Search

Search list matched with tags “class”

Zombie Fire

Why in News According to a new study, the fire regimes in the Arctic are changing rapidly, with ‘zombie fires’ becoming more frequent in...

01 Oct 2020 News Analysis
BrahMos Testing

Why in News BrahMos Land-Attack Cruise Missile (surface-to-surface) was successfully flight tested from the Integrated Test Range at Balasore in...

01 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Police Commissionerate System

This article is based on “A demarcation in the interest of public order” which was published in The Hindu on 30/09/2020. It talks...

30 Sep 2020 News Editorials
PMNCH Accountability Breakfast

Why in News The Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare participated in the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH)...

30 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Gavi COVAX Facility

Why in News Recently, Serum Institute of India (SII) has received funds from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,...

30 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark

Why in News India and the Kingdom of Denmark have launched the Green Strategic Partnership for delivering sustainable solutions to India. The...

30 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Congo Fever Alert in Maharashtra

Why in News The Palghar administration has asked authorities to remain alert against a possible spread of the Congo fever in the Maharashtra...

30 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Suspension of Amnesty International Operations in India

Why in News Amnesty International India has halted its human rights operations in India due to the freezing of its bank accounts by the Government...

30 Sep 2020 News Analysis
UAE’s Moon Mission

Why in News Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to send an unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2024. Key Points Name: The...

30 Sep 2020 News Analysis
The Big Picture: Agriculture Reforms

Why in News? Rajya Sabha has passed two bills related to Agriculture Sector Reforms, namely: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion...

30 Sep 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Pricing and Taxing Carbon

The article is based on “The benefits of carbon tax” which was published in The Hindu on 28/09/2020. It focuses upon how the Greenhouse...

29 Sep 2020 News Editorials
States Planning to Bypass Central Legislation

Why in News Recently, many states are exploring the possibilities of passing legislation under Article 254(2) of the Constitution, to negate the...

29 Sep 2020 News Analysis
EPFO’s New Facility on UMANG App

Why in News Recently, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has started a facility on the Unified Mobile Application for New-age...

29 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Six Mega Projects in Uttarakhand: Namami Gange Mission

Why in News The Prime Minister has inaugurated six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission. Key Points Highlights: These six...

29 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Campaign to Remove Lantana: Rajasthan

Why in News A special drive to uproot the invasive Lantana bushes in the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district has...

29 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020

Why in News Recently, a new Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) (erstwhile Defence Procurement Procedure or DPP), 2020 was released by the Ministry...

29 Sep 2020 News Analysis
India’s Taxation Challenge

This article is based on “Salutary lesson: On the Vodafone case” which was published in The Hindu on 28/09/2020. It talks about the...

28 Sep 2020 News Editorials
Climate Change and Forest Fire Link

Why in News Scientists note that human-induced climate change promotes the conditions on which wildfires depend. Key Points Wildfire: Also...

28 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Education Through Radio in Odisha

Why in News Recently, the state government of Odisha has decided to reach out to children in remote areas through the radio as online classes fail...

28 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Bhagat Singh’s Birth Anniversary

Why in News 28th September is the birth anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. Key Points Born in 1907 in Lyallpur district...

28 Sep 2020 News Analysis

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

Code Context


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

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'searchlist' => [
		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Zombie Fire',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a new study, the <strong>fire regimes in the Arctic are changing</strong> rapidly, with &lsquo;zombie fires&rsquo; becoming more frequent in addition to fires occurring in the once-frozen tundra.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Zombie Fire:</strong> It is a fire from a previous growing season that can <strong>smoulder under the ground</strong> which is made up of carbon-rich peat. When the weather warms, the fire can reignite. These are also known as <strong>holdover fires.</strong></li>
<li>The fires in the Arctic spreading to areas which were formerly fire-resistant is a more worrying feature.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> tundra</strong> is drying up and vegetation there like moss, grass, dwarf shrubs, etc are starting to catch fire.</li>
<li>The tundra is a cold region of treeless level or rolling ground found mostly north of the Arctic Circle or above the timberline on mountains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019 and 2020, burning occurred well above the Arctic Circle, a region not normally known to support large wildfires. Wildfires on permafrost in Siberia south of the Arctic are not uncommon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601540111_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601540111_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> The reason for this anomaly is that temperatures in winter and spring were warmer than usual during 2019-20.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Temperature in Siberia in 2020 had gone through the roof, with the region recording a severe <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>heatwave.</strong></a></li>
<li>Nearly all of this year&rsquo;s fires inside the Arctic Circle occurred on continuous permafrost, with over half of these burning on ancient carbon-rich peat soils.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fires and record temperatures had the potential of <strong>turning the carbon sink into a carbon source</strong> and increasing <a href="/printpdf/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Arctic region has a <strong>cold body of water and permafrost,</strong> it naturally acts as a carbon sink. On average it absorbs 58 megatons of CO<sub>2</sub> a year in its cold water.</li>
<li>Soils in areas of permafrost contain twice as much carbon as there is currently in the atmosphere.</li>
<li>As the climate and permafrost soils have warmed, <strong>microbes</strong> have started to <strong>break down this organic carbon,</strong> which has been frozen and fixed in the permafrost. That has led to a rise in land emissions of<strong> CO<sub>2</sub></strong> and <strong>methane.</strong></li>
<li>Also there will be less absorption of carbon by water with rising temperature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will be a<strong> feedback loop:</strong> As peatlands release more carbon, global warming increases, which thaws more peat and causes more wildfires.</li>
<li>Arctic fires will affect the global climate over the<strong> long term</strong> depending on what they burnt. That&rsquo;s because peatlands, unlike boreal forest, do not regrow quickly after a fire, so the carbon released is permanently lost to the atmosphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Arctic Region</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601540179_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601540179_image1.jpg" caption="false" width="469" height="524" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arctic region, or the Arctic, is a geographic region spreading around the North Pole.</li>
<li>The Arctic Circle (66&deg; 33'N) delimits the Arctic in terms of solar radiation.</li>
<li>Based on temperature, the <strong>monthly average temperature</strong> in the Arctic is<strong> below + 10&deg;C</strong> throughout the year, even in summer.</li>
<li>The Arctic contains vast stores of carbon and other planet-warming <strong>greenhouse gases</strong> in its soils, in<strong> peat</strong> as well as<strong> frozen soil</strong> that can be freed up through combustion.</li>
<li><strong>Peatlands</strong> are wetlands that contain ancient, decomposed and partially decomposed organic matter. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nearly half the world&rsquo;s peatland-stored carbon lies between 60 and 70 degrees north, along the Arctic Circle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arctic Permafrost:</strong> It is ground that remains completely frozen at 0 degrees Celsius or below for <strong>at least two years</strong> and is defined solely based on temperature and duration.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is composed of rock, sediments, sand, dead plant and animal matter, soil, and varying degrees of ice and is believed to have formed during glacial periods dating several millennia.</li>
<li>It is mainly found near the polar zones and regions with high mountains covering parts of <strong>Greenland, Alaska, Russia, Northern Canada, Siberia and Scandinavia.</strong></li>
<li>Permafrost is the most threatened by climate change, Arctic regions are <strong>warming twice as fast compared to the rest of the planet,</strong> its current rate of temperature change being the highest in 2,000 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is an <strong>urgent need to understand the nature of fires</strong> in the Arctic which are evolving and changing rapidly.</li>
<li>This study has urged global cooperation, investment and action in monitoring fires. It has called for <strong>learning from the indigenous peoples of the Arctic</strong> about how fire was traditionally used.</li>
<li><strong>New permafrost- and peat-sensitive approaches</strong> to wildland firefighting are needed to save the Arctic.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/zombie-fires-in-a-warming-arctic-region-a-worry-study-73605#:~:text=By%20DTE%20Staff&amp;text=The%20fire%20regimes%20in%20the,according%20to%20a%20new%20study." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/zombie-fire'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'BrahMos Testing',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BrahMos</a> Land-Attack Cruise Missile</strong> (surface-to-surface) was successfully flight tested from the Integrated Test Range at <strong>Balasore</strong> in <strong>Odisha.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601538577_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601538577_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> joint venture</strong> between the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO)</strong> </a>and the NPOM of <strong>Russia.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Brahmos is named on the<strong> rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <strong>supersonic</strong> missile travelling at a speed of <strong>Mach 2.8</strong> (nearly three times the speed of sound)<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the world&rsquo;s<strong> fastest supersonic cruise missile.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <strong>multiplatform</strong> i.e it can be launched from<strong> land, air, and sea</strong> and multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in <strong>both day and night</strong> irrespective of the weather conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is, therefore, used by all three forces, the <strong>Army, Navy and the Air Force.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It operates on the <strong>"Fire and Forget"</strong> principle i.e it does not require further guidance after launch.</li>
<li>It is the<strong> heaviest weapon</strong> to be deployed on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sukhoi-30-mki-equipped-with-the-brahmos-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft</strong></a>, with a weight of 2.5 tonnes.</li>
<li>Its <strong>range has been recently enhanced</strong> from 300 Km to 450-600 Km,<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing the missile&rsquo;s range became possible after India&rsquo;s induction into the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/india-s-prospects-as-a-nuclear-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)</strong> </a>in June 2016.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The missile features<strong> indigenous Booster and Airframe Section,</strong> along with many other <strong>indigenous sub-systems.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BrahMos has been deployed in <strong>Ladakh</strong> as well as the <strong>Eastern Sector in Arunachal Pradesh</strong> to tackle any threats in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ongoing standoff with China.</strong></a></li>
<li>Enhanced use of indigenous technologies will give a boost to India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AtmaNirbhar Bharat</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong> </a>Initiatives.</li>
<li>Increasing indigenous content in defence systems has also been a prime focus of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-acquisition-procedure-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Acquisition Procedure, 2020</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-defence-production-and-export-promotion-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Others:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is also working on a hypersonic missile, <strong>BrahMos-II (K),</strong> capable of taking out hardened targets such as underground bunkers and weapon storage facilities at seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1660288" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-testing'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Police Commissionerate System',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-demarcation-in-the-interest-of-public-order/article32726505.ece" 560="" height="315" src="/admin/articles/edit/https:/www.youtube.com/embed/MbORvFs_qWs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A demarcation in the interest of public order&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 30/09/2020. It talks about the need and issues related to the Police Commissionerates System.</p>
</div>
<p>In recent times protests against the government have risen quite significantly. Protests are hallmarks of a democractic nation, but protest needs to be peaceful and in concurrence with the ethos of the constitution.</p>
<p>In a district, the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dual command structure</strong></a>, whereby the both police headed by SP (head of district police) and the District Magistrate (executive), has the responsibility of maintenance of public order.</p>
<p>However, there have been cases where the dithering by magistrates have led to law and order situations getting out of hand with serious consequences flowing on to the citizenry. This has led to the demand for establishing a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Police Commissionerates System</strong></a> in India&rsquo;s Urban Spaces.</p>
<p>Establishing a police commissionerate system in urban areas may help in improving response time, set clear accountability for Police and eventually improve public order. However, merits and demerits of both systems need to be analysed.</p>
<h3>What is the Police Commissionerates System?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This system essentially splits a district in two parts from the point of view of policing.</li>
<li>The part of the city that forms the large urbanised settlement becomes a geographical area where the police responsibilities of District Superintendent of Police get transferred to the Commissioner of Police.</li>
<li>Along with this, the powers of the District Magistrate (DM), the Sub-divisional Magistrates (SDM) and the Executive Magistrates in the area of crime and law and order also get transferred to the Police Commissioner.</li>
<li>For the rest of the District, however, both the District Magistrate, his subordinate magistrates and the District Superintendent of Police retain their police powers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Dual System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delay in Reaction Time:</strong> Under the Dual system, before conducting any operation pertaining to maintenance of public order, police is required to obtain permissions from the magistrates. This adversely impacts efficiency.</li>
<li><strong>Diversion of Attention:</strong> Through a vast array of government schemes, the governments envisages to provide developmental thrust to the remotest corners of the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The District Magistrate carries a huge workload on account of implementation of these schemes. Therefore the requirement of DM in maintenance of public order leads to diversion of attention from its developmental obligations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues of Accountability:</strong> It is difficult to set accountability in event of any mismanagement of law and order situations like some protest or riots, as a blame game emanates from this dual system of policing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Commissionerate system</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Public Confidence in Police:</strong> Since the colonial times, the Police have not had the image of a pro-poor and pro-people institution. The police do not inspire public confidence and people generally bring their grievances to the magistrates.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, the police commissionerate system will further strengthen the narrative of a &ldquo;police raj&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Giving More Power to Police:</strong> In absence of clear norms of transparency and accountability imposed on an autonomous police machinery may leave the Police as the handmaidens of the ruling political dispensation on the one hand and a repressive governmental machinery on the other.</li>
<li><strong>Overlapping Jurisdiction:</strong> Even though the Supreme Court has made a distinction between law and order (pertaining to police) and public order (responsibility of District Magistrate). However, these two fields are overlapping i.e. any matter which is linked to individual crime can easily become a public order issue.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Supreme Court Observation on Law &amp; order And Public Order</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Court held that the two concepts have different objectives and legal standards.</li>
<li>Law and order consists of the analysis made by police of the situation in an area and their commitment to firm action and penalties under criminal law.</li>
<li>Public order is a duty imposed on the District Magistrate to assess whether it is necessary to rush to the spot where law and order has been breached to prevent violence spreading and ease tension.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Balancing Right to Protest And Public Order:</strong> Right to Protest emanates from freedom of speech and expression and as a democratic nation it is expected to consider protest as legitimate.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, District Magistrate having a say in public order acts as checks on the raw power of the police force.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Only the establishment of a police commissionerate is not likely to deliver safer and better-policed cities, much more reforms are required in this regard. For Example:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development of Civil Society:</strong> There is a need to develop a vibrant civil society with a high degree of activism and participation by non-governmental organisations. It can act as an effective check on police forces.</li>
<li><strong>States Needs to Take the Lead:</strong> As public order and police are part of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, it is required on part of states to carry out necessary police reforms.</li>
<li><strong>Need for Strong Municipal Architecture:</strong> Technological advancements pose new challenges to administration. Therefore, the planning, governance and delivery of many municipal services to a large population necessitates the setting up of a stronger municipal architecture.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian urban spaces can emulate the commissionerate system of the western democratic world, which operates under the directly elected Mayor and the City Council with a high degree of openness and public sharing of police actions and performance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s existing police system suffers a series of deficiencies from problems relating to a police organization, environment, infrastructure, and understaffing, to obsolete weaponry and intelligence gathering techniques to a shortage of manpower to corruption, the police force in the country is not in good shape.</p>
<p>Therefore, there is an urgent need for holistic police reforms. Since, Police, Law and Order are subjects of state list, the government can start by urging all states to implement the recommendations given by the supreme court in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dgp-appointment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prakash Singh case.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601467866_image6.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601467866_image6.PNG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="800" height="375" /></strong></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfff0; border-style: dotted;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;The role of the District Magistrate needs to be clearly differentiated from the role of the Police Commissioner.&rdquo; Discuss the statement in light of the need for police reforms.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MbORvFs_qWs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/making-amends-on-indias-appeal-to-sri-lanka-to-address-tamil-aspirations/article32718993.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Making amends&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on September 30<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/police-commissionerate-system'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'PMNCH Accountability Breakfast',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare</strong> participated in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/partners-forum-inaugurated-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH)</strong></a><strong> &lsquo;Accountability Breakfast&rsquo;</strong> (an annual event) to discuss the issues of maternal and child health.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The event was <strong>co-hosted by</strong> the <strong>White Ribbon Alliance</strong> (WRA) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/partners-forum-inaugurated-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Every Woman Every Child (EWEC).</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Theme of the Event:</strong> Protecting gains in Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health from the Covid pandemic.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>PMNCH</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Partnership <strong>(PMNCH)</strong> is a global health partnership founded in <strong>2005.</strong></li>
<li>It is hosted at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland</strong> which joins the maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) communities into an alliance.</li>
<li>The <strong>Accountability Breakfast</strong> aims to convert talk into action for the health and rights of women, children and adolescents.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The White Ribbon Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>WRA is a nonpartisan, non-profit and non-governmental membership organization that aims to decrease maternal and newborn death globally.</li>
<li>Founded in 1999 and same year it came to India as WRA India</li>
<li>Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>&lsquo;Every Woman Every Child&rsquo; (EWEC) Movement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched by the United Nations during the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> Millennium Development Goals Summit</strong> in September 2010.</li>
<li>Every Woman Every Child is an unprecedented global movement that mobilizes and intensifies international and national action by governments, the private sector, and civil society to address the major health challenges facing women, children, and adolescents around the world.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Government Initiatives during Covid-19 Pandemic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the national level, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued<strong> guidance to the States</strong> to ensure that women, children and adolescents <strong>continue to get all the healthcare services</strong> even under severe strain due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid</strong></a> pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the government has included Covid in the medical conditions covered under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat &ndash; PM JAY insurance package</strong></a> provided by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government has tried to<strong> reduce out-of-pocket expenditure</strong> through its policy of <strong>no denial for essential services,</strong> like-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH):</strong> It was launched in <strong>2013</strong> to address the major causes of mortality among women and children as well as the delays in accessing and utilizing health care and services.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-tb-report-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tuberculosis</strong></a>, chemotherapy, dialysis and healthcare of the elderly, irrespective of the Covid-19 status.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives related to Maternal and Child Health:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/laqshya-labour-room-quality-improvement-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>LaQshya program</strong> </a>to reduce preventable maternal and newborn mortality, morbidity and stillbirths associated with the care around delivery in the Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatre (OT) and ensure respectful maternity care.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-council-of-health-and-family-welfare-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Safe Motherhood Assurance (SUMAN) initiative</strong></a> aims to achieve zero preventable <strong>Maternal and Newborn Deaths.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <strong>NITI Aayog</strong> data, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/penicillin-revival-to-fight-rheumatic-fever" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)</strong> </a>has dropped by 8% in India to<strong> 130 per 100,000 live births.</strong> The aim is to get it in line with the <strong>Sustainable Development Goal of 70 per 1,00,000 live births</strong> by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-tool-to-reduce-maternal-mortality" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram</a> (JSSK)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana</a> (PMMVY)</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Indradhanush</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Poshan Abhiyan</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-innovative-method-for-boosting-nutrition" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mother and Child Protection Card</strong></a></li>
<li>Making available an adequate number of nurse practitioners in India is another important step towards <strong>Universalization of Skilled Birth Care.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reproductive Rights:</strong> A woman's choice during maternal care reckoned that maternity care goes much beyond healthcare services, also including <strong>dignity, privacy, confidentiality, choice and respect</strong> for her as well as her baby.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Zero-tolerance approach:</strong> For service denial to pregnant women and their new-born babies.</li>
<li><strong>Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revoke-order-weakening-pcpndt-act-aidwa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PCPNDT Act</strong></a> was enacted in 1994 and amended in 2003 and is an important tool for addressing sex-selective eliminations.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> To ban the use of sex selection techniques before or after conception and prevent the misuse of a prenatal diagnostic technique for sex-selective abortion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/medical-termination-of-pregnancy-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Act</strong></a> provides for termination up to 20 weeks. If an unwanted pregnancy has proceeded beyond 20 weeks, women have to approach a medical board and courts to seek permission for termination, which is extremely difficult and cumbersome. For this a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/abortions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>new bill</strong></a> to amend the MTP Act is under the consideration of the Parliament.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The idea should be to have a fully responsive and accountable health system that will not only result in a positive birthing experience but also help end preventable maternal and newborn deaths.</li>
<li>Need for the strengthened system for client feedback, grievance redressal and greater accountability and transparency.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1660178" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pmnch-accountability-breakfast'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Gavi COVAX Facility',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccine-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Serum Institute of India (SII)</strong> </a>has received funds from <strong>Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance</strong> and the <strong>Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,</strong> that would allow it to double its supply of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> vaccines (200 million doses) to India and other poorer countries as part of the <strong>Gavi COVAX facility.</strong> The vaccines will be <strong>priced at a maximum of USD 3 per dose.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SII (Pune),</strong> the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume,</strong> has agreements to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-iii-clinical-trials-of-covishield" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covidshield</strong></a> (currently under <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/drugs-and-clinical-trials-rules-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>clinical trials</strong></a>) developed by American vaccine maker <strong>Novavax,</strong> as well as Oxford University in collaboration with Swedish-British drugmaker <strong>AstraZeneca.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>COVAX is <strong>one of three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator,</strong> which was <strong>launched in April 2020 by the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Health Organization (WHO)</a></strong>, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Commission</strong></a> and <strong>France</strong> in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>ACT Accelerator</strong> is a <strong>framework for collaboration</strong> to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to Covid-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. It is built on <strong>three main pillars:</strong> Vaccines (COVAX), Therapeutics, Diagnostics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>COVAX is an effort to ensure that <strong>people in all corners of the world will get access to Covid-19 vaccines</strong> once they are available, regardless of their wealth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>initial aim is to have 2 billion doses available by the end of 2021,</strong> which should be enough to protect high risk and vulnerable people, as well as frontline healthcare workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>co-led</strong> by<strong> Gavi,</strong> the<strong> Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)</strong> and the <strong>World Health Organisation (WHO),</strong> working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers.</li>
<li>The <strong>COVAX facility</strong> continually monitors the Covid-19 vaccine landscape to identify the most suitable vaccine candidates, based on scientific merit and scalability, and works with manufacturers to incentivise them to expand their production capacity in advance of vaccines receiving regulatory approval.</li>
<li><strong>Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), a mechanism within the COVAX facility,</strong> is to ensure that the <strong>92 middle- and lower-income countries</strong> that cannot fully afford to pay for Covid-19 vaccines themselves get equal access to Covid-19 vaccines as higher-income self-financing countries and at the same time.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is a Gavi beneficiary</strong> and will, therefore, receive a certain proportion of the vaccines from the COVAX facility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Created in 2000,</strong> Gavi is an<strong> international organisation - a global Vaccine Alliance,</strong> bringing together public and private sectors with the shared<strong> goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children</strong> living in the world&rsquo;s poorest countries.</li>
<li>Its<strong> core partners</strong> include the WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.</li>
<li>In <strong>June 2019,</strong> the Gavi Board approved a <strong>new five-year strategy (&lsquo;Gavi 5.0&rsquo;)</strong> with a vision to &lsquo;leave no-one behind with immunisation&rsquo; and a mission to save lives and protect people&rsquo;s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CEPI is a<strong> global partnership launched in 2017</strong> to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics.</li>
<li>CEPI was <strong>founded in Davos (Switzerland) by the governments of Norway and India,</strong> the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the World Economic Forum.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/part-of-gavi-covax-facility-sii-to-double-covid-vaccine-supply-to-200-mn-doses-6636041/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India and the Kingdom of Denmark have launched the <strong>Green Strategic Partnership</strong> for delivering sustainable solutions to India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intellectual Property (IP)</strong></a> <strong>Cooperation</strong> with Denmark.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Green Strategic Partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Partnership will focus on <strong>expanding economic ties, green growth, and cooperation on global challenges such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-climate-action-ministerial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change.</a></strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Green growth</strong> is a term to describe a path of economic growth that uses natural resources in a sustainable manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Danish companies with niche technologies and expertise have offered to help India in meeting its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tackling-the-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>air pollution</strong></a> control targets, including in the key area of tackling the problem of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stubble-burning-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> burning crop stubble.</strong></a></li>
<li>Other key points under the partnership include dealing with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong> </a>pandemic and <strong>cooperation in water efficiency and water loss.</strong></li>
<li>The creation of<strong> India-Denmark energy parks</strong> in areas with large numbers of Danish firms and an <strong>India-Denmark skill institute</strong> to train Indian manpower has been proposed.</li>
<li>The Green Strategic Partnership will build on an existing <strong>Joint Commission for Cooperation</strong> and existing<strong> joint working groups.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intellectual Property Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The MoU aims at increasing IP co-operation between the two countries by way of, exchange of information and best practices on processes for disposal of applications for patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bangalore-blue-grapes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Geographical Indications</strong></a>, and cooperation in the field of protection of Traditional Knowledge.</li>
<li>It will be a landmark step forward in India&rsquo;s journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation and further the objectives of the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Intellectual Property Rights Policy</a>, 2016.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Denmark Relationship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Denmark had signed a <strong>Joint Commission for Cooperation in February 2009</strong> for cooperation in politics, economics and commerce, science and technology, energy, environment, and education.</li>
<li>They have <strong>joint working groups</strong> on Shipping; Food, Agriculture and Fisheries; Environment, Biotechnology; New and Renewable Energy; and Labour Mobility.</li>
<li>Currently, over 140 Danish companies are participating in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> initiative.</li>
<li>However, the relations got affected due to the <strong>non-extradition of the main accused of the Purulia arms drop case</strong> (Kim Davy) to India by Danish Officials. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Purulia arms drop case, 1995:</strong> Unauthorised arms were dropped from an aircraft in Purulia district in the state of West Bengal in India.</li>
<li>In the recent meeting for Green Strategic Partnership, both sides agreed that concerned officials will work for an early resolution of the matter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has also invited Denmark to join the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative#:~:text=Supply%20Chain%20Resilience%20Initiative%20(SCRI)%3A,lead%20to%20the%20supply%20chain." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> supply chain resilience initiative</strong></a>, which is proposed between Japan, Australia to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on any one nation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Denmark<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601458157_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601458157_image5.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> It is an archipelago of more than 400 islands to the east of the<strong> Jutland peninsula</strong> in Europe.</li>
<li><strong>Flag:&nbsp;<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601458248_image4.png" width="30" caption="false" /></strong></li>
<li><strong>Capital:</strong> Copenhagen</li>
<li><strong>Currency:</strong> Danish krone</li>
<li><strong>People:</strong> Mostly inhabited by ethnic Danes.</li>
<li><strong>Languages:</strong> Danish is official.</li>
<li><strong>Religions:</strong> Catholic Christians, Jews.</li>
<li><strong>Government:</strong> The Kingdom of Denmark is a unitary state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In addition to Denmark proper, two autonomous territories in the North Atlantic Ocean: Greenland and the Faroe Islands.</li>
<li>It establishes a sovereign state in the form of a constitutional monarchy, with a representative parliamentary system.</li>
<li>The Danish parliament is unicameral and called the Folketing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Others:</strong> Denmark ranked 1<sup>st</sup> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/digital-quality-of-life-index-2020-surfshark" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital Quality of Life 2020</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corruption-perceptions-index-2019-transparency-international" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Corruption Perceptions Index 2019</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/environmental-performance-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environmental Performance Index 2020</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-social-mobility-index-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Social Mobility Index 2020</strong></a>. It also ranked in <strong>the top 10 in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/henley-passport-index-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most powerful passports</a></strong> in 2020 and was one of the <strong>most peaceful countries</strong> according to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-peace-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Peace Index 2019</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Denmark have shared values of human rights, democracy, and rule of law and they must cooperate in multilateral fora like the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organization</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/arctic-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arctic Council</strong></a> to advance democracy and human rights and promote a rule-based multilateral system.</li>
<li>The Green Strategic Partnership is a mutually beneficial arrangement to advance political cooperation, expand economic relations and green growth, create jobs, and strengthen cooperation on addressing global challenges and opportunities; with a focus on an ambitious implementation of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong></a> and the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=Three%20core%20elements%20of%20sustainable,are%20important%20for%20sustainable%20development." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=Three%20core%20elements%20of%20sustainable,are%20important%20for%20sustainable%20development." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/green-strategic-partnership-between-india-and-denmark'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Congo Fever Alert in Maharashtra',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Palghar administration has asked authorities to remain alert against a possible spread of the Congo fever in the Maharashtra district.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> Congo fever was first discovered in <strong>Crimea</strong> in <strong>1944</strong> and was named Crimean hemorrhagic fever.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Later in <strong>1969,</strong> scientists discovered that the pathogen responsible for causing Crimean hemorrhagic fever and the one that caused illness in <strong>Congo</strong> in 1956 was the same.</li>
<li>Hence, the name changed to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cause:</strong> The CCHF is a widespread disease caused by a <strong>tick-borne virus (Nairovirus)</strong> of the<strong> Bunyaviridae family.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The virus is transmitted through bite of <strong>Hyalomma tick,</strong> an external parasite, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds etc.</li>
<li>It can also be contracted through contact with <strong>viraemic animal tissues</strong> (animal tissue where the virus has entered the bloodstream) during and immediately <strong>post-slaughter of animals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human-to-human transmission:</strong> It can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Hospital-acquired infections</strong> can also occur due to improper sterilisation of medical equipment, reuse of needles and contamination of medical supplies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fatality:</strong> CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services as the virus can lead to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>epidemics</strong></a>, with a high case <strong>fatality ratio (10-40%).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Case fatality rate (CFR)</strong> is a measure of the severity of a disease and is defined as the proportion of cases of a specified disease or condition which are fatal within a specified time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>CCHF is <strong>endemic</strong> in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light).</li>
<li>There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings, confusion, depression and liver enlargement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>General supportive care with treatment of symptoms is the main approach to managing CCHF in people.</li>
<li>The antiviral drug ribavirin has been used to treat CCHF infection with apparent benefit.</li>
<li>There are no vaccines widely available for human or animal use.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601457260_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601457260_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="570" height="715" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-palghar-district-on-alert-over-congo-fever-6632737/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/congo-fever-alert-in-maharashtra'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Suspension of Amnesty International Operations in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amnesty-international-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amnesty International India</strong> </a>has halted its <strong>human rights operations</strong> in India due to the freezing of its bank accounts by the Government of India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has also set up a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/central-bureau-of-investigation-cbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)</strong></a> inquiry against Amnesty.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Argument by Amnesty:</strong> It has alleged that the government has frozen its bank accounts due to repeated <strong>calls for transparency and against the human rights violations</strong> in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a> (EU)</strong> has also<strong> expressed its concerns against the action of the government</strong> citing the valued work of Amnesty International worldwide.</li>
<li>Recently, <strong>Amnesty International (AI)</strong> India had demanded<strong> an independent investigation</strong> into all allegations of human rights violations by the police during the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/communal-violence-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">north-east Delhi riots</a> and</strong> the establishment of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-on-public-s-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Human Rights</strong> </a>in Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Argument by the Government:</strong> The government has accused Amnesty of defying the law of the land.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India doesn't allow interference in domestic political debates by entities funded by foreign donations. This law applies equally to all and it shall apply to Amnesty International as well.</li>
<li>In order to circumvent the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fcra-clearance-of-6-ngos-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010</strong></a> (FCRA) regulations,<strong> Amnesty UK</strong> remitted large amounts of money to four entities registered in India, by classifying it as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-foreign-direct-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong> </a>(FDI).</li>
<li>A significant amount of foreign money was also remitted to <strong>Amnesty (India)</strong> without approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs under FCRA. This rerouting of money was<strong> in contravention of extant legal provisions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> In the past five years, the government has taken action against several foreign donors including <strong>Compassion International, World Movement for Democracy</strong> (WMD), Greenpeace, etc on grounds of FCRA violations.</li>
<li><strong>New Rules for NGOs under FCRA amendment, 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/foreign-contribution-regulation-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020</strong></a> was passed by the Parliament amending Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.</li>
<li>In order to receive foreign funds, an NGO has to register with the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is assigned a unique <strong>FCRA registration number,</strong> to be renewed every five years.</li>
<li>Every FCRA-registered NGO will have to <strong>open an FCRA-marked bank account</strong> with a designated branch of State Bank of India in New Delhi.</li>
<li>The <strong>cap on administrative expenses has been lowered</strong> from 50% of foreign funds received to 20%.</li>
<li>It <strong>prohibits</strong> the transfer of foreign grants received by an entity to a partner organisation or an associated person, which is a usual practice.</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong> This has been criticized as an act to suppress the NGOs that dissent against the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The amendment will <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-ngos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>impact many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)</strong> </a>working in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantage:</strong> This has strengthened the compliance mechanism, <strong>enhancing transparency and accountability,</strong> and will help in curbing fraud and threats of the sovereignty of the country in the name of NGOs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Amnesty International</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)</strong> founded in London (UK) in 1961.</li>
<li>It seeks to <strong>publicize violations by governments</strong> and other entities <strong>of rights recognized in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-human-rights-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)</a></strong>, especially freedom of speech and of conscience and the right against torture.</li>
<li>In 1977, it was awarded the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-peace-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize for Peace.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>AI India</strong> is a part of the global human rights movement spearheaded by Amnesty International. It has its<strong> registered office in Bangalore</strong> (Karnataka).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amnesty-international-halts-india-operations/article32721447.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/suspension-of-amnesty-international-operations-in-india'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'UAE’s Moon Mission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>United Arab Emirates (UAE)</strong> has decided to send an<strong> unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2024.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601453120_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601453120_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Name:</strong> The rover would be named <strong>Rashid</strong> after <strong>Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum,</strong> one of the original founding rulers of the UAE.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rover</strong> is a vehicle for exploring the surface of a planet or moon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> The rover will <strong>explore the surface of the moon in areas that have not been explored</strong> previously by human missions such as <strong>NASA&rsquo;s Apollo.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Participating in the moon exploration is part of the <strong>UAE&rsquo;s space strategy</strong> to build new knowledge capabilities and advance the country&rsquo;s scientific, technical and research environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fourth Nation:</strong> If successful in 2024, the <strong>UAE could become the fourth nation to land a spacecraft on the moon</strong> after the <strong>USA, the former Soviet Union and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-rover-to-far-side-of-the-moon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India, Israel and Japan have tried but failed</strong> in landing a spacecraft on the moon.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Planned to land on the South Pole of the Moon, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/mission-chandrayaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chandrayaan-2</strong> </a>was launched by India in 2019. However, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-loses-connection-with-vikram-lander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lander Vikram</a> hard-landed,</strong> which crushed India's dream to become the first nation to successfully touch down on the lunar surface in its maiden attempt.</li>
<li>India has planned a new moon mission named <strong>Chandrayaan-3.</strong> It is likely<strong> to be launched in early 2021.</strong> It will be a mission<strong> repeat of Chandrayaan-2</strong> and will include a <strong>Lander and Rover</strong> similar to that of Chandrayaan-2, but will <strong>not have an orbiter.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gateway-lunar-orbiting-outpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artemis</strong></a> is a crewed spaceflight program of <strong>NASA</strong> that has the goal of landing "the first woman and the next man" on the Moon, specifically at the lunar south pole region by 2024.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UAE&rsquo;s Space Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In July 2020, the UAE launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars probe named Amal (Hope)</strong></a> from Japan, marking the <strong>Arab world&rsquo;s first interplanetary mission.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Amal is set to reach Mars in February 2021, the year UAE will celebrate 50 years of its formation.</li>
<li>UAE has also set a <strong>goal to build a human colony</strong> on Mars by 2117.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>UAE is a <strong>federation of seven sheikhdoms</strong> on the Arabian Peninsula.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019, the<strong> UAE sent its first astronaut to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cst-100-starliner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Space Station.</a> </strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/united-arab-emirates-launch-spacecraft-moon-2024-6635393/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uae-s-moon-mission'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Agriculture Reforms',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G6ggAhcGlxA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>Rajya Sabha has passed two bills related to Agriculture Sector Reforms, namely:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020</li>
<li>The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The reforms are expected to accelerate growth in the sector through private sector investment in building infrastructure and supply chains for farm produce in national and global markets.</li>
<li>They are intended to help small farmers who don&rsquo;t have means to either bargain for their produce to get a better price or invest in technology to improve the productivity of farms</li>
<li>The legislation on contract farming will allow farmers to enter into a contract with agri-business firms or large retailers on pre-agreed prices of their produce</li>
<li>However, for the middlemen and the state, it is not really good news as they will lose their commission and mandi taxes.</li>
<li>Neither of the bills affect the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price</strong></a> in any way as the MSP is an administrative decision not a law.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020</h3>
<p><strong>Key features</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to provide for the creation of an ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers' produce.</li>
<li>The Bill also proposes an electronic trading in transaction platform for ensuring a seamless trade electronically.</li>
<li>The farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce under this Act. Further there will be a separate dispute resolution mechanism for the farmers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Selling option:</strong> The bill gives the long sought freedom to the farmers of selling their produce via more than one channel of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketinghttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>APMCs.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, APMC will still be available as a choice to sell their products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promote trade:</strong> It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations.</li>
<li><strong>Better price:</strong> It will also help farmers of regions with surplus produce to get better prices and consumers of regions with shortages, lower prices.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will open more choices for the farmer, reduce marketing costs for the farmers and help them in getting better prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One India, One Agriculture Market:</strong> The Bill basically aims at creating additional trading opportunities outside the APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to additional competition. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will supplement the existing MSP procurement system which is providing stable income to farmers.</li>
<li>It will certainly pave the way for creating <strong>One India, One Agriculture Market</strong> and will lay the foundation for ensuring golden harvests for our hard working farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>APMC&rsquo;s</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An <strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)</strong> is a marketing board established by a state government in India to ensure farmers are safeguarded from exploitation by large retailers, as well as ensuring the farm to retail price spread does not reach excessively high levels.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020</h3>
<p><strong>Key Features:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to provide for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Level playing field:</strong> The new legislation will empower farmers for engaging with processors, wholesalers, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters etc., on a level playing field without any fear of exploitation.</li>
<li><strong>Transfer the risk:</strong> It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor and also enable the farmer to access modern technology and better inputs.</li>
<li><strong>Attract private sector:</strong> This legislation will act as a catalyst to attract private sector investment for building supply chains for supply of Indian farm produce to national and global markets, and in agricultural infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Eliminate intermediaries:</strong> Farmers will engage in direct marketing thereby eliminating intermediaries resulting in full realization of price. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sale, lease or mortgage of farmers&rsquo; land is totally prohibited and farmers&rsquo; land is also protected against any recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of the Bills</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The stakeholders in these bills are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Farmers:</strong> The farmer is now the producer and the seller of his own produce and will be free to enter into agreement with private trade directly.</li>
<li><strong>Consumers:</strong> The consumers would now get the produce as much lower costs.</li>
<li><strong>Middlemen or Arthias:</strong> The Arthias will lose the economic stranglehold they have on the mandis.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The opposition is faced the most in Punjab and Haryana as in other states, they do not have such a strong hold.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Government:</strong> Different State Governments revenues will be adversely affected.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The mandi tax, <strong>arthiya commission</strong> and other taxes imposed by the state govt in Punjab gives about 7,000 crore rupees as transaction cost annually.</li>
<li>There is 8.5% and 7% of total transaction cost collected from Punjab and Haryana respectively whereas for most other states it&rsquo;s about 2.5-3.5% only. Therefore, the state revenue of these two states will be drastically hit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Arthias</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Arthias are those who act as the immediate intermediary and aggregator in the process of procurement for which they charge their <strong>commission</strong> as notified in the <strong>Agricultural Produce Markets Act (APMC)</strong> of the respective States.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The farmers will earn better income as they get to dictate their own price and do not have to pay transportation charges anymore.</li>
<li>Competition is the best protector of stakeholders whether it is consumer or the farmers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Having a variety of buyers will protect farmers from exploitation and by having more sellers (farmers), consumers can buy better products at better deals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although the role of middlemen is not going to end completely, their hold on the trade will not be as strong.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-agriculture-reforms'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Pricing and Taxing Carbon',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-benefits-of-a-carbon-tax/article32709677.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The benefits of carbon tax&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 28/09/2020. It focuses upon how the Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) are exploiting the planet and how far the pricing and taxing of the carbon contents of domestic production and imports is helpful in mitigation.</p>
</div>
<p>After China, the largest GHG emitter, announced that it would balance out its carbon emissions with measures to offset them before 2060, the U.S. and India are next in the list to take actions.</p>
<p>India along with the U.S, China and Japan are some of the countries that are hardest hit by climate impacts. In order to mitigate the condition and reduce the GHG emissions, one smart approach is pricing Carbon.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong></a> has endorsed the European Union&rsquo;s plan for Carbon levying on imports.</li>
<li>India can be among the world&rsquo;s first movers in taxing and switching from carbon-intensive fuels.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Carbon Pricing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an instrument that captures the external costs of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions&mdash;the costs of emissions that the public pays for, such as damage to crops, health care costs from heat waves and droughts, and loss of property from flooding and sea level rise&mdash;and ties them to their sources through a price, usually in the form of a price on the carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emitted.</li>
<li>A price on carbon helps shift the burden for the damage from GHG emissions back to those who are responsible for it and who can avoid it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Need to Reduce GHG Emissions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recorded heat waves in Delhi, water crisis in Tamil Nadu, floods in southwest China, and catastrophic forest fires in California this year are indicative of the existential danger from global warming.</li>
<li>India ranks fifth in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-climate-risk-index-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Climate Risk Index 2020.</strong></a></li>
<li>Carbon dioxide, the chief culprit in global warming, has already crossed a high mark of 400 parts per million because of past accumulation especially after the Industrial Revolution.</li>
<li>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says total global emissions will need to fall by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If these targets are not met, tropical regions of the world, which are densely populated and happen to be mainly concentrated in the global South, are likely to be most negatively affected because of their high vulnerability and pre-existing high temperatures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Imposing Carbon Levies</h3>
<p><strong>What is a Carbon Tax?</strong></p>
<p>Carbon tax is a fee imposed on the burning of carbon-based fuels (coal, oil, gas). It is viewed as the core policy for reducing and eventually eliminating the use of fossil fuels whose combustion is destabilizing and destroying our climate.</p>
<p><strong>Taxing Carbon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A smart approach is pricing carbon, building on the small steps taken thus far, such as plans by some 40 large companies to price carbon, government incentives for electric vehicles, and an environmental tax in the 2020-21 budget.</li>
<li>Another way to price carbon is through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-first-emissions-trading-system-for-particulate-pollution-pm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>emission trading</strong></a>, i.e., setting a maximum amount of allowable effluents from industries, and permitting those with low emissions to sell their extra space.</li>
<li>Carbon tax can be imposed on economic activities &mdash; for example, on the use of fossil fuels like coal, as done in Canada and Sweden.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Canada imposed a carbon tax at $20 per tonne of CO2 emissions in 2019, eventually rising to $50 per tonne.</li>
<li>This is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by between 80 and 90 million tonnes by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #d91852;" colspan="2"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Pros and Cons of Carbon Tax</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #fadcdc;"><strong>Pros </strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #fadcdc;"><strong>Cons</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been suggested as a way to internalise the negative externality of carbon emissions; consumers/producers will pay the full social cost of consumption.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Different country-wise policies could lead to &lsquo;carbon leakages&rsquo; where energy-intensive businesses will most likely move to less strict national regimes.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A carbon tax policy is likely to cause less volatility in the prices of carbon emissions than quantitative limits.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Discourage investment: An argument made by business is that carbon taxes will discourage investment and reduce profitability.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will encourage in shifting towards alternative resources that are renewable too.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It penalizes those who cannot shift to alternative sources; affects especially the poor and developing countries like many African and Asian countries.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is one wise option to cut effluents while earning revenues which could be used in installation of other alternative resources.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Charging the appropriate amount of tax is difficult as quantification of the produced carbon may not be accurate.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Big economies like India should also use their global monopsony to impose a carbon tariff as envisaged by the European Union.</li>
<li>India under the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/11-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intended Nationally Determined Contribution</strong></a> has committed to 40% of electricity capacity being from non- fossil fuels by 2030, and lowering the ratio of emissions to GDP by one-third from 2005 levels.</li>
<li>A carbon tax at $35 per tonne of CO2 emissions in India is estimated to be capable of generating some 2% of GDP through 2030.</li>
<li>A market-oriented approach to tax and trade carbon domestically and to induce similar action by others through international trade and diplomacy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Focusing on trade is vital because reducing the domestic carbon content of production alone would not avert the harm if imports remain carbon-intensive.</li>
<li>It is in the country&rsquo;s interest to take stronger action before 2030, leading to no net carbon increase by 2050.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601377923_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601377923_image5.jpg" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2ffe0;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;There is growing public support for climate action, but we need solutions that are seen to be in India&rsquo;s interest.&rdquo; Discuss in the light of carbon pricing policy.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cHX6vJeM48s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/salutary-lesson-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-vodafone-case/article32709724.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Salutary lesson: On the Vodafone case&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on September 28<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pricing-and-taxing-carbon'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'States Planning to Bypass Central Legislation',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, many states are exploring the possibilities of passing legislation under <strong>Article 254(2)</strong> of the Constitution, to negate the enforcement of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protests-against-farm-ordinances" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>three Farm Acts</strong></a> passed by the Central government under <strong>Entry 33 of the Concurrent List.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Entry 33 of the Concurrent List mentions trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution of domestic and imported products of an industry; foodstuffs, including oilseeds and oils; cattle fodder; raw cotton and jute.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Article 254(2):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>enables a State government to pass a law,</strong> on any subject in the<strong> Concurrent List, that may contradict a Central law,</strong> provided it gets the <strong>President&rsquo;s assent.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, the Rajasthan government took this Article 254 (2) route to make changes to the central labour laws &mdash; the Factories Act, the Industrial Disputes act, and the Contract Labour Act &mdash; which subsequently got the President&rsquo;s assent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the <strong>Parliament is not barred from enacting</strong> at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msp-raised-for-rabi-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> three Farm Acts</strong></a> includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Farmers&rsquo; Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act,</strong> 2020</li>
<li><strong>Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act,</strong> 2020</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essential-commodities-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act</strong></a>, 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In short, the <strong>Acts aim to do away with government interference in agricultural trade</strong> by creating<strong> trading areas free of middlemen</strong> and <strong>government taxes outside</strong> the structure of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agricultural Produce Market Committees</a> (APMCs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They also aim to <strong>remove restrictions on private stock holding</strong> of agricultural produce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Distribution of Legislative Subjects</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 246</strong> adopts a <strong>threefold distribution of legislative power</strong> between the Union and the states.</li>
<li>The subject-wise distribution of this power is given in the three lists of the <strong>Seventh Schedule</strong> of the constitution:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>List-I- the <strong>Union List</strong></li>
<li>List-II- the <strong>State List</strong></li>
<li>List-III- the <strong>Concurrent List</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Union List: Parliament has exclusive powers</strong> to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Union List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the <strong>matters of national importance</strong> and the matters which require uniformity of legislation nationwide.</li>
<li>This list includes <strong>98 subjects (originally 97)</strong> like defence, banking, foreign affairs, currency, atomic energy, insurance, communication, inter-state trade and commerce, census, audit and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State List:</strong> The<strong> state legislature</strong> has <strong>exclusive powers</strong> (not during emergency) to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the<strong> matters of regional and local importance</strong> and the matters which permit diversity of interest.</li>
<li>This list includes <strong>59 subjects (originally 66)</strong> like public order, police, public health and sanitation, agriculture, prisons, local government, fisheries, markets, theaters, gambling and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concurrent List:</strong> Both, the <strong>Parliament and state legislature</strong> can make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the matters on which <strong>uniformity of legislation throughout the country is desirable</strong> but not essential.</li>
<li>However <strong>State legislation operates to the extent that it is not in conflict with the Central legislation.</strong> At times, the very presence of a central legislation can negate the state&rsquo;s ability to legislate.</li>
<li>This list has at present <strong>52 subjects (originally 47)</strong> like criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, marriage and divorce, population control and family planning, electricity, labour welfare,economic and social planning, drugs, newspapers, books and printing press, and others.</li>
<li>The<strong> 42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act of 1976</strong> transferred five subjects to Concurrent List from State List i.e<strong> education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, and administration of justice; constitution and organisation of all courts except the Supreme Court and the High Courts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The power to make laws with respect to <strong>residuary subjects</strong> i.e. the matters which are not enumerated in any of the three lists, is vested in the Parliament.</li>
<li>Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any part of the territory of India not included in a state even though that matter is one which is enumerated in the State List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This provision is related to the Union Territories or the Acquired Territories (if any).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sonia-gandhi-asks-cong-ruled-states-to-bring-in-their-own-farm-laws/article32716952.ece/amp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-planning-to-bypass-central-legislation'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'EPFO’s New Facility on UMANG App',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/epfo-disbursed-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Employees' Provident Fund Organisation</strong></a> (EPFO) has started a facility on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unified-mobile-application-for-new-age-governance-umang-mobile-app" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) App</strong></a> which enables members of the<strong> Employees&rsquo; Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995</strong> to apply online for Scheme Certificates.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EPS is a<strong> social security scheme</strong> that was launched in <strong>1995</strong> and is provided by EPFO.</li>
<li>It makes <strong>provisions for pensions for the employees in the organised sector</strong> aft er the<strong> retirement at the age of 58 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scheme Certificate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is issued to <strong>members who withdraw their <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/epf-redefined" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Employees' Provident Fund&nbsp;</a></strong>(EPF) <strong>contribution but wish to retain their membership</strong> with EPFO, to avail pension benefits on the attainment of retirement age.</li>
<li>Members become eligible for pension only if they have been, <strong>cumulatively, a member of the EPS, 1995 for at least 10 years.</strong></li>
<li>Upon joining a new job, Scheme Certificate <strong>ensures that previous pensionable service is added to pensionable service rendered with the new employer</strong> thereby, increasing the number of pension benefits.</li>
<li>Further, Scheme Certificate is also<strong> useful for family members to avail family pension,</strong> in case of the untimely death of the eligible member.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Requirements for Online Application:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For availing the service, an <strong>active Universal Account Number</strong> (UAN) and a <strong>mobile number registered with the EPFO</strong> is required.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The online application will help <strong>members avoid unnecessary hardship of physically applying</strong> for it, especially during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> times and will also <strong>eliminate unnecessary paperwork.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of EPFO in Current Times:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>EPFO was <strong>already providing 16 services on the App</strong> allowing EPF subscribers to access services during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> from the comfort of their homes in a hassle-free manner.</li>
<li>By <strong>successfully bringing state-of-the-art technology to the doorstep</strong> of its subscribers, EPFO has <strong>remained to be a very popular service provider</strong> on UMANG App.</li>
<li>With India witnessing massive growth in digital connectivity through mobile phones, <strong>EPFO is making more and more services digitally accessible to members even in remotest locations</strong> through the App.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UMANG App</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>unified, secure, multi-channel, multi-platform, multi-lingual, multi-service mobile app.</strong></li>
<li>It is developed by the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (MeitY) and <strong>National e-Governance Division</strong> (NeGD) to drive mobile governance under <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India.</strong></a></li>
<li>It <strong>provides a single platform to citizens for accessing pan India <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-Government</a> services</strong> ranging from central to local government bodies and other citizen-centric services.</li>
<li><strong>Services Provided:</strong> Filing income tax, EPFO services, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aadhar-and-its-voluntary-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aadhar</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/streamlining-of-national-pension-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pension</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-primary-education-challenges-and-opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ePathshala</strong></a>, e- Land Records, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revamp-of-the-crop-insurance-schemes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Crop Insurance</strong></a> etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Fund Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a government organisation that <strong>manages the provident fund and pension accounts for the workforce engaged in the organized sector</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It implements the <strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for the institution of provident funds for employees in factories and other establishments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is administered by the <strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>one of the world's largest social security organisations</strong> in terms of clientele and the volume of financial transactions undertaken.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1659774#:~:text=The%20ease%20of%20applying%20for,benefit%20over%205.89%20crore%20subscribers." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/epfo-s-new-facility-on-umang-app'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Six Mega Projects in Uttarakhand: Namami Gange Mission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Prime Minister has inaugurated <strong>six mega projects</strong> in <strong>Uttarakhand</strong> under the <strong>Namami Gange Mission.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highlights:</strong> These six mega projects of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/wastewater-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sewage Treatment Plants</strong></a> (STP) are constructed at <strong>Haridwar, Rishikesh, Muni ki Reti, Chorpani, </strong>and<strong> Badrinath.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jagjeetpur, Haridwar project also marks the completion of the<strong> first</strong> sewage project taken up on <strong>hybrid annuity</strong> mode on <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ppp-investment-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>public private partnership.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Hybrid Annuity Model:</strong> The Government would provide upfront around <strong>40%</strong> of the project cost to the developer to start the work and the remaining 60% would be borne by the private party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>Muni ki Reti town, Chandreshwar Nagar</strong> STP is the first <strong>4 storied</strong> Sewage Treatment Plant in the country where the limitation of land availability was converted into an opportunity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All 30 STP projects (100%) are now complete in Uttarakhand for taking care of pollution from 17 Ganga towns near river Ganga, which is a landmark achievement.</li>
<li>The <strong>Haridwar-Rishikesh zone</strong> contributes about <strong>80% wastewater load</strong> into the River Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Namami Gange Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Namami Gange Programme</strong> is an <strong>Integrated Conservation Mission,</strong> approved as a &lsquo;Flagship Programme&rsquo; by the Union Government in <strong>June 2014</strong> to accomplish the <strong>twin objectives</strong> of effective abatement of <strong>pollution</strong> and <strong>conservation and rejuvenation</strong> of National River Ganga.</li>
<li>It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-jal-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti.</strong></a></li>
<li>The program is being implemented by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission for Clean Ganga</a> (NMCG),</strong> and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NMCG is the implementation wing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></a> (set in 2016; which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority - NGRBA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has a <strong>Rs. 20,000-crore, centrally-funded,</strong> non-lapsable corpus and consists of nearly 288 projects.</li>
<li><strong>The main pillars of the programme are:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sewage Treatment Infrastructure &amp; Industrial Effluent Monitoring</li>
<li>River-Front Development &amp; River-Surface Cleaning</li>
<li>Bio-Diversity &amp; Afforestation</li>
<li>Public Awareness</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Activities at the Event</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ganga Avalokan:</strong> It is the<strong> first museum</strong> inaugurated for <strong>Ganga.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The museum is dedicated to showcase the culture, biodiversity and rejuvenation activities done in Ganga river.</li>
<li>The museum is located at <strong>Chandi Ghat,</strong> Haridwar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rowing down the Ganges:</strong> A book co-published by National Mission for Clean Ganga &amp; <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sal-forest-tortoise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> is also launched.</li>
<li><strong>The logo of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jal Jeevan Mission</a></strong> and<strong> &lsquo;Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats and Paani Samitis under Jal Jeevan Mission&rsquo;</strong> is also unveiled during the event.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government&rsquo;s Namami Gange Programme has revitalised India&rsquo;s efforts in rejuvenating the Ganga.</li>
<li>It is important to build critical sewage infrastructure at pollution hotspots along the river Ganga and its tributaries as a first step in this direction.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1659775#:~:text=%2D%20To%20inaugurate%20a%20Ganga%20Avalokan,its%20kind%20museum%20on%20Ganga&amp;text=Prime%20Minister%2C%20Shri%20Narendra%20Modi,September%202020%20through%20video%20conference." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/six-mega-projects-in-uttarakhand-namami-gange-mission'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Campaign to Remove Lantana: Rajasthan',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A special drive to <strong>uproot the invasive Lantana bushes</strong> in the <strong>Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary</strong> in Rajasthan&rsquo;s Udaipur district has been carried out along with the <strong>plantation of native species</strong> on the cleared patches of land.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This has helped in <strong>ecological restoration of grasslands and saved biodiversity.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601372440_image.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601372440_image.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lantana:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><em>Lantana camara</em> is a small perennial shrub, which forms <strong>extensive, dense and impenetrable thickets.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>native to Central and South America.</strong></li>
<li>It is an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invasive-species-charru-mussel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>invasive species</strong> </a>which was introduced in tropical regions as an<strong> ornamental plant</strong> (introduced in India in 1807).</li>
<li>It is generally <strong>deleterious to biodiversity</strong> and is an <strong>agricultural weed.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The thickets covered vast tracts of land, <strong>stopping the natural light and nutrition</strong> for other flora and fauna.</li>
<li>The<strong> toxic substance in its foliage and ripe berries</strong> affected the animals.</li>
<li>With the herbivores not getting sufficient forage, the <strong>prey base for carnivorous animals was declining,</strong> leading to <strong>ecological disturbances in the food chain.</strong></li>
<li>It has also invaded other wildlife reserves, river banks and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Tiger</strong> </a>areas.</li>
<li>In some regions, the plant has <strong>invaded pastures</strong> and shrunk the cattle grazing areas, affecting the livelihood of villagers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> Udaipur (Rajasthan)</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong> It is a part of <strong>Sajjangarh Palace</strong> (also known as Monsoon Palace) built in 1884. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Palace derived its name from Maharana Sajjan Singh, one of the rulers of the <strong>Mewar dynasty.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> 5.19 sq. Km<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601372473_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601372473_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Flora and Fauna:</strong> Animals like chitals, panthers, hares, blue bulls (Nilgais), jackals, wild boars, hyenas, and sambhar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>More than 279 Plant Species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Famous for <strong>Long-billed vulture,</strong> commonly known as the <strong>Indian vulture.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scientific Name: <em>Gyps indicus</em></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a> Status:</strong> Critically Endangered</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a> Status: Appendix II</li>
<li><strong>Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 Status: Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Invasive Species</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An invasive species is an organism<strong> that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area</strong> and<strong> causes harm.</strong></li>
<li>They are capable of causing <strong>extinctions of native plants and animals, reducing biodiversity, competing with native organisms for limited resources, and altering habitats.</strong></li>
<li>They can be<strong> introduced to an area by ship ballast water, accidental release, and most often, by humans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/weeding-out-lantana-restores-grasslands-in-rajasthan/article32705549.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/campaign-to-remove-lantana-rajasthan'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a new <strong>Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)</strong> (erstwhile Defence Procurement Procedure or DPP), 2020 was released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> The DAP contains policies and procedures for procurement and acquisition from the capital budget of the MoD in order to modernise the Armed Forces including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/recaap-isc-capacity-building-workshop" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coast Guard.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The first Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) was promulgated in 2002.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reviewing-defence-procurement-procedure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>committee under the chairmanship of Director General (Acquisition)</strong></a> was constituted to review the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-flawed-defence-procurement-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>DPP 2016</strong> was released replacing the DPP 2013 based on the recommendations of <strong>Dhirendra Singh committee.</strong></li>
<li>It focussed on indigenously designed, developed and manufactured weapon systems.</li>
<li>It was facing several issues like lack of transparency (leading to Rafale Scam), inconvenient offset regulations etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> Turning India into a global manufacturing hub.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aligned with the vision of the Government of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat</strong> </a>and empowering Indian domestic industry through <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make in India</a> initiative.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Salient Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-of-doing-business-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ease of Doing Business:</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Time Bound Defence Procurement Process and Faster Decision Making:</strong> By setting up a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/self-reliance-in-defence-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Management Unit</strong></a> to support contract management and to streamline the Acquisition process.</li>
<li><strong>Revised Offset Guidelines</strong>: Preference will be given to manufacture of complete defence products over components and various multipliers have been added to give incentivisation in discharge of offsets.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, there will be<strong> no offset clause</strong> in government-to-government, single vendor and Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA).</li>
<li><strong>Offsets</strong> are a portion of a contracted price with a foreign supplier that must be <strong>re-invested in the Indian defence sector,</strong> or against which the government can purchase technology.</li>
<li><strong>Multipliers</strong> are credit values earned on offset transactions. A multiplier of 3 means a foreign company can claim credits upto three times of its actual offset investment.</li>
<li>The offset policy for defence deals <strong>was adopted in 2005</strong> for all defence capital imports above Rs. 300 crore under which the foreign vendor is required to invest at least 30% of the value of the contract in India.</li>
<li>Offset clause was hindering the transfer of technology, according to a recent CAG report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rationalization of Procedures for Trials and Testing:</strong> Scope of trials will be <strong>restricted to physical evaluation of core operational parameters.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Develop India into Global Manufacturing Hub:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>FDI in Defence Manufacturing:</strong> Provisions have been incorporated like a new category<strong> &lsquo;Buy (Global &ndash; Manufacture in India)&rsquo;,</strong> to encourage foreign companies to set up manufacturing through its subsidiary in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To promote Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reservation in Categories for Indian Vendors:</strong> Some categories like Buy (Indian Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured -IDDM), Production Agency in Design &amp; Development etc. will be exclusively reserved for Indian Vendors and FDI of more than 49% is not allowed.</li>
<li><strong>Ban on Import of Certain Items:</strong> With a view to promote domestic and indigenous industry, the MoD will notify a list of weapons/platforms banned for import.</li>
<li><strong>Indigenisation of Imported Spares:</strong> Steps to promote manufacturing of parts in India have been taken. This includes establishment of co-production facilities through Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) achieving <strong>&lsquo;Import Substitution&rsquo; and reducing Life Cycle Cost.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Overall Enhancement in Indigenous Content (IC):</strong> This has been done in all the categories, for products like softwares etc, as follows:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601366967_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601366967_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Features</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cost Cutting : Leasing</strong> has been introduced as a new category for acquisition in addition to the existing &lsquo;Buy&rsquo; and &lsquo;Make&rsquo; categories so that periodical rental payments are made instead of huge capital investment.</li>
<li>This will be useful for military equipment not used in actual warfare like transport fleets, trainers, simulators, among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the Ministry of Defence has formulated a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-defence-production-and-export-promotion-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020</a> (DPEPP 2020).</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/innovations-for-defence-excellence-idex-initiative#:~:text=iDEX%20aims%20to%20promote%20innovation,to%20carry%20out%20Research%20%26%20Development." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)</strong></a> has been operationalised to provide necessary incubation and infrastructure support to the startups in the defence area.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>iDEX would be further scaled up to engage with 300 more startups and develop 60 new technologies/products during the next five years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-raksha-gyan-shakti-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti</strong></a> was launched to promote a greater culture of innovation and technology development and file a higher number of patents in Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It would be scaled up for promoting the creation of Intellectual Property in the sector and its commercial utilisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Self-reliance in defence manufacturing is a crucial component of effective defence capability and to maintain national sovereignty and achieve military superiority. The DAP 2020 not only protects the interests of domestic manufacturers by<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/indigenisation-of-defence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> indigenization of technology</strong></a>, but also provides impetus to foreign investment in the country.</li>
<li>Given the key geostrategic challenges, emanating from the threat of two-front war (against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-s-new-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pakistan</strong></a> combinedly), India needs to carry out much-needed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/urgency-of-defence-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defence reforms</strong></a>. DAP 2020 is the one of the many needed defence reforms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajnath-singh-unveils-new-defence-acquisition-procedure/article32715556.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-acquisition-procedure-2020'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'India’s Taxation Challenge',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/salutary-lesson-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-vodafone-case/article32709724.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Salutary lesson: On the Vodafone case&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 28/09/2020. It talks about the recent judgment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in favour of Vodafone and India&rsquo;s taxation policy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pca-decision-on-retrospective-taxation-by-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Permanent Court of Arbitration</strong></a> at the Hague has finally ruled in favour of the telecom giant Vodafone in an investment treaty arbitration (ITA) dispute against India.</p>
<p>The case was initiated under the India-Netherlands <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/model-bilateral-investment-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)</strong></a>, which pertains to India&rsquo;s retrospective demand of Rs 22,100 crore as capital gains and withholding tax imposed on a 2007 deal.</p>
<p>The ruling in favour of Vodafone signals a setback for the country's retrospective taxation policies. It also raises the concern for the ease of doing business and lack of corporate policy framework regarding taxation.</p>
<p>Further, if India really wants to become an international hub of global investment, there is a need for ensuring transparency and certainty in India&rsquo;s tax regime.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Vodafone Issue</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In May 2007, Vodafone had bought a 67% stake in Hutchison for $11 billion. This included the mobile telephony business and other assets of Hutchison in India.</li>
<li>In September that year, the India government for the first time raised a demand of Rs 7,990 crore in capital gains and withholding tax from Vodafone.</li>
<li>However, Vodafone held that, as the stake purchase transaction took place outside India between two overseas entities, it was not liable for any tax relating to the deal.</li>
<li>Due to this, Vodafone challenged the demand notice in the Bombay High Court which ruled in favour of the Income Tax Department.</li>
<li>Subsequently, Vodafone challenged the High Court judgment in the Supreme Court in 2012.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court ruled that Vodafone Group&rsquo;s interpretation of the Income Tax Act of 1961 was correct and that it did not have to pay any taxes for the stake purchase.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Following a setback the government of the day, made amendment to the Finance Act in 2012 to give retrospective effect to its claims.</li>
<li>This was the trigger for Vodafone to seek arbitral recourse.</li>
<li>In 2014, when the Vodafone Group had initiated arbitration against India at the Court of Arbitration, it had done so under Article 9 of the BIT between India and the Netherlands.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Retrospective Taxation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Retrospective taxation allows a country to pass a rule on taxing certain products, items or services and deals and charge companies from a time behind the date on which the law is passed.</li>
<li>Countries use this route to correct any anomalies in their taxation policies that have, in the past, allowed companies to take advantage of such loopholes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues In India&rsquo;s Taxation System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Retrospective tax:</strong> The policy of retrospective taxation has acted as an &ldquo;irritant&rdquo; and adversely affected the inflow of foreign capital to India.</li>
<li><strong>Abrupt Policy Changes:</strong> There has been a lack of certainty about tariff and taxes. This uncertainty needs to be resolved soon to boost business and investments ties.</li>
<li><strong>Plethora of Taxation Laws:</strong> There have been many taxation laws of the Central and many State Governments which increases complexities and litigation and reduces predictability, fairness and automation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>A protracted<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> U.S-China trade war</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/magnets-for-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>moving out of manufacturing</strong> </a>companies from China (fallout of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>) might bolster the investment case for India. In this context, significant tax and investment reforms can have major effects on India becoming an investment hub. Following reforms may help in this regard:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reducing Scope of Litigation:</strong> There is a need to focus on signing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-4th-april-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Advance-pricing Agreements</strong></a> to avoid Transfer pricing disputes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, revisions in tax treaties with many countries will also help in reducing litigation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need to Bring More Clarity on Tax laws:</strong> India has already rolled out Anti-tax avoidance regulations i.e. the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/30-08-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR)</strong> </a>from assessment year 2018-19.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there is a need to bring more transparency for avoiding issues related to retrospective taxation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Finance Code:</strong> There is a need for simplification of taxation laws in India. In this context there is a need to implement recommendations of the <strong>Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The commission proposed Indian Financial Code which would contain new legislation for the Indian financial system as it is considered to be fragmented, with gaps, overlaps, inconsistency and arbitrary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Adopting International Best Practice:</strong> India may explore the option to revise the standard of treatment clause to align it with international practices and include the traditional standard of protection of fair and equitable treatment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, must give clarification regarding the open-ended terms in the Model BIT. This could result in India facing fewer disputes and BIT claims.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India has taken some positive steps such as <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/21-09-2019#:~:text=Corporate%20Tax%20Rate%20Slashed&amp;text=The%20new%20effective%20tax%20rate,the%20current%20exemptions%20and%20incentives." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reduction in corporate tax rate to 25% from 30%</strong></a> to make them competitive, implementation of<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Goods and Service tax</strong></a>, Abolition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/review-of-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Investment Promotion board</strong></a> etc.</p>
<p>While tax reforms were being carried on, the Government in the meantime improved the power and Infrastructure situation. Tax being one of the most important factors in making any country to become more competitive, globally.</p>
<p>Further, with the most open economy along with significant tax reforms, Indian Government will put India ahead of all countries to attract business and thereby creating growth opportunities for global businesses and growth of the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601295480_Image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601295480_Image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f1f2e9;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In this Globalized environment, it is important for Governments to be innovative, to understand business's needs and to serve the right investment atmosphere with the right policies. Critically discuss in light of the recent Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-taxation-challenge'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Climate Change and Forest Fire Link',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Scientists note that <strong>human-induced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assessment-of-climate-change-over-the-indian-region-moes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> promotes the conditions on which wildfires depend.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Wildfire:</strong> Also called forest, bush or vegetation fire, can be described as any uncontrolled and non-prescribed combustion or burning of plants in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland, brush land or tundra, which consumes the natural fuels and spreads based on environmental conditions (e.g., wind, topography).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wildfires can be <strong>incited by</strong> human actions, such as land clearing, extreme drought or in rare cases by lightning.</li>
<li>There are<strong> three conditions</strong> that need to be present in order for a wildfire to burn: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human-induced Climate Change:</strong>&nbsp;Increases in <strong>greenhouse gases</strong> resulting from human activities have led to a net effect of warming of the climate system leading to direct impacts including increased air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level.&nbsp;The increases in greenhouse gases can be attributed to<strong> fossil fuel use, land-use change</strong>, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Forest fires have become an<strong> issue of global concern.</strong> In many countries, wildfires are burning larger areas, and fire seasons are growing longer due to global warming.</li>
<li><strong>Australia</strong> recently battled its<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australian-bushfire" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> largest bushfire</strong></a> <strong>on record,</strong> while <strong>parts of the Arctic,</strong> the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amazon-rainforest#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20data%20from,74%2C155%20fires%20since%20January%202019.&amp;text=Moreover%2C%20there%20is%20nothing%20abnormal,just%20a%20little%20below%20average." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Amazon</strong></a> and <strong>central Asia</strong> have also experienced <strong>unusually severe</strong> fires.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wildfires-in-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildfires in Western USA</strong></a> (California) are another example.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Globally, forest fires release <strong>billions of tons of CO<sub>2</sub></strong> into the atmosphere, while hundreds of thousands of people are believed to die due to illnesses caused by exposure to smoke from forest fires and other landscape fires.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Factors:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fire Weather:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Climate change increases the frequency and severity of fire weather around the world.</li>
<li><strong>Increased fire weather</strong> from <strong>climate change</strong> amplifies fire risk where fuels remain available.</li>
<li><strong>Fire weather</strong> is a combination of conditions that set the stage for the rapid spread of wildfires.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>High temperature</li>
<li>Low Relative humidity</li>
<li>Strong sustained winds (&gt; 20 mph) carry oxygen and spread flames.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor land and forest management</strong> also contributes to the wildfires, however, it does not alone account for the recent increases in the extent and severity of the wildfires globally.</li>
<li><strong>Factors Identified by the IPCC:</strong> The <strong>Fifth Assessment Report</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)</strong></a>, published in <strong>2013,</strong> identified a few factors that could influence the way wildfires play out. These include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Global increase in average temperatures.</strong></li>
<li>Global increases in the frequency, intensity and extent of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> heatwaves</strong> </a>(breaching of historically extreme temperature thresholds).</li>
<li><strong>Regional increases</strong> in the frequency, duration and intensity of droughts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601289927_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601289927_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="619" height="494" /></a></p>
<h3>Indian Scenario</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Forest Fire &amp; Monitoring:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A joint study report of<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF&amp;CC)</strong></a> and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> titled<strong> &ldquo;Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India&rdquo;</strong> released in June 2018 revealed that in the year 2000, 20 districts, representing 3% of India&rsquo;s land area and 16% of forest cover accounted for 44% of all fire detections.</li>
<li>The upgraded version of the <strong>Forest Fire Alert System</strong> (FAST 3.0) was released in January, 2019 with a separate activity of monitoring large forest fires.</li>
<li>Forest Cover of States &amp; UTs under different fire prone classes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Extremely Fire Prone: Mizoram &gt; Tripura</li>
<li>Very Highly Fire Prone: Mizoram &gt; Manipur</li>
<li>Highly Fire Prone: Nagaland &gt; Manipur</li>
<li>Moderately Fire Prone: Punjab &gt; Nagaland</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is seen that most of the fire prone forest areas are found in the <strong>north-eastern region and the central part</strong> of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601289854_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601289854_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="628" height="392" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiative to Tackle Forest Fire:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Action Plan on Forest Fires, 2018</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MoEF&amp;CC, has come up with the National Action Plan on Forest Fires, 2018 to revamp forest fire management in the country.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> Informing, Enabling and Empowering forest fringe communities and Incentivizing them to work in tandem with the State Forest Departments (SFDs).</li>
<li>The plan proposes nine strategies to address the issue, including establishment of a &ldquo;Centre of Excellence on Forest Fire Management&rdquo;at <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Survey of India (FSI).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM) is the only centrally funded program specifically dedicated to assist the states in dealing with forest fires.</li>
<li>The FPM replaced the Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) in 2017.</li>
<li>Funds allocated under the FPM are according to a center-state cost-sharing formula, with a 90:10 ratio of central to state funding in the Northeast and Western Himalayan regions and a 60:40 ratio for all other states.</li>
<li>It also provides the states the flexibility to direct a portion of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Afforestation Programme (NAP)</strong></a> and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission for Green India (GIM)</strong></a> funding toward forest fire work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Climate change is the reality, so are the increased severe forest fires. Management of forest fire needs to be tackled at various levels.</li>
<li>First,<strong> at local or regional level</strong> by minimising the accidental chances of man-made fires.</li>
<li>At <strong>national level</strong> it requires a specific approach to manage resources like Land and Forest to reduce the chance of such fires. Also, the need to handle climate change must be a part of policy making and implementation.</li>
<li>At<strong> global level</strong> a sincere effort to reduce the impact of climate change along with reduction in factors causing climate change should be a united priority of all nations. Only then the link between climate change and forest fires can be weakened.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-new-findings-strengthen-link-between-climate-change-and-wildfires-6617030/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-change-and-forest-fire-link'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Education Through Radio in Odisha',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the state government of <strong>Odisha has decided to reach out to children in remote areas through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ham-radio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">radio</a></strong> as online classes fail to reach most students due to poor mobile connectivity.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Education Through Radio:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The state's<strong> School and Mass Education Department</strong> has launched <strong>classroom teaching through All India Radio.</strong></li>
<li>Students from <strong>Class I to VIII</strong> can learn their lessons through <strong>15-minutes of teaching by experienced teachers</strong> through radio.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been highlighted that a student can <strong>cover six pages of his textbook within 15 minutes</strong> of a radio programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although teaching through radio<strong> would not be effective as it could have been in a physical classroom,</strong> the dire situation has <strong>forced the administration to try different methods</strong> for reaching students.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Students have been provided with textbooks even though schools in Odisha have been closed since <strong>17<sup>th</sup> March 2020.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Three hours of classroom instruction</strong> are also available <strong>through Doordarshan.</strong></li>
<li>Since considerable time has been lost due to the closure of schools, school <strong>syllabus has been reduced by 30%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The schools could not be opened due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> so the education department<strong> tried to reach students with online classes,</strong> mostly through smartphones.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, out of the 60 lakh students, hardly 22 lakhs were being reached during the lockdowns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>situation worsened when the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lockdown</a> was lifted </strong>and<strong> parents started going to their workplaces taking the only smartphone in the family</strong> with them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It led to a further <strong>drop of 6 to 7 lakh students attending virtual classes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Those who have a sufficient number of smart devices for students,<strong> suffer due to poor network coverage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Nationwide Initiatives for Education</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Centre&rsquo;s announcement to <strong>start the 2020-21 academic year virtually.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Plans to distribute <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/online-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener">laptops or tablets to 40% of all college and university students</a></strong> over the next five years and to equip all government schools with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-technology-in-governance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information and Communication Technology</strong></a> (ICT).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/classes-in-distance-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing</a> (DIKSHA) mobile app</strong> has been offered to the states as a platform to provide content in local languages.</li>
<li>The<strong> Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan</strong> has deployed its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/online-classes-due-to-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SWAYAM Prabha</strong></a> portal which has lectures on <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-dth-v-s-ott" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>direct-to-home</strong></a> (DTH) and online, to help students.</li>
<li><strong>Different e-learning techniques through virtual platforms</strong> like YouTube, Zoom app and Google Classroom are being used by some institutions.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pragyata-guidelines-on-digital-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PRAGYATA guidelines</strong> </a>on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/education-in-post-covid-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital education</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/now-odisha-turns-to-radio-for-classes/article32707975.ece#:~:text=As%20online%20classes%20fail%20to,All%20India%20Radio%20from%20Monday." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/education-through-radio-in-odisha'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Bhagat Singh’s Birth Anniversary',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>28<sup>th</sup> September is the <strong>birth anniversary</strong> of revolutionary freedom fighter <strong>Bhagat Singh.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601286643_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601286643_image5.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Born in 1907</strong> in Lyallpur district (now in Pakistan), Bhagat Singh grew up in a Sikh family deeply involved in political activities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He belonged to a generation that was to intervene between two decisive phases of the Indian national movement - the phase of the<strong> 'Extremism' of Lal-Bal-Pal</strong> and the <strong>Gandhian phase of nonviolent mass action.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1923, Bhagat Singh joined the <strong>National College,</strong> Lahore which was<strong> founded and managed by Lala Lajpat Rai</strong> and<strong> Bhai Parmanand.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The College was set up as an alternative to the institutions run by the Government, bringing to the<strong> field of education the idea of Swadeshi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1924 in Kanpur, he <strong>became a member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA),</strong> started by <strong>Sachindranath Sanyal</strong> a year earlier. The main organiser of the Association was <strong>Chandra Shekhar Azad</strong> and Bhagat Singh became very close to him.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was as a member of the HRA that Bhagat Singh began to take seriously the <strong>philosophy of the Bomb.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Armed revolution</strong> was understood to be the only weapon with which to fight British imperialism.</li>
<li>In 1928, HRA was renamed from <strong>Hindustan Republican Association to Hindustan Socialist Republic Association (HSRA).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>1925,</strong> Bhagat Singh returned to Lahore and within the next year he and his colleagues started a militant youth organisation called the<strong> Naujawan Bharat Sabha.</strong></li>
<li>In April 1926, Bhagat Singh established contact with<strong> Sohan Singh Josh</strong> and through him the <strong>'Kirti Kisan Party'</strong> which brought out the monthly magazine <strong>Kirti</strong> in Punjabi.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For the next year Bhagat Singh worked with Josh and <strong>joined the editorial board of Kirti.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1927, he was first <strong>arrested on charges of association with the Kakori Case</strong> accused for an article written under the pseudonym Vidrohi (Rebel).</li>
<li>To take revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, <strong>Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of James A. Scott,</strong> the Superintendent of Police. However, the revolutionaries <strong>mistakenly killed J.P. Saunders.</strong> The incident is famously known as <strong>Lahore Conspiracy case (1929).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai had led a procession to protest against the arrival of the <strong>Simon Commission.</strong> The police resorted to a brutal lathi charge, in which Lala Lajpat Rai was severely injured and later succumbed to his injuries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw a bomb</strong> on 8 April, 1929 in the Central Legislative Assembly,&nbsp;in protest against the passing of two repressive bills, the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> aim,</strong> as their leaflet explained, <strong>was not to kill but to make the deaf hear,</strong> and to <strong>remind the foreign government of its callous exploitation.</strong></li>
<li>Both Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt <strong>surrendered</strong> thereafter and faced trial so they could further promote their cause. They were awarded life imprisonment for this incident.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, Bhagat Singh was<strong> re-arrested for the murder of J.P. Saunders and bomb manufacturing</strong> in the<strong> Lahore Conspiracy case.</strong> He was found guilty in this case and was<strong> hanged on 23<sup>rd</sup> March, 1931</strong> in Lahore along with Sukhdev and Rajguru.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every year, <strong>March 23</strong> is observed as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/martyrs-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Martyrs&rsquo; Day</strong> </a>as a <strong>tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-pays-tribute-to-bhagat-singh/article32712218.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bhagat-singh-s-birth-anniversary'
		]
	],
	'updates' => object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

		'(help)' => 'This is a Query object, to get the results execute or iterate it.',
		'sql' => 'SELECT articles.article_id AS `articles__article_id`, articles.category_id AS `articles__category_id`, articles.title AS `articles__title`, articles.description AS `articles__description`, articles.shortdescription AS `articles__shortdescription`, articles.featuredimage AS `articles__featuredimage`, articles.tag_id AS `articles__tag_id`, articles.secondary_tag AS `articles__secondary_tag`, articles.type AS `articles__type`, articles.publishon AS `articles__publishon`, articles.posturl AS `articles__posturl`, articles.metatitle AS `articles__metatitle`, articles.metadescription AS `articles__metadescription`, articles.metakeyword AS `articles__metakeyword`, articles.status AS `articles__status`, articles.sort_order AS `articles__sort_order`, articles.addedby AS `articles__addedby`, articles.updatedby AS `articles__updatedby`, articles.added AS `articles__added`, articles.modified AS `articles__modified`, articles.whatsnewid AS `articles__whatsnewid`, articles.display_printpdf AS `articles__display_printpdf`, articles.display_comments AS `articles__display_comments`, articles.pdf_name AS `articles__pdf_name`, articles.display_archive AS `articles__display_archive` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
		'params' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'defaultTypes' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'decorators' => (int) 0,
		'executed' => false,
		'hydrate' => true,
		'buffered' => true,
		'formatters' => (int) 0,
		'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
		'contain' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'matching' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'extraOptions' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}
	
	},
	'page' => (int) 32,
	'search' => 'class',
	'totalPages' => (float) 276,
	'title' => 'Search'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

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

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

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

		'url' => 'https://bit.ly/joindrishti',
		'title' => 'Click here for Online Inquiry form to join Drishti IAS programmes',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$searchlist = [
	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Zombie Fire',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a new study, the <strong>fire regimes in the Arctic are changing</strong> rapidly, with &lsquo;zombie fires&rsquo; becoming more frequent in addition to fires occurring in the once-frozen tundra.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Zombie Fire:</strong> It is a fire from a previous growing season that can <strong>smoulder under the ground</strong> which is made up of carbon-rich peat. When the weather warms, the fire can reignite. These are also known as <strong>holdover fires.</strong></li>
<li>The fires in the Arctic spreading to areas which were formerly fire-resistant is a more worrying feature.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> tundra</strong> is drying up and vegetation there like moss, grass, dwarf shrubs, etc are starting to catch fire.</li>
<li>The tundra is a cold region of treeless level or rolling ground found mostly north of the Arctic Circle or above the timberline on mountains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019 and 2020, burning occurred well above the Arctic Circle, a region not normally known to support large wildfires. Wildfires on permafrost in Siberia south of the Arctic are not uncommon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601540111_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601540111_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> The reason for this anomaly is that temperatures in winter and spring were warmer than usual during 2019-20.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Temperature in Siberia in 2020 had gone through the roof, with the region recording a severe <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>heatwave.</strong></a></li>
<li>Nearly all of this year&rsquo;s fires inside the Arctic Circle occurred on continuous permafrost, with over half of these burning on ancient carbon-rich peat soils.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The fires and record temperatures had the potential of <strong>turning the carbon sink into a carbon source</strong> and increasing <a href="/printpdf/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Arctic region has a <strong>cold body of water and permafrost,</strong> it naturally acts as a carbon sink. On average it absorbs 58 megatons of CO<sub>2</sub> a year in its cold water.</li>
<li>Soils in areas of permafrost contain twice as much carbon as there is currently in the atmosphere.</li>
<li>As the climate and permafrost soils have warmed, <strong>microbes</strong> have started to <strong>break down this organic carbon,</strong> which has been frozen and fixed in the permafrost. That has led to a rise in land emissions of<strong> CO<sub>2</sub></strong> and <strong>methane.</strong></li>
<li>Also there will be less absorption of carbon by water with rising temperature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will be a<strong> feedback loop:</strong> As peatlands release more carbon, global warming increases, which thaws more peat and causes more wildfires.</li>
<li>Arctic fires will affect the global climate over the<strong> long term</strong> depending on what they burnt. That&rsquo;s because peatlands, unlike boreal forest, do not regrow quickly after a fire, so the carbon released is permanently lost to the atmosphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Arctic Region</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601540179_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601540179_image1.jpg" caption="false" width="469" height="524" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Arctic region, or the Arctic, is a geographic region spreading around the North Pole.</li>
<li>The Arctic Circle (66&deg; 33'N) delimits the Arctic in terms of solar radiation.</li>
<li>Based on temperature, the <strong>monthly average temperature</strong> in the Arctic is<strong> below + 10&deg;C</strong> throughout the year, even in summer.</li>
<li>The Arctic contains vast stores of carbon and other planet-warming <strong>greenhouse gases</strong> in its soils, in<strong> peat</strong> as well as<strong> frozen soil</strong> that can be freed up through combustion.</li>
<li><strong>Peatlands</strong> are wetlands that contain ancient, decomposed and partially decomposed organic matter. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nearly half the world&rsquo;s peatland-stored carbon lies between 60 and 70 degrees north, along the Arctic Circle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arctic Permafrost:</strong> It is ground that remains completely frozen at 0 degrees Celsius or below for <strong>at least two years</strong> and is defined solely based on temperature and duration.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is composed of rock, sediments, sand, dead plant and animal matter, soil, and varying degrees of ice and is believed to have formed during glacial periods dating several millennia.</li>
<li>It is mainly found near the polar zones and regions with high mountains covering parts of <strong>Greenland, Alaska, Russia, Northern Canada, Siberia and Scandinavia.</strong></li>
<li>Permafrost is the most threatened by climate change, Arctic regions are <strong>warming twice as fast compared to the rest of the planet,</strong> its current rate of temperature change being the highest in 2,000 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is an <strong>urgent need to understand the nature of fires</strong> in the Arctic which are evolving and changing rapidly.</li>
<li>This study has urged global cooperation, investment and action in monitoring fires. It has called for <strong>learning from the indigenous peoples of the Arctic</strong> about how fire was traditionally used.</li>
<li><strong>New permafrost- and peat-sensitive approaches</strong> to wildland firefighting are needed to save the Arctic.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/zombie-fires-in-a-warming-arctic-region-a-worry-study-73605#:~:text=By%20DTE%20Staff&amp;text=The%20fire%20regimes%20in%20the,according%20to%20a%20new%20study." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/zombie-fire'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'BrahMos Testing',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BrahMos</a> Land-Attack Cruise Missile</strong> (surface-to-surface) was successfully flight tested from the Integrated Test Range at <strong>Balasore</strong> in <strong>Odisha.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601538577_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601538577_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> joint venture</strong> between the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation of India (DRDO)</strong> </a>and the NPOM of <strong>Russia.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Brahmos is named on the<strong> rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <strong>supersonic</strong> missile travelling at a speed of <strong>Mach 2.8</strong> (nearly three times the speed of sound)<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the world&rsquo;s<strong> fastest supersonic cruise missile.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <strong>multiplatform</strong> i.e it can be launched from<strong> land, air, and sea</strong> and multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in <strong>both day and night</strong> irrespective of the weather conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is, therefore, used by all three forces, the <strong>Army, Navy and the Air Force.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It operates on the <strong>"Fire and Forget"</strong> principle i.e it does not require further guidance after launch.</li>
<li>It is the<strong> heaviest weapon</strong> to be deployed on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sukhoi-30-mki-equipped-with-the-brahmos-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft</strong></a>, with a weight of 2.5 tonnes.</li>
<li>Its <strong>range has been recently enhanced</strong> from 300 Km to 450-600 Km,<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing the missile&rsquo;s range became possible after India&rsquo;s induction into the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/india-s-prospects-as-a-nuclear-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)</strong> </a>in June 2016.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The missile features<strong> indigenous Booster and Airframe Section,</strong> along with many other <strong>indigenous sub-systems.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BrahMos has been deployed in <strong>Ladakh</strong> as well as the <strong>Eastern Sector in Arunachal Pradesh</strong> to tackle any threats in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ongoing standoff with China.</strong></a></li>
<li>Enhanced use of indigenous technologies will give a boost to India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AtmaNirbhar Bharat</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong> </a>Initiatives.</li>
<li>Increasing indigenous content in defence systems has also been a prime focus of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-acquisition-procedure-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Acquisition Procedure, 2020</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-defence-production-and-export-promotion-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Others:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is also working on a hypersonic missile, <strong>BrahMos-II (K),</strong> capable of taking out hardened targets such as underground bunkers and weapon storage facilities at seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1660288" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-testing'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Police Commissionerate System',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-demarcation-in-the-interest-of-public-order/article32726505.ece" 560="" height="315" src="/admin/articles/edit/https:/www.youtube.com/embed/MbORvFs_qWs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A demarcation in the interest of public order&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 30/09/2020. It talks about the need and issues related to the Police Commissionerates System.</p>
</div>
<p>In recent times protests against the government have risen quite significantly. Protests are hallmarks of a democractic nation, but protest needs to be peaceful and in concurrence with the ethos of the constitution.</p>
<p>In a district, the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dual command structure</strong></a>, whereby the both police headed by SP (head of district police) and the District Magistrate (executive), has the responsibility of maintenance of public order.</p>
<p>However, there have been cases where the dithering by magistrates have led to law and order situations getting out of hand with serious consequences flowing on to the citizenry. This has led to the demand for establishing a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Police Commissionerates System</strong></a> in India&rsquo;s Urban Spaces.</p>
<p>Establishing a police commissionerate system in urban areas may help in improving response time, set clear accountability for Police and eventually improve public order. However, merits and demerits of both systems need to be analysed.</p>
<h3>What is the Police Commissionerates System?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This system essentially splits a district in two parts from the point of view of policing.</li>
<li>The part of the city that forms the large urbanised settlement becomes a geographical area where the police responsibilities of District Superintendent of Police get transferred to the Commissioner of Police.</li>
<li>Along with this, the powers of the District Magistrate (DM), the Sub-divisional Magistrates (SDM) and the Executive Magistrates in the area of crime and law and order also get transferred to the Police Commissioner.</li>
<li>For the rest of the District, however, both the District Magistrate, his subordinate magistrates and the District Superintendent of Police retain their police powers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Dual System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delay in Reaction Time:</strong> Under the Dual system, before conducting any operation pertaining to maintenance of public order, police is required to obtain permissions from the magistrates. This adversely impacts efficiency.</li>
<li><strong>Diversion of Attention:</strong> Through a vast array of government schemes, the governments envisages to provide developmental thrust to the remotest corners of the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The District Magistrate carries a huge workload on account of implementation of these schemes. Therefore the requirement of DM in maintenance of public order leads to diversion of attention from its developmental obligations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues of Accountability:</strong> It is difficult to set accountability in event of any mismanagement of law and order situations like some protest or riots, as a blame game emanates from this dual system of policing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Commissionerate system</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Public Confidence in Police:</strong> Since the colonial times, the Police have not had the image of a pro-poor and pro-people institution. The police do not inspire public confidence and people generally bring their grievances to the magistrates.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, the police commissionerate system will further strengthen the narrative of a &ldquo;police raj&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Giving More Power to Police:</strong> In absence of clear norms of transparency and accountability imposed on an autonomous police machinery may leave the Police as the handmaidens of the ruling political dispensation on the one hand and a repressive governmental machinery on the other.</li>
<li><strong>Overlapping Jurisdiction:</strong> Even though the Supreme Court has made a distinction between law and order (pertaining to police) and public order (responsibility of District Magistrate). However, these two fields are overlapping i.e. any matter which is linked to individual crime can easily become a public order issue.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Supreme Court Observation on Law &amp; order And Public Order</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Court held that the two concepts have different objectives and legal standards.</li>
<li>Law and order consists of the analysis made by police of the situation in an area and their commitment to firm action and penalties under criminal law.</li>
<li>Public order is a duty imposed on the District Magistrate to assess whether it is necessary to rush to the spot where law and order has been breached to prevent violence spreading and ease tension.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Balancing Right to Protest And Public Order:</strong> Right to Protest emanates from freedom of speech and expression and as a democratic nation it is expected to consider protest as legitimate.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, District Magistrate having a say in public order acts as checks on the raw power of the police force.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Only the establishment of a police commissionerate is not likely to deliver safer and better-policed cities, much more reforms are required in this regard. For Example:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development of Civil Society:</strong> There is a need to develop a vibrant civil society with a high degree of activism and participation by non-governmental organisations. It can act as an effective check on police forces.</li>
<li><strong>States Needs to Take the Lead:</strong> As public order and police are part of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, it is required on part of states to carry out necessary police reforms.</li>
<li><strong>Need for Strong Municipal Architecture:</strong> Technological advancements pose new challenges to administration. Therefore, the planning, governance and delivery of many municipal services to a large population necessitates the setting up of a stronger municipal architecture.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian urban spaces can emulate the commissionerate system of the western democratic world, which operates under the directly elected Mayor and the City Council with a high degree of openness and public sharing of police actions and performance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s existing police system suffers a series of deficiencies from problems relating to a police organization, environment, infrastructure, and understaffing, to obsolete weaponry and intelligence gathering techniques to a shortage of manpower to corruption, the police force in the country is not in good shape.</p>
<p>Therefore, there is an urgent need for holistic police reforms. Since, Police, Law and Order are subjects of state list, the government can start by urging all states to implement the recommendations given by the supreme court in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dgp-appointment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prakash Singh case.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601467866_image6.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601467866_image6.PNG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="800" height="375" /></strong></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfff0; border-style: dotted;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;The role of the District Magistrate needs to be clearly differentiated from the role of the Police Commissioner.&rdquo; Discuss the statement in light of the need for police reforms.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MbORvFs_qWs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/making-amends-on-indias-appeal-to-sri-lanka-to-address-tamil-aspirations/article32718993.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Making amends&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on September 30<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/police-commissionerate-system'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'PMNCH Accountability Breakfast',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare</strong> participated in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/partners-forum-inaugurated-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH)</strong></a><strong> &lsquo;Accountability Breakfast&rsquo;</strong> (an annual event) to discuss the issues of maternal and child health.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The event was <strong>co-hosted by</strong> the <strong>White Ribbon Alliance</strong> (WRA) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/partners-forum-inaugurated-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Every Woman Every Child (EWEC).</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Theme of the Event:</strong> Protecting gains in Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health from the Covid pandemic.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>PMNCH</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Partnership <strong>(PMNCH)</strong> is a global health partnership founded in <strong>2005.</strong></li>
<li>It is hosted at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland</strong> which joins the maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) communities into an alliance.</li>
<li>The <strong>Accountability Breakfast</strong> aims to convert talk into action for the health and rights of women, children and adolescents.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The White Ribbon Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>WRA is a nonpartisan, non-profit and non-governmental membership organization that aims to decrease maternal and newborn death globally.</li>
<li>Founded in 1999 and same year it came to India as WRA India</li>
<li>Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>&lsquo;Every Woman Every Child&rsquo; (EWEC) Movement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched by the United Nations during the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> Millennium Development Goals Summit</strong> in September 2010.</li>
<li>Every Woman Every Child is an unprecedented global movement that mobilizes and intensifies international and national action by governments, the private sector, and civil society to address the major health challenges facing women, children, and adolescents around the world.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Government Initiatives during Covid-19 Pandemic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the national level, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued<strong> guidance to the States</strong> to ensure that women, children and adolescents <strong>continue to get all the healthcare services</strong> even under severe strain due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid</strong></a> pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the government has included Covid in the medical conditions covered under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat &ndash; PM JAY insurance package</strong></a> provided by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government has tried to<strong> reduce out-of-pocket expenditure</strong> through its policy of <strong>no denial for essential services,</strong> like-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH):</strong> It was launched in <strong>2013</strong> to address the major causes of mortality among women and children as well as the delays in accessing and utilizing health care and services.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-tb-report-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tuberculosis</strong></a>, chemotherapy, dialysis and healthcare of the elderly, irrespective of the Covid-19 status.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives related to Maternal and Child Health:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/laqshya-labour-room-quality-improvement-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>LaQshya program</strong> </a>to reduce preventable maternal and newborn mortality, morbidity and stillbirths associated with the care around delivery in the Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatre (OT) and ensure respectful maternity care.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-council-of-health-and-family-welfare-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Safe Motherhood Assurance (SUMAN) initiative</strong></a> aims to achieve zero preventable <strong>Maternal and Newborn Deaths.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <strong>NITI Aayog</strong> data, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/penicillin-revival-to-fight-rheumatic-fever" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)</strong> </a>has dropped by 8% in India to<strong> 130 per 100,000 live births.</strong> The aim is to get it in line with the <strong>Sustainable Development Goal of 70 per 1,00,000 live births</strong> by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Janani Suraksha Yojana</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-tool-to-reduce-maternal-mortality" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram</a> (JSSK)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-matru-vandana-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana</a> (PMMVY)</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Indradhanush</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Poshan Abhiyan</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-innovative-method-for-boosting-nutrition" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mother and Child Protection Card</strong></a></li>
<li>Making available an adequate number of nurse practitioners in India is another important step towards <strong>Universalization of Skilled Birth Care.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reproductive Rights:</strong> A woman's choice during maternal care reckoned that maternity care goes much beyond healthcare services, also including <strong>dignity, privacy, confidentiality, choice and respect</strong> for her as well as her baby.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Zero-tolerance approach:</strong> For service denial to pregnant women and their new-born babies.</li>
<li><strong>Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revoke-order-weakening-pcpndt-act-aidwa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PCPNDT Act</strong></a> was enacted in 1994 and amended in 2003 and is an important tool for addressing sex-selective eliminations.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> To ban the use of sex selection techniques before or after conception and prevent the misuse of a prenatal diagnostic technique for sex-selective abortion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/medical-termination-of-pregnancy-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Act</strong></a> provides for termination up to 20 weeks. If an unwanted pregnancy has proceeded beyond 20 weeks, women have to approach a medical board and courts to seek permission for termination, which is extremely difficult and cumbersome. For this a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/abortions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>new bill</strong></a> to amend the MTP Act is under the consideration of the Parliament.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The idea should be to have a fully responsive and accountable health system that will not only result in a positive birthing experience but also help end preventable maternal and newborn deaths.</li>
<li>Need for the strengthened system for client feedback, grievance redressal and greater accountability and transparency.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1660178" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pmnch-accountability-breakfast'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Gavi COVAX Facility',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccine-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Serum Institute of India (SII)</strong> </a>has received funds from <strong>Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance</strong> and the <strong>Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,</strong> that would allow it to double its supply of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> vaccines (200 million doses) to India and other poorer countries as part of the <strong>Gavi COVAX facility.</strong> The vaccines will be <strong>priced at a maximum of USD 3 per dose.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SII (Pune),</strong> the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume,</strong> has agreements to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-iii-clinical-trials-of-covishield" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covidshield</strong></a> (currently under <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/drugs-and-clinical-trials-rules-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>clinical trials</strong></a>) developed by American vaccine maker <strong>Novavax,</strong> as well as Oxford University in collaboration with Swedish-British drugmaker <strong>AstraZeneca.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>COVAX is <strong>one of three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator,</strong> which was <strong>launched in April 2020 by the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Health Organization (WHO)</a></strong>, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Commission</strong></a> and <strong>France</strong> in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>ACT Accelerator</strong> is a <strong>framework for collaboration</strong> to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to Covid-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. It is built on <strong>three main pillars:</strong> Vaccines (COVAX), Therapeutics, Diagnostics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>COVAX is an effort to ensure that <strong>people in all corners of the world will get access to Covid-19 vaccines</strong> once they are available, regardless of their wealth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>initial aim is to have 2 billion doses available by the end of 2021,</strong> which should be enough to protect high risk and vulnerable people, as well as frontline healthcare workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>co-led</strong> by<strong> Gavi,</strong> the<strong> Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)</strong> and the <strong>World Health Organisation (WHO),</strong> working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers.</li>
<li>The <strong>COVAX facility</strong> continually monitors the Covid-19 vaccine landscape to identify the most suitable vaccine candidates, based on scientific merit and scalability, and works with manufacturers to incentivise them to expand their production capacity in advance of vaccines receiving regulatory approval.</li>
<li><strong>Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), a mechanism within the COVAX facility,</strong> is to ensure that the <strong>92 middle- and lower-income countries</strong> that cannot fully afford to pay for Covid-19 vaccines themselves get equal access to Covid-19 vaccines as higher-income self-financing countries and at the same time.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is a Gavi beneficiary</strong> and will, therefore, receive a certain proportion of the vaccines from the COVAX facility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Created in 2000,</strong> Gavi is an<strong> international organisation - a global Vaccine Alliance,</strong> bringing together public and private sectors with the shared<strong> goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children</strong> living in the world&rsquo;s poorest countries.</li>
<li>Its<strong> core partners</strong> include the WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.</li>
<li>In <strong>June 2019,</strong> the Gavi Board approved a <strong>new five-year strategy (&lsquo;Gavi 5.0&rsquo;)</strong> with a vision to &lsquo;leave no-one behind with immunisation&rsquo; and a mission to save lives and protect people&rsquo;s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CEPI is a<strong> global partnership launched in 2017</strong> to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics.</li>
<li>CEPI was <strong>founded in Davos (Switzerland) by the governments of Norway and India,</strong> the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the World Economic Forum.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/part-of-gavi-covax-facility-sii-to-double-covid-vaccine-supply-to-200-mn-doses-6636041/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India and the Kingdom of Denmark have launched the <strong>Green Strategic Partnership</strong> for delivering sustainable solutions to India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intellectual Property (IP)</strong></a> <strong>Cooperation</strong> with Denmark.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Green Strategic Partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Partnership will focus on <strong>expanding economic ties, green growth, and cooperation on global challenges such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-climate-action-ministerial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change.</a></strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Green growth</strong> is a term to describe a path of economic growth that uses natural resources in a sustainable manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Danish companies with niche technologies and expertise have offered to help India in meeting its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tackling-the-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>air pollution</strong></a> control targets, including in the key area of tackling the problem of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stubble-burning-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> burning crop stubble.</strong></a></li>
<li>Other key points under the partnership include dealing with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong> </a>pandemic and <strong>cooperation in water efficiency and water loss.</strong></li>
<li>The creation of<strong> India-Denmark energy parks</strong> in areas with large numbers of Danish firms and an <strong>India-Denmark skill institute</strong> to train Indian manpower has been proposed.</li>
<li>The Green Strategic Partnership will build on an existing <strong>Joint Commission for Cooperation</strong> and existing<strong> joint working groups.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intellectual Property Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The MoU aims at increasing IP co-operation between the two countries by way of, exchange of information and best practices on processes for disposal of applications for patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bangalore-blue-grapes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Geographical Indications</strong></a>, and cooperation in the field of protection of Traditional Knowledge.</li>
<li>It will be a landmark step forward in India&rsquo;s journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation and further the objectives of the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Intellectual Property Rights Policy</a>, 2016.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Denmark Relationship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Denmark had signed a <strong>Joint Commission for Cooperation in February 2009</strong> for cooperation in politics, economics and commerce, science and technology, energy, environment, and education.</li>
<li>They have <strong>joint working groups</strong> on Shipping; Food, Agriculture and Fisheries; Environment, Biotechnology; New and Renewable Energy; and Labour Mobility.</li>
<li>Currently, over 140 Danish companies are participating in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> initiative.</li>
<li>However, the relations got affected due to the <strong>non-extradition of the main accused of the Purulia arms drop case</strong> (Kim Davy) to India by Danish Officials. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Purulia arms drop case, 1995:</strong> Unauthorised arms were dropped from an aircraft in Purulia district in the state of West Bengal in India.</li>
<li>In the recent meeting for Green Strategic Partnership, both sides agreed that concerned officials will work for an early resolution of the matter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has also invited Denmark to join the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative#:~:text=Supply%20Chain%20Resilience%20Initiative%20(SCRI)%3A,lead%20to%20the%20supply%20chain." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> supply chain resilience initiative</strong></a>, which is proposed between Japan, Australia to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on any one nation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Denmark<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601458157_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601458157_image5.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> It is an archipelago of more than 400 islands to the east of the<strong> Jutland peninsula</strong> in Europe.</li>
<li><strong>Flag:&nbsp;<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601458248_image4.png" width="30" caption="false" /></strong></li>
<li><strong>Capital:</strong> Copenhagen</li>
<li><strong>Currency:</strong> Danish krone</li>
<li><strong>People:</strong> Mostly inhabited by ethnic Danes.</li>
<li><strong>Languages:</strong> Danish is official.</li>
<li><strong>Religions:</strong> Catholic Christians, Jews.</li>
<li><strong>Government:</strong> The Kingdom of Denmark is a unitary state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In addition to Denmark proper, two autonomous territories in the North Atlantic Ocean: Greenland and the Faroe Islands.</li>
<li>It establishes a sovereign state in the form of a constitutional monarchy, with a representative parliamentary system.</li>
<li>The Danish parliament is unicameral and called the Folketing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Others:</strong> Denmark ranked 1<sup>st</sup> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/digital-quality-of-life-index-2020-surfshark" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital Quality of Life 2020</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corruption-perceptions-index-2019-transparency-international" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Corruption Perceptions Index 2019</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/environmental-performance-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environmental Performance Index 2020</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-social-mobility-index-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Social Mobility Index 2020</strong></a>. It also ranked in <strong>the top 10 in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/henley-passport-index-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most powerful passports</a></strong> in 2020 and was one of the <strong>most peaceful countries</strong> according to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-peace-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Peace Index 2019</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Denmark have shared values of human rights, democracy, and rule of law and they must cooperate in multilateral fora like the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organization</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/arctic-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arctic Council</strong></a> to advance democracy and human rights and promote a rule-based multilateral system.</li>
<li>The Green Strategic Partnership is a mutually beneficial arrangement to advance political cooperation, expand economic relations and green growth, create jobs, and strengthen cooperation on addressing global challenges and opportunities; with a focus on an ambitious implementation of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong></a> and the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=Three%20core%20elements%20of%20sustainable,are%20important%20for%20sustainable%20development." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=Three%20core%20elements%20of%20sustainable,are%20important%20for%20sustainable%20development." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/green-strategic-partnership-between-india-and-denmark'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Congo Fever Alert in Maharashtra',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Palghar administration has asked authorities to remain alert against a possible spread of the Congo fever in the Maharashtra district.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> Congo fever was first discovered in <strong>Crimea</strong> in <strong>1944</strong> and was named Crimean hemorrhagic fever.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Later in <strong>1969,</strong> scientists discovered that the pathogen responsible for causing Crimean hemorrhagic fever and the one that caused illness in <strong>Congo</strong> in 1956 was the same.</li>
<li>Hence, the name changed to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cause:</strong> The CCHF is a widespread disease caused by a <strong>tick-borne virus (Nairovirus)</strong> of the<strong> Bunyaviridae family.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The virus is transmitted through bite of <strong>Hyalomma tick,</strong> an external parasite, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds etc.</li>
<li>It can also be contracted through contact with <strong>viraemic animal tissues</strong> (animal tissue where the virus has entered the bloodstream) during and immediately <strong>post-slaughter of animals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human-to-human transmission:</strong> It can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Hospital-acquired infections</strong> can also occur due to improper sterilisation of medical equipment, reuse of needles and contamination of medical supplies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fatality:</strong> CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services as the virus can lead to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>epidemics</strong></a>, with a high case <strong>fatality ratio (10-40%).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Case fatality rate (CFR)</strong> is a measure of the severity of a disease and is defined as the proportion of cases of a specified disease or condition which are fatal within a specified time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>CCHF is <strong>endemic</strong> in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light).</li>
<li>There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings, confusion, depression and liver enlargement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>General supportive care with treatment of symptoms is the main approach to managing CCHF in people.</li>
<li>The antiviral drug ribavirin has been used to treat CCHF infection with apparent benefit.</li>
<li>There are no vaccines widely available for human or animal use.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601457260_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601457260_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="570" height="715" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-palghar-district-on-alert-over-congo-fever-6632737/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/congo-fever-alert-in-maharashtra'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Suspension of Amnesty International Operations in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amnesty-international-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amnesty International India</strong> </a>has halted its <strong>human rights operations</strong> in India due to the freezing of its bank accounts by the Government of India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has also set up a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/central-bureau-of-investigation-cbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)</strong></a> inquiry against Amnesty.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Argument by Amnesty:</strong> It has alleged that the government has frozen its bank accounts due to repeated <strong>calls for transparency and against the human rights violations</strong> in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a> (EU)</strong> has also<strong> expressed its concerns against the action of the government</strong> citing the valued work of Amnesty International worldwide.</li>
<li>Recently, <strong>Amnesty International (AI)</strong> India had demanded<strong> an independent investigation</strong> into all allegations of human rights violations by the police during the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/communal-violence-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">north-east Delhi riots</a> and</strong> the establishment of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-on-public-s-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Human Rights</strong> </a>in Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Argument by the Government:</strong> The government has accused Amnesty of defying the law of the land.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India doesn't allow interference in domestic political debates by entities funded by foreign donations. This law applies equally to all and it shall apply to Amnesty International as well.</li>
<li>In order to circumvent the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fcra-clearance-of-6-ngos-suspended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010</strong></a> (FCRA) regulations,<strong> Amnesty UK</strong> remitted large amounts of money to four entities registered in India, by classifying it as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-foreign-direct-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong> </a>(FDI).</li>
<li>A significant amount of foreign money was also remitted to <strong>Amnesty (India)</strong> without approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs under FCRA. This rerouting of money was<strong> in contravention of extant legal provisions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> In the past five years, the government has taken action against several foreign donors including <strong>Compassion International, World Movement for Democracy</strong> (WMD), Greenpeace, etc on grounds of FCRA violations.</li>
<li><strong>New Rules for NGOs under FCRA amendment, 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/foreign-contribution-regulation-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020</strong></a> was passed by the Parliament amending Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.</li>
<li>In order to receive foreign funds, an NGO has to register with the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is assigned a unique <strong>FCRA registration number,</strong> to be renewed every five years.</li>
<li>Every FCRA-registered NGO will have to <strong>open an FCRA-marked bank account</strong> with a designated branch of State Bank of India in New Delhi.</li>
<li>The <strong>cap on administrative expenses has been lowered</strong> from 50% of foreign funds received to 20%.</li>
<li>It <strong>prohibits</strong> the transfer of foreign grants received by an entity to a partner organisation or an associated person, which is a usual practice.</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong> This has been criticized as an act to suppress the NGOs that dissent against the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The amendment will <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-ngos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>impact many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)</strong> </a>working in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantage:</strong> This has strengthened the compliance mechanism, <strong>enhancing transparency and accountability,</strong> and will help in curbing fraud and threats of the sovereignty of the country in the name of NGOs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Amnesty International</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)</strong> founded in London (UK) in 1961.</li>
<li>It seeks to <strong>publicize violations by governments</strong> and other entities <strong>of rights recognized in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-human-rights-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)</a></strong>, especially freedom of speech and of conscience and the right against torture.</li>
<li>In 1977, it was awarded the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-peace-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize for Peace.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>AI India</strong> is a part of the global human rights movement spearheaded by Amnesty International. It has its<strong> registered office in Bangalore</strong> (Karnataka).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amnesty-international-halts-india-operations/article32721447.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/suspension-of-amnesty-international-operations-in-india'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'UAE’s Moon Mission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>United Arab Emirates (UAE)</strong> has decided to send an<strong> unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2024.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601453120_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601453120_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Name:</strong> The rover would be named <strong>Rashid</strong> after <strong>Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum,</strong> one of the original founding rulers of the UAE.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rover</strong> is a vehicle for exploring the surface of a planet or moon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> The rover will <strong>explore the surface of the moon in areas that have not been explored</strong> previously by human missions such as <strong>NASA&rsquo;s Apollo.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Participating in the moon exploration is part of the <strong>UAE&rsquo;s space strategy</strong> to build new knowledge capabilities and advance the country&rsquo;s scientific, technical and research environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fourth Nation:</strong> If successful in 2024, the <strong>UAE could become the fourth nation to land a spacecraft on the moon</strong> after the <strong>USA, the former Soviet Union and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-rover-to-far-side-of-the-moon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India, Israel and Japan have tried but failed</strong> in landing a spacecraft on the moon.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Planned to land on the South Pole of the Moon, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/mission-chandrayaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chandrayaan-2</strong> </a>was launched by India in 2019. However, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-loses-connection-with-vikram-lander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lander Vikram</a> hard-landed,</strong> which crushed India's dream to become the first nation to successfully touch down on the lunar surface in its maiden attempt.</li>
<li>India has planned a new moon mission named <strong>Chandrayaan-3.</strong> It is likely<strong> to be launched in early 2021.</strong> It will be a mission<strong> repeat of Chandrayaan-2</strong> and will include a <strong>Lander and Rover</strong> similar to that of Chandrayaan-2, but will <strong>not have an orbiter.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gateway-lunar-orbiting-outpost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artemis</strong></a> is a crewed spaceflight program of <strong>NASA</strong> that has the goal of landing "the first woman and the next man" on the Moon, specifically at the lunar south pole region by 2024.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UAE&rsquo;s Space Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In July 2020, the UAE launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars probe named Amal (Hope)</strong></a> from Japan, marking the <strong>Arab world&rsquo;s first interplanetary mission.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Amal is set to reach Mars in February 2021, the year UAE will celebrate 50 years of its formation.</li>
<li>UAE has also set a <strong>goal to build a human colony</strong> on Mars by 2117.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>UAE is a <strong>federation of seven sheikhdoms</strong> on the Arabian Peninsula.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019, the<strong> UAE sent its first astronaut to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cst-100-starliner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Space Station.</a> </strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/united-arab-emirates-launch-spacecraft-moon-2024-6635393/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uae-s-moon-mission'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Agriculture Reforms',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G6ggAhcGlxA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>Rajya Sabha has passed two bills related to Agriculture Sector Reforms, namely:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020</li>
<li>The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The reforms are expected to accelerate growth in the sector through private sector investment in building infrastructure and supply chains for farm produce in national and global markets.</li>
<li>They are intended to help small farmers who don&rsquo;t have means to either bargain for their produce to get a better price or invest in technology to improve the productivity of farms</li>
<li>The legislation on contract farming will allow farmers to enter into a contract with agri-business firms or large retailers on pre-agreed prices of their produce</li>
<li>However, for the middlemen and the state, it is not really good news as they will lose their commission and mandi taxes.</li>
<li>Neither of the bills affect the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price</strong></a> in any way as the MSP is an administrative decision not a law.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020</h3>
<p><strong>Key features</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to provide for the creation of an ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers' produce.</li>
<li>The Bill also proposes an electronic trading in transaction platform for ensuring a seamless trade electronically.</li>
<li>The farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce under this Act. Further there will be a separate dispute resolution mechanism for the farmers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Selling option:</strong> The bill gives the long sought freedom to the farmers of selling their produce via more than one channel of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketinghttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>APMCs.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, APMC will still be available as a choice to sell their products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promote trade:</strong> It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations.</li>
<li><strong>Better price:</strong> It will also help farmers of regions with surplus produce to get better prices and consumers of regions with shortages, lower prices.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will open more choices for the farmer, reduce marketing costs for the farmers and help them in getting better prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One India, One Agriculture Market:</strong> The Bill basically aims at creating additional trading opportunities outside the APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to additional competition. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will supplement the existing MSP procurement system which is providing stable income to farmers.</li>
<li>It will certainly pave the way for creating <strong>One India, One Agriculture Market</strong> and will lay the foundation for ensuring golden harvests for our hard working farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>APMC&rsquo;s</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An <strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)</strong> is a marketing board established by a state government in India to ensure farmers are safeguarded from exploitation by large retailers, as well as ensuring the farm to retail price spread does not reach excessively high levels.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020</h3>
<p><strong>Key Features:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It seeks to provide for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Level playing field:</strong> The new legislation will empower farmers for engaging with processors, wholesalers, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters etc., on a level playing field without any fear of exploitation.</li>
<li><strong>Transfer the risk:</strong> It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor and also enable the farmer to access modern technology and better inputs.</li>
<li><strong>Attract private sector:</strong> This legislation will act as a catalyst to attract private sector investment for building supply chains for supply of Indian farm produce to national and global markets, and in agricultural infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Eliminate intermediaries:</strong> Farmers will engage in direct marketing thereby eliminating intermediaries resulting in full realization of price. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sale, lease or mortgage of farmers&rsquo; land is totally prohibited and farmers&rsquo; land is also protected against any recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of the Bills</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The stakeholders in these bills are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Farmers:</strong> The farmer is now the producer and the seller of his own produce and will be free to enter into agreement with private trade directly.</li>
<li><strong>Consumers:</strong> The consumers would now get the produce as much lower costs.</li>
<li><strong>Middlemen or Arthias:</strong> The Arthias will lose the economic stranglehold they have on the mandis.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The opposition is faced the most in Punjab and Haryana as in other states, they do not have such a strong hold.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Government:</strong> Different State Governments revenues will be adversely affected.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The mandi tax, <strong>arthiya commission</strong> and other taxes imposed by the state govt in Punjab gives about 7,000 crore rupees as transaction cost annually.</li>
<li>There is 8.5% and 7% of total transaction cost collected from Punjab and Haryana respectively whereas for most other states it&rsquo;s about 2.5-3.5% only. Therefore, the state revenue of these two states will be drastically hit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Arthias</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Arthias are those who act as the immediate intermediary and aggregator in the process of procurement for which they charge their <strong>commission</strong> as notified in the <strong>Agricultural Produce Markets Act (APMC)</strong> of the respective States.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The farmers will earn better income as they get to dictate their own price and do not have to pay transportation charges anymore.</li>
<li>Competition is the best protector of stakeholders whether it is consumer or the farmers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Having a variety of buyers will protect farmers from exploitation and by having more sellers (farmers), consumers can buy better products at better deals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although the role of middlemen is not going to end completely, their hold on the trade will not be as strong.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-agriculture-reforms'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Pricing and Taxing Carbon',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>The article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-benefits-of-a-carbon-tax/article32709677.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The benefits of carbon tax&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 28/09/2020. It focuses upon how the Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) are exploiting the planet and how far the pricing and taxing of the carbon contents of domestic production and imports is helpful in mitigation.</p>
</div>
<p>After China, the largest GHG emitter, announced that it would balance out its carbon emissions with measures to offset them before 2060, the U.S. and India are next in the list to take actions.</p>
<p>India along with the U.S, China and Japan are some of the countries that are hardest hit by climate impacts. In order to mitigate the condition and reduce the GHG emissions, one smart approach is pricing Carbon.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong></a> has endorsed the European Union&rsquo;s plan for Carbon levying on imports.</li>
<li>India can be among the world&rsquo;s first movers in taxing and switching from carbon-intensive fuels.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Carbon Pricing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an instrument that captures the external costs of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions&mdash;the costs of emissions that the public pays for, such as damage to crops, health care costs from heat waves and droughts, and loss of property from flooding and sea level rise&mdash;and ties them to their sources through a price, usually in the form of a price on the carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emitted.</li>
<li>A price on carbon helps shift the burden for the damage from GHG emissions back to those who are responsible for it and who can avoid it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Need to Reduce GHG Emissions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recorded heat waves in Delhi, water crisis in Tamil Nadu, floods in southwest China, and catastrophic forest fires in California this year are indicative of the existential danger from global warming.</li>
<li>India ranks fifth in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-climate-risk-index-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Climate Risk Index 2020.</strong></a></li>
<li>Carbon dioxide, the chief culprit in global warming, has already crossed a high mark of 400 parts per million because of past accumulation especially after the Industrial Revolution.</li>
<li>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says total global emissions will need to fall by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If these targets are not met, tropical regions of the world, which are densely populated and happen to be mainly concentrated in the global South, are likely to be most negatively affected because of their high vulnerability and pre-existing high temperatures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Imposing Carbon Levies</h3>
<p><strong>What is a Carbon Tax?</strong></p>
<p>Carbon tax is a fee imposed on the burning of carbon-based fuels (coal, oil, gas). It is viewed as the core policy for reducing and eventually eliminating the use of fossil fuels whose combustion is destabilizing and destroying our climate.</p>
<p><strong>Taxing Carbon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A smart approach is pricing carbon, building on the small steps taken thus far, such as plans by some 40 large companies to price carbon, government incentives for electric vehicles, and an environmental tax in the 2020-21 budget.</li>
<li>Another way to price carbon is through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-first-emissions-trading-system-for-particulate-pollution-pm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>emission trading</strong></a>, i.e., setting a maximum amount of allowable effluents from industries, and permitting those with low emissions to sell their extra space.</li>
<li>Carbon tax can be imposed on economic activities &mdash; for example, on the use of fossil fuels like coal, as done in Canada and Sweden.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Canada imposed a carbon tax at $20 per tonne of CO2 emissions in 2019, eventually rising to $50 per tonne.</li>
<li>This is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by between 80 and 90 million tonnes by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #d91852;" colspan="2"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Pros and Cons of Carbon Tax</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #fadcdc;"><strong>Pros </strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; text-align: center; background-color: #fadcdc;"><strong>Cons</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been suggested as a way to internalise the negative externality of carbon emissions; consumers/producers will pay the full social cost of consumption.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Different country-wise policies could lead to &lsquo;carbon leakages&rsquo; where energy-intensive businesses will most likely move to less strict national regimes.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A carbon tax policy is likely to cause less volatility in the prices of carbon emissions than quantitative limits.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Discourage investment: An argument made by business is that carbon taxes will discourage investment and reduce profitability.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will encourage in shifting towards alternative resources that are renewable too.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It penalizes those who cannot shift to alternative sources; affects especially the poor and developing countries like many African and Asian countries.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is one wise option to cut effluents while earning revenues which could be used in installation of other alternative resources.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #faecde;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Charging the appropriate amount of tax is difficult as quantification of the produced carbon may not be accurate.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Big economies like India should also use their global monopsony to impose a carbon tariff as envisaged by the European Union.</li>
<li>India under the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/11-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intended Nationally Determined Contribution</strong></a> has committed to 40% of electricity capacity being from non- fossil fuels by 2030, and lowering the ratio of emissions to GDP by one-third from 2005 levels.</li>
<li>A carbon tax at $35 per tonne of CO2 emissions in India is estimated to be capable of generating some 2% of GDP through 2030.</li>
<li>A market-oriented approach to tax and trade carbon domestically and to induce similar action by others through international trade and diplomacy.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Focusing on trade is vital because reducing the domestic carbon content of production alone would not avert the harm if imports remain carbon-intensive.</li>
<li>It is in the country&rsquo;s interest to take stronger action before 2030, leading to no net carbon increase by 2050.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601377923_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601377923_image5.jpg" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2ffe0;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;There is growing public support for climate action, but we need solutions that are seen to be in India&rsquo;s interest.&rdquo; Discuss in the light of carbon pricing policy.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cHX6vJeM48s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/salutary-lesson-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-vodafone-case/article32709724.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Salutary lesson: On the Vodafone case&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on September 28<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pricing-and-taxing-carbon'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'States Planning to Bypass Central Legislation',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, many states are exploring the possibilities of passing legislation under <strong>Article 254(2)</strong> of the Constitution, to negate the enforcement of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protests-against-farm-ordinances" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>three Farm Acts</strong></a> passed by the Central government under <strong>Entry 33 of the Concurrent List.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Entry 33 of the Concurrent List mentions trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution of domestic and imported products of an industry; foodstuffs, including oilseeds and oils; cattle fodder; raw cotton and jute.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Article 254(2):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>enables a State government to pass a law,</strong> on any subject in the<strong> Concurrent List, that may contradict a Central law,</strong> provided it gets the <strong>President&rsquo;s assent.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, the Rajasthan government took this Article 254 (2) route to make changes to the central labour laws &mdash; the Factories Act, the Industrial Disputes act, and the Contract Labour Act &mdash; which subsequently got the President&rsquo;s assent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the <strong>Parliament is not barred from enacting</strong> at any time any law with respect to the same matter including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msp-raised-for-rabi-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> three Farm Acts</strong></a> includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Farmers&rsquo; Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act,</strong> 2020</li>
<li><strong>Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act,</strong> 2020</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essential-commodities-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act</strong></a>, 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In short, the <strong>Acts aim to do away with government interference in agricultural trade</strong> by creating<strong> trading areas free of middlemen</strong> and <strong>government taxes outside</strong> the structure of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agricultural Produce Market Committees</a> (APMCs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They also aim to <strong>remove restrictions on private stock holding</strong> of agricultural produce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Distribution of Legislative Subjects</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 246</strong> adopts a <strong>threefold distribution of legislative power</strong> between the Union and the states.</li>
<li>The subject-wise distribution of this power is given in the three lists of the <strong>Seventh Schedule</strong> of the constitution:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>List-I- the <strong>Union List</strong></li>
<li>List-II- the <strong>State List</strong></li>
<li>List-III- the <strong>Concurrent List</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Union List: Parliament has exclusive powers</strong> to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Union List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the <strong>matters of national importance</strong> and the matters which require uniformity of legislation nationwide.</li>
<li>This list includes <strong>98 subjects (originally 97)</strong> like defence, banking, foreign affairs, currency, atomic energy, insurance, communication, inter-state trade and commerce, census, audit and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State List:</strong> The<strong> state legislature</strong> has <strong>exclusive powers</strong> (not during emergency) to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the<strong> matters of regional and local importance</strong> and the matters which permit diversity of interest.</li>
<li>This list includes <strong>59 subjects (originally 66)</strong> like public order, police, public health and sanitation, agriculture, prisons, local government, fisheries, markets, theaters, gambling and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concurrent List:</strong> Both, the <strong>Parliament and state legislature</strong> can make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the matters on which <strong>uniformity of legislation throughout the country is desirable</strong> but not essential.</li>
<li>However <strong>State legislation operates to the extent that it is not in conflict with the Central legislation.</strong> At times, the very presence of a central legislation can negate the state&rsquo;s ability to legislate.</li>
<li>This list has at present <strong>52 subjects (originally 47)</strong> like criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, marriage and divorce, population control and family planning, electricity, labour welfare,economic and social planning, drugs, newspapers, books and printing press, and others.</li>
<li>The<strong> 42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act of 1976</strong> transferred five subjects to Concurrent List from State List i.e<strong> education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, and administration of justice; constitution and organisation of all courts except the Supreme Court and the High Courts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The power to make laws with respect to <strong>residuary subjects</strong> i.e. the matters which are not enumerated in any of the three lists, is vested in the Parliament.</li>
<li>Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any part of the territory of India not included in a state even though that matter is one which is enumerated in the State List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This provision is related to the Union Territories or the Acquired Territories (if any).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sonia-gandhi-asks-cong-ruled-states-to-bring-in-their-own-farm-laws/article32716952.ece/amp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-planning-to-bypass-central-legislation'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'EPFO’s New Facility on UMANG App',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/epfo-disbursed-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Employees' Provident Fund Organisation</strong></a> (EPFO) has started a facility on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unified-mobile-application-for-new-age-governance-umang-mobile-app" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) App</strong></a> which enables members of the<strong> Employees&rsquo; Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995</strong> to apply online for Scheme Certificates.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EPS is a<strong> social security scheme</strong> that was launched in <strong>1995</strong> and is provided by EPFO.</li>
<li>It makes <strong>provisions for pensions for the employees in the organised sector</strong> aft er the<strong> retirement at the age of 58 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scheme Certificate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is issued to <strong>members who withdraw their <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/epf-redefined" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Employees' Provident Fund&nbsp;</a></strong>(EPF) <strong>contribution but wish to retain their membership</strong> with EPFO, to avail pension benefits on the attainment of retirement age.</li>
<li>Members become eligible for pension only if they have been, <strong>cumulatively, a member of the EPS, 1995 for at least 10 years.</strong></li>
<li>Upon joining a new job, Scheme Certificate <strong>ensures that previous pensionable service is added to pensionable service rendered with the new employer</strong> thereby, increasing the number of pension benefits.</li>
<li>Further, Scheme Certificate is also<strong> useful for family members to avail family pension,</strong> in case of the untimely death of the eligible member.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Requirements for Online Application:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For availing the service, an <strong>active Universal Account Number</strong> (UAN) and a <strong>mobile number registered with the EPFO</strong> is required.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The online application will help <strong>members avoid unnecessary hardship of physically applying</strong> for it, especially during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> times and will also <strong>eliminate unnecessary paperwork.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of EPFO in Current Times:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>EPFO was <strong>already providing 16 services on the App</strong> allowing EPF subscribers to access services during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> from the comfort of their homes in a hassle-free manner.</li>
<li>By <strong>successfully bringing state-of-the-art technology to the doorstep</strong> of its subscribers, EPFO has <strong>remained to be a very popular service provider</strong> on UMANG App.</li>
<li>With India witnessing massive growth in digital connectivity through mobile phones, <strong>EPFO is making more and more services digitally accessible to members even in remotest locations</strong> through the App.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UMANG App</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>unified, secure, multi-channel, multi-platform, multi-lingual, multi-service mobile app.</strong></li>
<li>It is developed by the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (MeitY) and <strong>National e-Governance Division</strong> (NeGD) to drive mobile governance under <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India.</strong></a></li>
<li>It <strong>provides a single platform to citizens for accessing pan India <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-Government</a> services</strong> ranging from central to local government bodies and other citizen-centric services.</li>
<li><strong>Services Provided:</strong> Filing income tax, EPFO services, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aadhar-and-its-voluntary-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aadhar</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/streamlining-of-national-pension-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pension</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-primary-education-challenges-and-opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ePathshala</strong></a>, e- Land Records, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revamp-of-the-crop-insurance-schemes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Crop Insurance</strong></a> etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Fund Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a government organisation that <strong>manages the provident fund and pension accounts for the workforce engaged in the organized sector</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It implements the <strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Act provides for the institution of provident funds for employees in factories and other establishments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is administered by the <strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>one of the world's largest social security organisations</strong> in terms of clientele and the volume of financial transactions undertaken.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1659774#:~:text=The%20ease%20of%20applying%20for,benefit%20over%205.89%20crore%20subscribers." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/epfo-s-new-facility-on-umang-app'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Six Mega Projects in Uttarakhand: Namami Gange Mission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Prime Minister has inaugurated <strong>six mega projects</strong> in <strong>Uttarakhand</strong> under the <strong>Namami Gange Mission.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highlights:</strong> These six mega projects of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/wastewater-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sewage Treatment Plants</strong></a> (STP) are constructed at <strong>Haridwar, Rishikesh, Muni ki Reti, Chorpani, </strong>and<strong> Badrinath.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jagjeetpur, Haridwar project also marks the completion of the<strong> first</strong> sewage project taken up on <strong>hybrid annuity</strong> mode on <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ppp-investment-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>public private partnership.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Hybrid Annuity Model:</strong> The Government would provide upfront around <strong>40%</strong> of the project cost to the developer to start the work and the remaining 60% would be borne by the private party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>Muni ki Reti town, Chandreshwar Nagar</strong> STP is the first <strong>4 storied</strong> Sewage Treatment Plant in the country where the limitation of land availability was converted into an opportunity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All 30 STP projects (100%) are now complete in Uttarakhand for taking care of pollution from 17 Ganga towns near river Ganga, which is a landmark achievement.</li>
<li>The <strong>Haridwar-Rishikesh zone</strong> contributes about <strong>80% wastewater load</strong> into the River Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Namami Gange Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Namami Gange Programme</strong> is an <strong>Integrated Conservation Mission,</strong> approved as a &lsquo;Flagship Programme&rsquo; by the Union Government in <strong>June 2014</strong> to accomplish the <strong>twin objectives</strong> of effective abatement of <strong>pollution</strong> and <strong>conservation and rejuvenation</strong> of National River Ganga.</li>
<li>It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-jal-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti.</strong></a></li>
<li>The program is being implemented by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission for Clean Ganga</a> (NMCG),</strong> and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NMCG is the implementation wing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></a> (set in 2016; which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority - NGRBA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has a <strong>Rs. 20,000-crore, centrally-funded,</strong> non-lapsable corpus and consists of nearly 288 projects.</li>
<li><strong>The main pillars of the programme are:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sewage Treatment Infrastructure &amp; Industrial Effluent Monitoring</li>
<li>River-Front Development &amp; River-Surface Cleaning</li>
<li>Bio-Diversity &amp; Afforestation</li>
<li>Public Awareness</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Activities at the Event</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ganga Avalokan:</strong> It is the<strong> first museum</strong> inaugurated for <strong>Ganga.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The museum is dedicated to showcase the culture, biodiversity and rejuvenation activities done in Ganga river.</li>
<li>The museum is located at <strong>Chandi Ghat,</strong> Haridwar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rowing down the Ganges:</strong> A book co-published by National Mission for Clean Ganga &amp; <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sal-forest-tortoise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> is also launched.</li>
<li><strong>The logo of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jal Jeevan Mission</a></strong> and<strong> &lsquo;Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats and Paani Samitis under Jal Jeevan Mission&rsquo;</strong> is also unveiled during the event.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government&rsquo;s Namami Gange Programme has revitalised India&rsquo;s efforts in rejuvenating the Ganga.</li>
<li>It is important to build critical sewage infrastructure at pollution hotspots along the river Ganga and its tributaries as a first step in this direction.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1659775#:~:text=%2D%20To%20inaugurate%20a%20Ganga%20Avalokan,its%20kind%20museum%20on%20Ganga&amp;text=Prime%20Minister%2C%20Shri%20Narendra%20Modi,September%202020%20through%20video%20conference." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/six-mega-projects-in-uttarakhand-namami-gange-mission'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Campaign to Remove Lantana: Rajasthan',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A special drive to <strong>uproot the invasive Lantana bushes</strong> in the <strong>Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary</strong> in Rajasthan&rsquo;s Udaipur district has been carried out along with the <strong>plantation of native species</strong> on the cleared patches of land.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This has helped in <strong>ecological restoration of grasslands and saved biodiversity.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601372440_image.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601372440_image.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lantana:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><em>Lantana camara</em> is a small perennial shrub, which forms <strong>extensive, dense and impenetrable thickets.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>native to Central and South America.</strong></li>
<li>It is an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invasive-species-charru-mussel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>invasive species</strong> </a>which was introduced in tropical regions as an<strong> ornamental plant</strong> (introduced in India in 1807).</li>
<li>It is generally <strong>deleterious to biodiversity</strong> and is an <strong>agricultural weed.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The thickets covered vast tracts of land, <strong>stopping the natural light and nutrition</strong> for other flora and fauna.</li>
<li>The<strong> toxic substance in its foliage and ripe berries</strong> affected the animals.</li>
<li>With the herbivores not getting sufficient forage, the <strong>prey base for carnivorous animals was declining,</strong> leading to <strong>ecological disturbances in the food chain.</strong></li>
<li>It has also invaded other wildlife reserves, river banks and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Tiger</strong> </a>areas.</li>
<li>In some regions, the plant has <strong>invaded pastures</strong> and shrunk the cattle grazing areas, affecting the livelihood of villagers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> Udaipur (Rajasthan)</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong> It is a part of <strong>Sajjangarh Palace</strong> (also known as Monsoon Palace) built in 1884. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Palace derived its name from Maharana Sajjan Singh, one of the rulers of the <strong>Mewar dynasty.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> 5.19 sq. Km<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601372473_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601372473_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Flora and Fauna:</strong> Animals like chitals, panthers, hares, blue bulls (Nilgais), jackals, wild boars, hyenas, and sambhar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>More than 279 Plant Species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Famous for <strong>Long-billed vulture,</strong> commonly known as the <strong>Indian vulture.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scientific Name: <em>Gyps indicus</em></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a> Status:</strong> Critically Endangered</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a> Status: Appendix II</li>
<li><strong>Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 Status: Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Invasive Species</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An invasive species is an organism<strong> that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area</strong> and<strong> causes harm.</strong></li>
<li>They are capable of causing <strong>extinctions of native plants and animals, reducing biodiversity, competing with native organisms for limited resources, and altering habitats.</strong></li>
<li>They can be<strong> introduced to an area by ship ballast water, accidental release, and most often, by humans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/weeding-out-lantana-restores-grasslands-in-rajasthan/article32705549.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/campaign-to-remove-lantana-rajasthan'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a new <strong>Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)</strong> (erstwhile Defence Procurement Procedure or DPP), 2020 was released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> The DAP contains policies and procedures for procurement and acquisition from the capital budget of the MoD in order to modernise the Armed Forces including the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/recaap-isc-capacity-building-workshop" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coast Guard.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The first Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) was promulgated in 2002.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reviewing-defence-procurement-procedure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>committee under the chairmanship of Director General (Acquisition)</strong></a> was constituted to review the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-flawed-defence-procurement-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>DPP 2016</strong> was released replacing the DPP 2013 based on the recommendations of <strong>Dhirendra Singh committee.</strong></li>
<li>It focussed on indigenously designed, developed and manufactured weapon systems.</li>
<li>It was facing several issues like lack of transparency (leading to Rafale Scam), inconvenient offset regulations etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> Turning India into a global manufacturing hub.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aligned with the vision of the Government of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat</strong> </a>and empowering Indian domestic industry through <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make in India</a> initiative.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Salient Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-of-doing-business-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ease of Doing Business:</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Time Bound Defence Procurement Process and Faster Decision Making:</strong> By setting up a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/self-reliance-in-defence-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Management Unit</strong></a> to support contract management and to streamline the Acquisition process.</li>
<li><strong>Revised Offset Guidelines</strong>: Preference will be given to manufacture of complete defence products over components and various multipliers have been added to give incentivisation in discharge of offsets.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, there will be<strong> no offset clause</strong> in government-to-government, single vendor and Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA).</li>
<li><strong>Offsets</strong> are a portion of a contracted price with a foreign supplier that must be <strong>re-invested in the Indian defence sector,</strong> or against which the government can purchase technology.</li>
<li><strong>Multipliers</strong> are credit values earned on offset transactions. A multiplier of 3 means a foreign company can claim credits upto three times of its actual offset investment.</li>
<li>The offset policy for defence deals <strong>was adopted in 2005</strong> for all defence capital imports above Rs. 300 crore under which the foreign vendor is required to invest at least 30% of the value of the contract in India.</li>
<li>Offset clause was hindering the transfer of technology, according to a recent CAG report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rationalization of Procedures for Trials and Testing:</strong> Scope of trials will be <strong>restricted to physical evaluation of core operational parameters.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Develop India into Global Manufacturing Hub:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>FDI in Defence Manufacturing:</strong> Provisions have been incorporated like a new category<strong> &lsquo;Buy (Global &ndash; Manufacture in India)&rsquo;,</strong> to encourage foreign companies to set up manufacturing through its subsidiary in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To promote Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reservation in Categories for Indian Vendors:</strong> Some categories like Buy (Indian Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured -IDDM), Production Agency in Design &amp; Development etc. will be exclusively reserved for Indian Vendors and FDI of more than 49% is not allowed.</li>
<li><strong>Ban on Import of Certain Items:</strong> With a view to promote domestic and indigenous industry, the MoD will notify a list of weapons/platforms banned for import.</li>
<li><strong>Indigenisation of Imported Spares:</strong> Steps to promote manufacturing of parts in India have been taken. This includes establishment of co-production facilities through Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) achieving <strong>&lsquo;Import Substitution&rsquo; and reducing Life Cycle Cost.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Overall Enhancement in Indigenous Content (IC):</strong> This has been done in all the categories, for products like softwares etc, as follows:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601366967_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601366967_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Features</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cost Cutting : Leasing</strong> has been introduced as a new category for acquisition in addition to the existing &lsquo;Buy&rsquo; and &lsquo;Make&rsquo; categories so that periodical rental payments are made instead of huge capital investment.</li>
<li>This will be useful for military equipment not used in actual warfare like transport fleets, trainers, simulators, among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the Ministry of Defence has formulated a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-defence-production-and-export-promotion-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020</a> (DPEPP 2020).</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/innovations-for-defence-excellence-idex-initiative#:~:text=iDEX%20aims%20to%20promote%20innovation,to%20carry%20out%20Research%20%26%20Development." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)</strong></a> has been operationalised to provide necessary incubation and infrastructure support to the startups in the defence area.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>iDEX would be further scaled up to engage with 300 more startups and develop 60 new technologies/products during the next five years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-raksha-gyan-shakti-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti</strong></a> was launched to promote a greater culture of innovation and technology development and file a higher number of patents in Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It would be scaled up for promoting the creation of Intellectual Property in the sector and its commercial utilisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Self-reliance in defence manufacturing is a crucial component of effective defence capability and to maintain national sovereignty and achieve military superiority. The DAP 2020 not only protects the interests of domestic manufacturers by<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/indigenisation-of-defence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> indigenization of technology</strong></a>, but also provides impetus to foreign investment in the country.</li>
<li>Given the key geostrategic challenges, emanating from the threat of two-front war (against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-s-new-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pakistan</strong></a> combinedly), India needs to carry out much-needed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/urgency-of-defence-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defence reforms</strong></a>. DAP 2020 is the one of the many needed defence reforms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajnath-singh-unveils-new-defence-acquisition-procedure/article32715556.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-acquisition-procedure-2020'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'India’s Taxation Challenge',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/salutary-lesson-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-vodafone-case/article32709724.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Salutary lesson: On the Vodafone case&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 28/09/2020. It talks about the recent judgment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in favour of Vodafone and India&rsquo;s taxation policy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pca-decision-on-retrospective-taxation-by-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Permanent Court of Arbitration</strong></a> at the Hague has finally ruled in favour of the telecom giant Vodafone in an investment treaty arbitration (ITA) dispute against India.</p>
<p>The case was initiated under the India-Netherlands <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/model-bilateral-investment-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)</strong></a>, which pertains to India&rsquo;s retrospective demand of Rs 22,100 crore as capital gains and withholding tax imposed on a 2007 deal.</p>
<p>The ruling in favour of Vodafone signals a setback for the country's retrospective taxation policies. It also raises the concern for the ease of doing business and lack of corporate policy framework regarding taxation.</p>
<p>Further, if India really wants to become an international hub of global investment, there is a need for ensuring transparency and certainty in India&rsquo;s tax regime.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Vodafone Issue</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In May 2007, Vodafone had bought a 67% stake in Hutchison for $11 billion. This included the mobile telephony business and other assets of Hutchison in India.</li>
<li>In September that year, the India government for the first time raised a demand of Rs 7,990 crore in capital gains and withholding tax from Vodafone.</li>
<li>However, Vodafone held that, as the stake purchase transaction took place outside India between two overseas entities, it was not liable for any tax relating to the deal.</li>
<li>Due to this, Vodafone challenged the demand notice in the Bombay High Court which ruled in favour of the Income Tax Department.</li>
<li>Subsequently, Vodafone challenged the High Court judgment in the Supreme Court in 2012.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court ruled that Vodafone Group&rsquo;s interpretation of the Income Tax Act of 1961 was correct and that it did not have to pay any taxes for the stake purchase.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Following a setback the government of the day, made amendment to the Finance Act in 2012 to give retrospective effect to its claims.</li>
<li>This was the trigger for Vodafone to seek arbitral recourse.</li>
<li>In 2014, when the Vodafone Group had initiated arbitration against India at the Court of Arbitration, it had done so under Article 9 of the BIT between India and the Netherlands.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Retrospective Taxation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Retrospective taxation allows a country to pass a rule on taxing certain products, items or services and deals and charge companies from a time behind the date on which the law is passed.</li>
<li>Countries use this route to correct any anomalies in their taxation policies that have, in the past, allowed companies to take advantage of such loopholes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues In India&rsquo;s Taxation System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Retrospective tax:</strong> The policy of retrospective taxation has acted as an &ldquo;irritant&rdquo; and adversely affected the inflow of foreign capital to India.</li>
<li><strong>Abrupt Policy Changes:</strong> There has been a lack of certainty about tariff and taxes. This uncertainty needs to be resolved soon to boost business and investments ties.</li>
<li><strong>Plethora of Taxation Laws:</strong> There have been many taxation laws of the Central and many State Governments which increases complexities and litigation and reduces predictability, fairness and automation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>A protracted<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> U.S-China trade war</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/magnets-for-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>moving out of manufacturing</strong> </a>companies from China (fallout of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>) might bolster the investment case for India. In this context, significant tax and investment reforms can have major effects on India becoming an investment hub. Following reforms may help in this regard:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reducing Scope of Litigation:</strong> There is a need to focus on signing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-4th-april-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Advance-pricing Agreements</strong></a> to avoid Transfer pricing disputes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, revisions in tax treaties with many countries will also help in reducing litigation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need to Bring More Clarity on Tax laws:</strong> India has already rolled out Anti-tax avoidance regulations i.e. the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/30-08-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR)</strong> </a>from assessment year 2018-19.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there is a need to bring more transparency for avoiding issues related to retrospective taxation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Finance Code:</strong> There is a need for simplification of taxation laws in India. In this context there is a need to implement recommendations of the <strong>Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The commission proposed Indian Financial Code which would contain new legislation for the Indian financial system as it is considered to be fragmented, with gaps, overlaps, inconsistency and arbitrary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Adopting International Best Practice:</strong> India may explore the option to revise the standard of treatment clause to align it with international practices and include the traditional standard of protection of fair and equitable treatment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, must give clarification regarding the open-ended terms in the Model BIT. This could result in India facing fewer disputes and BIT claims.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India has taken some positive steps such as <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/21-09-2019#:~:text=Corporate%20Tax%20Rate%20Slashed&amp;text=The%20new%20effective%20tax%20rate,the%20current%20exemptions%20and%20incentives." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reduction in corporate tax rate to 25% from 30%</strong></a> to make them competitive, implementation of<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Goods and Service tax</strong></a>, Abolition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/review-of-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Investment Promotion board</strong></a> etc.</p>
<p>While tax reforms were being carried on, the Government in the meantime improved the power and Infrastructure situation. Tax being one of the most important factors in making any country to become more competitive, globally.</p>
<p>Further, with the most open economy along with significant tax reforms, Indian Government will put India ahead of all countries to attract business and thereby creating growth opportunities for global businesses and growth of the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601295480_Image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601295480_Image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f1f2e9;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In this Globalized environment, it is important for Governments to be innovative, to understand business's needs and to serve the right investment atmosphere with the right policies. Critically discuss in light of the recent Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-taxation-challenge'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Climate Change and Forest Fire Link',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Scientists note that <strong>human-induced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assessment-of-climate-change-over-the-indian-region-moes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> promotes the conditions on which wildfires depend.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Wildfire:</strong> Also called forest, bush or vegetation fire, can be described as any uncontrolled and non-prescribed combustion or burning of plants in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland, brush land or tundra, which consumes the natural fuels and spreads based on environmental conditions (e.g., wind, topography).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wildfires can be <strong>incited by</strong> human actions, such as land clearing, extreme drought or in rare cases by lightning.</li>
<li>There are<strong> three conditions</strong> that need to be present in order for a wildfire to burn: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Human-induced Climate Change:</strong>&nbsp;Increases in <strong>greenhouse gases</strong> resulting from human activities have led to a net effect of warming of the climate system leading to direct impacts including increased air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level.&nbsp;The increases in greenhouse gases can be attributed to<strong> fossil fuel use, land-use change</strong>, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Forest fires have become an<strong> issue of global concern.</strong> In many countries, wildfires are burning larger areas, and fire seasons are growing longer due to global warming.</li>
<li><strong>Australia</strong> recently battled its<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australian-bushfire" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> largest bushfire</strong></a> <strong>on record,</strong> while <strong>parts of the Arctic,</strong> the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amazon-rainforest#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20data%20from,74%2C155%20fires%20since%20January%202019.&amp;text=Moreover%2C%20there%20is%20nothing%20abnormal,just%20a%20little%20below%20average." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Amazon</strong></a> and <strong>central Asia</strong> have also experienced <strong>unusually severe</strong> fires.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wildfires-in-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildfires in Western USA</strong></a> (California) are another example.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Globally, forest fires release <strong>billions of tons of CO<sub>2</sub></strong> into the atmosphere, while hundreds of thousands of people are believed to die due to illnesses caused by exposure to smoke from forest fires and other landscape fires.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Factors:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fire Weather:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Climate change increases the frequency and severity of fire weather around the world.</li>
<li><strong>Increased fire weather</strong> from <strong>climate change</strong> amplifies fire risk where fuels remain available.</li>
<li><strong>Fire weather</strong> is a combination of conditions that set the stage for the rapid spread of wildfires.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>High temperature</li>
<li>Low Relative humidity</li>
<li>Strong sustained winds (&gt; 20 mph) carry oxygen and spread flames.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor land and forest management</strong> also contributes to the wildfires, however, it does not alone account for the recent increases in the extent and severity of the wildfires globally.</li>
<li><strong>Factors Identified by the IPCC:</strong> The <strong>Fifth Assessment Report</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)</strong></a>, published in <strong>2013,</strong> identified a few factors that could influence the way wildfires play out. These include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Global increase in average temperatures.</strong></li>
<li>Global increases in the frequency, intensity and extent of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> heatwaves</strong> </a>(breaching of historically extreme temperature thresholds).</li>
<li><strong>Regional increases</strong> in the frequency, duration and intensity of droughts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601289927_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601289927_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="619" height="494" /></a></p>
<h3>Indian Scenario</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Forest Fire &amp; Monitoring:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A joint study report of<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF&amp;CC)</strong></a> and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> titled<strong> &ldquo;Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India&rdquo;</strong> released in June 2018 revealed that in the year 2000, 20 districts, representing 3% of India&rsquo;s land area and 16% of forest cover accounted for 44% of all fire detections.</li>
<li>The upgraded version of the <strong>Forest Fire Alert System</strong> (FAST 3.0) was released in January, 2019 with a separate activity of monitoring large forest fires.</li>
<li>Forest Cover of States &amp; UTs under different fire prone classes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Extremely Fire Prone: Mizoram &gt; Tripura</li>
<li>Very Highly Fire Prone: Mizoram &gt; Manipur</li>
<li>Highly Fire Prone: Nagaland &gt; Manipur</li>
<li>Moderately Fire Prone: Punjab &gt; Nagaland</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is seen that most of the fire prone forest areas are found in the <strong>north-eastern region and the central part</strong> of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601289854_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601289854_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="628" height="392" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiative to Tackle Forest Fire:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Action Plan on Forest Fires, 2018</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MoEF&amp;CC, has come up with the National Action Plan on Forest Fires, 2018 to revamp forest fire management in the country.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> Informing, Enabling and Empowering forest fringe communities and Incentivizing them to work in tandem with the State Forest Departments (SFDs).</li>
<li>The plan proposes nine strategies to address the issue, including establishment of a &ldquo;Centre of Excellence on Forest Fire Management&rdquo;at <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Survey of India (FSI).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM) is the only centrally funded program specifically dedicated to assist the states in dealing with forest fires.</li>
<li>The FPM replaced the Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) in 2017.</li>
<li>Funds allocated under the FPM are according to a center-state cost-sharing formula, with a 90:10 ratio of central to state funding in the Northeast and Western Himalayan regions and a 60:40 ratio for all other states.</li>
<li>It also provides the states the flexibility to direct a portion of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Afforestation Programme (NAP)</strong></a> and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission for Green India (GIM)</strong></a> funding toward forest fire work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Climate change is the reality, so are the increased severe forest fires. Management of forest fire needs to be tackled at various levels.</li>
<li>First,<strong> at local or regional level</strong> by minimising the accidental chances of man-made fires.</li>
<li>At <strong>national level</strong> it requires a specific approach to manage resources like Land and Forest to reduce the chance of such fires. Also, the need to handle climate change must be a part of policy making and implementation.</li>
<li>At<strong> global level</strong> a sincere effort to reduce the impact of climate change along with reduction in factors causing climate change should be a united priority of all nations. Only then the link between climate change and forest fires can be weakened.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-new-findings-strengthen-link-between-climate-change-and-wildfires-6617030/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-change-and-forest-fire-link'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Education Through Radio in Odisha',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the state government of <strong>Odisha has decided to reach out to children in remote areas through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ham-radio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">radio</a></strong> as online classes fail to reach most students due to poor mobile connectivity.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Education Through Radio:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The state's<strong> School and Mass Education Department</strong> has launched <strong>classroom teaching through All India Radio.</strong></li>
<li>Students from <strong>Class I to VIII</strong> can learn their lessons through <strong>15-minutes of teaching by experienced teachers</strong> through radio.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been highlighted that a student can <strong>cover six pages of his textbook within 15 minutes</strong> of a radio programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although teaching through radio<strong> would not be effective as it could have been in a physical classroom,</strong> the dire situation has <strong>forced the administration to try different methods</strong> for reaching students.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Students have been provided with textbooks even though schools in Odisha have been closed since <strong>17<sup>th</sup> March 2020.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Three hours of classroom instruction</strong> are also available <strong>through Doordarshan.</strong></li>
<li>Since considerable time has been lost due to the closure of schools, school <strong>syllabus has been reduced by 30%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The schools could not be opened due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> so the education department<strong> tried to reach students with online classes,</strong> mostly through smartphones.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, out of the 60 lakh students, hardly 22 lakhs were being reached during the lockdowns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>situation worsened when the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lockdown</a> was lifted </strong>and<strong> parents started going to their workplaces taking the only smartphone in the family</strong> with them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It led to a further <strong>drop of 6 to 7 lakh students attending virtual classes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Those who have a sufficient number of smart devices for students,<strong> suffer due to poor network coverage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Nationwide Initiatives for Education</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Centre&rsquo;s announcement to <strong>start the 2020-21 academic year virtually.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Plans to distribute <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/online-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener">laptops or tablets to 40% of all college and university students</a></strong> over the next five years and to equip all government schools with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-technology-in-governance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information and Communication Technology</strong></a> (ICT).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/classes-in-distance-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing</a> (DIKSHA) mobile app</strong> has been offered to the states as a platform to provide content in local languages.</li>
<li>The<strong> Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan</strong> has deployed its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/online-classes-due-to-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SWAYAM Prabha</strong></a> portal which has lectures on <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-dth-v-s-ott" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>direct-to-home</strong></a> (DTH) and online, to help students.</li>
<li><strong>Different e-learning techniques through virtual platforms</strong> like YouTube, Zoom app and Google Classroom are being used by some institutions.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pragyata-guidelines-on-digital-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PRAGYATA guidelines</strong> </a>on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/education-in-post-covid-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital education</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/now-odisha-turns-to-radio-for-classes/article32707975.ece#:~:text=As%20online%20classes%20fail%20to,All%20India%20Radio%20from%20Monday." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/education-through-radio-in-odisha'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Bhagat Singh’s Birth Anniversary',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>28<sup>th</sup> September is the <strong>birth anniversary</strong> of revolutionary freedom fighter <strong>Bhagat Singh.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601286643_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1601286643_image5.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Born in 1907</strong> in Lyallpur district (now in Pakistan), Bhagat Singh grew up in a Sikh family deeply involved in political activities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He belonged to a generation that was to intervene between two decisive phases of the Indian national movement - the phase of the<strong> 'Extremism' of Lal-Bal-Pal</strong> and the <strong>Gandhian phase of nonviolent mass action.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1923, Bhagat Singh joined the <strong>National College,</strong> Lahore which was<strong> founded and managed by Lala Lajpat Rai</strong> and<strong> Bhai Parmanand.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The College was set up as an alternative to the institutions run by the Government, bringing to the<strong> field of education the idea of Swadeshi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1924 in Kanpur, he <strong>became a member of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA),</strong> started by <strong>Sachindranath Sanyal</strong> a year earlier. The main organiser of the Association was <strong>Chandra Shekhar Azad</strong> and Bhagat Singh became very close to him.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was as a member of the HRA that Bhagat Singh began to take seriously the <strong>philosophy of the Bomb.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Armed revolution</strong> was understood to be the only weapon with which to fight British imperialism.</li>
<li>In 1928, HRA was renamed from <strong>Hindustan Republican Association to Hindustan Socialist Republic Association (HSRA).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>1925,</strong> Bhagat Singh returned to Lahore and within the next year he and his colleagues started a militant youth organisation called the<strong> Naujawan Bharat Sabha.</strong></li>
<li>In April 1926, Bhagat Singh established contact with<strong> Sohan Singh Josh</strong> and through him the <strong>'Kirti Kisan Party'</strong> which brought out the monthly magazine <strong>Kirti</strong> in Punjabi.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For the next year Bhagat Singh worked with Josh and <strong>joined the editorial board of Kirti.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1927, he was first <strong>arrested on charges of association with the Kakori Case</strong> accused for an article written under the pseudonym Vidrohi (Rebel).</li>
<li>To take revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, <strong>Bhagat Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of James A. Scott,</strong> the Superintendent of Police. However, the revolutionaries <strong>mistakenly killed J.P. Saunders.</strong> The incident is famously known as <strong>Lahore Conspiracy case (1929).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai had led a procession to protest against the arrival of the <strong>Simon Commission.</strong> The police resorted to a brutal lathi charge, in which Lala Lajpat Rai was severely injured and later succumbed to his injuries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw a bomb</strong> on 8 April, 1929 in the Central Legislative Assembly,&nbsp;in protest against the passing of two repressive bills, the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> aim,</strong> as their leaflet explained, <strong>was not to kill but to make the deaf hear,</strong> and to <strong>remind the foreign government of its callous exploitation.</strong></li>
<li>Both Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt <strong>surrendered</strong> thereafter and faced trial so they could further promote their cause. They were awarded life imprisonment for this incident.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, Bhagat Singh was<strong> re-arrested for the murder of J.P. Saunders and bomb manufacturing</strong> in the<strong> Lahore Conspiracy case.</strong> He was found guilty in this case and was<strong> hanged on 23<sup>rd</sup> March, 1931</strong> in Lahore along with Sukhdev and Rajguru.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every year, <strong>March 23</strong> is observed as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/martyrs-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Martyrs&rsquo; Day</strong> </a>as a <strong>tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-pays-tribute-to-bhagat-singh/article32712218.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bhagat-singh-s-birth-anniversary'
	]
]
$updates = object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

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

}
$page = (int) 32
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 276
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

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

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Search

Search list matched with tags “class”