amounts of both gas and stars change with time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The star formation activity in galaxies peaked about 8-10 billion years ago (galaxy was young) and has been declining steadily till today.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The cause of this decline was unknown as there had been no <strong>information regarding the amount of atomic hydrogen gas &mdash;</strong> the <strong>primary fuel for star formation</strong> &mdash; in galaxies in these early times.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The observed decline in star formation activity could thus be explained by the exhaustion of the atomic hydrogen. Given the intense star formation in these early galaxies, their atomic gas would be consumed by star formation in just one or two billion years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GMRT is an array of <strong>thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45 metre diameter.</strong> It is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. It is an<strong> indigenous project.</strong></li>
<li>It functions at the <strong>metre wavelength part of the radio spectrum</strong> because <strong>man-made radio interference is considerably lower</strong> in this part of the spectrum in India and there are <strong>many outstanding astrophysics problems</strong> which are best studied at metre wavelengths.</li>
<li>Detecting the 21 cm signal from the most distant galaxies in the universe was the main science goal of the GMRT, when it was designed and built by a team led by the late pioneering astrophysicist <strong>Govind Swarup</strong> in the 1980s and 1990s.</li>
<li>The big jump in sensitivity was due to the upgrade of the GMRT with new wide band receivers and electronics in 2017.</li>
<li>The<strong> location</strong> for GMRT, Pune meets several important criteria such as <strong>low man-made radio noise,</strong> availability of <strong>good communication,</strong> vicinity of <strong>industrial,</strong> educational and other infrastructure and, a geographical latitude sufficiently north of the geomagnetic equator in order to have a reasonably quiet ionosphere and yet be able to observe a good part of the southern sky as well.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-telescope-spots-distant-radio-galaxy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atomic-hydrogen-content-of-galaxies'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Bioremediation Mechanism for Oil Spills',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chnnai</strong> has developed an<strong> eco-friendly crude oil bioremediation mechanism technology</strong> using consortia (group of two or more species) of marine microbes<strong> wheat bran (WB)</strong> immobilized <strong>(microbes controlled degradation)</strong> on agro-residue bacterial cells.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Wheat bran</strong> is the hard outer layer of the <strong>wheat</strong> kernel. It's stripped away during the milling process.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Eco-friendly Crude Oil Bioremediation Mechanism Technology</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bioremediation:</strong> It can be defined as any process that uses microorganisms or their enzymes to remove and or<strong> neutralize contaminants within the environment to their original condition.</strong></li>
<li>In the marine ecosystem, deep sea<strong> hydrocarbonoclastic</strong> (ability to degrade hydrocarbon) microbial consortium plays an important role in breaking down <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oil-spill-in-siberia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>oil in the event of a spill.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The microbial community serves as <strong>energetic primary degraders</strong> of a complex mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons into various aldehydes, ketones and acidic metabolites.</li>
<li>These hydrocarbon degrading bacteria don&rsquo;t depend on hydrocarbons for survival, but have a metabolic mechanism where they use petroleum products as<strong> carbon and energy source</strong> and thus, help cleaning up oil spills.</li>
<li>The <strong>complete breakdown and degradation</strong> of crude oil is achievable using <strong>wheat bran marine bacterial consortia</strong> (which are <strong>low-cost non-toxic</strong> agro-residues) in an environmentally sustainable manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages of Immobilized State:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are more <strong>effective in their immobilised state</strong> than the free bacteria cells in degrading the oil spills. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They could remove 84% of the oils within 10 days. The free bacterial cells degraded a maximum of 60% of the crude oil at optimised conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are more<strong> versatile and resistant</strong> to adverse conditions.</li>
<li>They have<strong> efficacy in treating accidental bulk discharge of oil</strong> in marine environments through non-toxic clean-up technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Oil Spill</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> accidental/uncontrolled release</strong> of crude oil, gasoline, fuels, or other oil by-products into the environment. Oil spills can pollute land, air, or water, though it is mostly used for oceanic oil spills.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oil-spill-in-mauritius" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MV Wakashio spill off Mauritius</strong></a> &mdash; about 1,000 tonnes of oil spilled into a sanctuary for rare wildlife after the Japanese ship struck a coral reef in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cause:</strong> They have become a major environmental problem, chiefly as a result of <strong>intensified petroleum exploration and production</strong> on continental shelves and the transport of large amounts of oils in vessels.</li>
<li><strong>Measure: Cleaning</strong> up of the oil spillage from the oceans <strong>without damaging the marine ecosystem</strong> is becoming an increasingly challenging task.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Containment Booms:</strong> Floating barriers, called booms are used to restrict the spread of oil and to allow for its recovery, removal, or dispersal.</li>
<li><strong>Skimmers:</strong> They are devices used for physically separating spilled oil from the water&rsquo;s surface.</li>
<li><strong>Sorbents:</strong> Various sorbents (e.g., straw, volcanic ash, and shavings of polyester-derived plastic) that absorb the oil from the water are used.</li>
<li><strong>Dispersing agents:</strong> These are chemicals that contain surfactants, or compounds that act to break liquid substances such as oil into small droplets. They accelerate its natural dispersion into the sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/natural-disasters/microbes-to-fight-oil-spillage-in-oceans-indian-scientists-devise-new-technology-73828" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bioremediation-mechanism-for-oil-spills'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Guidelines for Digital Media Regulation',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Centre has announced <strong>new guidelines</strong> for <strong>digital news platforms.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>New Guidelines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has put emphasis on compliance to the <strong>26% <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-foreign-direct-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Direct Investment</a> (FDI)</strong> cap under the government approval route in digital media.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>26% FDI through the government approval route in the digital media sector was brought in 2019. FDI in print media is capped at 26%, and that in TV news is 49%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The majority of the directors on the company&rsquo;s board, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company would have to be an<strong> Indian citizen.</strong></li>
<li>All foreign employees working for more than 60 days would need <strong>security clearance.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the government denies or withdraw security clearance, the digital media company will ensure that the concerned person resigns or his/her services are terminated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government has given a year to digital media news entities to align their shareholding with these requirements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Application:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The guidelines will be applicable to the following categories of entities registered or located in India: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Digital media entities</strong> which streams/uploads news and current affairs on websites, apps or other platforms.</li>
<li><strong>News agency</strong> which gathers, writes and distributes/transmits news, directly or indirectly, to digital media entities and/or news aggregators.</li>
<li><strong>News aggregator,</strong> an entity which uses software of web applications to aggregate news content from various sources, such as news websites, blogs, podcasts, video blogs, user submitted links, etc in one location.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be considering in the near future to extend the following benefits, presently available to traditional media (print and TV), to digital media entities also:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Press Information Bureau (PIB) accreditation</strong> for its reporters, cameramen, videographers enabling them with better first-hand information and access including participation in official press conferences and such other interactions.</li>
<li>Persons with PIB accreditation can also avail <strong>Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) benefits and concessional rail fare.</strong></li>
<li>Eligibility for digital advertisements through the Bureau of Outreach and Communication.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Similar to self-regulating bodies in print and electronic media, <strong>entities in digital media can form self-regulating bodies</strong> for furthering their interests and interaction with the Government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Threat of fake news, propaganda vehicles, foreign influence</strong> and <strong>interference in India&rsquo;s domestic affairs is more real than ever,</strong> particularly from <strong>India&rsquo;s hostile neighbours like China and Pakistan.</strong></li>
<li>The guidelines could help the government in <strong>tightening the noose on Chinese and other foreign companies</strong> who are making investments in digital media in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI is an <strong>investment made by a firm or individual</strong> in one country into business interests located in another country.</li>
<li>Generally, FDI takes place when an investor establishes foreign business operations or acquires foreign business assets, including establishing ownership or controlling interest in a foreign company.</li>
<li>It is different from <strong>Foreign Portfolio Investment</strong> where the foreign entity merely buys equity shares of a company. FPI does not provide the investor with control over the business.</li>
<li><strong>Routes</strong> through which India gets FDI:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Automatic Route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the RBI.</li>
<li><strong>Government route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity has to take the approval of the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal</strong> (FIFP) facilitates the single window clearance of applications which are through approval route.</li>
<li>This portal is administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/digital-media-news-aggregators-agencies-need-to-comply-with-26-fdi-cap-govt-6757990/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/guidelines-for-digital-media-regulation'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Bodoland Statehood Movement',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A <strong>new organisation</strong> (All India Bodo People&rsquo;s National League for Bodoland Statehood) has announced the <strong>revival of the Bodoland statehood movement</strong> ahead of the elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Bodos:</strong> These are the<strong> single largest community among the notified <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduled Tribes</a> in Assam.</strong> Part of the larger umbrella of<strong> Bodo-Kachari,</strong> the Bodos <strong>constitute about 5-6% of Assam&rsquo;s population.</strong></li>
<li><strong>About Bodo Statehood Movement:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1967-68: First organised demand</strong> for a Bodo state came under the banner of the political party <strong>Plains Tribals Council of Assam. </strong></li>
<li><strong>1986:</strong> The armed group Bodo Security Force arose, which subsequently renamed itself <strong>&lsquo;National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)&rsquo;,</strong> an organisation that is known to be involved in attacks, killings, and extortions. It later split into factions.</li>
<li><strong>1987:</strong> All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) renewed the demand.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>fallout of the Assam Movement (1979-85),</strong> whose culmination - <strong>the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-clause-6-of-assam-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Assam Accord</a></strong> - addressed the demands of protection and safeguards for the &ldquo;Assamese people&rdquo;, leading the Bodos to launch a movement to protect their own identity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1990s:</strong> Indian <strong>security forces launched extensive operations against the NDFB,</strong> causing the latter to flee to bordering Bhutan. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In Bhutan, the group faced stiff<strong> counter-insurgency operations</strong> by the Indian Army and the Royal Bhutan Army in the early 2000s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Interventions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1993 Bodo Accord:</strong> The ABSU-led movement from 1987 culminated in a 1993 Bodo Accord, which paved the way for a <strong>Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC),</strong> but ABSU withdrew its agreement and renewed its demand for a separate state.</li>
<li><strong>2003 Bodo Accord:</strong> In 2003, the second Bodo Accord was signed by the extremist group Bodo Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF), the Centre and the state. This led to the <strong>Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BTC is an <strong>autonomous body under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ladakh-under-sixth-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sixth Schedule</a></strong> of the Constitution.</li>
<li>The<strong> area under the jurisdiction of BTC</strong> was called the<strong> Bodo Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2020 Accord:</strong> The Central government signed a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bodo-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tripartite agreement</strong></a> with the state government and different Bodo groups, including four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), for a &ldquo;permanent&rdquo; solution to the Bodo issue. Some <strong>features:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602928645_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602928645_image2.png" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for<strong> &ldquo;alteration of area of BTAD&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;provisions for Bodos outside BTAD&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>BTAD was renamed Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).</strong></li>
<li>It provides for <strong>more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers</strong> to BTC.</li>
<li>Provision for <strong>rehabilitation of surrendered militants of NDFB</strong> and bringing<strong> a special development package of Rs. 1,500 crore</strong> for the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Present Revival of the Bodoland Statehood Movement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the new organisation, the new (2020) accord has been a <strong>betrayal of the Bodo people.</strong> Besides being an<strong> inferior accord,</strong> it <strong>prescribes a reduction of the area currently under the BTC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The accord has a provision for excluding from the BTR villages with more than 50% non-Bodos and including villages with more than 50% Bodo people left out of the BTC map after the 2003 accord.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>signatories of the accord will be under pressure</strong> to find a way out to ensure the successful implementation of the accord. Support of relevant organisations will be required.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>the opposition to the latest accord voiced by organisations of non-Bodo communities,</strong> including Koch-Rajbangshis, Adivasis and religious and linguistic minorities, has given rise to fears that if their grievances are not addressed, the ethnic fault lines in Assam will deepen. Thus, the accord&rsquo;s success will lie in the stakeholders working out a <strong>power-sharing arrangement</strong> in the BTR that <strong>privileges equity over hegemony.</strong></li>
<li>Peace will continue to be fragile in Assam&rsquo;s Bodo heartland until an <strong>all-inclusive power sharing and governance model</strong> is evolved under the<strong> provisions of the Sixth Schedule.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/new-group-to-revive-bodoland-statehood-stir/article32871458.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bodoland-statehood-movement'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'India & its Sex Ratio',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, C Rangarajan (former Chairman, Prime Minister&rsquo;s Economic Advisory Council) argued that there is an urgent need to reach young people <strong>both for reproductive health education and services </strong>as well as <strong>to cultivate gender equity norms.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>His arguments are based on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/declining-sex-ratio-and-fertility-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sample Registration System</strong></a> <strong>(SRS) Statistical Report (2018)</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-the-world-population-2020-unfpa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) State of World Population 2020.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>SRS Report</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SRS is the <strong>largest demographic sample survey</strong> in the country that among other indicators provide direct estimates of <strong>sex ratio, fertility rate etc.</strong> through a nationally representative sample.</li>
<li>It is brought by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decline-in-maternal-mortality-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Office of Registrar General</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>United Nation Population Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UNFPA is <strong>aimed at improving reproductive and maternal health</strong> worldwide. It is headquartered in <strong>New York.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sex Ratio at Birth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Biologically normal sex ratio at birth is 1,050 males to 1,000 females or<strong> 950 females to 1,000 males.</strong></li>
<li>The SRS Report 2018 shows that sex ratio at birth in India, <strong>declined marginally from 906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sex ratio is measured as the number of females per 1,000 males.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>UNFPA State of World Population 2020 estimated the sex ratio at birth in India as 910,</strong> which is on the lower side of index.</li>
<li>This is a cause for concern because this adverse ratio results in a gross imbalance in the number of men and women and its inevitable impact on marriage systems as well as other harms to women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Total Fertility Rate (TFR):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to SRS Report 2018, TFR has been declining in India for some time now. It <strong>declined from 2.4 to 2.2 during the period between 2011 and 2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2011, 10 states had a fertility rate<strong> below the replacement rate.</strong> This increased to 14 states in 2020.</li>
<li>Fertility is likely to continue to decline and it is estimated <strong>that replacement TFR of 2.1 would soon be reached for India</strong> as a whole.</li>
<li><strong>TFR</strong> is the number of children a mother would have at the current pattern of fertility during her lifetime.</li>
<li><strong>Replacement rate</strong> is the average number of children born per woman&mdash;at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Many people believe that the population would stabilise</strong> or begin to reduce in a few years once replacement fertility is reached.</li>
<li><strong>However, this is not so</strong> because of the <strong>population momentum effect,</strong> a result of more people entering the reproductive age group of 15-49 years due to the<strong> past high-level of fertility.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For instance, the replacement fertility level was reached in Kerala around 1990, but its annual population growth rate was 0.7% in 2018, nearly 30 years later.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Regressive Mindset:</strong> There is <strong>considerable son preference</strong> in all states, except possibly in <strong>Kerala and Chhattisgarh.</strong> This son&rsquo;s preference is derived from a regressive mindset. <strong>E.g.:</strong> People associate girls with dowry.</li>
<li><strong>Misuse of Technology:</strong> Cheaper technology like ultrasound helps in sex selection.</li>
<li><strong>Failure in Implementation of Law:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revoke-order-weakening-pcpndt-act-aidwa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prenatal Conception and Prenatal Determination Act (PC-PNDT), 1994</strong></a> which punishes healthcare professionals for telling expectant parents the sex of a child with imprisonment and hefty fines, has failed to control the sex selection.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reports found<strong> major gaps in the training of personnel implementing PC-PNDT.</strong> Poor training meant that they were <strong>unable to prepare strong cases against violators</strong> to secure convictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Illiteracy:</strong> Illiterate women in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years have higher fertility than literate women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiative- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The sharp decline in <strong>sex ratio</strong> as pointed by Census 2011 data called for urgent action. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme was launched in 2015 in Panipat, Haryana <strong>to address the issue of decline in child sex ratio</strong> and related issues of empowerment of girls and women over a life cycle continuum.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>triministerial effort</strong> of the ministries of Women and Child Development, Health &amp; Family Welfare and Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions Made:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing <strong>female education and economic prosperity</strong> will help to improve the ratio.</li>
<li>Rollout campaigns on <strong>sensitisation towards women and children,</strong> making <strong>women safety cells,</strong> ensuring the<strong> safety of women on public transport systems,</strong> making <strong>cyber-crime cells</strong> are some other initiatives that need to be taken.</li>
<li>In view of the complexity of son preference resulting in gender-biased sex selection, government actions need to be supplemented by <strong>improving women&rsquo;s status in the society.</strong></li>
<li>Reaching out to young people could reduce the effect of population momentum and accelerate progress towards reaching a more normal sex-ratio at birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite several policies and programmes, lower health outcomes for women and girl children still persist in India. Certain forms of discrimination, especially the son preference, reinforced by the techno-economic forces are eliminating the girl child (even from the womb).</li>
<li>Effective implementation of the existing women- and children-related policies, including<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-verdict-on-hindu-women-s-inheritance-rights#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20(SC,(Amendment)%20Act%2C%202005." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> women's property ownership</strong></a>, are required to empower women, to ensure girl child's survival, and to reduce gender gap in access to healthcare.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-ideas-why-india-must-urgently-step-up-efforts-to-improve-its-sex-ratio-6758099/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-its-sex-ratio'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Global Hunger Index 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India</strong> has been <strong>ranked at 94 among 107 countries</strong> in the <strong>Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Hunger Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Annual Report:</strong> Jointly published by <strong>Concern Worldwide</strong> and <strong>Welthungerhilfe.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was <strong>first produced in 2006.</strong> It is <strong>published every October.</strong> The<strong> 2020 edition</strong> marks the<strong> 15<sup>th</sup> edition of the GHI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels.</li>
<li><strong>Calculation:</strong> The <strong>GHI scores</strong> are calculated each year to assess progress and setbacks in combating hunger. It is calculated on the basis of<strong> four indicators:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Undernourishment:</strong> Share of the population with <strong>insufficient caloric intake.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Child Wasting:</strong> Share of children under age five who have<strong> low weight for their height,</strong> reflecting acute undernutrition.</li>
<li><strong>Child Stunting:</strong> Share of children under age five who have <strong>low height for their age,</strong> reflecting chronic undernutrition.</li>
<li><strong>Child Mortality:</strong> The mortality rate of children <strong>under the age of five.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scoring:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Based on the values of the four indicators, the GHI determines hunger on a <strong>100-point scale</strong> where<strong> 0</strong> is the<strong> best possible score</strong> (no hunger) and 100 is the worst.</li>
<li>Each country&rsquo;s GHI score is<strong> classified by severity,</strong> from low to extremely alarming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Worldwide Hunger:</strong> Represented by a <strong>GHI score of 18.2</strong> (moderate level), <strong>down from a 2000 GHI score of 28.2</strong> (serious).</li>
<li><strong>Factors:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20(WHO,31st%20December%2C%202019)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <strong>pandemic</strong> and the <strong>resulting economic downturn,</strong> as well as a <strong>massive outbreak of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/locusts-appeared-early-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">desert locusts</a></strong> in the Horn of Africa and other crises, are <strong>exacerbating food and nutrition insecurity</strong> for millions of people.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>2020 GHI scores do not reflect the impact of Covid-19</strong> on hunger and undernutrition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The above mentioned crises come on top of <strong>existing hunger</strong> caused by <strong>conflict, climate extremes,</strong> and<strong> economic shocks</strong> (random, unpredictable events).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Region-wise Performance: Africa South of the Sahara</strong> and<strong> South Asia</strong> have the <strong>highest hunger and undernutrition levels</strong> among world regions, with 2020 GHI scores of 27.8 and 26.0, respectively&mdash;both considered serious.</li>
<li><strong>SDG 2 Progress:</strong> The<strong> world is not on track to achieve the second <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goal</a></strong> - known as <strong>Zero Hunger</strong> for short -<strong> by 2030. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Overall Performance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With a <strong>score of 27.2,</strong> India has a level of hunger that is<strong> &ldquo;serious&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> ranks 94 out of 107 countries</strong> in the Index. In <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-hunger-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2019</strong></a>, India&rsquo;s rank <strong>was 102 out of 117 countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison with Other Countries: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India features behind</strong> Nepal (73), Pakistan (88), Bangladesh (75), Indonesia (70) among others.</li>
<li>Out of the total 107 countries, <strong>only 13 countries fare worse than India</strong> including countries like Rwanda (97), Nigeria (98), Afghanistan (99), Liberia (102), Mozambique (103), Chad (107) among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance on the Indicators:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Undernourishment: 14%</strong> of India&rsquo;s population is undernourished (2017-19). It was 16.3% during 2011-13.</li>
<li><strong>Child Wasting:</strong> 17.3% (2015-19), it was 15.1% in 2010-14.</li>
<li><strong>Child Stunting:</strong> 34.7%, it has improved significantly, from 54% in 2000 to less than 35% now.</li>
<li><strong>Child Mortality:</strong> 3.7%, it was 5.2% in 2012.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602922105_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602922105_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="262" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Some Related Initiatives by India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-edition-of-eat-right-mela" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eat Right India Movement</a>:</strong> An outreach activity organised by the <strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong> for citizens to nudge them towards eating right.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>POSHAN Abhiyaan</strong></a>: Launched by the <strong>Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2018,</strong> it targets to <strong>reduce stunting, undernutrition, anemia</strong> (among young children, women and adolescent girls).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana</strong></a>: A <strong>centrally sponsored scheme</strong> executed by the <strong>Ministry of Women and Child Development,</strong> is a <strong>maternity benefit programme</strong> being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1<sup>st</sup> January, 2017.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/milk-fortification-project#:~:text=Food%20Fortification%20or%20Food%20Enrichment,to%20improve%20their%20nutritional%20content." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Fortification</strong></a>: Food Fortification or Food Enrichment is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A &amp; D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-nation-one-ration-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Act, 2013</strong></a>: The National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013 legally entitled up to <strong>75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population</strong> to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Indradhanush</strong></a>: It targets <strong>children under 2 years of age and pregnant women</strong> for immunization against <strong>12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD).</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1#:~:text=Integrated%20Child%20Development%20Services%20(ICDS)%20Scheme&amp;text=It%20provides%20a%20package%20of,check%2Dup%20and%20referral%20services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme</strong></a>: Launched on<strong> 2<sup>nd</sup> October, 1975,</strong> the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme offers a package of <strong>six services (Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school non-formal education, Nutrition &amp; health education, Immunization, Health check-up and Referral services)</strong> to children in the age group of<strong> 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Governments, private actors, and NGOs should carefully coordinate their <strong>responses to overlapping food and health crises</strong> and work with community organizations to make sure interventions are culturally acceptable, reach the most vulnerable, and preserve local ecosystems.</li>
<li><strong>Food should be priced not only by its weight or volume but also by its nutrient density,</strong> its freedom from contamination, and its contribution to ecosystem services and social justice.</li>
<li>Governments should <strong>expand access to maternal and child health care,</strong> as well as <strong>education on healthy diets and child feeding practices.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Supporting smallholder farmers</strong> in becoming sustainable and diversified producers; governments and NGOs must seek to improve those farmers&rsquo; access to agricultural inputs and extension services, coupling local and indigenous agricultural knowledge with new technologies.</li>
<li><strong>Existing human rights-based multilateral mechanisms</strong> and international standards&mdash;such as the Committee on World Food Security&mdash;must be strengthened to support inclusive policy making and sustainable food systems.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-fares-poorly-in-hunger-index/article32876195.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-hunger-index-2020'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'First 'Har Ghar Jal' State: Goa',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Goa has become the first <strong>'Har Ghar Jal' State</strong> in the country as it successfully provided<strong> 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs)</strong> in the <strong>rural areas</strong> covering <strong>2.30 lakh rural households.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Early Achiever:</strong> State's commitment and brisk efforts have ensured advancement and achievement of targets well<strong> before time, i.e. 2024 at national level.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Annual Action Plan:</strong> Goa prepared the State's Annual Action Plan (AAP) to provide 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in rural areas by<strong> 2021.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Goa utilized the benefits of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong></a> which aims to improve the quality of life and bring 'ease-of-living' to rural communities.</li>
<li>Accordingly, fund allocation from the Union to Goa in 2020-21 has been increased to Rs. 12.40 Crore for the plan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Convergence of Schemes:</strong> The State explored through convergence of various programmes like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swachh-bharat-mission-grameen-phase-ii-approved" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong></a> for rural local bodies, etc. for strengthening of drinking water sources, water supply, grey water (any domestic wastewater excluding sewage) treatment &amp; re-use and operation &amp; maintenance.</li>
<li><strong>Water Testing Facilities:</strong> The State is in process of getting <strong>14 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-lab-directory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)</a></strong> accredited <strong>water quality testing laboratories.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jal Jeevan Mission mandates<strong> training 5 persons in every village especially women</strong> to be trained in using<strong> Field Test Kits,</strong> so that water can be tested in the villages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong> envisages supply of <strong>55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.</strong></li>
<li>JJM focuses on <strong>integrated demand and supply-side management of water</strong> at the local level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like <strong>rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse,</strong> would be undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Mission is based on a <strong>community approach to water</strong> and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission.</li>
<li>JJM looks to<strong> create a jan andolan for water,</strong> thereby making it everyone&rsquo;s priority.</li>
<li><strong>Funding Pattern:</strong> The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The total allocation to the scheme is over ₹3 lakh crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Having achieved universal access, the State now plans for a sensor-based <strong>service delivery</strong> monitoring system so as to monitor the functionality of water supply i.e. potable water in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality.</li>
<li>Goa&rsquo;s achievement is an <strong>example for other States to emulate</strong> and ensure every rural home gets tap connection.</li>
<li>Especially in these times of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic, it is all the more imperative to have assured safe water supply within households.</li>
<li>This silent revolution happening in rural India in terms of household tap water connections is a work in progress for a <strong>&lsquo;New India&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1663200" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-har-ghar-jal-state-goa'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Increased Emissions of N2O',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a recent research paper, <strong>human emissions of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uk-to-support-nitrogen-research-in-india#:~:text=Nitrogen%20is%20potent%20greenhouse%20gas,house%20gas%20than%20carbon%20dioxide.&amp;text=Other%20than%20air%20pollution%2C%20nitrogen,health%2C%20economy%2C%20and%20livelihoods." target="_blank" rel="noopener">nitrous oxide</a></strong> (N<sub>2</sub>O) have<strong> increased by 30% between 1980 and 2016.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The research was conducted through an international collaboration between the <strong>International Nitrogen Initiative</strong> (INI) and the<strong> Global Carbon Project of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-future-of-earth-2020-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Future Earth</a></strong>, a partner of the <strong>World Climate Research Programme.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Nitrous Oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>greenhouse gas</strong></a> (GHG) <strong>300 times more potent than carbon dioxide</strong> (CO<sub>2</sub>).</li>
<li>It has the<strong> third-highest concentration, after CO<sub>2</sub> and <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-671" target="_blank" rel="noopener">methane</a></strong> (CH<sub>4</sub>), in Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere among GHGs responsible for global warming.</li>
<li>N<sub>2</sub>O is also the <strong>only remaining threat to the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ozone" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ozone</a></strong> (O<sub>3</sub>) <strong>layer,</strong> for it accumulates in the atmosphere over a long period of time, just like CO<sub>2</sub>.</li>
<li>It can<strong> live in the atmosphere for up to 125 years.</strong></li>
<li>Its global concentration levels have increased from <strong>270 parts per billion</strong> (ppb) in 1750 to<strong> 331 ppb in 2018,</strong> a jump of 20%.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The growth has been the <strong>quickest in the past five decades because of human emissions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research and the Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the <strong>most comprehensive study</strong> of global N<sub>2</sub>O emissions ever published, as it <strong>combines both natural and anthropogenic</strong> (man-made) sources.</li>
<li>The study found that <strong>43% of the total emissions came from human sources</strong> and <strong>most N<sub>2</sub>O emissions came from emerging countries</strong> like India, China and Brazil.</li>
<li>Increase in its emissions means that the <strong>climatic burden on the atmosphere is increasing from non-carbon sources</strong> as well, while the major focus of global climate change negotiations is currently centred on carbon, its emissions and mitigation.</li>
<li>It also highlighted the dichotomy of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-in-climate-change-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate crisis</a> and global <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food security.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A major proportion of the N<sub>2</sub>O emissions in the last four decades came<strong> from the agricultural sector,</strong> mainly because of the use of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revamping-the-agricultural-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nitrogen-based fertilisers.</strong></a></li>
<li>The <strong>growing demand</strong> for food and feed for animals will <strong>further increase its global emissions,</strong> leading to a direct<strong> conflict between the way countries are feeding people and stabilising the climate.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>well-established practices and technologies</strong> like <strong>crop and manure management,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bio-capsules-for-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>use of bio-fertilisers</strong></a>, to mitigate N<sub>2</sub>O emissions which <strong>need to be utilised to their full extent.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Revised industrial and agricultural policies</strong> at the global level will reduce such emissions considerably.</li>
<li><a href="/mains-practice-question/question-36" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reducing GHGs emissions</strong> </a>will also have the<strong> co-benefits</strong> of reduced <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>air</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deteriorating-water-quality" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>water pollution.</strong></a></li>
<li>There is a <strong>need to bring the non-carbon sources under the major global climate change negotiations.</strong></li>
<li>It is possible to slow down N<sub>2</sub>O emissions if countries implement the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>Global Campaign on Sustainable Nitrogen Management, 2019</strong> held in <strong>Colombo, Sri Lanka.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The focus of the event was to finalise the <strong>Colombo Declaration</strong>, a follow <strong>up on the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNEA 4 Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management</a></strong> which aims to further the dialogue on Nitrogen management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602914010_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602914010_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/nitrous-oxide-human-emissions-increased-30-in-36-yrs-report-73741#:~:text=Human%20emissions%20of%20nitrous%20oxide,existence%20of%20humans%20on%20Earth." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increased-emissions-of-n2o'
		]
	],
	'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` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
		'params' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'defaultTypes' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'decorators' => (int) 0,
		'executed' => false,
		'hydrate' => true,
		'buffered' => true,
		'formatters' => (int) 0,
		'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
		'contain' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'matching' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'extraOptions' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}
	
	},
	'page' => (int) 26,
	'search' => 'class',
	'totalPages' => (float) 275,
	'title' => 'Search'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/estore/test-series-en/upsc-mains-english/sociology-optional-mains-online-en',
		'title' => 'Sociology Mains Test Series 2020 - Join Now',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/estore/test-series-en/upsc-prelims-english/prelims-test-series-2021-online',
		'title' => 'Prelims Test Series 2021 (Online) - Join Now',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://bit.ly/drishtibooks',
		'title' => 'Get Drishti Publications books & magazines on Amazon - click here!',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://bit.ly/joindrishti',
		'title' => 'Click here for Online Inquiry form to join Drishti IAS programmes',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$searchlist = [
	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Assam-Mizoram border</strong> witnessed firing over a territory dispute, which spotlights the <strong>long-standing inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast,</strong> particularly between Assam and the states which were carved out of it.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mizoram borders Assam&rsquo;s Barak Valley</strong> and the boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram is <strong>165 km</strong> long. <strong>Both states border Bangladesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603186135_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603186135_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="380" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ongoing Tussle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Residents of Lailapur village in <strong>Assam&rsquo;s Cachar district</strong> clashed with residents of localities near Vairengte in <strong>Mizoram&rsquo;s Kolasib district.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in October 2020, a similar clash took place on the border of <strong>Karimganj (Assam)</strong> and <strong>Mamit (Mizoram)</strong> districts.</li>
<li>Mizoram civil society groups blame <strong>&ldquo;illegal Bangladeshis&rdquo;</strong> (alleged migrants from Bangladesh) on the Assam side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The boundary issue between present-day Assam and Mizoram dates back to the <strong>colonial era when inner lines were demarcated according to the administrative needs of British Raj.</strong></li>
<li>The issue could not be settled once and for all when the <strong>state was created in independent India.</strong> The result is<strong> both states continue to have a differing perception</strong> of the border.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizoram was granted statehood in<strong> 1987</strong> by the <strong>State of Mizoram Act, 1986.</strong></li>
<li>Assam became a <strong>constituent state of India in 1950 and lost much of its territory to new states that emerged</strong> from within its borders between the early 1960s and the early 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assam-Mizoram dispute<strong> stems from a notification of 1875</strong> that <strong>differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar,</strong> and another of <strong>1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>During colonial times, <strong>Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills,</strong> a district of Assam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mizoram</strong> believes the <strong>boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875</strong> notification, which is derived from the <strong>Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizo leaders have argued in the past against <strong>the demarcation notified in 1933</strong> because Mizo society <strong>was not consulted.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation,</strong> and that is the point of conflict.</li>
<li>According to an agreement between the governments of Assam and Mizoram, the <strong>status quo should be maintained in no man&rsquo;s land</strong> in the border area.</li>
<li>In the Northeast&rsquo;s complex boundary equations, <strong>clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents are less frequent than they are between other neighbouring states of Assam,</strong> like with Nagaland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Boundary Issues in Northeast:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During British rule,<strong> Assam included present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya besides Mizoram,</strong> which became separate states one by one.</li>
<li>Currently, Assam has <strong>boundary problems with each of them.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Assam-Nagaland:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-state-actors-in-nagaland#:~:text=1963%3A%20Nagaland%20achieved%20statehood%20in%20December%201963." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagaland</strong></a> shares a <strong>500-km boundary</strong> with Assam.</li>
<li>It achieved <strong>statehood in December 1963</strong> and was <strong>formed out of the Naga Hills district of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh</strong> (then North-East Frontier Agency).</li>
<li><strong>Violent clashes and armed conflicts,</strong> marked by killings, have occurred on the Assam-Nagaland border since 1965.</li>
<li>The boundary dispute is in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assam-Arunachal Pradesh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both states have a <strong>boundary of over 800 km.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-mizoram-and-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong></a> was granted statehood by the <strong>State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986</strong> in<strong> 1987.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Clashes were first reported in 1992</strong> and since then, there have been several accusations of illegal encroachment from both sides, and intermittent clashes.</li>
<li>This boundary issue is also <strong>being heard by the Supreme Court.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assam-Meghalaya:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>884-km boundary</strong> between the two states also witnesses flare-ups.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-manipur-meghalaya-and-tripura#:~:text=On%20the%20Statehood%20Day%20of,(Reorganisation)%20Act%2C%201971." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Meghalaya</strong></a> came into existence as an autonomous state within the state of Assam in April 1970 comprising the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills districts. In <strong>1972, it got statehood.</strong></li>
<li>As per Meghalaya government statements, today there are <strong>12 areas of dispute between the two states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/assam-mizoram-border-clashes-union-home-secy-talks-to-top-state-officials-6790272/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assam-mizoram-border-dispute'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Ayushman Sahakar Scheme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare</strong> has launched <strong>Ayushman Sahakar,</strong> a scheme to <strong>assist cooperatives in creation of healthcare infrastructure</strong> in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Formulated By: National Cooperative Development Corporation</strong> (NCDC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCDC was <strong>set up under an Act of Parliament in 1963</strong> for promotion and development of cooperatives.</li>
<li>It functions under the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.</strong></li>
<li>Recent initiatives include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-cooptube-ncdc-channel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel</strong></a> (Youth-focussed), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-mitra-scheme-on-internship-programmehttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-mitra-scheme-on-internship-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sahakar Mitra</strong> </a>(Internship Programme), etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NCDC would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore</strong> in the coming years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any Cooperative Society with suitable provision in its byelaws to undertake healthcare related activities would be able to access the NCDC fund.</li>
<li>The<strong> scheme covers</strong> establishment, modernization, expansion, repairs, renovation of <strong>hospital</strong> and <strong>healthcare and education infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NCDC <strong>assistance will flow either through the State Governments/ UT Administrations or directly</strong> to the eligible cooperatives.</li>
<li>The scheme also provides <strong>working capital and margin money</strong> to meet operational requirements.</li>
<li>Further, the scheme provides<strong> interest subvention of 1% to women majority cooperatives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a <strong>comprehensive approach-</strong>hospitals, healthcare, medical education, nursing education, paramedical education, health insurance and holistic health systems such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-indian-system-of-medicine-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AYUSH</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has brought into focus the <strong>requirement of creation of more facilities.</strong></li>
<li>There are about 52 hospitals across the country run by cooperatives. They have cumulative bed strength of more than 5,000. The scheme would give<strong> a boost to provision of healthcare services by cooperatives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme<strong> aligns itself with the focus of the National Health Policy, 2017,</strong> covering the health systems in all their dimensions- investments in health, organization of healthcare services, access to technologies, development of human resources, encouragement of medical pluralism, affordable health care to farmers etc.</li>
<li>It is<strong> in line with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-digital-health-mission#:~:text=Health%20Expenditure%3A%20The%20policy%20proposes,23%20by%20the%20year%202025." target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Digital Health Mission</a></strong> and would bring transformation in rural areas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cooperatives have a strong presence in rural areas, thus, cooperatives utilizing the scheme would revolutionize the way healthcare delivery takes place in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cooperatives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organisation (ILO)</strong></a>, a cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Provisions of Indian Constitution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Constitution (97<sup>th</sup> Amendment) Act, 2011</strong> added a new <strong>Part IXB</strong> right after Part IXA (Municipals) regarding the cooperatives working in India.</li>
<li>The word &ldquo;cooperatives&rdquo; was added after &ldquo;unions and associations&rdquo; in <strong>Article 19(1)(c) under Part III of the Constitution.</strong> This enables all the citizens to form cooperatives by giving it the status of fundamental right of citizens.</li>
<li>A new <strong>Article 43B</strong> was added in the <strong>Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)</strong> regarding the &ldquo;promotion of cooperative societies&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1665800" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ayushman-sahakar-schemeq'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Rationalisation of Autonomous Institutions',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Finance has recommended</strong> that the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) &ldquo;disengage&rdquo; from five autonomous institutions</strong> working under it and <strong>merge two</strong> others, thus <strong>reducing the 16 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">autonomous organisations</a></strong> under the ministry<strong> to 9.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recommendations are a part of the report that has been <strong>prepared in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under rule 229 of General Finance rules 2017.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rule 229 pertains to &lsquo;General Principles for setting up of Autonomous Organisations&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The purpose of the report is to make specific and actionable recommendations for rationalisation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>autonomous bodies</strong></a> with a view to furthering the aim of<strong> &lsquo;minimum government, maximum governance,&rsquo;</strong> ensuring<strong> efficient use of public funds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations for MoEFCC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Disengagement</strong> from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sal-forest-tortoise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> (WII-Dehradun), <strong>Indian Institute of Forest Management</strong> (IIFM-Bhopal),<strong> Indian Plywood Industries Research &amp; Training Institute</strong> (Bengaluru), <strong>CPR Environmental Education Centre</strong> (Chennai) and <strong>Centre for Environment Education</strong> (Ahmedabad). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>&lsquo;Disengagement&rsquo; will involve<strong> two aspects - phasing out government support</strong> to the institution in a time-bound manner, <strong>disassociating from the management</strong> of the institutions and allowing the relevant industry/stakeholders to run them.</li>
<li><strong>Disengagement</strong> by the government <strong>with a three-year timeline</strong> and a <strong>gradual budget reduction of 25% each year</strong> is recommended.</li>
<li>Both<strong> WII</strong> and<strong> IIFM</strong> can be <strong>converted to deemed universities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Society of Integrated Coastal Management</strong> (New Delhi) should be merged with the <strong>National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management</strong> (Tamil Nadu), as both perform similar roles of promoting coastal management. This will <strong>avoid duplication</strong> of activities and <strong>attain economies of scale.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History</strong> (Tamil Nadu), which receives Rs. 14 crore annually from MoEFCC, should be merged with the ministry.</li>
<li><strong>Statutory bodies</strong> such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upgradation-and-expansion-of-zoos-in-ppp-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Zoo Authority</a> (CZA)</strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority</a> (NTCA)</strong>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Biodiversity Authority</strong></a> should continue to function under and with the financial support of MoEFCC.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These bodies should be encouraged to become &lsquo;self-financed&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appreciation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the <strong>first time ever that such an audit has been done</strong> of institutions which took around four years to get completed.</li>
<li>Making WII and other institutions into deemed universities will <strong>give more freedom to the institutions</strong> to initiate more courses and have enhanced faculties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The disengagement will make these institutions <strong>worry for financial issues rather than research,</strong> which should be their prime focus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The environment is a public issue and there must be good public institutions to safeguard it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s disengagement from these institutions is seen as <strong>&lsquo;the first step towards sending them into private hands&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the government feels that funds are not being utilised properly or the institutions are not performing well, their officials should be held accountable rather than taking the route of disengagement as this will have an impact on those students who dream of studying these specialised subjects but cannot afford the high fees charged by private universities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Steps:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the<strong> Ministry of Textiles</strong> has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-handloom-day-announcements-challenges-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>abolished the All India Handloom Board and the All India Handicrafts Board.</strong></a></li>
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for<strong> closure of Autonomous Bodies,</strong> namely, <strong>Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)</strong> and <strong>Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK)</strong> and the functions were proposed to be vested in Department of Health &amp; Family Welfare (DoHFW).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Autonomous Bodies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are <strong>set up</strong> whenever it is felt that certain functions need to be discharged outside the governmental set up with some amount of independence and flexibility without day-to-day interference of the Governmental machinery.</li>
<li>These are set up<strong> by the Ministries/Departments concerned with the subject matter</strong> and are funded through grants-in-aid, either fully or partially, depending on the extent which such institutes generate internal resources of their own. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <strong>grants are regulated by the Ministry of Finance</strong> through their instructions as well as the instructions relating to powers for creation of posts and etc.</li>
<li>The amount disbursed to autonomous/grantee bodies was Rs. 799.55 billion, which,<strong> in 2019-20, was increased</strong> to Rs. 943.84 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are mostly registered as societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and in certain cases they have been set up as statutory institutions under the provisions contained in various Acts.</li>
<li>These are a <strong>major stakeholder in the government&rsquo;s functioning</strong> as they are engaged in diverse activities, ranging from formulating frameworks for policies, conducting research, and preserving the cultural heritage, etc. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Institutes imparting technical, medical and higher education fall in this category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to review the governance of ABs, and devise uniform procedures. Many of ABs act as interfaces between the government and the public. Thus, each ministry should undertake a comprehensive review of ABs under their jurisdiction. ABs that have outlived the cause for which they were established may need to be closed or merged with a similar organisation or their memorandum altered as per the new charter.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-suggests-disengaging-wii-iifm-three-other-premier-green-institutions-6793717/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rationalisation-of-autonomous-institutions'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Australia to Join Malabar Exercise',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Australia has agreed to join the Malabar Exercise</strong> on India&rsquo;s request. The exercise is scheduled to be held in November 2020.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Malabar Exercise</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>annual trilateral naval exercise</strong> between the navies of <strong>India, Japan, and the USA</strong> which is held <strong>alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.</strong></li>
<li>It began as a <strong>bilateral <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-8th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">naval exercise</a></strong> between <strong>India and the USA in 1992</strong> and was expanded into a trilateral format with the<strong> inclusion of Japan in 2015.</strong></li>
<li>The Exercise is <strong>aimed to support free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific</strong> and remain committed to a <strong>rules based international order.</strong></li>
<li>It is<strong> also aimed at interoperability</strong> with an emphasis on humanitarian assistance, surface war manoeuvres, anti-submarines warfare, counter-terror operations, gunnery training and aerial surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>2020 Malabar Exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2020 Exercise is expected to be held in the<strong> Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.</strong> In 2019, the exercise was conducted off the coast of Japan.</li>
<li>Due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> the exercise had been planned in a <strong>&lsquo;non-contact - at sea&rsquo; format.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Its objective</strong> is to enhance safety and security in the maritime domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Australia&rsquo;s Inclusion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The issue of Australia&rsquo;s inclusion in Malabar had again come up for discussion at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quad</strong></a> foreign ministers meet in Tokyo held in October 2020. Thereafter, India invited Australia to join the Exercise.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Quad</strong> is the informal strategic dialogue between India, the USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a <strong>free, open and prosperous&rdquo; Indo-Pacific region.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The move will bolster the ability of India, Australia, Japan and the United States to work together to<strong> uphold peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.</strong></li>
<li>It is also expected to further lay the foundations for the eventual <strong>formalisation of the Quad grouping.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite regular requests from Australia, India resisted issuing the invitation due to its concerns that the move would give the appearance of a<strong> &lsquo;quadrilateral military alliance&rsquo;</strong> aimed at China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2017, Australia had requested for observer status in the Malabar Exercise.</li>
<li>China has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to any expansion of the Malabar Exercise, which it sees as a multilateral naval construct designed to &ldquo;counter and contain&rdquo; it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-China tensions</strong></a> over the situation at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aksai-chin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong> </a>(LAC) may have brought more flexibility to India's decision making process.</li>
<li><strong>Japan and the U.S.A also have been pressing India</strong> for Australia&rsquo;s inclusion in Malabar Exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Cooperation Between Quad Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Japan had signed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-logistics-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>military logistics agreement</strong></a> in September, 2020.</li>
<li>India has signed maritime information sharing agreements for <strong>Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)</strong> with Australia and Japan and a similar agreement is under discussion with the U.S.A.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>MDA</strong> is defined by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/international-maritime-organization-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Maritime Organization</strong> </a>as the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of a country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India and U.S.A. are also stepping up efforts to conclude the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement</a> (BECA)</strong> ahead of the <strong>Indo-US 2+2 ministerial meeting</strong> on 26-27 October, 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BECA, a key military pact, will allow India to use U.S.A.&rsquo;s geospatial intelligence and enhance accuracy of automated systems and weapons like missiles and armed drones.</li>
<li>BECA is one of the <strong>four foundational military communication agreements</strong> between the two countries. The other three being <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GSOMIA, LEMOA, CISMOA.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>GSOMIA:</strong> General Security Of Military Information Agreement</li>
<li><strong>LEMOA:</strong> Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement</li>
<li><strong>CISMOA:</strong> Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Defence and Foreign ministers of the two countries will Participate at the 2+2 ministerial meeting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As India seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain, high-end military exercises like Malabar are key to enhancing maritime capabilities, building interoperability with its close partners, and demonstrating its collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.</li>
<li>The fast-tracking of work on BECA and the decision of the four Quad countries to participate in the Malabar Exercise are perceived to be a strategic signal to an aggressive China.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/australia-to-join-malabar-naval-exercise-next-month/article32892277.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-join-malabar-exercise'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Skinks of India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)</strong> brought a <strong>study on skinks (a kind of lizard),</strong> titled <strong>Skinks of India.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092421_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092421_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Skinks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With 1,602 species of skinks across the world, It is the <strong>largest family of lizards,</strong> having long bodies, relatively small or no legs, no pronounced neck and glossy scales.</li>
<li>It is found around homes, garages, and open spaces such as sparks and school playgrounds, and around lakes.</li>
<li>Skinks are <strong>non-venomous, highly alert, agile and fast moving</strong> and actively <strong>forage for a variety of insects and small invertebrates.</strong></li>
<li>They have a <strong>prominent role in maintaining ecosystems,</strong> however, <strong>not much is known about their breeding habits, and ecology</strong> because identification of the species can be confusing.</li>
<li>In India <strong>skinks are found in all kinds of habitats</strong> in the country, from the Himalayas to the coasts and from dense forests to the deserts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gives a<strong> phylogenetic</strong> (evolutionary development) and <strong>bio-geographical analysis</strong> of distribution of these species in all the <strong>11 bio-geographic zones of India.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092732_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092732_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="320" height="453" /></a></strong></li>
<li>India is <strong>home to less than 4% of the skinks</strong> across the globe. <strong>62 species of skinks</strong> are found in India and about 57% of them <strong>(33 species) are endemic.</strong></li>
<li>India is home to <strong>16 genera of skinks, four of which are endemic.</strong> The four genera of skinks are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Sepsophis:</strong> Sepsophis punctatus is endemic to the northern part of Eastern Ghats</li>
<li><strong>Barkudia:</strong> They are limbless skinks found in the hills and coastal plains of the eastern coast.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Barkudia insularis</strong> is believed to be found only in the Barkud Island in Chilka lake in Odisha.</li>
<li><strong>Barkudia melanosticta</strong> is endemic to Visakhapatnam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kaestlea:</strong> They are also known as <strong>blue-tailed ground skinks</strong> and are endemic to the Western Ghats.</li>
<li><strong>Ristella:</strong> They are also known as <strong>Cat skinks</strong> and endemic to the southern part of Western Ghats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Zoological Survey of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization of the<strong> Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change </strong>was <strong>established in 1916.</strong></li>
<li>It is a national centre for<strong> faunistic survey</strong> and exploration of the resources leading to the <strong>advancement of knowledge</strong> on the exceptionally <strong>rich faunal diversity of the country.</strong></li>
<li>It has its<strong> headquarters at Kolkata</strong> and 16 regional stations located in different geographic locations of the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/celebrating-skinks-zsi-lists-62-species-in-india/article32886528.ece#:~:text=A%20recent%20publication%20by%20the,(33%20species)%20are%20endemic." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skinks-of-india'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => '10 Years of National Green Tribunal',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-hues-in-the-green-tribunals-resilient-journey/article32887705.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The hues in the green tribunal&rsquo;s resilient journey&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 19/10/2020. It talks about the benefits and associated challenges with the National Green Tribunal.</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> is one of the few dedicated environmental courts in the world. The jurisdiction of NGT has an all-encompassing scope, which covers forests, wildlife, environment, climate change and coastal protection.</p>
<p>Since its inception, the NGT has protected vast acres of forest land, halted polluting construction activities in metros and smaller towns. It has protected the rights of tribal communities and ensured the enforcement of the &ldquo;polluter pays&rdquo; principle in letter and spirit.</p>
<p>Within its decade of existence, the NGT has delivered some important judgments and has given a new outlook to environmental jurisprudence in India. However, there are several challenges that act as a roadblock in efficient functioning of the NGT.</p>
<h3>Genesis of NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>M.C. Mehta &amp; Anr. Etc vs Union Of India &amp; Ors. Etc (1986) case:</strong> The then Chief Justice of India, Justice P.N. Bhagwati had suggested setting up Environmental Courts because:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to more cases involving issues of environmental pollution, ecological destruction and conflicts over natural resources.</li>
<li>Increasing need for assessment and evolution of scientific and technical data regarding environmental matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A.P. Pollution Control Board vs Prof. M.V. Nayudu (1999) case:</strong> The Supreme Court in the landmark case, emphasised on the need for a court that was &ldquo;a combination of a Judge and Technical Experts&rdquo; with an appeal to the Supreme Court from the Environmental Court.</li>
<li><strong>Establishment of NGT:</strong> The NGT was established on 18<sup>th</sup> October, 2010 under the <strong>National Green Tribunal Act 2010</strong> for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.</li>
<li>The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Judgment Given By NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the<strong> Almitra H Patel Vs Union of India case,</strong> it directed states to implement Solid Waste Management Rules and prohibited open burning of waste on lands.</li>
<li>In 2012, NGT suspended the clearance given to the South Korean steel maker, POSCO, to set up a 12 million-tonne steel plant in Odisha.</li>
<li>In the<strong> Save Mon Federation Vs Union of India case,</strong> the NGT suspended a ₹6,400-crore hydro project, to save the habitat of a bird.</li>
<li>A December 2016 amendment to EIA 2006 notification &mdash; the amendments basically sought to give local authorities powers to grant environmental clearance to builders &mdash; was nullified by the NGT, terming it as a &ldquo;ploy&rdquo; (by the government) to circumvent the 2006 rules.</li>
<li>Many Projects which were approved in violation of the law such as an Aranmula Airport, Kerala; Lower Demwe Hydro Power Project and Nyamnjangu in Arunachal Pradesh; mining projects in in Goa; and coal mining projects in Chhattisgarh were either cancelled or fresh assessments were directed.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Dedicated Court For Environmental Matters:</strong> NGT ensures enforcement of any legal right relating to the environment and provides relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the burden on the High Courts and the Supreme Court is also reduced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Allows Specialization:</strong> NGT is staffed with judges and environmental experts. This makes it a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NGT also employs legal and scientific methods and assessed environment impact assessment reports before deciding the case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wider Reach:</strong> The quality of time spent on these issues could also be increased as, unlike the Supreme Court, the tribunal could have benches in various States, thereby increasing access to all citizens.</li>
<li><strong>Time Bound Disposal of Cases:</strong> The Tribunal is mandated to make an endeavor for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit to Jurisdiction:</strong> Two important acts - <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/without-land-or-recourse-scheduled-tribes-and-other-traditional-forest-dwellers-recognition-of-forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006</strong> </a>have been kept out of NGT&rsquo;s jurisdiction. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This restricts the jurisdiction area of NGT and at times hampers its functioning as the crucial forest rights issue is linked directly to the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Obstacle to Development:</strong> Decisions of NGT have also been criticised and challenged due to their repercussions on economic growth and development.</li>
<li><strong>Looming Vacancies:</strong> NGT only has three judicial and three expert members against the sanctioned strength of 10 each.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lack of human and financial resources has led to high pendency of cases - which undermines NGT&rsquo;s very objective of disposal of appeals within 6 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Additional Layer to Judicial Process:</strong> NGT was conceptualised to ease out the burden on the higher courts. However, the Supreme Court in L Chandrakumar case, opined that Tribunals could not be effective substitutes of High Courts under Articles 226 and 227. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This eventually leads to cases reaching the judiciary by way of appeal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limited Regional Benches:</strong> NGT being located in only big cities spread across India. However, environmental exploitation is also taking place in the tribal areas of dense forest. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, the justice delivery mechanism is also hindered by a limited number of regional benches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of Regional Benches:</strong> NGT benches have to expand manifolds. These new regional benched should have been based in a place that has the highest forest cover or large mineral deposit.</li>
<li><strong>System of Larger Bench in NGT:</strong> Appeal may be provided against the order of the NGT before a larger Bench of the Tribunal before the matter reaches to the Supreme Court or High Court.</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Administrative Inadequacy:</strong> Vacancies in NGT, needs to be filled as soon as possible.</li>
<li><strong>Collaborative Approach:</strong> There is a need for the central and state governments to work in collaboration with the NGT for balancing between environment &amp; economy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NGT should also identify institutions and experts who can help it to scientifically estimate environmental damages/compensation/fines on a case-to-case basis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the present era, equilibrium between development and environment is of utmost importance.</p>
<p>Therefore, NGT should not be seen as an not been seen as obstacle to development but a way to sustainable development&ldquo;. Thus, the government must address all underlying issues related to NGT as soon as possible.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #a600ff; background-color: #fffbeb;">
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given a new outlook to environmental jurisprudence in India. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/10-years-of-national-green-tribunal'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Israel and Bahrain Diplomatic Ties',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Bahrain and Israel are signing a <strong>joint communique</strong> on the establishment<strong> of diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations,</strong> as well as a number of <strong>memorandums of understanding</strong> in areas of mutual benefit.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603101908_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603101908_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bahrain has a history of open politics and civil society movements, although rights have been curtailed in the past decade.</li>
<li>The decision to normalise ties comes from the belief in the values of tolerance in a region whose people have suffered from wars and conflicts.</li>
<li>The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain became only the third and fourth Arab states to agree to normalise ties with Israel, following Israel&rsquo;s <strong>1979</strong> peace deal with Egypt and a <strong>1994</strong> pact with Jordan.</li>
<li>Under the deal, <strong>Israel would suspend its plans to annex large parts of the occupied <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/west-bank-settlements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Bank</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The West Bank is<strong> sandwiched between Israel and Jordan.</strong> One of its major cities is <strong>Ramallah,</strong> the <strong>de facto administrative capital of Palestine.</strong></li>
<li>Israel took control of it in the<strong> Six-day Arab-Israeli war, 1967</strong> and has over the years established settlements there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on the USA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the second deal in 2020 after the Israel-UAE Peace Deal brokered by the USA. The recognition<strong> grants a diplomatic win</strong> to the USA President Donald Trump ahead of the Presidential election.</li>
<li>The deal buys UAE a lot of <strong>goodwill in the US,</strong> where its image has been tarnished by its involvement in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ceasefire-in-yemen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Yemen war</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Saudi Arabia</strong> made clear that it will not normalise ties without a resolution to the Palestinian issue despite signs of rapprochement.</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For Palestine:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Palestinians have not embraced the USA&rsquo;s vision. 86% of Palestinians believed the normalization agreements with the UAE and Bahrain served only Israel&rsquo;s interests and not their own.</li>
<li>For Palestinians, who long have relied on Arab backing in their struggle for independence, the announcement <strong>marked both a win and setback</strong> for the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/israel-palestine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Israel-Palestine relations.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While the deal <strong>halts Israeli annexation plans of the west Bank,</strong> the Palestinians have repeatedly <strong>urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement</strong> establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shia-Sunni rifts</strong> in the region may get wide and violent.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (representing Shia) have a long history of enmity. For decades, one of the main sources of instability in West Asia has been the cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.</li>
<li>The Sunni-Shiite schism may also provoke violence between Muslims in such places as Pakistan, Nigeria and Indonesia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Interest in West Asia:</strong> A peaceful and prosperous West Asia is necessary for India. Such deals between Arab Countries and Israel are having a positive impact for Indian interests in the region. Also, difficulty in balancing Arab countries and Israel will become easy. Indian interests include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Geopolitical:</strong> West Asia occupies an important position in international relations due to its geographical location and proximity to continents and countries South Asia, China, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa.</li>
<li><strong>Energy:</strong> The region is strategically significant due to its enormous energy resources, trade route links to different parts of the world.</li>
<li>It is the world's largest oil-producing region accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of crude oil exports and 48% of oil proven reserves.</li>
<li><strong>Diaspora:</strong> Indian expatriates have constituted a substantial share of the regional labour market.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Remittances from the region constitute a major chunk of total remittances to India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A balance between <strong>Shia and Sunni,</strong> between Iran and Arab, is key to any sustainable peace.</li>
<li>The US may be a pre-eminent power in the Middle East, but Russia has made a space for itself, spending a lot less money. In recent years, China has indicated its willingness to play a larger role in this region.</li>
<li>India should make its moves before this market and this extended neighbourhood come under the Chinese sphere of influence.</li>
<li>A deal that could, if played right, open the doors for a changed geopolitical arrangement in the Middle East should have a stronger Indian footprint.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-and-bahrain-to-formalise-diplomatic-ties/article32887549.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-and-bahrain-diplomatic-ties'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Nobel Prize 2020',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<p>The Nobel Prizes regarded as the most prestigious awards given for intellectual achievement in the world are awarded annually from a fund bequeathed for that purpose by the Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is announced every year for excellence in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Economics, and a distinguished achievement towards humanity &ndash; commonly known as the Nobel Peace Prize.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Physiology/Medicine</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Nobel Prize has been awarded to American medical researchers and virologists <strong>Harvey J Alter</strong> and<strong> Charles M Rice,</strong> and British scientist<strong> Michael Houghton</strong> for the discovery of Hepatitis C which was discovered in 1982 by screening millions of DNA samples.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The discovery of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-hepatitis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Hepatitis C</strong></a> virus revealed the cause of the remaining cases of chronic hepatitis and made possible blood tests and new medicines that have saved millions of lives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hepatitis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hepatitis refers to an <strong>inflammatory condition of the liver.</strong></li>
<li>It&rsquo;s commonly caused by a<strong> viral infection,</strong> but there are other possible causes of hepatitis like autoimmune responses, medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol.</li>
<li>There are 5 main <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-hepatitis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hepatitis</strong> </a>viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-hepatitis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Hepatitis Day</strong></a> is observed each year on 28<sup>th</sup> July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Hepatitis C is caused by the <strong>Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first, (hepatitis A), is transmitted by polluted water or food and generally has little long-term impact on the patient.</li>
<li>The second type is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids and represents a much more serious threat since it can lead to a chronic condition.</li>
<li>This form of hepatitis is insidious, as otherwise healthy individuals can be silently infected for many years before serious complications arise.</li>
<li>It is transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids, typically through injection drug use and sexual contact.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Physics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-in-physics-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize in Physics</strong></a> for the year 2020 was awarded to three astrophysicists <strong>Roger Penrose</strong> from the UK, <strong>Reinhard Genzel</strong> from Germany, and<strong> Andrea Ghez</strong> from the USA.</li>
<li>Roger Penrose received half of this year&rsquo;s prize for the discovery that a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/blacl-holes-dark-matter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>black hole</strong></a> formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The theory explains gravity, as objects try to follow a straight line through a universe whose geometry is warped by matter and energy. As a result, planets, as well as light beams, follow curving paths.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Genzel and Ghez received the second half of the prize for the discovery of a <strong>supermassive black hole</strong> at the centre of the Milkyway galaxy, now known to be the Sagittarius A*. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a mass four million times that of the Sun and is confined to an area roughly the size of our Solar System.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What is a black hole?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term &lsquo;black hole&rsquo; was coined in the mid-1960s by American Physicist <strong>John Archibald Wheeler.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Black hole refers to a point in space where matter is so compressed as to create a gravity field from which even light cannot escape.</li>
<li>Black-holes were<strong> theorized</strong> by <strong>Albert Einstein</strong> in 1915.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>All the black holes observed so far belong to two categories:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One category ranges between a few solar masses and tens of solar masses. These are thought to form when massive stars die.</li>
<li>The other category is of supermassive black holes. These range from hundreds of thousands to billions of times that of the sun from the Solar system to which Earth belongs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In April 2019, the scientists at the Event Horizon Telescope Project released the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-images-of-a-black-hole" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> first-ever image of a Black Hole</strong></a> (more precisely, of its shadow).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The image was made possible by the Event Horizon Telescope which is a group of 8 radio telescopes (used to detect radio waves from space) located in different parts of the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/intermediate-mass-black-hole" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gravitational waves</strong></a> are created when two black holes orbit each other and merge.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Chemistry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Emmanuelle Charpentier</strong> of France and <strong>Jennifer A Doudna</strong> of the USA have been awarded the 2020 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize</strong> </a>in Chemistry for developing CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors, one of gene technology&rsquo;s sharpest tools.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is for the first time a Nobel science prize has gone to a women-only team.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors</strong> can be used to change the<strong> deoxyribonucleic acid</strong> (DNA) of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The CRISPR/Cas9 tool has already <strong>contributed to significant gains in crop resilience,</strong> altering their genetic code to<strong> better withstand drought and pests.</strong></li>
<li>The technology has contributed to new<strong> cancer</strong> therapies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>CRISPR Technology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CRISPR (short for <strong>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats</strong>) technology for gene-editing was first developed in 2012.</li>
<li>It makes gene sequencing very easy, simple and extremely efficient providing nearly endless possibilities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Editing, or modifying, gene sequences is not new and has been happening for several decades now, particularly in the field of agriculture, where several crops have been genetically modified to provide particular traits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The technology replicates a natural defence mechanism in Streptococcus pyogenes that use a similar method to protect itself from virus attacks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A DNA strand, when broken, has a natural tendency to repair itself but the auto-repair mechanism can lead to the re-growth of a problematic sequence.</li>
<li>Scientists intervene during this auto-repair process by supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes, which replaces the original sequence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Peace</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/food-crisis-amid-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Programme</strong> </a>(WFP), a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong> </a>(UN) agency, for its efforts to combat hunger, bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and preventing the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The WPF is the UN&rsquo;s primary agency that works upon <strong>Eradicating Hunger</strong> which is one the UN&rsquo;s <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals.</strong></a></li>
<li>The WFP provided assistance to close to 100 million people in 88 countries who are victims of acute food insecurity and hunger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>WFP in India:</strong> It has been working in India since 1963 where it has focused upon reforms in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Targeted Public Distribution System</strong> </a>(TPDS) and provided policy inputs, advocacy and technical assistance for improving access to food.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The WFP has proposed unique initiatives like <strong>Automatic Grain Dispensing Machine (Annapurti)</strong> and<strong> Mobile Storage Units</strong> for the effective implementation of TPDS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Food Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1961 by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food and Agriculture Organisation</a> (FAO)</strong> and the<strong> United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)</strong> and became a full-fledged UN programme in 1965.</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> Rome, Italy.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Economic Sciences</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>American economists, <strong>Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson</strong> have been awarded the <strong>Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences,</strong> 2020 for their work on commercial auctions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The award is <strong>popularly but incorrectly</strong> known as Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, (as it is not one of the five Nobel prizes that Alfred Nobel established in his will in 1895, it is not a Nobel Prize).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was created in 1968 by a donation from Sweden's central bank Sveriges Riksbank to the<strong> Nobel Foundation to commemorate the bank's 300<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> and includes a <strong>10 million Swedish kronor award money</strong> (₹8.33 crores roughly).</li>
<li>Milgrom and Wilson improved the auction theory and invented new auction formats for auctioning off many interrelated objects simultaneously, on behalf of a seller motivated by broad societal benefit rather than maximal revenue.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Robert Wilson</strong> developed the theory for auctions of objects with a common value &ndash; a value which is uncertain beforehand but, in the end, is the same for everyone.</li>
<li><strong>Paul Milgrom</strong> formulated a more general theory of auctions that not only allows common values, but also private values that vary from bidder to bidder.</li>
<li>Their work will benefit <strong>sellers, buyers and taxpayers</strong> around the world. It will help in auctioning goods and services, such as<strong> radio frequencies,</strong> which are difficult to sell in traditional ways.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Auction Theory</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Auction theory studies how auctions are designed, what rules govern them, how bidders behave and what outcomes are achieved.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Auctions are important to economists because they are the most widely used and also the <strong>most efficient mechanism to allocate scarce resources.</strong></li>
<li>The allocation of scarce resources, in turn, matters to economists because there is a limited supply of resources on earth when compared to unlimited human needs, and hence they need to be allocated only to the most urgent needs of society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Application of auction:</strong> Auctions happen almost everywhere in the modern world. Even the sale of groceries in retail stores is based on an auction, albeit an implicit one that is relatively slow to adjust to changing market conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The oldest form of auction is the auction of a bankrupt person&rsquo;s property to pay off his creditors. This simple design of such an auction is the highest open bidder getting the property (or the commodity in question).</li>
<li><strong>Allocation of capital good:</strong> More sophisticated and explicit auction mechanisms are used in the allocation of capital goods such as spectrum and minerals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Over time, the format of auctions has widened to include other commodities such as carbon dioxide emission credits, electricity or the right to collect the local garbage etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For e.g.</strong> a supermarket manager, just as an auctioneer, tries to price his goods based on how much of it is sold during a certain day, week, or month. If there is a huge demand for a certain product and shelves empty quickly, the supermarket manager will raise its price to prevent a shortage. If another product fails to sell as fast as expected, its price may be lowered in order to clear any unsold inventory.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>But whether it is the auction of spectrum waves or the sale of fruits and vegetables, auctions are at the core of allocation of scarce resources in a market economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Auction models:</strong> Different auction models are needed for depending upon the commodities, purpose of the auction and the entities conducting the auction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For e.g.</strong> Maximizing the profit may be the motive of a private auction while making a service affordable can be the purpose of auctioning a service by the government. Wrong auction design can lead to a second-hand market where companies trade among themselves with little revenue accruing to the government or little benefit to the public.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>How an auction is designed, has a tremendous impact not just on the buyers and the sellers but also on the broader society.</li>
<li><strong>Key variables:</strong> Three key variables need to be understood while designing an auction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rules of Auction</strong> i.e. closed/sealed bids, single bids versus multiple bids.</li>
<li><strong>Commodity or service</strong> being put up for auction i.e. how does each bidder value an item.</li>
<li><strong>Uncertainty</strong> regarding which bidder has what information about the object, or even the value another bidder associates with the object.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Literature</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Nobel Prize in Literature 2020 has been awarded to the USA poet <strong>Louise Gl&uuml;ck</strong> "for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal."<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Her poetry focuses on the painful reality of being human, dealing with themes such as death, childhood, and family life.</li>
<li>She is the fourth woman to win the prize for literature since 2010, and only the 16<sup>th</sup> since the Nobel prizes were first awarded in 1901.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Nobel Prize comes with a medal and a prize sum of 10 million Swedish kronor.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Contribution of Indians</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Poet and writer <strong>Rabindranath Tagore</strong> was the <strong>first non-European and Indian</strong> to get a Nobel Prize in 1913 in literature.</li>
<li>India received its first Nobel Prize in physics in 1930, when scientist Sir <strong>Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman</strong> was awarded &ldquo;for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him&rdquo;. This phenomenon is now known as Raman Effect.</li>
<li><strong>Har Gobind Khorana</strong> shared his 1968 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine with Robert W Holley and Marshall W Nirenberg. The trio was honoured <strong>&ldquo;for their interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Mother Teresa</strong> won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. She was a Roman Catholic nun who was born in Albania. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata and worked all her life for the poor. She became an <strong>Indian citizen</strong> as well. She received the prize for her &ldquo;work in bringing help to suffering humanity&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Indian physicist <strong>Subramanyan Chandrasekhar</strong> was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics, which he shared with physicist William Alfred Fowler. He was awarded <strong>&ldquo;for theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of the stars&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Amartya Sen</strong> was the winner of the 1998 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences. He was rewarded &ldquo;for his contributions to welfare economics&rdquo;.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s first Nobel Prize in the field of chemistry was won by <strong>Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.</strong> He received the 2009 Nobel Prize<strong> &ldquo;for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome&rdquo;.</strong> He shared the award with Thomas A Steitz and Ada E Yonath.</li>
<li><strong>Kailash Satyarthi,</strong> along with Malala Yousafzai, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. He received the honour &ldquo;for the struggle against the suppression of children and young people, and for the right of all children to education.&rdquo;</li>
<li>The Indian-American economist <strong>Abhijit Banerjee</strong> was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics along with Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer. The trio received the award for their<strong> &ldquo;experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.&rdquo;</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/nobel-prize-2020'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Dolphins in Pearl River Estuary',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a recent report, <strong>Chinese pink dolphins</strong> are making a comeback in the <strong>Pearl River Estuary</strong> (PRE).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins</strong> are also known as <strong>Chinese white dolphins or pink dolphins,</strong> reflecting the colour of their skin.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pearl River Estuary:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes <strong>Hong Kong, Macau as well as the mainland Chinese cities</strong> of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dongguan. Around 22 million people live in the area.</li>
<li>The <strong>Pearl River Delta,</strong> the low-lying area surrounding the PRE where the Pearl River flows into the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a>, is one of the world&rsquo;s <strong>most densely urbanised, heavily industrialised and busiest shipping lanes</strong> on Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603099617_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603099617_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Current Scenario and Reasons Behind:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dolphins use<strong> echolocation</strong> to find their way in the water and the ships often disturb them in finding their way and even kill them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Echolocation</strong> is a technique used by bats, dolphins and other animals to<strong> determine the location of objects using reflected sound.</strong></li>
<li>This allows the animals to move around in pitch darkness, so they can navigate, hunt, identify friends and enemies, and avoid obstacles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, dolphin numbers in the waters between Hong Kong and Macau have seen a rebound in 2020 because<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has <strong>stopped ferries and hence reduced their traffic.</strong></li>
<li>The number of pink dolphins in the waters has <strong>roughly increased by a third</strong> according to scientists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603099917_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603099917_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Sousa Chinensis.</em></li>
<li><strong>Habitat Range:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Its total range is in coastal waters<strong> from central China southward throughout Southeast Asia</strong> and<strong> westward to the Bay of Bengal,</strong> with highest densities in and around estuaries.</li>
<li>The distribution is <strong>fragmented</strong> such that these dolphins are apparently<strong> absent from fairly long stretches of coastline.</strong> It is not always clear whether the fragmentation is &lsquo;natural&rsquo; or caused by human activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/living-planet-report-wwf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Wildlife Fund for Nature</strong></a> (WWF) says the population in the PRE is believed to be around 2,500, but falling numbers of young could reduce numbers in future.</li>
<li>They have <strong>seen a decline in their numbers in the past 15 years by 70-80%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Agricultural, industrial, and urban pollution.</li>
<li>Overfishing.</li>
<li>Marine construction including bridge-building and land creation for airport expansion and residential/office development.</li>
<li>Transport including fast ferries.</li>
<li>Selling into captivity at marine &ldquo;entertainment&rdquo; parks and aquariums worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Loss of suitable habitat, the mortality of dolphins from entanglements and vessel strikes, and the possible effects of chemical, sewage and noise pollution on their health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN</strong> </a>Status: <strong>Vulnerable.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/global-eco-watch-chinese-pink-dolphin-numbers-rise-in-pearl-river-estuary-73842#:~:text=Chinese%20pink%20dolphins%20are%20making,of%20Shenzhen%2C%20Guangzhou%20and%20Dongguan." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dolphins-in-pearl-river-estuary'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Pro-Democracy Protests in Thailand',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Thailand&rsquo;s government banned gatherings of<strong> more than five people</strong> in the face of <strong>three months of escalating demonstrations</strong> that have targeted the <strong>King</strong> as well as the <strong>Prime Minister.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602937058_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602937058_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Initially, the government allowed peaceful and lawful protests but now stringent control, due to anarchy in protests.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The roots of the current discontentment go back to the <strong>2014 coup</strong> which brought the <strong>junta (military dictatorship)</strong> in power which tightened its grip on power and introduced more and more restrictions on the public.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>2017,</strong> the military introduced a <strong>new Constitution,</strong> which allowed the military to appoint a <strong>250-member Senate</strong> that would play a role in selecting the <strong>Prime Minister.</strong></li>
<li>The country held the <strong>delayed Parliamentary</strong> election in<strong> 2019,</strong> which was seen as a mere exercise to transfer power from the junta to an elected government.</li>
<li><strong>Role of Monarchy:</strong> Thailand&rsquo;s royal family has considerable influence over the country&rsquo;s political system and is revered by citizens. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Many, particularly young Thais, have increasingly started questioning the monarchy&rsquo;s role, its privileges, and the power it has exerted in the country for years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Latest Cause:</strong> Anti-government protests emerged last year after courts banned the most vocal opposition party. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This political party was relatively new, and had been formed in 2018, with the goals to restrain the military&rsquo;s powers and interference in the political spectrum and to tackle social and economic inequality in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Protest:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the protestors are students and young people in their 20s. There is<strong> no overall leader.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Key Groups:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Free Youth Movement,</strong> which was behind the first major protest in July.</li>
<li>The <strong>United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration,</strong> a student group from Bangkok&rsquo;s Thammasat University, which has championed calls for monarchy reform.</li>
<li>The<strong> Bad Student Movement</strong> of high-schoolers, which seeks education reform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demands:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reforms to the Monarchy:</strong> Students submitted 10 demands to the government, asking for a separation of the King&rsquo;s assets and the Crown Property Bureau (quasi-government institution to manage the monarch's property in Thailand).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They also wanted to cut the Palace&rsquo;s share in the national budget, a ban on the King from expressing his political views, and safeguards to prevent him from endorsing future coups.</li>
<li>Some protesters <strong>want to reverse a 2017 increase in the king&rsquo;s constitutional powers,</strong> made the year after he succeeded his widely revered late father King Bhumibol Adulyadej.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Lese Majeste Laws:</strong> The monarchy is protected by<strong> Section 112 of the Penal Code,</strong> which says whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent shall be jailed for three to 15 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This law has remained virtually unchanged since the creation of the country's first criminal code in 1908, although the penalty was toughened in 1976.</li>
<li>Protesters also seek the scrapping of<strong> lese majeste laws.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pro-democracy activists</strong> say that Thailand is backtracking on the constitutional monarchy established when absolute royal rule ended in<strong> 1932.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, the monarchy is too close to the army and argue that this has undermined democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Demands:</strong> The students have also called for the Prime Minister&rsquo;s resignation; a new Constitution; fresh, free and fair elections; and an end to attacks on dissidents and opposition parties such as the Future Forward Party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The democratic voice must be heard in Thai Protests not merely a promise of superficial democracy. For India also, it is a critical time to observe the outcome of the protest but wiser is to engage constructively with the regime in regard to democracy and human rights.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/thailand-protests-explained-6734960/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pro-democracy-protests-in-thailand'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Culture has issued guidelines for<strong> holding cultural events/activities in virtual/online mode</strong> under various scheme components of <strong>Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana</strong> (KSVY).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> and the resultant<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lockdowns</strong></a> have had a substantial <strong>impact on the performing arts and cultural sector</strong> with in-person exhibitions, events, and performances either cancelled or postponed.<strong> Example: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/behrupiya-folk-artiste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Behrupiyas</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The guidelines will <strong>enable artists to avail benefits under KSVY</strong> even if they are not able to stage programs in the physical format as before and will <strong>ensure continued financial assistance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana</strong> (KSVY) is an <strong>umbrella scheme</strong> under the Ministry of Culture for the <strong>promotion of art and culture</strong> in the country.</li>
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>central sector scheme.</strong></a></li>
<li>The ministry implements <strong>many schemes under KSVY,</strong> where the grants are sanctioned/approved for holding programs/activities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Scheme of Financial Assistance for Creation of Cultural Infrastructure.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-national-list-of-intangible-cultural-heritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage</strong></a>, which aims to promote the <strong>13 intangible cultural heritage of India,</strong> recognised by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization</strong></a> (UNESCO).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602936681_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602936681_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1665035" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kala-sanskriti-vikas-yojana'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Skewed Gender Ratio',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/population-fertility-rate-sex-ration-india-6758043/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The real population worry&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 17/10/2020. It talks about the worrisome trend in the decline of sex ratio at birth in India.</p>
</div>
<p>The recently released <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/population-explosion-and-fertility-rates#:~:text=Total%20Fertility%20Rate&amp;text=The%20latest%20estimates%20(for%202017,the%20end%20of%20childbearing%20age." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical report (2018)</strong> </a>which measures the global population projection, highlighted that fertility rate has been declining in India for some time now.</p>
<p>The report estimated that India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/population-explosion-and-fertility-rates#:~:text=Total%20Fertility%20Rate&amp;text=The%20latest%20estimates%20(for%202017,the%20end%20of%20childbearing%20age." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Total Fertility Rate</strong> </a>(TFR) was around 2.2 in the year 2018, which is close to the replacement rate of 2.1. This clearly marks the success of government measures to bring population control.</p>
<p>However, on flip side the SRS report highlights the declining sex ratio at birth in India that has further got reduced from 906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-the-world-population-2020-unfpa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of World Population 2020</strong></a> held that sex ratio at birth in India is lower than all the countries in the world except China.</p>
<p>Therefore, along with stabling of population , government and society needs to address the declining sex ratio and subsequenlty gender discrimination.</p>
<h3>Reasons For Skewed Sex Ratio</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gender Bias:</strong> According to information from the UNPFA, reasons for female infanticide include anti-female bias, as women are often seen as subservient to men, who often employ positions of power.</li>
<li><strong>Son-Preference:</strong> In addition, parents believe they will be better taken care of in their old age by men, as men are perceived as the principal wage earners of the family.</li>
<li><strong>Social Practices:</strong> Parents of girls are usually expected to pay a dowry, which could be a massive expense, avoided by raising males.</li>
<li><strong>Counter Effect of Rise in Income:</strong> Contrary to popular perception, in India&rsquo;s sex ratio at birth declined even as per capita income increased nearly 10 times over the last 65 years, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This could be because rising income, which results in increased literacy, makes it easier for families to access sex-selective procedures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Lower Sex ratio at Birth</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gender-imbalance:</strong> Prof. Amartya Kumar Sen, in his world famous article <strong>&ldquo;Missing Women‟</strong> has statistically proved that during the last century, 100 million women have been missing in south Asia.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is due to discrimination leading to death, experienced by them <strong>from womb to tomb in their life cycles.</strong></li>
<li>An adverse child sex ratio is also reflected in the distorted gender makeup of the entire population.</li>
<li>Acording to World Bank, in 2031, India will have 936 females per 1,000 males, lower than the sex ratio in 1951 of 946 females per 1,000 males.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Distortion in the Marriage System:</strong> Adverse ratio results in a gross imbalance in the number of men and women and its inevitable impact on marriage systems as well as other harms to women.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, some villages in Haryana and Punjab have such poor sex ratios that men <strong>&ldquo;import&rdquo; brides</strong> from other States. This is often accompanied by the exploitation of these brides.</li>
<li>There are concerns that skewed sex ratios lead to more violence against both men and women, as well as human-trafficking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bringing Behavioural Change:</strong> Increasing female education and economic prosperity help to improve the ratio. In this pursuit, The government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-its-sex-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Beti-Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign</strong></a> has achieved remarkable success in bringing behavioural change in the society.</li>
<li><strong>Sensitizing Youth:</strong> There is an urgent need to reach young people for reproductive health education and services as well as to cultivate gender equity norms.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Regarding the services of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)</strong></a> can be leveraged, especially in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stringent Enforcement of Law:</strong> India must implement the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pre-conception-and-pre-natal-diagnostic-techniques-pcpndt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994</strong></a> more stringently and dedicate more resources to fighting the preference for boys.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/medical-equipment-notified-as-drugs#:~:text=Drugs%20Technical%20Advisory%20Board%20is,related%20to%20drugs%20and%20cosmetics." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drugs Technical Advisory Board decision</strong></a> to include ultrasound machines in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Although India has created several impressive goals to reduce its population growth rates, India and the rest of the world has a long way to go to achieve meaningful population policy which are not only based on quantitative control but qualitative control as well.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602934862_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602934862_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-color: #ff0000; border-style: dotted; background-color: #f0ffed;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In view of the complexity of son meta-preference resulting in gender-biased sex selection, government actions need to be supplemented by improving women&rsquo;s status in the society. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZiKwdIpY_eY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/the-coal-to-methane-path-to-low-carbon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The coal-to-methane path to low-carbon&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Economic Times on October 14<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/skewed-gender-ratio'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Atomic Hydrogen Content of Galaxies',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In a significant discovery, the Pune-based <strong>Nationwide Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) and Raman Analysis Institute (RRI),</strong> Bengaluru have used the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-telescope-spots-distant-radio-galaxy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)</strong></a> to measure the <strong>atomic hydrogen</strong> content (of 8 billion years ago) of galaxies when the universe was young.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will <strong>help in unveiling the reason behind declining star formation in the Milky Way</strong> in the present time.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Study:</strong> For the first time the atomic hydrogen gas content of star forming galaxies for a past date (about 8 billion years ago) was measured with the help of the upgraded GMRT.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike stars which emit light strongly at optical wavelengths, the atomic hydrogen signal lies in the radio wavelengths, at a wavelength of 21 cm, and can only be detected with radio telescopes.</li>
<li><strong>Stacking:</strong> This 21 cm signal is intrinsically very weak, to overcome this limitation, the team used a technique called &ldquo;stacking&rdquo; to combine the 21 cm signals of nearly 8,000 galaxies that had earlier been identified with the help of optical telescopes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This method measures the average gas content of these galaxies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Discovery:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Galaxies in the universe are made up mostly of gas and stars, with gas being converted into stars throughout the life of a galaxy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Understanding galaxies requires us to determine how the amounts of both gas and stars change with time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The star formation activity in galaxies peaked about 8-10 billion years ago (galaxy was young) and has been declining steadily till today.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The cause of this decline was unknown as there had been no <strong>information regarding the amount of atomic hydrogen gas &mdash;</strong> the <strong>primary fuel for star formation</strong> &mdash; in galaxies in these early times.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The observed decline in star formation activity could thus be explained by the exhaustion of the atomic hydrogen. Given the intense star formation in these early galaxies, their atomic gas would be consumed by star formation in just one or two billion years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GMRT is an array of <strong>thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45 metre diameter.</strong> It is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. It is an<strong> indigenous project.</strong></li>
<li>It functions at the <strong>metre wavelength part of the radio spectrum</strong> because <strong>man-made radio interference is considerably lower</strong> in this part of the spectrum in India and there are <strong>many outstanding astrophysics problems</strong> which are best studied at metre wavelengths.</li>
<li>Detecting the 21 cm signal from the most distant galaxies in the universe was the main science goal of the GMRT, when it was designed and built by a team led by the late pioneering astrophysicist <strong>Govind Swarup</strong> in the 1980s and 1990s.</li>
<li>The big jump in sensitivity was due to the upgrade of the GMRT with new wide band receivers and electronics in 2017.</li>
<li>The<strong> location</strong> for GMRT, Pune meets several important criteria such as <strong>low man-made radio noise,</strong> availability of <strong>good communication,</strong> vicinity of <strong>industrial,</strong> educational and other infrastructure and, a geographical latitude sufficiently north of the geomagnetic equator in order to have a reasonably quiet ionosphere and yet be able to observe a good part of the southern sky as well.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-telescope-spots-distant-radio-galaxy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atomic-hydrogen-content-of-galaxies'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Bioremediation Mechanism for Oil Spills',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chnnai</strong> has developed an<strong> eco-friendly crude oil bioremediation mechanism technology</strong> using consortia (group of two or more species) of marine microbes<strong> wheat bran (WB)</strong> immobilized <strong>(microbes controlled degradation)</strong> on agro-residue bacterial cells.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Wheat bran</strong> is the hard outer layer of the <strong>wheat</strong> kernel. It's stripped away during the milling process.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Eco-friendly Crude Oil Bioremediation Mechanism Technology</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bioremediation:</strong> It can be defined as any process that uses microorganisms or their enzymes to remove and or<strong> neutralize contaminants within the environment to their original condition.</strong></li>
<li>In the marine ecosystem, deep sea<strong> hydrocarbonoclastic</strong> (ability to degrade hydrocarbon) microbial consortium plays an important role in breaking down <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oil-spill-in-siberia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>oil in the event of a spill.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The microbial community serves as <strong>energetic primary degraders</strong> of a complex mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons into various aldehydes, ketones and acidic metabolites.</li>
<li>These hydrocarbon degrading bacteria don&rsquo;t depend on hydrocarbons for survival, but have a metabolic mechanism where they use petroleum products as<strong> carbon and energy source</strong> and thus, help cleaning up oil spills.</li>
<li>The <strong>complete breakdown and degradation</strong> of crude oil is achievable using <strong>wheat bran marine bacterial consortia</strong> (which are <strong>low-cost non-toxic</strong> agro-residues) in an environmentally sustainable manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages of Immobilized State:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are more <strong>effective in their immobilised state</strong> than the free bacteria cells in degrading the oil spills. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They could remove 84% of the oils within 10 days. The free bacterial cells degraded a maximum of 60% of the crude oil at optimised conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are more<strong> versatile and resistant</strong> to adverse conditions.</li>
<li>They have<strong> efficacy in treating accidental bulk discharge of oil</strong> in marine environments through non-toxic clean-up technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Oil Spill</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> accidental/uncontrolled release</strong> of crude oil, gasoline, fuels, or other oil by-products into the environment. Oil spills can pollute land, air, or water, though it is mostly used for oceanic oil spills.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oil-spill-in-mauritius" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MV Wakashio spill off Mauritius</strong></a> &mdash; about 1,000 tonnes of oil spilled into a sanctuary for rare wildlife after the Japanese ship struck a coral reef in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cause:</strong> They have become a major environmental problem, chiefly as a result of <strong>intensified petroleum exploration and production</strong> on continental shelves and the transport of large amounts of oils in vessels.</li>
<li><strong>Measure: Cleaning</strong> up of the oil spillage from the oceans <strong>without damaging the marine ecosystem</strong> is becoming an increasingly challenging task.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Containment Booms:</strong> Floating barriers, called booms are used to restrict the spread of oil and to allow for its recovery, removal, or dispersal.</li>
<li><strong>Skimmers:</strong> They are devices used for physically separating spilled oil from the water&rsquo;s surface.</li>
<li><strong>Sorbents:</strong> Various sorbents (e.g., straw, volcanic ash, and shavings of polyester-derived plastic) that absorb the oil from the water are used.</li>
<li><strong>Dispersing agents:</strong> These are chemicals that contain surfactants, or compounds that act to break liquid substances such as oil into small droplets. They accelerate its natural dispersion into the sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/natural-disasters/microbes-to-fight-oil-spillage-in-oceans-indian-scientists-devise-new-technology-73828" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bioremediation-mechanism-for-oil-spills'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Guidelines for Digital Media Regulation',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Centre has announced <strong>new guidelines</strong> for <strong>digital news platforms.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>New Guidelines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has put emphasis on compliance to the <strong>26% <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-foreign-direct-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foreign Direct Investment</a> (FDI)</strong> cap under the government approval route in digital media.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>26% FDI through the government approval route in the digital media sector was brought in 2019. FDI in print media is capped at 26%, and that in TV news is 49%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The majority of the directors on the company&rsquo;s board, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company would have to be an<strong> Indian citizen.</strong></li>
<li>All foreign employees working for more than 60 days would need <strong>security clearance.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the government denies or withdraw security clearance, the digital media company will ensure that the concerned person resigns or his/her services are terminated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government has given a year to digital media news entities to align their shareholding with these requirements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Application:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The guidelines will be applicable to the following categories of entities registered or located in India: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Digital media entities</strong> which streams/uploads news and current affairs on websites, apps or other platforms.</li>
<li><strong>News agency</strong> which gathers, writes and distributes/transmits news, directly or indirectly, to digital media entities and/or news aggregators.</li>
<li><strong>News aggregator,</strong> an entity which uses software of web applications to aggregate news content from various sources, such as news websites, blogs, podcasts, video blogs, user submitted links, etc in one location.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be considering in the near future to extend the following benefits, presently available to traditional media (print and TV), to digital media entities also:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Press Information Bureau (PIB) accreditation</strong> for its reporters, cameramen, videographers enabling them with better first-hand information and access including participation in official press conferences and such other interactions.</li>
<li>Persons with PIB accreditation can also avail <strong>Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) benefits and concessional rail fare.</strong></li>
<li>Eligibility for digital advertisements through the Bureau of Outreach and Communication.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Similar to self-regulating bodies in print and electronic media, <strong>entities in digital media can form self-regulating bodies</strong> for furthering their interests and interaction with the Government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Threat of fake news, propaganda vehicles, foreign influence</strong> and <strong>interference in India&rsquo;s domestic affairs is more real than ever,</strong> particularly from <strong>India&rsquo;s hostile neighbours like China and Pakistan.</strong></li>
<li>The guidelines could help the government in <strong>tightening the noose on Chinese and other foreign companies</strong> who are making investments in digital media in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI is an <strong>investment made by a firm or individual</strong> in one country into business interests located in another country.</li>
<li>Generally, FDI takes place when an investor establishes foreign business operations or acquires foreign business assets, including establishing ownership or controlling interest in a foreign company.</li>
<li>It is different from <strong>Foreign Portfolio Investment</strong> where the foreign entity merely buys equity shares of a company. FPI does not provide the investor with control over the business.</li>
<li><strong>Routes</strong> through which India gets FDI:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Automatic Route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the RBI.</li>
<li><strong>Government route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity has to take the approval of the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal</strong> (FIFP) facilitates the single window clearance of applications which are through approval route.</li>
<li>This portal is administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/digital-media-news-aggregators-agencies-need-to-comply-with-26-fdi-cap-govt-6757990/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/guidelines-for-digital-media-regulation'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Bodoland Statehood Movement',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A <strong>new organisation</strong> (All India Bodo People&rsquo;s National League for Bodoland Statehood) has announced the <strong>revival of the Bodoland statehood movement</strong> ahead of the elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Bodos:</strong> These are the<strong> single largest community among the notified <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduled Tribes</a> in Assam.</strong> Part of the larger umbrella of<strong> Bodo-Kachari,</strong> the Bodos <strong>constitute about 5-6% of Assam&rsquo;s population.</strong></li>
<li><strong>About Bodo Statehood Movement:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1967-68: First organised demand</strong> for a Bodo state came under the banner of the political party <strong>Plains Tribals Council of Assam. </strong></li>
<li><strong>1986:</strong> The armed group Bodo Security Force arose, which subsequently renamed itself <strong>&lsquo;National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)&rsquo;,</strong> an organisation that is known to be involved in attacks, killings, and extortions. It later split into factions.</li>
<li><strong>1987:</strong> All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) renewed the demand.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>fallout of the Assam Movement (1979-85),</strong> whose culmination - <strong>the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-clause-6-of-assam-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Assam Accord</a></strong> - addressed the demands of protection and safeguards for the &ldquo;Assamese people&rdquo;, leading the Bodos to launch a movement to protect their own identity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1990s:</strong> Indian <strong>security forces launched extensive operations against the NDFB,</strong> causing the latter to flee to bordering Bhutan. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In Bhutan, the group faced stiff<strong> counter-insurgency operations</strong> by the Indian Army and the Royal Bhutan Army in the early 2000s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Interventions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1993 Bodo Accord:</strong> The ABSU-led movement from 1987 culminated in a 1993 Bodo Accord, which paved the way for a <strong>Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC),</strong> but ABSU withdrew its agreement and renewed its demand for a separate state.</li>
<li><strong>2003 Bodo Accord:</strong> In 2003, the second Bodo Accord was signed by the extremist group Bodo Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF), the Centre and the state. This led to the <strong>Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BTC is an <strong>autonomous body under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ladakh-under-sixth-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sixth Schedule</a></strong> of the Constitution.</li>
<li>The<strong> area under the jurisdiction of BTC</strong> was called the<strong> Bodo Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2020 Accord:</strong> The Central government signed a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bodo-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tripartite agreement</strong></a> with the state government and different Bodo groups, including four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), for a &ldquo;permanent&rdquo; solution to the Bodo issue. Some <strong>features:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602928645_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602928645_image2.png" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for<strong> &ldquo;alteration of area of BTAD&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;provisions for Bodos outside BTAD&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>BTAD was renamed Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).</strong></li>
<li>It provides for <strong>more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers</strong> to BTC.</li>
<li>Provision for <strong>rehabilitation of surrendered militants of NDFB</strong> and bringing<strong> a special development package of Rs. 1,500 crore</strong> for the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Present Revival of the Bodoland Statehood Movement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the new organisation, the new (2020) accord has been a <strong>betrayal of the Bodo people.</strong> Besides being an<strong> inferior accord,</strong> it <strong>prescribes a reduction of the area currently under the BTC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The accord has a provision for excluding from the BTR villages with more than 50% non-Bodos and including villages with more than 50% Bodo people left out of the BTC map after the 2003 accord.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>signatories of the accord will be under pressure</strong> to find a way out to ensure the successful implementation of the accord. Support of relevant organisations will be required.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>the opposition to the latest accord voiced by organisations of non-Bodo communities,</strong> including Koch-Rajbangshis, Adivasis and religious and linguistic minorities, has given rise to fears that if their grievances are not addressed, the ethnic fault lines in Assam will deepen. Thus, the accord&rsquo;s success will lie in the stakeholders working out a <strong>power-sharing arrangement</strong> in the BTR that <strong>privileges equity over hegemony.</strong></li>
<li>Peace will continue to be fragile in Assam&rsquo;s Bodo heartland until an <strong>all-inclusive power sharing and governance model</strong> is evolved under the<strong> provisions of the Sixth Schedule.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/new-group-to-revive-bodoland-statehood-stir/article32871458.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bodoland-statehood-movement'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'India & its Sex Ratio',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, C Rangarajan (former Chairman, Prime Minister&rsquo;s Economic Advisory Council) argued that there is an urgent need to reach young people <strong>both for reproductive health education and services </strong>as well as <strong>to cultivate gender equity norms.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>His arguments are based on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/declining-sex-ratio-and-fertility-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sample Registration System</strong></a> <strong>(SRS) Statistical Report (2018)</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-the-world-population-2020-unfpa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) State of World Population 2020.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>SRS Report</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SRS is the <strong>largest demographic sample survey</strong> in the country that among other indicators provide direct estimates of <strong>sex ratio, fertility rate etc.</strong> through a nationally representative sample.</li>
<li>It is brought by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decline-in-maternal-mortality-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Office of Registrar General</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>United Nation Population Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UNFPA is <strong>aimed at improving reproductive and maternal health</strong> worldwide. It is headquartered in <strong>New York.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sex Ratio at Birth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Biologically normal sex ratio at birth is 1,050 males to 1,000 females or<strong> 950 females to 1,000 males.</strong></li>
<li>The SRS Report 2018 shows that sex ratio at birth in India, <strong>declined marginally from 906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sex ratio is measured as the number of females per 1,000 males.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>UNFPA State of World Population 2020 estimated the sex ratio at birth in India as 910,</strong> which is on the lower side of index.</li>
<li>This is a cause for concern because this adverse ratio results in a gross imbalance in the number of men and women and its inevitable impact on marriage systems as well as other harms to women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Total Fertility Rate (TFR):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to SRS Report 2018, TFR has been declining in India for some time now. It <strong>declined from 2.4 to 2.2 during the period between 2011 and 2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2011, 10 states had a fertility rate<strong> below the replacement rate.</strong> This increased to 14 states in 2020.</li>
<li>Fertility is likely to continue to decline and it is estimated <strong>that replacement TFR of 2.1 would soon be reached for India</strong> as a whole.</li>
<li><strong>TFR</strong> is the number of children a mother would have at the current pattern of fertility during her lifetime.</li>
<li><strong>Replacement rate</strong> is the average number of children born per woman&mdash;at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Many people believe that the population would stabilise</strong> or begin to reduce in a few years once replacement fertility is reached.</li>
<li><strong>However, this is not so</strong> because of the <strong>population momentum effect,</strong> a result of more people entering the reproductive age group of 15-49 years due to the<strong> past high-level of fertility.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For instance, the replacement fertility level was reached in Kerala around 1990, but its annual population growth rate was 0.7% in 2018, nearly 30 years later.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Regressive Mindset:</strong> There is <strong>considerable son preference</strong> in all states, except possibly in <strong>Kerala and Chhattisgarh.</strong> This son&rsquo;s preference is derived from a regressive mindset. <strong>E.g.:</strong> People associate girls with dowry.</li>
<li><strong>Misuse of Technology:</strong> Cheaper technology like ultrasound helps in sex selection.</li>
<li><strong>Failure in Implementation of Law:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revoke-order-weakening-pcpndt-act-aidwa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prenatal Conception and Prenatal Determination Act (PC-PNDT), 1994</strong></a> which punishes healthcare professionals for telling expectant parents the sex of a child with imprisonment and hefty fines, has failed to control the sex selection.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reports found<strong> major gaps in the training of personnel implementing PC-PNDT.</strong> Poor training meant that they were <strong>unable to prepare strong cases against violators</strong> to secure convictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Illiteracy:</strong> Illiterate women in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years have higher fertility than literate women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiative- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The sharp decline in <strong>sex ratio</strong> as pointed by Census 2011 data called for urgent action. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme was launched in 2015 in Panipat, Haryana <strong>to address the issue of decline in child sex ratio</strong> and related issues of empowerment of girls and women over a life cycle continuum.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>triministerial effort</strong> of the ministries of Women and Child Development, Health &amp; Family Welfare and Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions Made:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing <strong>female education and economic prosperity</strong> will help to improve the ratio.</li>
<li>Rollout campaigns on <strong>sensitisation towards women and children,</strong> making <strong>women safety cells,</strong> ensuring the<strong> safety of women on public transport systems,</strong> making <strong>cyber-crime cells</strong> are some other initiatives that need to be taken.</li>
<li>In view of the complexity of son preference resulting in gender-biased sex selection, government actions need to be supplemented by <strong>improving women&rsquo;s status in the society.</strong></li>
<li>Reaching out to young people could reduce the effect of population momentum and accelerate progress towards reaching a more normal sex-ratio at birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite several policies and programmes, lower health outcomes for women and girl children still persist in India. Certain forms of discrimination, especially the son preference, reinforced by the techno-economic forces are eliminating the girl child (even from the womb).</li>
<li>Effective implementation of the existing women- and children-related policies, including<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-verdict-on-hindu-women-s-inheritance-rights#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20(SC,(Amendment)%20Act%2C%202005." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> women's property ownership</strong></a>, are required to empower women, to ensure girl child's survival, and to reduce gender gap in access to healthcare.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-ideas-why-india-must-urgently-step-up-efforts-to-improve-its-sex-ratio-6758099/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-its-sex-ratio'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Global Hunger Index 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India</strong> has been <strong>ranked at 94 among 107 countries</strong> in the <strong>Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Hunger Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Annual Report:</strong> Jointly published by <strong>Concern Worldwide</strong> and <strong>Welthungerhilfe.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was <strong>first produced in 2006.</strong> It is <strong>published every October.</strong> The<strong> 2020 edition</strong> marks the<strong> 15<sup>th</sup> edition of the GHI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels.</li>
<li><strong>Calculation:</strong> The <strong>GHI scores</strong> are calculated each year to assess progress and setbacks in combating hunger. It is calculated on the basis of<strong> four indicators:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Undernourishment:</strong> Share of the population with <strong>insufficient caloric intake.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Child Wasting:</strong> Share of children under age five who have<strong> low weight for their height,</strong> reflecting acute undernutrition.</li>
<li><strong>Child Stunting:</strong> Share of children under age five who have <strong>low height for their age,</strong> reflecting chronic undernutrition.</li>
<li><strong>Child Mortality:</strong> The mortality rate of children <strong>under the age of five.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scoring:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Based on the values of the four indicators, the GHI determines hunger on a <strong>100-point scale</strong> where<strong> 0</strong> is the<strong> best possible score</strong> (no hunger) and 100 is the worst.</li>
<li>Each country&rsquo;s GHI score is<strong> classified by severity,</strong> from low to extremely alarming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Worldwide Hunger:</strong> Represented by a <strong>GHI score of 18.2</strong> (moderate level), <strong>down from a 2000 GHI score of 28.2</strong> (serious).</li>
<li><strong>Factors:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20(WHO,31st%20December%2C%202019)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <strong>pandemic</strong> and the <strong>resulting economic downturn,</strong> as well as a <strong>massive outbreak of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/locusts-appeared-early-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">desert locusts</a></strong> in the Horn of Africa and other crises, are <strong>exacerbating food and nutrition insecurity</strong> for millions of people.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>2020 GHI scores do not reflect the impact of Covid-19</strong> on hunger and undernutrition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The above mentioned crises come on top of <strong>existing hunger</strong> caused by <strong>conflict, climate extremes,</strong> and<strong> economic shocks</strong> (random, unpredictable events).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Region-wise Performance: Africa South of the Sahara</strong> and<strong> South Asia</strong> have the <strong>highest hunger and undernutrition levels</strong> among world regions, with 2020 GHI scores of 27.8 and 26.0, respectively&mdash;both considered serious.</li>
<li><strong>SDG 2 Progress:</strong> The<strong> world is not on track to achieve the second <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goal</a></strong> - known as <strong>Zero Hunger</strong> for short -<strong> by 2030. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Overall Performance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With a <strong>score of 27.2,</strong> India has a level of hunger that is<strong> &ldquo;serious&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> ranks 94 out of 107 countries</strong> in the Index. In <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-hunger-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2019</strong></a>, India&rsquo;s rank <strong>was 102 out of 117 countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison with Other Countries: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India features behind</strong> Nepal (73), Pakistan (88), Bangladesh (75), Indonesia (70) among others.</li>
<li>Out of the total 107 countries, <strong>only 13 countries fare worse than India</strong> including countries like Rwanda (97), Nigeria (98), Afghanistan (99), Liberia (102), Mozambique (103), Chad (107) among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance on the Indicators:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Undernourishment: 14%</strong> of India&rsquo;s population is undernourished (2017-19). It was 16.3% during 2011-13.</li>
<li><strong>Child Wasting:</strong> 17.3% (2015-19), it was 15.1% in 2010-14.</li>
<li><strong>Child Stunting:</strong> 34.7%, it has improved significantly, from 54% in 2000 to less than 35% now.</li>
<li><strong>Child Mortality:</strong> 3.7%, it was 5.2% in 2012.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602922105_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602922105_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="262" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Some Related Initiatives by India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-edition-of-eat-right-mela" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eat Right India Movement</a>:</strong> An outreach activity organised by the <strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong> for citizens to nudge them towards eating right.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>POSHAN Abhiyaan</strong></a>: Launched by the <strong>Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2018,</strong> it targets to <strong>reduce stunting, undernutrition, anemia</strong> (among young children, women and adolescent girls).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana</strong></a>: A <strong>centrally sponsored scheme</strong> executed by the <strong>Ministry of Women and Child Development,</strong> is a <strong>maternity benefit programme</strong> being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1<sup>st</sup> January, 2017.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/milk-fortification-project#:~:text=Food%20Fortification%20or%20Food%20Enrichment,to%20improve%20their%20nutritional%20content." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Fortification</strong></a>: Food Fortification or Food Enrichment is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A &amp; D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-nation-one-ration-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Act, 2013</strong></a>: The National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013 legally entitled up to <strong>75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population</strong> to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Indradhanush</strong></a>: It targets <strong>children under 2 years of age and pregnant women</strong> for immunization against <strong>12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD).</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1#:~:text=Integrated%20Child%20Development%20Services%20(ICDS)%20Scheme&amp;text=It%20provides%20a%20package%20of,check%2Dup%20and%20referral%20services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme</strong></a>: Launched on<strong> 2<sup>nd</sup> October, 1975,</strong> the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme offers a package of <strong>six services (Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school non-formal education, Nutrition &amp; health education, Immunization, Health check-up and Referral services)</strong> to children in the age group of<strong> 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Governments, private actors, and NGOs should carefully coordinate their <strong>responses to overlapping food and health crises</strong> and work with community organizations to make sure interventions are culturally acceptable, reach the most vulnerable, and preserve local ecosystems.</li>
<li><strong>Food should be priced not only by its weight or volume but also by its nutrient density,</strong> its freedom from contamination, and its contribution to ecosystem services and social justice.</li>
<li>Governments should <strong>expand access to maternal and child health care,</strong> as well as <strong>education on healthy diets and child feeding practices.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Supporting smallholder farmers</strong> in becoming sustainable and diversified producers; governments and NGOs must seek to improve those farmers&rsquo; access to agricultural inputs and extension services, coupling local and indigenous agricultural knowledge with new technologies.</li>
<li><strong>Existing human rights-based multilateral mechanisms</strong> and international standards&mdash;such as the Committee on World Food Security&mdash;must be strengthened to support inclusive policy making and sustainable food systems.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-fares-poorly-in-hunger-index/article32876195.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-hunger-index-2020'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'First 'Har Ghar Jal' State: Goa',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Goa has become the first <strong>'Har Ghar Jal' State</strong> in the country as it successfully provided<strong> 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs)</strong> in the <strong>rural areas</strong> covering <strong>2.30 lakh rural households.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Early Achiever:</strong> State's commitment and brisk efforts have ensured advancement and achievement of targets well<strong> before time, i.e. 2024 at national level.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Annual Action Plan:</strong> Goa prepared the State's Annual Action Plan (AAP) to provide 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in rural areas by<strong> 2021.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Goa utilized the benefits of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong></a> which aims to improve the quality of life and bring 'ease-of-living' to rural communities.</li>
<li>Accordingly, fund allocation from the Union to Goa in 2020-21 has been increased to Rs. 12.40 Crore for the plan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Convergence of Schemes:</strong> The State explored through convergence of various programmes like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swachh-bharat-mission-grameen-phase-ii-approved" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong></a> for rural local bodies, etc. for strengthening of drinking water sources, water supply, grey water (any domestic wastewater excluding sewage) treatment &amp; re-use and operation &amp; maintenance.</li>
<li><strong>Water Testing Facilities:</strong> The State is in process of getting <strong>14 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-lab-directory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)</a></strong> accredited <strong>water quality testing laboratories.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jal Jeevan Mission mandates<strong> training 5 persons in every village especially women</strong> to be trained in using<strong> Field Test Kits,</strong> so that water can be tested in the villages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong> envisages supply of <strong>55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.</strong></li>
<li>JJM focuses on <strong>integrated demand and supply-side management of water</strong> at the local level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like <strong>rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse,</strong> would be undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Mission is based on a <strong>community approach to water</strong> and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission.</li>
<li>JJM looks to<strong> create a jan andolan for water,</strong> thereby making it everyone&rsquo;s priority.</li>
<li><strong>Funding Pattern:</strong> The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The total allocation to the scheme is over ₹3 lakh crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Having achieved universal access, the State now plans for a sensor-based <strong>service delivery</strong> monitoring system so as to monitor the functionality of water supply i.e. potable water in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality.</li>
<li>Goa&rsquo;s achievement is an <strong>example for other States to emulate</strong> and ensure every rural home gets tap connection.</li>
<li>Especially in these times of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic, it is all the more imperative to have assured safe water supply within households.</li>
<li>This silent revolution happening in rural India in terms of household tap water connections is a work in progress for a <strong>&lsquo;New India&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1663200" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-har-ghar-jal-state-goa'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Increased Emissions of N2O',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a recent research paper, <strong>human emissions of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uk-to-support-nitrogen-research-in-india#:~:text=Nitrogen%20is%20potent%20greenhouse%20gas,house%20gas%20than%20carbon%20dioxide.&amp;text=Other%20than%20air%20pollution%2C%20nitrogen,health%2C%20economy%2C%20and%20livelihoods." target="_blank" rel="noopener">nitrous oxide</a></strong> (N<sub>2</sub>O) have<strong> increased by 30% between 1980 and 2016.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The research was conducted through an international collaboration between the <strong>International Nitrogen Initiative</strong> (INI) and the<strong> Global Carbon Project of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-future-of-earth-2020-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Future Earth</a></strong>, a partner of the <strong>World Climate Research Programme.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Nitrous Oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>greenhouse gas</strong></a> (GHG) <strong>300 times more potent than carbon dioxide</strong> (CO<sub>2</sub>).</li>
<li>It has the<strong> third-highest concentration, after CO<sub>2</sub> and <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-671" target="_blank" rel="noopener">methane</a></strong> (CH<sub>4</sub>), in Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere among GHGs responsible for global warming.</li>
<li>N<sub>2</sub>O is also the <strong>only remaining threat to the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ozone" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ozone</a></strong> (O<sub>3</sub>) <strong>layer,</strong> for it accumulates in the atmosphere over a long period of time, just like CO<sub>2</sub>.</li>
<li>It can<strong> live in the atmosphere for up to 125 years.</strong></li>
<li>Its global concentration levels have increased from <strong>270 parts per billion</strong> (ppb) in 1750 to<strong> 331 ppb in 2018,</strong> a jump of 20%.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The growth has been the <strong>quickest in the past five decades because of human emissions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research and the Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the <strong>most comprehensive study</strong> of global N<sub>2</sub>O emissions ever published, as it <strong>combines both natural and anthropogenic</strong> (man-made) sources.</li>
<li>The study found that <strong>43% of the total emissions came from human sources</strong> and <strong>most N<sub>2</sub>O emissions came from emerging countries</strong> like India, China and Brazil.</li>
<li>Increase in its emissions means that the <strong>climatic burden on the atmosphere is increasing from non-carbon sources</strong> as well, while the major focus of global climate change negotiations is currently centred on carbon, its emissions and mitigation.</li>
<li>It also highlighted the dichotomy of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-in-climate-change-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate crisis</a> and global <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food security.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A major proportion of the N<sub>2</sub>O emissions in the last four decades came<strong> from the agricultural sector,</strong> mainly because of the use of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revamping-the-agricultural-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nitrogen-based fertilisers.</strong></a></li>
<li>The <strong>growing demand</strong> for food and feed for animals will <strong>further increase its global emissions,</strong> leading to a direct<strong> conflict between the way countries are feeding people and stabilising the climate.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>well-established practices and technologies</strong> like <strong>crop and manure management,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bio-capsules-for-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>use of bio-fertilisers</strong></a>, to mitigate N<sub>2</sub>O emissions which <strong>need to be utilised to their full extent.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Revised industrial and agricultural policies</strong> at the global level will reduce such emissions considerably.</li>
<li><a href="/mains-practice-question/question-36" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reducing GHGs emissions</strong> </a>will also have the<strong> co-benefits</strong> of reduced <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>air</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deteriorating-water-quality" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>water pollution.</strong></a></li>
<li>There is a <strong>need to bring the non-carbon sources under the major global climate change negotiations.</strong></li>
<li>It is possible to slow down N<sub>2</sub>O emissions if countries implement the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>Global Campaign on Sustainable Nitrogen Management, 2019</strong> held in <strong>Colombo, Sri Lanka.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The focus of the event was to finalise the <strong>Colombo Declaration</strong>, a follow <strong>up on the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNEA 4 Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management</a></strong> which aims to further the dialogue on Nitrogen management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602914010_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602914010_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/nitrous-oxide-human-emissions-increased-30-in-36-yrs-report-73741#:~:text=Human%20emissions%20of%20nitrous%20oxide,existence%20of%20humans%20on%20Earth." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increased-emissions-of-n2o'
	]
]
$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` 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'
	],
	'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) 26
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 275
$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

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Search

Search list matched with tags “class”