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World Minorities Rights Day

Why in News The National Commission for Minorities celebrated World Minorities Rights Day on 18th December 2020. The United Nations on 18th...

19 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Systems Handed Over to Defence Services

Why in News Recently, the Defence Minister has handed over the Indian Maritime Situational Awareness System (IMSAS), ASTRA Mk-I and Border...

19 Dec 2020 News Analysis
SC Stays Andhra HC Order to Examine Constitutional Breakdown

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has stayed an Andhra Pradesh High Court (HC) order intending to embark on a judicial enquiry into...

19 Dec 2020 News Analysis
ISRO’s Satellite Launch: CMS-01

Why in News Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a communications satellite, CMS-01, on board its Polar Satellite...

19 Dec 2020 News Analysis
India-Bangladesh Virtual Summit

Why in News Recently, India and Bangladesh have held a virtual summit covering comprehensive discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations and...

19 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Bitcoins

Why in News Recently, Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency, has crossed 20,000 US dollars in value. Bitcoin's price has always been volatile, and there is...

19 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Inter-Faith Marriage & Personal Liberty

This article is based on “UP anti-conversion law pushes women back under parental and community control” which was published in The...

18 Dec 2020 News Editorials
UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Why in News Hawker Culture in Singapore has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the...

18 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Young Champions of the Earth: UN

Why in News A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the seven winners of the prestigious “Young Champions of the Earth” 2020 prize...

18 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Recommendations on Reservation

Why in News Recently, an eight-member committee, appointed by the government for suggesting measures for effective implementation of reservation in...

18 Dec 2020 News Analysis
India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol

Why in News Recently, the 35th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy has...

18 Dec 2020 News Analysis
National Security Directive

Why in News Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the setting up of a new National Security Directive on the telecommunication...

18 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Loan Pact with NDB

Why in News Government has recently announced a 1 billion USD loan pact with New Development Bank (NDB) to boost rural employment and...

18 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Challenges Faced By The WTO

This article is based on “The many challenges for WTO” which was published in The Hindu on 17/12/2020. It talks about the issues...

17 Dec 2020 News Editorials
US Puts India on Currency Watchlist

Why in News Recently, the US treasury has placed India on its currency manipulator watch list. Vietnam and Switzerland have been labelled as...

17 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Indian Diaspora in the United Kingdom

Why in News Recently, British Foreign Secretary has stated that “India’s politics” is, in some sense, “Britain’s...

17 Dec 2020 News Analysis
No Replies to SC or HCs: Maharashtra

Why in News Recently, both Houses of the Maharashtra State Legislature have passed proposals stating that they will not take cognizance of or reply...

17 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Human Development Index: UNDP

Why in News India ranked 131 among 189 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) for 2019, slipping two places from the previous year,...

17 Dec 2020 News Analysis
CAATSA Sanctions on Turkey

Why in News The USA administration has recently imposed sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia. The issue...

17 Dec 2020 News Analysis
Scheme for Approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies

Why in News Recently, the Quality Council of India (QCI) has come out with a scheme for approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies (HRAA). This...

17 Dec 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'World Minorities Rights Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> National Commission for Minorities</strong> celebrated <strong>World Minorities Rights Day</strong> on <strong>18<sup>th</sup> December 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations on 18<sup>th</sup> December, 1992 adopted the Statement on the individual's Rights belonging to religious or Linguistic National or Ethnic Minorities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992</strong> in Section 2(c) of the Act defines a minority as &ldquo;a community notified as such by the Central government&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, this applies to <strong>Muslim, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhist, Parsis (Zoroastrian) </strong>and<strong> Jain religions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per <em><strong>TMA Pai Foundation vs. State of Karnataka case</strong></em> (2002) in the Supreme Court, a minority, either linguistic or religious, is determinable only by reference to the demography of the State and not by taking into consideration the population of the country as a whole.</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions Related to Minorities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term <strong>"Minority"</strong> is <strong>not defined</strong> in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution recognises religious and linguistic minorities.</li>
<li><strong>Article 29:</strong> It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the same.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the Supreme Court held that the scope of this article is not necessarily restricted to minorities only, as use of the word<strong> &lsquo;section of citizens&rsquo;</strong> in the Article <strong>includes minorities as well as the majority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 30:</strong> All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The protection under Article 30 is confined<strong> only to minorities</strong> (religious or linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as under Article 29).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 350-B:</strong> Originally, the Constitution of India did not make any provision with respect to the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities. However, the 7<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 inserted Article 350-B in the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for a<strong> Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities</strong> appointed by the President of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Commission for Minorities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1992, with the enactment of the <strong>NCM Act, 1992,</strong> NCM was formed.</li>
<li>In 1993, the first <strong>Statutory National Commission</strong> was set up and five religious communities viz the<strong> Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians</strong> (Parsis) were notified as minority communities.</li>
<li>In 2014,<strong> Jains</strong> were also notified as a <strong>minority community.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCM consists of a <strong>Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five members</strong> and all of them shall be from amongst the <strong>minority communities.</strong></li>
<li>Total of<strong> 7 persons to be nominated by the Central Government</strong> should be from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity.</li>
<li><strong>Tenure:</strong> Each Member holds office for a<strong> period of three years</strong> from the date of assumption of office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Evaluation of the progress</strong> of the development of minorities under the Union and States.</li>
<li>Monitoring of the working of the <strong>safeguards for minorities</strong> provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the state legislatures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Example - <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/identification-of-minorities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004</strong></a>: It gives the minority status to the educational institutions on the basis of six religious communities notified by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It ensures that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-minister-s-15-point-programme#:~:text=PM's%20New%2015%20PP%20is,sections%20of%20the%20minority%20communities." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prime Minister&rsquo;s 15-point programme</strong> </a>is implemented and the programmes for minority communities are actually functioning.</li>
<li>Looking into <strong>specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of minorities</strong> and taking up such matters with the appropriate authorities.</li>
<li>It investigates <strong>matters of communal conflict and riots.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1681832" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Systems Handed Over to Defence Services',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Defence Minister</strong> has handed over the<strong> Indian Maritime Situational Awareness System</strong> (IMSAS), <strong>ASTRA Mk-I</strong> and <strong>Border Surveillance System</strong> (BOSS) to the Navy, Air Force and Army respectively.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>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</strong> </a>(DRDO) laboratories have <strong>indigenously developed these three systems</strong> which will lead to higher self-reliance in defence technologies.</li>
<li>The Defence Minister has also given away <strong>awards to DRDO scientists for outstanding contributions</strong> in various categories.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Maritime Situational Awareness System (IMSAS):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> state-of-the-art and high performance intelligent software system</strong> that provides <strong>Global Maritime Situational Picture, marine planning tools</strong> and <strong>analytical capabilities</strong> to Indian Navy.</li>
<li>It also provides<strong> Maritime Operational Picture</strong> from naval headquarters to each individual ship in sea to enable naval command and control.</li>
<li><strong>Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics</strong> (CAIR), Bengaluru and Indian Navy has<strong> jointly conceptualised</strong> and developed the product and <strong>Bharat Electronics Limited</strong> (BEL), Bengaluru has implemented it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASTRA Mk-I:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the indigenously developed <strong>first Beyond Visual Range</strong> (BVR) <strong>Missile,</strong> which can be launched from <strong>Sukhoi-30, Light Combat Aircraft</strong> (LCA), <strong>Mig-29</strong> and <strong>Mig-29K.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Globally, very few countries have expertise and capabilities to design and produce this class of weapon system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The missile is <strong>designed to engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aircraft.</strong> The missile has<strong> all weather day and night capability.</strong></li>
<li>Successful development of ASTRA weapon system by <strong>Defence Research and Development Laboratory</strong> (DRDL) Hyderabad and production by <strong>Bharat Dynamics Limited</strong> (BDL), Hyderabad is a major contribution towards <strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Border Surveillance System (BOSS):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>all-weather electronic surveillance system</strong> successfully designed and developed by<strong> Instruments Research and Development Establishment</strong> (IRDE), Dehradun.</li>
<li>The system has been <strong>deployed at Ladakh border</strong> area for day and night surveillance and facilitates monitoring and surveillance by <strong>automatically detecting the intrusions in harsh high-altitude sub-zero temperature areas</strong> with remote operation capability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Awards for Outstanding Contributions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Awarded to N V Kadam for his contributions for developing control and guidance schemes for missiles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Excellence awards</strong> were given to<strong> academia and industry</strong> for technology absorption.</li>
<li>Besides, individual awards, team awards, technology spin-off awards, techno managerial awards and<strong> awards in other categories were also given.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1681732" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'SC Stays Andhra HC Order to Examine Constitutional Breakdown',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>(SC) has stayed an <strong>Andhra Pradesh High Court</strong> (HC) order intending to embark on a <strong>judicial enquiry into whether there is a constitutional breakdown in the State machinery,</strong> requiring a declaration of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/president-s-rule-in-maharashtra#:~:text=Under%20Article%20356%2C%20President's%20Rule,the%20provisions%20of%20the%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>President&rsquo;s rule</strong></a> <strong>(Article 356).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A three-judge bench headed by<strong> Chief Justice of India S A Bobde</strong> found the order <strong>disturbing</strong> and will take up the matter later on after vacations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Andhra Pradesh High Court&rsquo;s Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While hearing a clutch of <em><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/habeas-corpus-cases-in-jammu-kashmir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>habeas corpus</strong></a></em> petitions in <strong>October 2020,</strong> it<em><strong> suo motu</strong> </em><strong>summoned the State counsel</strong> to assist it in deciding &ldquo;whether in circumstances prevailing in the State, the<strong> court can record a finding that there is constitutional breakdown or not&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Habeas Corpus</strong> is a<strong> Latin term</strong> which literally means <strong>&lsquo;to have the body</strong> of&rsquo;. Under this the court issues an order to a person who has detained another person, to produce the body of the latter before it.</li>
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservation-not-a-fundamental-right-supreme-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>writ</strong> </a>is a <strong>bulwark of individual liberty against arbitrary detention</strong> and can be issued <strong>against both public authorities as well as private individuals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Government&rsquo;s Appeal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The HC<strong> framed the question in an unprecedented manner</strong> and <strong>without any basis or pleadings</strong> by any of the parties to that effect.</li>
<li>It highlighted that <strong>Article 356,</strong> which deals with<strong> failure of Constitutional machinery in a State,</strong> is a <strong>power exclusively vested in the executive</strong> and <strong>not the judiciary.</strong></li>
<li>Under the Constitutional framework, it is<strong> not for the Courts to decide</strong> as to whether there is a Constitutional breakdown in a State as they<strong> do not have any judicially discoverable and manageable standards to determine</strong> so.</li>
<li>The said fact is<strong> essentially an executive function and is necessarily required to be based on a detailed factual analysis.</strong></li>
<li>The HC order is a<strong> serious encroachment on the powers of the executive</strong> as enumerated under the Constitution and is<strong> violative of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/checks-balances-1#:~:text=of%20the%20government.-,The%20Doctrine%20of%20Separation%20of%20Powers,arbitrary%20excesses%20by%20the%20government." target="_blank" rel="noopener">doctrine of separation of powers</a></strong> and thus, <strong>violative of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-structure-of-constitution#:~:text=Origin%3A%20The%20basic%20structure%20theory,fundamental%20features%E2%80%9D%20of%20their%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener">basic structure of the Constitution.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Separation of powers is the <strong>division of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions</strong> of government.</li>
<li>Since the sanction of all three branches is required for the making, executing, and administering of laws, it <strong>minimises the possibility of arbitrary excesses by the government.</strong></li>
<li>The constitutional demarcation <strong>precludes the concentration of excessive power by any branch</strong> of the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>President&rsquo;s Rule</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It implies the <strong>suspension of a state government</strong> and the<strong> imposition of direct rule of the Centre.</strong> It is also known as<strong> &lsquo;State Emergency&rsquo;</strong> or<strong> &lsquo;Constitutional Emergency&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The SC in <em><strong>Bommai case 1994</strong></em> <strong>enlisted the situations</strong> where the exercise of power under Article 356 could be used.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One such situation is that of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/perils-of-electoral-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Hung Assembly&rsquo;</strong></a>, i.e. where after general elections to the assembly, no party secures a majority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The President&rsquo;s rule is imposed through the invocation of <strong>Article 356</strong> of the Constitution <strong>by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers</strong> (executive).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the President, upon <strong>receipt of the report from the Governor of the State</strong> or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Parliamentary Approval and Duration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A proclamation imposing President&rsquo;s Rule<strong> must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months</strong> from the date of its issue.</li>
<li>The approval<strong> takes place through simple majority</strong> in either House, that is, a majority of the members of the House present and voting.</li>
<li><strong>Initially valid for six months</strong>, the President&rsquo;s Rule can be <strong>extended for a maximum period of three years</strong> with the approval of the Parliament, every six months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-stays-andhra-hc-order-to-study-constitutional-breakdown-in-state/article33364452.ece#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20on%20Friday,a%20declaration%20of%20President's%20rule.&amp;text=As%20the%20apex%20court%2C%20we%20find%20this%20disturbing." 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/sc-stays-andhra-hc-order-to-examine-constitutional-breakdown'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'ISRO’s Satellite Launch: CMS-01',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Space Research Organisation</strong></a> (ISRO) has launched a communications satellite, CMS-01, on board its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-pslv-launch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle</strong></a> (PSLV - C50) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Andhra Pradesh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Previously in November 2020, ISRO launched India&rsquo;s <a href="/printpdf/earth-observation-satellite-eos-01-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-01</strong></a>, and nine other customer satellites.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CMS-01</strong> is a <strong>communications satellite</strong> envisaged for providing services in extended <strong>C Band frequency spectrum.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The C band is a designation for a portion of the <strong>electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies ranging from 4.0 to 8.0 gigahertz (GHz).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its <strong>coverage</strong> will include the Indian mainland, and the Andaman &amp; Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.</li>
<li>The satellite is expected to have <strong>a life of more than seven years.</strong></li>
<li>The satellite was injected precisely into its predefined sub-<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/types-of-orbit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)</strong></a>. Eventually, it will be placed into its specified slot in the <strong>Geo-Synchronous Orbit</strong> after a series of manoeuvres.</li>
<li>CMS-01 will<strong> replace and enhance the services of GSAT-12.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GSAT-12, a communication satellite built by ISRO, provides facilities for various communication services like<strong> Tele-education,</strong> <strong>Tele-medicine</strong> and for<strong> Village Resource Centres (VRC).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To provide the space based services <strong>directly to the rural areas,</strong> ISRO has launched the Village Resource Centres (VRCs) programme in association with NGOs/Trusts and state/central agencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Next Launch of ISRO (PSLV-C51):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>PSLV-C51,</strong> will be the next special mission for ISRO, as it will <strong>be carrying the country&rsquo;s first satellite under the space reforms programme</strong> announced by the Indian government. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government had announced the opening up of the <strong>space sector to private players</strong> with the inception of<strong><a href="/printpdf/private-sector-participation-in-space" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre</a></strong> (IN-SPACe).</li>
<li>The IN-SPACe is expected to <strong>hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries</strong> in space activities through encouraging policies and a friendly regulatory environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Satellites to be on board PSLV-C51:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pixxel India named <strong>&lsquo;Anand&rsquo;, &lsquo;Satish Sat&rsquo;</strong> from Space Kidz India, <strong>&lsquo;Unity Sat&rsquo;</strong> from a consortium of universities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the <strong>third generation</strong> launch vehicle.</li>
<li>PSLV is the<strong> first launch vehicle which is equipped with liquid stages.</strong></li>
<li>PSLV&rsquo;s first successful launch was in October 1994. PSLV was used for two of the most important missions. These are <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chandrayaan-1-findings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chandrayaan-1</strong></a> in 2008 and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-department-of-space#:~:text=India%27s%20first%20inter%2Dplanetary%20mission,2014%20in%20its%20first%20attempt." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars Orbiter Spacecraft</strong> </a>in 2013.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gsat-30" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II</strong></a> and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gsat-29-satellite-launched-1-1#:~:text=Geosynchronous%20Transfer%20Orbit(GTO)%3A,to%20geostationary%20or%20geosynchronous%20orbit." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> GSLV MkIII</strong></a> are other two launch vehicles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>GSLV Mk II</strong> is the largest launch vehicle developed by India, which is currently in operation. This<strong> fourth generation launch vehicle</strong> is a three stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. The <strong>indigenously developed cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS),</strong> which is flight proven, forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II.</li>
<li><strong>GSLV MkIII,</strong> chosen to launch Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft, is a <strong>three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle</strong> developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GSLV Mk III is designed to carry a 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of the GSLV Mk II.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Geo-Synchronous Orbit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>geo-synchronous orbit</strong> is a high Earth orbit that allows satellites to match<strong> Earth's rotation.</strong> Located at 22,236 miles above Earth's equator, this position is a valuable spot for monitoring weather, communications and surveillance.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Geo -synchronous Transfer Orbit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To attain geosynchronous (and also geostationary) Earth orbits, a spacecraft is first launched into an<strong> elliptical orbit.</strong> This is called a<strong> Geo -synchronous Transfer Orbit</strong> (GTO).</li>
<li>A GTO is<strong> highly elliptic.</strong> Its perigee (closest point to Earth) is typically as high as <strong>low Earth orbit</strong> (LEO), while its <strong>apogee</strong> (furthest point from Earth) is as high as <strong>geostationary</strong> (or equally, a geosynchronous) orbit.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/pslv-c50-carrying-communication-satellite-cms-01-lifts-off/article33354704.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/isro-s-satellite-launch-cms-01'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'India-Bangladesh Virtual Summit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Bangladesh</strong></a> have held a <strong>virtual summit</strong> covering comprehensive discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bangladesh also invited India for the celebration of <strong>50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vijay-diwas-50-years-of-indo-pak-war-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bangladesh&rsquo;s</a></strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vijay-diwas-50-years-of-indo-pak-war-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <strong>Independence</strong></a> in <strong>1971</strong> and <strong>50 years of India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations,</strong> to be held in <strong>March 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608361143_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608361143_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Signing of Bilateral Documents and Inauguration of Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sealed <strong>seven agreements</strong> to expand cooperation in <strong>diverse areas</strong> viz. hydrocarbons, elephant conservation, sanitation, and agriculture, and <strong>restored a cross-border rail link</strong> which was in operation till 1965.</li>
<li>Inaugurated a <strong>digital exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi and Bangladesh&rsquo;s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Health Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reiterating the highest priority India attaches to Bangladesh under India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Neighbourhood First</strong> </a>policy, India assured that <strong>vaccines for Covid-19 would be made available to Bangladesh</strong> as and when produced in India.</li>
<li>India also<strong> offered collaboration in therapeutics and partnership in vaccine production.</strong></li>
<li>Bangladesh <strong>appreciated India&rsquo;s conducting capacity building courses</strong> for medical professionals in Bangla language.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jointly unveiled a <strong>commemorative postal stamp issued by the Government of India on the occasion of birth centenary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sheikh-mujibur-rehman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</a></strong></li>
<li>India thanked Bangladesh for <strong>issuing a stamp in honour of</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahatma-gandhi-jayanti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi</strong> </a>on the occasion of his <strong>150<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary</strong> celebrations.</li>
<li>Bangladesh requested India to consider <strong>Bangladesh&rsquo;s proposal to name</strong> the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nodia on Bangladesh-India border as <em><strong>"Shadhinota Shorok&rdquo;</strong></em> commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh&rsquo;s Liberation War.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Border Management and Security Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agreed to hold an early meeting of the <strong>Joint Boundary Conference</strong> to prepare a new set of strip maps with a view to finalizing the delineation of the boundaries.</li>
<li>It was agreed to carry out necessary work to convert the <strong>International Boundary along <em>Kuhsiyara</em> river</strong> into a fixed boundary.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Kuhsiyara river (known as <strong>Barak river in India</strong>) is <strong>one of the transboundary rivers</strong> between India-Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bangladesh reiterated the request for 1.3 km<strong> Innocent Passage through river route along River Padma</strong> (main<strong> channel of Ganga in Bangladesh</strong>) near Rajshahi district (Bangladesh). India assured to consider the request.</li>
<li>Stressed on the full implementation of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bangladesh-general-elections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coordinated Border Management Plan.</strong></a></li>
<li>Expressed satisfaction on<strong> efforts against smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake currency and to prevent trafficking,</strong> particularly of women and children.</li>
<li>Directed officials to expeditiously conclude the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the area of <strong>disaster management cooperation</strong> as both countries are prone to frequent natural disasters.</li>
<li>Bangladesh requested for early implementation of<strong> India&rsquo;s commitment to remove remaining restrictions on entry/exit from land ports in India</strong> for Bangladeshis travelling on valid documents in a phased manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade Partnership for Growth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh has appreciated the <strong>Duty-Free and Quota Free access</strong> given to Bangladeshi exports to India under <strong>South Asian Free Trade Area</strong> (SAFTA) since 2011.</li>
<li>Emphasized on addressing issues of <strong>non-tariff barriers and trade facilitation</strong> including port restrictions, procedural bottlenecks and quarantine restrictions so that both countries can take full advantage of SAFTA flexibility.</li>
<li>Directed the officials to expeditiously conclude the ongoing joint study on the <strong>prospects of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement</strong> (CEPA).</li>
<li>Welcomed the <strong>first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Textile Industry Forum</strong> and directed the officials to conclude the ongoing negotiations on various MoUs on increased linkages and collaboration in the textile sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Connectivity for Prosperity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jointly inaugurated the <strong>newly restored railway link between Haldibari</strong> (India) and <strong>Chilahati</strong> (Bangladesh) and noted that this rail link will further strengthen trade and people to people ties between the two sides.</li>
<li>Welcomed the signing of the second addendum to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protocol-on-inland-water-transit-and-trade#:~:text=As%20per%20the%20Protocol%20on,transit%20and%20inter%20country%20trade." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade</strong> </a>(PIWTT).</li>
<li>Agreed to an early operationalization of the<strong> Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative Motor Vehicles Agreement</strong> through the expeditious signing of the Enabling MoU for Bangladesh, India and Nepal to commence the movement of goods and passengers, with provision for Bhutan to join at a later date.</li>
<li>Bangladesh expressed keen interest in the ongoing <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-myanmar-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway project</strong> </a>and sought the support of India for enabling Bangladesh to connect with this project.</li>
<li>Satisfaction on commencement of a temporary <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/travel-bubble" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Air Travel Bubble</strong> </a>to facilitate the urgent requirements of travellers on both sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Water Resources, Power and Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh highlighted the need for <strong>early signing of an interim agreement for sharing of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/teesta-river#:~:text=Teesta%20river%20is%20a%20tributary,flowing%20through%20India%20and%20Bangladesh.&amp;text=The%20Teesta%20Barrage%20dam%20helps,issues%20between%20India%20and%20Bangladesh." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teesta waters</a></strong>, as agreed upon by both the governments in 2011.</li>
<li>Underscored the need for early conclusion of <strong>Framework of Interim Agreement</strong> on sharing of waters of six joint rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.</li>
<li>Recalled the positive contribution of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh-joint-water-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Joint Rivers Commission</strong> </a>(JRC) and looked forward to the next round of Secretarial level JRC meeting at the earliest.</li>
<li>Agreed to expedite implementation of projects including <strong>India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, Maitree Super Thermal Power Project</strong> as well as other projects.</li>
<li>Welcomed the signing of the<strong> Framework of Understanding on Cooperation in the Hydrocarbon Sector</strong> which would further augment energy linkages by streamlining investments, technology transfer, joint studies, training and promoting <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/hydrocarbon-exploration-and-licensing-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hydrocarbon</strong></a> connectivity.</li>
<li>Agreed to enhance cooperation in energy efficiency and clean energy, including in <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biofuels.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forcibly Displaced Persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar (Rohingya):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India appreciated the generosity of Bangladesh in <strong>sheltering and providing humanitarian assistance to</strong> the 1.1 million forcibly displaced<strong> persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar,</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-report-on-myanmar-rohingya-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohingya Crisis.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Partners in the Region and the World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India thanked Bangladesh for supporting India in its election to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council.</strong></a></li>
<li>Both countries agreed to continue working together towards achieving early reforms of the UN Security Council, combating <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a></strong>, attainment of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals</strong></a> (SDGs) and protection of the rights of migrants.</li>
<li>Highlighted that regional organisations such as the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation</strong></a> (SAARC) and <strong>the</strong> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation</strong> </a>(BIMSTEC) have an important role to play.</li>
<li>Bangladesh thanked India for convening the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20Emergency%20Fund%3A,a%20contribution%20to%20the%20fund." target="_blank" rel="noopener">SAARC leaders Video Conference</a> in March 2020</strong> and for creation of the <strong>SAARC Emergency Response Fund</strong> to counter effects of the global pandemic in the South Asian region.</li>
<li>Bangladesh will assume chairmanship of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Ocean Rim Association</strong> </a>(IORA) in<strong> 2021</strong> and requested the support of India for working towards greater maritime safety and security.</li>
<li>Bangladesh appreciated the work of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> New Development Bank</strong> </a>and thanked India for inviting Bangladesh to join the institution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1681428" 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/india-bangladesh-virtual-summit'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Bitcoins',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> Bitcoin,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/crypto-currency-exchange" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cryptocurrency</strong></a>, has crossed<strong> 20,000 US dollars</strong> in value.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bitcoin's price has<strong> always been volatile,</strong> and there is<strong> no clear explanation</strong> for its current rise.</li>
<li><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong> is a specific type of virtual currency, which is decentralised and protected by cryptographic encryption techniques. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple</strong> are a few notable examples of cryptocurrencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Introduction:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bitcoin is a type of digital currency that enables instant payments to anyone. Bitcoin was<strong> introduced in 2009.</strong> Bitcoin is based on an open-source protocol and is<strong> not issued by any central authority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The origin of Bitcoin is unclear, as is who founded it. A person, or a group of people, who went by the identity of <strong>Satoshi Nakamoto</strong> are said to have conceptualised an accounting system in the aftermath of the<strong> 2008 financial crisis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Originally, Bitcoin was intended to provide an<strong> alternative to <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/05-03-2020/print" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fiat money</a></strong> and become a universally accepted <strong>medium of exchange directly between two involved parties.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Fiat money</strong> is a <strong>government-issued currency</strong> that is <strong>not backed by a commodity such as gold.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It gives central banks <strong>greater control over the economy</strong> because they can control how much money is printed.</li>
<li>Most modern paper currencies, such as the<strong> US dollar and Indian Rupee are fiat currencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Record of Bitcoins (Blockchain):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All the transactions ever made are contained in a<strong> publicly available, open ledger,</strong> although in an anonymous and an encrypted form called a<strong> blockchain.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Transactions can be denominated in <strong>sub-units of a Bitcoin.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Satoshi</strong> is the smallest fraction of a Bitcoin.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Blockchain</strong> is a<strong> shared, immutable ledger</strong> that facilitates the <strong>process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a business network.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An asset can be <strong>tangible</strong> (a house, car, cash, land) or<strong> intangible</strong> (intellectual property, patents, copyrights, branding).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Virtually<strong> anything of value can be tracked and traded on a blockchain network,</strong> reducing risk and cutting costs for all involved.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A simple <strong>analogy for understanding blockchain technology</strong> is a<strong> Google Doc.</strong></li>
<li>When one creates a document and shares it with a group of people, the document is distributed instead of copied or transferred.</li>
<li>This creates a <strong>decentralized distribution chain that gives everyone access to the document at the same time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that<strong> other usage and applications of Blockchain technology</strong> have emerged in the last few years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have <strong>put the land records on the blockchain technology</strong> owing to its easy traceability feature.</li>
<li>Election Commission (EC) officials are exploring the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/blockchain-technology-in-voting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> potential of using blockchain technology to enable remote voting.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Acquiring Bitcoins:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One <strong>can either mine a new Bitcoin</strong> if they have the computing capacity,<strong> purchase them via exchanges,</strong> or <strong>acquire them in over-the-counter, person-to-person transactions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Miners</strong> are the people who validate a Bitcoin transaction and secure the network with their hardware. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bitcoin protocol is designed in such a way that new Bitcoins are created at a fixed rate.</li>
<li>No developer has the power to manipulate the system to increase their profits.</li>
<li>One unique aspect of Bitcoin is that only<strong> 21 million units</strong> will ever be created.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>Bitcoin exchange</strong> functions like a bank where a person<strong> buys and sells Bitcoins with traditional currency.</strong> Depending on the demand and supply, the <strong>price of a Bitcoin keeps fluctuating.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bitcoin Regulation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The supply of bitcoins is<strong> regulated by software and the agreement of users of the system</strong> and cannot be manipulated by any government, bank, organisation or individual.</li>
<li>Bitcoin was intended to come across as a <strong>global decentralised currency,</strong> any central authority regulating it would effectively defeat that purpose.</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that multiple governments across the world are<strong> investing in developing Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs),</strong> which are digital versions of national currencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legitimacy of Bitcoins (or cryptocurrencies) in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>In the 2018-19 <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">budget</a> speech,</strong> the Finance Minister announced that the <strong>government does not consider cryptocurrencies as legal tender</strong> and will take all measures to eliminate their use in financing illegitimate activities or as a part of the payment system.</li>
<li><strong>In April 2018, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</a></strong> notified that entities regulated by it should not deal in virtual currencies or provide services for facilitating any person or entity in dealing with or settling virtual currencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ban-on-cryptocurrency-trading-removed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court struck down the ban</strong> </a>on trading of virtual currencies (VC) in India, which was imposed by the RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Supreme Court</strong> has held that <strong>cryptocurrencies</strong> are in the nature of commodities and hence they <strong>can not be banned.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Reasons for the Rise in the Value of the Bitcoin:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increased acceptance during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>Global <strong>legitimacy from large players</strong> like payments firm PayPal, and Indian lenders like State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Yes Bank.</li>
<li>Some <strong>pension funds </strong>and<strong> insurance funds </strong>are<strong> investing in Bitcoins.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608360316_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608360316_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/should-you-invest-in-bitcoin-7109136/" 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/bitcoins'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Inter-Faith Marriage & Personal Liberty',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/love-jihad-uttar-pradesh-anti-conversion-law-yogi-adityanath-7107755/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;UP anti-conversion law pushes women back under parental and community control&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 17/12/2020. It talks about the issues related to laws regarding the prohibition of unlawful conversion of religion.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has passed the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/up-ordinance-on-unlawful-conversions#:~:text=UP%20Unlawful%20Religious%20Conversion%20Prohibition,religious%20conversion%20is%20two%20months." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020.</strong></a> Many other states are also in the process of similar laws.</p>
<p>The UP ordinance prohibits any religious conversion due to coercion, force, undue influence, allurement, fraud or by marriage and makes such a marriage liable to be declared void. It also makes such an act of conversion a non-bailable criminal offence.</p>
<p>However, the law has been criticised as being a violation of an individual&rsquo;s right to marry a person of one&rsquo;s choice and being restrictive of the fundamental right to life, autonomy and privacy.</p>
<p>Moreover, the law has roots in the patriarchy and communalism, which may affect social harmony and respect for individual dignity.</p>
<h3>Issues Related to The Proposed Law</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Interfering With Secularism:</strong> Indian Constitution enshrines secularism as one of the cardinal principles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite this, several states have had anti-conversion laws for a long time, including Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against Personal Liberty:</strong> According to Articles 25 to 28, an Indian citizen is guaranteed the freedom to practise any religion of his or her choice. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Through this ordinance, the State wants to intervene not only in the citizens&rsquo; personal liberty by interfering with the choice of their spouse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Asymmetrical With Various Supreme Court&rsquo;s Judgment</strong>: The Supreme Court in <strong>Shafin Jahan v Ashok KM (2018),</strong> has upheld the right to marry a person of one&rsquo;s choice as a part of Article 21.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the Supreme Court, the Constitution protects the ability of each individual to pursue a way of life or faith to which she or he seeks to adhere. Therefore, the right to marry a person of one&rsquo;s choice is integral to Article 21 of the Constitution.</li>
<li>Further, Supreme Court in<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-judgements-of-independent-india#:~:text=Justice%20K.S.%20Puttaswamy%20vs.&amp;text=Main%20Theme%3A%20SC%20ruled%20that,21%20of%20the%20Indian%20constitution.&amp;text=They%20relied%20on%20the%20fulfilment,the%20Puttaswamy%20(2017)%20judgment." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> K.S. Puttaswamy v UOI (2017)</strong></a> judgment held that &ldquo;right of choice of a family life&rdquo; as a fundamental right.</li>
<li>The ordinance is a conflict with these judgments as it limits the choice of a prospective spouse such that this spouse would only be one approved by the State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reverse Burden of Proof:</strong> The Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion ordinance allows any relative of the woman to challenge the legitimacy of her marriage. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this case, the reverse burden of proof would apply, wherein the person who facilitated the conversion would need to prove that it was not forced while disregarding the woman&rsquo;s testimony of having consented to the conversion and marriage.</li>
<li>This is a direct violation of the right to be deemed innocent until proven guilty; an aspect that is particularly worrying for women exercising their right to choose their life partners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Patriarchal Roots:</strong> This shows the law has deep-seated patriarchal roots, wherein women are infantilised, placed under parental and community control, and denied the right to take life decisions, should those decisions not be agreeable to their guardians.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Historically, marriage has been a tool to control women&rsquo;s sexualities, promulgate caste lineage and stop women from exercising their autonomy. This communal propaganda does nothing to safeguard women&rsquo;s rights, rather it further curtails their mobility, social interactions and freedom of choice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deep-Rooted Prejudice:</strong> This deep-rooted opposition to interfaith marriage is comparable to a similar deep-rooted opposition to inter-caste marriage, in that both stem from historical prejudices between specific communities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recognising this prejudice, some members of the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights, especially the women members Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Hansa Jivraj Mehta, advocated for the inclusion of interfaith marriage as a fundamental right.</li>
<li>They wanted to introduce a constitutional provision to require the state to remove any impediments to inter-faith marriages so that the social stigma against such marriages is removed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Young Indian women of all faiths are increasingly seeking freedom &mdash; to work, study, marry who they choose and live life on their own terms. These basic rights must not be questioned or curtailed.</p>
<p>A woman&rsquo;s agency is her own, and no parent, relative or state apparatus should be given the authority to coerce her. The attempt to rob women of their agency is an attempt to produce a docile female population that does as it is told, and does not rebel against societal and familial directives.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7fff7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a conservative society with moral policing, any law to curb interfaith marriages is an assault on the rights of young men and women. Discuss.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mYFT9YBuAUM" 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.financialexpress.com/opinion/big-stakes-for-apple-india-need-to-address-all-issues/2151527/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Big stakes for Apple &amp; India, need to address all issues&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Financial Express on December 17<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/inter-faith-marriage-personal-liberty'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Hawker Culture</strong> in<strong> Singapore</strong> has been inscribed on the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UNESCO</strong></a> <strong>Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity</strong> at the <strong>15<sup>th</sup> session of the Intergovernmental Committee</strong> (IGC) that was held online.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hawker Culture in Singapore:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a living heritage shared by those who prepare hawker food and those who dine and mingle over hawker food in community dining spaces called hawker centres.</li>
<li>It reflects Singapore&rsquo;s multicultural identity as a people and nation, and resonates strongly with Singaporeans across all races and social strata.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO&rsquo;s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This coveted list is made up of those<strong> intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage</strong> and <strong>raise awareness</strong> about its importance.</li>
<li>The list was established in <strong>2008</strong> when the <strong>Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage</strong> came into effect.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intangible Cultural Heritage of India, recognized by UNESCO:</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608287673_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608287673_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Culture</strong> has also launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-national-list-of-intangible-cultural-heritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The National ICH List is an attempt to recognize the diversity of Indian culture embedded in its intangible heritage.</li>
<li>This initiative is also a part of the <strong>Vision 2024 of the Ministry of Culture.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNESCO</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO is the<strong> United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.</strong> It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.</li>
<li>UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Sustainable Development Goals</strong> </a>defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.</li>
<li>It has 193 Members and 11 Associate Members. <strong>India joined UNESCO in 1946.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/united-states-and-israel-quit-unesco#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20and%20Israel,scientific%20and%20cultural%20agency%2C%20UNESCO.&amp;text=The%20United%20States%20had%20pulled,used%20to%20advance%20Soviet%20interests." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> the USA and Israel formally quit UNESCO.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is<strong> headquartered in Paris, France.</strong></li>
<li><strong>UNESCO-IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission)</strong> is leading a global effort to establish ocean-based tsunami warning systems as part of an overall multi-hazard disaster reduction strategy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, UNESCO-IOC approved the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tsunami-ready-programme-unesco-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recognition of two communities of Odisha</strong> </a>viz., Venkatraipur and Noliasahi as Tsunami Ready Communities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives of UNESCO:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biosphere-reserves-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Man and Biosphere Programme:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Biosphere Reserves focus on the harmonised management of <strong>biological and cultural diversity.</strong></li>
<li>Out of 18 notified biosphere reserves, India has 12 biosphere reserves under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), the latest one included is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panna-biosphere-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panna Biosphere Reserve.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Programme:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>World Heritage Sites promote the <strong>conservation of natural and cultural sites</strong> of outstanding universal value.</li>
<li>India has <strong>38 world heritage sites, including 30 cultural properties, 7 natural properties and 1 mixed site.</strong> The latest one included is <strong>Jaipur city, Rajasthan.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unesco-global-geoparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO Global Geopark Network</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>UNESCO Global Geoparks give <strong>international recognition</strong> for sites that promote the importance and significance of protecting the <strong>Earth&rsquo;s geodiversity</strong> through actively engaging with the <strong>local communities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India does not have any UNESCO Global geopark.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unesco-s-network-of-creative-cities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO's Network of Creative Cities:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was <strong>created in 2004</strong> to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.</li>
<li>The Network covers seven creative fields: <strong>Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.</strong></li>
<li>There are<strong> five Indian cities</strong> in UCCN as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hyderabad &ndash; Gastronomy (2019).</li>
<li>Mumbai &ndash; Film (2019).</li>
<li>Chennai - Creative city of Music (2017).</li>
<li>Jaipur - Crafts and Folk Arts (2015).</li>
<li>Varanasi - Creative city of Music (2015).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/singapore-street-hawker-food-unesco-recognition-7108347/" 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/unesco-list-of-intangible-cultural-heritage-of-humanity'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Young Champions of the Earth: UN',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the <strong>seven winners</strong> of the prestigious <strong>&ldquo;Young Champions of the Earth&rdquo;</strong> 2020 prize given by the <strong>United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)</strong> to global change-makers using innovative ideas and ambitious action to help solve some of the world&rsquo;s most pressing environmental challenges.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Introduced in <strong>2017, Young Champions of the Earth</strong> aims to celebrate and support individuals aged between <strong>18 and 30</strong> who have outstanding <strong>potential to create a positive environmental impact.</strong></li>
<li>In 2020, seven Young Champions of the Earth will be selected from<strong> each global region:</strong> Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia and two from Asia and the Pacific.</li>
<li>Each winner will receive:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>USD 10,000 in seed funding,</li>
<li>Attendance at a high-level <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN</strong></a> meeting,</li>
<li>An introduction to dignitaries at the <a href="/search/Champions%20of%20the%20Earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Champions of the Earth award</strong></a> ceremony,</li>
<li>Publicity and recognition through interviews and online and global media.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>7 Winners of 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fatemah Alzelzela, Kuwait: (Eco Star - Trees for waste).</strong> A non-profit recycling initiative that exchanges trees and plants for waste from homes, schools and businesses.</li>
<li><strong>Lefteris Arapakis, Greece: (Mediterranean CleanUp).</strong> Trains, empowers and incentivises the local fishing community to collect plastic from the sea, allowing both fish stocks and the ecosystem to recover.</li>
<li><strong>Max Hidalgo Quinto, Peru: (YAWA).</strong> Sustainable technology for access to water building portable wind turbines that harvest up to 300 litres of water per day from atmospheric humidity and mist.</li>
<li><strong>Niria Alicia Garcia, United States of America: (Run4Salmon).</strong> An indigenous-lead conservation uses virtual reality to bring to life the historical journey of the Sacramento chinook salmon along California&rsquo;s largest watershed, raising awareness of this invaluable ecosystem, the species and people it supports.</li>
<li><strong>Nzambi Matee, Kenya: (Building a Greener Kenya).</strong> Produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic waste and sand.</li>
<li><strong>Xiaoyuan Ren, China: (MyH<sub>2</sub>O).</strong> A data platform for clean water that tests and records the quality of groundwater across a thousand villages in rural China into an app so residents know where to find clean water.</li>
<li><strong>Vidyut Mohan, India: (Takachar).</strong> Harvesting value from agricultural waste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Takachar: Harvesting Value from Agricultural Waste</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Takachar is a<strong> social enterprise</strong> founded by <strong>Vidyut Mohan</strong> in 2018.</li>
<li>It enables farmers to prevent open burning of their waste farm residues and earn extra income by converting them into <strong>value-added chemicals.</strong></li>
<li>It is a meaningful and immediate solution to the <strong>triple planetary crises </strong>of <strong>climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Procedure:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Takachar buys rice husks, straw and coconut shells from farmers and turns them into charcoal, saving the debris from the fires, which are also a driver of climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Open burning of agricultural residues is a big source of air pollution in many parts of the world and this innovative technology can help farmers turn what is currently thought of as waste into a valuable resource while helping clean up our environment.</li>
<li>Enables <strong>rural farmers to earn 40%</strong> more by converting their crop residues into fuels, fertilisers and value-added chemicals like activated carbon (AC) on-site.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Potential:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By 2030, Takachar will impact 300 million farmers affected by this problem, create USD 4 billion/year equivalent in additional rural income and jobs, and mitigate one gigaton/year of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nation Environment Program</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was <strong>established in 1972</strong> to guide and coordinate<strong> environmental activities</strong> within the United Nations (UN) system.</li>
<li>UNEP promotes international cooperation on environmental issues, provides guidance to UN organizations.</li>
<li>Through its scientific advisory groups, UNEP encourages the international scientific community to participate in formulating policy for many of the UN&rsquo;s environmental projects.</li>
<li>UNEP is <strong>headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.</strong></li>
<li>The organization also encourages <strong>participation by the private sector</strong> to promote the sustainable use of the world&rsquo;s natural resources.</li>
<li><strong>Major Reports:</strong> Emission Gap Report, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-environment-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Environment Outlook</strong></a>, Frontiers, Invest into Healthy Planet.</li>
<li><strong>Major Campaigns:</strong> Beat Pollution, UN75, World Environment Day, Wild for Life.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/indian-entrepreneur-named-among-young-champions-of-the-earth-winners-unep-7108214/" 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/young-champions-of-the-earth-un'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Recommendations on Reservation ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an <strong>eight-member committee,</strong> appointed by the government for<strong> suggesting measures for effective implementation of reservation in students admissions and faculty recruitment</strong> in the<strong> Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs),</strong> has come out with its recommendations.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Committee:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was<strong> chaired by IIT Delhi&rsquo;s Director</strong> and had representatives of secretaries of the departments of <strong>Social Justice and Empowerment, Tribal Affairs, Department of Personnel and Training, Persons with Disabilities,</strong> among others.</li>
<li>Its report was <strong>submitted to the Ministry of Education in June 2020</strong> and has been made available under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Being established and recognised as institutions of national importance, <strong>IITs should be added to the list of &ldquo;Institutions of Excellence&rdquo;</strong> mentioned in the <strong>Schedule</strong> to the <strong>Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers&rsquo; Cadre) Act, 2019</strong> (CEI Act).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Section 4 of the Act exempts</strong> &ldquo;institutions of excellence, research institutions, institutions of national and strategic importance&rdquo; mentioned in the Schedule and &ldquo;minority institutions&rdquo; from providing reservation.</li>
<li>Currently, many research institutes like the<strong> Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, National Brain Research Centre, Space Physics Laboratory,</strong> etc. are included under Section 4 of the act, but not the IITs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If granting full exemption from reservations was not possible, the committee recommended that the implementation of reservation policies for all categories <strong>including Economically Weaker Sections</strong> (EWS) be <strong>restricted just to Assistant Professor Grade I and Grade II and not for levels above.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Vacancies not filled in a particular year</strong> due to non-availability, be <strong>de-reserved in the subsequent year.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Conduct of special recruitment drives</strong> to attract candidates from reserved categories.</li>
<li>To<strong> address diversity issues,</strong> the report argued that a<strong> &ldquo;system emphasising targeted goals over a period of time&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>not &ldquo;specific quotas&rdquo;</strong> be followed so that IITs can &ldquo;compete with other top institutions in the world in terms of excellence, output, research and teaching.&rdquo;</li>
<li>The panel proposes a <strong>two-year Research Assistantship for students from reserved categories aspiring to join PhD programmes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It highlighted that the <strong>enrollment of reserved category students in the PhD programme is low and needs to be addressed,</strong> which is severely limiting the number of reserved category candidates available to be hired as faculty in the IIT system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers&rsquo; Cadre) Act, 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It provides for the <strong>reservation of posts in appointments by direct recruitment</strong> of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Scheduled Tribes (STs), the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) and the Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs), to <strong>teachers&rsquo; cadre in certain Central Educational Institutions</strong> established, maintained or aided by the Central Government, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.</li>
<li>The<strong> Act not to apply in certain cases:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The institutions of excellence, research institutions, institutions of national and strategic importance specified in the Schedule to this Act.</li>
<li>A Minority Educational Institution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However. the <strong>Central Government may,</strong> by notification in the Official Gazette, <strong>amend the Schedule from time to time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/exempt-iit-recruitments-from-reservation-suggests-panel-7107855/" 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/recommendations-on-reservation'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>35<sup>th</sup> edition </strong>of <strong>India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT)</strong> between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy has been conducted.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608275460_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608275460_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As part of Government of India&rsquo;s vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision#:~:text=In%202015%2C%20India%20unveiled%20it's,in%20the%20Region%20(SAGAR).&amp;text=Through%20SAGAR%2C%20India%20seeks%20to,building%20their%20maritime%20security%20capabilities." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region)</strong></a>, the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region for <strong>coordinated patrols, cooperation in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)</a> surveillance, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/passex-with-the-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passage exercises&nbsp;</a></strong>and<strong> bilateral/ multilateral exercises.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main<strong> objective</strong> is towards enhancing regional maritime security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IND-INDO CORPAT:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To reinforce maritime links, the two navies have been carrying out CORPAT along their International Maritime Boundary Line<strong> since 2002.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ensuring <strong>safety and security of shipping and international trade</strong> in the region.</li>
<li>CORPATs build up<strong> understanding and interoperability between navies</strong> and facilitate institution of measures to prevent and <strong>suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participants in 35<sup>th</sup> Edition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kulish -</strong> an indigenously built missile corvette and<a href="/printpdf/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-june-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)</strong></a> undertook coordinated patrol along with Indonesian ships.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> The 35<sup>th</sup> IND-INDO CORPAT will contribute towards the Indian Navy&rsquo;s efforts to consolidate interoperability and <strong>forge strong bonds of friendship across the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Pacific</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Military Exercises with Indonesia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-samudra-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Samudra Shakti</strong></a>: A bilateral <strong>maritime</strong> exercise.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-maitree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Garuda Shakti</strong></a>: A joint <strong>military</strong> exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1681520#:~:text=The%2035th%20edition%20of,17%20to%2018%20December%202020." 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/india-indonesia-coordinated-patrol'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'National Security Directive',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Cabinet Committee on Security</strong> has approved the setting up of a <strong>new National Security Directive</strong> on the <strong>telecommunication</strong> sector.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also, the Union Cabinet has <strong>approved the auction of 2,251.25 megahertz of spectrum</strong> with a<strong> reserve price of Rs. 3.92 lakh crore.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre asked all <strong>telecom operators to undertake an &lsquo;information security audit&rsquo;</strong> of their networks.</li>
<li>The<strong> objective</strong> was to <strong>specifically check for any &lsquo;backdoor&rsquo;</strong> or <strong>&lsquo;trapdoor&rsquo; vulnerabilities</strong> in the telecom networks, which can be <strong>exploited to extract information and pass on illegally</strong> to agencies around the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A backdoor or a trap door is a <strong>bug installed in the telecom hardware that allows companies to listen in or collect data</strong> being shared on the network.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE have been <strong>under global scrutiny for allegedly installing backdoor vulnerabilities</strong> and <strong>spying</strong> for the Chinese government and have been <strong>banned by several countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Almost <strong>30% of Bharti Airtel&rsquo;s network comprises Chinese telecom equipment</strong> and it is <strong>40% for Vodafone Idea&rsquo;s</strong> network. <strong>State-run telcos</strong> Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) too <strong>have equipment from Chinese vendors,</strong> including <strong>Huawei</strong> and <strong>ZTE,</strong> in their 3G and older networks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>All vendors</strong> including Huawei and ZTE were<strong> allowed to participate in 5G trials</strong> but their <strong>participation became difficult owing to developments like the Galwan Valley Standoff</strong> in Ladakh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>government barred BSNL and MTNL from using Chinese equipment</strong> for the roll-out of its 4G network.</li>
<li>The <strong>Department of Telecommunications</strong> hinted that it would <strong>announce guidelines asking even private telcos to refrain from using Chinese equipment,</strong> however, no such guidelines have been issued till now.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Security Directive:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to <strong>classify telecom products and their sources</strong> under the<strong> &lsquo;trusted&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>&lsquo;non-trusted&rsquo;</strong> categories.</li>
<li>It will make its decision based on <strong>approval of the National Security Committee on Telecom.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will be <strong>headed by the deputy National Security Advisor</strong> (NSA) and have members from other departments and ministries, and independent experts as well as two members from the industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> National Cyber Security Coordinator</strong> is the <strong>designated authority</strong> and will <strong>devise the methodology</strong> to designate trusted products.</li>
<li>From among the sources declared as trusted sources by the designated authority, those which <strong>meet the criteria of the Department of Telecom&rsquo;s preferential market access policy</strong> will be certified as <strong>India trusted sources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The policy provides <strong>opportunities to local manufacturers of equipment and handsets in the &ldquo;sensitive&rdquo; telecom sector </strong>to<strong> counter dumping of products</strong> by other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Telecom Service Providers</strong> (TSPs) are <strong>required to connect new devices which are designated trusted</strong> products.</li>
<li>However, the directive<strong> will not ask TSPs to mandatorily replace the old and existing equipment</strong> and does not impact the ongoing annual maintenance contracts or upgrades to old equipment either.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the directive, the government will release at regular intervals new guidelines for<strong> effective monitoring and effective control of the network security</strong> of the TSPs.</li>
<li>The move could potentially make it <strong>more difficult for Chinese telecom equipment vendors</strong> to supply equipment to Indian telecom players.</li>
<li><strong>Mobile applications that either have Chinese origins or have central servers in China</strong> may also find <strong>re-entry in the market extremely difficult.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since <strong>June 2020,</strong> the <strong>Centre has banned over 200 Chinese apps,</strong> citing national security concerns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Telecom Spectrum Auction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Spectrum in the <strong>frequency bands of 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz, 1,800MHz, 2,100MHz, 2,300MHz and 2,500MHz</strong> would be offered for<strong> 20 years.</strong></li>
<li>The auction would help <strong>boost spectrum availability with telecom operators enabling improvements in 4G services.</strong></li>
<li>By winning the right to use spectrum through the auction, incumbent telecom service providers will be<strong> able to augment their network capacity,</strong> whereas<strong> new players will be able to start services.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Spectrum holding per operator in a service area in India is well below the international average</strong> so any further auctioning of spectrum is needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Spectrum Auction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>transparent process of spectrum assignment to successful bidders.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sufficient spectrum availability increases the quality of telecom services for the consumers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is relevant that the telecom sector today is a key infrastructure provider with <strong>strong linkages with economic growth, direct and indirect employment generation</strong> and expansion of <strong>Digital India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/telecom-products-govt-to-come-out-with-trusted-non-trusted-sources-7107760/" 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/national-security-directive'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Loan Pact with NDB',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Government has recently announced a <strong>1 billion USD loan pact</strong> with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Development Bank</strong> </a>(NDB) to boost rural employment and infrastructure.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and the <strong>New Development Bank</strong> (NDB) signed a loan agreement worth<strong> 1 billion USD</strong> to help India&rsquo;s <strong>economic recovery from Covid-19</strong> by supporting:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Spending</strong> on rural infrastructure related to natural resource management (NRM) and</li>
<li><strong>Rural employment generation</strong> under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-group-of-chief-ministers-on-coordination-between-mgnrega-and-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The loan has a tenor of<strong> 30 years, including a 5-year grace period.</strong></li>
<li>The funding comes under <strong>NDB&rsquo;s Policy on fast-track emergency response to Covid-19.</strong></li>
<li>The loan would specially help <strong>migrant workers</strong> who have returned from urban areas and have lost their livelihoods due to the pandemic.</li>
<li>Economic activity slowed down post lockdowns to contain the <strong>spread of virus,</strong> resulting in loss of employment and income of workers especially those employed in the informal sector, including rural areas.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-grouphttps://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-grouphttps://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> has also approved four projects worth over 800 million USD for strengthening<strong> India&rsquo;s social protection architecture,</strong> promoting nutrition-supportive agriculture for tribal households in <strong>Chhattisgarh,</strong> enhancing quality education in<strong> Nagaland</strong> and improving safety and performance of existing<strong> dams</strong> across states.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>New Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a multilateral development bank <strong>jointly founded by the BRICS countries</strong> (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) at the 6<sup>th</sup> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a> Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014.</li>
<li>It was formed to support infrastructure and sustainable development efforts in BRICS and other underserved, emerging economies for faster development through innovation and cutting-edge technology.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s ownership structure is unique, as the <strong>BRICS countries have an equal share and no country has any veto power.</strong></li>
<li>It is headquartered at <strong>Shanghai, China.</strong></li>
<li>In 2018, the NDB received <strong>observer status</strong> in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> General Assembly, establishing a firm basis for active and fruitful cooperation with the United Nations.</li>
<li>All members of the United Nations could be members of the Bank, however <strong>the share of the BRICS nations can never be less than 55% of voting power.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/govt-inks-1-bn-loan-pact-with-ndb-to-boost-rural-employment-infrastructure-7107783/" 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/loan-pact-with-ndb'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Challenges Faced By The WTO',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-many-challenges-for-wto/article33349954.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;The many challenges for WTO&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 17/12/2020. It talks about the issues related to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in present times.</p>
</div>
<p>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto#:~:text=The%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO,and%20ratified%20in%20their%20parliaments." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></a> has been the cornerstone of the multilateral rules-based global trading system since its inception in 1995.</p>
<p>However, even before the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, all three of the organization&rsquo;s functions &ndash; providing a negotiation forum to liberalize trade and establish new rules, monitoring trade policies, and resolving disputes between its 164 members are facing challenges.</p>
<p>Moreover, with trade tensions increasingly politicized and Covid-19 creating huge economic challenges, a modernized and fully functioning WTO is more essential than ever.</p>
<h3>Issues Related to WTO</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s State Capitalism:</strong> The nature of China&rsquo;s economic system, combined with the size and growth of its economy, has created tensions in the global trading system.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China&rsquo;s state-owned enterprises present a major challenge to the free-market global trading system.</li>
<li>However, a critical part of the problem is that the rulebook of the WTO is inadequate for addressing the challenges that China presents in respect of intellectual property, state-owned enterprises and industrial subsidies.</li>
<li>It is due to this <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US-China are engaged in Trade war.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Institutional Issues:</strong> The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto#:~:text=The%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO,and%20ratified%20in%20their%20parliaments." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Appellate Body&rsquo;s operations</strong></a> have effectively been suspended since December 2019, as the US&rsquo;s blocking of appointments has left the body without a quorum of adjudicators needed to hear appeals.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The crisis with the dispute settlement function of the WTO is closely linked to the breakdown in its negotiation function.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Transparency:</strong> There is a problem in WTO negotiations as there is no agreed definition of what constitutes a developed or developing country at the WTO.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Members can currently self-designate as developing countries to receive &lsquo;special and differential treatment&rsquo; &ndash; a practice that is the subject of much contention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>E-commerce &amp; Digital Trade:</strong> While the global trade landscape has changed significantly over the past 25 years, WTO rules have not kept pace.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1998, realizing that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-take-on-e-commerce-at-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-commerce</strong></a> would play a growing role in the global economy, WTO members established a WTO e-commerce moratorium to examine all trade-related issues relating to global electronic commerce.</li>
<li>Recently, however, the moratorium has been called into question by developing countries because of its implications for collecting revenue.</li>
<li>Moreover, as the Covid-19 pandemic accelerates the shift to e-commerce, rules to regulate online trade will be more important than ever. But in contrast to trade in goods and services, few international rules govern cross-border e-commerce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture and Development:</strong> The WTO <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india%27s-disputes-at-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agreement on Agriculture</strong></a>, which came into force in 1995, was an important milestone.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agreement on Agriculture targets reform of subsidies and high trade barriers, which distort agricultural trade.</li>
<li>However, agreement on agriculture is facing issues due to food security and development requirements for developing countries like India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>New Set of Rules:</strong> Modernizing the WTO will necessitate the development of a new set of rules for dealing with digital trade and e-commerce.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WTO members will also have to deal more effectively with China&rsquo;s trade policies and practices, including how to better handle state-owned enterprises and industrial subsidies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Sustainability:</strong> Given the pressing issues around climate change, increased efforts to align trade and environmental sustainability could help to both tackle climate change and reinvigorate the WTO.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Trade and the WTO have key roles to play in efforts to achieve the UN <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong></a> and the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-renewed-support-for-paris-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Paris Agreement climate goals.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, the WTO can play a role in reforming fossil fuel subsidies.</li>
<li>For example, at the Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference in 2017, a coalition of 12 WTO members led by New Zealand called on the WTO &lsquo;to achieve ambitious and effective disciplines on inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In future, WTO members will have to strike a balance between moving forward with negotiations on 21<sup>st</sup>-century issues and keeping sight of the unresolved &lsquo;old trade issues&rsquo; such as agriculture and development.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffdfa;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In order to stay relevant, World Trade Organization (WTO) members should engage in negotiations on 21<sup>st</sup>-century issues and keep sight of the unresolved old trade issues. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQKN7u4SFrk" 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.hindustantimes.com/editorials/keep-a-close-watch-on-inflation-figures-ht-editorial/story-QrFK8fNoVZJhq0S8YHCVYI.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Keep a close watch on inflation figures&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on December 15<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/challenges-faced-by-the-wto'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'US Puts India on Currency Watchlist',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the US treasury has placed <strong>India on its currency manipulator watch list. Vietnam and Switzerland</strong> have been labelled<strong> as currency manipulators.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2019, the US Treasury Department<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/usa-removes-india-from-currency-monitoring-watch-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> had removed India from its currency manipulator watch list</strong></a> of major trading partners.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Currency Manipulators:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is<strong> a label given by the US government to countries</strong> it feels are engaging in <strong>&ldquo;unfair currency practices&rdquo; by deliberately devaluing their currency against the dollar.</strong></li>
<li>The practice would mean that the country in question is<strong> artificially lowering the value of its currency</strong> to gain an unfair advantage over others. This is because the <strong>devaluation would reduce the cost of exports from that country</strong> and artificially show a reduction in trade deficits as a result.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Currency Manipulator Watch List:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US Department of Treasury releases<strong> the semi-annual report</strong> where it has <strong>to track developments in international economies and inspect foreign exchange rates.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Criteria:</strong> An economy <strong>meeting two of the three criteria in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015</strong> is placed on the Watch List. This includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>&ldquo;significant&rdquo; bilateral trade surplus with the US &mdash;</strong> one that is <strong>at least USD 20 billion</strong> over a 12-month period.</li>
<li>A material <strong>current account surplus equivalent to at least 2% of gross domestic product (GDP)</strong> over a 12-month period.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Persistent&rdquo;, one-sided intervention &mdash; when <strong>net purchases of foreign currency totalling at least 2% of the country&rsquo;s GDP</strong> over a 12 month period are conducted repeatedly, in at least six out of 12 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequence:</strong> Inclusion in the list does not subject to any kind of penalty and sanctions but it <strong>deteriorates the global financial image</strong> of the country in the financial markets in terms of foreign exchange policies including undervaluation of currencies to gain export advantages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India, Taiwan and Thailand</strong> have been <strong>added to seven others</strong> already in <strong>the watch list.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Others on the list include China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, Singapore and Malaysia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per the report by the US Treasury, <strong>India and Singapore</strong> had intervened in the foreign exchange market in a "sustained, asymmetric manner" but did not meet other requirements to warrant designation as manipulators.</li>
<li>India, which has for several years maintained a &ldquo;significant&rdquo; bilateral goods trade surplus with the US, crossed the USD 20 billion mark, according to the latest report. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bilateral goods trade surplus totalled USD 22 billion in the first four quarters through June 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, <strong>India&rsquo;s net purchases of foreign exchange</strong> accelerated notably in the second half of 2019. Following sales during the initial onset of the pandemic, India sustained net purchases for much of the first half of 2020, which pushed net purchases of foreign exchange to USD 64 billion&ndash;or 2.4% of GDP&ndash;over the four quarters through June 2020.</li>
<li>According to some experts, the tag could <strong>lead to the rupee appreciating</strong> as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) might step back from its dollar purchases. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Currency appreciation</strong> is an increase in the value of one currency in relation to another currency. A currency is strong if it is becoming more valuable relative to another country&rsquo;s currency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608201738_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608201738_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/us-treasury-labels-switzerland-vietnam-as-currency-manipulators-adds-india-in-monitoring-list/articleshow/79762881.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:ET</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-puts-india-on-currency-watchlist'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Indian Diaspora in the United Kingdom',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, British Foreign Secretary has stated that<strong> &ldquo;India&rsquo;s politics&rdquo;</strong> is, in some sense, <strong>&ldquo;Britain&rsquo;s politics&rdquo;</strong> because of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-diaspora" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian diaspora</a> in the United Kingdom (UK).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The statement came as he discussed the situation arising out of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>farmers&rsquo; protests</strong> </a>with the External Affairs Minister of India.</li>
<li>British Prime Minister would be the <strong>chief guest at <a href="/pdf/republic-day.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republic Day</a> celebrations in January 2021.</strong></li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister has been invited for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g-7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G7</strong></a> summit in 2021.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Diaspora:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian Diaspora is a generic term used for addressing <strong>people who have migrated from the territories that are currently within the borders of India.</strong></li>
<li>The term<strong> &ldquo;diaspora&rdquo;</strong> is derived from the <strong>Greek word diaspeirein,</strong> which means <strong>&ldquo;dispersion&rdquo;.</strong> Over time, the term evolved, and now loosely refers to <strong>any person/s belonging to a particular country with a common origin or culture, but residing outside their homeland for various reasons.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Diaspora in the UK:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Historical Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>incorporation of the British Empire in India</strong> can be linked to the existence of modern Indian Diaspora all over the world.</li>
<li>Dating back to the nineteenth century, <strong>Indian indentured labor was taken over to the British colonies</strong> in different parts of the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Population:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Indian Diaspora in the UK is <strong>one of the largest ethnic minority communities in the country,</strong> with the 2011 census recording approximately <strong>1.5 million people of Indian origin in the UK</strong> equating to almost <strong>1.8%</strong> of Britain&rsquo;s population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economy:</strong> Indians contribute<strong> 6% of the UK&rsquo;s GDP.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Indian diaspora-owned companies</strong> with a combined revenue of 36.84 billion pounds <strong>employ over 1,74,000 people</strong> and pay over 1 billion pounds in Corporation Tax.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Culture:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There has been a gradual mainstreaming of Indian culture and absorption of Indian cuisine, cinema, languages, religion, philosophy, performing arts, etc.</li>
<li><strong>The Nehru Centre</strong> is the cultural wing of the High Commission of India in the UK which was <strong>established in 1992.</strong></li>
<li>2017 was celebrated as the <strong>India-UK year of Culture</strong> to mark the 70<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Indian independence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Politics:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2019, the British House of Commons had <strong>15 members of parliament of Indian origin.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Indian Diaspora</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Huge Number:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-diaspora-largest-in-the-world-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Global Migration Report 2020</strong></a>, India continues to be the <strong>largest country of origin of international migrants</strong> with a <strong>17.5 million</strong>-strong diaspora across the world, and it received the <strong>highest remittance of USD 78.6 billion</strong> (this amounts to a whopping <strong>3.4% of India&rsquo;s GDP</strong>) from Indians living abroad.</li>
<li>It contributes by way of <strong>remittances, investment, lobbying for India, promoting Indian culture abroad and for building a good image of India</strong> by their intelligence and industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Front:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian diaspora is <strong>one of the richest minorities in many developed countries,</strong> this helps them to lobby for favourable terms regarding India's interests.</li>
<li>The migration of less-skilled labour (especially to West Asia) has also helped in <strong>bringing down disguised unemployment in India.</strong></li>
<li>In general, migrants' <strong>remittances have positive systemic effects on the balance of payments.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Remittances of USD 70-80 billion help to bridge a wider trade deficit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>By weaving a web of cross-national networks, the migrant workers facilitated the <strong>flow of tacit information, commercial and business ideas, and technologies into India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political Front:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many people of Indian origin hold<strong> top political positions in many countries,</strong> in the USA itself, they are now a significant part of Republicans and Democrats, as well as the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India's diaspora played an important role in the <strong>India-U.S. nuclear deal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian diaspora is not just a part of <strong>India&rsquo;s soft power,</strong> but a fully transferable <strong>political vote bank</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Related Government Initiatives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-23rd-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD):</a> </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and reconnect them with their roots.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UMANG International App:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It would help all Indian international students, NRIs, and Indian tourists abroad to avail themselves of the services of the government of India anytime they want.</li>
<li>The app would be helpful in creating awareness about India in the world through &lsquo;Indian Culture&rsquo; services available on it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>VAJRA Faculty Scheme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Scheme enables NRIs and the overseas scientific community to participate and contribute to research and development in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Know India Programme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a three-week orientation programme for diaspora youth conducted with a view to promote awareness on different facets of life in India and the progress made by the country in various fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/discussed-protests-your-politics-ours-too-uk-dominic-raab-7107927/" 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/indian-diaspora-in-the-united-kingdom'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'No Replies to SC or HCs: Maharashtra',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>both Houses of the Maharashtra State Legislature</strong> have passed proposals stating that they <strong>will not take cognizance of or reply to any notice sent by the High Court</strong> (HC) or the <strong>Supreme Court</strong> (SC)<strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/privilege-motion-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breach of Privilege Motion</a></strong> against a TV editor and anchor.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Breach of Privilege Motion was moved in the State Assembly against the TV anchor, accused of using <strong>&ldquo;derogatory language&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;making baseless remarks&rdquo;</strong> against the Chief Minister of the State and <strong>&ldquo;frequently insulting&rdquo;</strong> Ministers and MPs during TV debates.</li>
<li>The anchor <strong>filed a petition challenging the Breach of Privilege Motion</strong> in the SC.</li>
<li>The <strong>assistant secretary of the Assembly questioned this move</strong> as well as <strong>producing &ldquo;confidential&rdquo; communications</strong> from the Speaker and the House Privileges Committee.</li>
<li>The <strong>SC then issued a contempt notice</strong> to the assistant secretary of the Assembly and also held that it might be &ldquo;necessary in all probability to serve the Speaker&rdquo; to know his version in matter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Scenario and State Assembly&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The House Speaker<strong> initiated the motion of the Treasury benches</strong> and cited <strong>Article 194 of the Constitution,</strong> which lays down the powers and privileges of the Houses of Legislatures, and <strong>Article 212,</strong> which pertains to courts not inquiring into proceedings of the legislature.</li>
<li>The proposals held that <strong>replying to such notices could mean accepting that the judiciary can keep a check on the legislature</strong> and would be inconsistent with the <strong>Basic Structure of the Constitution.</strong></li>
<li>The proposals were <strong>passed unanimously,</strong> which stated that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker would not respond to any notice or summons issued by the SC.</li>
<li>The <strong>Legislative Council also passed the proposal unanimously</strong> and stated that <strong>no cognizance will be taken of any notice or summons issued by the HC or SC.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reactions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Politicians have noted that the<strong> notice was in exception to the language used in the letter and has not encroached in any way on the rights of the legislature</strong> to legislate. If the legislature passes such a motion, it will set a wrong precedent.</li>
<li>Parliamentary Affairs Minister has held that the <strong>proposal was limited to upholding the esteem of the Speaker&rsquo;s chair</strong> and<strong> ensuring that the presiding authority is safeguarded from judicial scrutiny</strong> in matters of legislation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Privilege Motion</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is concerned with the <strong>breach of parliamentary privileges</strong> by a minister.</li>
<li><strong>Breach of Privileges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Parliamentary Privileges are certain <strong>rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively,</strong> so that they can &ldquo;effectively discharge their functions&rdquo;.</li>
<li>When any of these rights and immunities are <strong>disregarded,</strong> the <strong>offence is called a breach of privilege</strong> and is <strong>punishable</strong> under law of Parliament.</li>
<li>A <strong>notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member</strong> of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of the Speaker/Chair:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Speaker/Chair is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.</li>
<li>The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament. If the Speaker/Chair gives consent under relevant rules, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rules Governing Privilege:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rule 222 in Chapter 20 </strong>of the<strong> Lok Sabha Rule Book</strong> and correspondingly<strong> Rule 187 in Chapter 16</strong> of the <strong>Rajya Sabha Rule Book</strong> governs privilege.</li>
<li>Rules say that a member may, with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or a committee thereof.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/privilege-motion-maharashtra-house-wont-take-note-of-court-in-arnab-case-7106543/" 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/no-replies-to-sc-or-hcs-maharashtra'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Human Development Index: UNDP',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India ranked 131</strong> among 189 countries on the<strong> Human Development Index (HDI) for 2019, slipping two places from the previous year,</strong> according to the <strong>Human Development Report (HDR) 2020</strong> released by the<strong> United Nations Development Program (UNDP).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2020 Report has <strong>introduced planetary pressures-adjusted Human Development Index,</strong> which adjusts the standard Human Development Index (HDI) by a country&rsquo;s<strong> per capita carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>other indices that form the part of the Report</strong> are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI),</li>
<li>Gender Development Index (GDI),</li>
<li>Gender Inequality Index (GII) and</li>
<li>Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Human Development Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> HDI <strong>emphasizes</strong> that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone.</li>
<li><strong>Based on three Basic Dimensions of Human Development:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A long and healthy life,</li>
<li>Access to knowledge, and</li>
<li>A decent standard of living.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Top Performers for 2019:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Norway topped the index, followed by Ireland and Switzerland. Hong Kong and Iceland complete the top five.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance of the Asian Region:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Singapore was ranked 11, Saudi Arabia 40, and Malaysia was at 62 in the global index, representing the<strong> top bracket among the Asian countries</strong> with<strong> &ldquo;very high human development".</strong></li>
<li>Sri Lanka (72), Thailand (79), China (85) and Indonesia and Philippines (both 107), and Vietnam (117), among others, were <strong>&ldquo;high human development" countries.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India,</strong> Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Cambodia, Kenya and Pakistan were ranked among countries with<strong> &ldquo;medium human development"</strong> with ranks between 120 and 156.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Performance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Overall Performance: HDI value for 2019 is 0.645,</strong> which puts the country in the <strong>medium human development category,</strong> positioning it at <strong>131 out of 189 countries</strong> and territories. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Between 1990 and 2019, India&rsquo;s HDI value increased from 0.429 to 0.645, an increase of 50.3%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Long and Healthy Life: Life expectancy for Indian&rsquo;s at birth was 69.7 years in 2019,</strong> slightly<strong> lower than the south Asian average of 69.9 years.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Between 1990 and 2019, India&rsquo;s<strong> life expectancy at birth increased by 11.8 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Access to Knowledge:</strong> The <strong>expected years of schooling</strong> in India was<strong> 12.2 years,</strong> compared with 11.2 years in Bangladesh and 8.3 years in Pakistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Between 1990 and 2019, <strong>mean years of schooling increased by 3.5 years, </strong>and<strong> expected years of schooling increased by 4.5 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A Decent Standard of Living:</strong> In terms of <strong>Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, India at USD 6,681 fared better</strong> than some others in 2019, despite<strong> a fall over the previous year.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s GNI per capita <strong>increased by about 273.9% between 1990 and 2019.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Planetary pressures-adjusted Human Development Index (PHDI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> The PHDI adjusts the standard HDI by a country&rsquo;s level of carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint, each on a <strong>per capita basis.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Performance of the Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Norway,</strong> which <strong>tops the HDI, falls 15 places</strong> if this metric is used, leaving <strong>Ireland at the top</strong> of the table.</li>
<li>The <strong>United States</strong> (HDI Rank -17) <strong>and Canada</strong> (HDI Rank -16) <strong>would fall 45 and 40 places </strong>respectively,<strong> reflecting their disproportionate impact on natural resources.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>oil and gas-rich Gulf States also fell steeply. China would drop 16 places</strong> from its current ranking of 85.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Performance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India<strong> would move up eight places</strong> in the ranking.</li>
<li>Under the<strong> Paris Agreement,</strong> India pledged to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP from the 2005 level by 33-35% by 2030 and to obtain 40% of electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Solar capacity in India increased</strong> from 2.6 gigawatts in March 2014 to 30 gigawatts in July 2019, achieving its target of 20 gigawatts four years ahead of schedule.</li>
<li>In 2019, India<strong> ranked fifth for installed solar capacity.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>National Solar Mission</strong> aims to promote solar energy for power generation and other uses to make solar energy competitive with fossil fuel-based options.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Indices</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IHDI indicates<strong> percentage loss in HDI due to inequality.</strong></li>
<li>For <strong>India,</strong> IHDI value for 2019 is <strong>0.537 (16.8% overall loss).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Development Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GDI <strong>measures disparities on the HDI by gender.</strong></li>
<li>For<strong> India,</strong> GDI value for 2019 is <strong>0.820 (World: 0.943).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Inequality Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GII presents a composite measure of gender inequality using three dimensions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reproductive health,</li>
<li>Empowerment and</li>
<li>The labour market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In GII, India is<strong> at 123<sup>rd</sup> rank.</strong> Last year, it was ranked 122<sup>nd</sup> out of 162 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multidimensional Poverty Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MPI captures the multiple deprivations that people in developing countries face in their health, education and standard of living.</li>
<li>The most recent survey data publicly available for India&rsquo;s MPI estimation refer to 2015-2016. In India,<strong> 27.9% of the population</strong> (3,77,492 thousand people) are <strong>multidimensionally poor,</strong> while <strong>an additional 19.3%</strong> are classified under <strong>vulnerable to multidimensional poverty</strong> (2,60,596 thousand people).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Major Challenges:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the devastating effects of <strong>Covid-19</strong> have taken the world&rsquo;s attention, other layered crises, from <strong>climate change to rising inequalities,</strong> continue to take their toll. The challenges of<strong> planetary and societal imbalance</strong> are intertwined: they interact in a vicious circle, each making the other worse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Related to Children:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indigenous children</strong> in Cambodia, India and Thailand show <strong>more malnutrition-related issues</strong> such as stunting and wasting.</li>
<li>In<strong> India,</strong> different responses in parent behaviour as well as some disinvestment in girls&rsquo; health and education have led to <strong>higher malnutrition among girls than among boys</strong> as a consequence of shocks likely linked to climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Displacements in 2020:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Disasters continued to trigger most new displacements</strong> in 2020. <strong>Cyclone Amphan</strong> hit Bangladesh and India, driving the largest single displacement event in the first half of the year, triggering 3.3 million pre-emptive evacuations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Expanding human development -</strong> more education of women and girls, more economic empowerment of women, more bargaining power of young girls in households, reduced poverty, etc.</li>
<li>Evidence from Colombia to India indicates that <strong>financial security and ownership of land improve women&rsquo;s security</strong> and reduce the risk of gender-based violence, clearly indicating that <strong>owning land can empower women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-ranks-131-in-2020-un-human-development-index/article33348091.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/human-development-index-undp'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'CAATSA Sanctions on Turkey',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The USA administration has recently imposed <strong>sanctions on Turkey</strong> for its purchase of the <a href="/printpdf/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>S-400 missile system</strong></a> from Russia.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The issue of <strong>sanctions under Section 231</strong> of the Countering America&rsquo;s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for purchase of Russian arms is of <strong>particular interest to India,</strong> which is also in the process of buying the<strong> S-400 from Russia.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Previously, the United States had made it clear to Turkey that its purchase of the S-400 system would <strong>endanger the security of the USA.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The procurement will provide substantial funds to <strong>Russia&rsquo;s defense sector,</strong> as well as Russian access to the <strong>Turkish armed forces</strong> and defense industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Turkey yet decided to move ahead with the procurement and testing of the S-400, despite the availability of alternatives such as <strong>NATO-interoperable systems (such as USA's Patriot missile defense system),</strong> to meet its defense requirements.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Turkey is a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)</a> ally</strong> of the USA.</li>
<li><strong>NATO</strong> is a <strong>military alliance</strong> established by the<strong> North Atlantic Treaty</strong> (also called the<strong> Washington Treaty</strong>) in 1949, by several Western nations to provide collective security against<strong> the Soviet Union.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019, the USA had removed Turkey from its<strong> F-35 jet program</strong> over concerns that <strong>sensitive information could be accessed by Russia</strong> if Turkey used Russian systems along with the USA jets.</li>
<li>The<strong> S-400 Triumf air defence system</strong> integrates a <strong>multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control centre.</strong> It is capable of firing<strong> three types of missiles</strong> to create a layered defence.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a mobile, <strong>surface-to-air missile system</strong> (SAM). It is the most dangerous operationally deployed <strong>modern long-range SAM</strong> (MLR SAM) in the world, considered much ahead of the US-developed <strong>Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thaad is <strong>US anti ballistic missile defence system</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sanctions on Turkey:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sanctions were imposed on Turkey&rsquo;s main defence procurement agency, <strong>the Presidency of Defense Industries</strong> (SSB).</li>
<li>These sanctions comprise a ban on granting <strong>specific U.S. export licenses and authorisations for any goods or technology.</strong></li>
<li>Also, a ban on loans or credits by U.S. financial institutions totaling more than 10 million USD in any 12-month period.</li>
<li>A <strong>ban</strong> on U.S. Export-Import Bank assistance for exports and mandated U.S. opposition to loans by international financial organisations to SSB.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Countering America&rsquo;s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act</strong> (CAATSA)</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Enacted in 2017, it is a US federal law that<strong> imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia.</strong></li>
<li>Includes sanctions <strong>against countries that engage in significant transactions with Russia&rsquo;s defence and intelligence sectors.</strong></li>
<li>The Act empowers the US President to impose at least five of the 12 listed sanctions on persons engaged in a &ldquo;significant transaction&rdquo; with Russian defence and intelligence sectors.</li>
<li>Its &ldquo;ultimate goal&rdquo;, &ldquo;is to prevent<strong> revenue from flowing</strong> to the Russian Government.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Concerns for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, inked a Rs. 39,000 crore deal to buy the<strong> S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile</strong> systems from <strong>Almaz-Antey Corporation of Russia</strong> in October 2018 and the <strong>delivery is expected to start in 2021.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apart from the S-400 air defence system, <strong>Project 1135.6 frigates</strong> and <strong>Ka226T helicopters</strong> will also be affected. Also, it will impact joint ventures, like<strong> Indo Russian Aviation Ltd, Multi-Role Transport Aircraft Ltd and Brahmos Aerospace.</strong> It will also affect India&rsquo;s purchase of <strong>spare parts, components, raw materials and other assistance.</strong></li>
<li>As per the <strong>Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Arms Transfer Database,</strong> during the period 2010-17, Russia was the <strong>top arms</strong> supplier to India</li>
<li><strong>Russian Origin Indian Weapon:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Nuclear submarine <strong>INS Chakra,</strong> the Kilo-class conventional submarine, the supersonic <strong>Brahmos cruise missile,</strong> the <strong>MiG</strong> 21/27/29 and<strong> Su-30 MKI</strong> fighters, IL-76/78 transport planes, <strong>T-72 and T-90 tanks,</strong> Mi-series of helicopters, and <strong>Vikramaditya</strong> aircraft carrier,</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CAATSA contains 12 types of sanctions. Of these, <strong>10 will have very little, or no, impact</strong> on India&rsquo;s current relations with either Russia or the US. There are only <strong>two sanctions</strong> that may impact either <strong>India-Russia relations or India-US relations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>first</strong> of these, which is likely to have an impact on India-Russia relations, is the <strong>&ldquo;Prohibition of Banking transactions&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This would mean difficulties for India in making payments in US Dollars to Russia for the purchase of the S-400 systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>second sanction</strong> will have greater consequences for India-US relations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is the<strong> &ldquo;export sanction&rdquo;</strong> which has the potential to completely derail the<strong> India-US Strategic and Defence partnership,</strong> as it will deny the license for, and export of, any items controlled by the US to the sanctioned person such as<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All dual-use high technology goods and technology,</li>
<li>All defence related items,</li>
<li>All nuclear related items and</li>
<li>All other items from the US requiring prior review and approval of the United States Government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will effectively <strong>bar India from buying any major defence equipment from the US,</strong> putting a stop to any Defence and Strategic Partnership between India and the US. The MDP (Major Defence Partner) designation would lose its relevance in that context.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Russia always saw India as a balancer that's why Russia facilitated India's inclusion into SCO and formation of RIC doctrine. India today is in a unique position where it has a favourable relation with all great powers, and she must leverage this position to help in building a peaceful world order. Finally, there is a need to develop closer ties not only with Russia but also with the United States, which could balance any moves towards a strategic partnership between China and Russia.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-imposes-caatsa-sanctions-on-turkey-for-s-400-purchase/article33333317.ece/amp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Scheme for Approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jodhpur-tops-railway-cleanliness-survey-conducted-by-the-quality-council-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quality Council of India</strong></a> (QCI) has come out with a <strong>scheme for approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies</strong> (HRAA).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This move is a part of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India&rsquo;s</strong></a> (FSSAI) <strong>Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scheme for Approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will <strong>scale up the hygiene rating</strong> by increasing the number of recognised HRAA in the country.</li>
<li>The recognised HRAA will be<strong> responsible for verifying the compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures laid by FSSAI</strong> and get hygiene rating.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Food Hygiene Rating Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Initiated by the FSSAI, it is a <strong>certification system for food businesses</strong> supplying food directly to consumers, either on or off-premise.</li>
<li>It <strong>aims to allow consumers to make informed choices/decisions</strong> pertaining to the food outlets where they eat by encouraging food businesses to improve their hygiene and safety standards.</li>
<li>It is <strong>applicable for foodservice establishments</strong> (such as hotels, restaurants, cafeteria, dhabhas, etc), sweet shops, bakeries, meat retail stores, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Quality Council of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Set up in <strong>1997,</strong> QCI is a pioneering experiment of the Government of India in <strong>setting up organizations in partnership with the Indian industry.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations namely <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-conference-on-electric-mobility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India</strong></a> (ASSOCHAM), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fiscal-performance-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Confederation of Indian Industry</strong></a> (CII) and FICCI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its<strong> mandate</strong> is to<strong> establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure</strong> (NAS) for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in the field of health, education and quality promotion.</li>
<li>Besides the role of putting in place the accreditation structure, it also promotes the adoption of quality standards relating to Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Management Systems and Product Certification and Inspection Bodies through the accreditation services provided by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-equivalence-for-personnel-certification#:~:text=India's%20national%20accreditation%20body%2C%20the,Singapore%20on%2020th%20June%2C%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies</strong> </a>(NABCB).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1680753" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'World Minorities Rights Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> National Commission for Minorities</strong> celebrated <strong>World Minorities Rights Day</strong> on <strong>18<sup>th</sup> December 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations on 18<sup>th</sup> December, 1992 adopted the Statement on the individual's Rights belonging to religious or Linguistic National or Ethnic Minorities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992</strong> in Section 2(c) of the Act defines a minority as &ldquo;a community notified as such by the Central government&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, this applies to <strong>Muslim, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhist, Parsis (Zoroastrian) </strong>and<strong> Jain religions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per <em><strong>TMA Pai Foundation vs. State of Karnataka case</strong></em> (2002) in the Supreme Court, a minority, either linguistic or religious, is determinable only by reference to the demography of the State and not by taking into consideration the population of the country as a whole.</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions Related to Minorities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term <strong>"Minority"</strong> is <strong>not defined</strong> in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution recognises religious and linguistic minorities.</li>
<li><strong>Article 29:</strong> It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the same.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the Supreme Court held that the scope of this article is not necessarily restricted to minorities only, as use of the word<strong> &lsquo;section of citizens&rsquo;</strong> in the Article <strong>includes minorities as well as the majority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 30:</strong> All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The protection under Article 30 is confined<strong> only to minorities</strong> (religious or linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as under Article 29).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 350-B:</strong> Originally, the Constitution of India did not make any provision with respect to the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities. However, the 7<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 inserted Article 350-B in the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for a<strong> Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities</strong> appointed by the President of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Commission for Minorities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1992, with the enactment of the <strong>NCM Act, 1992,</strong> NCM was formed.</li>
<li>In 1993, the first <strong>Statutory National Commission</strong> was set up and five religious communities viz the<strong> Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians</strong> (Parsis) were notified as minority communities.</li>
<li>In 2014,<strong> Jains</strong> were also notified as a <strong>minority community.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCM consists of a <strong>Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five members</strong> and all of them shall be from amongst the <strong>minority communities.</strong></li>
<li>Total of<strong> 7 persons to be nominated by the Central Government</strong> should be from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity.</li>
<li><strong>Tenure:</strong> Each Member holds office for a<strong> period of three years</strong> from the date of assumption of office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Evaluation of the progress</strong> of the development of minorities under the Union and States.</li>
<li>Monitoring of the working of the <strong>safeguards for minorities</strong> provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the state legislatures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Example - <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/identification-of-minorities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004</strong></a>: It gives the minority status to the educational institutions on the basis of six religious communities notified by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It ensures that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-minister-s-15-point-programme#:~:text=PM's%20New%2015%20PP%20is,sections%20of%20the%20minority%20communities." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prime Minister&rsquo;s 15-point programme</strong> </a>is implemented and the programmes for minority communities are actually functioning.</li>
<li>Looking into <strong>specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of minorities</strong> and taking up such matters with the appropriate authorities.</li>
<li>It investigates <strong>matters of communal conflict and riots.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1681832" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-minorities-rights-day'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Systems Handed Over to Defence Services',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Defence Minister</strong> has handed over the<strong> Indian Maritime Situational Awareness System</strong> (IMSAS), <strong>ASTRA Mk-I</strong> and <strong>Border Surveillance System</strong> (BOSS) to the Navy, Air Force and Army respectively.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>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</strong> </a>(DRDO) laboratories have <strong>indigenously developed these three systems</strong> which will lead to higher self-reliance in defence technologies.</li>
<li>The Defence Minister has also given away <strong>awards to DRDO scientists for outstanding contributions</strong> in various categories.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Maritime Situational Awareness System (IMSAS):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> state-of-the-art and high performance intelligent software system</strong> that provides <strong>Global Maritime Situational Picture, marine planning tools</strong> and <strong>analytical capabilities</strong> to Indian Navy.</li>
<li>It also provides<strong> Maritime Operational Picture</strong> from naval headquarters to each individual ship in sea to enable naval command and control.</li>
<li><strong>Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics</strong> (CAIR), Bengaluru and Indian Navy has<strong> jointly conceptualised</strong> and developed the product and <strong>Bharat Electronics Limited</strong> (BEL), Bengaluru has implemented it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASTRA Mk-I:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the indigenously developed <strong>first Beyond Visual Range</strong> (BVR) <strong>Missile,</strong> which can be launched from <strong>Sukhoi-30, Light Combat Aircraft</strong> (LCA), <strong>Mig-29</strong> and <strong>Mig-29K.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Globally, very few countries have expertise and capabilities to design and produce this class of weapon system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The missile is <strong>designed to engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aircraft.</strong> The missile has<strong> all weather day and night capability.</strong></li>
<li>Successful development of ASTRA weapon system by <strong>Defence Research and Development Laboratory</strong> (DRDL) Hyderabad and production by <strong>Bharat Dynamics Limited</strong> (BDL), Hyderabad is a major contribution towards <strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Border Surveillance System (BOSS):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>all-weather electronic surveillance system</strong> successfully designed and developed by<strong> Instruments Research and Development Establishment</strong> (IRDE), Dehradun.</li>
<li>The system has been <strong>deployed at Ladakh border</strong> area for day and night surveillance and facilitates monitoring and surveillance by <strong>automatically detecting the intrusions in harsh high-altitude sub-zero temperature areas</strong> with remote operation capability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Awards for Outstanding Contributions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Awarded to N V Kadam for his contributions for developing control and guidance schemes for missiles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Excellence awards</strong> were given to<strong> academia and industry</strong> for technology absorption.</li>
<li>Besides, individual awards, team awards, technology spin-off awards, techno managerial awards and<strong> awards in other categories were also given.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1681732" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/systems-handed-over-to-defence-services'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'SC Stays Andhra HC Order to Examine Constitutional Breakdown',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>(SC) has stayed an <strong>Andhra Pradesh High Court</strong> (HC) order intending to embark on a <strong>judicial enquiry into whether there is a constitutional breakdown in the State machinery,</strong> requiring a declaration of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/president-s-rule-in-maharashtra#:~:text=Under%20Article%20356%2C%20President's%20Rule,the%20provisions%20of%20the%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>President&rsquo;s rule</strong></a> <strong>(Article 356).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A three-judge bench headed by<strong> Chief Justice of India S A Bobde</strong> found the order <strong>disturbing</strong> and will take up the matter later on after vacations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Andhra Pradesh High Court&rsquo;s Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While hearing a clutch of <em><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/habeas-corpus-cases-in-jammu-kashmir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>habeas corpus</strong></a></em> petitions in <strong>October 2020,</strong> it<em><strong> suo motu</strong> </em><strong>summoned the State counsel</strong> to assist it in deciding &ldquo;whether in circumstances prevailing in the State, the<strong> court can record a finding that there is constitutional breakdown or not&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Habeas Corpus</strong> is a<strong> Latin term</strong> which literally means <strong>&lsquo;to have the body</strong> of&rsquo;. Under this the court issues an order to a person who has detained another person, to produce the body of the latter before it.</li>
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservation-not-a-fundamental-right-supreme-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>writ</strong> </a>is a <strong>bulwark of individual liberty against arbitrary detention</strong> and can be issued <strong>against both public authorities as well as private individuals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Government&rsquo;s Appeal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The HC<strong> framed the question in an unprecedented manner</strong> and <strong>without any basis or pleadings</strong> by any of the parties to that effect.</li>
<li>It highlighted that <strong>Article 356,</strong> which deals with<strong> failure of Constitutional machinery in a State,</strong> is a <strong>power exclusively vested in the executive</strong> and <strong>not the judiciary.</strong></li>
<li>Under the Constitutional framework, it is<strong> not for the Courts to decide</strong> as to whether there is a Constitutional breakdown in a State as they<strong> do not have any judicially discoverable and manageable standards to determine</strong> so.</li>
<li>The said fact is<strong> essentially an executive function and is necessarily required to be based on a detailed factual analysis.</strong></li>
<li>The HC order is a<strong> serious encroachment on the powers of the executive</strong> as enumerated under the Constitution and is<strong> violative of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/checks-balances-1#:~:text=of%20the%20government.-,The%20Doctrine%20of%20Separation%20of%20Powers,arbitrary%20excesses%20by%20the%20government." target="_blank" rel="noopener">doctrine of separation of powers</a></strong> and thus, <strong>violative of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-structure-of-constitution#:~:text=Origin%3A%20The%20basic%20structure%20theory,fundamental%20features%E2%80%9D%20of%20their%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener">basic structure of the Constitution.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Separation of powers is the <strong>division of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions</strong> of government.</li>
<li>Since the sanction of all three branches is required for the making, executing, and administering of laws, it <strong>minimises the possibility of arbitrary excesses by the government.</strong></li>
<li>The constitutional demarcation <strong>precludes the concentration of excessive power by any branch</strong> of the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>President&rsquo;s Rule</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It implies the <strong>suspension of a state government</strong> and the<strong> imposition of direct rule of the Centre.</strong> It is also known as<strong> &lsquo;State Emergency&rsquo;</strong> or<strong> &lsquo;Constitutional Emergency&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The SC in <em><strong>Bommai case 1994</strong></em> <strong>enlisted the situations</strong> where the exercise of power under Article 356 could be used.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One such situation is that of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/perils-of-electoral-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Hung Assembly&rsquo;</strong></a>, i.e. where after general elections to the assembly, no party secures a majority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The President&rsquo;s rule is imposed through the invocation of <strong>Article 356</strong> of the Constitution <strong>by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers</strong> (executive).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the President, upon <strong>receipt of the report from the Governor of the State</strong> or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Parliamentary Approval and Duration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A proclamation imposing President&rsquo;s Rule<strong> must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months</strong> from the date of its issue.</li>
<li>The approval<strong> takes place through simple majority</strong> in either House, that is, a majority of the members of the House present and voting.</li>
<li><strong>Initially valid for six months</strong>, the President&rsquo;s Rule can be <strong>extended for a maximum period of three years</strong> with the approval of the Parliament, every six months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-stays-andhra-hc-order-to-study-constitutional-breakdown-in-state/article33364452.ece#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20on%20Friday,a%20declaration%20of%20President's%20rule.&amp;text=As%20the%20apex%20court%2C%20we%20find%20this%20disturbing." 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/sc-stays-andhra-hc-order-to-examine-constitutional-breakdown'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'ISRO’s Satellite Launch: CMS-01',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Space Research Organisation</strong></a> (ISRO) has launched a communications satellite, CMS-01, on board its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-pslv-launch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle</strong></a> (PSLV - C50) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Andhra Pradesh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Previously in November 2020, ISRO launched India&rsquo;s <a href="/printpdf/earth-observation-satellite-eos-01-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-01</strong></a>, and nine other customer satellites.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CMS-01</strong> is a <strong>communications satellite</strong> envisaged for providing services in extended <strong>C Band frequency spectrum.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The C band is a designation for a portion of the <strong>electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies ranging from 4.0 to 8.0 gigahertz (GHz).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its <strong>coverage</strong> will include the Indian mainland, and the Andaman &amp; Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.</li>
<li>The satellite is expected to have <strong>a life of more than seven years.</strong></li>
<li>The satellite was injected precisely into its predefined sub-<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/types-of-orbit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)</strong></a>. Eventually, it will be placed into its specified slot in the <strong>Geo-Synchronous Orbit</strong> after a series of manoeuvres.</li>
<li>CMS-01 will<strong> replace and enhance the services of GSAT-12.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GSAT-12, a communication satellite built by ISRO, provides facilities for various communication services like<strong> Tele-education,</strong> <strong>Tele-medicine</strong> and for<strong> Village Resource Centres (VRC).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To provide the space based services <strong>directly to the rural areas,</strong> ISRO has launched the Village Resource Centres (VRCs) programme in association with NGOs/Trusts and state/central agencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Next Launch of ISRO (PSLV-C51):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>PSLV-C51,</strong> will be the next special mission for ISRO, as it will <strong>be carrying the country&rsquo;s first satellite under the space reforms programme</strong> announced by the Indian government. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government had announced the opening up of the <strong>space sector to private players</strong> with the inception of<strong><a href="/printpdf/private-sector-participation-in-space" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre</a></strong> (IN-SPACe).</li>
<li>The IN-SPACe is expected to <strong>hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries</strong> in space activities through encouraging policies and a friendly regulatory environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Satellites to be on board PSLV-C51:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pixxel India named <strong>&lsquo;Anand&rsquo;, &lsquo;Satish Sat&rsquo;</strong> from Space Kidz India, <strong>&lsquo;Unity Sat&rsquo;</strong> from a consortium of universities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the <strong>third generation</strong> launch vehicle.</li>
<li>PSLV is the<strong> first launch vehicle which is equipped with liquid stages.</strong></li>
<li>PSLV&rsquo;s first successful launch was in October 1994. PSLV was used for two of the most important missions. These are <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chandrayaan-1-findings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chandrayaan-1</strong></a> in 2008 and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-department-of-space#:~:text=India%27s%20first%20inter%2Dplanetary%20mission,2014%20in%20its%20first%20attempt." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars Orbiter Spacecraft</strong> </a>in 2013.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gsat-30" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II</strong></a> and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gsat-29-satellite-launched-1-1#:~:text=Geosynchronous%20Transfer%20Orbit(GTO)%3A,to%20geostationary%20or%20geosynchronous%20orbit." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> GSLV MkIII</strong></a> are other two launch vehicles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>GSLV Mk II</strong> is the largest launch vehicle developed by India, which is currently in operation. This<strong> fourth generation launch vehicle</strong> is a three stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. The <strong>indigenously developed cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS),</strong> which is flight proven, forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II.</li>
<li><strong>GSLV MkIII,</strong> chosen to launch Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft, is a <strong>three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle</strong> developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GSLV Mk III is designed to carry a 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of the GSLV Mk II.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Geo-Synchronous Orbit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>geo-synchronous orbit</strong> is a high Earth orbit that allows satellites to match<strong> Earth's rotation.</strong> Located at 22,236 miles above Earth's equator, this position is a valuable spot for monitoring weather, communications and surveillance.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Geo -synchronous Transfer Orbit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To attain geosynchronous (and also geostationary) Earth orbits, a spacecraft is first launched into an<strong> elliptical orbit.</strong> This is called a<strong> Geo -synchronous Transfer Orbit</strong> (GTO).</li>
<li>A GTO is<strong> highly elliptic.</strong> Its perigee (closest point to Earth) is typically as high as <strong>low Earth orbit</strong> (LEO), while its <strong>apogee</strong> (furthest point from Earth) is as high as <strong>geostationary</strong> (or equally, a geosynchronous) orbit.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/pslv-c50-carrying-communication-satellite-cms-01-lifts-off/article33354704.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/isro-s-satellite-launch-cms-01'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'India-Bangladesh Virtual Summit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Bangladesh</strong></a> have held a <strong>virtual summit</strong> covering comprehensive discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bangladesh also invited India for the celebration of <strong>50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vijay-diwas-50-years-of-indo-pak-war-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bangladesh&rsquo;s</a></strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vijay-diwas-50-years-of-indo-pak-war-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <strong>Independence</strong></a> in <strong>1971</strong> and <strong>50 years of India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations,</strong> to be held in <strong>March 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608361143_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608361143_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Signing of Bilateral Documents and Inauguration of Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sealed <strong>seven agreements</strong> to expand cooperation in <strong>diverse areas</strong> viz. hydrocarbons, elephant conservation, sanitation, and agriculture, and <strong>restored a cross-border rail link</strong> which was in operation till 1965.</li>
<li>Inaugurated a <strong>digital exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi and Bangladesh&rsquo;s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Health Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reiterating the highest priority India attaches to Bangladesh under India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Neighbourhood First</strong> </a>policy, India assured that <strong>vaccines for Covid-19 would be made available to Bangladesh</strong> as and when produced in India.</li>
<li>India also<strong> offered collaboration in therapeutics and partnership in vaccine production.</strong></li>
<li>Bangladesh <strong>appreciated India&rsquo;s conducting capacity building courses</strong> for medical professionals in Bangla language.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jointly unveiled a <strong>commemorative postal stamp issued by the Government of India on the occasion of birth centenary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sheikh-mujibur-rehman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</a></strong></li>
<li>India thanked Bangladesh for <strong>issuing a stamp in honour of</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahatma-gandhi-jayanti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi</strong> </a>on the occasion of his <strong>150<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary</strong> celebrations.</li>
<li>Bangladesh requested India to consider <strong>Bangladesh&rsquo;s proposal to name</strong> the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nodia on Bangladesh-India border as <em><strong>"Shadhinota Shorok&rdquo;</strong></em> commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh&rsquo;s Liberation War.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Border Management and Security Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agreed to hold an early meeting of the <strong>Joint Boundary Conference</strong> to prepare a new set of strip maps with a view to finalizing the delineation of the boundaries.</li>
<li>It was agreed to carry out necessary work to convert the <strong>International Boundary along <em>Kuhsiyara</em> river</strong> into a fixed boundary.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Kuhsiyara river (known as <strong>Barak river in India</strong>) is <strong>one of the transboundary rivers</strong> between India-Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bangladesh reiterated the request for 1.3 km<strong> Innocent Passage through river route along River Padma</strong> (main<strong> channel of Ganga in Bangladesh</strong>) near Rajshahi district (Bangladesh). India assured to consider the request.</li>
<li>Stressed on the full implementation of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bangladesh-general-elections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coordinated Border Management Plan.</strong></a></li>
<li>Expressed satisfaction on<strong> efforts against smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake currency and to prevent trafficking,</strong> particularly of women and children.</li>
<li>Directed officials to expeditiously conclude the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the area of <strong>disaster management cooperation</strong> as both countries are prone to frequent natural disasters.</li>
<li>Bangladesh requested for early implementation of<strong> India&rsquo;s commitment to remove remaining restrictions on entry/exit from land ports in India</strong> for Bangladeshis travelling on valid documents in a phased manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade Partnership for Growth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh has appreciated the <strong>Duty-Free and Quota Free access</strong> given to Bangladeshi exports to India under <strong>South Asian Free Trade Area</strong> (SAFTA) since 2011.</li>
<li>Emphasized on addressing issues of <strong>non-tariff barriers and trade facilitation</strong> including port restrictions, procedural bottlenecks and quarantine restrictions so that both countries can take full advantage of SAFTA flexibility.</li>
<li>Directed the officials to expeditiously conclude the ongoing joint study on the <strong>prospects of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement</strong> (CEPA).</li>
<li>Welcomed the <strong>first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Textile Industry Forum</strong> and directed the officials to conclude the ongoing negotiations on various MoUs on increased linkages and collaboration in the textile sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Connectivity for Prosperity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jointly inaugurated the <strong>newly restored railway link between Haldibari</strong> (India) and <strong>Chilahati</strong> (Bangladesh) and noted that this rail link will further strengthen trade and people to people ties between the two sides.</li>
<li>Welcomed the signing of the second addendum to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protocol-on-inland-water-transit-and-trade#:~:text=As%20per%20the%20Protocol%20on,transit%20and%20inter%20country%20trade." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade</strong> </a>(PIWTT).</li>
<li>Agreed to an early operationalization of the<strong> Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative Motor Vehicles Agreement</strong> through the expeditious signing of the Enabling MoU for Bangladesh, India and Nepal to commence the movement of goods and passengers, with provision for Bhutan to join at a later date.</li>
<li>Bangladesh expressed keen interest in the ongoing <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-myanmar-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway project</strong> </a>and sought the support of India for enabling Bangladesh to connect with this project.</li>
<li>Satisfaction on commencement of a temporary <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/travel-bubble" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Air Travel Bubble</strong> </a>to facilitate the urgent requirements of travellers on both sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Water Resources, Power and Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh highlighted the need for <strong>early signing of an interim agreement for sharing of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/teesta-river#:~:text=Teesta%20river%20is%20a%20tributary,flowing%20through%20India%20and%20Bangladesh.&amp;text=The%20Teesta%20Barrage%20dam%20helps,issues%20between%20India%20and%20Bangladesh." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teesta waters</a></strong>, as agreed upon by both the governments in 2011.</li>
<li>Underscored the need for early conclusion of <strong>Framework of Interim Agreement</strong> on sharing of waters of six joint rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.</li>
<li>Recalled the positive contribution of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh-joint-water-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Joint Rivers Commission</strong> </a>(JRC) and looked forward to the next round of Secretarial level JRC meeting at the earliest.</li>
<li>Agreed to expedite implementation of projects including <strong>India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, Maitree Super Thermal Power Project</strong> as well as other projects.</li>
<li>Welcomed the signing of the<strong> Framework of Understanding on Cooperation in the Hydrocarbon Sector</strong> which would further augment energy linkages by streamlining investments, technology transfer, joint studies, training and promoting <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/hydrocarbon-exploration-and-licensing-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hydrocarbon</strong></a> connectivity.</li>
<li>Agreed to enhance cooperation in energy efficiency and clean energy, including in <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biofuels.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forcibly Displaced Persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar (Rohingya):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India appreciated the generosity of Bangladesh in <strong>sheltering and providing humanitarian assistance to</strong> the 1.1 million forcibly displaced<strong> persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar,</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-report-on-myanmar-rohingya-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohingya Crisis.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Partners in the Region and the World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India thanked Bangladesh for supporting India in its election to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council.</strong></a></li>
<li>Both countries agreed to continue working together towards achieving early reforms of the UN Security Council, combating <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a></strong>, attainment of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals</strong></a> (SDGs) and protection of the rights of migrants.</li>
<li>Highlighted that regional organisations such as the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation</strong></a> (SAARC) and <strong>the</strong> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation</strong> </a>(BIMSTEC) have an important role to play.</li>
<li>Bangladesh thanked India for convening the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20Emergency%20Fund%3A,a%20contribution%20to%20the%20fund." target="_blank" rel="noopener">SAARC leaders Video Conference</a> in March 2020</strong> and for creation of the <strong>SAARC Emergency Response Fund</strong> to counter effects of the global pandemic in the South Asian region.</li>
<li>Bangladesh will assume chairmanship of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Ocean Rim Association</strong> </a>(IORA) in<strong> 2021</strong> and requested the support of India for working towards greater maritime safety and security.</li>
<li>Bangladesh appreciated the work of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> New Development Bank</strong> </a>and thanked India for inviting Bangladesh to join the institution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1681428" 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/india-bangladesh-virtual-summit'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Bitcoins',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> Bitcoin,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/crypto-currency-exchange" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cryptocurrency</strong></a>, has crossed<strong> 20,000 US dollars</strong> in value.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bitcoin's price has<strong> always been volatile,</strong> and there is<strong> no clear explanation</strong> for its current rise.</li>
<li><strong>Cryptocurrency</strong> is a specific type of virtual currency, which is decentralised and protected by cryptographic encryption techniques. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple</strong> are a few notable examples of cryptocurrencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Introduction:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bitcoin is a type of digital currency that enables instant payments to anyone. Bitcoin was<strong> introduced in 2009.</strong> Bitcoin is based on an open-source protocol and is<strong> not issued by any central authority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The origin of Bitcoin is unclear, as is who founded it. A person, or a group of people, who went by the identity of <strong>Satoshi Nakamoto</strong> are said to have conceptualised an accounting system in the aftermath of the<strong> 2008 financial crisis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Originally, Bitcoin was intended to provide an<strong> alternative to <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/05-03-2020/print" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fiat money</a></strong> and become a universally accepted <strong>medium of exchange directly between two involved parties.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Fiat money</strong> is a <strong>government-issued currency</strong> that is <strong>not backed by a commodity such as gold.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It gives central banks <strong>greater control over the economy</strong> because they can control how much money is printed.</li>
<li>Most modern paper currencies, such as the<strong> US dollar and Indian Rupee are fiat currencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Record of Bitcoins (Blockchain):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All the transactions ever made are contained in a<strong> publicly available, open ledger,</strong> although in an anonymous and an encrypted form called a<strong> blockchain.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Transactions can be denominated in <strong>sub-units of a Bitcoin.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Satoshi</strong> is the smallest fraction of a Bitcoin.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Blockchain</strong> is a<strong> shared, immutable ledger</strong> that facilitates the <strong>process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a business network.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An asset can be <strong>tangible</strong> (a house, car, cash, land) or<strong> intangible</strong> (intellectual property, patents, copyrights, branding).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Virtually<strong> anything of value can be tracked and traded on a blockchain network,</strong> reducing risk and cutting costs for all involved.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A simple <strong>analogy for understanding blockchain technology</strong> is a<strong> Google Doc.</strong></li>
<li>When one creates a document and shares it with a group of people, the document is distributed instead of copied or transferred.</li>
<li>This creates a <strong>decentralized distribution chain that gives everyone access to the document at the same time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that<strong> other usage and applications of Blockchain technology</strong> have emerged in the last few years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have <strong>put the land records on the blockchain technology</strong> owing to its easy traceability feature.</li>
<li>Election Commission (EC) officials are exploring the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/blockchain-technology-in-voting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> potential of using blockchain technology to enable remote voting.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Acquiring Bitcoins:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One <strong>can either mine a new Bitcoin</strong> if they have the computing capacity,<strong> purchase them via exchanges,</strong> or <strong>acquire them in over-the-counter, person-to-person transactions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Miners</strong> are the people who validate a Bitcoin transaction and secure the network with their hardware. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bitcoin protocol is designed in such a way that new Bitcoins are created at a fixed rate.</li>
<li>No developer has the power to manipulate the system to increase their profits.</li>
<li>One unique aspect of Bitcoin is that only<strong> 21 million units</strong> will ever be created.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>Bitcoin exchange</strong> functions like a bank where a person<strong> buys and sells Bitcoins with traditional currency.</strong> Depending on the demand and supply, the <strong>price of a Bitcoin keeps fluctuating.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bitcoin Regulation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The supply of bitcoins is<strong> regulated by software and the agreement of users of the system</strong> and cannot be manipulated by any government, bank, organisation or individual.</li>
<li>Bitcoin was intended to come across as a <strong>global decentralised currency,</strong> any central authority regulating it would effectively defeat that purpose.</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that multiple governments across the world are<strong> investing in developing Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs),</strong> which are digital versions of national currencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legitimacy of Bitcoins (or cryptocurrencies) in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>In the 2018-19 <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">budget</a> speech,</strong> the Finance Minister announced that the <strong>government does not consider cryptocurrencies as legal tender</strong> and will take all measures to eliminate their use in financing illegitimate activities or as a part of the payment system.</li>
<li><strong>In April 2018, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</a></strong> notified that entities regulated by it should not deal in virtual currencies or provide services for facilitating any person or entity in dealing with or settling virtual currencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ban-on-cryptocurrency-trading-removed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court struck down the ban</strong> </a>on trading of virtual currencies (VC) in India, which was imposed by the RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Supreme Court</strong> has held that <strong>cryptocurrencies</strong> are in the nature of commodities and hence they <strong>can not be banned.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Reasons for the Rise in the Value of the Bitcoin:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increased acceptance during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>Global <strong>legitimacy from large players</strong> like payments firm PayPal, and Indian lenders like State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Yes Bank.</li>
<li>Some <strong>pension funds </strong>and<strong> insurance funds </strong>are<strong> investing in Bitcoins.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608360316_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608360316_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/should-you-invest-in-bitcoin-7109136/" 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/bitcoins'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Inter-Faith Marriage & Personal Liberty',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/love-jihad-uttar-pradesh-anti-conversion-law-yogi-adityanath-7107755/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;UP anti-conversion law pushes women back under parental and community control&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 17/12/2020. It talks about the issues related to laws regarding the prohibition of unlawful conversion of religion.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has passed the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/up-ordinance-on-unlawful-conversions#:~:text=UP%20Unlawful%20Religious%20Conversion%20Prohibition,religious%20conversion%20is%20two%20months." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020.</strong></a> Many other states are also in the process of similar laws.</p>
<p>The UP ordinance prohibits any religious conversion due to coercion, force, undue influence, allurement, fraud or by marriage and makes such a marriage liable to be declared void. It also makes such an act of conversion a non-bailable criminal offence.</p>
<p>However, the law has been criticised as being a violation of an individual&rsquo;s right to marry a person of one&rsquo;s choice and being restrictive of the fundamental right to life, autonomy and privacy.</p>
<p>Moreover, the law has roots in the patriarchy and communalism, which may affect social harmony and respect for individual dignity.</p>
<h3>Issues Related to The Proposed Law</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Interfering With Secularism:</strong> Indian Constitution enshrines secularism as one of the cardinal principles.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite this, several states have had anti-conversion laws for a long time, including Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against Personal Liberty:</strong> According to Articles 25 to 28, an Indian citizen is guaranteed the freedom to practise any religion of his or her choice. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Through this ordinance, the State wants to intervene not only in the citizens&rsquo; personal liberty by interfering with the choice of their spouse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Asymmetrical With Various Supreme Court&rsquo;s Judgment</strong>: The Supreme Court in <strong>Shafin Jahan v Ashok KM (2018),</strong> has upheld the right to marry a person of one&rsquo;s choice as a part of Article 21.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the Supreme Court, the Constitution protects the ability of each individual to pursue a way of life or faith to which she or he seeks to adhere. Therefore, the right to marry a person of one&rsquo;s choice is integral to Article 21 of the Constitution.</li>
<li>Further, Supreme Court in<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-judgements-of-independent-india#:~:text=Justice%20K.S.%20Puttaswamy%20vs.&amp;text=Main%20Theme%3A%20SC%20ruled%20that,21%20of%20the%20Indian%20constitution.&amp;text=They%20relied%20on%20the%20fulfilment,the%20Puttaswamy%20(2017)%20judgment." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> K.S. Puttaswamy v UOI (2017)</strong></a> judgment held that &ldquo;right of choice of a family life&rdquo; as a fundamental right.</li>
<li>The ordinance is a conflict with these judgments as it limits the choice of a prospective spouse such that this spouse would only be one approved by the State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reverse Burden of Proof:</strong> The Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion ordinance allows any relative of the woman to challenge the legitimacy of her marriage. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this case, the reverse burden of proof would apply, wherein the person who facilitated the conversion would need to prove that it was not forced while disregarding the woman&rsquo;s testimony of having consented to the conversion and marriage.</li>
<li>This is a direct violation of the right to be deemed innocent until proven guilty; an aspect that is particularly worrying for women exercising their right to choose their life partners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Patriarchal Roots:</strong> This shows the law has deep-seated patriarchal roots, wherein women are infantilised, placed under parental and community control, and denied the right to take life decisions, should those decisions not be agreeable to their guardians.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Historically, marriage has been a tool to control women&rsquo;s sexualities, promulgate caste lineage and stop women from exercising their autonomy. This communal propaganda does nothing to safeguard women&rsquo;s rights, rather it further curtails their mobility, social interactions and freedom of choice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deep-Rooted Prejudice:</strong> This deep-rooted opposition to interfaith marriage is comparable to a similar deep-rooted opposition to inter-caste marriage, in that both stem from historical prejudices between specific communities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recognising this prejudice, some members of the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights, especially the women members Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Hansa Jivraj Mehta, advocated for the inclusion of interfaith marriage as a fundamental right.</li>
<li>They wanted to introduce a constitutional provision to require the state to remove any impediments to inter-faith marriages so that the social stigma against such marriages is removed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Young Indian women of all faiths are increasingly seeking freedom &mdash; to work, study, marry who they choose and live life on their own terms. These basic rights must not be questioned or curtailed.</p>
<p>A woman&rsquo;s agency is her own, and no parent, relative or state apparatus should be given the authority to coerce her. The attempt to rob women of their agency is an attempt to produce a docile female population that does as it is told, and does not rebel against societal and familial directives.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7fff7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a conservative society with moral policing, any law to curb interfaith marriages is an assault on the rights of young men and women. Discuss.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mYFT9YBuAUM" 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.financialexpress.com/opinion/big-stakes-for-apple-india-need-to-address-all-issues/2151527/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Big stakes for Apple &amp; India, need to address all issues&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Financial Express on December 17<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/inter-faith-marriage-personal-liberty'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Hawker Culture</strong> in<strong> Singapore</strong> has been inscribed on the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UNESCO</strong></a> <strong>Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity</strong> at the <strong>15<sup>th</sup> session of the Intergovernmental Committee</strong> (IGC) that was held online.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hawker Culture in Singapore:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a living heritage shared by those who prepare hawker food and those who dine and mingle over hawker food in community dining spaces called hawker centres.</li>
<li>It reflects Singapore&rsquo;s multicultural identity as a people and nation, and resonates strongly with Singaporeans across all races and social strata.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO&rsquo;s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This coveted list is made up of those<strong> intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage</strong> and <strong>raise awareness</strong> about its importance.</li>
<li>The list was established in <strong>2008</strong> when the <strong>Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage</strong> came into effect.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intangible Cultural Heritage of India, recognized by UNESCO:</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608287673_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608287673_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Culture</strong> has also launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-national-list-of-intangible-cultural-heritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The National ICH List is an attempt to recognize the diversity of Indian culture embedded in its intangible heritage.</li>
<li>This initiative is also a part of the <strong>Vision 2024 of the Ministry of Culture.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNESCO</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO is the<strong> United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.</strong> It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.</li>
<li>UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Sustainable Development Goals</strong> </a>defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.</li>
<li>It has 193 Members and 11 Associate Members. <strong>India joined UNESCO in 1946.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/united-states-and-israel-quit-unesco#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20and%20Israel,scientific%20and%20cultural%20agency%2C%20UNESCO.&amp;text=The%20United%20States%20had%20pulled,used%20to%20advance%20Soviet%20interests." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> the USA and Israel formally quit UNESCO.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is<strong> headquartered in Paris, France.</strong></li>
<li><strong>UNESCO-IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission)</strong> is leading a global effort to establish ocean-based tsunami warning systems as part of an overall multi-hazard disaster reduction strategy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, UNESCO-IOC approved the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tsunami-ready-programme-unesco-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recognition of two communities of Odisha</strong> </a>viz., Venkatraipur and Noliasahi as Tsunami Ready Communities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives of UNESCO:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biosphere-reserves-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Man and Biosphere Programme:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Biosphere Reserves focus on the harmonised management of <strong>biological and cultural diversity.</strong></li>
<li>Out of 18 notified biosphere reserves, India has 12 biosphere reserves under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), the latest one included is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panna-biosphere-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panna Biosphere Reserve.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Programme:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>World Heritage Sites promote the <strong>conservation of natural and cultural sites</strong> of outstanding universal value.</li>
<li>India has <strong>38 world heritage sites, including 30 cultural properties, 7 natural properties and 1 mixed site.</strong> The latest one included is <strong>Jaipur city, Rajasthan.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unesco-global-geoparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO Global Geopark Network</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>UNESCO Global Geoparks give <strong>international recognition</strong> for sites that promote the importance and significance of protecting the <strong>Earth&rsquo;s geodiversity</strong> through actively engaging with the <strong>local communities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India does not have any UNESCO Global geopark.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unesco-s-network-of-creative-cities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO's Network of Creative Cities:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was <strong>created in 2004</strong> to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.</li>
<li>The Network covers seven creative fields: <strong>Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.</strong></li>
<li>There are<strong> five Indian cities</strong> in UCCN as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hyderabad &ndash; Gastronomy (2019).</li>
<li>Mumbai &ndash; Film (2019).</li>
<li>Chennai - Creative city of Music (2017).</li>
<li>Jaipur - Crafts and Folk Arts (2015).</li>
<li>Varanasi - Creative city of Music (2015).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/singapore-street-hawker-food-unesco-recognition-7108347/" 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/unesco-list-of-intangible-cultural-heritage-of-humanity'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Young Champions of the Earth: UN',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the <strong>seven winners</strong> of the prestigious <strong>&ldquo;Young Champions of the Earth&rdquo;</strong> 2020 prize given by the <strong>United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)</strong> to global change-makers using innovative ideas and ambitious action to help solve some of the world&rsquo;s most pressing environmental challenges.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Introduced in <strong>2017, Young Champions of the Earth</strong> aims to celebrate and support individuals aged between <strong>18 and 30</strong> who have outstanding <strong>potential to create a positive environmental impact.</strong></li>
<li>In 2020, seven Young Champions of the Earth will be selected from<strong> each global region:</strong> Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia and two from Asia and the Pacific.</li>
<li>Each winner will receive:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>USD 10,000 in seed funding,</li>
<li>Attendance at a high-level <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN</strong></a> meeting,</li>
<li>An introduction to dignitaries at the <a href="/search/Champions%20of%20the%20Earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Champions of the Earth award</strong></a> ceremony,</li>
<li>Publicity and recognition through interviews and online and global media.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>7 Winners of 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fatemah Alzelzela, Kuwait: (Eco Star - Trees for waste).</strong> A non-profit recycling initiative that exchanges trees and plants for waste from homes, schools and businesses.</li>
<li><strong>Lefteris Arapakis, Greece: (Mediterranean CleanUp).</strong> Trains, empowers and incentivises the local fishing community to collect plastic from the sea, allowing both fish stocks and the ecosystem to recover.</li>
<li><strong>Max Hidalgo Quinto, Peru: (YAWA).</strong> Sustainable technology for access to water building portable wind turbines that harvest up to 300 litres of water per day from atmospheric humidity and mist.</li>
<li><strong>Niria Alicia Garcia, United States of America: (Run4Salmon).</strong> An indigenous-lead conservation uses virtual reality to bring to life the historical journey of the Sacramento chinook salmon along California&rsquo;s largest watershed, raising awareness of this invaluable ecosystem, the species and people it supports.</li>
<li><strong>Nzambi Matee, Kenya: (Building a Greener Kenya).</strong> Produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic waste and sand.</li>
<li><strong>Xiaoyuan Ren, China: (MyH<sub>2</sub>O).</strong> A data platform for clean water that tests and records the quality of groundwater across a thousand villages in rural China into an app so residents know where to find clean water.</li>
<li><strong>Vidyut Mohan, India: (Takachar).</strong> Harvesting value from agricultural waste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Takachar: Harvesting Value from Agricultural Waste</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Takachar is a<strong> social enterprise</strong> founded by <strong>Vidyut Mohan</strong> in 2018.</li>
<li>It enables farmers to prevent open burning of their waste farm residues and earn extra income by converting them into <strong>value-added chemicals.</strong></li>
<li>It is a meaningful and immediate solution to the <strong>triple planetary crises </strong>of <strong>climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Procedure:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Takachar buys rice husks, straw and coconut shells from farmers and turns them into charcoal, saving the debris from the fires, which are also a driver of climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Open burning of agricultural residues is a big source of air pollution in many parts of the world and this innovative technology can help farmers turn what is currently thought of as waste into a valuable resource while helping clean up our environment.</li>
<li>Enables <strong>rural farmers to earn 40%</strong> more by converting their crop residues into fuels, fertilisers and value-added chemicals like activated carbon (AC) on-site.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Potential:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By 2030, Takachar will impact 300 million farmers affected by this problem, create USD 4 billion/year equivalent in additional rural income and jobs, and mitigate one gigaton/year of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nation Environment Program</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was <strong>established in 1972</strong> to guide and coordinate<strong> environmental activities</strong> within the United Nations (UN) system.</li>
<li>UNEP promotes international cooperation on environmental issues, provides guidance to UN organizations.</li>
<li>Through its scientific advisory groups, UNEP encourages the international scientific community to participate in formulating policy for many of the UN&rsquo;s environmental projects.</li>
<li>UNEP is <strong>headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.</strong></li>
<li>The organization also encourages <strong>participation by the private sector</strong> to promote the sustainable use of the world&rsquo;s natural resources.</li>
<li><strong>Major Reports:</strong> Emission Gap Report, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-environment-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Environment Outlook</strong></a>, Frontiers, Invest into Healthy Planet.</li>
<li><strong>Major Campaigns:</strong> Beat Pollution, UN75, World Environment Day, Wild for Life.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/indian-entrepreneur-named-among-young-champions-of-the-earth-winners-unep-7108214/" 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/young-champions-of-the-earth-un'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Recommendations on Reservation ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an <strong>eight-member committee,</strong> appointed by the government for<strong> suggesting measures for effective implementation of reservation in students admissions and faculty recruitment</strong> in the<strong> Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs),</strong> has come out with its recommendations.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Committee:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was<strong> chaired by IIT Delhi&rsquo;s Director</strong> and had representatives of secretaries of the departments of <strong>Social Justice and Empowerment, Tribal Affairs, Department of Personnel and Training, Persons with Disabilities,</strong> among others.</li>
<li>Its report was <strong>submitted to the Ministry of Education in June 2020</strong> and has been made available under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Being established and recognised as institutions of national importance, <strong>IITs should be added to the list of &ldquo;Institutions of Excellence&rdquo;</strong> mentioned in the <strong>Schedule</strong> to the <strong>Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers&rsquo; Cadre) Act, 2019</strong> (CEI Act).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Section 4 of the Act exempts</strong> &ldquo;institutions of excellence, research institutions, institutions of national and strategic importance&rdquo; mentioned in the Schedule and &ldquo;minority institutions&rdquo; from providing reservation.</li>
<li>Currently, many research institutes like the<strong> Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, National Brain Research Centre, Space Physics Laboratory,</strong> etc. are included under Section 4 of the act, but not the IITs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If granting full exemption from reservations was not possible, the committee recommended that the implementation of reservation policies for all categories <strong>including Economically Weaker Sections</strong> (EWS) be <strong>restricted just to Assistant Professor Grade I and Grade II and not for levels above.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Vacancies not filled in a particular year</strong> due to non-availability, be <strong>de-reserved in the subsequent year.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Conduct of special recruitment drives</strong> to attract candidates from reserved categories.</li>
<li>To<strong> address diversity issues,</strong> the report argued that a<strong> &ldquo;system emphasising targeted goals over a period of time&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>not &ldquo;specific quotas&rdquo;</strong> be followed so that IITs can &ldquo;compete with other top institutions in the world in terms of excellence, output, research and teaching.&rdquo;</li>
<li>The panel proposes a <strong>two-year Research Assistantship for students from reserved categories aspiring to join PhD programmes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It highlighted that the <strong>enrollment of reserved category students in the PhD programme is low and needs to be addressed,</strong> which is severely limiting the number of reserved category candidates available to be hired as faculty in the IIT system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers&rsquo; Cadre) Act, 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It provides for the <strong>reservation of posts in appointments by direct recruitment</strong> of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Scheduled Tribes (STs), the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) and the Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs), to <strong>teachers&rsquo; cadre in certain Central Educational Institutions</strong> established, maintained or aided by the Central Government, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.</li>
<li>The<strong> Act not to apply in certain cases:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The institutions of excellence, research institutions, institutions of national and strategic importance specified in the Schedule to this Act.</li>
<li>A Minority Educational Institution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However. the <strong>Central Government may,</strong> by notification in the Official Gazette, <strong>amend the Schedule from time to time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/exempt-iit-recruitments-from-reservation-suggests-panel-7107855/" 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/recommendations-on-reservation'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>35<sup>th</sup> edition </strong>of <strong>India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT)</strong> between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy has been conducted.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608275460_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608275460_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As part of Government of India&rsquo;s vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision#:~:text=In%202015%2C%20India%20unveiled%20it's,in%20the%20Region%20(SAGAR).&amp;text=Through%20SAGAR%2C%20India%20seeks%20to,building%20their%20maritime%20security%20capabilities." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region)</strong></a>, the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region for <strong>coordinated patrols, cooperation in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)</a> surveillance, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/passex-with-the-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passage exercises&nbsp;</a></strong>and<strong> bilateral/ multilateral exercises.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main<strong> objective</strong> is towards enhancing regional maritime security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IND-INDO CORPAT:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To reinforce maritime links, the two navies have been carrying out CORPAT along their International Maritime Boundary Line<strong> since 2002.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ensuring <strong>safety and security of shipping and international trade</strong> in the region.</li>
<li>CORPATs build up<strong> understanding and interoperability between navies</strong> and facilitate institution of measures to prevent and <strong>suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participants in 35<sup>th</sup> Edition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kulish -</strong> an indigenously built missile corvette and<a href="/printpdf/important-facts-for-prelims-3rd-june-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)</strong></a> undertook coordinated patrol along with Indonesian ships.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> The 35<sup>th</sup> IND-INDO CORPAT will contribute towards the Indian Navy&rsquo;s efforts to consolidate interoperability and <strong>forge strong bonds of friendship across the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Pacific</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Military Exercises with Indonesia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-samudra-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Samudra Shakti</strong></a>: A bilateral <strong>maritime</strong> exercise.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-maitree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Garuda Shakti</strong></a>: A joint <strong>military</strong> exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1681520#:~:text=The%2035th%20edition%20of,17%20to%2018%20December%202020." 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/india-indonesia-coordinated-patrol'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'National Security Directive',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Cabinet Committee on Security</strong> has approved the setting up of a <strong>new National Security Directive</strong> on the <strong>telecommunication</strong> sector.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also, the Union Cabinet has <strong>approved the auction of 2,251.25 megahertz of spectrum</strong> with a<strong> reserve price of Rs. 3.92 lakh crore.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre asked all <strong>telecom operators to undertake an &lsquo;information security audit&rsquo;</strong> of their networks.</li>
<li>The<strong> objective</strong> was to <strong>specifically check for any &lsquo;backdoor&rsquo;</strong> or <strong>&lsquo;trapdoor&rsquo; vulnerabilities</strong> in the telecom networks, which can be <strong>exploited to extract information and pass on illegally</strong> to agencies around the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A backdoor or a trap door is a <strong>bug installed in the telecom hardware that allows companies to listen in or collect data</strong> being shared on the network.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE have been <strong>under global scrutiny for allegedly installing backdoor vulnerabilities</strong> and <strong>spying</strong> for the Chinese government and have been <strong>banned by several countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Almost <strong>30% of Bharti Airtel&rsquo;s network comprises Chinese telecom equipment</strong> and it is <strong>40% for Vodafone Idea&rsquo;s</strong> network. <strong>State-run telcos</strong> Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) too <strong>have equipment from Chinese vendors,</strong> including <strong>Huawei</strong> and <strong>ZTE,</strong> in their 3G and older networks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>All vendors</strong> including Huawei and ZTE were<strong> allowed to participate in 5G trials</strong> but their <strong>participation became difficult owing to developments like the Galwan Valley Standoff</strong> in Ladakh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>government barred BSNL and MTNL from using Chinese equipment</strong> for the roll-out of its 4G network.</li>
<li>The <strong>Department of Telecommunications</strong> hinted that it would <strong>announce guidelines asking even private telcos to refrain from using Chinese equipment,</strong> however, no such guidelines have been issued till now.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Security Directive:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to <strong>classify telecom products and their sources</strong> under the<strong> &lsquo;trusted&rsquo;</strong> and <strong>&lsquo;non-trusted&rsquo;</strong> categories.</li>
<li>It will make its decision based on <strong>approval of the National Security Committee on Telecom.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will be <strong>headed by the deputy National Security Advisor</strong> (NSA) and have members from other departments and ministries, and independent experts as well as two members from the industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> National Cyber Security Coordinator</strong> is the <strong>designated authority</strong> and will <strong>devise the methodology</strong> to designate trusted products.</li>
<li>From among the sources declared as trusted sources by the designated authority, those which <strong>meet the criteria of the Department of Telecom&rsquo;s preferential market access policy</strong> will be certified as <strong>India trusted sources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The policy provides <strong>opportunities to local manufacturers of equipment and handsets in the &ldquo;sensitive&rdquo; telecom sector </strong>to<strong> counter dumping of products</strong> by other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Telecom Service Providers</strong> (TSPs) are <strong>required to connect new devices which are designated trusted</strong> products.</li>
<li>However, the directive<strong> will not ask TSPs to mandatorily replace the old and existing equipment</strong> and does not impact the ongoing annual maintenance contracts or upgrades to old equipment either.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the directive, the government will release at regular intervals new guidelines for<strong> effective monitoring and effective control of the network security</strong> of the TSPs.</li>
<li>The move could potentially make it <strong>more difficult for Chinese telecom equipment vendors</strong> to supply equipment to Indian telecom players.</li>
<li><strong>Mobile applications that either have Chinese origins or have central servers in China</strong> may also find <strong>re-entry in the market extremely difficult.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since <strong>June 2020,</strong> the <strong>Centre has banned over 200 Chinese apps,</strong> citing national security concerns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Telecom Spectrum Auction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Spectrum in the <strong>frequency bands of 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz, 1,800MHz, 2,100MHz, 2,300MHz and 2,500MHz</strong> would be offered for<strong> 20 years.</strong></li>
<li>The auction would help <strong>boost spectrum availability with telecom operators enabling improvements in 4G services.</strong></li>
<li>By winning the right to use spectrum through the auction, incumbent telecom service providers will be<strong> able to augment their network capacity,</strong> whereas<strong> new players will be able to start services.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Spectrum holding per operator in a service area in India is well below the international average</strong> so any further auctioning of spectrum is needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Spectrum Auction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>transparent process of spectrum assignment to successful bidders.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sufficient spectrum availability increases the quality of telecom services for the consumers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is relevant that the telecom sector today is a key infrastructure provider with <strong>strong linkages with economic growth, direct and indirect employment generation</strong> and expansion of <strong>Digital India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/telecom-products-govt-to-come-out-with-trusted-non-trusted-sources-7107760/" 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/national-security-directive'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Loan Pact with NDB',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Government has recently announced a <strong>1 billion USD loan pact</strong> with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Development Bank</strong> </a>(NDB) to boost rural employment and infrastructure.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and the <strong>New Development Bank</strong> (NDB) signed a loan agreement worth<strong> 1 billion USD</strong> to help India&rsquo;s <strong>economic recovery from Covid-19</strong> by supporting:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Spending</strong> on rural infrastructure related to natural resource management (NRM) and</li>
<li><strong>Rural employment generation</strong> under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-group-of-chief-ministers-on-coordination-between-mgnrega-and-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The loan has a tenor of<strong> 30 years, including a 5-year grace period.</strong></li>
<li>The funding comes under <strong>NDB&rsquo;s Policy on fast-track emergency response to Covid-19.</strong></li>
<li>The loan would specially help <strong>migrant workers</strong> who have returned from urban areas and have lost their livelihoods due to the pandemic.</li>
<li>Economic activity slowed down post lockdowns to contain the <strong>spread of virus,</strong> resulting in loss of employment and income of workers especially those employed in the informal sector, including rural areas.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-grouphttps://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-grouphttps://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> has also approved four projects worth over 800 million USD for strengthening<strong> India&rsquo;s social protection architecture,</strong> promoting nutrition-supportive agriculture for tribal households in <strong>Chhattisgarh,</strong> enhancing quality education in<strong> Nagaland</strong> and improving safety and performance of existing<strong> dams</strong> across states.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>New Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a multilateral development bank <strong>jointly founded by the BRICS countries</strong> (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) at the 6<sup>th</sup> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a> Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014.</li>
<li>It was formed to support infrastructure and sustainable development efforts in BRICS and other underserved, emerging economies for faster development through innovation and cutting-edge technology.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s ownership structure is unique, as the <strong>BRICS countries have an equal share and no country has any veto power.</strong></li>
<li>It is headquartered at <strong>Shanghai, China.</strong></li>
<li>In 2018, the NDB received <strong>observer status</strong> in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> General Assembly, establishing a firm basis for active and fruitful cooperation with the United Nations.</li>
<li>All members of the United Nations could be members of the Bank, however <strong>the share of the BRICS nations can never be less than 55% of voting power.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/govt-inks-1-bn-loan-pact-with-ndb-to-boost-rural-employment-infrastructure-7107783/" 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/loan-pact-with-ndb'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Challenges Faced By The WTO',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-many-challenges-for-wto/article33349954.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;The many challenges for WTO&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 17/12/2020. It talks about the issues related to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in present times.</p>
</div>
<p>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto#:~:text=The%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO,and%20ratified%20in%20their%20parliaments." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></a> has been the cornerstone of the multilateral rules-based global trading system since its inception in 1995.</p>
<p>However, even before the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, all three of the organization&rsquo;s functions &ndash; providing a negotiation forum to liberalize trade and establish new rules, monitoring trade policies, and resolving disputes between its 164 members are facing challenges.</p>
<p>Moreover, with trade tensions increasingly politicized and Covid-19 creating huge economic challenges, a modernized and fully functioning WTO is more essential than ever.</p>
<h3>Issues Related to WTO</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s State Capitalism:</strong> The nature of China&rsquo;s economic system, combined with the size and growth of its economy, has created tensions in the global trading system.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China&rsquo;s state-owned enterprises present a major challenge to the free-market global trading system.</li>
<li>However, a critical part of the problem is that the rulebook of the WTO is inadequate for addressing the challenges that China presents in respect of intellectual property, state-owned enterprises and industrial subsidies.</li>
<li>It is due to this <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US-China are engaged in Trade war.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Institutional Issues:</strong> The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto#:~:text=The%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO,and%20ratified%20in%20their%20parliaments." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Appellate Body&rsquo;s operations</strong></a> have effectively been suspended since December 2019, as the US&rsquo;s blocking of appointments has left the body without a quorum of adjudicators needed to hear appeals.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The crisis with the dispute settlement function of the WTO is closely linked to the breakdown in its negotiation function.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Transparency:</strong> There is a problem in WTO negotiations as there is no agreed definition of what constitutes a developed or developing country at the WTO.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Members can currently self-designate as developing countries to receive &lsquo;special and differential treatment&rsquo; &ndash; a practice that is the subject of much contention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>E-commerce &amp; Digital Trade:</strong> While the global trade landscape has changed significantly over the past 25 years, WTO rules have not kept pace.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1998, realizing that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-take-on-e-commerce-at-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-commerce</strong></a> would play a growing role in the global economy, WTO members established a WTO e-commerce moratorium to examine all trade-related issues relating to global electronic commerce.</li>
<li>Recently, however, the moratorium has been called into question by developing countries because of its implications for collecting revenue.</li>
<li>Moreover, as the Covid-19 pandemic accelerates the shift to e-commerce, rules to regulate online trade will be more important than ever. But in contrast to trade in goods and services, few international rules govern cross-border e-commerce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture and Development:</strong> The WTO <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india%27s-disputes-at-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agreement on Agriculture</strong></a>, which came into force in 1995, was an important milestone.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agreement on Agriculture targets reform of subsidies and high trade barriers, which distort agricultural trade.</li>
<li>However, agreement on agriculture is facing issues due to food security and development requirements for developing countries like India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>New Set of Rules:</strong> Modernizing the WTO will necessitate the development of a new set of rules for dealing with digital trade and e-commerce.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WTO members will also have to deal more effectively with China&rsquo;s trade policies and practices, including how to better handle state-owned enterprises and industrial subsidies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Sustainability:</strong> Given the pressing issues around climate change, increased efforts to align trade and environmental sustainability could help to both tackle climate change and reinvigorate the WTO.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Trade and the WTO have key roles to play in efforts to achieve the UN <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong></a> and the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-renewed-support-for-paris-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Paris Agreement climate goals.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, the WTO can play a role in reforming fossil fuel subsidies.</li>
<li>For example, at the Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference in 2017, a coalition of 12 WTO members led by New Zealand called on the WTO &lsquo;to achieve ambitious and effective disciplines on inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In future, WTO members will have to strike a balance between moving forward with negotiations on 21<sup>st</sup>-century issues and keeping sight of the unresolved &lsquo;old trade issues&rsquo; such as agriculture and development.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffdfa;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In order to stay relevant, World Trade Organization (WTO) members should engage in negotiations on 21<sup>st</sup>-century issues and keep sight of the unresolved old trade issues. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQKN7u4SFrk" 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.hindustantimes.com/editorials/keep-a-close-watch-on-inflation-figures-ht-editorial/story-QrFK8fNoVZJhq0S8YHCVYI.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Keep a close watch on inflation figures&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on December 15<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/challenges-faced-by-the-wto'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'US Puts India on Currency Watchlist',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the US treasury has placed <strong>India on its currency manipulator watch list. Vietnam and Switzerland</strong> have been labelled<strong> as currency manipulators.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2019, the US Treasury Department<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/usa-removes-india-from-currency-monitoring-watch-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> had removed India from its currency manipulator watch list</strong></a> of major trading partners.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Currency Manipulators:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is<strong> a label given by the US government to countries</strong> it feels are engaging in <strong>&ldquo;unfair currency practices&rdquo; by deliberately devaluing their currency against the dollar.</strong></li>
<li>The practice would mean that the country in question is<strong> artificially lowering the value of its currency</strong> to gain an unfair advantage over others. This is because the <strong>devaluation would reduce the cost of exports from that country</strong> and artificially show a reduction in trade deficits as a result.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Currency Manipulator Watch List:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US Department of Treasury releases<strong> the semi-annual report</strong> where it has <strong>to track developments in international economies and inspect foreign exchange rates.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Criteria:</strong> An economy <strong>meeting two of the three criteria in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015</strong> is placed on the Watch List. This includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>&ldquo;significant&rdquo; bilateral trade surplus with the US &mdash;</strong> one that is <strong>at least USD 20 billion</strong> over a 12-month period.</li>
<li>A material <strong>current account surplus equivalent to at least 2% of gross domestic product (GDP)</strong> over a 12-month period.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Persistent&rdquo;, one-sided intervention &mdash; when <strong>net purchases of foreign currency totalling at least 2% of the country&rsquo;s GDP</strong> over a 12 month period are conducted repeatedly, in at least six out of 12 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequence:</strong> Inclusion in the list does not subject to any kind of penalty and sanctions but it <strong>deteriorates the global financial image</strong> of the country in the financial markets in terms of foreign exchange policies including undervaluation of currencies to gain export advantages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India, Taiwan and Thailand</strong> have been <strong>added to seven others</strong> already in <strong>the watch list.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Others on the list include China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, Singapore and Malaysia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per the report by the US Treasury, <strong>India and Singapore</strong> had intervened in the foreign exchange market in a "sustained, asymmetric manner" but did not meet other requirements to warrant designation as manipulators.</li>
<li>India, which has for several years maintained a &ldquo;significant&rdquo; bilateral goods trade surplus with the US, crossed the USD 20 billion mark, according to the latest report. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bilateral goods trade surplus totalled USD 22 billion in the first four quarters through June 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, <strong>India&rsquo;s net purchases of foreign exchange</strong> accelerated notably in the second half of 2019. Following sales during the initial onset of the pandemic, India sustained net purchases for much of the first half of 2020, which pushed net purchases of foreign exchange to USD 64 billion&ndash;or 2.4% of GDP&ndash;over the four quarters through June 2020.</li>
<li>According to some experts, the tag could <strong>lead to the rupee appreciating</strong> as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) might step back from its dollar purchases. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Currency appreciation</strong> is an increase in the value of one currency in relation to another currency. A currency is strong if it is becoming more valuable relative to another country&rsquo;s currency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608201738_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608201738_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/us-treasury-labels-switzerland-vietnam-as-currency-manipulators-adds-india-in-monitoring-list/articleshow/79762881.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:ET</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-puts-india-on-currency-watchlist'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Indian Diaspora in the United Kingdom',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, British Foreign Secretary has stated that<strong> &ldquo;India&rsquo;s politics&rdquo;</strong> is, in some sense, <strong>&ldquo;Britain&rsquo;s politics&rdquo;</strong> because of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-diaspora" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian diaspora</a> in the United Kingdom (UK).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The statement came as he discussed the situation arising out of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>farmers&rsquo; protests</strong> </a>with the External Affairs Minister of India.</li>
<li>British Prime Minister would be the <strong>chief guest at <a href="/pdf/republic-day.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republic Day</a> celebrations in January 2021.</strong></li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister has been invited for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g-7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G7</strong></a> summit in 2021.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Diaspora:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian Diaspora is a generic term used for addressing <strong>people who have migrated from the territories that are currently within the borders of India.</strong></li>
<li>The term<strong> &ldquo;diaspora&rdquo;</strong> is derived from the <strong>Greek word diaspeirein,</strong> which means <strong>&ldquo;dispersion&rdquo;.</strong> Over time, the term evolved, and now loosely refers to <strong>any person/s belonging to a particular country with a common origin or culture, but residing outside their homeland for various reasons.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Diaspora in the UK:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Historical Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>incorporation of the British Empire in India</strong> can be linked to the existence of modern Indian Diaspora all over the world.</li>
<li>Dating back to the nineteenth century, <strong>Indian indentured labor was taken over to the British colonies</strong> in different parts of the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Population:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Indian Diaspora in the UK is <strong>one of the largest ethnic minority communities in the country,</strong> with the 2011 census recording approximately <strong>1.5 million people of Indian origin in the UK</strong> equating to almost <strong>1.8%</strong> of Britain&rsquo;s population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economy:</strong> Indians contribute<strong> 6% of the UK&rsquo;s GDP.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Indian diaspora-owned companies</strong> with a combined revenue of 36.84 billion pounds <strong>employ over 1,74,000 people</strong> and pay over 1 billion pounds in Corporation Tax.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Culture:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There has been a gradual mainstreaming of Indian culture and absorption of Indian cuisine, cinema, languages, religion, philosophy, performing arts, etc.</li>
<li><strong>The Nehru Centre</strong> is the cultural wing of the High Commission of India in the UK which was <strong>established in 1992.</strong></li>
<li>2017 was celebrated as the <strong>India-UK year of Culture</strong> to mark the 70<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Indian independence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Politics:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2019, the British House of Commons had <strong>15 members of parliament of Indian origin.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Indian Diaspora</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Huge Number:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-diaspora-largest-in-the-world-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Global Migration Report 2020</strong></a>, India continues to be the <strong>largest country of origin of international migrants</strong> with a <strong>17.5 million</strong>-strong diaspora across the world, and it received the <strong>highest remittance of USD 78.6 billion</strong> (this amounts to a whopping <strong>3.4% of India&rsquo;s GDP</strong>) from Indians living abroad.</li>
<li>It contributes by way of <strong>remittances, investment, lobbying for India, promoting Indian culture abroad and for building a good image of India</strong> by their intelligence and industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Front:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian diaspora is <strong>one of the richest minorities in many developed countries,</strong> this helps them to lobby for favourable terms regarding India's interests.</li>
<li>The migration of less-skilled labour (especially to West Asia) has also helped in <strong>bringing down disguised unemployment in India.</strong></li>
<li>In general, migrants' <strong>remittances have positive systemic effects on the balance of payments.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Remittances of USD 70-80 billion help to bridge a wider trade deficit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>By weaving a web of cross-national networks, the migrant workers facilitated the <strong>flow of tacit information, commercial and business ideas, and technologies into India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political Front:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many people of Indian origin hold<strong> top political positions in many countries,</strong> in the USA itself, they are now a significant part of Republicans and Democrats, as well as the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India's diaspora played an important role in the <strong>India-U.S. nuclear deal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian diaspora is not just a part of <strong>India&rsquo;s soft power,</strong> but a fully transferable <strong>political vote bank</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Related Government Initiatives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-23rd-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD):</a> </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and reconnect them with their roots.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UMANG International App:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It would help all Indian international students, NRIs, and Indian tourists abroad to avail themselves of the services of the government of India anytime they want.</li>
<li>The app would be helpful in creating awareness about India in the world through &lsquo;Indian Culture&rsquo; services available on it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>VAJRA Faculty Scheme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Scheme enables NRIs and the overseas scientific community to participate and contribute to research and development in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Know India Programme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a three-week orientation programme for diaspora youth conducted with a view to promote awareness on different facets of life in India and the progress made by the country in various fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/discussed-protests-your-politics-ours-too-uk-dominic-raab-7107927/" 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/indian-diaspora-in-the-united-kingdom'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'No Replies to SC or HCs: Maharashtra',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>both Houses of the Maharashtra State Legislature</strong> have passed proposals stating that they <strong>will not take cognizance of or reply to any notice sent by the High Court</strong> (HC) or the <strong>Supreme Court</strong> (SC)<strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/privilege-motion-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breach of Privilege Motion</a></strong> against a TV editor and anchor.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Breach of Privilege Motion was moved in the State Assembly against the TV anchor, accused of using <strong>&ldquo;derogatory language&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;making baseless remarks&rdquo;</strong> against the Chief Minister of the State and <strong>&ldquo;frequently insulting&rdquo;</strong> Ministers and MPs during TV debates.</li>
<li>The anchor <strong>filed a petition challenging the Breach of Privilege Motion</strong> in the SC.</li>
<li>The <strong>assistant secretary of the Assembly questioned this move</strong> as well as <strong>producing &ldquo;confidential&rdquo; communications</strong> from the Speaker and the House Privileges Committee.</li>
<li>The <strong>SC then issued a contempt notice</strong> to the assistant secretary of the Assembly and also held that it might be &ldquo;necessary in all probability to serve the Speaker&rdquo; to know his version in matter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Scenario and State Assembly&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The House Speaker<strong> initiated the motion of the Treasury benches</strong> and cited <strong>Article 194 of the Constitution,</strong> which lays down the powers and privileges of the Houses of Legislatures, and <strong>Article 212,</strong> which pertains to courts not inquiring into proceedings of the legislature.</li>
<li>The proposals held that <strong>replying to such notices could mean accepting that the judiciary can keep a check on the legislature</strong> and would be inconsistent with the <strong>Basic Structure of the Constitution.</strong></li>
<li>The proposals were <strong>passed unanimously,</strong> which stated that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker would not respond to any notice or summons issued by the SC.</li>
<li>The <strong>Legislative Council also passed the proposal unanimously</strong> and stated that <strong>no cognizance will be taken of any notice or summons issued by the HC or SC.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reactions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Politicians have noted that the<strong> notice was in exception to the language used in the letter and has not encroached in any way on the rights of the legislature</strong> to legislate. If the legislature passes such a motion, it will set a wrong precedent.</li>
<li>Parliamentary Affairs Minister has held that the <strong>proposal was limited to upholding the esteem of the Speaker&rsquo;s chair</strong> and<strong> ensuring that the presiding authority is safeguarded from judicial scrutiny</strong> in matters of legislation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Privilege Motion</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is concerned with the <strong>breach of parliamentary privileges</strong> by a minister.</li>
<li><strong>Breach of Privileges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Parliamentary Privileges are certain <strong>rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively,</strong> so that they can &ldquo;effectively discharge their functions&rdquo;.</li>
<li>When any of these rights and immunities are <strong>disregarded,</strong> the <strong>offence is called a breach of privilege</strong> and is <strong>punishable</strong> under law of Parliament.</li>
<li>A <strong>notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member</strong> of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of the Speaker/Chair:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Speaker/Chair is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.</li>
<li>The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament. If the Speaker/Chair gives consent under relevant rules, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rules Governing Privilege:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rule 222 in Chapter 20 </strong>of the<strong> Lok Sabha Rule Book</strong> and correspondingly<strong> Rule 187 in Chapter 16</strong> of the <strong>Rajya Sabha Rule Book</strong> governs privilege.</li>
<li>Rules say that a member may, with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or a committee thereof.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/privilege-motion-maharashtra-house-wont-take-note-of-court-in-arnab-case-7106543/" 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/no-replies-to-sc-or-hcs-maharashtra'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Human Development Index: UNDP',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India ranked 131</strong> among 189 countries on the<strong> Human Development Index (HDI) for 2019, slipping two places from the previous year,</strong> according to the <strong>Human Development Report (HDR) 2020</strong> released by the<strong> United Nations Development Program (UNDP).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2020 Report has <strong>introduced planetary pressures-adjusted Human Development Index,</strong> which adjusts the standard Human Development Index (HDI) by a country&rsquo;s<strong> per capita carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>other indices that form the part of the Report</strong> are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI),</li>
<li>Gender Development Index (GDI),</li>
<li>Gender Inequality Index (GII) and</li>
<li>Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Human Development Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> HDI <strong>emphasizes</strong> that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone.</li>
<li><strong>Based on three Basic Dimensions of Human Development:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A long and healthy life,</li>
<li>Access to knowledge, and</li>
<li>A decent standard of living.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Top Performers for 2019:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Norway topped the index, followed by Ireland and Switzerland. Hong Kong and Iceland complete the top five.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance of the Asian Region:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Singapore was ranked 11, Saudi Arabia 40, and Malaysia was at 62 in the global index, representing the<strong> top bracket among the Asian countries</strong> with<strong> &ldquo;very high human development".</strong></li>
<li>Sri Lanka (72), Thailand (79), China (85) and Indonesia and Philippines (both 107), and Vietnam (117), among others, were <strong>&ldquo;high human development" countries.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India,</strong> Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Cambodia, Kenya and Pakistan were ranked among countries with<strong> &ldquo;medium human development"</strong> with ranks between 120 and 156.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Performance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Overall Performance: HDI value for 2019 is 0.645,</strong> which puts the country in the <strong>medium human development category,</strong> positioning it at <strong>131 out of 189 countries</strong> and territories. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Between 1990 and 2019, India&rsquo;s HDI value increased from 0.429 to 0.645, an increase of 50.3%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Long and Healthy Life: Life expectancy for Indian&rsquo;s at birth was 69.7 years in 2019,</strong> slightly<strong> lower than the south Asian average of 69.9 years.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Between 1990 and 2019, India&rsquo;s<strong> life expectancy at birth increased by 11.8 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Access to Knowledge:</strong> The <strong>expected years of schooling</strong> in India was<strong> 12.2 years,</strong> compared with 11.2 years in Bangladesh and 8.3 years in Pakistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Between 1990 and 2019, <strong>mean years of schooling increased by 3.5 years, </strong>and<strong> expected years of schooling increased by 4.5 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A Decent Standard of Living:</strong> In terms of <strong>Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, India at USD 6,681 fared better</strong> than some others in 2019, despite<strong> a fall over the previous year.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s GNI per capita <strong>increased by about 273.9% between 1990 and 2019.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Planetary pressures-adjusted Human Development Index (PHDI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> The PHDI adjusts the standard HDI by a country&rsquo;s level of carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint, each on a <strong>per capita basis.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Performance of the Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Norway,</strong> which <strong>tops the HDI, falls 15 places</strong> if this metric is used, leaving <strong>Ireland at the top</strong> of the table.</li>
<li>The <strong>United States</strong> (HDI Rank -17) <strong>and Canada</strong> (HDI Rank -16) <strong>would fall 45 and 40 places </strong>respectively,<strong> reflecting their disproportionate impact on natural resources.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>oil and gas-rich Gulf States also fell steeply. China would drop 16 places</strong> from its current ranking of 85.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Performance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India<strong> would move up eight places</strong> in the ranking.</li>
<li>Under the<strong> Paris Agreement,</strong> India pledged to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP from the 2005 level by 33-35% by 2030 and to obtain 40% of electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Solar capacity in India increased</strong> from 2.6 gigawatts in March 2014 to 30 gigawatts in July 2019, achieving its target of 20 gigawatts four years ahead of schedule.</li>
<li>In 2019, India<strong> ranked fifth for installed solar capacity.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>National Solar Mission</strong> aims to promote solar energy for power generation and other uses to make solar energy competitive with fossil fuel-based options.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Indices</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IHDI indicates<strong> percentage loss in HDI due to inequality.</strong></li>
<li>For <strong>India,</strong> IHDI value for 2019 is <strong>0.537 (16.8% overall loss).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Development Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GDI <strong>measures disparities on the HDI by gender.</strong></li>
<li>For<strong> India,</strong> GDI value for 2019 is <strong>0.820 (World: 0.943).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Inequality Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GII presents a composite measure of gender inequality using three dimensions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reproductive health,</li>
<li>Empowerment and</li>
<li>The labour market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In GII, India is<strong> at 123<sup>rd</sup> rank.</strong> Last year, it was ranked 122<sup>nd</sup> out of 162 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multidimensional Poverty Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MPI captures the multiple deprivations that people in developing countries face in their health, education and standard of living.</li>
<li>The most recent survey data publicly available for India&rsquo;s MPI estimation refer to 2015-2016. In India,<strong> 27.9% of the population</strong> (3,77,492 thousand people) are <strong>multidimensionally poor,</strong> while <strong>an additional 19.3%</strong> are classified under <strong>vulnerable to multidimensional poverty</strong> (2,60,596 thousand people).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other Findings</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Major Challenges:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the devastating effects of <strong>Covid-19</strong> have taken the world&rsquo;s attention, other layered crises, from <strong>climate change to rising inequalities,</strong> continue to take their toll. The challenges of<strong> planetary and societal imbalance</strong> are intertwined: they interact in a vicious circle, each making the other worse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Related to Children:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indigenous children</strong> in Cambodia, India and Thailand show <strong>more malnutrition-related issues</strong> such as stunting and wasting.</li>
<li>In<strong> India,</strong> different responses in parent behaviour as well as some disinvestment in girls&rsquo; health and education have led to <strong>higher malnutrition among girls than among boys</strong> as a consequence of shocks likely linked to climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Displacements in 2020:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Disasters continued to trigger most new displacements</strong> in 2020. <strong>Cyclone Amphan</strong> hit Bangladesh and India, driving the largest single displacement event in the first half of the year, triggering 3.3 million pre-emptive evacuations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Expanding human development -</strong> more education of women and girls, more economic empowerment of women, more bargaining power of young girls in households, reduced poverty, etc.</li>
<li>Evidence from Colombia to India indicates that <strong>financial security and ownership of land improve women&rsquo;s security</strong> and reduce the risk of gender-based violence, clearly indicating that <strong>owning land can empower women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-ranks-131-in-2020-un-human-development-index/article33348091.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/human-development-index-undp'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'CAATSA Sanctions on Turkey',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The USA administration has recently imposed <strong>sanctions on Turkey</strong> for its purchase of the <a href="/printpdf/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>S-400 missile system</strong></a> from Russia.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The issue of <strong>sanctions under Section 231</strong> of the Countering America&rsquo;s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for purchase of Russian arms is of <strong>particular interest to India,</strong> which is also in the process of buying the<strong> S-400 from Russia.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Previously, the United States had made it clear to Turkey that its purchase of the S-400 system would <strong>endanger the security of the USA.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The procurement will provide substantial funds to <strong>Russia&rsquo;s defense sector,</strong> as well as Russian access to the <strong>Turkish armed forces</strong> and defense industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Turkey yet decided to move ahead with the procurement and testing of the S-400, despite the availability of alternatives such as <strong>NATO-interoperable systems (such as USA's Patriot missile defense system),</strong> to meet its defense requirements.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Turkey is a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)</a> ally</strong> of the USA.</li>
<li><strong>NATO</strong> is a <strong>military alliance</strong> established by the<strong> North Atlantic Treaty</strong> (also called the<strong> Washington Treaty</strong>) in 1949, by several Western nations to provide collective security against<strong> the Soviet Union.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019, the USA had removed Turkey from its<strong> F-35 jet program</strong> over concerns that <strong>sensitive information could be accessed by Russia</strong> if Turkey used Russian systems along with the USA jets.</li>
<li>The<strong> S-400 Triumf air defence system</strong> integrates a <strong>multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control centre.</strong> It is capable of firing<strong> three types of missiles</strong> to create a layered defence.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a mobile, <strong>surface-to-air missile system</strong> (SAM). It is the most dangerous operationally deployed <strong>modern long-range SAM</strong> (MLR SAM) in the world, considered much ahead of the US-developed <strong>Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thaad is <strong>US anti ballistic missile defence system</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sanctions on Turkey:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sanctions were imposed on Turkey&rsquo;s main defence procurement agency, <strong>the Presidency of Defense Industries</strong> (SSB).</li>
<li>These sanctions comprise a ban on granting <strong>specific U.S. export licenses and authorisations for any goods or technology.</strong></li>
<li>Also, a ban on loans or credits by U.S. financial institutions totaling more than 10 million USD in any 12-month period.</li>
<li>A <strong>ban</strong> on U.S. Export-Import Bank assistance for exports and mandated U.S. opposition to loans by international financial organisations to SSB.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Countering America&rsquo;s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act</strong> (CAATSA)</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Enacted in 2017, it is a US federal law that<strong> imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia.</strong></li>
<li>Includes sanctions <strong>against countries that engage in significant transactions with Russia&rsquo;s defence and intelligence sectors.</strong></li>
<li>The Act empowers the US President to impose at least five of the 12 listed sanctions on persons engaged in a &ldquo;significant transaction&rdquo; with Russian defence and intelligence sectors.</li>
<li>Its &ldquo;ultimate goal&rdquo;, &ldquo;is to prevent<strong> revenue from flowing</strong> to the Russian Government.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Concerns for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, inked a Rs. 39,000 crore deal to buy the<strong> S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile</strong> systems from <strong>Almaz-Antey Corporation of Russia</strong> in October 2018 and the <strong>delivery is expected to start in 2021.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apart from the S-400 air defence system, <strong>Project 1135.6 frigates</strong> and <strong>Ka226T helicopters</strong> will also be affected. Also, it will impact joint ventures, like<strong> Indo Russian Aviation Ltd, Multi-Role Transport Aircraft Ltd and Brahmos Aerospace.</strong> It will also affect India&rsquo;s purchase of <strong>spare parts, components, raw materials and other assistance.</strong></li>
<li>As per the <strong>Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Arms Transfer Database,</strong> during the period 2010-17, Russia was the <strong>top arms</strong> supplier to India</li>
<li><strong>Russian Origin Indian Weapon:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Nuclear submarine <strong>INS Chakra,</strong> the Kilo-class conventional submarine, the supersonic <strong>Brahmos cruise missile,</strong> the <strong>MiG</strong> 21/27/29 and<strong> Su-30 MKI</strong> fighters, IL-76/78 transport planes, <strong>T-72 and T-90 tanks,</strong> Mi-series of helicopters, and <strong>Vikramaditya</strong> aircraft carrier,</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CAATSA contains 12 types of sanctions. Of these, <strong>10 will have very little, or no, impact</strong> on India&rsquo;s current relations with either Russia or the US. There are only <strong>two sanctions</strong> that may impact either <strong>India-Russia relations or India-US relations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>first</strong> of these, which is likely to have an impact on India-Russia relations, is the <strong>&ldquo;Prohibition of Banking transactions&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This would mean difficulties for India in making payments in US Dollars to Russia for the purchase of the S-400 systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>second sanction</strong> will have greater consequences for India-US relations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is the<strong> &ldquo;export sanction&rdquo;</strong> which has the potential to completely derail the<strong> India-US Strategic and Defence partnership,</strong> as it will deny the license for, and export of, any items controlled by the US to the sanctioned person such as<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All dual-use high technology goods and technology,</li>
<li>All defence related items,</li>
<li>All nuclear related items and</li>
<li>All other items from the US requiring prior review and approval of the United States Government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will effectively <strong>bar India from buying any major defence equipment from the US,</strong> putting a stop to any Defence and Strategic Partnership between India and the US. The MDP (Major Defence Partner) designation would lose its relevance in that context.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Russia always saw India as a balancer that's why Russia facilitated India's inclusion into SCO and formation of RIC doctrine. India today is in a unique position where it has a favourable relation with all great powers, and she must leverage this position to help in building a peaceful world order. Finally, there is a need to develop closer ties not only with Russia but also with the United States, which could balance any moves towards a strategic partnership between China and Russia.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-imposes-caatsa-sanctions-on-turkey-for-s-400-purchase/article33333317.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/caatsa-sanctions-on-turkey'
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Scheme for Approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jodhpur-tops-railway-cleanliness-survey-conducted-by-the-quality-council-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quality Council of India</strong></a> (QCI) has come out with a <strong>scheme for approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies</strong> (HRAA).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This move is a part of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India&rsquo;s</strong></a> (FSSAI) <strong>Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scheme for Approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will <strong>scale up the hygiene rating</strong> by increasing the number of recognised HRAA in the country.</li>
<li>The recognised HRAA will be<strong> responsible for verifying the compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures laid by FSSAI</strong> and get hygiene rating.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Food Hygiene Rating Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Initiated by the FSSAI, it is a <strong>certification system for food businesses</strong> supplying food directly to consumers, either on or off-premise.</li>
<li>It <strong>aims to allow consumers to make informed choices/decisions</strong> pertaining to the food outlets where they eat by encouraging food businesses to improve their hygiene and safety standards.</li>
<li>It is <strong>applicable for foodservice establishments</strong> (such as hotels, restaurants, cafeteria, dhabhas, etc), sweet shops, bakeries, meat retail stores, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Quality Council of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Set up in <strong>1997,</strong> QCI is a pioneering experiment of the Government of India in <strong>setting up organizations in partnership with the Indian industry.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations namely <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-conference-on-electric-mobility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India</strong></a> (ASSOCHAM), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fiscal-performance-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Confederation of Indian Industry</strong></a> (CII) and FICCI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its<strong> mandate</strong> is to<strong> establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure</strong> (NAS) for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in the field of health, education and quality promotion.</li>
<li>Besides the role of putting in place the accreditation structure, it also promotes the adoption of quality standards relating to Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Management Systems and Product Certification and Inspection Bodies through the accreditation services provided by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-equivalence-for-personnel-certification#:~:text=India's%20national%20accreditation%20body%2C%20the,Singapore%20on%2020th%20June%2C%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies</strong> </a>(NABCB).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1680753" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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