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Supreme Court on Curbing Fake News

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to provide information on the existing legal mechanisms to deal with complaints about...

18 Nov 2020 News Analysis
UNESCO Global Geoparks

Why in News The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is making efforts to get recognition of a geopark for Visakhapatnam...

18 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Step Up for TB 2020 Report

Why in News The “Step Up for TB 2020” report by the Stop TB Partnership and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without...

18 Nov 2020 News Analysis
RCEP & India

This article is based on “Threat or treat: on RCEP trade deal” which was published in The Hindu on 17/11/2020. It talks about the...

17 Nov 2020 News Editorials
Vulture Action Plan

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched a Vulture Action Plan 2020-25 for the conservation...

17 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Conflict in Ethiopia

Why in News The Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed to continue the military operation in the Tigray region amid concerns it could descend...

17 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Inflation Data: October 2020

Why in News Recently, the wholesale price inflation data for the month of october 2020 was released. The wholesale price-based inflation is...

17 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Article 32 of the Constitution

Why in News Recently, the Chief Justice of India (CJI), during a hearing of a plea, said that the court is trying to discourage petitions filed...

17 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Sex Ratio and India

Why in News According to the 2018 report on “vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System”, Arunachal Pradesh...

17 Nov 2020 News Analysis
UAE Issues Golden Card Visa

Why in News Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved the issuance of a 10-year golden card visa for more professionals, including PhD...

17 Nov 2020 News Analysis
The Concerns over Interfaith Marriages

Over the centuries, casteism and religionism has prevailed in India. Despite several laws, the social stigma for interfaith marriages still exists in...

16 Nov 2020 News Editorials
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile System

Why in News Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system...

16 Nov 2020 News Analysis
New Ramsar Sites

Why in News Recently, the Meteor lake at Lonar in Buldhana district of Maharashtra and the Soor Sarovar at Agra have been declared Ramsar sites, a...

16 Nov 2020 News Analysis
RCEP Comes into Existence

Why in News Recently, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has come into existence on the sidelines of the 37th ASEAN...

16 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Birth Anniversary of Birsa Munda

Why in News The Prime Minister paid tributes to tribal leader Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary on 15th November. The State of Jharkhand,...

16 Nov 2020 News Analysis
China’s Railway Near Arunachal Border

Why in News China has begun work on a strategically significant railway line that will link Sichuan province with Nyingchi in Tibet, which lies...

16 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Battles of Panipat

First Battle of Panipat (1526) The Battle The First Battle of Panipat (21 April 1526) fought near a small village of Panipat( Haryana), this...

16 Nov 2020 Paper 1
Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report 2020: IVAC

Why in News Recently, the annual Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report has been released by the International Vaccine Access Centre...

16 Nov 2020 News Analysis
INS Vagir

Why in News Recently, the fifth Scorpene class submarine of Project-75 named ‘Vagir’ has been launched at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai. Key...

13 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Checklist For National Education Policy 2020

This article is based on “The missing links in National Education Policy” which was published in The Indian Express on 12/11/2020. It...

13 Nov 2020 News Editorials

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Supreme Court on Curbing Fake News',
			'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> has asked the Centre to provide <strong>information on the existing legal mechanisms to deal with complaints about the content on television channels.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Further it has asked the Centre to create an authority to check <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/fake-news-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fake news</strong></a> and bigotry on air.</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 court was hearing a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/public-interest-litigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Interest Litigation</strong></a> (PIL) filed by various organisations who objected to the reporting by certain television news channels and news portals on the <strong>Tablighi Jamaat event</strong> held in <strong>March 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The religious gathering <strong>emerged as one of the early hot spots of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> in the national capital.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>petitions sought a direction from the court to stop the dissemination of fake news and to identify and take strict action</strong> against sections of the media that<strong> communalised</strong> the incident.</li>
<li>In<strong> October 2020,</strong> the bench asked the Centre to file a response on steps taken to ensure fake news is not circulated through online and electronic media platforms.</li>
<li>The government, through the Ministry, <strong>filed an affidavit in November and cited its advisories,</strong> which maintained that <strong>media coverage of the case predominantly struck a balanced and neutral perspective.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It held that as a matter of journalistic policy, any section of the media may highlight different events, issues and happenings across the world as per their choice and it was for the viewer to choose from the varied opinions offered by the different media outlets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The court <strong>rejected the affidavit as inadequate</strong> and asked if the regulatory provisions of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/regulations-on-ott-and-digital-content#:~:text=In%20October%202020%2C%20the%20Supreme,under%20its%20purview%20as%20well." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act of 1995</strong></a>, meant for cable networks, would apply to TV broadcasts as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fake News:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fake news is <strong>news, stories or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive</strong> readers.</li>
<li>Usually, these stories are created<strong> to either influence people&rsquo;s views, push a political agenda </strong>or <strong>cause confusion</strong> and can often be a profitable business for online publishers.</li>
<li>Fake news <strong>affects free speech and informed choices of the subjects</strong> of the country, leading to the hijacking of democracy.</li>
<li><strong>Controlling Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Rebuttal:</strong> It is a<strong> form of fact-checking</strong> wherein the fake news is debunked by pointing out errors like mismatch, malicious editing and misattribution.</li>
<li><strong>Public Education: Educating the end-users to be more discerning consumers</strong> of news by informing them of verification tools so that they can ascertain the accuracy of a news item before sharing it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Laws and Regulation to Curb Fake News in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is <strong>no specific law against fake news</strong> in India. Free publication of news flows from<strong> Article 19</strong> of the Constitution guaranteeing <strong>Freedom of Speech.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/press-council-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Press Council of India</a>:</strong> It is a regulatory body which can warn, admonish or censure the <strong>newspaper, the news agency, the editor or the journalist</strong> or disapprove the conduct of the editor or the journalist if it finds that a newspaper or a news agency has violated journalistic ethics.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ethical-code-for-electronic-media#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20News%20Broadcasters%20Association,malicious%2C%20biased%20and%20regressive%20content." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>News Broadcasters Association</strong></a>: It represents the private television news and current affairs broadcasters. The <strong>self-regulatory body</strong> probes complaints against electronic media.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Broadcast Foundation:</strong> It looks into the complaints against contents aired by channels.</li>
<li><strong>Broadcasting Content Complaint Council:</strong> It admits complaints against TV broadcasters for objectionable TV content and fake news.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-road-map-for-criminal-justice-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Penal Code</a>: Section 153</strong> (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and <strong>Section 295</strong> (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) can be invoked to guard against fake news.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security#:~:text=Information%20Technology%20Act%2C%202000,Hacking%20with%20computer%20system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information Technology Act 2000</strong></a>: According to the <strong>Section 66</strong> of the act, if any person, dishonestly or fraudulently, does any act referred to in<strong> Section 43</strong> (damage to computer, computer system), shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees or with both.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/misuse-of-criminal-defamation-law-madras-hc#:~:text=In%20India%2C%20defamation%20can%20both,wrong%20and%20a%20criminal%20offence.&amp;text=A%20civil%20wrong%20tends%20to,not%20to%20commit%20such%20acts." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Civil or Criminal Case for Defamation</strong></a>: It is another resort against fake news for individuals and groups hurt by the fake news. <strong>IPC Section 499</strong> (defamation) and <strong>Section 500</strong> (whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both) provide for a defamation suit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fake news has existed since the dawn of the printing press but in the age of the internet and social media, it has found a tremendous application. Manipulation of algorithms of social media and search engines is a global trend now.</li>
<li>Misinformation and disinformation spread in the media is becoming a serious social challenge. It is leading to the poisonous atmosphere on the web and causing riots and lynchings on the road.</li>
<li>Countering content manipulation and fake news to restore faith in social media without undermining internet and media freedom will require public education, strengthening of regulations and effort of tech companies to make suitable algorithms for news curation.</li>
<li>Any future legislation should take the whole picture into account and not blame the media and go for knee-jerk reactions; in this age of new media anyone can create and circulate new for undisclosed benefits.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-mechanism-do-you-have-against-fake-news-sc-asks-centre/article33119647.ece?homepage=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'UNESCO Global Geoparks',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)</strong> is making <strong>efforts to get recognition of a geopark for Visakhapatnam</strong> (Andhra Pradesh) consisting of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/erra-matti-dibbalu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Erra Matti Dibbalu</strong></a> (red sand dunes), <strong>natural rock formations, Borra Caves and volcanic ash deposits.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While there are <strong>161 UNESCO Global geoparks</strong> spread across 44 countries,<strong> India is yet to have one of its own.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Meaning:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are<strong> single, unified geographical areas</strong> where sites and landscapes of <strong>international geological significance</strong> are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Management:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are <strong>managed by a body having legal existence</strong> recognized under national legislation.</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>UNESCO Global Geopark status does not imply restrictions on any economic activity inside a UNESCO Global Geopark</strong> where that activity complies with indigenous, local, regional and/or national legislation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Visibility:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Geoparks are sustained through <strong>geo tourism activities</strong> like excursions, nature trails, guided tours, hiking and academic meets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Networking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cooperating with the local people</strong> (bottom-up approach) living in the geopark area and with<strong> other UNESCO Global Geoparks</strong> through the <strong>Global Geoparks Network (GGN).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GGN, of which <strong>membership is obligatory for UNESCO Global Geoparks,</strong> is a <strong>legally constituted not-for-profit organisation</strong> with an annual membership fee. It was<strong> founded in 2004. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Designation Period:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A UNESCO Global Geopark is <strong>given this designation for a period of four years</strong> after which the functioning and quality of each UNESCO Global Geopark is thoroughly re-examined during a revalidation process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Geoparks vs Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Besides UNESCO Global Geoparks, there are <strong>other two UNESCO site designations, Biosphere Reserves</strong> and<strong> World Heritage Sites.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Biosphere Reserves</strong> focus on the harmonised management of biological and cultural diversity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Out of <strong>18 notified biosphere reserves, India has 12</strong> biosphere reserves under the <strong>World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR),</strong> 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><strong>World Heritage Sites</strong> promote the conservation of natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has 38 world heritage sites, including 30 cultural properties, 7 natural properties and 1 mixed site. The latest one included is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jaipur-a-world-heritage-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jaipur city, Rajasthan.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO Global Geoparks</strong> give international recognition for sites that promote the importance and significance of protecting the Earth&rsquo;s geodiversity through actively engaging with the local communities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India does not have any</strong> UNESCO Global geopark.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNESCO</strong></p>
<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><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.,<strong> Venkatraipur</strong> and <strong>Noliasahi</strong> as <strong>Tsunami Ready Communities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has <strong>193 Members and 11 Associate Members. India</strong> joined UNESCO in <strong>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,</strong> France.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Visakhapatnam&rsquo;s Case</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Important Sites:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605688035_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605688035_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Erra Matti Dibbalu:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is<strong> coastal red sediment mounds</strong> located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam.</li>
<li>The width of sandy red dunes vary from 200 metres to two kilometres, spread across five kilometres along the coast.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Such <strong>sand deposits</strong> have only been reported from two other low latitude tropical regions in <strong>South Asia &mdash;</strong> the <strong>Teri Sands of Tamil Nadu</strong> and <strong>Red Coastal Sands of Sri Lanka.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is among the 34 notified <strong>National Geological Heritage Monument Sites</strong> of India by the <strong>Geological Survey of India (GSI).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> term geological heritage</strong> is used for natural geological or geo-morphological features that have aesthetic, intrinsic or scientific and educational value, that provide unique insight into geological processes affecting the formation or evolution of Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Natural Rock Formations (Eastern Ghats) at Mangamaripeta:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One example is the <strong>natural arch</strong> at Mangamaripeta beach opposite the Thotlakonda Buddhist Site.</li>
<li>It is likely to <strong>date back to the period after the last Ice Age</strong> around 10,000 years ago and is similar to the natural rock arch of Silathoranam in the Tirumala Hills.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Borra Caves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Discovered by William King George</strong> of the GSI, these <strong>one million year old caves</strong> attract a huge number of tourists every day. These are located<strong> at an elevation of 1400 m above sea level.</strong></li>
<li>These caves are known for <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icicles-stalactites-and-stalagmites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stalactite and stalagmite</a> formations</strong> such as Shiva-Parvathi, Rishi's Beard, Mother-Child, Crocodile, Human Brain, Tiger and Cows udder.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Volcanic Ash Deposits</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are said to have originated from the <strong>volcanic eruption of Toba in Indonesia 73,000 years ago</strong> near Araku (Andhra Pradesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Red sands</strong> are being <strong>exploited for construction activity.</strong> Further, <strong>degradation due to human interference</strong> such as digging, climbing, littering are affecting their stability and exacerbating erosion.</li>
<li>The recent incident of <strong>overcrowding and reckless acts of visitors</strong> endangering the natural arch has raised concerns among geologists and heritage activists on the need to safeguard the sites of the region and establish a geo park.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In July 2019, INTACH organised a campaign to create <strong>public awareness on geologically and culturally important spots</strong> in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>INTACH</strong> was founded <strong>in 1984 in New Delhi</strong> with the vision to spearhead heritage awareness and conservation in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/saving-the-precious-geo-heritage-sites-of-visakhapatnam/article33117808.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/unesco-global-geoparks'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Step Up for TB 2020 Report',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>&ldquo;Step Up for TB 2020&rdquo;</strong> <strong>report</strong> by the <strong>Stop TB Partnership</strong> and <strong>M&eacute;decins Sans Fronti&egrave;res/Doctors Without Borders</strong> (MSF) has highlighted India&rsquo;s <strong>conservative approach</strong> regarding the new medicines for<strong> Drug Resistant TB,</strong> putting lives of patients including children in danger.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The current <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pandemic</strong></a> has further aggravated the sufferings of TB patients in the country in terms of disease <strong>diagnosis, surveillance and treatment.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Founded in 1971,<strong> M&eacute;decins Sans Fronti&egrave;res</strong> (MSF), sometimes rendered in English as <strong>Doctors Without Borders,</strong> is an<strong> international humanitarian medical <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-governmental-organizations-ngos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-governmental organisation</a></strong> (NGO) of <strong>French origin</strong> best known for its projects in <strong>conflict zones</strong> and in countries affected by endemic diseases.</li>
<li><strong>It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tuberculosis (TB)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-tuberculosis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tuberculosis</strong></a> is caused by bacteria<strong> (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)</strong> that most often affect the <strong>lungs.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong> TB is treatable and curable disease.It is treated with a standard 6 month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer.</li>
<li><strong>Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)</strong> is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs.</li>
<li><strong>Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB)</strong> is a more serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment options.</li>
<li>Tuberculosis (TB) remains the <strong>world&rsquo;s deadliest infectious disease,</strong> killing more than <strong>1.4 million people in 2019,</strong> despite being curable.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report presents data on <strong>37 high-burden countries, including India</strong> (representing 77% of the global estimated TB incident cases), assessing the extent to which <strong>national policies align with international best practices</strong> based on <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> guidelines and the latest scientific research.</li>
<li>This is the<strong> 4<sup>th</sup> edition</strong> of this report, which focuses on countries&rsquo; policies and practices related to<strong> 4 key areas of national TB programmes (NTPs):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Diagnosis,</li>
<li>Treatment (including models of care),</li>
<li>Prevention, and</li>
<li>Medicines procurement policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are barriers to policy adoption and implementation across the surveyed countries.</li>
<li>The <strong>critical medical innovations</strong> are reaching very few people who urgently need them.</li>
<li>The report emphasised that <strong>oral treatment regimens</strong> for people with drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) must be prioritised over older, toxic drugs that have to be injected and cause serious side effects.</li>
<li>Nearly<strong> 1 in 3 people</strong> with TB disease is <strong>still not diagnosed and notified.</strong></li>
<li>Almost <strong>2 in 3 countries</strong> surveyed still do not include in their policies urinary <strong>TB lipoarabinomannan (TB LAM) testing</strong> for people living with HIV. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>TB LAM is the only rapid point-of-care TB test available, and there is more than enough evidence of its benefits as a lifesaving point-of-care test.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India was criticised for not scaling up the new Disease Resistant (DR)-TB drugs <strong>Bedaquiline and Delamanid</strong>, needed even more during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tb-drug-pretomanid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pretomanid</strong></a> is the third new drug developed for the treatment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Until March 2020, less <strong>than 10% of India&rsquo;s MDR-TB patients</strong> who were eligible for Bedaquiline had received it. This is alarming, since <strong>India is home to a quarter of the world&rsquo;s DR-TB patients.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has the highest TB burden in the world. In 2018, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lancet-building-a-tuberculosis-free-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2.15 million TB cases were reported</a></strong>, which is 16% more than in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiative to Fight TB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eliminating TB by 2025:</strong> India is committed to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-with-the-world-bank-to-eliminate-tb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eliminating tuberculosis from the country by 2025</strong></a>, five years ahead of the global target by the <strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong> i.e. <strong>2030.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Nikshay Ecosystem:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the National TB information system which is a one-stop solution to manage information of patients and monitor program activity and performance throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This scheme is aimed at providing financial support to TB patients for their nutrition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tb-harega-desh-jeetega-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Launched In September 2019</strong></a> it is showcasing the highest level of commitment for the elimination of TB.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Saksham Project:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a project of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) that has been providing psycho-social counselling to DR-TB patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has partnered with the<strong> Global Fund</strong> to launch <strong>JEET (Joint Effort for Elimination of TB),</strong> a private sector engagement program operating across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> (WHO) has launched a joint initiative <strong>&ldquo;Find. Treat. All. #EndTB&rdquo;</strong> with the Global Fund and Stop TB Partnership.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The WHO End TB Strategy outlines global impact targets to <strong>reduce TB deaths by 90%, to cut new cases by 80%</strong> between the years <strong>2015 and 2030,</strong> and to ensure that no family is burdened with catastrophic costs due to TB.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It aims to accelerate the TB response and ensure access to care, in line with WHO&rsquo;s overall drive towards <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Health Coverage</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>WHO also releases the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-tuberculosis-report-2019-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Tuberculosis Report.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the<strong> notable successes</strong> achieved by the different programmes, robust efforts are needed to improve the early and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenous-tb-diagnostic-tool" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>accurate diagnosis</strong></a> followed by a prompt appropriate treatment which is vital for ending TB.</li>
<li>India must collaborate with global efforts which are being done to eliminate the TB along with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/paradigm-shift-for-tb-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>paradigm shift in the control measure.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-global-call-to-step-up-tb-treatment-experts-flag-indias-conservative-approach-7053992/" 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/step-up-for-tb-2020-report'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'RCEP & India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/threat-or-treat/article33110441.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Threat or treat: on RCEP trade deal&rdquo;</a> which was published in The Hindu on 17/11/2020. It talks about the impact of India&rsquo;s stance to stay out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <strong><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/16-11-2020#6999" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed into existence</a></strong> by 15 countries led by China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10-state ASEAN grouping, creating one of the world&rsquo;s largest trading blocs.</p>
<p>India had been a part of negotiations for almost nine years <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-and-rcep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">till it pulled out in November 2019</a>, stating that inadequate safeguards and lowering of customs duties will adversely impact its manufacturing, agriculture and dairy sectors.</p>
<p>However, by staying out, India has blocked itself from a trade bloc that represents 30% of the global economy and world population, touching over 2.2 billion people.</p>
<p>Further, as the summary of the final agreement shows that the pact does cover and attempt to address some issues that India had flagged, including rules of origin, trade in services, movement of persons. Therefore, this makes the case of India to review its decision and look RCEP through the lens of economic realism.</p>
<h3>Reasons for India's Withdrawal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unfavourable Balance of Trade:</strong> Though trade has increased the post-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/country-of-origin-rules-carotar-2020#:~:text=Free%20Trade%20Agreement,on%20substantial%20trade%20between%20them." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Trade Agreement</a> with South Korea, ASEAN countries and Japan, imports have risen faster than exports from India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a paper published by NITI Aayog, India has a bilateral trade deficit with most of the member countries of RCEP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese Angle:</strong> India has already signed FTA with all the countries of RCEP except China. Trade data suggests that India&rsquo;s deficit with China, with which it does not have a trade pact, is higher than that of the remaining RCEP constituents put together.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This trade deficit is the primary concern for India, as after signing RCEP cheaper products from China would have flooded the Indian market.</li>
<li>Further, from a geopolitical perspective, RCEP is China-led or is intended to expand China's influence in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-acceptance of Auto-trigger Mechanism:</strong> To deal with the imminent rise in imports, India had been seeking an auto-trigger mechanism.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Auto-trigger Mechanism would have allowed India to raise tariffs on products in instances where imports cross a certain threshold.</li>
<li>However, other countries in the RCEP were against this proposal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection of Domestic Industry:</strong> India had also reportedly expressed apprehensions on lowering and eliminating tariffs on several products like dairy, steel etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, the dairy industry is expected to face stiff competition from Australia and New Zealand.</li>
<li>Currently, India&rsquo;s average bound tariff for dairy products is on average 35%.</li>
<li>The RCEP binds countries to reduce that current level of tariffs to zero within the next 15 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Consensus on Rules of Origin:</strong> India was concerned about a &ldquo;possible circumvention&rdquo; of rules of origin.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rules of origin are the criteria used to determine the national source of a product.</li>
<li>Current provisions in the deal reportedly do not prevent countries from routing, through other countries, products on which India would maintain higher tariffs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons For India to Review</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605614956_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605614956_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="529" height="287" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Economic Stagnation due to Covid-19:</strong> With global trade and the economy facing a steep decline due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, RCEP can serve as a bulwark in containing the free fall of the global economy and re-energising economic activity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the RCEP presents a unique opportunity to support India&rsquo;s economic recovery, inclusive development and job creation even as it helps strengthen regional supply chains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need For Economic Realism:</strong> India should deter seeing RCEP only from the Chinese perspective.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India should acknowledge that the trade bloc represents 30% of the global economy and world population, touching over 2.2 billion people, and staying out of RCEP may result in suboptimal economic growth without leveraging Asia-Pacific demand.</li>
<li>In this regard, India can draw inspiration from Japan &amp; Australia, as they chose to bury their geopolitical differences with China to prioritise what they collectively see as a mutually beneficial trading compact.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Need:</strong> It is not just because gains from trade are significant, but the RCEP&rsquo;s membership is a prerequisite to having a say in shaping RCEP&rsquo;s rules.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is necessary to safeguard India&rsquo;s interests and the interests of several countries that are too small to stand up to the largest member, China.</li>
<li>Moreover, staying out of RCEP may also affect <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Act East policy</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Acknowledging India&rsquo;s economic heft and value as a market, the RCEP members have left the door open for India for inviting it to be an observer member and also waived a critical 18-month cooling period for interested applicants.</p>
<p>Given the global economic scenario in present times and the near future, it would be in India&rsquo;s interest to dispassionately review its position on RCEP and carry out structural reforms that will help India to mitigate some of the repercussions arising from the RCEP.</p>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #cff6fa; border-color: #058f9e;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question<br /><br /></strong></em>Given the global economic scenario in near future, it would be in India&rsquo;s interest to dispassionately review its position on RCEP. Discuss.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vqKMrySdyQg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/farmers-fertiliser-subsidy-india-modi-7052724/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Fertile opportunity&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on November 16th, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rcep-india'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Vulture Action Plan',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)</strong> launched a <strong>Vulture Action Plan 2020-25</strong> for the conservation of vultures in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vulture numbers saw a decline as much as <strong>90%</strong> in some species in India since the 1990s in one of the most drastic declines in bird populations in the world.</li>
<li>Between the 1990s and 2007, numbers of three presently <strong>critically-endangered species,</strong> the <strong>Oriental white-backed, long-billed and slender-billed vultures</strong> decreased massively with <strong>99%</strong> of the species having been wiped out.</li>
<li>The number of <strong>red-headed vultures,</strong> also <strong>critically-endangered</strong> now, declined by <strong>91%</strong> while the <strong>Egyptian vultures</strong> by <strong>80%</strong>.</li>
<li>The decline in vulture populations came into limelight in the mid-90s..</li>
<li><strong>Reason for decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vulture-culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cause of the decline</strong></a> was established as <strong>diclofenac, a veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in 2004,</strong> which is used to treat pain and inflammatory diseases such as gout in carcasses that vultures would feed off.</li>
<li>Just 0.4-0.7% of animal carcasses contaminated with diclofenac was sufficient to decimate <strong>99%</strong> of vulture populations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>MoEFCC</strong> released the <strong>Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2006</strong> with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-clinical-trials-in-india-for-new-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)</strong></a> banning the veterinary use of diclofenac in the same year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives of the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Drug control:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To ensure minimum use of <strong>Diclofenac</strong>.</li>
<li>To <strong>Prevent the poisoning</strong> of the principal food of vultures, the cattle carcasses, with veterinary <strong>NSAIDs</strong>, by ensuring that sale of veterinary <strong>NSAIDs</strong> is regulated and is disbursed only on prescription and by ensuring that treatment of livestock is done only by qualified veterinarians.</li>
<li>To carry out <strong>safety testing</strong> of available <strong>NSAIDs</strong> on vultures and to develop new ones which do not affect vultures.</li>
<li>To ensure that <strong>DGCI</strong> must institute a system that automatically removes a drug from veterinary use if it is found to be toxic to vultures. <br />
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>Such a system would ensure that drugs other than <strong>diclofenac</strong> that are toxic to vultures like <strong>aceclofenac</strong> and <strong>ketoprofen</strong> are banned for veterinary use.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Upscaling conservation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To establish <strong>Additional Conservation Breeding Centres</strong> along with <strong>Vulture Conservation Centres</strong> with samples and information collected from the wild analysed and stored at these centres.</li>
<li>To implement the <strong>Vulture Safe Zone programme</strong> at eight different places in the country where there are existing populations of vultures.</li>
<li>To launch conservation plans for the <strong>Red-headed and Egyptian vultures,</strong> with breeding programmes for both.</li>
<li>To declare a <strong>Vulture Safe Zone</strong> only when <strong>no toxic drugs</strong> are found in undercover pharmacy and cattle carcass surveys, for two consecutive years, and the vulture populations are stable and not declining.</li>
<li>To build <strong>Four rescue centres</strong> for different geographical areas like Pinjore in the north, Bhopal in ventral India, Guwahati in Northeast and Hyderabad in South India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Efforts: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reconstitution-of-central-zoo-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Zoo Authority (CZA)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delhi-butterfly-corridors" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)</strong></a> also established the Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme.</li>
<li>A <strong>Vulture Care Centre (VCC)</strong> was set up at Pinjore, Haryana in 2001 to study the cause of deaths of vultures in India.<br />
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>The <strong>Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore is the world&rsquo;s largest facility</strong> within the state&rsquo;s Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary for the breeding and conservation of Indian vulture species.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International: SAVE (Saving Asia&rsquo;s Vultures from Extinction)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The consortium of like-minded, regional and international organizations, created to oversee and coordinate conservation, campaigning and fundraising activities to help the plight of south Asia&rsquo;s vultures.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To save three critically important species from extinction through a single programme.</li>
<li><strong>SAVE partners:</strong> Bombay Natural History Society, Bird Conservation Nepal, RSPB (UK), National Trust for Nature Conservation (Nepal), International Centre for Birds of Prey (UK) and Zoological Society of London.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Vultures in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is home to nine species of <strong>vultures</strong>, but most of them face the danger of extinction.</li>
<li>The nine species of vultures &amp; their <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> status are:</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605608252_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605608252_image4.png" width="563" height="1088" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Why vultures should be protected:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scavenging lifestyle that gives them a bad reputation is, in fact, that makes them so important for the environment, nature and society.</li>
<li>Vultures feeding on dead animals help <strong>areas getting rid of carcasses</strong> that, otherwise, would provide foul smells and scenery for a much longer period hence also known as <strong>nature&rsquo;s cleanup crew</strong>.</li>
<li>Vultures also play a valuable role in keeping wildlife <strong>diseases in check</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/vulture-numbers-stabilising-moef-launches-action-plan-to-increase-population-7053910/" 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/vulture-action-plan'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Conflict in Ethiopia',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed to continue the military operation in the <strong>Tigray region</strong> amid concerns it could descend into civil conflict.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605606629_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605606629_image3.png" width="567" height="382" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Military Operation:</strong> Abiy has declared war on the country’s Tigray region, which is ruled by the powerful <strong>Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)</strong>, in response to its attack on a federal military base in Tigray.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After becoming Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in April 2018, <strong>Abiy Ahmed</strong> reached out to the political opposition, ushered democratic reforms, lifted curbs on the media and made peace with Eritrea - moves that won him the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-peace-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Peace Prize in 2019</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Eritrea is a sworn enemy of the TPLF,</strong> which shares a long border with the Tigray region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>He also <strong>removed TPLF from senior government positions</strong>. His push to concentrate more power in the hands of the government alienated the TPLF further. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Abiy has formed a new political coalition, the Prosperity Party, all constituents of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), except the TPLF, joined the new platform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the <strong>federal government postponed the general elections</strong> in August to 2021 citing the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus pandemic</strong></a>,<strong> Tigray politicians</strong> accused him of a power grab and <strong>held elections</strong>, in September, in the region, in defiance of the government.</li>
<li>Rising tensions led to an attack on the military base.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tigray People’s Liberation Front:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>militia-turned-party</strong>, which was part of the coalition that brought an end to the military dictatorship in 1991.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>TPLF leader <strong>Meles Zenawi</strong> took over as the interim President in 1991 and <strong>became the first elected Prime Minister</strong> in 1995.</li>
<li>He is largely seen as the <strong>architect of the country’s ethno-federal system</strong> and remained in power till 2012.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It had played a <strong>dominant role in the country’s ruling coalition,</strong> the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF - put together by Zenawi). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Though the EPRDF <strong>contains regional political parties</strong> such as the Amhara Democratic Party, the Oromo Democratic Party and the Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement, the <strong>TPLF remained the dominant political force</strong>.<br />
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>The <strong>Tigray people make up roughly 6% of the population</strong>, while the <strong>Oromos have a 34% share and the Amharas 27%</strong>. The Oromos <strong>have alleged marginalisation</strong> and called for better representation.</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Over the years, the government led by the EPRDF, was <strong>accused of being increasingly authoritarian</strong> and there were <strong>frequent mass protests in the regions</strong>.</li>
<li>In 2018, the <strong>EPRDF chose Abiy</strong>, a former military intelligence officer, to lead the government amid growing protests and a political deadlock.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abiy’s Stand:</strong> Abiy, the country’s <strong>first Oromo leader</strong>, claimed that his actions are not driven by ethnic calculations but rather <strong>aimed at addressing the historic power imbalance in the country</strong> and making <strong>peace with the neighbours</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Implications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TPLF has fired rockets into Eritrea from Tigray, <strong>threatening a wider regional war in the Horn of Africa</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Horn of Africa houses the countries of <strong>Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Rebels also <strong>fired rockets into the neighbouring Amhara region</strong>. Even if Abiy is serious about keeping the operation short, it could <strong>spill out of control given the underlying complexities of the conflict</strong>. The TPLF has thousands of fighters under their command.</li>
<li>Also, the Tigray region <strong>shares a border with Sudan</strong>. The TPLF enjoyed good relations with Sudan’s ousted dictator Omar Bashir.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sudan has an <strong>unresolved border dispute with Ethiopia</strong>. If Sudan’s new rulers keep the old links with the TPLF active and the border open for the rebels, the conflict could go on.</li>
<li>Earlier this year, in the midst of Ethiopia’s long-standing conflict with Egypt over the construction of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam</strong></a> over the Blue Nile, Sudan had already found itself forcefully involved in the spat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There have also been <strong>reports of atrocities targeting civilians by both sides. </strong>Many have even fled to Sudan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India-Ethiopia Relations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of long term concessional credit from India</strong> in Africa. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lines of Credit worth <strong>more than USD1 billion</strong> have been sanctioned to Ethiopia for sectors such as rural electrification, sugar industry and railways.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tele-Education and Tele-Medicine services</strong> under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-presidents-three-nation-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pan African e-network Project</strong></a> was launched in Addis Ababa in July 2007. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Tele-Education project has been replicated by the Ethiopian side and linkages established between the Addis Ababa University and the Indian Institutes of Technology at Delhi and Kanpur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bilateral trade</strong> between Ethiopia and India stood at USD 1.28 billion in 2018-19, out of which Indian exports to Ethiopia were USD 1.23 billion and imports were USD 55.01 million. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>more than 586 Indian companies in Ethiopia</strong> employing more than 55,000 people with licensed investment of over USD 4 billion.</li>
<li>About 58.7% of Indian investments are in the manufacturing sector, followed by agriculture (15.6%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian Mission has been <strong>celebrating the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-of-yoga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Day of Yoga</a></strong> in Addis Ababa. Mission held <strong>[email protected]</strong> celebrations in Addis Ababa (Oct 2020).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Abiy can reach out to regional political leaderships, especially the TPLF, find common ground, and run the country peacefully by restoring the balance between ethnicities and regions and decentralising the federal government.</li>
<li>The protection of civilian safety and security is essential. The <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/09-07-2019#:~:text=Background%20of%20Africa%27s%20economic%20integration,the%20Organization%20of%20African%20Unity." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>African Union</strong></a> can play a role in this.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ethiopia-risks-falling-into-an-ethnic-civil-war-with-regional-implications/article33108288.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/conflict-in-ethiopia'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Inflation Data: October 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the wholesale price inflation data for the month of october 2020 was released.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The wholesale price-based inflation is measured by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-data-august-2020#:~:text=Wholesale%20Inflation%3A,and%20manufactured%20products%20turned%20costlier." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wholesale Price Index (WPI)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Wholesale Inflation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Wholesale price inflation</strong> increased to the highest level in eight months, reaching <strong>1.48% in October 2020,</strong> compared with <strong>0% in October 2019</strong> and <strong>1.32% in September 2020</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was driven by manufactured items as per the data released by the <strong>commerce and industry ministry</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>manufactured product group inflation</strong> hit a 19-month high of <strong>2.1%</strong>, and <strong>core inflation</strong> accelerated to the highest level in 18 months at <strong>1.7%</strong>.</li>
<li>Core Inflation excludes volatile goods from the basket of commodities tracking Headline Inflation. These volatile commodities mainly comprise food and beverages (including vegetables) and fuel and light (crude oil).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Core inflation</strong> = Headline inflation &ndash; (Food and Fuel) inflation</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implication:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increase in core inflation suggests improvement in demand conditions, which have improved after the Covid-19 related lockdown was lifted.</li>
<li>As a large part of this is due to festival related demand, it will be too early to term this as a general recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Inflation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inflation refers to the rise <strong>in the prices of most goods and services</strong> of daily or common use, such as food, clothing, housing, recreation, transport, consumer staples, etc.</li>
<li>Inflation measures the average price change in a basket of commodities and services over time.</li>
<li>Inflation is indicative of the <strong>decrease in the purchasing power</strong> of a unit of a country&rsquo;s currency. This could ultimately lead to a deceleration in economic growth.</li>
<li>However, a <strong>moderate level of inflation is required in the economy</strong> to ensure that production is promoted.</li>
<li>In India, inflation is primarily measured by two main indices &mdash; <strong>WPI (Wholesale Price Index) and CPI (Consumer Price Index)</strong> which measure wholesale and retail-level price changes, respectively.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Wholesale Price Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other businesses.</li>
<li>Published by the <strong>Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry</strong>.</li>
<li>It is the most widely used inflation indicator in India.</li>
<li>Major <strong>criticism</strong> for this index is that the general public does not buy products at wholesale price.</li>
<li>The <strong>base year</strong> of All-India WPI has been revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/wpi-inflation-at-8-month-high-of-148-in-oct-on-costlier-manufactured-items/article33106555.ece#:~:text=India's%20wholesale%20price%20inflation%20quickened,1.32%25%20in%20September%20this%20year.&amp;text=Inflation%20in%20potato%20prices%20touched,registered%208.5%25%20inflation%20in%20October." 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/inflation-data-october-2020'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Article 32 of the Constitution',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/47th-chief-justice-of-india#:~:text=Justice%20Sharad%20Arvind%20Bobde%2C%20has,office%20on%2023rd%20April%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chief Justice of India (CJI)</strong></a>, during a hearing of a plea, said that the court is trying to discourage petitions filed under Article 32.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CJI&rsquo;s View:</strong> CJI noted that there is a <strong>spate of Article 32 petitions</strong> and reiterated that the <strong>High Court can also uphold fundamental rights (under article 226)</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Article 32 of the Constitution (Right to Constitutional Remedies):</strong> It is a <strong>fundamental right,</strong> which states that individuals have the right to approach the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court (SC)</strong></a> seeking enforcement of other fundamental rights recognised by the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SC has <strong>power to issue directions or orders or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/constitutional-rights-judicial-review-and-parliamentary-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writs</a></strong> for the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights. The writs issued may include <strong>habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari</strong> and <strong>quo-warranto</strong>.</li>
<li>The right to move the SC <strong>shall not be suspended except</strong> as otherwise provided for by the Constitution. Thus, the Constitution provides that the President can suspend the right to move any court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights during a <strong>national emergency (Article 359)</strong>.</li>
<li>In case of the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, the <strong>jurisdiction of the SC is original but not exclusive</strong>. It is <strong>concurrent with the jurisdiction of the high court under Article 226</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Original,</strong> because an aggrieved citizen can <strong>directly go to the SC, not necessarily by way of appeal</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Concurrent</strong> means when the Fundamental Rights of a citizen are violated, the aggrieved party <strong>has the option of moving either the high court or the Supreme Court</strong> directly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since the <strong>right guaranteed by Article 32</strong> (ie, the right to move the SC where a fundamental right is infringed) is in itself a <strong>fundamental right</strong>, the <strong>availability of alternate remedy is no bar to relief under Article 32</strong>.</li>
<li>However, the SC has ruled that <strong>where relief through the high court is available under Article 226</strong>, the aggrieved party should <strong>first move the high court</strong>.</li>
<li>In the <em><strong>Chandra Kumar case </strong></em><strong>(1997)</strong>, the SC ruled that the <strong>writ jurisdiction of both the high court and the Supreme Court</strong> constitute a part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-structure-doctrine-kesavananda-bharati-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>basic structure</strong></a> of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Counter-Argument:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even as the <strong>SC underlines the powers of the high courts,</strong> it has in the past <strong>transferred cases to itself from the high courts</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most recently, the SC transferred the case involving land use for the national capital&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-s-stand-on-central-vista-redevelopment-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Vista project</strong></a> to itself from the Delhi High Court. Incidentally, the petitioners had not sought such a transfer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When such transfers are made, the petitioners <strong>lose a stage of appeal</strong> that would otherwise have been available had the high courts heard and decided the case.</li>
<li>Recently, the SC also conveyed its concerns that in many matters involving personal liberty, the <strong>High Courts are not exercising their jurisdiction as constitutional courts</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 226 of the Constitution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Article 226 of the Constitution <strong>empowers a high court to issue writs</strong> including habeas corpus, mandamus, certiorari, prohibition and quo warranto <strong>for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the citizens and for any other purpose</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The phrase &lsquo;for any other purpose&rsquo; refers to the <strong>enforcement of an ordinary legal right</strong>. This implies that the <strong>writ jurisdiction of the high court is wider than that of the SC</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is because the <strong>SC can issue writs only for the enforcement of fundamental rights and not for any other purpose,</strong> that is, it does not extend to a case where the breach of an ordinary legal right is alleged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The high court can issue writs to any person, authority and government <strong>not only within its territorial jurisdiction but also outside its territorial jurisdiction</strong> if the cause of action arises within its territorial jurisdiction.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bail-pleas-of-journalist-another-sc-says-why-not-go-to-hc/" 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/article-32-of-the-constitution'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Sex Ratio and India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <strong>2018 report</strong> on &ldquo;vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System&rdquo;, <strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong> recorded the <strong>best sex ratio at birth</strong> in the country while <strong>Manipur</strong> recorded the <strong>worst sex ratio at birth</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report was published by the <strong>Registrar General of India</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Sex ratio at birth</strong> is number of females born per thousand males. It is an <strong>important indicator to map the gender gap of a population</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Registrar General of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Registrar General of India was founded in 1961 by the Government of India under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong>.</li>
<li>It arranges, conducts and analyses the results of the demographic surveys of India including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census of India</strong></a> and Linguistic Survey of India.</li>
<li>The position of Registrar is usually held by a civil servant holding the rank of Joint Secretary.</li>
<li><strong>Civil Registration System (CRS)</strong> in India is the unified process of continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of the vital events (births, deaths, stillbirths) and characteristics thereof. The data generated through a complete and up-to-date CRS is essential for socio-economic planning.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong> recorded <strong>1,084 females</strong> born per thousand males, followed by Nagaland (965), Mizoram (964), Kerala (963).</li>
<li>The <strong>worst sex ratio was reported in Manipur</strong> (757), Lakshadweep (839) and Daman &amp; Diu (877), Punjab (896) and Gujarat (896).</li>
<li>Delhi recorded a sex ratio of 929, Haryana - 914.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ratio was <strong>determined on the basis of data provided by 30 States and Union Territories</strong> as the requisite <strong>information</strong> from six States namely <strong>Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal </strong>is <strong>not available</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Major states</strong> are states with populations 10 million and above as per the 2011 Census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-its-sex-ratio#:~:text=Biologically%20normal%20sex%20ratio%20at,of%20females%20per%201%2C000%20males." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sample Registration System</strong></a> (SRS) Report 2018 shows that <strong>sex ratio at birth in India</strong>, declined marginally from <strong>906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Contrary to popular perception, <strong>India&rsquo;s sex ratio at birth declined even as per capita income increased nearly 10 times over the last 65 years,</strong> according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data.</li>
<li>This could be because rising income, which results in increased literacy, makes it easier for families to access sex-selective procedures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Related to Lower Sex Ratio at Birth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gender-imbalance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Prof. Amartya Kumar Sen,</strong> in his world famous article <strong>&ldquo;Missing Women‟</strong> has statistically proved that during the last century, 100 million women have been missing in south Asia.</li>
<li>This is due to discrimination leading to death, experienced by them <strong>from womb to tomb in their life cycles</strong>.</li>
<li>An adverse child sex ratio is also reflected in the distorted gender makeup of the entire population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Distortion in the Marriage System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Adverse ratio results in a gross imbalance in the number of men and women and its inevitable impact on marriage systems as well as other harms to women.</li>
<li>In India, some villages in Haryana and Punjab have such poor sex ratios that men <strong>&ldquo;import&rdquo; brides</strong> from other States. This is often accompanied by the exploitation of these brides.</li>
<li>There are concerns that skewed sex ratios lead to more violence against both men and women, as well as human-trafficking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605597915_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605597915_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="505" height="387" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bringing Behavioural Change:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing female education and economic prosperity help to improve the ratio. In this pursuit, the government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-its-sex-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Beti-Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign</strong></a> has achieved remarkable success in bringing behavioural change in the society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sensitizing Youth:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is an urgent need to reach young people for reproductive health education and services as well as to cultivate gender equity norms.</li>
<li>For this, the services of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)</strong></a> can be leveraged, especially in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stringent Enforcement of Law:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India must implement the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pre-conception-and-pre-natal-diagnostic-techniques-pcpndt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994</strong></a> more stringently and dedicate more resources to fighting the preference for boys.</li>
<li>In this context, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/medical-equipment-notified-as-drugs#:~:text=Drugs%20Technical%20Advisory%20Board%20is,related%20to%20drugs%20and%20cosmetics." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drugs Technical Advisory Board decision</strong></a> to include ultrasound machines in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/arunachal-records-best-sex-ratio-manipur-the-worst/article33102441.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/sex-ratio-and-india'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'UAE Issues Golden Card Visa',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>United Arab Emirates</strong> (UAE) has approved the issuance of a <strong>10-year golden card visa</strong> for more professionals, including PhD holders, physicians, engineers as well as graduates from certain universities.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Golden Visa</strong> is <strong>citizenship by investment or residency by investment program</strong>. It is <strong>directed to wealthy foreign nationals</strong> who want to acquire residency in a certain country by investing a substantial amount of money or by purchasing a property.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605591609_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605591609_image1.png" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" width="468" height="278" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UAE&rsquo;s Golden Card Visa:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It grants <strong>10-year residency</strong> to these visa holders and their families.</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All holders of doctorate degrees, medical doctors and computer, electronics, programming, electrical and biotechnology engineers.</li>
<li>Those with specialised degrees in<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> artificial intelligence</strong> </a>(AI), <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>big data</strong></a> and <strong>epidemiology</strong>, as well as <strong>high school students</strong> living in the UAE who rank top in the country and students from certain universities with a <strong>Grade Point Average</strong> (GPA) of <strong>3.8 or higher</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The changes will take place from <strong>1<sup>st</sup> December 2020</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foreigners in the UAE usually have <strong>renewable visas valid for only a few years tied to their employment</strong>.</li>
<li>In <strong>May 2019,</strong> the UAE <strong>started granting 5 and 10-year renewable visas</strong> to certain foreign investors, entrepreneurs, chief executives, scientists and outstanding students, under the <strong>Golden Card scheme</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme offers unprecedented benefits to the cardholders and their families while creating an attractive environment for business and growth.</li>
<li>It attracts greater foreign investment and stimulates the local economy, making it more efficient and attractive for investors.</li>
<li>It also increases the UAE's competitiveness and reaffirms the country's position as a global incubator.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government in the past couple of years has made its <strong>visa policy more flexible, offering longer residencies</strong> for certain types of investors, students and professionals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons Behind the Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UAE's economy has been hit hard by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oil-prices-below-zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>low oil prices</strong></a>, <strong>prompting many expatriates to leave</strong>. The move <strong>intends to bring them back</strong> now and keep the &ldquo;talented people and great minds&rdquo; in the Gulf country and <strong>help in nation-building</strong>.</li>
<li>It will <strong>attract talented professionals from various fields</strong> of expertise and further <strong>encourage innovation, creativity and applied research,</strong> adding to the appeal of a career in the UAE for the world&rsquo;s brightest minds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It would <strong>attract more Indian professionals and businessmen</strong> to the Gulf nation and <strong>strengthen the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-uae-meet-on-investments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-UAE Relations</a></strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Indian expatriate community is reportedly the largest ethnic community in the UAE,</strong> constituting roughly <strong>about 30%</strong> of the country's population, which has played a major <strong>role in the economic development</strong> of the UAE.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will also <strong>facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work</strong> after the <strong>relaxation of Covid-19-related restrictions,</strong> for which <strong>India had <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gulf-cooperation-council-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requested the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council</a></strong> (GCC) in early November 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Recent Developmental Events in the UAE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>March 2019,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-opening-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>46<sup>th</sup> session of the Council of Foreign Ministers</strong></a> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</strong></a> (OIC), was held in Abu Dhabi where India was invited as a guest of honour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UAE hosted the event and had strongly defended the decision to invite India despite Pakistan&rsquo;s strong objection and threat to boycott the event.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>February 2020,</strong> the UAE issued an operating licence for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arab-world-s-first-nuclear-power-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arab world's first nuclear power plant</strong></a>, paving the way for it to start production in 2020.</li>
<li><strong>UAE Mars Mission:</strong> In <strong>July 2020,</strong> the UAE launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars probe named Amal</strong></a> (Hope) from Japan, marking the Arab world&rsquo;s first interplanetary mission.</li>
<li>In <strong>September 2020,</strong> the UAE signed the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-uae-and-bahrain-abraham-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abraham Accord</a> with Israel and Bahrain</strong>, which is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/uae-to-extend-golden-visas-eligibility-criteria/article33103220.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/uae-issues-golden-card-visa'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'The Concerns over Interfaith Marriages',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<p>Over the centuries, casteism and religionism has prevailed in India. Despite several laws, the social stigma for interfaith marriages still exists in the Indian Society.</p>
<p>Recently, several state governments have shown concerns about enacting proper laws to stop marriages which they refer to as &lsquo;Love Jihad&rsquo;.</p>
<p>However, contemplating laws over interfaith marriage directly violates several rights of people such as right to freedom, personal liberty and right to life.</p>
<h3>Interfaith Marriages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The matrimonial relationship developed between two individuals having different religious faiths. Although marrying into a different religion is a matter of choice of an adult, there are certain issues regarding the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Interfaith Marriages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Interfaith marriages are believed to be a <strong>forced conversion</strong> of one of the spouses (mostly women).</li>
<li>As per the Muslim Personal law, in order to get married to a non-Muslim, conversion of religion is the only way.</li>
<li>Hindu religion allows only monogamy and those who want to marry second time take another course.</li>
<li>There is no provision regarding caste determination of children born out of such marriages.</li>
<li>The <strong>Special Marriage Act, 1954</strong> is not compatible with backwardness of the society.</li>
<li>There is debate over the validity of <strong>Article 226</strong> in context of annulling the interfaith marriage by high court.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Special Marriage Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Special Marriage Act is a special law enacted to provide for a unique form of marriage by registration wherein the parties to the marriage do not have to renounce their religion.</li>
<li>This Act includes Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists marriages.</li>
<li>This act applies to all Indian states, except Jammu &amp; Kashmir.</li>
<li>This Act applies not only to Indian citizens who belong to different castes and religions but also to Indian nationals who live abroad.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Requirements</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The fundamental requirement under this Act for a valid marriage is the consent of both parties to the marriage.</li>
<li>If both parties to the marriage are willing to marry each other, that&rsquo;s enough; caste, religion, race, etc. is not a restriction.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Conditions for Marriage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bridegroom must be at least 21, and at the time of the marriage, the bride must be at least 18 years of age. This is the minimum age limit respectively for a boy/girl to marry.</li>
<li>At the time of their marriage, both parties must be monogamous; i.e., they must be unmarried and at that time should not have any living spouse.</li>
<li>In order to be able to decide for themselves, the parties should be mentally fit, i.e., they must be sane at the time of marriage.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges with Contemplating Laws for Interfaith Marriage</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Contemplating laws to regulate matrimonial relationships between two consenting adults would not be just against the constitutional guarantees but would offend the very notion of individuality and basic freedoms.</li>
<li>Interference of the law in an individual&rsquo;s choice of marriage violates the existing constitutional rights such as the Right to equality, <strong>Right to Freedom &amp; Personal Liberty, Freedom of Religion and Right to Life</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Article 21:</strong> It declares that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law. This right is available to both citizens and non-citizens.</li>
<li><strong>Article 25</strong> of the Indian constitution provides the freedom to practice any religion of one&rsquo;s choice and personal laws of the religions have specified various laws relating to marriage for the followers of that religion. Hence, in India inter-faith marriages are allowed as the constitution allows one to convert to a different religion from what one was born with and further the personal laws of the religion have provisions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In order to avoid inclusion of any further laws, there should be acceptance of the special marriage act, 1954 at the mental and social level.</li>
<li>The rights should not be exploited; conversion of religion for marriage only is not at all wise.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The marriage of two adults is a complete matter of their own choice, neither a law is to impose any decision, nor any individual. The freedom of decision of his/ her marriage shall lie with the person only. The need is to accept the fact.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-concerns-over-interfaith-marriages'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile System',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <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 (DRDO)</strong></a> successfully test-fired <strong>Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system (QRSAM)</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range, <strong>Chandipur off Odisha coast</strong>.</li>
<li>The Test was in continuation of a series of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-system-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>missile tests</strong></a> conducted by DRDO over the past two months.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605522748_image8.png" width="380" height="211" style="float: right;" /></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>QRSAM</strong> is a <strong>canister-based </strong>system, which means that it is <strong>stored and operated from specially designed compartments</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the canister, the inside environment is controlled, thus along with making its <strong>transport and storage easier</strong>, the <strong>shelf life</strong> of weapons also improves significantly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The system is <strong>capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move</strong> and engaging targets with short halts.</li>
<li><strong>Range and mobility:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>short range surface-to-air missile</strong> (SAM) system, primarily designed and developed by DRDO to provide a protective shield to moving armoured columns of the Army from enemy aerial attacks.</li>
<li>The entire weapon system has been configured on a <strong>mobile and manoeuvrable platform</strong> and is capable of providing air defence on the move.</li>
<li>It has been designed for induction into the Army and has a range of <strong>25 to 30 km</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functioning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The QRSAM weapon ensemble which functions on the move consists of a <strong>fully automated command and control system</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It also consists of <strong>two radars</strong> - Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar - with one <strong>launcher</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both radars have <strong>360-degree coverage</strong> with &ldquo;search on move&rdquo; and &ldquo;track on move&rdquo; capabilities.</li>
<li>The system is compact, uses a <strong>single stage solid propelled missile</strong> and has a <strong>mid-course inertial navigation system</strong> with two-way data link and terminal active seeker developed indigenously by DRDO.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-successfully-test-fires-quick-reaction-surface-to-air-missiles-7050901/" 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/quick-reaction-surface-to-air-missile-system'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'New Ramsar Sites',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Meteor lake at Lonar in Buldhana</strong> district of <strong>Maharashtra and the Soor Sarovar</strong> at Agra have been declared <strong>Ramsar sites</strong>, a conservation status conferred by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier this year <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/two-new-ramsar-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kabartal Wetland (Bihar)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/two-new-ramsar-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asan Conservation Reserve (Uttrakhand)</strong></a> were also designated as <strong>Ramsar sites</strong>.</li>
<li>With latest inclusions, the total number of <strong>Ramsar sites in India is 41</strong>, the highest in South Asia.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lonar Lake<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605521737_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605521737_image6.png" width="323" height="180" style="float: right;" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lonar-crater" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lonar lake</strong></a>, situated in the Deccan Plateau&rsquo;s volcanic basalt rock, was created by the <strong>impact of a meteor</strong> 35,000 to 50,000 years ago.</li>
<li>The lake is part of <strong>Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary</strong> which falls under the unified control of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/melghat-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is also known as Lonar crater and is a notified <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lonar-crater" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Geo-heritage Monument</strong></a>. Geo-heritage refers to the geological features which are inherently or culturally significant offering insight to earth&rsquo;s evolution or history to earth science or that can be utilized for education.</li>
<li>It is the second Ramsar site in Maharashtra after <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/addition-to-ramsar-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary in Nashik district</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The water in the lake is <strong>highly saline and alkaline,</strong> containing <strong>special microorganisms like anaerobes, Cyanobacteria and phytoplankton</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Soor Sarovar Lake:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605522163_image9.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605522163_image9.png" style="float: right;" width="525" height="187" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is also known as <strong>Keetham lake</strong> situated within the <strong>Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary</strong>, which was declared as a bird sanctuary in the year 1991.</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This lake is situated alongside river <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/high-level-of-ammonia-in-yamuna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Yamuna</strong></a> in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.</li>
<li>The <strong>Soor Sarovar</strong> bird sanctuary covered an area of <strong>7.97 sq km</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is today home to more than <strong>165 species of migratory and resident birds</strong>.</li>
<li>It also has a <strong>Bear Rescue centre</strong> for rescued dancing bears.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With <strong>Ramsar status,</strong> the sites will benefit in terms of <strong>international publicity and prestige</strong>.</li>
<li>They will get <strong>Financial aid</strong> through the <strong>convention&rsquo;s grant</strong> and also access to <strong>expert advice</strong> on national and site-related problems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ramsar Site</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ramsar Convention on Wetlands</strong> is an <strong>intergovernmental treaty</strong> adopted in <strong>1971</strong> in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.</li>
<li>It <strong>came into force for India on 1<sup>st</sup> February, 1982</strong>. Those <strong>wetlands which are of international importance</strong> are declared as <strong>Ramsar sites</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Convention&rsquo;s mission</strong> is &ldquo;the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.</li>
<li>The <strong>Montreux Record</strong> is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is <strong>maintained as part of the Ramsar List</strong>.</li>
<li>At present, two wetlands of India are in Montreux Record: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and</strong></li>
<li><strong>Loktak Lake (Manipur).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/odisha-s-lake-conservation?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=34601d32687e7c5ea393d0ffa5e610584f08b11a-1603699085-0-AU6KCDHq9wI_yOp5rdg1TxbRaqNvMxr154Z5fkLSIbJb1LebvXpQ5Xw3PEqzX24gZJL-3jkyOg6Yu7YGJhf5wxIKhhCsQR8hqce6N714GzEKPJFoMvi33GxziiGTh6KWC9IdFMR3ARKjT2KZ8a5fRKHh_x9L4mwlTrY17FiCU2X_2aqBO7iPfDE7MHuafruDQIXggacNULJhb-JWuYbs-FpACVDognIJcAaQltnti2cUK9p1inKWne7-nnMp0TPLMs4AJ8AnHMATTSStoM5MCEMq0wOHyy6dotQkVCiBtmd1TNzZixf-DVQtvms0Vj4DyR6IL0ZQ9HuG8tDNhsxXrfvDK7UpGEw_YIm1etRWn5w8mrdCILg29o6xWaMe0BbgCxJQ_MERpffAUVsfVJ_LfQCW6inG0hXD-oRIa8os26bVdDg6MzNjfSiz2mRsJE9ntJcXaVbgfEBhQ_1ArL_y0ll-FRWRyXyg1x_a9VnmKf0kppGG-DEstMAE0ttorh9pJd_IU9AI0wiWvxqxmIhy5F-Z-ZvKsQP-F3dPvt0oTiUjc4bD0zhjc30z1fh4Ze1WVYChjBSQbjBWR7kZ7Bt6Jsw" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chilika Lake</strong></a> (Odisha) was placed in the record but later removed from it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/lonars-meteor-lake-declared-ramsar-site-7050926/" 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/new-ramsar-sites'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'RCEP Comes into Existence',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a> has come into existence on the sidelines of the 37th ASEAN Summit.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has laid down the <strong>path for restarting discussion that had failed to admit India earlier</strong> and said &ldquo;new&rdquo; developments would be taken into consideration if India re-applies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605516927_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605516927_image3.png" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" width="466" height="306" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It consists of 10 <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations</a> (ASEAN) members, as well as South Korea, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It excludes the USA, which withdrew from the <strong>Trans-Pacific Partnership </strong>(TPP) in <strong>2017</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negotiations over the RCEP deal began in 2012. India was also part</strong> of the negotiations but it <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-exits-rcep" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pulled out in 2019</strong></a> over concerns that <strong>lower tariffs could hurt local producers</strong>.</li>
<li>Members of the RCEP make up nearly a <strong>third of the world's population</strong> and account for<strong> 29% of global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low#:~:text=Growth%20in%20Fiscal%20Year%202019,6.1%25%20in%202018%2D19." target="_blank" rel="noopener">gross domestic product</a></strong> (GDP).</li>
<li>The <strong>China-backed</strong> group will emerge as the <strong>largest free trade agreement</strong> (FTA) in the world surpassing both the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-future-of-free-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US-Mexico-Canada Agreement</strong></a> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> (EU).</li>
<li>It is <strong>expected to eliminate a range of tariffs on imports within 20 years</strong> and also includes provisions on <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>intellectual property</strong></a>, telecommunications, financial services, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-commerce</strong></a> and professional services.</li>
<li>Under RCEP, <strong>parts from any member nation would be treated equally,</strong> which might give companies in RCEP countries an <strong>incentive to look within the trade region for suppliers</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Businesses with global supply chains might face tariffs even within an FTA because their products contain components that are made elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The deal could <strong>increase global national income by USD 186 billion annually by 2030</strong> and add 0.2% to the economy of its member states.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, some analysts think the deal is <strong>likely to benefit China, Japan and South Korea more</strong> than other member states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, it could be <strong>some time before any country sees the benefits, because six Asean nations and three other nations have to ratify</strong> it before it takes effect.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ratification will likely be <strong>tricky</strong> in national parliaments, owing to both <strong>anti-trade and anti-China sentiments</strong> among the countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The beginning of RCEP is a major development that will <strong>help China and trade in the Asia-Pacific region</strong> in the <strong>post-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> scenario</strong>.</li>
<li>It will give <strong>China access to Japanese and South Korean markets</strong> in a big way, as the three countries have not yet agreed on their FTA.</li>
<li>While China already has a number of bilateral trade agreements, this is the first time it has signed up to <strong>a regional multilateral trade pact</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While addressing the ASEAN Summit, India <strong>highlighted the necessity for peace and stability in the region but maintained silence regarding RCEP</strong> as it is <strong>not very welcoming</strong> of the China-backed grouping in the light of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ongoing military tension in eastern Ladakh</strong></a> <strong>along the Line of Actual Control </strong>(LAC).</li>
<li>In the meantime, India <strong>held <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-be-included-in-malabar-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malabar Exercise</a> with Japan and the USA for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quadrilateral Security Dialogue</a></strong> (QUAD) which was interpreted as an anti-China move.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, these moves <strong>did not influence Japanese and Australian plans</strong> regarding RCEP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India <strong>ended negotiation</strong> on RCEP over terms that were <strong>perceived to be against its interests</strong>.</li>
<li>One of the major concerns for India was <strong>inadequate protection against surges in imports</strong> as its industry had fears that signing RCEP would <strong>allow cheaper products from China to flood the market</strong> in India.</li>
<li>The <strong>extended power to China</strong> could lead to <strong>actions and incidents eroding trust in the maritime region</strong> disrespecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, the ongoing tensions at LAC and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/disputed-territories-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chinese activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>RCEP on India&rsquo;s Membership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, as an original negotiating participant of the RCEP, has the <strong>option of joining the agreement without having to wait 18 months</strong> as stipulated for new members in the terms of the pact.</li>
<li>RCEP signatory states plan to commence negotiations with India once it <strong>submits a request of its intention to join the pact "in writing"</strong>, and it may participate in meetings as an observer prior to its accession.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mega trade bloc is a landmark trade initiative which is expected to boost commerce among the member-countries spread across the Asia-Pacific region.</li>
<li>India needs to keep its interests on the table as the road to further expansion of its exports to RCEP member nations is very much still open, given that India already has trade and investment agreements with 12 of them.</li>
<li>Utilising existing agreements better while proactively exploring new opportunities in other geographies will diversify both Indian markets as well as an export basket.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rcep-signatories-ready-for-negotiations-once-india-gives-written-request-to-join-pact/article33102130.ece#:~:text=Photo%20Credit%3A%20Reuters-,India%20will%20have%20to%20re%2Dapply%20for%20membership%20negotiation,to%20restart%20negotiation%20for%20membership." 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/rcep-comes-into-existence'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Birth Anniversary of Birsa Munda',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Prime Minister paid tributes to <strong>tribal leader Birsa Munda</strong> on his birth anniversary on 15th November.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The State of <strong>Jharkhand</strong>, carved out of Bihar, officially <strong>came into being on Munda&rsquo;s birth anniversary in 2000</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605515666_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605515666_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="243" height="256" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Birth:</strong> 15<sup>th</sup> November 1875, belonged to the <strong>Munda tribe</strong> in the <strong>Chotanagpur Plateau</strong> area.</li>
<li><strong>Brief Profile:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also known as <strong>Dharti Aaba</strong> (Father of Earth), Birsa Munda is known to have <strong>mobilised the tribal community against the British</strong> and had also forced the colonial officials to introduce laws protecting the land rights of the tribals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Birsait Sect:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Having gained awareness of the British colonial ruler and the efforts of the missionaries to convert tribals to Christianity, <strong>Birsa started the faith of &lsquo;Birsait&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>Members of the <strong>Munda and Oraon community</strong> joined the Birsait sect and it turned into a challenge to British conversion activities.</li>
<li>Further, he urged the Mundas to give up drinking liquor, clean their village, and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Munda Rebellion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is one of the most important tribal movements.</li>
<li>It was led by Birsa Munda in the south of Ranchi in <strong>1899-1900</strong>.</li>
<li>The movement <strong>identified following forces as the cause of the misery</strong> the Mundas were suffering:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>land policies of the British</strong> were destroying their traditional land system.</li>
<li><strong>Hindu landlords and moneylenders</strong> were taking over their land.</li>
<li><strong>Missionaries</strong> were criticising their traditional culture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>'Ulgulan'</strong> or the <strong>'Great Tumult'</strong> as the movement came to be called, aimed at establishing Munda Raj by driving out the British.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Munda used <strong>traditional symbols and language</strong> to rouse people, urging them to destroy &ldquo;Ravana&rdquo; (dikus/outsiders and the Europeans) and establish a kingdom under his leadership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Birsa&rsquo;s followers began <strong>targeting the symbols of diku and European power</strong>. They attacked police stations and churches, and raided the property of moneylenders and zamindars. They raised the <strong>white flag as a symbol of Birsa Raj</strong>.</li>
<li>On 3<sup>rd</sup> March, 1900, Birsa Munda was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping with his <strong>tribal guerilla army</strong> at Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur (Jharkhand).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Birsa died of cholera</strong> in the jail and the movement faded out.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Munda Rebellion:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It forced the colonial government to introduce laws so that the land of the tribals could not be easily taken over by dikus <strong>(Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908)</strong>.</li>
<li>It showed that the <strong>tribal people had the capacity to protest against injustice</strong> and express their anger against colonial rule.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jharkhand Foundation Day</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The name "Jharkhand" means "The Land of Forests". The state was brought into existence by the <strong>Bihar reorganization Act</strong> on 15<sup>th</sup> November, 2000 - the birth anniversary of the legendary Bhagwan Birsa Munda.</li>
<li>Jharkhand <strong>shares its border</strong> with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Odisha to the south, and West Bengal to the east.</li>
<li>Most of the state lies on the <strong>Chotanagpur Plateau,</strong> which is the source of the Koel, Damodar, Brahmani, Kharkai, and Subarnarekha rivers, whose upper watersheds lie within Jharkhand.</li>
<li>Forest preserves support <strong>populations of tigers and Asian Elephants (Betla National Park)</strong>.</li>
<li>Jharkhand boasts of <strong>40% and 29% of India's mineral and coal reserves,</strong> respectively.</li>
<li>Jharkhand has<strong> 32 tribal groups</strong> including Munda, Kol, Santhal, Oraon, Khond, Asur, Gond etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/leaders-pay-tributes-to-birsa-munda-greet-jharkhand-on-foundation-day/article33101535.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/birth-anniversary-of-birsa-munda'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'China’s Railway Near Arunachal Border',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>China has begun work on a strategically significant railway line that will <strong>link Sichuan province with Nyingchi in Tibet</strong>, which lies close to Arunachal Pradesh border.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will be the <strong>second</strong> such route linking <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/60-years-of-1959-tibetan-uprising" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)</a> with mainland China</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier <strong>Qinghai-Tibet railway line connected</strong> Lhasa to the hinterland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605514007_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605514007_image3.png" width="375" height="390" style="float: right;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Implications on India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Security Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The railway line will largely improve the <strong>efficiency and convenience</strong> of military personnel and material transportation and <strong>logistical supplies in the border area</strong>.</li>
<li>In situations of direct standoff near Arunachal Pradesh border, as was seen during <strong>Doklam</strong> or recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ladakh standoff</strong></a>, China might be at an advantageous position.<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Doklam Issue:</strong> Indian troops intervened to block the path of Chinese soldiers engaged in building road-works on the <strong>Doklam plateau</strong> of Bhutan&rsquo;s territory that Beijing laid claim.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The fragile ecological environment along the project line, may have ecological concerns for India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Steps Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will spend 10% funds of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/boosting-infrastructure-along-china-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Border Area Development Programme (BADP)</strong></a> only to improve the infrastructure along the China border.</li>
<li>The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/daporijo-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Daporijo bridge over Subansiri river</strong></a> in Arunachal Pradesh in a record span of just 27 days.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It links roads leading upto the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently the defence minister virtually laid the foundation of a tunnel at <strong>Nechiphu in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will shorten travel time for troops till the LAC through Tawang, which China claims to be its territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The BRO is already constructing an <strong>all-weather tunnel under the Se La pass in Arunachal Pradesh</strong> which connects Tawang to the rest of Arunachal and Guwahati.</li>
<li>The state government of Arunachal Pradesh has advocated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depopulation-in-border-areas-of-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>selection of 10 census towns along the India-China border</strong></a> as pilot projects for infrastructure development in order to stop people living along its international borders, specifically with China, from migrating to faraway urban centres in the State.</li>
<li>Recently, the Defence Minister inaugurated the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sisseri-river-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sisseri River Bridge</strong></a> located at lower Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh connecting <strong>Dibang Valley and Siang</strong>.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Indian Air Force inaugurated resurfaced runway at India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-eastern-most-village" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>easternmost Village-Vijaynagar (Changlang district)</strong></a> in Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Indian Army conducted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-himvijay" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>exercise &lsquo;HimVijay&rsquo;</strong></a> in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam with its newly created Integrated Battle Groups (IBG).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bogibeel-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bogibeel bridge,</strong></a> which is India&rsquo;s longest road-rail bridge connecting <strong>Dibrugarh in Assam to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh</strong> was inaugurated in 2018.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will facilitate quicker movement of troops and equipment to areas near the India-China border.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Border Area Development Programme (BADP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The BADP was launched by the<strong> Ministry of Home Affairs in 1986-87</strong> as part of a comprehensive approach to Border Management.</li>
<li>BADP was initiated in the border areas of the western region during the Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90), for ensuring balanced development of border areas through development of infrastructure and promotion of a sense of security among the border population.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>centrally sponsored scheme</strong>. Funds are provided to the states as a non-lapsable special central assistance for the execution of projects relating to infrastructure, livelihood, education, health, agriculture and allied sectors.</li>
<li>The States covered are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sectors of India-China Border</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and China share a boundary that stretches 3,488 km from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>The border dispute still stands unresolved.</li>
<li>It is divided into <strong>three</strong> sectors:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Western Sector:</strong> It falls in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh and is 1597 km long.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It witnesses the highest transgressions between the two sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Middle Sector:</strong> It falls in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and is 545 km long.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the least disputed sector between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eastern Sector:</strong> It falls in the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and is 1346 km long.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of south Tibet which is firmly rejected by India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to be <strong>vigilant enough</strong> for any new development in China near its border to protect its interests efficiently. Further, it needs to build robust Infrastructure in difficult border areas in its territory to ensure movement of personnel and other logistical supplies in an <strong>efficient manner</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-begins-work-on-railway-up-to-arunachal-border/article33087125.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/chinas-railway-near-arunachal-border'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Battles of Panipat',
			'catname' => 'Paper 1',
			'desc' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">First Battle of Panipat (1526)</h2>
<h3>The Battle</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The First Battle of Panipat (21 April 1526) fought near a small village of Panipat( Haryana), this marked the beginning of Mughal Empire in India.</li>
<li>The battle was fought between the invading forces of <strong>Zahir-ud-din Babur</strong> and the last empire of the Delhi Sultanate, <strong>Lodi Empire during the rule of Ibrahim Lodi</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Military Force</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Babur&rsquo;s forces numbered around 15,000 men with 20 to 24 pieces of field artillery.</li>
<li>The fighting force of Ibrahim Lodi was around 30,000 to 40,000 men in total, along with at least 1000 war elephants.</li>
<li>Babur&rsquo;s army used guns which proved to be decisive in the battlefield but the Sultan lacked any field artillery. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, the sound of the cannons used by Babur&rsquo;s army frightened Lodi&rsquo;s elephants, causing them to trample Lodi&rsquo;s own men.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Babur&rsquo;s Tactics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The weapons were not all, it was Babur&rsquo;s tactics of <strong>Tulughma and Araba</strong> that led him to victory. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tulughma:</strong> it meant dividing the whole army into various units, viz. the Left, the Right and the Centre. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Left and Right divisions were further subdivided into Forward and Rear divisions.</li>
<li>Through this a small army could be used to surround the enemy from all the sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Araba:</strong> the centre forward division was then provided with carts (araba) which were placed in rows facing the enemy and tied to each other with animal hide ropes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Behind the Araba, cannons were placed which could be fired without any fear of being hit as they were shielded by the bullock carts which were held in place due to the hide ropes holding them together.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Result</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Mughal forces of Babur, the Timurid ruler of Kabulistan, defeated the much larger ruling army of Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The victory enabled Babur to lay the foundations for the Indian Mughal Empire.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ibrahim Lodi died on the field of battle, abandoned by his feudatories and generals (many of whom were mercenaries). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of them changed their allegiance to the new master of Delhi.</li>
<li>However, the fate could have been turned in the favour of Sultan Ibrahim if he had survived another hour of fighting as Babur had no reserves left and his troops were rapidly tiring.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> This was one of the earliest battles involving gunpowder firearms and field artillery.</p>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Second Battle of Panipat (1556)</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between the <strong>forces of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya,</strong> popularly called <strong>Hemu</strong>, the Hindu king who was ruling North India from Delhi, and the <strong>army of Akbar</strong>, on November 5, 1556. It was a decisive victory for Akbar&rsquo;s generals Khan Zaman I and Bairam Khan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya</strong> or Hemu was a Hindu emperor in Delhi by virtue of defeating Akbar/Humanyun&rsquo;s army in Battle for Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hemu belonged to Rewari in present day Haryana, who earlier was an adviser to Sher Shah Suri&rsquo;s son Islam Shah from 1545 to 1553.</li>
<li>He had won 22 battles, as Prime Minister and Chief of Army of Islam Shah, during 1553 to 1556 to quell the rebellion by Afghan rebels against Sur regime.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On January 24, 1556, the Mughal ruler Humanyun died in Delhi and was succeeded by his son, <strong>Akbar</strong> at Kalanaur, who was only thirteen years old. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On February 14, 1556, Akbar was enthroned as the king.</li>
<li>At the time of his accession to the throne, the Mughal rule was confined to Kabul, Kandahar, parts of Delhi and Punjab.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Battle</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Akbar and his guardian Bairam Khan <strong>did not participate in the battle</strong> and were stationed 5 Kos (8 miles) away from the war zone. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 13 year old child King was not permitted to be present on the battlefield in person, instead he was provided with a<strong> special guard of 5000</strong> well trained and <strong>most faithful troops</strong> and was stationed at a safe distance far behind the battle lines.</li>
<li>The Mughal Vanguard consisted of <strong>10,000 cavalry</strong>, out of which 5000 were experienced veteran soldiers and were ready to meet the advancing army of Hemu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Hemu led his army himself. His army consisted of <strong>1500 war elephants</strong> and a vanguard of artillery park. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hemu marched in excellent order with <strong>30,000 practiced horsemen</strong> composed of <strong>Rajputs and Afghans</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Result</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hemu commanding his forces from atop an elephant was on a winning track and was about to rout Akbar&rsquo;s army when an arrow struck Hemu&rsquo;s squinting eye. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The arrow passed his brain clean out from the cup of his head, and he became unconscious.</li>
<li>Not seeing Hemu in his howdah (seat for riding on the back of a horse) , Hemu&rsquo;s army was in disarray and defeated in the ensuing confusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Several hours after the war ended, dead Hemu was located and captured by Shah Quli Khan Mahram and brought to Akbar&rsquo;s tent in the camp in Panipat.</li>
<li>Hemu&rsquo;s supporters constructed a Cenotaph at the site of his beheading, which still exists at the village Saudhapur, on Jind Road at Panipat.</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Third Battle of Panipat (1761)</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761, at Panipat, about 60 miles (95.5 km) north of Delhi between a northern expeditionary force of the <strong>Maratha Empire</strong> and <strong>the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani</strong> with two Indian Muslim allies&mdash; the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Military Force</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Militarily, the battle pitted the French-supplied artillery and cavalry of the Marathas against the heavy cavalry and mounted artillery(zamburak and jezail) of the Afghans and Rohillas led by Ahmad Shah Durrani and Najib-ud-Daulah.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ahmad Shah Durrani was also known as <strong>Ahmad Shah Abdali</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The battle is considered one of the largest fought in the 18th century with the largest number of fatalities in a single day reported in a classic formation battle between two armies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decline of the Mughal Empire following the 27-year Mughal-Maratha war (1680&ndash;1707) had led to rapid territorial gains for the Maratha Empire. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under Peshwa Baji Rao, Gujarat and Malwa came under Maratha control.</li>
<li>Finally, in 1737, Baji Rao defeated the Mughals on the outskirts of Delhi, and brought much of the former Mughal territories south of Delhi under Maratha control.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This brought the Marathas into direct confrontation with the Durrani empire of Ahmad Shah Abdali.</li>
<li>In 1759, he raised an army from the Pashtun tribes and made several gains against the smaller Maratha garrisons in Punjab. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He then joined with his Indian allies - the Rohilla Afghans of the Gangetic Doab - forming a broad coalition against the Marathas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Shuja-ud-Daulah</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both the Marathas as well as Afghans tried to get the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daulah, into their camp. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By late July, Shuja-ud-Daulah made the decision to join the Afghan-Rohilla coalition, preferring to join what was perceived as the &lsquo;army of Islam&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This was strategically a major loss for the Marathas, since Shuja provided much needed finances for the long Afghan stay in North India.</li>
<li>It is doubtful whether the Afghan-Rohilla coalition would have the means to continue their conflict with the Marathas without Shuja&rsquo;s support.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cutting off the Supplies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In August, 1760, the Maratha camp finally reached Delhi and took the city. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There followed a series of skirmishes along the banks of the river Yamuna, and a battle at Kunjpura, which the Marathas won against an Afghan garrison of about 15,000.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, Abdali daringly crossed the river Yamuna in October at Baghpat, cutting off the Maratha camp from their base in Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This eventually turned into a two-month-long siege led by Abdali against the Marathas in the town of Panipat.</li>
<li>During the siege both sides tried to cut off the other&rsquo;s supplies at which the Afghans were considerably more effective; by the end of November 1760 they had cut off almost all food supplies into the besieged Maratha camp.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The food in the Maratha camp ran out by late December or early January and cattle died by the thousands. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reports of soldiers dying of starvation began to be heard in early January.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Battle</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With no supplies and dying soldiers, the Maratha chiefs begged their commander, Sadashiv Rao Bhau, to be allowed to die in battle than perish by starvation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In a desperate attempt to break the siege, the Marathas left their camp to march towards the Afghan camp.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The battle lasted for several days and involved over 125,000 troops. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Protracted skirmishes occurred, with losses and gains on both sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The forces led by Ahmad Shah Durrani came out victorious after destroying several Maratha flanks.</li>
<li>The extent of the losses on both sides is believed that:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>between 60,000&ndash;70,000 were killed in fighting</li>
<li>the numbers of injured and prisoners taken vary considerably. about 40,000 Maratha prisoners were slaughtered in cold blood the day after the battle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Result</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The result of the battle was the halting of further Maratha advances in the north, and a destabilization of their territories, for roughly 10 years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This period of 10 years is marked by the rule of Peshwa Madhavrao, who is credited with the revival of Maratha domination following the defeat at Panipat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1771, 10 years after Panipat, Peshwa Madhavrao sent a large Maratha army into North India in an expedition that was meant to: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Re-establish the Maratha domination in North India</li>
<li>Punish refractory powers that had either sided with the Afghans, such as the Rohillas, or had shaken off Maratha domination after Panipat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The success of this campaign can be seen as the last saga of the long story of Panipat.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>What stands out in all the three battles of Panipat is the fact that the dispute or the reason for war was never the city of Panipat.</li>
<li>Panipat was always an entrance to Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Historically, anyone from the North-West, who wanted to capture Delhi, had to come through the Khyber pass and then Punjab.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/battles-of-panipat'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report 2020: IVAC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the annual <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pneumonia-and-diarrhoea-progress-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report</strong></a> has been released by the <strong>International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC)</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IVAC, founded in <strong>2009, accelerates equitable access to vaccines</strong> through the <strong>generation, synthesis, and use of evidence</strong> to inform decision-making and action. It is located in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It evaluates the progress <strong>across 10 high-impact indicators</strong> outlined in the <strong>Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-forum-on-childhood-pneumonia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pneumonia</a> and Diarrhoea</strong> (GAPPD) in the <strong>15 countries with the greatest burden of under-five pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths</strong> and how they are delivering key<strong> interventions to prevent</strong> these.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These<strong> interventions include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-breastfeeding-week#:~:text=The%20World%20Breastfeeding%20Week%20(WBW,promotion%2C%20and%20support%20of%20breastfeeding.">breastfeeding</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gap-in-vaccination-of-children#:~:text=Immunisation%20is%20a%20simple%20and,remove%20any%20gap%20in%20immunisation." target="_blank" rel="noopener">immunisation</a>,</strong> care-seeking and antibiotics, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rising-carbon-dioxide-levels-zinc-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zinc supplementation</strong></a>.</li>
<li>These measures are proven to help prevent deaths due to these illnesses and could help achieve the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal-3</strong></a> (Good Health and Well-Being) target of <strong>reducing under-five mortality</strong> to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.</li>
<li>In <strong>2009,</strong> the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></a> (WHO) and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Children&rsquo;s Fund</strong></a> (UNICEF) launched the GAPPD, which proposes a <strong>multi-sectoral, integrated approach to reduce the incidence of severe pneumonia and diarrhoea, reduce the number of children under-five who are stunted,</strong> and <strong>end preventable childhood deaths</strong> from pneumonia and diarrhoea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s report also <strong>addresses the emerging impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic</strong>.</li>
<li>It monitors the <strong>coverage of five vaccines</strong> which are <strong>Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus</strong> (DPT) <strong>vaccine, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/susceptibility-of-infants-to-measles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Measles</a>-containing-vaccine first dose, Haemophilus influenzae type B, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccine-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pneumococcal conjugate vaccine</a></strong> (PCV), and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rotavirus-vaccination-drive" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>rotavirus vaccine</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605509719_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605509719_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="532" height="487" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nearly every country</strong> included in the report <strong>lagged in access to treatments </strong>against pneumonia and diarrhoea.</li>
<li><strong>Overall the world&rsquo;s health systems are falling short</strong> of ensuring that children have access to prevention and treatment services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Performance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Of the 15 focus countries included in the report, <strong>India is one of the countries that exceeded targets for exclusive breastfeeding</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-chair-who-executive-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Assembly</strong></a> (WHA) has set a target to increase the <strong>global rate of exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50% by 2025</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Exclusive Breastfeeding:</strong> It means that the infant receives only breast milk. No other liquids or solids are given, not even water, with the exception of ORS, or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has made <strong>significant progress in its vaccination coverage</strong> to prevent child pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths.</li>
<li>India has <strong>achieved the global target of 90% coverage for three of the five vaccines</strong> whose coverage is monitored in the report.</li>
<li>However, <strong>India failed to reach all targets for treatment</strong> and the <strong>treatment for diarrhoea had the lowest coverage</strong>, with only 51% of children receiving ORS and 20% getting zinc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>90% treatment coverage for children with suspected pneumonia,</strong> including care by an appropriate health care provider and antibiotics and <strong>90% treatment coverage for children with diarrhoea</strong>, including treatment with ORS and zinc supplements by 2025.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although there was progress in India in 2019, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic</a> threatens the gains because of disruptions</strong> caused in routine health services like <strong>immunisation and access to medical oxygen</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605509778_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605509778_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Diarrhoea</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>passage of 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day,</strong> or more frequently than is normal for the individual. There are <strong>three clinical types of diarrhoea</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Acute watery diarrhoea</strong> (lasts several hours or days, and includes cholera).</li>
<li><strong>Acute bloody diarrhoea</strong> (also called dysentery).</li>
<li><strong>Persistent diarrhoea</strong> (lasts 14 days or longer).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Diarrhoea is a symptom of infections <strong>caused by a host of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms,</strong> most of which are spread by faeces-contaminated water.</li>
<li><strong>Water contaminated with human and animal faeces</strong> is of particular concern. Animal faeces also contain microorganisms that can cause diarrhoea.</li>
<li>It can also spread from person-to-person, aggravated by poor personal hygiene, food prepared or stored in unhygienic conditions, unsafe domestic water storage and handling.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The most severe threat posed by diarrhoea is <strong>dehydration, which occurs when lost water and electrolytes</strong> are not replaced.</li>
<li>It may be <strong>life-threatening,</strong> particularly in <strong>young children and people who are malnourished</strong> or have <strong>impaired immunity</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prevention and Cure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Interventions to prevent diarrhoea, including <strong>safe drinking-water, use of improved sanitation</strong> and <strong>handwashing with soap</strong> can reduce disease risk.</li>
<li>Diarrhoea should be <strong>treated with ORS,</strong> a solution of clean water, sugar and salt. In addition, <strong>nutrient-rich foods and zinc supplemental treatment shortens</strong> diarrhoea duration and improves outcomes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Step Taken by India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government aims to achieve a <strong>target of reducing pneumonia deaths among children to less than three per 1,000 live births by 2025</strong>.</li>
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> India launched the <strong>Integrated Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea</strong> (IAPPD) to undertake collaborative efforts towards prevention of diarrhoea and pneumonia-related under-five deaths.</li>
<li><strong>Universal Immunization Programme</strong> (UIP) was launched by the government in <strong>1985</strong> and <strong>prevents mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases</strong> including pneumonia and diarrhoea.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saans-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully</strong></a> (SAANS) Campaign to <strong>reduce child mortality due to pneumonia,</strong> which contributes to around 15% of deaths of children under the age of five annually.</li>
<li>In <strong>2019,</strong> the government of India launched a <strong>rotavirus vaccine drive</strong> across all states and Union Territories, which was an <strong>unprecedented national scale-up of the rotavirus vaccine</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National programs to roll-out lifesaving immunizations, such as the rotavirus vaccine in India and the UIP, represent notable achievements. This progress in vaccine introduction and spread is significant to not only reduce morbidity and mortality but also to leverage immunization as a key health system strengthening activity.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/india-makes-progress-in-vaccination-coverage/article33087330.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/pneumonia-and-diarrhoea-progress-report-2020-ivac'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'INS Vagir',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the fifth <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scorpene class submarine</strong></a> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ins-karanj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project-75</strong></a> named <strong>&lsquo;Vagir&rsquo;</strong> has been launched at <strong>Mazagon Dock</strong> in Mumbai.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>INS Vagir:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605265475_image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605265475_image8.jpg" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The first Vagir, a submarine from <strong>Russia,</strong> was commissioned into Indian Navy on <strong>3<sup>rd</sup> December 1973</strong> and was decommissioned on <strong>7<sup>th</sup> June 2001</strong> after almost three decades of service to the nation.</li>
<li><strong>Public shipbuilder <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mazagon Dock Ltd</a></strong> (MDL) gave a new incarnation to the submarine with the same name.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is named after the <strong>Sand Fish,</strong> a deadly deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>It is a part of the six <strong>Kalvari-class submarines</strong> being built in India.</li>
<li>The state-of-art technology used in the submarine has ensured:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Superior stealth features</strong> such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, and hydro-dynamically optimised shape.</li>
<li>The ability to attack the enemy using <strong>precision guided weapons.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The submarine is designed to <strong>operate in all theatres of operation,</strong> showcasing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.</li>
<li>It can launch attacks with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface.</li>
<li>It can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e <strong>Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, Intelligence gathering, Mine Laying, Area Surveillance, </strong>etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Project-75 :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a programme by the Indian Navy that entails building <strong>six Scorpene Class</strong> attack submarines.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scorpene is a conventional powered submarine weighing 1,500 tonnes and can go up to depths of 300m.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is given support by the <strong>Department of Defence Production</strong> (Ministry of Defence) and <strong>Indian Navy</strong> throughout its various phases of construction.</li>
<li>The MDL is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines with <strong>technology assistance from Naval Group of France</strong> under a USD 3.75 bn deal signed in October 2005.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other submarines</strong> of the ongoing <strong>Project-75:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two submarines, <strong>Kalvari</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Khanderi</strong></a>, have been commissioned into the Indian Navy.</li>
<li>The third submarine, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ins-karanj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karanj</strong></a>, is in the last phase of rigorous sea trials.</li>
<li>The fourth Scorpene, <strong>Vela,</strong> has commenced its sea trials.</li>
<li>The sixth and last submarine,<strong> Vagsheer,</strong> is being readied for boot together.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>With the launch of<strong> Vagir,</strong> India further cements its position as a Submarine Building Nation and<strong> MDL</strong> has more than lived up to its reputation as Warship and Submarine Builders to the Nation This is totally in sync with the current impetus of the Government towards <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1672314" 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/ins-vagir'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Checklist For National Education Policy 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/national-education-policy-missing-links-7049598/lite/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;The missing links in National Education Policy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 12/11/2020. It talks about the gaps in the National Education Policy and the way forward.</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-education-policy-nep-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Education Policy 2020 (NEP)</strong> </a>is a genuinely transformative and innovative policy document. Apart from fundamental literacy and numeracy and overall cognitive development, the NEP envisions imparting 21<sup>st</sup>-century skills, well-rounded character building, critical thinking, holistic, inquiry-based, discovery-based, discussion-based and analysis-based hands-on learning.</p>
<p>In a very welcome step, it also talks about strengthening the anganwadis and the mid-day-meal scheme. In this way, NEP champions many ideas which, if realised, can truly transform India&rsquo;s declining education system.</p>
<p>However, it falls short in identifying what exactly has prevented the government from achieving these ideals. Apart from addressing it, there is also a need to evaluate the risks in some of its recommendations.</p>
<h3>Associated Issues With NEP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Marks Dominated Education System:</strong> In India, education is synonymous with examinations that focus on rote-learning and race to come first.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This has led to mushrooming of industry out of coaching, tuition, notes, practice problems and finishing the syllabus.</li>
<li>Until marks or grades dominate the education system, it would be challenging bringing transformation as envisaged by NEP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Persistent Inequity &amp; Inequality:</strong> The NEP falls short in addressing the two main problems that plague our society and education system &mdash; inequity and inequality. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NEP addresses the issue of dropping out of schools at some length and suggests strengthening infrastructure and accessibility as a remedy.</li>
<li>However, it does not investigate the structural causes of caste, economic background condition that may be rooted in inequality and discrimination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Counteractive Effect:</strong> The NEP advocates that early education should be in one&rsquo;s mother tongue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This welcome suggestion, however, should not result in underemphasize English, which is a great equaliser in our society and opens up the world for many. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That may turn out to be discriminatory for some because the privileged will learn English anyway.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are similar risks with introducing optional vocational training in schools, as there are fears that it would turn out to be an exit route for the underprivileged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Federal Angle:</strong> Though education is a concurrent subject in India&rsquo;s federal structure, yet the NEP approach is suggestive of over-centralization. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It may be all right for the NCERT to provide broad curricular and pedagogical suggestions, but the guidelines should not become overbearing.</li>
<li>Otherwise, there may be definite risks of stifling local cultures and contexts in the curricula.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Knowledge-Jobs Mismatch:</strong> There is a persistent mismatch between the knowledge &amp; skills imparted and the jobs available. This has been one of the main challenges that have affected the Indian education system since Independence.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NEP 2020 failed to check this, as it is silent on education related to emerging technological fields like artificial intelligence, cyberspace, nanotech, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Huge Fiscal Burden:</strong> An ambitious target of public spending at 6% of GDP has been set. Mobilising financial resources will be a big challenge, given the low tax-to-GDP ratio and competing claims on the national exchequer of healthcare, national security and other vital sectors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Address the Debate on Reservation:</strong> Reservation has undoubtedly worked wonders in our country and has empowered many over the years. However, it has not been all smooth sailing, and there are some manifest structural problems. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the one hand, it is undeniable that it curbs opportunities of choice to many qualified young students. On the other hand, it acts as a tool for imparting social justice.</li>
<li>Thus, the NEP needed to address this headlong.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need For Cooperative Federalism:</strong> Since education is a concurrent subject (both the Centre and the state governments can make laws on it), the reforms proposed can only be implemented collaboratively by the Centre and the states.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, the Centre has the enormous task of building a consensus on the many ambitious plans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strive Towards Universalisation of Education:</strong> There is a need for the creation of &lsquo;inclusion funds&rsquo; to help socially and educationally disadvantaged children pursue education.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, there is a need to set up a regulatory process that can check profiteering from education in the form of unaccounted donations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bridging Digital Divide:</strong> If technology is a force-multiplier, with unequal access, it can also expand the gap between the haves and have nots. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, the state needs to address the striking disparities in access to digital tools for universalisation of education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Interministerial Coordination:</strong> There is an emphasis on vocational training, but to make it useful, there has to be close coordination between the education, skills and labour ministry.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>National Education policy 2020 is a transformative document, but mere changes in syllabus or even structure are unlikely to bring about fundamental changes in the Indian education system. Therefore, careful balancing is required to avoid unforeseen behavioural adaptations, causing them to end up as tools of exclusion and denial of opportunities.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605264892_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605264892_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #f20000; background-color: #fffdf7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) is a transformative and innovative policy document, but it needs to address the persistent issues in the Indian education system. Discuss</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9HAXAy91QuY" 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/pli-scheme-backing-big-firms-and-global-champions-is-the-way-to-go/2126558/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;PLI Scheme: Backing big firms and global champions is the way to go&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Financial Express on November 11th, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Supreme Court on Curbing Fake News',
		'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> has asked the Centre to provide <strong>information on the existing legal mechanisms to deal with complaints about the content on television channels.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Further it has asked the Centre to create an authority to check <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/fake-news-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fake news</strong></a> and bigotry on air.</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 court was hearing a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/public-interest-litigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Interest Litigation</strong></a> (PIL) filed by various organisations who objected to the reporting by certain television news channels and news portals on the <strong>Tablighi Jamaat event</strong> held in <strong>March 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The religious gathering <strong>emerged as one of the early hot spots of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> in the national capital.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>petitions sought a direction from the court to stop the dissemination of fake news and to identify and take strict action</strong> against sections of the media that<strong> communalised</strong> the incident.</li>
<li>In<strong> October 2020,</strong> the bench asked the Centre to file a response on steps taken to ensure fake news is not circulated through online and electronic media platforms.</li>
<li>The government, through the Ministry, <strong>filed an affidavit in November and cited its advisories,</strong> which maintained that <strong>media coverage of the case predominantly struck a balanced and neutral perspective.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It held that as a matter of journalistic policy, any section of the media may highlight different events, issues and happenings across the world as per their choice and it was for the viewer to choose from the varied opinions offered by the different media outlets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The court <strong>rejected the affidavit as inadequate</strong> and asked if the regulatory provisions of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/regulations-on-ott-and-digital-content#:~:text=In%20October%202020%2C%20the%20Supreme,under%20its%20purview%20as%20well." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act of 1995</strong></a>, meant for cable networks, would apply to TV broadcasts as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fake News:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fake news is <strong>news, stories or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive</strong> readers.</li>
<li>Usually, these stories are created<strong> to either influence people&rsquo;s views, push a political agenda </strong>or <strong>cause confusion</strong> and can often be a profitable business for online publishers.</li>
<li>Fake news <strong>affects free speech and informed choices of the subjects</strong> of the country, leading to the hijacking of democracy.</li>
<li><strong>Controlling Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Rebuttal:</strong> It is a<strong> form of fact-checking</strong> wherein the fake news is debunked by pointing out errors like mismatch, malicious editing and misattribution.</li>
<li><strong>Public Education: Educating the end-users to be more discerning consumers</strong> of news by informing them of verification tools so that they can ascertain the accuracy of a news item before sharing it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Laws and Regulation to Curb Fake News in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is <strong>no specific law against fake news</strong> in India. Free publication of news flows from<strong> Article 19</strong> of the Constitution guaranteeing <strong>Freedom of Speech.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/press-council-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Press Council of India</a>:</strong> It is a regulatory body which can warn, admonish or censure the <strong>newspaper, the news agency, the editor or the journalist</strong> or disapprove the conduct of the editor or the journalist if it finds that a newspaper or a news agency has violated journalistic ethics.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ethical-code-for-electronic-media#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20News%20Broadcasters%20Association,malicious%2C%20biased%20and%20regressive%20content." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>News Broadcasters Association</strong></a>: It represents the private television news and current affairs broadcasters. The <strong>self-regulatory body</strong> probes complaints against electronic media.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Broadcast Foundation:</strong> It looks into the complaints against contents aired by channels.</li>
<li><strong>Broadcasting Content Complaint Council:</strong> It admits complaints against TV broadcasters for objectionable TV content and fake news.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-road-map-for-criminal-justice-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Penal Code</a>: Section 153</strong> (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and <strong>Section 295</strong> (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) can be invoked to guard against fake news.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security#:~:text=Information%20Technology%20Act%2C%202000,Hacking%20with%20computer%20system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information Technology Act 2000</strong></a>: According to the <strong>Section 66</strong> of the act, if any person, dishonestly or fraudulently, does any act referred to in<strong> Section 43</strong> (damage to computer, computer system), shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees or with both.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/misuse-of-criminal-defamation-law-madras-hc#:~:text=In%20India%2C%20defamation%20can%20both,wrong%20and%20a%20criminal%20offence.&amp;text=A%20civil%20wrong%20tends%20to,not%20to%20commit%20such%20acts." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Civil or Criminal Case for Defamation</strong></a>: It is another resort against fake news for individuals and groups hurt by the fake news. <strong>IPC Section 499</strong> (defamation) and <strong>Section 500</strong> (whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both) provide for a defamation suit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fake news has existed since the dawn of the printing press but in the age of the internet and social media, it has found a tremendous application. Manipulation of algorithms of social media and search engines is a global trend now.</li>
<li>Misinformation and disinformation spread in the media is becoming a serious social challenge. It is leading to the poisonous atmosphere on the web and causing riots and lynchings on the road.</li>
<li>Countering content manipulation and fake news to restore faith in social media without undermining internet and media freedom will require public education, strengthening of regulations and effort of tech companies to make suitable algorithms for news curation.</li>
<li>Any future legislation should take the whole picture into account and not blame the media and go for knee-jerk reactions; in this age of new media anyone can create and circulate new for undisclosed benefits.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-mechanism-do-you-have-against-fake-news-sc-asks-centre/article33119647.ece?homepage=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'UNESCO Global Geoparks',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)</strong> is making <strong>efforts to get recognition of a geopark for Visakhapatnam</strong> (Andhra Pradesh) consisting of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/erra-matti-dibbalu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Erra Matti Dibbalu</strong></a> (red sand dunes), <strong>natural rock formations, Borra Caves and volcanic ash deposits.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While there are <strong>161 UNESCO Global geoparks</strong> spread across 44 countries,<strong> India is yet to have one of its own.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Meaning:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are<strong> single, unified geographical areas</strong> where sites and landscapes of <strong>international geological significance</strong> are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Management:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are <strong>managed by a body having legal existence</strong> recognized under national legislation.</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>UNESCO Global Geopark status does not imply restrictions on any economic activity inside a UNESCO Global Geopark</strong> where that activity complies with indigenous, local, regional and/or national legislation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Visibility:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Geoparks are sustained through <strong>geo tourism activities</strong> like excursions, nature trails, guided tours, hiking and academic meets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Networking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cooperating with the local people</strong> (bottom-up approach) living in the geopark area and with<strong> other UNESCO Global Geoparks</strong> through the <strong>Global Geoparks Network (GGN).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GGN, of which <strong>membership is obligatory for UNESCO Global Geoparks,</strong> is a <strong>legally constituted not-for-profit organisation</strong> with an annual membership fee. It was<strong> founded in 2004. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Designation Period:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A UNESCO Global Geopark is <strong>given this designation for a period of four years</strong> after which the functioning and quality of each UNESCO Global Geopark is thoroughly re-examined during a revalidation process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Geoparks vs Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Besides UNESCO Global Geoparks, there are <strong>other two UNESCO site designations, Biosphere Reserves</strong> and<strong> World Heritage Sites.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Biosphere Reserves</strong> focus on the harmonised management of biological and cultural diversity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Out of <strong>18 notified biosphere reserves, India has 12</strong> biosphere reserves under the <strong>World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR),</strong> 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><strong>World Heritage Sites</strong> promote the conservation of natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has 38 world heritage sites, including 30 cultural properties, 7 natural properties and 1 mixed site. The latest one included is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jaipur-a-world-heritage-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jaipur city, Rajasthan.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO Global Geoparks</strong> give international recognition for sites that promote the importance and significance of protecting the Earth&rsquo;s geodiversity through actively engaging with the local communities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India does not have any</strong> UNESCO Global geopark.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNESCO</strong></p>
<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><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.,<strong> Venkatraipur</strong> and <strong>Noliasahi</strong> as <strong>Tsunami Ready Communities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has <strong>193 Members and 11 Associate Members. India</strong> joined UNESCO in <strong>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,</strong> France.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Visakhapatnam&rsquo;s Case</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Important Sites:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605688035_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605688035_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Erra Matti Dibbalu:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is<strong> coastal red sediment mounds</strong> located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam.</li>
<li>The width of sandy red dunes vary from 200 metres to two kilometres, spread across five kilometres along the coast.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Such <strong>sand deposits</strong> have only been reported from two other low latitude tropical regions in <strong>South Asia &mdash;</strong> the <strong>Teri Sands of Tamil Nadu</strong> and <strong>Red Coastal Sands of Sri Lanka.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is among the 34 notified <strong>National Geological Heritage Monument Sites</strong> of India by the <strong>Geological Survey of India (GSI).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> term geological heritage</strong> is used for natural geological or geo-morphological features that have aesthetic, intrinsic or scientific and educational value, that provide unique insight into geological processes affecting the formation or evolution of Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Natural Rock Formations (Eastern Ghats) at Mangamaripeta:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One example is the <strong>natural arch</strong> at Mangamaripeta beach opposite the Thotlakonda Buddhist Site.</li>
<li>It is likely to <strong>date back to the period after the last Ice Age</strong> around 10,000 years ago and is similar to the natural rock arch of Silathoranam in the Tirumala Hills.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Borra Caves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Discovered by William King George</strong> of the GSI, these <strong>one million year old caves</strong> attract a huge number of tourists every day. These are located<strong> at an elevation of 1400 m above sea level.</strong></li>
<li>These caves are known for <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icicles-stalactites-and-stalagmites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stalactite and stalagmite</a> formations</strong> such as Shiva-Parvathi, Rishi's Beard, Mother-Child, Crocodile, Human Brain, Tiger and Cows udder.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Volcanic Ash Deposits</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are said to have originated from the <strong>volcanic eruption of Toba in Indonesia 73,000 years ago</strong> near Araku (Andhra Pradesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Red sands</strong> are being <strong>exploited for construction activity.</strong> Further, <strong>degradation due to human interference</strong> such as digging, climbing, littering are affecting their stability and exacerbating erosion.</li>
<li>The recent incident of <strong>overcrowding and reckless acts of visitors</strong> endangering the natural arch has raised concerns among geologists and heritage activists on the need to safeguard the sites of the region and establish a geo park.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In July 2019, INTACH organised a campaign to create <strong>public awareness on geologically and culturally important spots</strong> in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>INTACH</strong> was founded <strong>in 1984 in New Delhi</strong> with the vision to spearhead heritage awareness and conservation in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/saving-the-precious-geo-heritage-sites-of-visakhapatnam/article33117808.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unesco-global-geoparks'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Step Up for TB 2020 Report',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>&ldquo;Step Up for TB 2020&rdquo;</strong> <strong>report</strong> by the <strong>Stop TB Partnership</strong> and <strong>M&eacute;decins Sans Fronti&egrave;res/Doctors Without Borders</strong> (MSF) has highlighted India&rsquo;s <strong>conservative approach</strong> regarding the new medicines for<strong> Drug Resistant TB,</strong> putting lives of patients including children in danger.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The current <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pandemic</strong></a> has further aggravated the sufferings of TB patients in the country in terms of disease <strong>diagnosis, surveillance and treatment.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Founded in 1971,<strong> M&eacute;decins Sans Fronti&egrave;res</strong> (MSF), sometimes rendered in English as <strong>Doctors Without Borders,</strong> is an<strong> international humanitarian medical <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-governmental-organizations-ngos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-governmental organisation</a></strong> (NGO) of <strong>French origin</strong> best known for its projects in <strong>conflict zones</strong> and in countries affected by endemic diseases.</li>
<li><strong>It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tuberculosis (TB)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-tuberculosis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tuberculosis</strong></a> is caused by bacteria<strong> (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)</strong> that most often affect the <strong>lungs.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong> TB is treatable and curable disease.It is treated with a standard 6 month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer.</li>
<li><strong>Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)</strong> is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs.</li>
<li><strong>Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB)</strong> is a more serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment options.</li>
<li>Tuberculosis (TB) remains the <strong>world&rsquo;s deadliest infectious disease,</strong> killing more than <strong>1.4 million people in 2019,</strong> despite being curable.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report presents data on <strong>37 high-burden countries, including India</strong> (representing 77% of the global estimated TB incident cases), assessing the extent to which <strong>national policies align with international best practices</strong> based on <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> guidelines and the latest scientific research.</li>
<li>This is the<strong> 4<sup>th</sup> edition</strong> of this report, which focuses on countries&rsquo; policies and practices related to<strong> 4 key areas of national TB programmes (NTPs):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Diagnosis,</li>
<li>Treatment (including models of care),</li>
<li>Prevention, and</li>
<li>Medicines procurement policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are barriers to policy adoption and implementation across the surveyed countries.</li>
<li>The <strong>critical medical innovations</strong> are reaching very few people who urgently need them.</li>
<li>The report emphasised that <strong>oral treatment regimens</strong> for people with drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) must be prioritised over older, toxic drugs that have to be injected and cause serious side effects.</li>
<li>Nearly<strong> 1 in 3 people</strong> with TB disease is <strong>still not diagnosed and notified.</strong></li>
<li>Almost <strong>2 in 3 countries</strong> surveyed still do not include in their policies urinary <strong>TB lipoarabinomannan (TB LAM) testing</strong> for people living with HIV. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>TB LAM is the only rapid point-of-care TB test available, and there is more than enough evidence of its benefits as a lifesaving point-of-care test.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India was criticised for not scaling up the new Disease Resistant (DR)-TB drugs <strong>Bedaquiline and Delamanid</strong>, needed even more during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tb-drug-pretomanid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pretomanid</strong></a> is the third new drug developed for the treatment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Until March 2020, less <strong>than 10% of India&rsquo;s MDR-TB patients</strong> who were eligible for Bedaquiline had received it. This is alarming, since <strong>India is home to a quarter of the world&rsquo;s DR-TB patients.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has the highest TB burden in the world. In 2018, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lancet-building-a-tuberculosis-free-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2.15 million TB cases were reported</a></strong>, which is 16% more than in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiative to Fight TB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eliminating TB by 2025:</strong> India is committed to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-with-the-world-bank-to-eliminate-tb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eliminating tuberculosis from the country by 2025</strong></a>, five years ahead of the global target by the <strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong> i.e. <strong>2030.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Nikshay Ecosystem:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the National TB information system which is a one-stop solution to manage information of patients and monitor program activity and performance throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This scheme is aimed at providing financial support to TB patients for their nutrition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tb-harega-desh-jeetega-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Launched In September 2019</strong></a> it is showcasing the highest level of commitment for the elimination of TB.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Saksham Project:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a project of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) that has been providing psycho-social counselling to DR-TB patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has partnered with the<strong> Global Fund</strong> to launch <strong>JEET (Joint Effort for Elimination of TB),</strong> a private sector engagement program operating across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> (WHO) has launched a joint initiative <strong>&ldquo;Find. Treat. All. #EndTB&rdquo;</strong> with the Global Fund and Stop TB Partnership.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The WHO End TB Strategy outlines global impact targets to <strong>reduce TB deaths by 90%, to cut new cases by 80%</strong> between the years <strong>2015 and 2030,</strong> and to ensure that no family is burdened with catastrophic costs due to TB.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It aims to accelerate the TB response and ensure access to care, in line with WHO&rsquo;s overall drive towards <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Health Coverage</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>WHO also releases the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-tuberculosis-report-2019-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Tuberculosis Report.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the<strong> notable successes</strong> achieved by the different programmes, robust efforts are needed to improve the early and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenous-tb-diagnostic-tool" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>accurate diagnosis</strong></a> followed by a prompt appropriate treatment which is vital for ending TB.</li>
<li>India must collaborate with global efforts which are being done to eliminate the TB along with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/paradigm-shift-for-tb-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>paradigm shift in the control measure.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-global-call-to-step-up-tb-treatment-experts-flag-indias-conservative-approach-7053992/" 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/step-up-for-tb-2020-report'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'RCEP & India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/threat-or-treat/article33110441.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Threat or treat: on RCEP trade deal&rdquo;</a> which was published in The Hindu on 17/11/2020. It talks about the impact of India&rsquo;s stance to stay out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <strong><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/16-11-2020#6999" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed into existence</a></strong> by 15 countries led by China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10-state ASEAN grouping, creating one of the world&rsquo;s largest trading blocs.</p>
<p>India had been a part of negotiations for almost nine years <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-and-rcep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">till it pulled out in November 2019</a>, stating that inadequate safeguards and lowering of customs duties will adversely impact its manufacturing, agriculture and dairy sectors.</p>
<p>However, by staying out, India has blocked itself from a trade bloc that represents 30% of the global economy and world population, touching over 2.2 billion people.</p>
<p>Further, as the summary of the final agreement shows that the pact does cover and attempt to address some issues that India had flagged, including rules of origin, trade in services, movement of persons. Therefore, this makes the case of India to review its decision and look RCEP through the lens of economic realism.</p>
<h3>Reasons for India's Withdrawal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unfavourable Balance of Trade:</strong> Though trade has increased the post-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/country-of-origin-rules-carotar-2020#:~:text=Free%20Trade%20Agreement,on%20substantial%20trade%20between%20them." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Trade Agreement</a> with South Korea, ASEAN countries and Japan, imports have risen faster than exports from India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a paper published by NITI Aayog, India has a bilateral trade deficit with most of the member countries of RCEP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese Angle:</strong> India has already signed FTA with all the countries of RCEP except China. Trade data suggests that India&rsquo;s deficit with China, with which it does not have a trade pact, is higher than that of the remaining RCEP constituents put together.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This trade deficit is the primary concern for India, as after signing RCEP cheaper products from China would have flooded the Indian market.</li>
<li>Further, from a geopolitical perspective, RCEP is China-led or is intended to expand China's influence in Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-acceptance of Auto-trigger Mechanism:</strong> To deal with the imminent rise in imports, India had been seeking an auto-trigger mechanism.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Auto-trigger Mechanism would have allowed India to raise tariffs on products in instances where imports cross a certain threshold.</li>
<li>However, other countries in the RCEP were against this proposal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection of Domestic Industry:</strong> India had also reportedly expressed apprehensions on lowering and eliminating tariffs on several products like dairy, steel etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For instance, the dairy industry is expected to face stiff competition from Australia and New Zealand.</li>
<li>Currently, India&rsquo;s average bound tariff for dairy products is on average 35%.</li>
<li>The RCEP binds countries to reduce that current level of tariffs to zero within the next 15 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Consensus on Rules of Origin:</strong> India was concerned about a &ldquo;possible circumvention&rdquo; of rules of origin.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rules of origin are the criteria used to determine the national source of a product.</li>
<li>Current provisions in the deal reportedly do not prevent countries from routing, through other countries, products on which India would maintain higher tariffs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons For India to Review</h3>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605614956_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605614956_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="529" height="287" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Economic Stagnation due to Covid-19:</strong> With global trade and the economy facing a steep decline due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, RCEP can serve as a bulwark in containing the free fall of the global economy and re-energising economic activity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the RCEP presents a unique opportunity to support India&rsquo;s economic recovery, inclusive development and job creation even as it helps strengthen regional supply chains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need For Economic Realism:</strong> India should deter seeing RCEP only from the Chinese perspective.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India should acknowledge that the trade bloc represents 30% of the global economy and world population, touching over 2.2 billion people, and staying out of RCEP may result in suboptimal economic growth without leveraging Asia-Pacific demand.</li>
<li>In this regard, India can draw inspiration from Japan &amp; Australia, as they chose to bury their geopolitical differences with China to prioritise what they collectively see as a mutually beneficial trading compact.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Need:</strong> It is not just because gains from trade are significant, but the RCEP&rsquo;s membership is a prerequisite to having a say in shaping RCEP&rsquo;s rules.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is necessary to safeguard India&rsquo;s interests and the interests of several countries that are too small to stand up to the largest member, China.</li>
<li>Moreover, staying out of RCEP may also affect <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Act East policy</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Acknowledging India&rsquo;s economic heft and value as a market, the RCEP members have left the door open for India for inviting it to be an observer member and also waived a critical 18-month cooling period for interested applicants.</p>
<p>Given the global economic scenario in present times and the near future, it would be in India&rsquo;s interest to dispassionately review its position on RCEP and carry out structural reforms that will help India to mitigate some of the repercussions arising from the RCEP.</p>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #cff6fa; border-color: #058f9e;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question<br /><br /></strong></em>Given the global economic scenario in near future, it would be in India&rsquo;s interest to dispassionately review its position on RCEP. Discuss.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vqKMrySdyQg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/farmers-fertiliser-subsidy-india-modi-7052724/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Fertile opportunity&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on November 16th, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rcep-india'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Vulture Action Plan',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)</strong> launched a <strong>Vulture Action Plan 2020-25</strong> for the conservation of vultures in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vulture numbers saw a decline as much as <strong>90%</strong> in some species in India since the 1990s in one of the most drastic declines in bird populations in the world.</li>
<li>Between the 1990s and 2007, numbers of three presently <strong>critically-endangered species,</strong> the <strong>Oriental white-backed, long-billed and slender-billed vultures</strong> decreased massively with <strong>99%</strong> of the species having been wiped out.</li>
<li>The number of <strong>red-headed vultures,</strong> also <strong>critically-endangered</strong> now, declined by <strong>91%</strong> while the <strong>Egyptian vultures</strong> by <strong>80%</strong>.</li>
<li>The decline in vulture populations came into limelight in the mid-90s..</li>
<li><strong>Reason for decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vulture-culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cause of the decline</strong></a> was established as <strong>diclofenac, a veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in 2004,</strong> which is used to treat pain and inflammatory diseases such as gout in carcasses that vultures would feed off.</li>
<li>Just 0.4-0.7% of animal carcasses contaminated with diclofenac was sufficient to decimate <strong>99%</strong> of vulture populations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>MoEFCC</strong> released the <strong>Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2006</strong> with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-clinical-trials-in-india-for-new-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)</strong></a> banning the veterinary use of diclofenac in the same year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives of the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Drug control:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To ensure minimum use of <strong>Diclofenac</strong>.</li>
<li>To <strong>Prevent the poisoning</strong> of the principal food of vultures, the cattle carcasses, with veterinary <strong>NSAIDs</strong>, by ensuring that sale of veterinary <strong>NSAIDs</strong> is regulated and is disbursed only on prescription and by ensuring that treatment of livestock is done only by qualified veterinarians.</li>
<li>To carry out <strong>safety testing</strong> of available <strong>NSAIDs</strong> on vultures and to develop new ones which do not affect vultures.</li>
<li>To ensure that <strong>DGCI</strong> must institute a system that automatically removes a drug from veterinary use if it is found to be toxic to vultures. <br />
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>Such a system would ensure that drugs other than <strong>diclofenac</strong> that are toxic to vultures like <strong>aceclofenac</strong> and <strong>ketoprofen</strong> are banned for veterinary use.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Upscaling conservation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To establish <strong>Additional Conservation Breeding Centres</strong> along with <strong>Vulture Conservation Centres</strong> with samples and information collected from the wild analysed and stored at these centres.</li>
<li>To implement the <strong>Vulture Safe Zone programme</strong> at eight different places in the country where there are existing populations of vultures.</li>
<li>To launch conservation plans for the <strong>Red-headed and Egyptian vultures,</strong> with breeding programmes for both.</li>
<li>To declare a <strong>Vulture Safe Zone</strong> only when <strong>no toxic drugs</strong> are found in undercover pharmacy and cattle carcass surveys, for two consecutive years, and the vulture populations are stable and not declining.</li>
<li>To build <strong>Four rescue centres</strong> for different geographical areas like Pinjore in the north, Bhopal in ventral India, Guwahati in Northeast and Hyderabad in South India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Efforts: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reconstitution-of-central-zoo-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Zoo Authority (CZA)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/delhi-butterfly-corridors" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)</strong></a> also established the Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme.</li>
<li>A <strong>Vulture Care Centre (VCC)</strong> was set up at Pinjore, Haryana in 2001 to study the cause of deaths of vultures in India.<br />
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>The <strong>Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore is the world&rsquo;s largest facility</strong> within the state&rsquo;s Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary for the breeding and conservation of Indian vulture species.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International: SAVE (Saving Asia&rsquo;s Vultures from Extinction)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The consortium of like-minded, regional and international organizations, created to oversee and coordinate conservation, campaigning and fundraising activities to help the plight of south Asia&rsquo;s vultures.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To save three critically important species from extinction through a single programme.</li>
<li><strong>SAVE partners:</strong> Bombay Natural History Society, Bird Conservation Nepal, RSPB (UK), National Trust for Nature Conservation (Nepal), International Centre for Birds of Prey (UK) and Zoological Society of London.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Vultures in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is home to nine species of <strong>vultures</strong>, but most of them face the danger of extinction.</li>
<li>The nine species of vultures &amp; their <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> status are:</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605608252_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605608252_image4.png" width="563" height="1088" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Why vultures should be protected:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scavenging lifestyle that gives them a bad reputation is, in fact, that makes them so important for the environment, nature and society.</li>
<li>Vultures feeding on dead animals help <strong>areas getting rid of carcasses</strong> that, otherwise, would provide foul smells and scenery for a much longer period hence also known as <strong>nature&rsquo;s cleanup crew</strong>.</li>
<li>Vultures also play a valuable role in keeping wildlife <strong>diseases in check</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/vulture-numbers-stabilising-moef-launches-action-plan-to-increase-population-7053910/" 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/vulture-action-plan'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Conflict in Ethiopia',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed to continue the military operation in the <strong>Tigray region</strong> amid concerns it could descend into civil conflict.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605606629_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605606629_image3.png" width="567" height="382" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Military Operation:</strong> Abiy has declared war on the country’s Tigray region, which is ruled by the powerful <strong>Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)</strong>, in response to its attack on a federal military base in Tigray.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After becoming Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in April 2018, <strong>Abiy Ahmed</strong> reached out to the political opposition, ushered democratic reforms, lifted curbs on the media and made peace with Eritrea - moves that won him the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-peace-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Peace Prize in 2019</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Eritrea is a sworn enemy of the TPLF,</strong> which shares a long border with the Tigray region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>He also <strong>removed TPLF from senior government positions</strong>. His push to concentrate more power in the hands of the government alienated the TPLF further. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Abiy has formed a new political coalition, the Prosperity Party, all constituents of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), except the TPLF, joined the new platform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the <strong>federal government postponed the general elections</strong> in August to 2021 citing the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus pandemic</strong></a>,<strong> Tigray politicians</strong> accused him of a power grab and <strong>held elections</strong>, in September, in the region, in defiance of the government.</li>
<li>Rising tensions led to an attack on the military base.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tigray People’s Liberation Front:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>militia-turned-party</strong>, which was part of the coalition that brought an end to the military dictatorship in 1991.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>TPLF leader <strong>Meles Zenawi</strong> took over as the interim President in 1991 and <strong>became the first elected Prime Minister</strong> in 1995.</li>
<li>He is largely seen as the <strong>architect of the country’s ethno-federal system</strong> and remained in power till 2012.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It had played a <strong>dominant role in the country’s ruling coalition,</strong> the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF - put together by Zenawi). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Though the EPRDF <strong>contains regional political parties</strong> such as the Amhara Democratic Party, the Oromo Democratic Party and the Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement, the <strong>TPLF remained the dominant political force</strong>.<br />
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>The <strong>Tigray people make up roughly 6% of the population</strong>, while the <strong>Oromos have a 34% share and the Amharas 27%</strong>. The Oromos <strong>have alleged marginalisation</strong> and called for better representation.</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Over the years, the government led by the EPRDF, was <strong>accused of being increasingly authoritarian</strong> and there were <strong>frequent mass protests in the regions</strong>.</li>
<li>In 2018, the <strong>EPRDF chose Abiy</strong>, a former military intelligence officer, to lead the government amid growing protests and a political deadlock.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abiy’s Stand:</strong> Abiy, the country’s <strong>first Oromo leader</strong>, claimed that his actions are not driven by ethnic calculations but rather <strong>aimed at addressing the historic power imbalance in the country</strong> and making <strong>peace with the neighbours</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Implications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TPLF has fired rockets into Eritrea from Tigray, <strong>threatening a wider regional war in the Horn of Africa</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Horn of Africa houses the countries of <strong>Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Rebels also <strong>fired rockets into the neighbouring Amhara region</strong>. Even if Abiy is serious about keeping the operation short, it could <strong>spill out of control given the underlying complexities of the conflict</strong>. The TPLF has thousands of fighters under their command.</li>
<li>Also, the Tigray region <strong>shares a border with Sudan</strong>. The TPLF enjoyed good relations with Sudan’s ousted dictator Omar Bashir.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sudan has an <strong>unresolved border dispute with Ethiopia</strong>. If Sudan’s new rulers keep the old links with the TPLF active and the border open for the rebels, the conflict could go on.</li>
<li>Earlier this year, in the midst of Ethiopia’s long-standing conflict with Egypt over the construction of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam</strong></a> over the Blue Nile, Sudan had already found itself forcefully involved in the spat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There have also been <strong>reports of atrocities targeting civilians by both sides. </strong>Many have even fled to Sudan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India-Ethiopia Relations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of long term concessional credit from India</strong> in Africa. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lines of Credit worth <strong>more than USD1 billion</strong> have been sanctioned to Ethiopia for sectors such as rural electrification, sugar industry and railways.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tele-Education and Tele-Medicine services</strong> under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-presidents-three-nation-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pan African e-network Project</strong></a> was launched in Addis Ababa in July 2007. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Tele-Education project has been replicated by the Ethiopian side and linkages established between the Addis Ababa University and the Indian Institutes of Technology at Delhi and Kanpur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bilateral trade</strong> between Ethiopia and India stood at USD 1.28 billion in 2018-19, out of which Indian exports to Ethiopia were USD 1.23 billion and imports were USD 55.01 million. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>more than 586 Indian companies in Ethiopia</strong> employing more than 55,000 people with licensed investment of over USD 4 billion.</li>
<li>About 58.7% of Indian investments are in the manufacturing sector, followed by agriculture (15.6%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian Mission has been <strong>celebrating the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-of-yoga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Day of Yoga</a></strong> in Addis Ababa. Mission held <strong>[email protected]</strong> celebrations in Addis Ababa (Oct 2020).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Abiy can reach out to regional political leaderships, especially the TPLF, find common ground, and run the country peacefully by restoring the balance between ethnicities and regions and decentralising the federal government.</li>
<li>The protection of civilian safety and security is essential. The <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/09-07-2019#:~:text=Background%20of%20Africa%27s%20economic%20integration,the%20Organization%20of%20African%20Unity." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>African Union</strong></a> can play a role in this.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ethiopia-risks-falling-into-an-ethnic-civil-war-with-regional-implications/article33108288.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/conflict-in-ethiopia'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Inflation Data: October 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the wholesale price inflation data for the month of october 2020 was released.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The wholesale price-based inflation is measured by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-data-august-2020#:~:text=Wholesale%20Inflation%3A,and%20manufactured%20products%20turned%20costlier." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wholesale Price Index (WPI)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Wholesale Inflation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Wholesale price inflation</strong> increased to the highest level in eight months, reaching <strong>1.48% in October 2020,</strong> compared with <strong>0% in October 2019</strong> and <strong>1.32% in September 2020</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was driven by manufactured items as per the data released by the <strong>commerce and industry ministry</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>manufactured product group inflation</strong> hit a 19-month high of <strong>2.1%</strong>, and <strong>core inflation</strong> accelerated to the highest level in 18 months at <strong>1.7%</strong>.</li>
<li>Core Inflation excludes volatile goods from the basket of commodities tracking Headline Inflation. These volatile commodities mainly comprise food and beverages (including vegetables) and fuel and light (crude oil).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Core inflation</strong> = Headline inflation &ndash; (Food and Fuel) inflation</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implication:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increase in core inflation suggests improvement in demand conditions, which have improved after the Covid-19 related lockdown was lifted.</li>
<li>As a large part of this is due to festival related demand, it will be too early to term this as a general recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Inflation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inflation refers to the rise <strong>in the prices of most goods and services</strong> of daily or common use, such as food, clothing, housing, recreation, transport, consumer staples, etc.</li>
<li>Inflation measures the average price change in a basket of commodities and services over time.</li>
<li>Inflation is indicative of the <strong>decrease in the purchasing power</strong> of a unit of a country&rsquo;s currency. This could ultimately lead to a deceleration in economic growth.</li>
<li>However, a <strong>moderate level of inflation is required in the economy</strong> to ensure that production is promoted.</li>
<li>In India, inflation is primarily measured by two main indices &mdash; <strong>WPI (Wholesale Price Index) and CPI (Consumer Price Index)</strong> which measure wholesale and retail-level price changes, respectively.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Wholesale Price Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other businesses.</li>
<li>Published by the <strong>Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry</strong>.</li>
<li>It is the most widely used inflation indicator in India.</li>
<li>Major <strong>criticism</strong> for this index is that the general public does not buy products at wholesale price.</li>
<li>The <strong>base year</strong> of All-India WPI has been revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/wpi-inflation-at-8-month-high-of-148-in-oct-on-costlier-manufactured-items/article33106555.ece#:~:text=India's%20wholesale%20price%20inflation%20quickened,1.32%25%20in%20September%20this%20year.&amp;text=Inflation%20in%20potato%20prices%20touched,registered%208.5%25%20inflation%20in%20October." 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/inflation-data-october-2020'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Article 32 of the Constitution',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/47th-chief-justice-of-india#:~:text=Justice%20Sharad%20Arvind%20Bobde%2C%20has,office%20on%2023rd%20April%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chief Justice of India (CJI)</strong></a>, during a hearing of a plea, said that the court is trying to discourage petitions filed under Article 32.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CJI&rsquo;s View:</strong> CJI noted that there is a <strong>spate of Article 32 petitions</strong> and reiterated that the <strong>High Court can also uphold fundamental rights (under article 226)</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Article 32 of the Constitution (Right to Constitutional Remedies):</strong> It is a <strong>fundamental right,</strong> which states that individuals have the right to approach the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court (SC)</strong></a> seeking enforcement of other fundamental rights recognised by the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SC has <strong>power to issue directions or orders or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/constitutional-rights-judicial-review-and-parliamentary-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writs</a></strong> for the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights. The writs issued may include <strong>habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari</strong> and <strong>quo-warranto</strong>.</li>
<li>The right to move the SC <strong>shall not be suspended except</strong> as otherwise provided for by the Constitution. Thus, the Constitution provides that the President can suspend the right to move any court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights during a <strong>national emergency (Article 359)</strong>.</li>
<li>In case of the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, the <strong>jurisdiction of the SC is original but not exclusive</strong>. It is <strong>concurrent with the jurisdiction of the high court under Article 226</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Original,</strong> because an aggrieved citizen can <strong>directly go to the SC, not necessarily by way of appeal</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Concurrent</strong> means when the Fundamental Rights of a citizen are violated, the aggrieved party <strong>has the option of moving either the high court or the Supreme Court</strong> directly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since the <strong>right guaranteed by Article 32</strong> (ie, the right to move the SC where a fundamental right is infringed) is in itself a <strong>fundamental right</strong>, the <strong>availability of alternate remedy is no bar to relief under Article 32</strong>.</li>
<li>However, the SC has ruled that <strong>where relief through the high court is available under Article 226</strong>, the aggrieved party should <strong>first move the high court</strong>.</li>
<li>In the <em><strong>Chandra Kumar case </strong></em><strong>(1997)</strong>, the SC ruled that the <strong>writ jurisdiction of both the high court and the Supreme Court</strong> constitute a part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-structure-doctrine-kesavananda-bharati-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>basic structure</strong></a> of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Counter-Argument:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even as the <strong>SC underlines the powers of the high courts,</strong> it has in the past <strong>transferred cases to itself from the high courts</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most recently, the SC transferred the case involving land use for the national capital&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-s-stand-on-central-vista-redevelopment-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Vista project</strong></a> to itself from the Delhi High Court. Incidentally, the petitioners had not sought such a transfer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When such transfers are made, the petitioners <strong>lose a stage of appeal</strong> that would otherwise have been available had the high courts heard and decided the case.</li>
<li>Recently, the SC also conveyed its concerns that in many matters involving personal liberty, the <strong>High Courts are not exercising their jurisdiction as constitutional courts</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 226 of the Constitution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Article 226 of the Constitution <strong>empowers a high court to issue writs</strong> including habeas corpus, mandamus, certiorari, prohibition and quo warranto <strong>for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the citizens and for any other purpose</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The phrase &lsquo;for any other purpose&rsquo; refers to the <strong>enforcement of an ordinary legal right</strong>. This implies that the <strong>writ jurisdiction of the high court is wider than that of the SC</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is because the <strong>SC can issue writs only for the enforcement of fundamental rights and not for any other purpose,</strong> that is, it does not extend to a case where the breach of an ordinary legal right is alleged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The high court can issue writs to any person, authority and government <strong>not only within its territorial jurisdiction but also outside its territorial jurisdiction</strong> if the cause of action arises within its territorial jurisdiction.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bail-pleas-of-journalist-another-sc-says-why-not-go-to-hc/" 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/article-32-of-the-constitution'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Sex Ratio and India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <strong>2018 report</strong> on &ldquo;vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System&rdquo;, <strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong> recorded the <strong>best sex ratio at birth</strong> in the country while <strong>Manipur</strong> recorded the <strong>worst sex ratio at birth</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report was published by the <strong>Registrar General of India</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Sex ratio at birth</strong> is number of females born per thousand males. It is an <strong>important indicator to map the gender gap of a population</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Registrar General of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Registrar General of India was founded in 1961 by the Government of India under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs</strong>.</li>
<li>It arranges, conducts and analyses the results of the demographic surveys of India including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census of India</strong></a> and Linguistic Survey of India.</li>
<li>The position of Registrar is usually held by a civil servant holding the rank of Joint Secretary.</li>
<li><strong>Civil Registration System (CRS)</strong> in India is the unified process of continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of the vital events (births, deaths, stillbirths) and characteristics thereof. The data generated through a complete and up-to-date CRS is essential for socio-economic planning.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong> recorded <strong>1,084 females</strong> born per thousand males, followed by Nagaland (965), Mizoram (964), Kerala (963).</li>
<li>The <strong>worst sex ratio was reported in Manipur</strong> (757), Lakshadweep (839) and Daman &amp; Diu (877), Punjab (896) and Gujarat (896).</li>
<li>Delhi recorded a sex ratio of 929, Haryana - 914.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ratio was <strong>determined on the basis of data provided by 30 States and Union Territories</strong> as the requisite <strong>information</strong> from six States namely <strong>Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal </strong>is <strong>not available</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Major states</strong> are states with populations 10 million and above as per the 2011 Census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-its-sex-ratio#:~:text=Biologically%20normal%20sex%20ratio%20at,of%20females%20per%201%2C000%20males." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sample Registration System</strong></a> (SRS) Report 2018 shows that <strong>sex ratio at birth in India</strong>, declined marginally from <strong>906 in 2011 to 899 in 2018</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Contrary to popular perception, <strong>India&rsquo;s sex ratio at birth declined even as per capita income increased nearly 10 times over the last 65 years,</strong> according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data.</li>
<li>This could be because rising income, which results in increased literacy, makes it easier for families to access sex-selective procedures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Related to Lower Sex Ratio at Birth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gender-imbalance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Prof. Amartya Kumar Sen,</strong> in his world famous article <strong>&ldquo;Missing Women‟</strong> has statistically proved that during the last century, 100 million women have been missing in south Asia.</li>
<li>This is due to discrimination leading to death, experienced by them <strong>from womb to tomb in their life cycles</strong>.</li>
<li>An adverse child sex ratio is also reflected in the distorted gender makeup of the entire population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Distortion in the Marriage System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Adverse ratio results in a gross imbalance in the number of men and women and its inevitable impact on marriage systems as well as other harms to women.</li>
<li>In India, some villages in Haryana and Punjab have such poor sex ratios that men <strong>&ldquo;import&rdquo; brides</strong> from other States. This is often accompanied by the exploitation of these brides.</li>
<li>There are concerns that skewed sex ratios lead to more violence against both men and women, as well as human-trafficking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605597915_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605597915_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="505" height="387" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bringing Behavioural Change:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing female education and economic prosperity help to improve the ratio. In this pursuit, the government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-its-sex-ratio" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Beti-Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign</strong></a> has achieved remarkable success in bringing behavioural change in the society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sensitizing Youth:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is an urgent need to reach young people for reproductive health education and services as well as to cultivate gender equity norms.</li>
<li>For this, the services of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)</strong></a> can be leveraged, especially in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stringent Enforcement of Law:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India must implement the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pre-conception-and-pre-natal-diagnostic-techniques-pcpndt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994</strong></a> more stringently and dedicate more resources to fighting the preference for boys.</li>
<li>In this context, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/medical-equipment-notified-as-drugs#:~:text=Drugs%20Technical%20Advisory%20Board%20is,related%20to%20drugs%20and%20cosmetics." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drugs Technical Advisory Board decision</strong></a> to include ultrasound machines in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/arunachal-records-best-sex-ratio-manipur-the-worst/article33102441.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/sex-ratio-and-india'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'UAE Issues Golden Card Visa',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>United Arab Emirates</strong> (UAE) has approved the issuance of a <strong>10-year golden card visa</strong> for more professionals, including PhD holders, physicians, engineers as well as graduates from certain universities.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Golden Visa</strong> is <strong>citizenship by investment or residency by investment program</strong>. It is <strong>directed to wealthy foreign nationals</strong> who want to acquire residency in a certain country by investing a substantial amount of money or by purchasing a property.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605591609_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605591609_image1.png" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" width="468" height="278" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UAE&rsquo;s Golden Card Visa:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It grants <strong>10-year residency</strong> to these visa holders and their families.</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All holders of doctorate degrees, medical doctors and computer, electronics, programming, electrical and biotechnology engineers.</li>
<li>Those with specialised degrees in<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> artificial intelligence</strong> </a>(AI), <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>big data</strong></a> and <strong>epidemiology</strong>, as well as <strong>high school students</strong> living in the UAE who rank top in the country and students from certain universities with a <strong>Grade Point Average</strong> (GPA) of <strong>3.8 or higher</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The changes will take place from <strong>1<sup>st</sup> December 2020</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foreigners in the UAE usually have <strong>renewable visas valid for only a few years tied to their employment</strong>.</li>
<li>In <strong>May 2019,</strong> the UAE <strong>started granting 5 and 10-year renewable visas</strong> to certain foreign investors, entrepreneurs, chief executives, scientists and outstanding students, under the <strong>Golden Card scheme</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme offers unprecedented benefits to the cardholders and their families while creating an attractive environment for business and growth.</li>
<li>It attracts greater foreign investment and stimulates the local economy, making it more efficient and attractive for investors.</li>
<li>It also increases the UAE's competitiveness and reaffirms the country's position as a global incubator.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government in the past couple of years has made its <strong>visa policy more flexible, offering longer residencies</strong> for certain types of investors, students and professionals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons Behind the Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UAE's economy has been hit hard by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oil-prices-below-zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>low oil prices</strong></a>, <strong>prompting many expatriates to leave</strong>. The move <strong>intends to bring them back</strong> now and keep the &ldquo;talented people and great minds&rdquo; in the Gulf country and <strong>help in nation-building</strong>.</li>
<li>It will <strong>attract talented professionals from various fields</strong> of expertise and further <strong>encourage innovation, creativity and applied research,</strong> adding to the appeal of a career in the UAE for the world&rsquo;s brightest minds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It would <strong>attract more Indian professionals and businessmen</strong> to the Gulf nation and <strong>strengthen the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-uae-meet-on-investments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-UAE Relations</a></strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Indian expatriate community is reportedly the largest ethnic community in the UAE,</strong> constituting roughly <strong>about 30%</strong> of the country's population, which has played a major <strong>role in the economic development</strong> of the UAE.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will also <strong>facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work</strong> after the <strong>relaxation of Covid-19-related restrictions,</strong> for which <strong>India had <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gulf-cooperation-council-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requested the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council</a></strong> (GCC) in early November 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Recent Developmental Events in the UAE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>March 2019,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-opening-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>46<sup>th</sup> session of the Council of Foreign Ministers</strong></a> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</strong></a> (OIC), was held in Abu Dhabi where India was invited as a guest of honour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UAE hosted the event and had strongly defended the decision to invite India despite Pakistan&rsquo;s strong objection and threat to boycott the event.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>February 2020,</strong> the UAE issued an operating licence for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arab-world-s-first-nuclear-power-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arab world's first nuclear power plant</strong></a>, paving the way for it to start production in 2020.</li>
<li><strong>UAE Mars Mission:</strong> In <strong>July 2020,</strong> the UAE launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars probe named Amal</strong></a> (Hope) from Japan, marking the Arab world&rsquo;s first interplanetary mission.</li>
<li>In <strong>September 2020,</strong> the UAE signed the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-uae-and-bahrain-abraham-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abraham Accord</a> with Israel and Bahrain</strong>, which is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/uae-to-extend-golden-visas-eligibility-criteria/article33103220.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/uae-issues-golden-card-visa'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'The Concerns over Interfaith Marriages',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<p>Over the centuries, casteism and religionism has prevailed in India. Despite several laws, the social stigma for interfaith marriages still exists in the Indian Society.</p>
<p>Recently, several state governments have shown concerns about enacting proper laws to stop marriages which they refer to as &lsquo;Love Jihad&rsquo;.</p>
<p>However, contemplating laws over interfaith marriage directly violates several rights of people such as right to freedom, personal liberty and right to life.</p>
<h3>Interfaith Marriages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The matrimonial relationship developed between two individuals having different religious faiths. Although marrying into a different religion is a matter of choice of an adult, there are certain issues regarding the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Interfaith Marriages</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Interfaith marriages are believed to be a <strong>forced conversion</strong> of one of the spouses (mostly women).</li>
<li>As per the Muslim Personal law, in order to get married to a non-Muslim, conversion of religion is the only way.</li>
<li>Hindu religion allows only monogamy and those who want to marry second time take another course.</li>
<li>There is no provision regarding caste determination of children born out of such marriages.</li>
<li>The <strong>Special Marriage Act, 1954</strong> is not compatible with backwardness of the society.</li>
<li>There is debate over the validity of <strong>Article 226</strong> in context of annulling the interfaith marriage by high court.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Special Marriage Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Special Marriage Act is a special law enacted to provide for a unique form of marriage by registration wherein the parties to the marriage do not have to renounce their religion.</li>
<li>This Act includes Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists marriages.</li>
<li>This act applies to all Indian states, except Jammu &amp; Kashmir.</li>
<li>This Act applies not only to Indian citizens who belong to different castes and religions but also to Indian nationals who live abroad.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Requirements</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The fundamental requirement under this Act for a valid marriage is the consent of both parties to the marriage.</li>
<li>If both parties to the marriage are willing to marry each other, that&rsquo;s enough; caste, religion, race, etc. is not a restriction.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Conditions for Marriage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bridegroom must be at least 21, and at the time of the marriage, the bride must be at least 18 years of age. This is the minimum age limit respectively for a boy/girl to marry.</li>
<li>At the time of their marriage, both parties must be monogamous; i.e., they must be unmarried and at that time should not have any living spouse.</li>
<li>In order to be able to decide for themselves, the parties should be mentally fit, i.e., they must be sane at the time of marriage.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges with Contemplating Laws for Interfaith Marriage</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Contemplating laws to regulate matrimonial relationships between two consenting adults would not be just against the constitutional guarantees but would offend the very notion of individuality and basic freedoms.</li>
<li>Interference of the law in an individual&rsquo;s choice of marriage violates the existing constitutional rights such as the Right to equality, <strong>Right to Freedom &amp; Personal Liberty, Freedom of Religion and Right to Life</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Article 21:</strong> It declares that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law. This right is available to both citizens and non-citizens.</li>
<li><strong>Article 25</strong> of the Indian constitution provides the freedom to practice any religion of one&rsquo;s choice and personal laws of the religions have specified various laws relating to marriage for the followers of that religion. Hence, in India inter-faith marriages are allowed as the constitution allows one to convert to a different religion from what one was born with and further the personal laws of the religion have provisions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In order to avoid inclusion of any further laws, there should be acceptance of the special marriage act, 1954 at the mental and social level.</li>
<li>The rights should not be exploited; conversion of religion for marriage only is not at all wise.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The marriage of two adults is a complete matter of their own choice, neither a law is to impose any decision, nor any individual. The freedom of decision of his/ her marriage shall lie with the person only. The need is to accept the fact.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-concerns-over-interfaith-marriages'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile System',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <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 (DRDO)</strong></a> successfully test-fired <strong>Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system (QRSAM)</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range, <strong>Chandipur off Odisha coast</strong>.</li>
<li>The Test was in continuation of a series of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-system-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>missile tests</strong></a> conducted by DRDO over the past two months.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605522748_image8.png" width="380" height="211" style="float: right;" /></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>QRSAM</strong> is a <strong>canister-based </strong>system, which means that it is <strong>stored and operated from specially designed compartments</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the canister, the inside environment is controlled, thus along with making its <strong>transport and storage easier</strong>, the <strong>shelf life</strong> of weapons also improves significantly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The system is <strong>capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move</strong> and engaging targets with short halts.</li>
<li><strong>Range and mobility:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>short range surface-to-air missile</strong> (SAM) system, primarily designed and developed by DRDO to provide a protective shield to moving armoured columns of the Army from enemy aerial attacks.</li>
<li>The entire weapon system has been configured on a <strong>mobile and manoeuvrable platform</strong> and is capable of providing air defence on the move.</li>
<li>It has been designed for induction into the Army and has a range of <strong>25 to 30 km</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functioning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The QRSAM weapon ensemble which functions on the move consists of a <strong>fully automated command and control system</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It also consists of <strong>two radars</strong> - Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar and Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar - with one <strong>launcher</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both radars have <strong>360-degree coverage</strong> with &ldquo;search on move&rdquo; and &ldquo;track on move&rdquo; capabilities.</li>
<li>The system is compact, uses a <strong>single stage solid propelled missile</strong> and has a <strong>mid-course inertial navigation system</strong> with two-way data link and terminal active seeker developed indigenously by DRDO.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-successfully-test-fires-quick-reaction-surface-to-air-missiles-7050901/" 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/quick-reaction-surface-to-air-missile-system'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'New Ramsar Sites',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Meteor lake at Lonar in Buldhana</strong> district of <strong>Maharashtra and the Soor Sarovar</strong> at Agra have been declared <strong>Ramsar sites</strong>, a conservation status conferred by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-wetlands-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier this year <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/two-new-ramsar-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kabartal Wetland (Bihar)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/two-new-ramsar-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asan Conservation Reserve (Uttrakhand)</strong></a> were also designated as <strong>Ramsar sites</strong>.</li>
<li>With latest inclusions, the total number of <strong>Ramsar sites in India is 41</strong>, the highest in South Asia.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lonar Lake<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605521737_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605521737_image6.png" width="323" height="180" style="float: right;" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lonar-crater" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lonar lake</strong></a>, situated in the Deccan Plateau&rsquo;s volcanic basalt rock, was created by the <strong>impact of a meteor</strong> 35,000 to 50,000 years ago.</li>
<li>The lake is part of <strong>Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary</strong> which falls under the unified control of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/melghat-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is also known as Lonar crater and is a notified <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lonar-crater" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Geo-heritage Monument</strong></a>. Geo-heritage refers to the geological features which are inherently or culturally significant offering insight to earth&rsquo;s evolution or history to earth science or that can be utilized for education.</li>
<li>It is the second Ramsar site in Maharashtra after <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/addition-to-ramsar-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary in Nashik district</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The water in the lake is <strong>highly saline and alkaline,</strong> containing <strong>special microorganisms like anaerobes, Cyanobacteria and phytoplankton</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Soor Sarovar Lake:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605522163_image9.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605522163_image9.png" style="float: right;" width="525" height="187" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is also known as <strong>Keetham lake</strong> situated within the <strong>Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary</strong>, which was declared as a bird sanctuary in the year 1991.</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This lake is situated alongside river <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/high-level-of-ammonia-in-yamuna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Yamuna</strong></a> in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.</li>
<li>The <strong>Soor Sarovar</strong> bird sanctuary covered an area of <strong>7.97 sq km</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is today home to more than <strong>165 species of migratory and resident birds</strong>.</li>
<li>It also has a <strong>Bear Rescue centre</strong> for rescued dancing bears.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With <strong>Ramsar status,</strong> the sites will benefit in terms of <strong>international publicity and prestige</strong>.</li>
<li>They will get <strong>Financial aid</strong> through the <strong>convention&rsquo;s grant</strong> and also access to <strong>expert advice</strong> on national and site-related problems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ramsar Site</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ramsar Convention on Wetlands</strong> is an <strong>intergovernmental treaty</strong> adopted in <strong>1971</strong> in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.</li>
<li>It <strong>came into force for India on 1<sup>st</sup> February, 1982</strong>. Those <strong>wetlands which are of international importance</strong> are declared as <strong>Ramsar sites</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Convention&rsquo;s mission</strong> is &ldquo;the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.</li>
<li>The <strong>Montreux Record</strong> is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is <strong>maintained as part of the Ramsar List</strong>.</li>
<li>At present, two wetlands of India are in Montreux Record: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and</strong></li>
<li><strong>Loktak Lake (Manipur).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/odisha-s-lake-conservation?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=34601d32687e7c5ea393d0ffa5e610584f08b11a-1603699085-0-AU6KCDHq9wI_yOp5rdg1TxbRaqNvMxr154Z5fkLSIbJb1LebvXpQ5Xw3PEqzX24gZJL-3jkyOg6Yu7YGJhf5wxIKhhCsQR8hqce6N714GzEKPJFoMvi33GxziiGTh6KWC9IdFMR3ARKjT2KZ8a5fRKHh_x9L4mwlTrY17FiCU2X_2aqBO7iPfDE7MHuafruDQIXggacNULJhb-JWuYbs-FpACVDognIJcAaQltnti2cUK9p1inKWne7-nnMp0TPLMs4AJ8AnHMATTSStoM5MCEMq0wOHyy6dotQkVCiBtmd1TNzZixf-DVQtvms0Vj4DyR6IL0ZQ9HuG8tDNhsxXrfvDK7UpGEw_YIm1etRWn5w8mrdCILg29o6xWaMe0BbgCxJQ_MERpffAUVsfVJ_LfQCW6inG0hXD-oRIa8os26bVdDg6MzNjfSiz2mRsJE9ntJcXaVbgfEBhQ_1ArL_y0ll-FRWRyXyg1x_a9VnmKf0kppGG-DEstMAE0ttorh9pJd_IU9AI0wiWvxqxmIhy5F-Z-ZvKsQP-F3dPvt0oTiUjc4bD0zhjc30z1fh4Ze1WVYChjBSQbjBWR7kZ7Bt6Jsw" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chilika Lake</strong></a> (Odisha) was placed in the record but later removed from it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/lonars-meteor-lake-declared-ramsar-site-7050926/" 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/new-ramsar-sites'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'RCEP Comes into Existence',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a> has come into existence on the sidelines of the 37th ASEAN Summit.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has laid down the <strong>path for restarting discussion that had failed to admit India earlier</strong> and said &ldquo;new&rdquo; developments would be taken into consideration if India re-applies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605516927_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605516927_image3.png" style="float: right; margin: 5px;" width="466" height="306" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It consists of 10 <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations</a> (ASEAN) members, as well as South Korea, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It excludes the USA, which withdrew from the <strong>Trans-Pacific Partnership </strong>(TPP) in <strong>2017</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negotiations over the RCEP deal began in 2012. India was also part</strong> of the negotiations but it <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-exits-rcep" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pulled out in 2019</strong></a> over concerns that <strong>lower tariffs could hurt local producers</strong>.</li>
<li>Members of the RCEP make up nearly a <strong>third of the world's population</strong> and account for<strong> 29% of global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low#:~:text=Growth%20in%20Fiscal%20Year%202019,6.1%25%20in%202018%2D19." target="_blank" rel="noopener">gross domestic product</a></strong> (GDP).</li>
<li>The <strong>China-backed</strong> group will emerge as the <strong>largest free trade agreement</strong> (FTA) in the world surpassing both the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-future-of-free-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US-Mexico-Canada Agreement</strong></a> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> (EU).</li>
<li>It is <strong>expected to eliminate a range of tariffs on imports within 20 years</strong> and also includes provisions on <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>intellectual property</strong></a>, telecommunications, financial services, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-commerce</strong></a> and professional services.</li>
<li>Under RCEP, <strong>parts from any member nation would be treated equally,</strong> which might give companies in RCEP countries an <strong>incentive to look within the trade region for suppliers</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Businesses with global supply chains might face tariffs even within an FTA because their products contain components that are made elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The deal could <strong>increase global national income by USD 186 billion annually by 2030</strong> and add 0.2% to the economy of its member states.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, some analysts think the deal is <strong>likely to benefit China, Japan and South Korea more</strong> than other member states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, it could be <strong>some time before any country sees the benefits, because six Asean nations and three other nations have to ratify</strong> it before it takes effect.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ratification will likely be <strong>tricky</strong> in national parliaments, owing to both <strong>anti-trade and anti-China sentiments</strong> among the countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The beginning of RCEP is a major development that will <strong>help China and trade in the Asia-Pacific region</strong> in the <strong>post-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> scenario</strong>.</li>
<li>It will give <strong>China access to Japanese and South Korean markets</strong> in a big way, as the three countries have not yet agreed on their FTA.</li>
<li>While China already has a number of bilateral trade agreements, this is the first time it has signed up to <strong>a regional multilateral trade pact</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While addressing the ASEAN Summit, India <strong>highlighted the necessity for peace and stability in the region but maintained silence regarding RCEP</strong> as it is <strong>not very welcoming</strong> of the China-backed grouping in the light of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ongoing military tension in eastern Ladakh</strong></a> <strong>along the Line of Actual Control </strong>(LAC).</li>
<li>In the meantime, India <strong>held <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-be-included-in-malabar-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malabar Exercise</a> with Japan and the USA for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quadrilateral Security Dialogue</a></strong> (QUAD) which was interpreted as an anti-China move.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, these moves <strong>did not influence Japanese and Australian plans</strong> regarding RCEP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India <strong>ended negotiation</strong> on RCEP over terms that were <strong>perceived to be against its interests</strong>.</li>
<li>One of the major concerns for India was <strong>inadequate protection against surges in imports</strong> as its industry had fears that signing RCEP would <strong>allow cheaper products from China to flood the market</strong> in India.</li>
<li>The <strong>extended power to China</strong> could lead to <strong>actions and incidents eroding trust in the maritime region</strong> disrespecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, the ongoing tensions at LAC and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/disputed-territories-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chinese activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>RCEP on India&rsquo;s Membership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, as an original negotiating participant of the RCEP, has the <strong>option of joining the agreement without having to wait 18 months</strong> as stipulated for new members in the terms of the pact.</li>
<li>RCEP signatory states plan to commence negotiations with India once it <strong>submits a request of its intention to join the pact "in writing"</strong>, and it may participate in meetings as an observer prior to its accession.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mega trade bloc is a landmark trade initiative which is expected to boost commerce among the member-countries spread across the Asia-Pacific region.</li>
<li>India needs to keep its interests on the table as the road to further expansion of its exports to RCEP member nations is very much still open, given that India already has trade and investment agreements with 12 of them.</li>
<li>Utilising existing agreements better while proactively exploring new opportunities in other geographies will diversify both Indian markets as well as an export basket.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rcep-signatories-ready-for-negotiations-once-india-gives-written-request-to-join-pact/article33102130.ece#:~:text=Photo%20Credit%3A%20Reuters-,India%20will%20have%20to%20re%2Dapply%20for%20membership%20negotiation,to%20restart%20negotiation%20for%20membership." 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/rcep-comes-into-existence'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Birth Anniversary of Birsa Munda',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Prime Minister paid tributes to <strong>tribal leader Birsa Munda</strong> on his birth anniversary on 15th November.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The State of <strong>Jharkhand</strong>, carved out of Bihar, officially <strong>came into being on Munda&rsquo;s birth anniversary in 2000</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605515666_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605515666_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="243" height="256" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Birth:</strong> 15<sup>th</sup> November 1875, belonged to the <strong>Munda tribe</strong> in the <strong>Chotanagpur Plateau</strong> area.</li>
<li><strong>Brief Profile:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also known as <strong>Dharti Aaba</strong> (Father of Earth), Birsa Munda is known to have <strong>mobilised the tribal community against the British</strong> and had also forced the colonial officials to introduce laws protecting the land rights of the tribals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Birsait Sect:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Having gained awareness of the British colonial ruler and the efforts of the missionaries to convert tribals to Christianity, <strong>Birsa started the faith of &lsquo;Birsait&rsquo;</strong>.</li>
<li>Members of the <strong>Munda and Oraon community</strong> joined the Birsait sect and it turned into a challenge to British conversion activities.</li>
<li>Further, he urged the Mundas to give up drinking liquor, clean their village, and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Munda Rebellion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is one of the most important tribal movements.</li>
<li>It was led by Birsa Munda in the south of Ranchi in <strong>1899-1900</strong>.</li>
<li>The movement <strong>identified following forces as the cause of the misery</strong> the Mundas were suffering:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>land policies of the British</strong> were destroying their traditional land system.</li>
<li><strong>Hindu landlords and moneylenders</strong> were taking over their land.</li>
<li><strong>Missionaries</strong> were criticising their traditional culture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>'Ulgulan'</strong> or the <strong>'Great Tumult'</strong> as the movement came to be called, aimed at establishing Munda Raj by driving out the British.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Munda used <strong>traditional symbols and language</strong> to rouse people, urging them to destroy &ldquo;Ravana&rdquo; (dikus/outsiders and the Europeans) and establish a kingdom under his leadership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Birsa&rsquo;s followers began <strong>targeting the symbols of diku and European power</strong>. They attacked police stations and churches, and raided the property of moneylenders and zamindars. They raised the <strong>white flag as a symbol of Birsa Raj</strong>.</li>
<li>On 3<sup>rd</sup> March, 1900, Birsa Munda was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping with his <strong>tribal guerilla army</strong> at Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur (Jharkhand).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Birsa died of cholera</strong> in the jail and the movement faded out.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Munda Rebellion:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It forced the colonial government to introduce laws so that the land of the tribals could not be easily taken over by dikus <strong>(Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908)</strong>.</li>
<li>It showed that the <strong>tribal people had the capacity to protest against injustice</strong> and express their anger against colonial rule.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jharkhand Foundation Day</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The name "Jharkhand" means "The Land of Forests". The state was brought into existence by the <strong>Bihar reorganization Act</strong> on 15<sup>th</sup> November, 2000 - the birth anniversary of the legendary Bhagwan Birsa Munda.</li>
<li>Jharkhand <strong>shares its border</strong> with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Odisha to the south, and West Bengal to the east.</li>
<li>Most of the state lies on the <strong>Chotanagpur Plateau,</strong> which is the source of the Koel, Damodar, Brahmani, Kharkai, and Subarnarekha rivers, whose upper watersheds lie within Jharkhand.</li>
<li>Forest preserves support <strong>populations of tigers and Asian Elephants (Betla National Park)</strong>.</li>
<li>Jharkhand boasts of <strong>40% and 29% of India's mineral and coal reserves,</strong> respectively.</li>
<li>Jharkhand has<strong> 32 tribal groups</strong> including Munda, Kol, Santhal, Oraon, Khond, Asur, Gond etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/leaders-pay-tributes-to-birsa-munda-greet-jharkhand-on-foundation-day/article33101535.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/birth-anniversary-of-birsa-munda'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'China’s Railway Near Arunachal Border',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>China has begun work on a strategically significant railway line that will <strong>link Sichuan province with Nyingchi in Tibet</strong>, which lies close to Arunachal Pradesh border.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will be the <strong>second</strong> such route linking <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/60-years-of-1959-tibetan-uprising" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)</a> with mainland China</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier <strong>Qinghai-Tibet railway line connected</strong> Lhasa to the hinterland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605514007_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605514007_image3.png" width="375" height="390" style="float: right;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Implications on India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Security Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The railway line will largely improve the <strong>efficiency and convenience</strong> of military personnel and material transportation and <strong>logistical supplies in the border area</strong>.</li>
<li>In situations of direct standoff near Arunachal Pradesh border, as was seen during <strong>Doklam</strong> or recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ladakh standoff</strong></a>, China might be at an advantageous position.<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Doklam Issue:</strong> Indian troops intervened to block the path of Chinese soldiers engaged in building road-works on the <strong>Doklam plateau</strong> of Bhutan&rsquo;s territory that Beijing laid claim.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The fragile ecological environment along the project line, may have ecological concerns for India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Steps Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will spend 10% funds of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/boosting-infrastructure-along-china-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Border Area Development Programme (BADP)</strong></a> only to improve the infrastructure along the China border.</li>
<li>The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/daporijo-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Daporijo bridge over Subansiri river</strong></a> in Arunachal Pradesh in a record span of just 27 days.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It links roads leading upto the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently the defence minister virtually laid the foundation of a tunnel at <strong>Nechiphu in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will shorten travel time for troops till the LAC through Tawang, which China claims to be its territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The BRO is already constructing an <strong>all-weather tunnel under the Se La pass in Arunachal Pradesh</strong> which connects Tawang to the rest of Arunachal and Guwahati.</li>
<li>The state government of Arunachal Pradesh has advocated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depopulation-in-border-areas-of-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>selection of 10 census towns along the India-China border</strong></a> as pilot projects for infrastructure development in order to stop people living along its international borders, specifically with China, from migrating to faraway urban centres in the State.</li>
<li>Recently, the Defence Minister inaugurated the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sisseri-river-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sisseri River Bridge</strong></a> located at lower Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh connecting <strong>Dibang Valley and Siang</strong>.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Indian Air Force inaugurated resurfaced runway at India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-eastern-most-village" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>easternmost Village-Vijaynagar (Changlang district)</strong></a> in Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Indian Army conducted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-himvijay" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>exercise &lsquo;HimVijay&rsquo;</strong></a> in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam with its newly created Integrated Battle Groups (IBG).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bogibeel-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bogibeel bridge,</strong></a> which is India&rsquo;s longest road-rail bridge connecting <strong>Dibrugarh in Assam to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh</strong> was inaugurated in 2018.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will facilitate quicker movement of troops and equipment to areas near the India-China border.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Border Area Development Programme (BADP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The BADP was launched by the<strong> Ministry of Home Affairs in 1986-87</strong> as part of a comprehensive approach to Border Management.</li>
<li>BADP was initiated in the border areas of the western region during the Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90), for ensuring balanced development of border areas through development of infrastructure and promotion of a sense of security among the border population.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>centrally sponsored scheme</strong>. Funds are provided to the states as a non-lapsable special central assistance for the execution of projects relating to infrastructure, livelihood, education, health, agriculture and allied sectors.</li>
<li>The States covered are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sectors of India-China Border</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and China share a boundary that stretches 3,488 km from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>The border dispute still stands unresolved.</li>
<li>It is divided into <strong>three</strong> sectors:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Western Sector:</strong> It falls in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh and is 1597 km long.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It witnesses the highest transgressions between the two sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Middle Sector:</strong> It falls in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and is 545 km long.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the least disputed sector between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eastern Sector:</strong> It falls in the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and is 1346 km long.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of south Tibet which is firmly rejected by India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to be <strong>vigilant enough</strong> for any new development in China near its border to protect its interests efficiently. Further, it needs to build robust Infrastructure in difficult border areas in its territory to ensure movement of personnel and other logistical supplies in an <strong>efficient manner</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-begins-work-on-railway-up-to-arunachal-border/article33087125.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/chinas-railway-near-arunachal-border'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Battles of Panipat',
		'catname' => 'Paper 1',
		'desc' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">First Battle of Panipat (1526)</h2>
<h3>The Battle</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The First Battle of Panipat (21 April 1526) fought near a small village of Panipat( Haryana), this marked the beginning of Mughal Empire in India.</li>
<li>The battle was fought between the invading forces of <strong>Zahir-ud-din Babur</strong> and the last empire of the Delhi Sultanate, <strong>Lodi Empire during the rule of Ibrahim Lodi</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Military Force</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Babur&rsquo;s forces numbered around 15,000 men with 20 to 24 pieces of field artillery.</li>
<li>The fighting force of Ibrahim Lodi was around 30,000 to 40,000 men in total, along with at least 1000 war elephants.</li>
<li>Babur&rsquo;s army used guns which proved to be decisive in the battlefield but the Sultan lacked any field artillery. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, the sound of the cannons used by Babur&rsquo;s army frightened Lodi&rsquo;s elephants, causing them to trample Lodi&rsquo;s own men.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Babur&rsquo;s Tactics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The weapons were not all, it was Babur&rsquo;s tactics of <strong>Tulughma and Araba</strong> that led him to victory. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tulughma:</strong> it meant dividing the whole army into various units, viz. the Left, the Right and the Centre. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Left and Right divisions were further subdivided into Forward and Rear divisions.</li>
<li>Through this a small army could be used to surround the enemy from all the sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Araba:</strong> the centre forward division was then provided with carts (araba) which were placed in rows facing the enemy and tied to each other with animal hide ropes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Behind the Araba, cannons were placed which could be fired without any fear of being hit as they were shielded by the bullock carts which were held in place due to the hide ropes holding them together.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Result</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Mughal forces of Babur, the Timurid ruler of Kabulistan, defeated the much larger ruling army of Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The victory enabled Babur to lay the foundations for the Indian Mughal Empire.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ibrahim Lodi died on the field of battle, abandoned by his feudatories and generals (many of whom were mercenaries). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of them changed their allegiance to the new master of Delhi.</li>
<li>However, the fate could have been turned in the favour of Sultan Ibrahim if he had survived another hour of fighting as Babur had no reserves left and his troops were rapidly tiring.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> This was one of the earliest battles involving gunpowder firearms and field artillery.</p>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Second Battle of Panipat (1556)</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between the <strong>forces of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya,</strong> popularly called <strong>Hemu</strong>, the Hindu king who was ruling North India from Delhi, and the <strong>army of Akbar</strong>, on November 5, 1556. It was a decisive victory for Akbar&rsquo;s generals Khan Zaman I and Bairam Khan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya</strong> or Hemu was a Hindu emperor in Delhi by virtue of defeating Akbar/Humanyun&rsquo;s army in Battle for Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hemu belonged to Rewari in present day Haryana, who earlier was an adviser to Sher Shah Suri&rsquo;s son Islam Shah from 1545 to 1553.</li>
<li>He had won 22 battles, as Prime Minister and Chief of Army of Islam Shah, during 1553 to 1556 to quell the rebellion by Afghan rebels against Sur regime.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On January 24, 1556, the Mughal ruler Humanyun died in Delhi and was succeeded by his son, <strong>Akbar</strong> at Kalanaur, who was only thirteen years old. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On February 14, 1556, Akbar was enthroned as the king.</li>
<li>At the time of his accession to the throne, the Mughal rule was confined to Kabul, Kandahar, parts of Delhi and Punjab.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Battle</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Akbar and his guardian Bairam Khan <strong>did not participate in the battle</strong> and were stationed 5 Kos (8 miles) away from the war zone. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 13 year old child King was not permitted to be present on the battlefield in person, instead he was provided with a<strong> special guard of 5000</strong> well trained and <strong>most faithful troops</strong> and was stationed at a safe distance far behind the battle lines.</li>
<li>The Mughal Vanguard consisted of <strong>10,000 cavalry</strong>, out of which 5000 were experienced veteran soldiers and were ready to meet the advancing army of Hemu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Hemu led his army himself. His army consisted of <strong>1500 war elephants</strong> and a vanguard of artillery park. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hemu marched in excellent order with <strong>30,000 practiced horsemen</strong> composed of <strong>Rajputs and Afghans</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Result</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hemu commanding his forces from atop an elephant was on a winning track and was about to rout Akbar&rsquo;s army when an arrow struck Hemu&rsquo;s squinting eye. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The arrow passed his brain clean out from the cup of his head, and he became unconscious.</li>
<li>Not seeing Hemu in his howdah (seat for riding on the back of a horse) , Hemu&rsquo;s army was in disarray and defeated in the ensuing confusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Several hours after the war ended, dead Hemu was located and captured by Shah Quli Khan Mahram and brought to Akbar&rsquo;s tent in the camp in Panipat.</li>
<li>Hemu&rsquo;s supporters constructed a Cenotaph at the site of his beheading, which still exists at the village Saudhapur, on Jind Road at Panipat.</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Third Battle of Panipat (1761)</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761, at Panipat, about 60 miles (95.5 km) north of Delhi between a northern expeditionary force of the <strong>Maratha Empire</strong> and <strong>the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani</strong> with two Indian Muslim allies&mdash; the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Military Force</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Militarily, the battle pitted the French-supplied artillery and cavalry of the Marathas against the heavy cavalry and mounted artillery(zamburak and jezail) of the Afghans and Rohillas led by Ahmad Shah Durrani and Najib-ud-Daulah.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ahmad Shah Durrani was also known as <strong>Ahmad Shah Abdali</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The battle is considered one of the largest fought in the 18th century with the largest number of fatalities in a single day reported in a classic formation battle between two armies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decline of the Mughal Empire following the 27-year Mughal-Maratha war (1680&ndash;1707) had led to rapid territorial gains for the Maratha Empire. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under Peshwa Baji Rao, Gujarat and Malwa came under Maratha control.</li>
<li>Finally, in 1737, Baji Rao defeated the Mughals on the outskirts of Delhi, and brought much of the former Mughal territories south of Delhi under Maratha control.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This brought the Marathas into direct confrontation with the Durrani empire of Ahmad Shah Abdali.</li>
<li>In 1759, he raised an army from the Pashtun tribes and made several gains against the smaller Maratha garrisons in Punjab. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He then joined with his Indian allies - the Rohilla Afghans of the Gangetic Doab - forming a broad coalition against the Marathas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Shuja-ud-Daulah</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both the Marathas as well as Afghans tried to get the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daulah, into their camp. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By late July, Shuja-ud-Daulah made the decision to join the Afghan-Rohilla coalition, preferring to join what was perceived as the &lsquo;army of Islam&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This was strategically a major loss for the Marathas, since Shuja provided much needed finances for the long Afghan stay in North India.</li>
<li>It is doubtful whether the Afghan-Rohilla coalition would have the means to continue their conflict with the Marathas without Shuja&rsquo;s support.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cutting off the Supplies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In August, 1760, the Maratha camp finally reached Delhi and took the city. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There followed a series of skirmishes along the banks of the river Yamuna, and a battle at Kunjpura, which the Marathas won against an Afghan garrison of about 15,000.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, Abdali daringly crossed the river Yamuna in October at Baghpat, cutting off the Maratha camp from their base in Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This eventually turned into a two-month-long siege led by Abdali against the Marathas in the town of Panipat.</li>
<li>During the siege both sides tried to cut off the other&rsquo;s supplies at which the Afghans were considerably more effective; by the end of November 1760 they had cut off almost all food supplies into the besieged Maratha camp.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The food in the Maratha camp ran out by late December or early January and cattle died by the thousands. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reports of soldiers dying of starvation began to be heard in early January.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Battle</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With no supplies and dying soldiers, the Maratha chiefs begged their commander, Sadashiv Rao Bhau, to be allowed to die in battle than perish by starvation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In a desperate attempt to break the siege, the Marathas left their camp to march towards the Afghan camp.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The battle lasted for several days and involved over 125,000 troops. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Protracted skirmishes occurred, with losses and gains on both sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The forces led by Ahmad Shah Durrani came out victorious after destroying several Maratha flanks.</li>
<li>The extent of the losses on both sides is believed that:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>between 60,000&ndash;70,000 were killed in fighting</li>
<li>the numbers of injured and prisoners taken vary considerably. about 40,000 Maratha prisoners were slaughtered in cold blood the day after the battle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Result</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The result of the battle was the halting of further Maratha advances in the north, and a destabilization of their territories, for roughly 10 years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This period of 10 years is marked by the rule of Peshwa Madhavrao, who is credited with the revival of Maratha domination following the defeat at Panipat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 1771, 10 years after Panipat, Peshwa Madhavrao sent a large Maratha army into North India in an expedition that was meant to: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Re-establish the Maratha domination in North India</li>
<li>Punish refractory powers that had either sided with the Afghans, such as the Rohillas, or had shaken off Maratha domination after Panipat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The success of this campaign can be seen as the last saga of the long story of Panipat.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>What stands out in all the three battles of Panipat is the fact that the dispute or the reason for war was never the city of Panipat.</li>
<li>Panipat was always an entrance to Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Historically, anyone from the North-West, who wanted to capture Delhi, had to come through the Khyber pass and then Punjab.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/battles-of-panipat'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report 2020: IVAC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the annual <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pneumonia-and-diarrhoea-progress-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report</strong></a> has been released by the <strong>International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC)</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IVAC, founded in <strong>2009, accelerates equitable access to vaccines</strong> through the <strong>generation, synthesis, and use of evidence</strong> to inform decision-making and action. It is located in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It evaluates the progress <strong>across 10 high-impact indicators</strong> outlined in the <strong>Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-forum-on-childhood-pneumonia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pneumonia</a> and Diarrhoea</strong> (GAPPD) in the <strong>15 countries with the greatest burden of under-five pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths</strong> and how they are delivering key<strong> interventions to prevent</strong> these.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These<strong> interventions include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-breastfeeding-week#:~:text=The%20World%20Breastfeeding%20Week%20(WBW,promotion%2C%20and%20support%20of%20breastfeeding.">breastfeeding</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gap-in-vaccination-of-children#:~:text=Immunisation%20is%20a%20simple%20and,remove%20any%20gap%20in%20immunisation." target="_blank" rel="noopener">immunisation</a>,</strong> care-seeking and antibiotics, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rising-carbon-dioxide-levels-zinc-deficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zinc supplementation</strong></a>.</li>
<li>These measures are proven to help prevent deaths due to these illnesses and could help achieve the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal-3</strong></a> (Good Health and Well-Being) target of <strong>reducing under-five mortality</strong> to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030.</li>
<li>In <strong>2009,</strong> the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></a> (WHO) and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Children&rsquo;s Fund</strong></a> (UNICEF) launched the GAPPD, which proposes a <strong>multi-sectoral, integrated approach to reduce the incidence of severe pneumonia and diarrhoea, reduce the number of children under-five who are stunted,</strong> and <strong>end preventable childhood deaths</strong> from pneumonia and diarrhoea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s report also <strong>addresses the emerging impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic</strong>.</li>
<li>It monitors the <strong>coverage of five vaccines</strong> which are <strong>Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus</strong> (DPT) <strong>vaccine, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/susceptibility-of-infants-to-measles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Measles</a>-containing-vaccine first dose, Haemophilus influenzae type B, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccine-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pneumococcal conjugate vaccine</a></strong> (PCV), and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rotavirus-vaccination-drive" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>rotavirus vaccine</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605509719_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605509719_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="532" height="487" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nearly every country</strong> included in the report <strong>lagged in access to treatments </strong>against pneumonia and diarrhoea.</li>
<li><strong>Overall the world&rsquo;s health systems are falling short</strong> of ensuring that children have access to prevention and treatment services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Performance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Of the 15 focus countries included in the report, <strong>India is one of the countries that exceeded targets for exclusive breastfeeding</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-chair-who-executive-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Assembly</strong></a> (WHA) has set a target to increase the <strong>global rate of exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50% by 2025</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Exclusive Breastfeeding:</strong> It means that the infant receives only breast milk. No other liquids or solids are given, not even water, with the exception of ORS, or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has made <strong>significant progress in its vaccination coverage</strong> to prevent child pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths.</li>
<li>India has <strong>achieved the global target of 90% coverage for three of the five vaccines</strong> whose coverage is monitored in the report.</li>
<li>However, <strong>India failed to reach all targets for treatment</strong> and the <strong>treatment for diarrhoea had the lowest coverage</strong>, with only 51% of children receiving ORS and 20% getting zinc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>90% treatment coverage for children with suspected pneumonia,</strong> including care by an appropriate health care provider and antibiotics and <strong>90% treatment coverage for children with diarrhoea</strong>, including treatment with ORS and zinc supplements by 2025.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Although there was progress in India in 2019, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic</a> threatens the gains because of disruptions</strong> caused in routine health services like <strong>immunisation and access to medical oxygen</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605509778_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605509778_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Diarrhoea</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>passage of 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day,</strong> or more frequently than is normal for the individual. There are <strong>three clinical types of diarrhoea</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Acute watery diarrhoea</strong> (lasts several hours or days, and includes cholera).</li>
<li><strong>Acute bloody diarrhoea</strong> (also called dysentery).</li>
<li><strong>Persistent diarrhoea</strong> (lasts 14 days or longer).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Diarrhoea is a symptom of infections <strong>caused by a host of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms,</strong> most of which are spread by faeces-contaminated water.</li>
<li><strong>Water contaminated with human and animal faeces</strong> is of particular concern. Animal faeces also contain microorganisms that can cause diarrhoea.</li>
<li>It can also spread from person-to-person, aggravated by poor personal hygiene, food prepared or stored in unhygienic conditions, unsafe domestic water storage and handling.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The most severe threat posed by diarrhoea is <strong>dehydration, which occurs when lost water and electrolytes</strong> are not replaced.</li>
<li>It may be <strong>life-threatening,</strong> particularly in <strong>young children and people who are malnourished</strong> or have <strong>impaired immunity</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prevention and Cure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Interventions to prevent diarrhoea, including <strong>safe drinking-water, use of improved sanitation</strong> and <strong>handwashing with soap</strong> can reduce disease risk.</li>
<li>Diarrhoea should be <strong>treated with ORS,</strong> a solution of clean water, sugar and salt. In addition, <strong>nutrient-rich foods and zinc supplemental treatment shortens</strong> diarrhoea duration and improves outcomes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Step Taken by India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government aims to achieve a <strong>target of reducing pneumonia deaths among children to less than three per 1,000 live births by 2025</strong>.</li>
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> India launched the <strong>Integrated Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea</strong> (IAPPD) to undertake collaborative efforts towards prevention of diarrhoea and pneumonia-related under-five deaths.</li>
<li><strong>Universal Immunization Programme</strong> (UIP) was launched by the government in <strong>1985</strong> and <strong>prevents mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases</strong> including pneumonia and diarrhoea.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saans-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully</strong></a> (SAANS) Campaign to <strong>reduce child mortality due to pneumonia,</strong> which contributes to around 15% of deaths of children under the age of five annually.</li>
<li>In <strong>2019,</strong> the government of India launched a <strong>rotavirus vaccine drive</strong> across all states and Union Territories, which was an <strong>unprecedented national scale-up of the rotavirus vaccine</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National programs to roll-out lifesaving immunizations, such as the rotavirus vaccine in India and the UIP, represent notable achievements. This progress in vaccine introduction and spread is significant to not only reduce morbidity and mortality but also to leverage immunization as a key health system strengthening activity.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/india-makes-progress-in-vaccination-coverage/article33087330.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/pneumonia-and-diarrhoea-progress-report-2020-ivac'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'INS Vagir',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the fifth <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scorpene class submarine</strong></a> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ins-karanj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project-75</strong></a> named <strong>&lsquo;Vagir&rsquo;</strong> has been launched at <strong>Mazagon Dock</strong> in Mumbai.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>INS Vagir:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605265475_image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605265475_image8.jpg" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The first Vagir, a submarine from <strong>Russia,</strong> was commissioned into Indian Navy on <strong>3<sup>rd</sup> December 1973</strong> and was decommissioned on <strong>7<sup>th</sup> June 2001</strong> after almost three decades of service to the nation.</li>
<li><strong>Public shipbuilder <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mazagon Dock Ltd</a></strong> (MDL) gave a new incarnation to the submarine with the same name.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is named after the <strong>Sand Fish,</strong> a deadly deep sea predator of the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>It is a part of the six <strong>Kalvari-class submarines</strong> being built in India.</li>
<li>The state-of-art technology used in the submarine has ensured:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Superior stealth features</strong> such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, and hydro-dynamically optimised shape.</li>
<li>The ability to attack the enemy using <strong>precision guided weapons.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The submarine is designed to <strong>operate in all theatres of operation,</strong> showcasing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.</li>
<li>It can launch attacks with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface.</li>
<li>It can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e <strong>Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, Intelligence gathering, Mine Laying, Area Surveillance, </strong>etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Project-75 :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a programme by the Indian Navy that entails building <strong>six Scorpene Class</strong> attack submarines.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scorpene is a conventional powered submarine weighing 1,500 tonnes and can go up to depths of 300m.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is given support by the <strong>Department of Defence Production</strong> (Ministry of Defence) and <strong>Indian Navy</strong> throughout its various phases of construction.</li>
<li>The MDL is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines with <strong>technology assistance from Naval Group of France</strong> under a USD 3.75 bn deal signed in October 2005.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other submarines</strong> of the ongoing <strong>Project-75:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two submarines, <strong>Kalvari</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Khanderi</strong></a>, have been commissioned into the Indian Navy.</li>
<li>The third submarine, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ins-karanj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karanj</strong></a>, is in the last phase of rigorous sea trials.</li>
<li>The fourth Scorpene, <strong>Vela,</strong> has commenced its sea trials.</li>
<li>The sixth and last submarine,<strong> Vagsheer,</strong> is being readied for boot together.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>With the launch of<strong> Vagir,</strong> India further cements its position as a Submarine Building Nation and<strong> MDL</strong> has more than lived up to its reputation as Warship and Submarine Builders to the Nation This is totally in sync with the current impetus of the Government towards <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1672314" 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/ins-vagir'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Checklist For National Education Policy 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/national-education-policy-missing-links-7049598/lite/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;The missing links in National Education Policy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 12/11/2020. It talks about the gaps in the National Education Policy and the way forward.</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-education-policy-nep-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Education Policy 2020 (NEP)</strong> </a>is a genuinely transformative and innovative policy document. Apart from fundamental literacy and numeracy and overall cognitive development, the NEP envisions imparting 21<sup>st</sup>-century skills, well-rounded character building, critical thinking, holistic, inquiry-based, discovery-based, discussion-based and analysis-based hands-on learning.</p>
<p>In a very welcome step, it also talks about strengthening the anganwadis and the mid-day-meal scheme. In this way, NEP champions many ideas which, if realised, can truly transform India&rsquo;s declining education system.</p>
<p>However, it falls short in identifying what exactly has prevented the government from achieving these ideals. Apart from addressing it, there is also a need to evaluate the risks in some of its recommendations.</p>
<h3>Associated Issues With NEP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Marks Dominated Education System:</strong> In India, education is synonymous with examinations that focus on rote-learning and race to come first.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This has led to mushrooming of industry out of coaching, tuition, notes, practice problems and finishing the syllabus.</li>
<li>Until marks or grades dominate the education system, it would be challenging bringing transformation as envisaged by NEP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Persistent Inequity &amp; Inequality:</strong> The NEP falls short in addressing the two main problems that plague our society and education system &mdash; inequity and inequality. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NEP addresses the issue of dropping out of schools at some length and suggests strengthening infrastructure and accessibility as a remedy.</li>
<li>However, it does not investigate the structural causes of caste, economic background condition that may be rooted in inequality and discrimination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Counteractive Effect:</strong> The NEP advocates that early education should be in one&rsquo;s mother tongue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This welcome suggestion, however, should not result in underemphasize English, which is a great equaliser in our society and opens up the world for many. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That may turn out to be discriminatory for some because the privileged will learn English anyway.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are similar risks with introducing optional vocational training in schools, as there are fears that it would turn out to be an exit route for the underprivileged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Federal Angle:</strong> Though education is a concurrent subject in India&rsquo;s federal structure, yet the NEP approach is suggestive of over-centralization. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It may be all right for the NCERT to provide broad curricular and pedagogical suggestions, but the guidelines should not become overbearing.</li>
<li>Otherwise, there may be definite risks of stifling local cultures and contexts in the curricula.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Knowledge-Jobs Mismatch:</strong> There is a persistent mismatch between the knowledge &amp; skills imparted and the jobs available. This has been one of the main challenges that have affected the Indian education system since Independence.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NEP 2020 failed to check this, as it is silent on education related to emerging technological fields like artificial intelligence, cyberspace, nanotech, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Huge Fiscal Burden:</strong> An ambitious target of public spending at 6% of GDP has been set. Mobilising financial resources will be a big challenge, given the low tax-to-GDP ratio and competing claims on the national exchequer of healthcare, national security and other vital sectors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Address the Debate on Reservation:</strong> Reservation has undoubtedly worked wonders in our country and has empowered many over the years. However, it has not been all smooth sailing, and there are some manifest structural problems. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the one hand, it is undeniable that it curbs opportunities of choice to many qualified young students. On the other hand, it acts as a tool for imparting social justice.</li>
<li>Thus, the NEP needed to address this headlong.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need For Cooperative Federalism:</strong> Since education is a concurrent subject (both the Centre and the state governments can make laws on it), the reforms proposed can only be implemented collaboratively by the Centre and the states.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, the Centre has the enormous task of building a consensus on the many ambitious plans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strive Towards Universalisation of Education:</strong> There is a need for the creation of &lsquo;inclusion funds&rsquo; to help socially and educationally disadvantaged children pursue education.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, there is a need to set up a regulatory process that can check profiteering from education in the form of unaccounted donations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bridging Digital Divide:</strong> If technology is a force-multiplier, with unequal access, it can also expand the gap between the haves and have nots. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, the state needs to address the striking disparities in access to digital tools for universalisation of education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Interministerial Coordination:</strong> There is an emphasis on vocational training, but to make it useful, there has to be close coordination between the education, skills and labour ministry.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>National Education policy 2020 is a transformative document, but mere changes in syllabus or even structure are unlikely to bring about fundamental changes in the Indian education system. Therefore, careful balancing is required to avoid unforeseen behavioural adaptations, causing them to end up as tools of exclusion and denial of opportunities.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605264892_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605264892_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
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<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #f20000; background-color: #fffdf7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) is a transformative and innovative policy document, but it needs to address the persistent issues in the Indian education system. Discuss</p>
</td>
</tr>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9HAXAy91QuY" 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/pli-scheme-backing-big-firms-and-global-champions-is-the-way-to-go/2126558/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;PLI Scheme: Backing big firms and global champions is the way to go&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Financial Express on November 11th, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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