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Air Pollution in Delhi

Every year during the onset of winter Delhi's air quality begins to fall. Air pollution in India is estimated to kill 1.5 million people every...

16 Oct 2018 News Analysis
RBI to Buy G-Secs

The Reserve Bank India has announced that it will purchase government securities worth $120 billion under Open Market Operations to cater for durable...

16 Oct 2018 News Analysis
GEAC Seeks Information from Bangladesh on Bt Brinjal

Recently, India’s biotech regulator, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), has sought information about Bt brinjal (a genetically...

16 Oct 2018 News Analysis
Important Facts for Prelims (16th October 2018)

QS ranking for Indian universities Recently Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has launched its first India-specific rankings- India University Rankings....

16 Oct 2018 News Analysis
J.S. Verma Committee on Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act

Union Ministry for Women and Child Development will set up a committee of senior judicial and legal persons to look into the legal and institutional...

15 Oct 2018 News Analysis
GRAP to be Enforced in Delhi-NCR

Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) will implement an emergency action plan in Delhi to tackle rising air...

15 Oct 2018 News Analysis
The Challenges for Fintech Adoption in India

(The editorial is based on the article “The challenges for fintech adoption in India” which appeared in LiveMint on 15th October 2018....

15 Oct 2018 News Editorials
Cyclone Titli

Cyclone Titli has become the third major cyclone to hit the Odisha-Andhra coastal zone in the last five years, all in October. The other two were...

15 Oct 2018 News Analysis
Windmills Not so Green for Wildlife

Windmills are seen as a source of green energy, but researchers have found that they pose a threat to wildlife in forests through collisions and...

15 Oct 2018 News Analysis
The Big Picture: Challenges For Working Mothers

The photograph on social media of a hard-working lady cop discharging her duties with her infant daughter not merely won her appreciation, but also...

15 Oct 2018 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
NHRC

(The editorial is based on the article “More teeth for NHRC” which appeared in The Indian Express on 11th October 2018. It explains...

13 Oct 2018 News Editorials
India Elected to UNHRC

India has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019. The...

13 Oct 2018 News Analysis
Mission to Sequence Genes of Indians

India is planning a major mission to sequence the genes of a large group of Indians similar to projects in the United Kingdom, China, Japan and...

13 Oct 2018 News Analysis
Ministry’s Report on Road Accidents in India

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways released The Road Accidents in India report for 2017. Findings of the report The year 2017 saw 4.65 lakh...

13 Oct 2018 News Analysis
Important Facts for Prelims (13th October 2018)

Sikkim Won UN-backed Award India’s first fully organic state, Sikkim, won Future Policy Award 2018. Sikkim’s policies of green...

13 Oct 2018 News Analysis
Indian Society

2018 1. “Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence caste system cannot be eradicated in India.”...

12 Oct 2018 Paper By Subject
Important Facts for Prelims (12th October 2018)

Global Financial Stability Report-October 2018 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR)...

12 Oct 2018 News Analysis
Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) in India. The centre would aim to bring...

12 Oct 2018 News Analysis
Not Without Her Consent

(The editorial is based on the article “Not without her consent” which appeared in The Hindu on 12th October 2018. It provides an...

12 Oct 2018 News Editorials
6 Ways To Turn Around India’s Jobs Problem

(The editorial is based on the article “6 Ways to turn around India’s jobs problem” which appeared in Livemint on 11th October...

11 Oct 2018 News Editorials

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Air Pollution in Delhi',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Every year during the onset of winter Delhi's air quality begins to fall.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Air pollution in India is estimated to kill 1.5 million people every year. It is the fifth largest killer in India.</li>
<li>According to air quality data compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Delhi&nbsp;is the world&rsquo;s most polluted city.<strong></strong></li>
<li>According to the WHO, India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma. Air pollution also impacts the environment through reduced visibility, acid rain, and formation of ozone at <g class="gr_ gr_80 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="80" data-gr-id="80">tropospheric</g> level.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for Deteriorating Air Quality of Delhi</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Stubble Burning:&nbsp;</strong>National capital shares its border with the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. One of the main reasons for increasing air pollution during the month of October-November is crop burning by the farmers in these states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers burn rice stubbles in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. It is estimated that approximately 35 million tonnes of <g class="gr_ gr_78 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="78" data-gr-id="78">crop</g> are set afire by these states. The wind carries all the pollutants and dust particles, which have got locked in the air.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vehicular Emission: </strong>Delhi has more than 9 million registered vehicles. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) have declared vehicular emission as a major contributor to Delhi&rsquo;s increasing air pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Weather: </strong>During&nbsp;the winter season,&nbsp; dust particles and pollutants in the air become unable to move. Due to stagnant winds, these pollutants get locked in the air, resulting in smog.</li>
<li><strong>High Density: </strong>With more than 11000 people per square kilometer, Delhi is among the most densely populated cities in the world.&nbsp;Over-population adds up to the various types of pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Infrastructure:&nbsp;</strong>In India, investment in public transport and infrastructure is low which leads to congested roads, and hence air pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Construction Activities and Open waste burning:&nbsp;</strong>Large-scale construction in Delhi-NCR is another culprit that is increasing dust and pollution in the air. Delhi also has landfill sites for dumping of waste, burning of waste in these sites also contributes to air pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Thermal Power Plant and Industries:</strong> Industrial pollution and garbage dumps are also increasing air pollution and building-up smog in the air.</li>
<li><strong>Firecrackers:&nbsp;</strong>Despite the ban on cracker sales in 2017, firecrackers were a common sight in Diwali. It is the major reason for smog in Delhi after Diwali.</li>
<li><strong>Diesel generators:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>A large number of housing societies and businesses resort to using diesel generators as alternate for power supply during cuts. Diesel generators contribute approximately 15 percent to the city&rsquo;s air pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Dust Storm from Gulf countries: </strong>During the smog in the year 2017, the dust storm from Gulf countries was also the reason which enhanced already worse condition.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps were taken by the government to tackle pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To tackle Stubble burning
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government is giving subsidy to farmers for buying Turbo Happy Seeder(THS) which is a machine mounted on a tractor that cuts and uproots the stubble and also drill wheat seeds.</li>
<li>Punjab and Haryana procure stubble and straw for biofuel plants and in the waste-to-energy power generation plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Graded Response Action Plan(GRAP):
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/grap-to-be-enforced-in-delhi-ncr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government has implemented GRAP</a> to tackle with the rising pollution in Capital. It includes the measures like shutting down Badarpur Thermal Power Plant and a ban on construction activities.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the&nbsp;government has also launched a pollution forecast system for New Delhi.</li>
<li>The central government released the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for public information under the aegis of the Central Pollution Control Board.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AQI has been developed for eight pollutants&mdash; PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The April 2020 deadline for the country to implement BS-VI (Bharat Stage-VI is the Indian equivalent to Euro VI) grade fuels was advanced for Delhi to April 1, 2018, because of the extremely high levels of air pollution in the city.</li>
<li>Construction of Eastern and Western Expressways for by-passing non-destined traffic to Delhi.</li>
<li>A ban on burning of leaves/ biomass in Delhi.</li>
<li>Prohibition on the entry of overloaded and non-destined trucks in Delhi and imposition of &lsquo;Green Tax&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Out of 2800 major industries, 920 industries have installed on-line continuous (24x7) air pollution monitoring devices; others are in process of installation.</li>
</ul>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/air-pollution-in-delhi'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'RBI to Buy G-Secs',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Reserve Bank India has announced that it will purchase government securities worth $120 billion under Open Market Operations to cater for durable liquidity needs.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The purchase of government securities by the RBI under OMOs will infuse liquidity into the system. In India, liquidity conditions usually tighten during the second half of the financial year (mid-October onwards). This happens because the pace of government expenditure usually slows down, even as the onset of the festival season leads to a seasonal spike in currency demand. Moreover, activities of foreign institutional investors, advance tax payments, etc. also cause an ebb and flow of liquidity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This could arm banks with more funds for lending, and lead to softer interest rates in the economy. This is good news for both businesses as well as individuals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The liquidity requirements, are of two types &mdash; temporary and durable.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Short-term or temporary liquidity</strong> arises out of temporary mismatches between assets and liabilities. To meet such a situation, banks approach the money market (In India, the <strong>call money market</strong>).</li>
<li>The call money market can, however, be the answer only in situations where some banks have excess liquidity and some others are in deficit. But there can be situations where the temporary need may be felt by the entire banking system. In that situation, the only recourse is to go to the central bank. The various types of repo facilities are meant to meet this requirement.</li>
<li><strong>Long-term or durable liquidity</strong> is met by modulating the net foreign assets and net domestic assets growth over the course of the year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The offers will be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>E-Kuber</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>e-Kuber is the Core Banking Solution of Reserve Bank of India which was introduced in 2012.</li>
<li>Core Banking Solutions (CBS) can be defined as a solution that enables banks to offer a multitude of customer-centric services on a 24x7 basis from a single location, supporting retail as well as corporate banking activities.</li>
<li>The centralisation thus makes a &ldquo;one-stop&rdquo; shop for financial services a reality. Using CBS, customers can access their accounts from any branch, anywhere, irrespective of where they have physically opened their accounts.</li>
<li>Almost all branches of commercial banks, including the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), are brought into the core-banking fold.</li>
<li>The e-kuber system can be accessed either through INFINET or Internet. The INFINET is a Closed User Group Network for the exclusive use of member banks and financial institutions and is the communication backbone for the National Payments System.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>G-Secs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Government Security (G-Sec) is a tradable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.</li>
<li>It acknowledges the Government&rsquo;s debt obligation. Such securities are short term (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year- presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 364 day) or long term (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).</li>
<li>In India, the Central Government issues both, treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).</li>
<li>G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments.&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: 400;">Gilt-edged securities are high-grade investment bonds offered by governments and large corporations as a means of borrowing funds.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-keeps-policy-rates-unchanged" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about Instruments of Monetary Policy...</a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-to-buy-g-secs'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'GEAC Seeks Information from Bangladesh on  Bt Brinjal',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, India&rsquo;s biotech regulator, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), has sought information about Bt brinjal (a genetically modified crop) from Bangladesh, where farmers have been growing the crop since 2013.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bacillus Thuringiensis Brinjal, popularly known as Bt brinjal, has been at the centre of controversy in India.</li>
<li>Bt brinjal, a genetically modified strain created by India's seeds company Mahyco in collaboration with American multinational Monsanto, claims to improve yields and help the agriculture sector.</li>
<li>The transgenic variety is said to resist an attack from a deadly fruit and shoot borer, one of the major insect-pests of brinjal.</li>
<li>However, the safety of Bt brinjal has been debated by the scientists working for the government, farmers and environment activists.</li>
<li>Environment activists say the effect of GM (genetically modified) crops on rats have shown to be fatal for lungs and kidneys. It is dangerous to introduce these experimental foods into the market without proper research.</li>
<li>Further, Indian farmers would have to depend on Multinational Corporations for seeds which would be a threat to India's agriculture as the supply of seeds will be regulated and thus will be costlier.</li>
<li>While Bt. Brinjal was cleared for commercialization by GEAC in 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Forest put a moratorium on its release in 2010 till scientific studies establish the safety of the product from the point of view of its long-term impact on human health and environment.</li>
<li>India is yet to approve any GM technology in food crops, including GM mustard developed by the Delhi University. In 2002, India had approved Bt cotton, the only non-food GM crop which is grown in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent developments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GEAC noted that Bangladesh had approved the same Mahyco&rsquo;s Bt Brinjal technology in 2013 and 50,000 farmers in the country are currently growing the vegetable.</li>
<li>The committee asked the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to obtain relevant information and data on the post commercial release effects of Bt brinjal from Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute.</li>
<li>The GEAC decided this on hearing a request made by Mahyco (developer of transgenic brinjal) seeking permission for large-scale environmental release and demonstration of Bt brinjal.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC).</li>
<li>It is responsible for the appraisal of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.</li>
<li>The committee is also responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.</li>
<li>GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&amp;CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Important Facts for Prelims (16th October 2018)	',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>QS ranking for Indian universities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has launched its first India-specific rankings- India University Rankings. This is the first edition of the rankings exclusively for Indian institutions.</li>
<li>It is the second country-specific rankings conducted by QS. The first was released for China.</li>
<li>QS is a UK based global higher education company which brings out the QS World University Rankings, the world&rsquo;s most widely-consulted list of its kind.</li>
<li>The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, has secured the top spot followed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru.</li>
<li>The rankings reflect the top 75 Indian universities. Of these, at least seven IIT's are ranked in <g class="gr_ gr_60 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="60" data-gr-id="60">top</g> ten.</li>
<li>The indicators for ranking are &ndash; academic reputation (30 percent), employer reputation (20 percent), faculty-student ratio (20 percent), research citations per faculty member (20 percent), <g class="gr_ gr_51 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="51" data-gr-id="51">proportion</g> of international students (2.5 percent) and proportion of international faculty (2.5 percent).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Pandavani Artist Teejan Bai Honoured by Japan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently folk artist Teejan Bai from Chhattisgarh received Japan&rsquo;s one of the greatest honours, the Fukuoka Arts and Culture Prize for her art Pandavani.</li>
<li>Earlier, the Fukuoka Art Prize had been awarded to Indian musician, A.R. Rahman.</li>
<li>The Award to Teejan Bai can reflect India&rsquo;s strengthened soft power in East Asia.</li>
<li>Pandavani (literally meaning 'songs of the Pandavas'), a folk theatre form involves enacting and singing with instrumental accompaniment ektara or tambura in one hand and sometimes a <g class="gr_ gr_121 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="121" data-gr-id="121">kartal</g> in another.</li>
<li>It is rustic entertainment, popular in the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh and neighbouring States.</li>
<li>Sangeet Natak Akademi (National level academy of performing arts under Ministry of Culture) has initiated the documentation and promotion of this theatre form.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mithun or Gayal (Bos Frontalis)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The killing of at least 10 Mithuns has sparked tension between villagers on <g class="gr_ gr_62 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="62" data-gr-id="62">inter-State</g> border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Mithun is the State animal of Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>The mithun or gayal (Bos frontalis), considered a descendant of the Indian Gaur or bison, plays an important role in the socio-economic and cultural life of tribes such as the Nyishi, Apatani, Galo, Mishmi, Adi, Sherdukpen and other communities of Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>They are considered sacred because mithun sacrifice is compulsory in all ceremonial rituals.</li>
<li>The Mithun is often referred to as &lsquo;the cattle of the mountains&rsquo; and &lsquo;ship of the highland&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Mithun prefers cold and mild climates, and feeds on forest leaves, shrubs and grass. It has a high fertility rate, producing one calf every year.</li>
<li>It has been classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-16th-october-2018'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'J.S. Verma Committee on Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Union Ministry for Women and Child Development will set up a committee of senior judicial and legal persons to look into the legal and institutional framework to curb sexual harassment at workplaces following the #MeToo campaign on social media.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Justice JS Verma committee was set up after the Nirbhaya incident of December 2012 and submitted its recommendations on strengthening the laws to curb crimes against women.</li>
</ul>
<h3>JS Verma Committee recommendations on Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act:</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Justice J.S. Verma Committee had recommended<strong> setting up of an employment tribunal instead of an internal complaints committee</strong> (ICC) in the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act.</li>
<li>To ensure speedy disposal of complaints, the committee proposed that the tribunal should not function as a civil court but may choose its own procedure to deal with each complaint.</li>
<li>An internal complaints committee as laid down under the act could be counterproductive as dealing with such complaints in-house could discourage women from filing complaints.</li>
<li>Domestic workers should be included within the purview of the Act.</li>
<li>The Committee has termed the Sexual Harassment Act &ldquo;unsatisfactory&rdquo; and said it did not reflect the spirit of the Vishakha guidelines &mdash; framed by the Supreme Court in 1997 to curb sexual harassment at the workplace.</li>
<li>The Committee said any &ldquo;unwelcome behavior&rdquo; should be seen from the subjective perception of the complainant, thus broadening the scope of the definition of sexual harassment.</li>
<li>The Verma panel said an employer should be held liable if
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>he or she facilitated sexual harassment</li>
<li>permitted an environment where sexual misconduct becomes widespread and systematic</li>
<li>Where the employer fails to disclose the company&rsquo;s policy on sexual harassment and ways in which workers can file a complaint</li>
<li>When the employer fails to forward a complaint to the tribunal</li>
<li>The company would also be liable to pay compensation to the complainant</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The panel opposed penalizing women for false complaints as it can potentially nullify the objective of the law.</li>
<li>The Verma panel also said that the time-limit of three months to file a complaint should be done away with and a complainant should not be transferred without her consent.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act defines sexual harassment at the workplace and creates a mechanism for redressal of complaints. It also provides safeguards against false or malicious charges.</li>
<li>Every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee at each office or branch with 10 or more employees.</li>
<li>The Complaints Committees have the powers of civil courts for gathering evidence.</li>
<li>The Complaints Committees are required to provide for conciliation before initiating an inquiry if requested by the complainant.</li>
<li>Penalties have been prescribed for employers. Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine.</li>
<li>Repeated violations may lead to higher penalties and cancellation of license or registration to conduct business.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-s-verma-committee-on-sexual-harassment-at-workplace-act'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'GRAP to be Enforced in Delhi-NCR',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) will implement an emergency action plan in Delhi to tackle rising air pollution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The emergency plan is called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).</li>
<li>Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forests &amp; Climate Change (MoEFCC) after the order of Supreme Court of December 2016.</li>
<li>GRAP includes the measures which will be taken by different government agencies to prevent worsening of Air Quality of Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) and prevent PM10 and PM2.5 levels to go beyond &lsquo;moderate&rsquo; national Air Quality Index (AQI) category.</li>
<li>The EPCA is mandated to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the city as per the pollution levels.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Types of measures under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Measures to be taken are divided into different categories based on the Pollution level:</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 19px; background-color: #74f748;"><strong>Category</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 19px; background-color: #74f748;"><strong>Ambient Particulate Matter (PM) Concentration</strong></td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 19px; background-color: #74f748; text-align: center;"><strong>Measures</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 19px; text-align: center;"><strong>Moderate to Poor</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 19px;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM 2.5 between 61-120 &micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
<li>PM10 between 101-350 &micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 19px; text-align: justify;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Enforce pollution control in thermal power plants</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Mechanized sweeping on roads</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Ban on firecrackers</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Stop garbage burning</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 19px; text-align: center;"><strong>Very Poor</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 19px;"><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM2.5 between 121-250&micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
<li>PM10 between 351-430 &micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 19px;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Stop use of diesel generator sets</li>
<li>Increase bus and metro services and increasing frequency of metro service</li>
<li>Stop use of coal/firewood in hotels and open eateries</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 63px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 63px; text-align: center;"><strong>Severe</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 63px;"><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM2.5 more than 250&micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
<li>PM10 more than 430&micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 63px;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increase frequency of mechanized sweeping of road and sprinkling of water on roads</li>
<li>Close brick kilns, Hot Mix plants, Stone Crushers</li>
<li>Shut down Badarpur power plant</li>
<li>Introduce concessional rates to encourage off-peak travel in public transport.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 88px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 88px; text-align: center;"><strong>Severe+ or Emergency</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 88px;"><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM2.5 of or more than 300&micro;g/m<sup>3</sup></li>
<li>PM10 of or 500&micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
</ul>
<strong>(persist for 48 hours or more)</strong></td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 88px;"><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Stop entry of diesel trucks into Delhi (except essential commodities)</li>
<li>Stop construction activities</li>
<li>Introduce odd and even scheme</li>
<li>Shutting of schools</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<div class="border-bg"><strong>National Air Quality Index (AQI)</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Air Quality Index (AQI) is under the aegis of the CPCB.</li>
<li>AQI has been developed to inform people about the level of eight pollutants&mdash; PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/grap-to-be-enforced-in-delhi-ncr'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'The Challenges for Fintech Adoption in India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(The editorial is based on the article &ldquo;The challenges for fintech adoption in India&rdquo; which appeared in LiveMint on 15th October 2018. It analyses the challenges and opportunities for fintech in India.)</p>
</div>
<p>New digital technologies have been playing an important role in transforming economies through inclusion across the globe. Fintech (Financial technology) is one among those technologies.</p>
<p>The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group recently launched the Bali Fintech Agenda, a set of 12 policy elements aimed at helping member countries to harness the benefits and opportunities of rapid advances in financial technology that are transforming the provision of banking services, while at the same time managing the inherent risks. Bali Fintech Agenda provides a framework to support the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in low-income countries, where access to financial services is low,</p>
<h3>What is fintech?</h3>
<p>Fintech describes an emerging financial services sector in the 21st century. Originally, the term applied to technology applied to the back-end of established consumer and trade financial institutions. Since the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the term has expanded to include any technological innovation in the financial sector, including innovations in financial literacy and education, retail banking, investment and even crypto-currencies like bitcoin.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bali Fintech Agenda</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Embrace the Promise of Fintech</strong> with its far-reaching social and economic impact, particularly in low-income countries, small states, and for the underserved, and prepare to capture its possible wide-ranging benefits, including: increasing access to financial services and financial inclusion; deepening financial markets; and improving cross-border payments and remittance transfer systems.</li>
<li><strong>Enable New Technologies to Enhance Financial Service</strong> Provision by facilitating foundational infrastructures, fostering their open and affordable access, and ensuring a conducive policy environment.</li>
<li><strong>Reinforce Competition and Commitment</strong> to Open, Free, and Contestable Markets to ensure a level playing field and to promote innovation, consumer choice, and access to high-quality financial services.</li>
<li><strong>Foster Fintech to Promote Financial Inclusion and Develop Financial Markets</strong> by overcoming challenges related to reach, customer information, and commercial viability, and by improving infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Monitor Developments</strong> Closely to Deepen Understanding of Evolving Financial Systems to support the formulation of policies that foster the benefits of fintech and mitigate potential risks.</li>
<li><strong>Adapt Regulatory Framework and Supervisory Practices</strong> for Orderly Development and Stability of the Financial System and facilitate the safe entry of new products, activities, and intermediaries; sustain trust and confidence; and respond to risks.</li>
<li><strong>Safeguard the Integrity of Financial Systems</strong> by identifying, understanding, assessing, and mitigating the risks of criminal misuse of fintech, and by using technologies that strengthen compliance with anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures.</li>
<li><strong>Modernize Legal Frameworks</strong> to Provide an Enabling Legal Landscape with greater legal clarity and certainty regarding key aspects of fintech activities.</li>
<li><strong>Ensure the Stability of Domestic Monetary and Financial Systems</strong> by considering the implications of fintech innovations to central banking services and market structure.</li>
<li><strong>Develop Robust Financial and Data Infrastructure to Sustain Fintech</strong> benefits that are resilient to disruptions&ndash;&ndash;including from cyber-attacks&ndash;&ndash;and that support trust and confidence in the financial system by protecting the integrity of data and financial services.</li>
<li><strong>Encourage International Cooperation and Information-Sharing</strong> across the global regulatory community to share knowledge, experience, and best practices to support an effective regulatory framework.</li>
<li><strong>Enhance Collective Surveillance</strong> of the International Monetary and Financial System and the adaptation and development of policies to support inclusive global growth.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>In India, government efforts at the Centre and in the states have used fintech to push for inclusion, aided by the concurrent growth in internet and smartphone penetration. Demonetization and digital India moves gave boost for the adoption of fintechs in India. India&rsquo;s interoperable payment infrastructure through the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) continues to provide a strong business case. According to EY&rsquo;s Fintech Adoption Index 2017 (Ernst &amp; Young), India has the second highest fintech adoption rate in the world.</p>
<p>Since the fintech is one among fast-moving technologies, it comes with challenges.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Going digital for payments can be complicated in an economy like India&rsquo;s which is dominated by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as they cannot bear the costs.</li>
<li>The adoption of fintech is skewed in India but because of lower margin per transaction, larger payment gateways target only handful of large retailers. MSMEs account for only about 5% of $12-14 billion spent.</li>
<li>Coming up with sustainable business models which does not overload consumers with extra charges is also one of the challenges.</li>
<li>Regulatory uncertainty in the fintech sector is making things complicated for both fintech service providers and consumers..</li>
<li>Lack of clarity and legality among fintech companies about KYCs itself is another major challenge.</li>
<li>Knowledge of these digital payments platforms is restricted to the bigger cities of India while rural India struggles to make its way through.</li>
<li>There is a gap regarding people&rsquo;s current ability, desire, and need for fintech services. Filling up the gap and making the ends meet is a task for fintech product providers.</li>
<li>Cyber security threats and lack of regulatory mechanisms comes as a major problem for the expansion of services.</li>
<li>The fintech sector is still regulated by banking regulations. Although RBI has allowed small banks and payment banks in the recent past, a lot of impediments still remain in the path of innovative fintech players. It&rsquo;s like asking them to operate with one hand tied behind their backs.</li>
<li>Relatively weak infrastructure such as underdeveloped payment systems, lack of customer credit data, legal enforcement mechanisms for payment obligations, power, weak Internet coverage is also a drawback.</li>
<li>Underdeveloped technology and venture capital ecosystems, shortage of skilled tech/finance entrepreneurs, small markets, limited revenue potential is also one of the major challenges.</li>
<li>Cash dominance in transactions, informal credit and savings and lack of digital literacy is also a hindrance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fintech providers have to consider the need of customers while developing a payment solution.</li>
<li>The availability of small change, which is often refused by banks owing to high storage and transportation costs, inevitably finds its way to small merchants and households, and is used for low-value transactions such as the daily purchase of milk. Payment gateways can address the issue taking it as an opportunity.</li>
<li>Fintech providers should work towards the last mile digitization of cash.</li>
<li>Infrastructure development is the need of hour and it should be addressed for the expansion of services.</li>
<li>Awareness should be created and digital literacy must be improved to understand and analyse the pros and cons of these services. It will help customers to make choices.</li>
<li>Fintechs should come up with sustainable business models. It is important not to impose further costs on the end customer or create a solution that merely pushes the consumer issues further down the value chain.</li>
<li>There is need to support the formulation of policies that foster the benefits of fintech and mitigate potential risks.</li>
<li>Government should set the platform for smooth operations of start-ups with favourable policies and tax incentives specific to the fintech sector.</li>
</ul>
<p>The success or failure of digitizing rests on demonstrating personal value to the end consumer in switching from cash to digital payments. Reaping these benefits requires strengthening of institutional capacity, expanding outreach to stakeholders, and adopting a cross-agency approach involving relevant ministries and agencies.So that the fast moving technology which is a boon for growing economy does not turn into a curse.</p>
<p><a href="http://drishtiias.com/images/uploads/941ey-canada-fintech-wheel%20(JPEG).jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://drishtiias.com/images/uploads/941ey-canada-fintech-wheel (JPEG).jpg" width="729" height="625" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-the-challenges-for-fintech-adoption-in-India'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Cyclone Titli',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Cyclone Titli has become the third major cyclone to hit the Odisha-Andhra coastal zone in the last five years, all in October. The other two were Phailin and Hudhud.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cyclone Titli has been named by Pakistan.</li>
<li>Both the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea experience cyclonic events, however the frequency and intensity of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal is higher. Moreover, nearly 58% of cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal reach the coast as compared to only 25% of those formed in the Arabian Sea.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Cyclone</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The reason that cyclones such as Titli, Phailin (2013) and Hudhud (2014) typically strike in October is that wind shear (the difference within wind speeds and direction at two different levels) is low during this time; low wind shear, when combined with surface sea temperatures greater than 26&deg;C, raises the likelihood of cyclones. In monsoon season, cyclones are rare because of high wind shear.</li>
<li>Since sea surface temperatures and humidity both directly correlate with chances of cyclone formation, the Bay of Bengal is a more likely target because it gets higher rainfall, and because the slow winds around it keep temperatures relatively high: about 28 degrees around the year. Warm air currents enhance this surface temperature and aid the formation of cyclones.</li>
<li>In addition, the Bay receives higher rainfall and constant inflow of fresh water from the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. This means that the Bay&rsquo;s surface water keeps getting refreshed, making it impossible for the warm water to mix with the cooler water below, making it ideal for a depression.</li>
<li>On the other hand, the Arabian Sea receives stronger winds that help dissipate the heat, and the lack of constant fresh water supply helps the warm water mix with the cool water, reducing the temperature.</li>
<li>Due to the lack of any large landmass between the Pacific and the Bay of Bengal, cyclonic winds easily move into the Bay of Bengal. Once here, the winds encounter the Western Ghats and the Himalayas, either becoming weak or getting blocked in the Bay, but never reaching the Arabian Sea.</li>
<li>Adjacent to the northwest Pacific, which is one of the world&rsquo;s most active basins for typhoons, the Bay of Bengal receives the remnants of major landfalls in the Philippines, China and South Asia. From these places come low-pressure systems that develop into a monsoon depression or a cyclone.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Prediction and Evacuation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to scientists, the prediction is difficult because of budgetary and meteorological factors. E.g.:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US has dedicated aircraft that fly directly into the clouds to study moisture levels and gather various data on cyclone profile. While, India largely rely on satellite images (a top view) that reveals little data on moisture content and intensity. Indian scientists get a more detailed picture only when a cyclone is 300-400 km from the coast, which reduces preparation time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The evacuation exercises are classified into three types:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Preventive- &nbsp;In preventive (or horizontal) evacuation, the impact area is meant to be completely evacuated, but this is a measure rarely taken in India because of poor roads and inadequate public transportation. Also, poor people rarely have the resources to find alternative accommodation.</li>
<li>Shelter-in-place evacuation involves fortification of existing houses and community buildings, which again required financial resources.</li>
<li>Vertical evacuation, people are directed to specially designed buildings within the impact area. This strategy was largely followed during Cyclone Titli.</li>
</ol>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/twin-cyclones-luban-and-titli-keep-indian-seas-active" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about Cyclone Titli</a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-titli'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Windmills Not so Green for Wildlife',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Windmills are seen as a source of green energy, but researchers have found that they pose a threat to wildlife in forests through collisions and noise.</p>
<h3>Wind Energy in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wind energy is the kinetic energy generated due to the movement of wind. Wind speed of essentially 14-16 km/h is required for rotating the turbines. Wind energy accounts for 70% of the total renewable energy installed in India.</li>
<li>Tamil Nadu has by far the largest installed wind capacity in India, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan.</li>
<li>In Paris Agreement India has aimed to achieve 60 GW of total installed capacity in wind energy by 2022.</li>
<li>It has also come out with a &lsquo;National Offshore Wind Energy Policy&rsquo;, aiming to harness wind power along India&rsquo;s 7,500 km coastline.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact on the Wildlife</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers found that there are about 50% fewer birds in the areas of windmills compared to undisturbed sites.</li>
<li><strong>Collisson</strong>:&nbsp;The researchers from Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) have found that windmills kill birds and bats in collisions.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has also led to their movement to the fringes of forests which might increase conflict with humans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Noise</strong>: Birds and mammals have moved away due to noise made by windmills.The noise levels near windmills go up to 85 decibels (dB), which is the equivalent to that of large trucks.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The drone of a turbine, which operates day and night, is above 70 dB (noise in urban areas is 55 dB and even in industrial areas, is lower at 75dB).</li>
<li>Ambient noise in forests is less than 40 dB.</li>
<li>Due to noise pollution by windmills, herbivores have moved away, with predators following them. For eg: In Karnataka different types of antelopes-four-horned, chinkara, and blackbuck moved away towards fringes of forests consequently followed by their predators such as wolves and small carnivores. This is bound to increase the man-animal conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Forests and Wildlife departments have assured that the impact of windmills on birds and mammals will be looked into by them and guidelines will be drawn to mitigate these effects.</li>
<li>Protocols and policy guidelines have been called for, before diverting forest land for wind farms.</li>
<li>Project developers are required to collect data through monitoring efforts at existing and proposed wind energy sites.</li>
<li><strong>Careful site selection</strong> is needed to minimize fatalities and in some cases additional research may be needed to address bird and bat impact issues.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SACON , established in 1990 at Anaikatti, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) is a national centre for information, education and research in ornithology and natural history in India.</li>
<li>It was named after Dr. Salim Ali in appreciation of his lifelong services to India's bird life and conservation of natural resources.</li>
<li>It designs and conducts research in ornithology covering all aspects of biodiversity and natural history.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/windmills-not-so-green-for-wildlife'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Challenges For Working Mothers',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OqWuYlLwBzQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The photograph on social media of a hard-working lady cop discharging her duties with her infant daughter not merely won her appreciation, but also made the police brass sit up and promptly transfer the woman to the district of her choice. Like any other day, Archana Jayant was present along with her six-month-old daughter, Anika, in the police station in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district, but was clicked by someone and her picture went viral on social media last week. The Deputy Inspector General of Police applauded the dedication of Archana who also has a 10-year-old daughter. The plight of scores of other working mothers is no different from Archana's.</p>
<p>The situation of working mothers is less than satisfactory. Because of the lack of proper infrastructure means, working mothers are suffering both as breadwinners and as caregivers in their respective families. Several women give up their careers and lifestyle due to lack of adequate facilities and stereotype. The plight of women working in the unorganized sector is even worse.</p>
<h3>Challenges Faced by Working Mothers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A working mother can be defined as a woman with the ability to combine a career with the added responsibility of raising a child.</li>
<li>First and foremost, it is difficult to work even as a woman. Leave alone as a mother.</li>
<li>Recovery of women from <strong>childbirth stress</strong> and their resumption of work and family responsibilities are mainly influenced by factors like work condition, e.g., the timing of return to work, work pressure, relations with her colleagues, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of social support</strong> increases job stress, which in turn, affects the mental health of the employed mother.</li>
<li><strong>Unequal Partnerships at home-</strong> From past generations, it is upheld by the society that cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the needs of the family is the priority for any woman. In such an environment, people including the members of the family expect the working mother to play the role of homemaker once she comes back home after a long tiring day at work.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of good Daycare Centres and Cr&egrave;ches-</strong> Even though many daycare centers and cr&egrave;ches have mushroomed over the years in most metropolitan cities, finding one with certified professionals is really hard. Child abuse in such daycare centers has become another cause of concern for mothers.</li>
<li>Most of these centers also don&rsquo;t follow the proper guidelines given by the concerned authorities regarding setting up and running such places. Security issues force many new mothers to leave their professional career to look after their newborn baby.</li>
<li>There is a lack of strict implementation of The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017.</li>
<li><strong>Increasing number of Nuclear Families-</strong> There was a time when joint families were the norm and the extended family as a whole used to take care of the children&rsquo;s welfare. Now the situation has changed and there is an increase in the number of nuclear families in the society. With elders missing in the present scenario, the entire responsibility falls upon the mother.</li>
<li>The plight of working mothers in the informal sector is even more deplorable. Neither cr&egrave;che facility nor maternal benefits are accorded to them and low income aggravates their condition.</li>
<li><strong>Only 5-6% of the women in the workforce are in the organized sector</strong>. The rest are in the unorganized sector. 42% of women are working in the agricultural sector without having the knowledge of basic laws to protect them.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><em>DRISHTI INPUT</em></p>
<p><strong>Provisions of Maternity Benefit Act, 2017</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increased Paid Maternity Leave:</strong> The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act has increased the duration of paid maternity leave available for women employees from the existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks.</li>
<li><strong>Maternity leave for adoptive and commissioning mothers:</strong> Maternity leave of 12 weeks to be available to mothers adopting a child below the age of three months from the date of adoption as well as to the &ldquo;commissioning mothers&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Work from Home option: T</strong>he Act has also introduced an enabling provision relating to "work from home" for women, which may be exercised after the expiry of the 26 weeks' leave period.</li>
<li><strong>Cr&egrave;che facility:</strong> The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act makes cr&egrave;che facility mandatory for every establishment employing 50 or more employees. Women employees would be permitted to visit the cr&egrave;che 4 times during the day (including rest intervals).</li>
<li>The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act makes it <strong>mandatory for employers to educate women about the maternity benefits</strong> available to them at the time of their appointment.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government should frame a robust legal and policy framework. This framework should be dynamic in nature, that is, as time progress the law should evolve, incorporating the necessary changes.</li>
<li>Most importantly, making women aware of the laws and policies, both in the informal and the formal sector can help the working mothers fight the odds.</li>
<li>Empower the civil society to take up the responsibility in furtherance of women cause.</li>
<li>The judiciary has to step in, for speedy discharge of cases on child abuse and child neglect cases. The pendency of cases <g class="gr_ gr_102 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="102" data-gr-id="102">too</g> discourages women to move court. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 which empowers working mother, should be properly implemented.</li>
<li>Most of the establishments in the country do not provide a safe and adequate environment for the working of the mothers, including physical infrastructure. The government should include a cr&egrave;che building mechanism in various schemes and should also subsidize the same.</li>
<li>The last but not least, the sense of guilt that is forcibly thrust upon a working mother should be no more. Society has to refrain itself from defining the mother as &ldquo;only&rdquo; caregivers. A mother can be both, a care provider as well as a bread earner.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-challenges-for-working-mothers'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'NHRC',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(The editorial is based on the article &ldquo;More teeth for NHRC&rdquo; which appeared in The Indian Express on 11<sup>th</sup> October 2018. It explains concerns related to National Human Rights Commision.)</p>
</div>
<p>Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.</p>
<p>Protection of human rights have been a core concern of United Nations since its establishment.The fear of further violation of human rights worldover made United Nations General Assembly to adopt the Paris Principles on Human Rights. Adoption of Paris Principles led to the constitution of national human rights institutions in almost every country.</p>
<p>The Paris Principles is a set of international standards which frame and guide the work of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) .</p>
<p>In India, National Human Rights Commission which is called as the &ldquo;watchdog of human rights&rdquo; takes the responsibility of protecting the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual. NHRC has marked its 25th year anniversary this year. It is a statutory body constituted under Protection of Human Rights (PHR) Act 1993.It has been stuck in controversies since its formation.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>To strengthen National Human Rights Commission, the government seeks to introduce amendments to the Act in Parliament&rsquo;s 2018 Winter Session.</p>
<p>Union Cabinet has already approved the Protection of Human Rights (Amendments) Bill, 2018.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill provides that only a person who has been Chief Justice of India, or a Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chairperson of the NHRC.</li>
<li>Bill proposes to include one member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights within its fold as a deemed member as well as a woman member.</li>
<li>It proposes to enlarge the scope of eligibility and selection of the Chairperson of the NHRC as well as of State Human Rights Commissions.</li>
<li>It also proposes to incorporate proper mechanism in the functioning of NHRC.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Role of NHRC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NHRC holds a record of disposal of more than 17 lakh cases, payment of more than one billion rupees to the victims of human rights violations by various state agencies and more than 750 on-spot inquiries .</li>
<li>It takes suo moto action or on a petition presented to it or on an order of a court.</li>
<li>NHRC takes responsibility to monitor human rights safeguards.</li>
<li>It makes recommendations to the Government in making policies.</li>
<li>It also extends cooperation to NGOs working for the protection of human rights.</li>
<li>It reviews the safeguards provided by the Constitution or any law for the time being in force for the protection of human rights and recommends measures for their effective implementation.</li>
<li>NHRC studies treaties and other international instruments on human rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation.</li>
<li>It spreads human rights literacy among various sections of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars and other available means.</li>
<li>It undertakes research in the field of human rights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Criticism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The selection committee tasked with appointing the Chairperson and the members to the Commission is dominated by the ruling party. Political interference in its working is a major drawback.</li>
<li>Supreme Court called the NHRC a &ldquo;toothless tiger&rdquo;,as it does not have powers to penalise the offenders.There is a conflict of interest, as the Police officials on deputation, investigating for the NHRC remain attached to their home cadre. The NHRC urgently requires officers of its own to carry out independent investigations, and the government should provide it resources for the same.</li>
<li>Functions of the commission are mainly recommendatory in nature. And the recommendations are not binding on the concerned authorities.</li>
<li>The working of NHRC officials is not supervised.Officials do not owe financial accountability to the Comptroller and Auditor General, and have often been accused of human rights violations themselves.</li>
<li>Recruitment procedure is obscure and there is lack of transparent recruitment mechanism.The criteria to assess candidates is also not specified.</li>
<li>The investment mechanism by the Commission is not clearly defined.</li>
<li>Commission has a limited role with respect to the violation of human rights by the members of armed forces.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is thus a need to diversify the selection committee.Efficiency of working of NHRC can be improved if the recruitment procedure becomes transparent.</li>
<li>Specific time-frames should be fixed for the thorough and expeditious completion of investigations.</li>
<li>Human Rights education should be promoted in India to make the population aware about rights.</li>
<li>The dominance of judiciary&rsquo;s presence in the Commission needs to be balanced out by the inclusion of civil society members and academicians with proven track record in the field of human rights. The diversification can bring with it the grass roots level experience, widespread community outreach and the expertise of these organisations or individuals.</li>
<li>Special Cells should be constituted under the concerned District Magistrates to follow the progress of the investigation of cases not entrusted to the CBI,these should be monitored by the Additional Director-General.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1993 under a legislation enacted by the Parliament, namely, the Protection of Human Rights Act,1993.</li>
<li>It is a statutory body.</li>
<li>In 1993, the UN General Assembly adopted the Paris Principles on Human Rights. This led to the constitution of national human rights institutions in almost every country.</li>
<li>The commission is a multi-member body consisting of a chairman and four members.</li>
<li>The commission&rsquo;s headquarters is at Delhi and it can also establish offices at other places in India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-elected-to-unhrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more</a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-nhrc'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'India Elected to UNHRC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>India has been elected to the United Nations Human&nbsp;Rights Council (UNHRC) for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The elections for selecting new members to UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) were held at the United Nations in which the 193-members of the UN General Assembly took part.&nbsp;</li>
<li>India received 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category.</li>
<li>India was vying for a seat in the Asia Pacific category, which has 5 seats in UNHRC. Along with India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji, and the Philippines were also elected to UNHRC from Asia-Pacific.</li>
<li>India has previously served in Human Rights Council&nbsp;from 2011-2014 and 2014-2017.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India's election with the highest number of votes reflects India's standing in the international comity.</li>
<li>It recognizes India's commitment towards the protection of Human Rights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Criticism of Election</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Human Rights NGO, Human Rights Watch has criticized the election saying that the election was devoid of any competition and countries with the worst Human rights records like Philippines, Eritrea, Bahrain etc. have been elected in UNHRC.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About UNHRC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.</li>
<li>The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis from 5 groups.</li>
<li>To become a member, a country must receive the votes of at least 96 of the 191 states of the UN General Assembly (an absolute majority).</li>
<li>The members are elected for a period of three years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Silver Jubilee of National Human Rights Council (NHRC)</strong><strong></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India's top human rights body, NHRC has completed 25 years of its formation.</li>
<li>The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India was established on 12 October 1993.</li>
<li>It is a statutory body established under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.</li>
<li>It is based on the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Paris in October 1991.</li>
<li>The NHRC is an embodiment of India&rsquo;s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-elected-to-unhrc'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Mission to Sequence Genes of Indians',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>India is planning a major mission to sequence the genes of a large group of Indians similar to projects in the United Kingdom, China, Japan and Australia.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will improve health as well as facilitate designing of &lsquo;personalised medicine.&rsquo;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Personalized Medicine is the concept that managing a patient's health should be based on the individual patient's specific characteristics, including age, gender, height/weight, diet, environment, etc. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pharmacogenetics (also termed pharmacogenomics) is the field of study that examines the impact of genetic variation on the response to medications.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This approach is aimed at tailoring drug therapy at a dosage that is most appropriate for an individual patient, with the potential benefits of increasing the efficacy and safety of medications</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></i></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This was among the key decisions taken at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in its first meeting.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Biotechnology (Ministry of Science and Technology) would be closely associated with the project.</li>
<li>It can be noted that a group of Indian scientists and companies are already involved with a 100k GenomeAsia project, which aims to sequence the whole genomes of 100k Asians, including 50,000 Indians.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Prime Minister&rsquo;s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The PM-STIAC (Science, Technology, Innovation Advisory Committee), was constituted in August, 2018 to advise the Prime Minister on all matters related to S&amp;T, innovation and monitor the implementation as well.</li>
<li>It is a 21-member committee, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government, presently K Vijay Raghavan.</li>
<li>PM-STIAC replaced the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to PM and Cabinet.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Genome Sequencing</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes.</li>
<li>Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome&mdash;the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism's DNA.</li>
<li>It is method of isolating and identifying variable elements within the base-pair sequence of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) as it shows high degree of polymorphism (variation) at genetic level. Polymorphism forms the basis of genome sequencing since DNA from every tissue (such as blood, hair-follicle, skin, bone, saliva, sperm etc.) from an individual show the same degree of polymorphism</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ever since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, meaning, that the entire DNA pattern in the cell that lends people their unique identity was deciphered, several countries have announced initiatives to map genomes of their resident populations.</li>
<li>The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in 2009 announced that it had sequenced the genome of an Indian, then making India one of six countries to achieve such a feat.</li>
<li>However, no compendium of genes that differentiate Indian populations from, say Caucasian or African genomes exist. Therefore, the announcement by PM-STIAC is aimed to create such mapping of population of India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Human Genome Project </strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international, collaborative research program whose goal was the complete mapping and understanding of all the genes of human beings. HGP researchers have deciphered the human genome in three major ways: determining the order or "sequence" of all the bases in our genome's DNA; making maps that show the locations of genes for major sections of all our chromosomes; and producing what are called linkage maps.</li>
<li>It&nbsp; was a result of the International Human Genome Project comprising scientists from the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan and China. The Project began in 1990, and the sequencing was completed in 2003.</li>
<li>The HGP has revealed that there are probably about 20,500 human genes. The completed human sequence can now identify their locations. This information can be thought of as the basic set of inheritable "instructions" for the development and function of a human being.</li>
<li>The International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium published the first draft of the human genome in 2001 with the sequence of the entire genome's three billion base pairs some 90 percent complete.</li>
<li>Thereafter, the United Kingdom announced a plan in 2014 to create a bank of 100,000 genomes in the nation which was followed by GenomeAsia 100K project announced by the National Technological University (NTU), Singapore.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Mission to Sequence Genes of Indians'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Ministry’s Report on Road Accidents in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways released The Road Accidents in India report for 2017.</p>
<h3>Findings of the report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The year 2017 saw 4.65 lakh road accidents that killed 1.48 lakh and injured 4.71 lakh people.</li>
<li>Major reasons for Deaths in Road Accident:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>overspeeding (~66%)</li>
<li>Use of mobile phones (~2%)</li>
<li>driving on the wrong side (~6%)</li>
<li>drunken driving (~3%)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The road accidents in the country fell by around 3% as compared to 2016.</li>
<li>Tamilnadu reported the highest number of accidents, around 75000 in one year, followed by Madhya Pradesh (~57000) and Karnataka(~52000).</li>
<li>More number of accidents were recorded in the Southern States, more deaths were recorded in the Northern States.</li>
<li>Young adults in the age group of 18 - 45 years accounted for around 72% of victims during 2017.</li>
<li>People in the working age group of 18- 60 years accounted for a share of around 87% in the total road accident fatalities.</li>
<li>In terms of accidents on road categories, the National Highways accounted for 30% of total road accidents and 36% of deaths in 2017.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Justice K.S. RadhaKrishnan Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Supreme Court had set up the three-member KS Radhakrishnan panel on road safety in April 2014. The SC had termed the roads in India as &ldquo;giant killers&rdquo;</li>
<li>The main recommendations of the committee were:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ban on the sale of alcohol on highways (both state and national) to restrain drunk driving.</li>
<li>The states were directed to implement laws on wearing helmets.</li>
<li>Audit of road safety to be implemented by states to ensure the safety standards in the design, construction, and maintenance of roads.</li>
<li>The committee stressed on the importance of creating awareness among people on road&nbsp;safety rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It proposes to create a National Register for Driving Licence and a National Register for Vehicle registration through &ldquo;Vahan&rdquo; and &ldquo;Sarathi&rdquo; web portals. This is in order to smoothen the process of registration and licensing.</li>
<li>It proposes alterations in vehicles, in order to make them suitable for specially-abled people.</li>
<li>It provides for a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, which would provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents.</li>
<li>It provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the Central Government through a notification. The Board will provide advice to the Central and State Governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management.</li>
<li>Contractors, consultants, and civic agencies will be accountable for faulty design, construction or poor maintenance of roads leading to accidents. Those found guilty would be penalized up to Rs 1 lakh.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The declaration was signed at the Second Global High-Level conference on Road Safety held in Brazil in 2015.</li>
<li>Through the Brasilia Declaration Countries plan to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 which aims to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020.</li>
<li>The main points of the Brasilia Declaration are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Countries should form transport policies in order to favor more sustainable modes of transport such as walking, cycling and using public transport.</li>
<li>It highlights strategies to ensure the safety of all road users
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>by improving laws and enforcement</li>
<li>making roads safer through infrastructural modifications</li>
<li>ensuring that vehicles are equipped with life-saving technologies</li>
<li>enhancing emergency trauma care systems</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ministrys-report-on-road-accidents-in-india'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Important Facts for Prelims (13th October 2018)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Sikkim Won UN-backed Award</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s first fully organic state, Sikkim, won Future Policy Award 2018.</li>
<li>Sikkim&rsquo;s policies of green agriculture have helped more than 66,000 farmers, boosted tourism and has set an example for others to follow.</li>
<li>Sikkim was declared fully organic in 2016 after phasing out chemical fertilizers and pesticides and substituting them with sustainable alternatives.</li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s award was for agroecology. This award has previously honored policies combating desertification, violence against women and girls, nuclear weapons and pollution of the oceans.</li>
<li><strong>Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems.</strong></li>
<li>It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while taking into consideration the social aspects that need to be addressed for a sustainable and fair food system.</li>
<li>The Future Policy Award 2018 is convened by the Food Agriculture Organization, the World Future Council, IFOAM-Organics International with the support of Green Cross International, DO-IT - Dutch Organic International Trade and Sekem Group (Egypt).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Kaziranga National Park</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kaziranga National park (KNP) reopens for tourists after a gap of around six months.</li>
<li>KNP, formed in 1908 is located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots - Golaghat and Nagaon district.</li>
<li>In the year 1985, the park was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.</li>
<li>It was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2006.</li>
<li>Also, the park is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. It is home to the world's largest population of Indian Rhinoceros.</li>
<li>The park area is circumscribed by the Brahmaputra River, which forms the northern and eastern boundaries, and the Mora Diphlu, which forms the southern boundary. Other notable rivers within the park are the Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri.</li>
</ul>
<h3><g class="gr_ gr_45 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="45" data-gr-id="45">Baavan</g> Buti</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <g class="gr_ gr_53 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="53" data-gr-id="53">Baavan</g>&nbsp;Buti is a weaving technique from Nalanda, Bihar. It draws its name from 52 (<g class="gr_ gr_55 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="55" data-gr-id="55">baavan</g>) motifs used in the handloom.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sujini Embroidery</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sujini, an embroidery technique from Bihar, is used to make blankets or bed-spread.</li>
<li>Sujini was given protection under GI registration tag in 2006.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sabai Weaving</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Odisha&rsquo;s Mayurbhanj district is home to Sabai grass (Eulaliopsis <g class="gr_ gr_49 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="49" data-gr-id="49">binata</g>) that has been used in making ropes and other products for centuries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Atal Innovation Mission &amp; SIRIUS Educational Foundation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To promote innovative cooperation between students of India and Russia, a Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged between India&rsquo;s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the Russian Federation&rsquo;s SIRIUS Educational Foundation.</li>
<li>The MoU plans to:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Remove cultural and language barriers between students of Russia and India.</li>
<li>Share the best practices in the promotion of educational, scientific, innovative achievements, promote innovative cooperation.</li>
<li>Search and develop talented youth of both countries fostering a knowledge driven innovation ecosystem in both the countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg" p=""><strong>Atal Innovation Mission</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is NITI Aayog&rsquo;s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India.</li>
<li>AIM has been established to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in a holistic manner through various initiatives at school, university and industry levels.</li>
<li>AIM also serves as a platform for promotion of world-class Innovation Hubs, Grand Challenges, Start-up businesses and other self-employment activities in India, leveraging state of the art, advanced and affordable emerging technologies.</li>
<li>The Atal Innovation Mission has thus two core functions:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Innovation promotion: to provide a platform where innovative ideas are generated.</li>
<li>Entrepreneurship promotion: Wherein innovators would be supported and mentored to become successful entrepreneurs at Incubation Centres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>SIRIUS Educational Foundation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SIRIUS Educational Foundation has been founded by &ldquo;Talent and success&rdquo; Foundation and Government of Russia.</li>
<li>Fund &ldquo;Talent and success&rdquo; is a unitary, non-profit, non-standard educational organization in Russia .</li>
<li>The activities of the Foundation are aimed to identify and support children and young people who have shown outstanding abilities.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-13th-october-2018-'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Indian Society',
			'catname' => 'Paper By Subject',
			'desc' => '<h2>2018</h2>
<p>1. &ldquo;Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence caste system cannot be eradicated in India.&rdquo; Comment.</p>
<p>2. &lsquo;Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing&rsquo;. Explain by giving reasons.</p>
<p>3. How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism? Discuss.</p>
<p>4. &lsquo;Women&rsquo;s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.&rsquo; Substantiate your view.</p>
<p>5. &lsquo;Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society.&rsquo; Elucidate.</p>
<p>6. &lsquo;Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation&rsquo;. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2017</h2>
<p>7. In the context of the diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than the States? Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint.</p>
<p>8. What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)?</p>
<p>9. The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate.</p>
<p>10. Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.</p>
<h2>2016</h2>
<p>11. To what extent globalisation has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain.</p>
<p>12. &ldquo;An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.&rdquo; Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.</p>
<p>13. Why are the tribals in India referred to as &lsquo;the Scheduled Tribes&rsquo;? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.</p>
<p>14. What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on <g class="gr_ gr_75 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="75" data-gr-id="75">regional</g> basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.</p>
<h2>2015</h2>
<p>15. Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.</p>
<p>16. Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India.</p>
<p>17. How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?</p>
<p>18. Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades.</p>
<p>19. Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India.</p>
<p>20. Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for <g class="gr_ gr_71 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="71" data-gr-id="71">assertion</g> of Dalit identity work towards <g class="gr_ gr_72 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="72" data-gr-id="72">annihilation</g> of caste.</p>
<h2>2014</h2>
<p>21. How does patriarchy impact the position of a <g class="gr_ gr_77 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="77" data-gr-id="77">middle class</g> working woman in India?</p>
<p>22. Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.</p>
<p>23. The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.</p>
<p>24. Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.</p>
<p>25. How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?</p>
<h2>2013</h2>
<p>26. Discuss the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.</p>
<p>27. &ldquo;Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women&rsquo;s organization free from gender bias.&rdquo; Comment.</p>
<p>28. Critically examine the effect of globalization on the aged population in India.</p>
<p>29. Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in <g class="gr_ gr_73 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="73" data-gr-id="73">generation</g> of demand for a separate State. Discuss.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mains-previous-year-papers/subject-wise-papers/mains-previous-years-paper-indian-society'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Important Facts for Prelims (12th October 2018)	',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Global Financial Stability Report-October 2018</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) that assesses the stability of global financial markets and emerging-market financing. It is released twice per year, in April and October.</li>
<li>The report analyses the key risks to global financial stability takes stock of the global regulatory reform agenda over the past decade and looks at whether the global financial ecosystem since the crisis (2008 financial crisis) has evolved in the intended direction.</li>
<li>GFSR-2018 says that a stronger dollar, higher credit spreads, weaker equity prices, and higher domestic interest rates have led to a tightening of financial conditions in recent months which may lead to the fall in inflows from emerging markets.</li>
<li>This drop in inflows will pose challenges to countries that rely heavily on external financing. In other words, financing India&rsquo;s rising current account deficit is going to be challenging. It will also impact sovereign and corporate borrowers that are dependent on external financing.</li>
<li>According to the report, the broad regulatory agenda set by the international community has helped strengthen the global banking system.</li>
<li>However, it has warned that the regulators and supervisors must remain attentive to new risks, including possible threats to financial stability stemming from cybersecurity, financial technology, and other institutions or activities outside the perimeter of prudential regulation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Black leopard In Tadoba Andheri Forest Reserve</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The black leopard, seen in Tadoba Reserve, is the melanistic color variant of Indian leopard (Panthera pardus <g class="gr_ gr_45 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="45" data-gr-id="45">fusca</g>) which is subspecies of leopard native to Indian Sub-continent.</li>
<li>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I</li>
<li>CITES Appendix I</li>
<li>IUCN Red List: Near Threatened</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg"><strong>Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra state, India.</li>
<li>It is Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park.</li>
<li>It is one of India's 50 "Project Tiger" - Tiger reserves.</li>
<li>Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve was established as second Tiger Reserve in the Maharashtra State, in 1994-95</li>
<li>It represents Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Teak Forests in the Tiger habitat and viable tiger population of more than 40 tigers.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India - Indonesia Coordinated&nbsp;Patrol (CORPAT)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Indian Naval ships and aircraft are participating in the 32nd edition of India &ndash; Indonesia coordinated patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) in Indonesia.</li>
<li>The ships and aircraft from both the countries would undertake patrolling on the respective sides of 236 nautical miles long International Maritime Boundary Line.</li>
<li>The patrol seeks to emphasize India&rsquo;s peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain, consolidate interoperability and strengthen existing bonds of friendship between the two countries.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <g class="gr_ gr_78 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="78" data-gr-id="78">centre</g> would aim to bring together the government and business leaders to pilot emerging technology policies.</li>
<li>The <g class="gr_ gr_98 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="98" data-gr-id="98">centre</g> would be based in Maharashtra. <strong>Drones, artificial intelligence and blockchain</strong> have been selected as the first three project areas.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As part of the WEF&rsquo;s global network, the new <g class="gr_ gr_83 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace gr-progress" id="83" data-gr-id="83">centre</g> in India will work closely with project teams in San Francisco (USA), Tokyo (Japan) and Beijing (China), where such Centres are already present.</li>
<li>NITI Aayog will coordinate the partnership on behalf of the government and among the multiple ministries.</li>
<li>The WEF has also entered into partnerships with the Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments for the new initiative and more states would be roped in going forward.</li>
<li>The initial efforts at the national level are focused on two emerging technology areas-
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Artificial intelligence and machine learning</strong>: expanding access to data to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in socio-economic areas like education, healthcare <g class="gr_ gr_104 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="104" data-gr-id="104">and</g> agriculture.</li>
<li><strong>Blockchain and distributed ledger technology</strong>: application of smart contracts (the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller are directly written into lines of code) to boost productivity and transparency while reducing inefficiency</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At the state level, the Government of Maharashtra in collaboration with the Centre is planning to undertake a drone mapping operation in the agriculture sector.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Emerging fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Blockchain, and Big Data, can improve the quality of life of Indian citizens.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this regard, the government has recently exempted wireless devices that operate in low-frequency range like <g class="gr_ gr_77 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="77" data-gr-id="77">bluetooth</g>, wireless chargers, internet-of-things products, medical devices etc from licensing requirement. This is particularly significant for <g class="gr_ gr_76 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="76" data-gr-id="76">easing</g> business for the emerging smart industry for machine-to-machine communications both in industrial and consumer applications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Digital India movement has brought data connectivity to the villages of India. Tele-density, internet coverage, and mobile internet subscriptions have increased tremendously in the recent past. There has been a rapid growth in the number of Common Service Centres (access points for delivery of essential public utility services, social welfare schemes, healthcare, financial, education and agriculture services, apart from a host of B2C services to citizens in rural and remote areas) in India.</li>
<li>India has the highest mobile data consumption in the world and is also the country where data is available at the lowest price. Currently, India&rsquo;s digital infrastructure and its interfaces include Aadhaar, Unified Payment Interface, National Agriculture MArket (e-NAM), and Government e-Marketplace (GeM).</li>
<li>A national strategy for creating a robust infrastructure for research in Artificial Intelligence has recently been prepared. The new Centre will strengthen this process.</li>
<li>Along with all these changes, Industry 4.0, and the expansion of Artificial Intelligence can lead to better health care, and reduce expenditure on health.</li>
<li>It can also help farmers, and be of immense help in the agriculture sector. It can play a key role in other areas such as transportation and smart mobility.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>4th Industrial Revolution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production. The Second used electric power to create <g class="gr_ gr_117 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="117" data-gr-id="117">mass</g> production. The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production. Now a Fourth Industrial Revolution which builds upon the Third, the digital revolution has been occurring since the middle of the 20th century. It is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.</li>
<li>When compared with previous industrial revolutions, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is evolving at an exponential rather than a linear pace (linear pace is steadier whereas exponential is much faster). Moreover, it is disrupting almost every industry in every country. The depth and breadth of these changes bring out the transformation of entire systems of production, management, and governance.</li>
<li>The Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world.</li>
<li>Transportation and communication costs will drop, logistics and global supply chains will become more effective, and the cost of trade will diminish, all of which will open new markets and drive economic growth.</li>
<li>However, economists have pointed out, that the revolution could yield greater inequality, particularly by disrupting labor markets. As automation substitutes for <g class="gr_ gr_90 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="90" data-gr-id="90">labour</g> across the entire economy, the net displacement of workers by machines might widen the gap between returns to capital (profit to the entrepreneurs) and returns to <g class="gr_ gr_91 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="91" data-gr-id="91">labour</g> (wages earned by the <g class="gr_ gr_92 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="92" data-gr-id="92">labours</g>).</li>
<li>On the other hand, it is also possible that the displacement of workers by technology will, in the aggregate, result in a net increase in safe and rewarding jobs.</li>
<li>Concerns have also been raised regarding the increasing <g class="gr_ gr_113 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="113" data-gr-id="113">societal</g> inequality due to technological interventions. The largest beneficiaries of innovation tend to be the providers of intellectual and physical capital (the innovators, shareholders, and investors). The few capital investors tend to reap much more benefit than the large population of workers who are not investors.</li>
<li><g class="gr_ gr_82 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="82" data-gr-id="82">Also</g> the demand for highly skilled workers is being seen to be increased while the demand for workers with less education and lower skills has decreased.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Concerns have been raised that the technology will drive out jobs from the market, however, the leaders in the country have assured that <strong>4th Industrial Revolution will create more opportunities in India while changing the nature of jobs.</strong></li>
<li>Government initiatives including Skill India Mission, Start-Up India, and Atal Innovation Mission are preparing the country for new and emerging technologies. The diversity, demographic potential, fast-growing market size, and digital infrastructure has the potential to make India a global hub for research and implementation.</li>
</ul>',
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		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Not Without Her Consent',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(The editorial is based on the article <em>&ldquo;Not without her consent&rdquo;</em> which appeared in The Hindu on 12<sup>th</sup> October 2018. It provides an explanation for the #MeToo moment)</p>
</div>
<p>Women around the world have started speaking up on social media - picking up on harassment stories, making public suppressed memories, breaking free from the helplessness or a false sense of humiliation that had kept them quiet for so long.<img class="content-img" src="http://drishtiias.com/images/uploads/368image1.png" width="341" height="151" style="float: right;" /></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Allegations have ranged from violent rape to sleazy texting.</li>
<li>The testimonies so far have mostly concerned the film world and the mainstream media, and cover both the workplace and private spaces. They range from stories of assault to propositioning, suggestiveness to stalking.</li>
</ul>
<h3>#MeToo</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is a movement that deals specifically with sexual violence. And it is a framework for how to end sexual violence.</li>
<li>#MeToo was started by an activist Tarana Burke after she had a conversation with a 13-year-old girl who opened up to her about the sexual abuse she was experiencing.</li>
<li>Although the #MeToo movement had already been around for years, it finally gained international attention after allegations of sexual assault and harassment by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein started a crusade within the industry to speak out.</li>
</ul>
<h3>#TimesUp</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Time&rsquo;s Up shares a similar vision for women&rsquo;s empowerment with #MeToo, but it has some different, specific goals.</li>
<li>Time&rsquo;s Up can be thought of as a solution-based, action-oriented next step in the #MeToo movement.</li>
<li>The organization&rsquo;s aim is to create concrete change, leading to safety and equity in the workplace.</li>
<li>It was started by a group of over 300 women in Hollywood, with high-profile leaders including Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman and Shonda Rhimes.</li>
<li>To fund this goal, they created the Time&rsquo;s Up Legal Defense Fund, which is a source of legal and financial support for women and men who want to fight sexual misconduct through the justice system.</li>
</ul>
<h3>#UsToo</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is India&rsquo;s version of #MeToo. Where women started sharing stories of harassment on social media platforms.</li>
<li>In the quick aftermath of actor Tanushree Dutta&rsquo;s allegations, women have been speaking of their experiences and the trauma, mostly on Twitter and Facebook.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Patriarchal norms that made it easy to victimise women thrived because of permissiveness, silence of the society.</li>
<li>Being subjected to unwelcome and inappropriate behavior at work, while trying to carry on and perform well under the usual stresses of a job, can have damaging and long-lasting effects on an individual.</li>
<li>A workplace environment that fails to properly address the issue of sexual harassment will be at risk of developing signs of a negative work culture &ndash; low morale, discontented employees and high levels of absenteeism will soon be reflected in lower productivity and profits.</li>
<li>Victims of sexual harassment can suffer significant psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, headaches, sleep disorders, weight loss or gain, nausea, lowered self-esteem.</li>
<li>Physical health and emotional health are closely linked. When victims of sexual harassment experience mental and emotional problems, it often leads to physical health issues, such as loss of appetite, headaches, weight fluctuations, and sleep disturbances.</li>
<li>Sexual harassment can risk a victim&rsquo;s emotional and mental health. It can lead to the loss of self-esteem and it may even compromise personal relationships.</li>
<li>Moreover, each year, millions are lost due to absenteeism, low productivity, employee turnover, low morale, and legal costs stemming from sexual harassment. The economy also suffers due to premature retirement and higher insurance costs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a symptom of a larger, systemic inequality and a systemic pattern of exclusion for women. First,this inequality should be solved because power imbalances are at the root of harassing behaviour.</li>
<li>There must be focus on getting passing legislations and changing policies. Passage of laws for gender parity issues such as equal pay and equal work environments &ndash; as well as increased opportunities, particularly for women in low-wage industries.</li>
<li>Clear line should be drawn between sexual harassment and bad social conduct, as there is too much subjectivity in this entire proposition.</li>
<li>The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, built on the Vishaka Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in 1997, makes it mandatory for organisations to have an internal complaints committee to report and probe such cases. The law has Vishaka guidelines that define sexual harassment and how companies must address them. This should be properly implemented.</li>
<li>No one should be deemed guilty only because he had been named and any punishment must be proportionate to the misdemeanour.</li>
<li>Women thought that their words and feelings would be dismissed, their careers would suffer, or their families would pull them back into the safety of home. This fear of making a complaint needs to be overcome in all workspaces, not only the media and the film industry.</li>
<li>All of society needs to internalise a new normal that protects a woman&rsquo;s autonomy and her freedom from discrimination in the society.</li>
<li>A fair system that delivers brisk justice should come into place before victims of sexual crimes entirely lose faith in the justice system.</li>
</ul>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => '6 Ways To Turn Around India’s Jobs Problem',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(The editorial is based on the article &ldquo;6 Ways to turn around India&rsquo;s jobs problem&rdquo; which appeared in Livemint on 11<sup>th</sup> October 2018. It provides an insight on India&rsquo;s jobless growth.)</p>
</div>
<p><strong>Human capital is now the fastest-growing component of India&rsquo;s wealth,</strong> but to reap the benefits of this &lsquo;demographic dividend&rsquo;, creation of sufficient new jobs is need of hour.</p>
<p>The World Bank, in its publication, <em>&ldquo;South Asia Economic Focus, Spring 2018: Jobless Growth?&rdquo;,</em> says that over the long-term, India has been creating 7,50,000 new jobs for everyone per cent rise in gross domestic product (GDP), at an average of 7% growth, India should be creating at least 5.25 million jobs, if not more.</p>
<p>Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) with the latest survey (May-August 2018) showed a dip of nearly 3.5 million jobs from the previous survey.</p>
<p>It is argued that India&rsquo;s problem is not jobless growth, but lack of potential of the economy to create jobs.</p>
<h3>Inter relation between growth and jobs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The old link between growth and jobs is now much weaker than before. In the 1990s, the employment elasticity in India was nearly 0.4. Now, this elasticity is down to 0.2 or lower.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Employment Elasticity</strong> is a measure of the percentage change in employment associated with a 1 percentage point change in economic growth. The employment elasticity indicates the ability of an economy to generate employment opportunities for its population as per cent of its growth (development) process.</p>
<p><strong>Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)</strong> is a leading business information company. It was established in 1976, primarily as an independent think tank which conducts the survey to estimate household incomes, pattern of spending and savings; it runs a unique monitoring of new investment projects on hand and it has created the largest integrated database of the Indian economy.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Falling employment elasticity is partly the result of large-scale substitution of labour with capital and automation.</li>
<li>It is a easy decision for promoters to use capital and automation when labour is heavily regulated in the economy.</li>
<li>Agriculture is no longer supporting half the population, and the fresh pressure on jobs is becoming apparent from rural to urban migration in search of employment.</li>
<li>The demand of traditional landed castes like the Patidars, Gujjars, Jats, Marathas and Kapus for job reservations can be seen as a symptom of the overburdened farm sector seeking an outlet in the urban jobs market.</li>
<li>While technology will surely create some jobs, in the short-term it polarize jobs. (the demand will be for very high skills, or very average skills, with middle-skilled jobs being phased out).</li>
<li>Cyber-security, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning experts are in short supply, while jobs at the bottom-end grow rapidly.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Blue collar&rdquo; service jobs are booming in logistics, warehousing, home services, mobility, retailing, etc. Education, tourism and healthcare will also throw up millions of jobs in the years ahead. But jobs disappearing are middle skill ones like plain-vanilla java coders or bank branch staff and telecom back-office workers.</li>
<li>Skilling increases the supply of labour, but jobs emerge only when there is a demand for specific skills.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solutions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Improving the labour market information system</strong> where emerging demand for skills are spotted quickly and the necessary training and certifications for the same are created.</li>
<li>Quick <strong>improvements in public-private partnership in capturing demand for skills</strong> and following through with quick investments in skill-building to match demand with supply.</li>
<li><strong>Jobs and skills planning should be decentralized</strong> and it has to be done at state and district levels, where there is granular information on education, skills and job options.</li>
<li>Implementing <strong>a new model of manufacturing which is high-skilled,</strong> and where high-end cottage manufacturing can create employment at the small scale level.</li>
<li>If urbanization is good and well planned, then job growth will be positive. <strong>Government should concentrate on the development of towns</strong> and narrow areas and service it with good infrastructure to generate employment alongside development.</li>
<li>If <strong>government starts spending on public goods</strong> (schools, hospitals, dams, roads etc..) instead of spending on freebies (deep subsidies on food, farm loan waivers etc..) the capacity of government to create employment increases.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To fix employment problem, right high-frequency data should be gathered and nature of employment problem should be defined.</li>
<li>If policy makers focus on employment, GDP growth will grow along gradually.</li>
<li>Government should concentrate on skill development of human resource, suitable as per the demand of the market.</li>
<li>Millions of jobs will be displaced by artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation in near future, but new jobs can be created if the balance between human workers and machines can be maintained.</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://drishtiias.com/images/uploads/354Job and Joblessness.jpg" width="582" height="392" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Air Pollution in Delhi',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Every year during the onset of winter Delhi's air quality begins to fall.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Air pollution in India is estimated to kill 1.5 million people every year. It is the fifth largest killer in India.</li>
<li>According to air quality data compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Delhi&nbsp;is the world&rsquo;s most polluted city.<strong></strong></li>
<li>According to the WHO, India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma. Air pollution also impacts the environment through reduced visibility, acid rain, and formation of ozone at <g class="gr_ gr_80 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="80" data-gr-id="80">tropospheric</g> level.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for Deteriorating Air Quality of Delhi</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Stubble Burning:&nbsp;</strong>National capital shares its border with the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. One of the main reasons for increasing air pollution during the month of October-November is crop burning by the farmers in these states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers burn rice stubbles in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. It is estimated that approximately 35 million tonnes of <g class="gr_ gr_78 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="78" data-gr-id="78">crop</g> are set afire by these states. The wind carries all the pollutants and dust particles, which have got locked in the air.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vehicular Emission: </strong>Delhi has more than 9 million registered vehicles. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) have declared vehicular emission as a major contributor to Delhi&rsquo;s increasing air pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Weather: </strong>During&nbsp;the winter season,&nbsp; dust particles and pollutants in the air become unable to move. Due to stagnant winds, these pollutants get locked in the air, resulting in smog.</li>
<li><strong>High Density: </strong>With more than 11000 people per square kilometer, Delhi is among the most densely populated cities in the world.&nbsp;Over-population adds up to the various types of pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Infrastructure:&nbsp;</strong>In India, investment in public transport and infrastructure is low which leads to congested roads, and hence air pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Construction Activities and Open waste burning:&nbsp;</strong>Large-scale construction in Delhi-NCR is another culprit that is increasing dust and pollution in the air. Delhi also has landfill sites for dumping of waste, burning of waste in these sites also contributes to air pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Thermal Power Plant and Industries:</strong> Industrial pollution and garbage dumps are also increasing air pollution and building-up smog in the air.</li>
<li><strong>Firecrackers:&nbsp;</strong>Despite the ban on cracker sales in 2017, firecrackers were a common sight in Diwali. It is the major reason for smog in Delhi after Diwali.</li>
<li><strong>Diesel generators:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>A large number of housing societies and businesses resort to using diesel generators as alternate for power supply during cuts. Diesel generators contribute approximately 15 percent to the city&rsquo;s air pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Dust Storm from Gulf countries: </strong>During the smog in the year 2017, the dust storm from Gulf countries was also the reason which enhanced already worse condition.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps were taken by the government to tackle pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To tackle Stubble burning
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government is giving subsidy to farmers for buying Turbo Happy Seeder(THS) which is a machine mounted on a tractor that cuts and uproots the stubble and also drill wheat seeds.</li>
<li>Punjab and Haryana procure stubble and straw for biofuel plants and in the waste-to-energy power generation plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Graded Response Action Plan(GRAP):
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/grap-to-be-enforced-in-delhi-ncr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government has implemented GRAP</a> to tackle with the rising pollution in Capital. It includes the measures like shutting down Badarpur Thermal Power Plant and a ban on construction activities.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the&nbsp;government has also launched a pollution forecast system for New Delhi.</li>
<li>The central government released the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for public information under the aegis of the Central Pollution Control Board.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AQI has been developed for eight pollutants&mdash; PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The April 2020 deadline for the country to implement BS-VI (Bharat Stage-VI is the Indian equivalent to Euro VI) grade fuels was advanced for Delhi to April 1, 2018, because of the extremely high levels of air pollution in the city.</li>
<li>Construction of Eastern and Western Expressways for by-passing non-destined traffic to Delhi.</li>
<li>A ban on burning of leaves/ biomass in Delhi.</li>
<li>Prohibition on the entry of overloaded and non-destined trucks in Delhi and imposition of &lsquo;Green Tax&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Out of 2800 major industries, 920 industries have installed on-line continuous (24x7) air pollution monitoring devices; others are in process of installation.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/air-pollution-in-delhi'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'RBI to Buy G-Secs',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Reserve Bank India has announced that it will purchase government securities worth $120 billion under Open Market Operations to cater for durable liquidity needs.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The purchase of government securities by the RBI under OMOs will infuse liquidity into the system. In India, liquidity conditions usually tighten during the second half of the financial year (mid-October onwards). This happens because the pace of government expenditure usually slows down, even as the onset of the festival season leads to a seasonal spike in currency demand. Moreover, activities of foreign institutional investors, advance tax payments, etc. also cause an ebb and flow of liquidity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This could arm banks with more funds for lending, and lead to softer interest rates in the economy. This is good news for both businesses as well as individuals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The liquidity requirements, are of two types &mdash; temporary and durable.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Short-term or temporary liquidity</strong> arises out of temporary mismatches between assets and liabilities. To meet such a situation, banks approach the money market (In India, the <strong>call money market</strong>).</li>
<li>The call money market can, however, be the answer only in situations where some banks have excess liquidity and some others are in deficit. But there can be situations where the temporary need may be felt by the entire banking system. In that situation, the only recourse is to go to the central bank. The various types of repo facilities are meant to meet this requirement.</li>
<li><strong>Long-term or durable liquidity</strong> is met by modulating the net foreign assets and net domestic assets growth over the course of the year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The offers will be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>E-Kuber</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>e-Kuber is the Core Banking Solution of Reserve Bank of India which was introduced in 2012.</li>
<li>Core Banking Solutions (CBS) can be defined as a solution that enables banks to offer a multitude of customer-centric services on a 24x7 basis from a single location, supporting retail as well as corporate banking activities.</li>
<li>The centralisation thus makes a &ldquo;one-stop&rdquo; shop for financial services a reality. Using CBS, customers can access their accounts from any branch, anywhere, irrespective of where they have physically opened their accounts.</li>
<li>Almost all branches of commercial banks, including the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), are brought into the core-banking fold.</li>
<li>The e-kuber system can be accessed either through INFINET or Internet. The INFINET is a Closed User Group Network for the exclusive use of member banks and financial institutions and is the communication backbone for the National Payments System.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>G-Secs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Government Security (G-Sec) is a tradable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.</li>
<li>It acknowledges the Government&rsquo;s debt obligation. Such securities are short term (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year- presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 364 day) or long term (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).</li>
<li>In India, the Central Government issues both, treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).</li>
<li>G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments.&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: 400;">Gilt-edged securities are high-grade investment bonds offered by governments and large corporations as a means of borrowing funds.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-keeps-policy-rates-unchanged" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about Instruments of Monetary Policy...</a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-to-buy-g-secs'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'GEAC Seeks Information from Bangladesh on  Bt Brinjal',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, India&rsquo;s biotech regulator, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), has sought information about Bt brinjal (a genetically modified crop) from Bangladesh, where farmers have been growing the crop since 2013.</p>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bacillus Thuringiensis Brinjal, popularly known as Bt brinjal, has been at the centre of controversy in India.</li>
<li>Bt brinjal, a genetically modified strain created by India's seeds company Mahyco in collaboration with American multinational Monsanto, claims to improve yields and help the agriculture sector.</li>
<li>The transgenic variety is said to resist an attack from a deadly fruit and shoot borer, one of the major insect-pests of brinjal.</li>
<li>However, the safety of Bt brinjal has been debated by the scientists working for the government, farmers and environment activists.</li>
<li>Environment activists say the effect of GM (genetically modified) crops on rats have shown to be fatal for lungs and kidneys. It is dangerous to introduce these experimental foods into the market without proper research.</li>
<li>Further, Indian farmers would have to depend on Multinational Corporations for seeds which would be a threat to India's agriculture as the supply of seeds will be regulated and thus will be costlier.</li>
<li>While Bt. Brinjal was cleared for commercialization by GEAC in 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Forest put a moratorium on its release in 2010 till scientific studies establish the safety of the product from the point of view of its long-term impact on human health and environment.</li>
<li>India is yet to approve any GM technology in food crops, including GM mustard developed by the Delhi University. In 2002, India had approved Bt cotton, the only non-food GM crop which is grown in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent developments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GEAC noted that Bangladesh had approved the same Mahyco&rsquo;s Bt Brinjal technology in 2013 and 50,000 farmers in the country are currently growing the vegetable.</li>
<li>The committee asked the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to obtain relevant information and data on the post commercial release effects of Bt brinjal from Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute.</li>
<li>The GEAC decided this on hearing a request made by Mahyco (developer of transgenic brinjal) seeking permission for large-scale environmental release and demonstration of Bt brinjal.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC).</li>
<li>It is responsible for the appraisal of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.</li>
<li>The committee is also responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.</li>
<li>GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&amp;CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Important Facts for Prelims (16th October 2018)	',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>QS ranking for Indian universities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has launched its first India-specific rankings- India University Rankings. This is the first edition of the rankings exclusively for Indian institutions.</li>
<li>It is the second country-specific rankings conducted by QS. The first was released for China.</li>
<li>QS is a UK based global higher education company which brings out the QS World University Rankings, the world&rsquo;s most widely-consulted list of its kind.</li>
<li>The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, has secured the top spot followed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru.</li>
<li>The rankings reflect the top 75 Indian universities. Of these, at least seven IIT's are ranked in <g class="gr_ gr_60 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="60" data-gr-id="60">top</g> ten.</li>
<li>The indicators for ranking are &ndash; academic reputation (30 percent), employer reputation (20 percent), faculty-student ratio (20 percent), research citations per faculty member (20 percent), <g class="gr_ gr_51 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="51" data-gr-id="51">proportion</g> of international students (2.5 percent) and proportion of international faculty (2.5 percent).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Pandavani Artist Teejan Bai Honoured by Japan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently folk artist Teejan Bai from Chhattisgarh received Japan&rsquo;s one of the greatest honours, the Fukuoka Arts and Culture Prize for her art Pandavani.</li>
<li>Earlier, the Fukuoka Art Prize had been awarded to Indian musician, A.R. Rahman.</li>
<li>The Award to Teejan Bai can reflect India&rsquo;s strengthened soft power in East Asia.</li>
<li>Pandavani (literally meaning 'songs of the Pandavas'), a folk theatre form involves enacting and singing with instrumental accompaniment ektara or tambura in one hand and sometimes a <g class="gr_ gr_121 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="121" data-gr-id="121">kartal</g> in another.</li>
<li>It is rustic entertainment, popular in the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh and neighbouring States.</li>
<li>Sangeet Natak Akademi (National level academy of performing arts under Ministry of Culture) has initiated the documentation and promotion of this theatre form.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mithun or Gayal (Bos Frontalis)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The killing of at least 10 Mithuns has sparked tension between villagers on <g class="gr_ gr_62 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="62" data-gr-id="62">inter-State</g> border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Mithun is the State animal of Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>The mithun or gayal (Bos frontalis), considered a descendant of the Indian Gaur or bison, plays an important role in the socio-economic and cultural life of tribes such as the Nyishi, Apatani, Galo, Mishmi, Adi, Sherdukpen and other communities of Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>They are considered sacred because mithun sacrifice is compulsory in all ceremonial rituals.</li>
<li>The Mithun is often referred to as &lsquo;the cattle of the mountains&rsquo; and &lsquo;ship of the highland&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Mithun prefers cold and mild climates, and feeds on forest leaves, shrubs and grass. It has a high fertility rate, producing one calf every year.</li>
<li>It has been classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-16th-october-2018'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'J.S. Verma Committee on Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Union Ministry for Women and Child Development will set up a committee of senior judicial and legal persons to look into the legal and institutional framework to curb sexual harassment at workplaces following the #MeToo campaign on social media.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Justice JS Verma committee was set up after the Nirbhaya incident of December 2012 and submitted its recommendations on strengthening the laws to curb crimes against women.</li>
</ul>
<h3>JS Verma Committee recommendations on Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act:</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Justice J.S. Verma Committee had recommended<strong> setting up of an employment tribunal instead of an internal complaints committee</strong> (ICC) in the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act.</li>
<li>To ensure speedy disposal of complaints, the committee proposed that the tribunal should not function as a civil court but may choose its own procedure to deal with each complaint.</li>
<li>An internal complaints committee as laid down under the act could be counterproductive as dealing with such complaints in-house could discourage women from filing complaints.</li>
<li>Domestic workers should be included within the purview of the Act.</li>
<li>The Committee has termed the Sexual Harassment Act &ldquo;unsatisfactory&rdquo; and said it did not reflect the spirit of the Vishakha guidelines &mdash; framed by the Supreme Court in 1997 to curb sexual harassment at the workplace.</li>
<li>The Committee said any &ldquo;unwelcome behavior&rdquo; should be seen from the subjective perception of the complainant, thus broadening the scope of the definition of sexual harassment.</li>
<li>The Verma panel said an employer should be held liable if
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>he or she facilitated sexual harassment</li>
<li>permitted an environment where sexual misconduct becomes widespread and systematic</li>
<li>Where the employer fails to disclose the company&rsquo;s policy on sexual harassment and ways in which workers can file a complaint</li>
<li>When the employer fails to forward a complaint to the tribunal</li>
<li>The company would also be liable to pay compensation to the complainant</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The panel opposed penalizing women for false complaints as it can potentially nullify the objective of the law.</li>
<li>The Verma panel also said that the time-limit of three months to file a complaint should be done away with and a complainant should not be transferred without her consent.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Act defines sexual harassment at the workplace and creates a mechanism for redressal of complaints. It also provides safeguards against false or malicious charges.</li>
<li>Every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee at each office or branch with 10 or more employees.</li>
<li>The Complaints Committees have the powers of civil courts for gathering evidence.</li>
<li>The Complaints Committees are required to provide for conciliation before initiating an inquiry if requested by the complainant.</li>
<li>Penalties have been prescribed for employers. Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine.</li>
<li>Repeated violations may lead to higher penalties and cancellation of license or registration to conduct business.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-s-verma-committee-on-sexual-harassment-at-workplace-act'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'GRAP to be Enforced in Delhi-NCR',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) will implement an emergency action plan in Delhi to tackle rising air pollution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The emergency plan is called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).</li>
<li>Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forests &amp; Climate Change (MoEFCC) after the order of Supreme Court of December 2016.</li>
<li>GRAP includes the measures which will be taken by different government agencies to prevent worsening of Air Quality of Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) and prevent PM10 and PM2.5 levels to go beyond &lsquo;moderate&rsquo; national Air Quality Index (AQI) category.</li>
<li>The EPCA is mandated to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the city as per the pollution levels.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Types of measures under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Measures to be taken are divided into different categories based on the Pollution level:</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 19px; background-color: #74f748;"><strong>Category</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 19px; background-color: #74f748;"><strong>Ambient Particulate Matter (PM) Concentration</strong></td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 19px; background-color: #74f748; text-align: center;"><strong>Measures</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 19px; text-align: center;"><strong>Moderate to Poor</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 19px;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM 2.5 between 61-120 &micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
<li>PM10 between 101-350 &micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 19px; text-align: justify;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Enforce pollution control in thermal power plants</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Mechanized sweeping on roads</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Ban on firecrackers</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Stop garbage burning</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 19px; text-align: center;"><strong>Very Poor</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 19px;"><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM2.5 between 121-250&micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
<li>PM10 between 351-430 &micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 19px;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Stop use of diesel generator sets</li>
<li>Increase bus and metro services and increasing frequency of metro service</li>
<li>Stop use of coal/firewood in hotels and open eateries</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 63px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 63px; text-align: center;"><strong>Severe</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 63px;"><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM2.5 more than 250&micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
<li>PM10 more than 430&micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 63px;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increase frequency of mechanized sweeping of road and sprinkling of water on roads</li>
<li>Close brick kilns, Hot Mix plants, Stone Crushers</li>
<li>Shut down Badarpur power plant</li>
<li>Introduce concessional rates to encourage off-peak travel in public transport.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 88px;">
<td style="width: 17.1089%; height: 88px; text-align: center;"><strong>Severe+ or Emergency</strong></td>
<td style="width: 26.4091%; height: 88px;"><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PM2.5 of or more than 300&micro;g/m<sup>3</sup></li>
<li>PM10 of or 500&micro;g/m<sup>3&nbsp;</sup></li>
</ul>
<strong>(persist for 48 hours or more)</strong></td>
<td style="width: 44.7306%; height: 88px;"><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Stop entry of diesel trucks into Delhi (except essential commodities)</li>
<li>Stop construction activities</li>
<li>Introduce odd and even scheme</li>
<li>Shutting of schools</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<div class="border-bg"><strong>National Air Quality Index (AQI)</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Air Quality Index (AQI) is under the aegis of the CPCB.</li>
<li>AQI has been developed to inform people about the level of eight pollutants&mdash; PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/grap-to-be-enforced-in-delhi-ncr'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'The Challenges for Fintech Adoption in India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(The editorial is based on the article &ldquo;The challenges for fintech adoption in India&rdquo; which appeared in LiveMint on 15th October 2018. It analyses the challenges and opportunities for fintech in India.)</p>
</div>
<p>New digital technologies have been playing an important role in transforming economies through inclusion across the globe. Fintech (Financial technology) is one among those technologies.</p>
<p>The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group recently launched the Bali Fintech Agenda, a set of 12 policy elements aimed at helping member countries to harness the benefits and opportunities of rapid advances in financial technology that are transforming the provision of banking services, while at the same time managing the inherent risks. Bali Fintech Agenda provides a framework to support the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in low-income countries, where access to financial services is low,</p>
<h3>What is fintech?</h3>
<p>Fintech describes an emerging financial services sector in the 21st century. Originally, the term applied to technology applied to the back-end of established consumer and trade financial institutions. Since the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the term has expanded to include any technological innovation in the financial sector, including innovations in financial literacy and education, retail banking, investment and even crypto-currencies like bitcoin.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bali Fintech Agenda</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Embrace the Promise of Fintech</strong> with its far-reaching social and economic impact, particularly in low-income countries, small states, and for the underserved, and prepare to capture its possible wide-ranging benefits, including: increasing access to financial services and financial inclusion; deepening financial markets; and improving cross-border payments and remittance transfer systems.</li>
<li><strong>Enable New Technologies to Enhance Financial Service</strong> Provision by facilitating foundational infrastructures, fostering their open and affordable access, and ensuring a conducive policy environment.</li>
<li><strong>Reinforce Competition and Commitment</strong> to Open, Free, and Contestable Markets to ensure a level playing field and to promote innovation, consumer choice, and access to high-quality financial services.</li>
<li><strong>Foster Fintech to Promote Financial Inclusion and Develop Financial Markets</strong> by overcoming challenges related to reach, customer information, and commercial viability, and by improving infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Monitor Developments</strong> Closely to Deepen Understanding of Evolving Financial Systems to support the formulation of policies that foster the benefits of fintech and mitigate potential risks.</li>
<li><strong>Adapt Regulatory Framework and Supervisory Practices</strong> for Orderly Development and Stability of the Financial System and facilitate the safe entry of new products, activities, and intermediaries; sustain trust and confidence; and respond to risks.</li>
<li><strong>Safeguard the Integrity of Financial Systems</strong> by identifying, understanding, assessing, and mitigating the risks of criminal misuse of fintech, and by using technologies that strengthen compliance with anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures.</li>
<li><strong>Modernize Legal Frameworks</strong> to Provide an Enabling Legal Landscape with greater legal clarity and certainty regarding key aspects of fintech activities.</li>
<li><strong>Ensure the Stability of Domestic Monetary and Financial Systems</strong> by considering the implications of fintech innovations to central banking services and market structure.</li>
<li><strong>Develop Robust Financial and Data Infrastructure to Sustain Fintech</strong> benefits that are resilient to disruptions&ndash;&ndash;including from cyber-attacks&ndash;&ndash;and that support trust and confidence in the financial system by protecting the integrity of data and financial services.</li>
<li><strong>Encourage International Cooperation and Information-Sharing</strong> across the global regulatory community to share knowledge, experience, and best practices to support an effective regulatory framework.</li>
<li><strong>Enhance Collective Surveillance</strong> of the International Monetary and Financial System and the adaptation and development of policies to support inclusive global growth.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>In India, government efforts at the Centre and in the states have used fintech to push for inclusion, aided by the concurrent growth in internet and smartphone penetration. Demonetization and digital India moves gave boost for the adoption of fintechs in India. India&rsquo;s interoperable payment infrastructure through the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) continues to provide a strong business case. According to EY&rsquo;s Fintech Adoption Index 2017 (Ernst &amp; Young), India has the second highest fintech adoption rate in the world.</p>
<p>Since the fintech is one among fast-moving technologies, it comes with challenges.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Going digital for payments can be complicated in an economy like India&rsquo;s which is dominated by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as they cannot bear the costs.</li>
<li>The adoption of fintech is skewed in India but because of lower margin per transaction, larger payment gateways target only handful of large retailers. MSMEs account for only about 5% of $12-14 billion spent.</li>
<li>Coming up with sustainable business models which does not overload consumers with extra charges is also one of the challenges.</li>
<li>Regulatory uncertainty in the fintech sector is making things complicated for both fintech service providers and consumers..</li>
<li>Lack of clarity and legality among fintech companies about KYCs itself is another major challenge.</li>
<li>Knowledge of these digital payments platforms is restricted to the bigger cities of India while rural India struggles to make its way through.</li>
<li>There is a gap regarding people&rsquo;s current ability, desire, and need for fintech services. Filling up the gap and making the ends meet is a task for fintech product providers.</li>
<li>Cyber security threats and lack of regulatory mechanisms comes as a major problem for the expansion of services.</li>
<li>The fintech sector is still regulated by banking regulations. Although RBI has allowed small banks and payment banks in the recent past, a lot of impediments still remain in the path of innovative fintech players. It&rsquo;s like asking them to operate with one hand tied behind their backs.</li>
<li>Relatively weak infrastructure such as underdeveloped payment systems, lack of customer credit data, legal enforcement mechanisms for payment obligations, power, weak Internet coverage is also a drawback.</li>
<li>Underdeveloped technology and venture capital ecosystems, shortage of skilled tech/finance entrepreneurs, small markets, limited revenue potential is also one of the major challenges.</li>
<li>Cash dominance in transactions, informal credit and savings and lack of digital literacy is also a hindrance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fintech providers have to consider the need of customers while developing a payment solution.</li>
<li>The availability of small change, which is often refused by banks owing to high storage and transportation costs, inevitably finds its way to small merchants and households, and is used for low-value transactions such as the daily purchase of milk. Payment gateways can address the issue taking it as an opportunity.</li>
<li>Fintech providers should work towards the last mile digitization of cash.</li>
<li>Infrastructure development is the need of hour and it should be addressed for the expansion of services.</li>
<li>Awareness should be created and digital literacy must be improved to understand and analyse the pros and cons of these services. It will help customers to make choices.</li>
<li>Fintechs should come up with sustainable business models. It is important not to impose further costs on the end customer or create a solution that merely pushes the consumer issues further down the value chain.</li>
<li>There is need to support the formulation of policies that foster the benefits of fintech and mitigate potential risks.</li>
<li>Government should set the platform for smooth operations of start-ups with favourable policies and tax incentives specific to the fintech sector.</li>
</ul>
<p>The success or failure of digitizing rests on demonstrating personal value to the end consumer in switching from cash to digital payments. Reaping these benefits requires strengthening of institutional capacity, expanding outreach to stakeholders, and adopting a cross-agency approach involving relevant ministries and agencies.So that the fast moving technology which is a boon for growing economy does not turn into a curse.</p>
<p><a href="http://drishtiias.com/images/uploads/941ey-canada-fintech-wheel%20(JPEG).jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://drishtiias.com/images/uploads/941ey-canada-fintech-wheel (JPEG).jpg" width="729" height="625" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-the-challenges-for-fintech-adoption-in-India'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Cyclone Titli',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Cyclone Titli has become the third major cyclone to hit the Odisha-Andhra coastal zone in the last five years, all in October. The other two were Phailin and Hudhud.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cyclone Titli has been named by Pakistan.</li>
<li>Both the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea experience cyclonic events, however the frequency and intensity of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal is higher. Moreover, nearly 58% of cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal reach the coast as compared to only 25% of those formed in the Arabian Sea.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Cyclone</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The reason that cyclones such as Titli, Phailin (2013) and Hudhud (2014) typically strike in October is that wind shear (the difference within wind speeds and direction at two different levels) is low during this time; low wind shear, when combined with surface sea temperatures greater than 26&deg;C, raises the likelihood of cyclones. In monsoon season, cyclones are rare because of high wind shear.</li>
<li>Since sea surface temperatures and humidity both directly correlate with chances of cyclone formation, the Bay of Bengal is a more likely target because it gets higher rainfall, and because the slow winds around it keep temperatures relatively high: about 28 degrees around the year. Warm air currents enhance this surface temperature and aid the formation of cyclones.</li>
<li>In addition, the Bay receives higher rainfall and constant inflow of fresh water from the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. This means that the Bay&rsquo;s surface water keeps getting refreshed, making it impossible for the warm water to mix with the cooler water below, making it ideal for a depression.</li>
<li>On the other hand, the Arabian Sea receives stronger winds that help dissipate the heat, and the lack of constant fresh water supply helps the warm water mix with the cool water, reducing the temperature.</li>
<li>Due to the lack of any large landmass between the Pacific and the Bay of Bengal, cyclonic winds easily move into the Bay of Bengal. Once here, the winds encounter the Western Ghats and the Himalayas, either becoming weak or getting blocked in the Bay, but never reaching the Arabian Sea.</li>
<li>Adjacent to the northwest Pacific, which is one of the world&rsquo;s most active basins for typhoons, the Bay of Bengal receives the remnants of major landfalls in the Philippines, China and South Asia. From these places come low-pressure systems that develop into a monsoon depression or a cyclone.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Prediction and Evacuation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to scientists, the prediction is difficult because of budgetary and meteorological factors. E.g.:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US has dedicated aircraft that fly directly into the clouds to study moisture levels and gather various data on cyclone profile. While, India largely rely on satellite images (a top view) that reveals little data on moisture content and intensity. Indian scientists get a more detailed picture only when a cyclone is 300-400 km from the coast, which reduces preparation time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The evacuation exercises are classified into three types:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Preventive- &nbsp;In preventive (or horizontal) evacuation, the impact area is meant to be completely evacuated, but this is a measure rarely taken in India because of poor roads and inadequate public transportation. Also, poor people rarely have the resources to find alternative accommodation.</li>
<li>Shelter-in-place evacuation involves fortification of existing houses and community buildings, which again required financial resources.</li>
<li>Vertical evacuation, people are directed to specially designed buildings within the impact area. This strategy was largely followed during Cyclone Titli.</li>
</ol>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/twin-cyclones-luban-and-titli-keep-indian-seas-active" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about Cyclone Titli</a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-titli'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Windmills Not so Green for Wildlife',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Windmills are seen as a source of green energy, but researchers have found that they pose a threat to wildlife in forests through collisions and noise.</p>
<h3>Wind Energy in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Wind energy is the kinetic energy generated due to the movement of wind. Wind speed of essentially 14-16 km/h is required for rotating the turbines. Wind energy accounts for 70% of the total renewable energy installed in India.</li>
<li>Tamil Nadu has by far the largest installed wind capacity in India, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan.</li>
<li>In Paris Agreement India has aimed to achieve 60 GW of total installed capacity in wind energy by 2022.</li>
<li>It has also come out with a &lsquo;National Offshore Wind Energy Policy&rsquo;, aiming to harness wind power along India&rsquo;s 7,500 km coastline.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact on the Wildlife</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Researchers found that there are about 50% fewer birds in the areas of windmills compared to undisturbed sites.</li>
<li><strong>Collisson</strong>:&nbsp;The researchers from Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) have found that windmills kill birds and bats in collisions.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has also led to their movement to the fringes of forests which might increase conflict with humans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Noise</strong>: Birds and mammals have moved away due to noise made by windmills.The noise levels near windmills go up to 85 decibels (dB), which is the equivalent to that of large trucks.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The drone of a turbine, which operates day and night, is above 70 dB (noise in urban areas is 55 dB and even in industrial areas, is lower at 75dB).</li>
<li>Ambient noise in forests is less than 40 dB.</li>
<li>Due to noise pollution by windmills, herbivores have moved away, with predators following them. For eg: In Karnataka different types of antelopes-four-horned, chinkara, and blackbuck moved away towards fringes of forests consequently followed by their predators such as wolves and small carnivores. This is bound to increase the man-animal conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Forests and Wildlife departments have assured that the impact of windmills on birds and mammals will be looked into by them and guidelines will be drawn to mitigate these effects.</li>
<li>Protocols and policy guidelines have been called for, before diverting forest land for wind farms.</li>
<li>Project developers are required to collect data through monitoring efforts at existing and proposed wind energy sites.</li>
<li><strong>Careful site selection</strong> is needed to minimize fatalities and in some cases additional research may be needed to address bird and bat impact issues.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SACON , established in 1990 at Anaikatti, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) is a national centre for information, education and research in ornithology and natural history in India.</li>
<li>It was named after Dr. Salim Ali in appreciation of his lifelong services to India's bird life and conservation of natural resources.</li>
<li>It designs and conducts research in ornithology covering all aspects of biodiversity and natural history.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/windmills-not-so-green-for-wildlife'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Challenges For Working Mothers',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OqWuYlLwBzQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The photograph on social media of a hard-working lady cop discharging her duties with her infant daughter not merely won her appreciation, but also made the police brass sit up and promptly transfer the woman to the district of her choice. Like any other day, Archana Jayant was present along with her six-month-old daughter, Anika, in the police station in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district, but was clicked by someone and her picture went viral on social media last week. The Deputy Inspector General of Police applauded the dedication of Archana who also has a 10-year-old daughter. The plight of scores of other working mothers is no different from Archana's.</p>
<p>The situation of working mothers is less than satisfactory. Because of the lack of proper infrastructure means, working mothers are suffering both as breadwinners and as caregivers in their respective families. Several women give up their careers and lifestyle due to lack of adequate facilities and stereotype. The plight of women working in the unorganized sector is even worse.</p>
<h3>Challenges Faced by Working Mothers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A working mother can be defined as a woman with the ability to combine a career with the added responsibility of raising a child.</li>
<li>First and foremost, it is difficult to work even as a woman. Leave alone as a mother.</li>
<li>Recovery of women from <strong>childbirth stress</strong> and their resumption of work and family responsibilities are mainly influenced by factors like work condition, e.g., the timing of return to work, work pressure, relations with her colleagues, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of social support</strong> increases job stress, which in turn, affects the mental health of the employed mother.</li>
<li><strong>Unequal Partnerships at home-</strong> From past generations, it is upheld by the society that cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the needs of the family is the priority for any woman. In such an environment, people including the members of the family expect the working mother to play the role of homemaker once she comes back home after a long tiring day at work.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of good Daycare Centres and Cr&egrave;ches-</strong> Even though many daycare centers and cr&egrave;ches have mushroomed over the years in most metropolitan cities, finding one with certified professionals is really hard. Child abuse in such daycare centers has become another cause of concern for mothers.</li>
<li>Most of these centers also don&rsquo;t follow the proper guidelines given by the concerned authorities regarding setting up and running such places. Security issues force many new mothers to leave their professional career to look after their newborn baby.</li>
<li>There is a lack of strict implementation of The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017.</li>
<li><strong>Increasing number of Nuclear Families-</strong> There was a time when joint families were the norm and the extended family as a whole used to take care of the children&rsquo;s welfare. Now the situation has changed and there is an increase in the number of nuclear families in the society. With elders missing in the present scenario, the entire responsibility falls upon the mother.</li>
<li>The plight of working mothers in the informal sector is even more deplorable. Neither cr&egrave;che facility nor maternal benefits are accorded to them and low income aggravates their condition.</li>
<li><strong>Only 5-6% of the women in the workforce are in the organized sector</strong>. The rest are in the unorganized sector. 42% of women are working in the agricultural sector without having the knowledge of basic laws to protect them.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><em>DRISHTI INPUT</em></p>
<p><strong>Provisions of Maternity Benefit Act, 2017</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increased Paid Maternity Leave:</strong> The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act has increased the duration of paid maternity leave available for women employees from the existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks.</li>
<li><strong>Maternity leave for adoptive and commissioning mothers:</strong> Maternity leave of 12 weeks to be available to mothers adopting a child below the age of three months from the date of adoption as well as to the &ldquo;commissioning mothers&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Work from Home option: T</strong>he Act has also introduced an enabling provision relating to "work from home" for women, which may be exercised after the expiry of the 26 weeks' leave period.</li>
<li><strong>Cr&egrave;che facility:</strong> The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act makes cr&egrave;che facility mandatory for every establishment employing 50 or more employees. Women employees would be permitted to visit the cr&egrave;che 4 times during the day (including rest intervals).</li>
<li>The Maternity Benefit Amendment Act makes it <strong>mandatory for employers to educate women about the maternity benefits</strong> available to them at the time of their appointment.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government should frame a robust legal and policy framework. This framework should be dynamic in nature, that is, as time progress the law should evolve, incorporating the necessary changes.</li>
<li>Most importantly, making women aware of the laws and policies, both in the informal and the formal sector can help the working mothers fight the odds.</li>
<li>Empower the civil society to take up the responsibility in furtherance of women cause.</li>
<li>The judiciary has to step in, for speedy discharge of cases on child abuse and child neglect cases. The pendency of cases <g class="gr_ gr_102 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="102" data-gr-id="102">too</g> discourages women to move court. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 which empowers working mother, should be properly implemented.</li>
<li>Most of the establishments in the country do not provide a safe and adequate environment for the working of the mothers, including physical infrastructure. The government should include a cr&egrave;che building mechanism in various schemes and should also subsidize the same.</li>
<li>The last but not least, the sense of guilt that is forcibly thrust upon a working mother should be no more. Society has to refrain itself from defining the mother as &ldquo;only&rdquo; caregivers. A mother can be both, a care provider as well as a bread earner.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-challenges-for-working-mothers'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'NHRC',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(The editorial is based on the article &ldquo;More teeth for NHRC&rdquo; which appeared in The Indian Express on 11<sup>th</sup> October 2018. It explains concerns related to National Human Rights Commision.)</p>
</div>
<p>Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.</p>
<p>Protection of human rights have been a core concern of United Nations since its establishment.The fear of further violation of human rights worldover made United Nations General Assembly to adopt the Paris Principles on Human Rights. Adoption of Paris Principles led to the constitution of national human rights institutions in almost every country.</p>
<p>The Paris Principles is a set of international standards which frame and guide the work of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) .</p>
<p>In India, National Human Rights Commission which is called as the &ldquo;watchdog of human rights&rdquo; takes the responsibility of protecting the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual. NHRC has marked its 25th year anniversary this year. It is a statutory body constituted under Protection of Human Rights (PHR) Act 1993.It has been stuck in controversies since its formation.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>To strengthen National Human Rights Commission, the government seeks to introduce amendments to the Act in Parliament&rsquo;s 2018 Winter Session.</p>
<p>Union Cabinet has already approved the Protection of Human Rights (Amendments) Bill, 2018.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill provides that only a person who has been Chief Justice of India, or a Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chairperson of the NHRC.</li>
<li>Bill proposes to include one member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights within its fold as a deemed member as well as a woman member.</li>
<li>It proposes to enlarge the scope of eligibility and selection of the Chairperson of the NHRC as well as of State Human Rights Commissions.</li>
<li>It also proposes to incorporate proper mechanism in the functioning of NHRC.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Role of NHRC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NHRC holds a record of disposal of more than 17 lakh cases, payment of more than one billion rupees to the victims of human rights violations by various state agencies and more than 750 on-spot inquiries .</li>
<li>It takes suo moto action or on a petition presented to it or on an order of a court.</li>
<li>NHRC takes responsibility to monitor human rights safeguards.</li>
<li>It makes recommendations to the Government in making policies.</li>
<li>It also extends cooperation to NGOs working for the protection of human rights.</li>
<li>It reviews the safeguards provided by the Constitution or any law for the time being in force for the protection of human rights and recommends measures for their effective implementation.</li>
<li>NHRC studies treaties and other international instruments on human rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation.</li>
<li>It spreads human rights literacy among various sections of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars and other available means.</li>
<li>It undertakes research in the field of human rights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Criticism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The selection committee tasked with appointing the Chairperson and the members to the Commission is dominated by the ruling party. Political interference in its working is a major drawback.</li>
<li>Supreme Court called the NHRC a &ldquo;toothless tiger&rdquo;,as it does not have powers to penalise the offenders.There is a conflict of interest, as the Police officials on deputation, investigating for the NHRC remain attached to their home cadre. The NHRC urgently requires officers of its own to carry out independent investigations, and the government should provide it resources for the same.</li>
<li>Functions of the commission are mainly recommendatory in nature. And the recommendations are not binding on the concerned authorities.</li>
<li>The working of NHRC officials is not supervised.Officials do not owe financial accountability to the Comptroller and Auditor General, and have often been accused of human rights violations themselves.</li>
<li>Recruitment procedure is obscure and there is lack of transparent recruitment mechanism.The criteria to assess candidates is also not specified.</li>
<li>The investment mechanism by the Commission is not clearly defined.</li>
<li>Commission has a limited role with respect to the violation of human rights by the members of armed forces.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is thus a need to diversify the selection committee.Efficiency of working of NHRC can be improved if the recruitment procedure becomes transparent.</li>
<li>Specific time-frames should be fixed for the thorough and expeditious completion of investigations.</li>
<li>Human Rights education should be promoted in India to make the population aware about rights.</li>
<li>The dominance of judiciary&rsquo;s presence in the Commission needs to be balanced out by the inclusion of civil society members and academicians with proven track record in the field of human rights. The diversification can bring with it the grass roots level experience, widespread community outreach and the expertise of these organisations or individuals.</li>
<li>Special Cells should be constituted under the concerned District Magistrates to follow the progress of the investigation of cases not entrusted to the CBI,these should be monitored by the Additional Director-General.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1993 under a legislation enacted by the Parliament, namely, the Protection of Human Rights Act,1993.</li>
<li>It is a statutory body.</li>
<li>In 1993, the UN General Assembly adopted the Paris Principles on Human Rights. This led to the constitution of national human rights institutions in almost every country.</li>
<li>The commission is a multi-member body consisting of a chairman and four members.</li>
<li>The commission&rsquo;s headquarters is at Delhi and it can also establish offices at other places in India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-elected-to-unhrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more</a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-nhrc'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'India Elected to UNHRC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>India has been elected to the United Nations Human&nbsp;Rights Council (UNHRC) for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The elections for selecting new members to UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) were held at the United Nations in which the 193-members of the UN General Assembly took part.&nbsp;</li>
<li>India received 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category.</li>
<li>India was vying for a seat in the Asia Pacific category, which has 5 seats in UNHRC. Along with India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji, and the Philippines were also elected to UNHRC from Asia-Pacific.</li>
<li>India has previously served in Human Rights Council&nbsp;from 2011-2014 and 2014-2017.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India's election with the highest number of votes reflects India's standing in the international comity.</li>
<li>It recognizes India's commitment towards the protection of Human Rights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Criticism of Election</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Human Rights NGO, Human Rights Watch has criticized the election saying that the election was devoid of any competition and countries with the worst Human rights records like Philippines, Eritrea, Bahrain etc. have been elected in UNHRC.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>About UNHRC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.</li>
<li>The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis from 5 groups.</li>
<li>To become a member, a country must receive the votes of at least 96 of the 191 states of the UN General Assembly (an absolute majority).</li>
<li>The members are elected for a period of three years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Silver Jubilee of National Human Rights Council (NHRC)</strong><strong></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India's top human rights body, NHRC has completed 25 years of its formation.</li>
<li>The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India was established on 12 October 1993.</li>
<li>It is a statutory body established under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.</li>
<li>It is based on the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Paris in October 1991.</li>
<li>The NHRC is an embodiment of India&rsquo;s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-elected-to-unhrc'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Mission to Sequence Genes of Indians',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>India is planning a major mission to sequence the genes of a large group of Indians similar to projects in the United Kingdom, China, Japan and Australia.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will improve health as well as facilitate designing of &lsquo;personalised medicine.&rsquo;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Personalized Medicine is the concept that managing a patient's health should be based on the individual patient's specific characteristics, including age, gender, height/weight, diet, environment, etc. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pharmacogenetics (also termed pharmacogenomics) is the field of study that examines the impact of genetic variation on the response to medications.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This approach is aimed at tailoring drug therapy at a dosage that is most appropriate for an individual patient, with the potential benefits of increasing the efficacy and safety of medications</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></i></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This was among the key decisions taken at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in its first meeting.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Biotechnology (Ministry of Science and Technology) would be closely associated with the project.</li>
<li>It can be noted that a group of Indian scientists and companies are already involved with a 100k GenomeAsia project, which aims to sequence the whole genomes of 100k Asians, including 50,000 Indians.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Prime Minister&rsquo;s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The PM-STIAC (Science, Technology, Innovation Advisory Committee), was constituted in August, 2018 to advise the Prime Minister on all matters related to S&amp;T, innovation and monitor the implementation as well.</li>
<li>It is a 21-member committee, chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government, presently K Vijay Raghavan.</li>
<li>PM-STIAC replaced the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to PM and Cabinet.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Genome Sequencing</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes.</li>
<li>Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome&mdash;the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism's DNA.</li>
<li>It is method of isolating and identifying variable elements within the base-pair sequence of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) as it shows high degree of polymorphism (variation) at genetic level. Polymorphism forms the basis of genome sequencing since DNA from every tissue (such as blood, hair-follicle, skin, bone, saliva, sperm etc.) from an individual show the same degree of polymorphism</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ever since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, meaning, that the entire DNA pattern in the cell that lends people their unique identity was deciphered, several countries have announced initiatives to map genomes of their resident populations.</li>
<li>The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in 2009 announced that it had sequenced the genome of an Indian, then making India one of six countries to achieve such a feat.</li>
<li>However, no compendium of genes that differentiate Indian populations from, say Caucasian or African genomes exist. Therefore, the announcement by PM-STIAC is aimed to create such mapping of population of India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Human Genome Project </strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international, collaborative research program whose goal was the complete mapping and understanding of all the genes of human beings. HGP researchers have deciphered the human genome in three major ways: determining the order or "sequence" of all the bases in our genome's DNA; making maps that show the locations of genes for major sections of all our chromosomes; and producing what are called linkage maps.</li>
<li>It&nbsp; was a result of the International Human Genome Project comprising scientists from the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan and China. The Project began in 1990, and the sequencing was completed in 2003.</li>
<li>The HGP has revealed that there are probably about 20,500 human genes. The completed human sequence can now identify their locations. This information can be thought of as the basic set of inheritable "instructions" for the development and function of a human being.</li>
<li>The International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium published the first draft of the human genome in 2001 with the sequence of the entire genome's three billion base pairs some 90 percent complete.</li>
<li>Thereafter, the United Kingdom announced a plan in 2014 to create a bank of 100,000 genomes in the nation which was followed by GenomeAsia 100K project announced by the National Technological University (NTU), Singapore.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Mission to Sequence Genes of Indians'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Ministry’s Report on Road Accidents in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways released The Road Accidents in India report for 2017.</p>
<h3>Findings of the report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The year 2017 saw 4.65 lakh road accidents that killed 1.48 lakh and injured 4.71 lakh people.</li>
<li>Major reasons for Deaths in Road Accident:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>overspeeding (~66%)</li>
<li>Use of mobile phones (~2%)</li>
<li>driving on the wrong side (~6%)</li>
<li>drunken driving (~3%)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The road accidents in the country fell by around 3% as compared to 2016.</li>
<li>Tamilnadu reported the highest number of accidents, around 75000 in one year, followed by Madhya Pradesh (~57000) and Karnataka(~52000).</li>
<li>More number of accidents were recorded in the Southern States, more deaths were recorded in the Northern States.</li>
<li>Young adults in the age group of 18 - 45 years accounted for around 72% of victims during 2017.</li>
<li>People in the working age group of 18- 60 years accounted for a share of around 87% in the total road accident fatalities.</li>
<li>In terms of accidents on road categories, the National Highways accounted for 30% of total road accidents and 36% of deaths in 2017.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Justice K.S. RadhaKrishnan Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Supreme Court had set up the three-member KS Radhakrishnan panel on road safety in April 2014. The SC had termed the roads in India as &ldquo;giant killers&rdquo;</li>
<li>The main recommendations of the committee were:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ban on the sale of alcohol on highways (both state and national) to restrain drunk driving.</li>
<li>The states were directed to implement laws on wearing helmets.</li>
<li>Audit of road safety to be implemented by states to ensure the safety standards in the design, construction, and maintenance of roads.</li>
<li>The committee stressed on the importance of creating awareness among people on road&nbsp;safety rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It proposes to create a National Register for Driving Licence and a National Register for Vehicle registration through &ldquo;Vahan&rdquo; and &ldquo;Sarathi&rdquo; web portals. This is in order to smoothen the process of registration and licensing.</li>
<li>It proposes alterations in vehicles, in order to make them suitable for specially-abled people.</li>
<li>It provides for a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, which would provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents.</li>
<li>It provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the Central Government through a notification. The Board will provide advice to the Central and State Governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management.</li>
<li>Contractors, consultants, and civic agencies will be accountable for faulty design, construction or poor maintenance of roads leading to accidents. Those found guilty would be penalized up to Rs 1 lakh.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The declaration was signed at the Second Global High-Level conference on Road Safety held in Brazil in 2015.</li>
<li>Through the Brasilia Declaration Countries plan to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 which aims to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020.</li>
<li>The main points of the Brasilia Declaration are:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Countries should form transport policies in order to favor more sustainable modes of transport such as walking, cycling and using public transport.</li>
<li>It highlights strategies to ensure the safety of all road users
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>by improving laws and enforcement</li>
<li>making roads safer through infrastructural modifications</li>
<li>ensuring that vehicles are equipped with life-saving technologies</li>
<li>enhancing emergency trauma care systems</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ministrys-report-on-road-accidents-in-india'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Important Facts for Prelims (13th October 2018)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Sikkim Won UN-backed Award</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s first fully organic state, Sikkim, won Future Policy Award 2018.</li>
<li>Sikkim&rsquo;s policies of green agriculture have helped more than 66,000 farmers, boosted tourism and has set an example for others to follow.</li>
<li>Sikkim was declared fully organic in 2016 after phasing out chemical fertilizers and pesticides and substituting them with sustainable alternatives.</li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s award was for agroecology. This award has previously honored policies combating desertification, violence against women and girls, nuclear weapons and pollution of the oceans.</li>
<li><strong>Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems.</strong></li>
<li>It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while taking into consideration the social aspects that need to be addressed for a sustainable and fair food system.</li>
<li>The Future Policy Award 2018 is convened by the Food Agriculture Organization, the World Future Council, IFOAM-Organics International with the support of Green Cross International, DO-IT - Dutch Organic International Trade and Sekem Group (Egypt).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Kaziranga National Park</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kaziranga National park (KNP) reopens for tourists after a gap of around six months.</li>
<li>KNP, formed in 1908 is located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots - Golaghat and Nagaon district.</li>
<li>In the year 1985, the park was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.</li>
<li>It was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2006.</li>
<li>Also, the park is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. It is home to the world's largest population of Indian Rhinoceros.</li>
<li>The park area is circumscribed by the Brahmaputra River, which forms the northern and eastern boundaries, and the Mora Diphlu, which forms the southern boundary. Other notable rivers within the park are the Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri.</li>
</ul>
<h3><g class="gr_ gr_45 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="45" data-gr-id="45">Baavan</g> Buti</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <g class="gr_ gr_53 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="53" data-gr-id="53">Baavan</g>&nbsp;Buti is a weaving technique from Nalanda, Bihar. It draws its name from 52 (<g class="gr_ gr_55 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="55" data-gr-id="55">baavan</g>) motifs used in the handloom.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sujini Embroidery</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sujini, an embroidery technique from Bihar, is used to make blankets or bed-spread.</li>
<li>Sujini was given protection under GI registration tag in 2006.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sabai Weaving</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Odisha&rsquo;s Mayurbhanj district is home to Sabai grass (Eulaliopsis <g class="gr_ gr_49 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="49" data-gr-id="49">binata</g>) that has been used in making ropes and other products for centuries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Atal Innovation Mission &amp; SIRIUS Educational Foundation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To promote innovative cooperation between students of India and Russia, a Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged between India&rsquo;s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the Russian Federation&rsquo;s SIRIUS Educational Foundation.</li>
<li>The MoU plans to:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Remove cultural and language barriers between students of Russia and India.</li>
<li>Share the best practices in the promotion of educational, scientific, innovative achievements, promote innovative cooperation.</li>
<li>Search and develop talented youth of both countries fostering a knowledge driven innovation ecosystem in both the countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg" p=""><strong>Atal Innovation Mission</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is NITI Aayog&rsquo;s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India.</li>
<li>AIM has been established to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in a holistic manner through various initiatives at school, university and industry levels.</li>
<li>AIM also serves as a platform for promotion of world-class Innovation Hubs, Grand Challenges, Start-up businesses and other self-employment activities in India, leveraging state of the art, advanced and affordable emerging technologies.</li>
<li>The Atal Innovation Mission has thus two core functions:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Innovation promotion: to provide a platform where innovative ideas are generated.</li>
<li>Entrepreneurship promotion: Wherein innovators would be supported and mentored to become successful entrepreneurs at Incubation Centres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>SIRIUS Educational Foundation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SIRIUS Educational Foundation has been founded by &ldquo;Talent and success&rdquo; Foundation and Government of Russia.</li>
<li>Fund &ldquo;Talent and success&rdquo; is a unitary, non-profit, non-standard educational organization in Russia .</li>
<li>The activities of the Foundation are aimed to identify and support children and young people who have shown outstanding abilities.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-13th-october-2018-'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Indian Society',
		'catname' => 'Paper By Subject',
		'desc' => '<h2>2018</h2>
<p>1. &ldquo;Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence caste system cannot be eradicated in India.&rdquo; Comment.</p>
<p>2. &lsquo;Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing&rsquo;. Explain by giving reasons.</p>
<p>3. How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism? Discuss.</p>
<p>4. &lsquo;Women&rsquo;s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.&rsquo; Substantiate your view.</p>
<p>5. &lsquo;Globalization is generally said to promote cultural homogenization but due to this cultural specificities appear to be strengthened in the Indian Society.&rsquo; Elucidate.</p>
<p>6. &lsquo;Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation&rsquo;. Argue by giving suitable illustrations.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2017</h2>
<p>7. In the context of the diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form cultural units rather than the States? Give reasons with examples for your viewpoint.</p>
<p>8. What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)?</p>
<p>9. The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Elaborate.</p>
<p>10. Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India.</p>
<h2>2016</h2>
<p>11. To what extent globalisation has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain.</p>
<p>12. &ldquo;An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.&rdquo; Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.</p>
<p>13. Why are the tribals in India referred to as &lsquo;the Scheduled Tribes&rsquo;? Indicate the major provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India for their upliftment.</p>
<p>14. What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on <g class="gr_ gr_75 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="75" data-gr-id="75">regional</g> basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.</p>
<h2>2015</h2>
<p>15. Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their relative significance in building a national identity.</p>
<p>16. Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India.</p>
<p>17. How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?</p>
<p>18. Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades.</p>
<p>19. Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India.</p>
<p>20. Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for <g class="gr_ gr_71 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="71" data-gr-id="71">assertion</g> of Dalit identity work towards <g class="gr_ gr_72 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="72" data-gr-id="72">annihilation</g> of caste.</p>
<h2>2014</h2>
<p>21. How does patriarchy impact the position of a <g class="gr_ gr_77 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="77" data-gr-id="77">middle class</g> working woman in India?</p>
<p>22. Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.</p>
<p>23. The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than social values. Discuss.</p>
<p>24. Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India.</p>
<p>25. How do the Indian debates on secularism differ from the debates in the West?</p>
<h2>2013</h2>
<p>26. Discuss the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.</p>
<p>27. &ldquo;Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women&rsquo;s organization free from gender bias.&rdquo; Comment.</p>
<p>28. Critically examine the effect of globalization on the aged population in India.</p>
<p>29. Growing feeling of regionalism is an important factor in <g class="gr_ gr_73 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="73" data-gr-id="73">generation</g> of demand for a separate State. Discuss.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/mains-previous-year-papers/subject-wise-papers/mains-previous-years-paper-indian-society'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Important Facts for Prelims (12th October 2018)	',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Global Financial Stability Report-October 2018</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) that assesses the stability of global financial markets and emerging-market financing. It is released twice per year, in April and October.</li>
<li>The report analyses the key risks to global financial stability takes stock of the global regulatory reform agenda over the past decade and looks at whether the global financial ecosystem since the crisis (2008 financial crisis) has evolved in the intended direction.</li>
<li>GFSR-2018 says that a stronger dollar, higher credit spreads, weaker equity prices, and higher domestic interest rates have led to a tightening of financial conditions in recent months which may lead to the fall in inflows from emerging markets.</li>
<li>This drop in inflows will pose challenges to countries that rely heavily on external financing. In other words, financing India&rsquo;s rising current account deficit is going to be challenging. It will also impact sovereign and corporate borrowers that are dependent on external financing.</li>
<li>According to the report, the broad regulatory agenda set by the international community has helped strengthen the global banking system.</li>
<li>However, it has warned that the regulators and supervisors must remain attentive to new risks, including possible threats to financial stability stemming from cybersecurity, financial technology, and other institutions or activities outside the perimeter of prudential regulation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Black leopard In Tadoba Andheri Forest Reserve</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The black leopard, seen in Tadoba Reserve, is the melanistic color variant of Indian leopard (Panthera pardus <g class="gr_ gr_45 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="45" data-gr-id="45">fusca</g>) which is subspecies of leopard native to Indian Sub-continent.</li>
<li>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I</li>
<li>CITES Appendix I</li>
<li>IUCN Red List: Near Threatened</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg"><strong>Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra state, India.</li>
<li>It is Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park.</li>
<li>It is one of India's 50 "Project Tiger" - Tiger reserves.</li>
<li>Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve was established as second Tiger Reserve in the Maharashtra State, in 1994-95</li>
<li>It represents Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Teak Forests in the Tiger habitat and viable tiger population of more than 40 tigers.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India - Indonesia Coordinated&nbsp;Patrol (CORPAT)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Indian Naval ships and aircraft are participating in the 32nd edition of India &ndash; Indonesia coordinated patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) in Indonesia.</li>
<li>The ships and aircraft from both the countries would undertake patrolling on the respective sides of 236 nautical miles long International Maritime Boundary Line.</li>
<li>The patrol seeks to emphasize India&rsquo;s peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain, consolidate interoperability and strengthen existing bonds of friendship between the two countries.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-12th-october-2018'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <g class="gr_ gr_78 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="78" data-gr-id="78">centre</g> would aim to bring together the government and business leaders to pilot emerging technology policies.</li>
<li>The <g class="gr_ gr_98 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="98" data-gr-id="98">centre</g> would be based in Maharashtra. <strong>Drones, artificial intelligence and blockchain</strong> have been selected as the first three project areas.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As part of the WEF&rsquo;s global network, the new <g class="gr_ gr_83 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace gr-progress" id="83" data-gr-id="83">centre</g> in India will work closely with project teams in San Francisco (USA), Tokyo (Japan) and Beijing (China), where such Centres are already present.</li>
<li>NITI Aayog will coordinate the partnership on behalf of the government and among the multiple ministries.</li>
<li>The WEF has also entered into partnerships with the Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments for the new initiative and more states would be roped in going forward.</li>
<li>The initial efforts at the national level are focused on two emerging technology areas-
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Artificial intelligence and machine learning</strong>: expanding access to data to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in socio-economic areas like education, healthcare <g class="gr_ gr_104 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="104" data-gr-id="104">and</g> agriculture.</li>
<li><strong>Blockchain and distributed ledger technology</strong>: application of smart contracts (the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller are directly written into lines of code) to boost productivity and transparency while reducing inefficiency</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At the state level, the Government of Maharashtra in collaboration with the Centre is planning to undertake a drone mapping operation in the agriculture sector.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Emerging fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Blockchain, and Big Data, can improve the quality of life of Indian citizens.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this regard, the government has recently exempted wireless devices that operate in low-frequency range like <g class="gr_ gr_77 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="77" data-gr-id="77">bluetooth</g>, wireless chargers, internet-of-things products, medical devices etc from licensing requirement. This is particularly significant for <g class="gr_ gr_76 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="76" data-gr-id="76">easing</g> business for the emerging smart industry for machine-to-machine communications both in industrial and consumer applications.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Digital India movement has brought data connectivity to the villages of India. Tele-density, internet coverage, and mobile internet subscriptions have increased tremendously in the recent past. There has been a rapid growth in the number of Common Service Centres (access points for delivery of essential public utility services, social welfare schemes, healthcare, financial, education and agriculture services, apart from a host of B2C services to citizens in rural and remote areas) in India.</li>
<li>India has the highest mobile data consumption in the world and is also the country where data is available at the lowest price. Currently, India&rsquo;s digital infrastructure and its interfaces include Aadhaar, Unified Payment Interface, National Agriculture MArket (e-NAM), and Government e-Marketplace (GeM).</li>
<li>A national strategy for creating a robust infrastructure for research in Artificial Intelligence has recently been prepared. The new Centre will strengthen this process.</li>
<li>Along with all these changes, Industry 4.0, and the expansion of Artificial Intelligence can lead to better health care, and reduce expenditure on health.</li>
<li>It can also help farmers, and be of immense help in the agriculture sector. It can play a key role in other areas such as transportation and smart mobility.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>4th Industrial Revolution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production. The Second used electric power to create <g class="gr_ gr_117 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="117" data-gr-id="117">mass</g> production. The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production. Now a Fourth Industrial Revolution which builds upon the Third, the digital revolution has been occurring since the middle of the 20th century. It is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.</li>
<li>When compared with previous industrial revolutions, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is evolving at an exponential rather than a linear pace (linear pace is steadier whereas exponential is much faster). Moreover, it is disrupting almost every industry in every country. The depth and breadth of these changes bring out the transformation of entire systems of production, management, and governance.</li>
<li>The Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world.</li>
<li>Transportation and communication costs will drop, logistics and global supply chains will become more effective, and the cost of trade will diminish, all of which will open new markets and drive economic growth.</li>
<li>However, economists have pointed out, that the revolution could yield greater inequality, particularly by disrupting labor markets. As automation substitutes for <g class="gr_ gr_90 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="90" data-gr-id="90">labour</g> across the entire economy, the net displacement of workers by machines might widen the gap between returns to capital (profit to the entrepreneurs) and returns to <g class="gr_ gr_91 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="91" data-gr-id="91">labour</g> (wages earned by the <g class="gr_ gr_92 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="92" data-gr-id="92">labours</g>).</li>
<li>On the other hand, it is also possible that the displacement of workers by technology will, in the aggregate, result in a net increase in safe and rewarding jobs.</li>
<li>Concerns have also been raised regarding the increasing <g class="gr_ gr_113 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="113" data-gr-id="113">societal</g> inequality due to technological interventions. The largest beneficiaries of innovation tend to be the providers of intellectual and physical capital (the innovators, shareholders, and investors). The few capital investors tend to reap much more benefit than the large population of workers who are not investors.</li>
<li><g class="gr_ gr_82 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="82" data-gr-id="82">Also</g> the demand for highly skilled workers is being seen to be increased while the demand for workers with less education and lower skills has decreased.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Concerns have been raised that the technology will drive out jobs from the market, however, the leaders in the country have assured that <strong>4th Industrial Revolution will create more opportunities in India while changing the nature of jobs.</strong></li>
<li>Government initiatives including Skill India Mission, Start-Up India, and Atal Innovation Mission are preparing the country for new and emerging technologies. The diversity, demographic potential, fast-growing market size, and digital infrastructure has the potential to make India a global hub for research and implementation.</li>
</ul>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-for-the-fourth-industrial-revolution'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Not Without Her Consent',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(The editorial is based on the article <em>&ldquo;Not without her consent&rdquo;</em> which appeared in The Hindu on 12<sup>th</sup> October 2018. It provides an explanation for the #MeToo moment)</p>
</div>
<p>Women around the world have started speaking up on social media - picking up on harassment stories, making public suppressed memories, breaking free from the helplessness or a false sense of humiliation that had kept them quiet for so long.<img class="content-img" src="http://drishtiias.com/images/uploads/368image1.png" width="341" height="151" style="float: right;" /></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Allegations have ranged from violent rape to sleazy texting.</li>
<li>The testimonies so far have mostly concerned the film world and the mainstream media, and cover both the workplace and private spaces. They range from stories of assault to propositioning, suggestiveness to stalking.</li>
</ul>
<h3>#MeToo</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is a movement that deals specifically with sexual violence. And it is a framework for how to end sexual violence.</li>
<li>#MeToo was started by an activist Tarana Burke after she had a conversation with a 13-year-old girl who opened up to her about the sexual abuse she was experiencing.</li>
<li>Although the #MeToo movement had already been around for years, it finally gained international attention after allegations of sexual assault and harassment by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein started a crusade within the industry to speak out.</li>
</ul>
<h3>#TimesUp</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Time&rsquo;s Up shares a similar vision for women&rsquo;s empowerment with #MeToo, but it has some different, specific goals.</li>
<li>Time&rsquo;s Up can be thought of as a solution-based, action-oriented next step in the #MeToo movement.</li>
<li>The organization&rsquo;s aim is to create concrete change, leading to safety and equity in the workplace.</li>
<li>It was started by a group of over 300 women in Hollywood, with high-profile leaders including Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman and Shonda Rhimes.</li>
<li>To fund this goal, they created the Time&rsquo;s Up Legal Defense Fund, which is a source of legal and financial support for women and men who want to fight sexual misconduct through the justice system.</li>
</ul>
<h3>#UsToo</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is India&rsquo;s version of #MeToo. Where women started sharing stories of harassment on social media platforms.</li>
<li>In the quick aftermath of actor Tanushree Dutta&rsquo;s allegations, women have been speaking of their experiences and the trauma, mostly on Twitter and Facebook.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Patriarchal norms that made it easy to victimise women thrived because of permissiveness, silence of the society.</li>
<li>Being subjected to unwelcome and inappropriate behavior at work, while trying to carry on and perform well under the usual stresses of a job, can have damaging and long-lasting effects on an individual.</li>
<li>A workplace environment that fails to properly address the issue of sexual harassment will be at risk of developing signs of a negative work culture &ndash; low morale, discontented employees and high levels of absenteeism will soon be reflected in lower productivity and profits.</li>
<li>Victims of sexual harassment can suffer significant psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, headaches, sleep disorders, weight loss or gain, nausea, lowered self-esteem.</li>
<li>Physical health and emotional health are closely linked. When victims of sexual harassment experience mental and emotional problems, it often leads to physical health issues, such as loss of appetite, headaches, weight fluctuations, and sleep disturbances.</li>
<li>Sexual harassment can risk a victim&rsquo;s emotional and mental health. It can lead to the loss of self-esteem and it may even compromise personal relationships.</li>
<li>Moreover, each year, millions are lost due to absenteeism, low productivity, employee turnover, low morale, and legal costs stemming from sexual harassment. The economy also suffers due to premature retirement and higher insurance costs.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a symptom of a larger, systemic inequality and a systemic pattern of exclusion for women. First,this inequality should be solved because power imbalances are at the root of harassing behaviour.</li>
<li>There must be focus on getting passing legislations and changing policies. Passage of laws for gender parity issues such as equal pay and equal work environments &ndash; as well as increased opportunities, particularly for women in low-wage industries.</li>
<li>Clear line should be drawn between sexual harassment and bad social conduct, as there is too much subjectivity in this entire proposition.</li>
<li>The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, built on the Vishaka Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in 1997, makes it mandatory for organisations to have an internal complaints committee to report and probe such cases. The law has Vishaka guidelines that define sexual harassment and how companies must address them. This should be properly implemented.</li>
<li>No one should be deemed guilty only because he had been named and any punishment must be proportionate to the misdemeanour.</li>
<li>Women thought that their words and feelings would be dismissed, their careers would suffer, or their families would pull them back into the safety of home. This fear of making a complaint needs to be overcome in all workspaces, not only the media and the film industry.</li>
<li>All of society needs to internalise a new normal that protects a woman&rsquo;s autonomy and her freedom from discrimination in the society.</li>
<li>A fair system that delivers brisk justice should come into place before victims of sexual crimes entirely lose faith in the justice system.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => '6 Ways To Turn Around India’s Jobs Problem',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>(The editorial is based on the article &ldquo;6 Ways to turn around India&rsquo;s jobs problem&rdquo; which appeared in Livemint on 11<sup>th</sup> October 2018. It provides an insight on India&rsquo;s jobless growth.)</p>
</div>
<p><strong>Human capital is now the fastest-growing component of India&rsquo;s wealth,</strong> but to reap the benefits of this &lsquo;demographic dividend&rsquo;, creation of sufficient new jobs is need of hour.</p>
<p>The World Bank, in its publication, <em>&ldquo;South Asia Economic Focus, Spring 2018: Jobless Growth?&rdquo;,</em> says that over the long-term, India has been creating 7,50,000 new jobs for everyone per cent rise in gross domestic product (GDP), at an average of 7% growth, India should be creating at least 5.25 million jobs, if not more.</p>
<p>Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) with the latest survey (May-August 2018) showed a dip of nearly 3.5 million jobs from the previous survey.</p>
<p>It is argued that India&rsquo;s problem is not jobless growth, but lack of potential of the economy to create jobs.</p>
<h3>Inter relation between growth and jobs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The old link between growth and jobs is now much weaker than before. In the 1990s, the employment elasticity in India was nearly 0.4. Now, this elasticity is down to 0.2 or lower.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Employment Elasticity</strong> is a measure of the percentage change in employment associated with a 1 percentage point change in economic growth. The employment elasticity indicates the ability of an economy to generate employment opportunities for its population as per cent of its growth (development) process.</p>
<p><strong>Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)</strong> is a leading business information company. It was established in 1976, primarily as an independent think tank which conducts the survey to estimate household incomes, pattern of spending and savings; it runs a unique monitoring of new investment projects on hand and it has created the largest integrated database of the Indian economy.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Falling employment elasticity is partly the result of large-scale substitution of labour with capital and automation.</li>
<li>It is a easy decision for promoters to use capital and automation when labour is heavily regulated in the economy.</li>
<li>Agriculture is no longer supporting half the population, and the fresh pressure on jobs is becoming apparent from rural to urban migration in search of employment.</li>
<li>The demand of traditional landed castes like the Patidars, Gujjars, Jats, Marathas and Kapus for job reservations can be seen as a symptom of the overburdened farm sector seeking an outlet in the urban jobs market.</li>
<li>While technology will surely create some jobs, in the short-term it polarize jobs. (the demand will be for very high skills, or very average skills, with middle-skilled jobs being phased out).</li>
<li>Cyber-security, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning experts are in short supply, while jobs at the bottom-end grow rapidly.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Blue collar&rdquo; service jobs are booming in logistics, warehousing, home services, mobility, retailing, etc. Education, tourism and healthcare will also throw up millions of jobs in the years ahead. But jobs disappearing are middle skill ones like plain-vanilla java coders or bank branch staff and telecom back-office workers.</li>
<li>Skilling increases the supply of labour, but jobs emerge only when there is a demand for specific skills.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solutions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Improving the labour market information system</strong> where emerging demand for skills are spotted quickly and the necessary training and certifications for the same are created.</li>
<li>Quick <strong>improvements in public-private partnership in capturing demand for skills</strong> and following through with quick investments in skill-building to match demand with supply.</li>
<li><strong>Jobs and skills planning should be decentralized</strong> and it has to be done at state and district levels, where there is granular information on education, skills and job options.</li>
<li>Implementing <strong>a new model of manufacturing which is high-skilled,</strong> and where high-end cottage manufacturing can create employment at the small scale level.</li>
<li>If urbanization is good and well planned, then job growth will be positive. <strong>Government should concentrate on the development of towns</strong> and narrow areas and service it with good infrastructure to generate employment alongside development.</li>
<li>If <strong>government starts spending on public goods</strong> (schools, hospitals, dams, roads etc..) instead of spending on freebies (deep subsidies on food, farm loan waivers etc..) the capacity of government to create employment increases.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To fix employment problem, right high-frequency data should be gathered and nature of employment problem should be defined.</li>
<li>If policy makers focus on employment, GDP growth will grow along gradually.</li>
<li>Government should concentrate on skill development of human resource, suitable as per the demand of the market.</li>
<li>Millions of jobs will be displaced by artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation in near future, but new jobs can be created if the balance between human workers and machines can be maintained.</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://drishtiias.com/images/uploads/354Job and Joblessness.jpg" width="582" height="392" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>',
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