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Development of Synthetic Flavonoids

Why in News Recently, scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune have found the first synthetic route for producing flavonoids...

22 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Sri Lanka to Draft a New Constitution

Why in News The Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (elected in 2019), while addressing the inaugural session of the Parliament, said that Sri...

22 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Indian Bison (Gaur)

Why in News Recently, a case of poaching of Indian Bison was discovered using a sniffer dog in West Bengal. Key Points Indian Bison or Gaur (Bos...

22 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Namath Basai: Kerala

The Kerala State government is carrying out a unique programme called “Namath Basai” of teaching tribal children in their mother...

22 Aug 2020 News Analysis
India Announces Package to Maldives

Why in News India has committed to Maldives a five-pronged package including air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications to help it deal with the...

22 Aug 2020 News Analysis
National Handloom Day Announcements & Challenges Ahead

This editorial analysis is based on the article “Handloom Day announcements look like a mix of the good and the bad, but are mostly...

21 Aug 2020 News Editorials
Chinese Involvement in Teesta River

Why in News Bangladesh is likely to receive an almost USD 1 billion loan from China for a comprehensive management and restoration project on the...

21 Aug 2020 News Analysis
National Strategy for Financial Education

Why in News The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE): 2020-2025 document for creating a...

21 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Women in Research And Development

Why in News According to the Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018, India’s private sector research companies appear to employ a...

21 Aug 2020 News Analysis
ARIIA 2020 Rankings

Why in News Recently, the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020 rankings was announced. Around 674 institutions...

21 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Military Coup in Mali

Why in News Recently, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has resigned after soldiers had arrested him and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse in the...

21 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Organic Farming in India

Why in News India ranks 1st in number of organic farmers and 9th in terms of area under organic farming. Key Points Indian Scenario Regarding...

21 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Expansion of the NCC

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Defence has approved the proposal to expand the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in border and coastal...

21 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Day 32

Defence Every year several questions have been asked from defence technology. The scope of questions that can come from this topic is very broad....

21 Aug 2020 60 days refresher
Revamping of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

This article is based on “PM-Fasal Bima Yojana 2.0” which was published in The Financial Express on 13/08/2020. It talks about the...

20 Aug 2020 News Editorials
The Big Picture: National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Dashboard

Introduction The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) dashboard would allow monitoring of all the infrastructure projects under the 111...

20 Aug 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Turkey-Greece Stand-off

Why in News Recently, France has deployed its military in the eastern Mediterranean Sea amid tensions between Greece and Turkey over...

20 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Project

Why in News Recently, the Chief Minister of Punjab has warned the Centre of political unrest in the state if asked to proceed with the Sutlej-Yamuna...

20 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Shortcomings of Indian Chemical Industry: TIFAC

Why in News Recently, a report by the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has highlighted the shortcomings of the...

20 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Black Box on Aircraft

Why in News The black boxes of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft which recently crashed in Kozhikode (Kerala) have been found. These boxes will help...

20 Aug 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Development of Synthetic Flavonoids',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, scientists from <strong>Agharkar Research Institute</strong> (ARI), Pune have found the first <strong>synthetic route for producing flavonoids molecules</strong> related to the treatment of tuberculosis and chikungunya.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ARI is an <strong>autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology</strong> (DST), Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is for the <strong>first time that scientists have been able to synthesize the flavonoid molecules</strong> such as<strong> rugosa flavonoids, podocare flavone and isoflavone</strong> in a lab.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These three molecules have so far been isolated from plants only and are found to <strong>inhibit <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-tuberculosis-day#:~:text=Transmission%3A%20TB%20is%20spread%20from,a%20treatable%20and%20curable%20disease." target="_blank" rel="noopener">tuberculosis</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chikungunya</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flavonoids:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Flavonoids are part of the<strong> polyphenol class of phytonutrients (plant chemicals)</strong> found in almost all fruits and vegetables. Along with<strong> carotenoids</strong> (organic pigments), they are<strong> responsible for the vivid colours</strong> in fruits and vegetables.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Polyphenols have historically been used in <strong>Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine</strong> and are associated with skin protection, brain function, blood sugar and blood pressure regulation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These are <strong>powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits</strong> as well. A diet rich in flavonoids can protect from diseases related to heart, liver, kidney, brain and other infectious diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Availability:</strong> It will ensure their <strong>availability at all seasons</strong> without the dependence on natural timings of the plantations.</li>
<li><strong>Uniformity:</strong> Inconsistency in natural products can occur in different seasons, places and species. Man-made molecules will have a<strong> uniform structure and medicinal properties</strong> similar to the natural product.</li>
<li><strong>Less-exploitative:</strong> Acquiring them from labs will <strong>solve the problem of over-exploitation of medicinal plants</strong> which puts an extra burden on the environment.</li>
<li><strong>Cost-effective:</strong> The development method in labs is<strong> simple and cost-effective</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Possible Use of Flavonoids:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Flavonoids can <strong>ease the lives of women who face problems in the premenopausal stage</strong> because its chemical structure is similar to the female <strong>hormone 17-beta-estradiol.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Estradiol</strong> is an estrogen steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone which is involved in the regulation of the estrous (oestrous) and menstrual female reproductive cycles.</li>
<li><strong>Premenopausal stage</strong> refers to the time when female bodies make the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the menstrual cycles and reproductive years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Preliminary indications and computational analysis show the <strong>capacity of these molecules to inhibit <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> by targeting spike protein and proteases (an enzyme that catalyzes proteolysis, the breakdown of proteins).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since flavonoids boost-up immunity, a <strong>flavonoid-rich diet is recommended to stay safe from Covid-19.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1647247" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Sri Lanka to Draft a New Constitution',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa</strong> (elected in 2019), while addressing the inaugural session of the Parliament, said that Sri Lanka will draft a new Constitution and <strong>abolish the 19<sup>th</sup> Amendment</strong> that curtailed the powers of the President and strengthened the role of Parliament.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s new Cabinet includes members from the Rajapaksa family.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mahinda Rajapaksha</strong> is the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Rajapaksa led Sri Lanka People&rsquo;s Party (SLPP) won a landslide victory in the recently held parliamentary elections (August 2020), allowing the influential family to consolidate power for the next five years.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598083004_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598083004_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>19<sup>th</sup> Amendment:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was <strong>passed in 2015</strong> during the former President Maithripala Sirisena-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe&rsquo;s term (2015-19).</li>
<li>It sought not only to<strong> clip the President&rsquo;s executive powers,</strong> but also to <strong>strengthen independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It brought back the two-term limit on Presidency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was<strong> hailed by many, including members of civil society, </strong>as a<strong> progressive legislation</strong> in contemporary Sri Lankan history, even as its critics found it falling short in some respects.</li>
<li>However, the<strong> Rajapaksa</strong> camp viewed its clauses as primarily<strong> intended to prevent its leaders&rsquo; return to power.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It<strong> prevented dual citizens from contesting elections.</strong> At the time, two of the Rajapaksa family members including the current president were dual citizens of the USA and Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its <strong>abolishment will strengthen Rajapaksa's grip on power</strong> because the country will return to its previous constitutional status, in which the President could appoint officials for the police, judiciary and public service and dissolve Parliament anytime after one year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Constitution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President said that the new Constitution would prioritise the concept of <strong>&ldquo;one country, one law for all the people.&rdquo;</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sri Lanka's <strong>constitution has been changed 19 times from 1978,</strong> creating a lot of uncertainties and confusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Changes will be made to ensure the stability of Parliament and people&rsquo;s direct representation, while retaining the salutary aspects of the proportional representation system.</li>
<li><strong>Rights activists see the planned changes</strong> to the Constitution as an attempt to further<strong> empower</strong> the SLPP and the Rajpaksha brothers&rsquo; mainly<strong> Buddhist - Sinhalese speaking electorate.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rajapaksa family, which dominated the government from 2005 to 2015, witnessed the climax of the country&rsquo;s long<strong> civil war (1983-2009).</strong></li>
<li>The war divided Sri Lanka along ethnic lines - pitting the majority <strong>Buddhist Sinhalese-dominated government against Tamil rebels</strong> who wanted a separate state.</li>
<li>The rebels were defeated by government forces in 2009.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India - Sri Lanka Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed an agreement for extending a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-signs-currency-swap-for-sri-lanka" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> USD 400 million currency swap facility</strong></a> to Sri Lanka to boost the foreign reserves and ensure financial stability of the country, which is badly hit by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic.</a></strong></li>
<li>Earlier, India assisted Sri Lanka by sending <strong>four consignments of essential medicines and equipment</strong> in the month of April and May 2020 to fight the pandemic.</li>
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-sri-lanka-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Housing Project</strong> </a>is Government of India&rsquo;s flagship project of developmental assistance to Sri Lanka. Its initial commitment is to build 50,000 houses for those affected by the civil war as well as for the estate workers in the plantation areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bilateral Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India and Sri Lanka conduct joint<strong> Military (Mitra Shakti)</strong> and <strong>Naval (SLINEX)</strong> exercises.</li>
<li>Given the proximity of the territorial waters of both countries, especially in the Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar, incidents of straying of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fishermen-issue-with-sri-lanka" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fishermen</strong></a> are common. Both countries have agreed on certain practical arrangements to deal with the issue of bona fide fishermen of either side crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rajapaksa brothers have <strong>not paid that much attention to India&rsquo;s entreaties</strong> after the civil war ended <strong>to devolve more powers to Tamil areas.</strong></li>
<li>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s new ruling clan is sharply<strong> aware of India&rsquo;s troubles with China on the LAC</strong> and in the region. The Rajapaksas will continue <strong>using China as a counter-weight to India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For <strong>Sri Lanka,</strong> the <strong>Constitution-making process</strong> of the new Government<strong> shall strengthen Sri Lanka&rsquo;s democracy</strong> and provide an inclusive platform for the country to achieve prosperity for all.</li>
<li>For <strong>India,</strong> it should <strong>push for the reconciliation efforts for the Tamils</strong> in Sri Lanka while remaining <strong>sensitive to Sri Lanka&rsquo;s security concerns.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-to-draft-new-constitution/article32406766.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Indian Bison (Gaur)',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a case of poaching of Indian Bison was discovered using a sniffer dog in West Bengal.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Bison or Gaur <em>(Bos gaurus)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598082695_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598082695_image6.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></em></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> Native to South and Southeast Asia<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, they are found in Nagarhole, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-highway-766" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bandipur</strong></a>, Masinagudi National Parks and BR Hills.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vulnerable</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List.</strong></a></li>
<li>Included in the<strong> Schedule I</strong> of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important Facts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the<strong> tallest species of wild cattle</strong> found in India and <strong>largest extant bovine.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/estimation-exercise-of-indian-gaur-in-nilgiris" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first population estimation exercise</strong> </a><strong>of the Indian Gaur (Bison)</strong> was carried out in the <strong>Nilgiris Forest Division, Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, the conservation breeding of Gaur was started at Mysuru zoo under the conservation breeding programme of the<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reconstitution-of-central-zoo-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Central Zoo Authority</a> (CZA).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Food Scarcity:</strong> Due to the destruction in the grasslands, planting of commercially important trees, invasive plant species and indiscriminate grazing of domestic animals</li>
<li><strong>Poaching:</strong> For their commercial value as well as due to the high demand of gaur meat.</li>
<li><strong>Habitat Loss:</strong> Due to deforestation and commercial plantations.</li>
<li><strong>Human-Animal Conflict:</strong> Due to living in proximity with human habitations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sniffer-dog-orlando-cracks-his-first-case-bison-poaching-in-north-bengal/article32416037.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/indian-bison-gaur'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Namath Basai: Kerala',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>The Kerala State government is carrying out a unique programme called<strong> &ldquo;Namath Basai&rdquo; </strong>of <strong>teaching tribal children in their mother tongue.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The programme is being implemented by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/samagra-shiksha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Samagra Shiksha Kerala</strong> </a><strong>(SSK).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SSK is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12.</li>
<li>It aims at improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has succeeded in retaining <strong>hundreds of tribal children in their online classes</strong> using their mother tongue as language of instruction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Teaching in the tribal language has to a good extent stopped students from dropping out, which is quite usual in hamlets</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It offers pre-recorded classes through a YouTube channel in three tribal languages in <strong>Attappady</strong> valley in Palakkad District Kerala.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These languages belong to the <strong>Irula, Muduka and Kurumba tribes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is being introduced in the tribal belts of Wayanad and Idukki as well. Classes are offered in the Oorali, Muthuvan and Paniya languages in Idukki.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wayanad has the highest number of tribals in Kerala followed by Idukki.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Kurumba Tribe</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Popularly known as Mala Pulayans, Hill Pulayans and Pamba Pulayans.</li>
<li>Traditional occupation : Foraging and shifting cultivation<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Collect forest products like honey, wax, soapnut, turmeric, ginger and wild cardamoms.</li>
<li>Art of<strong> body tattooing.</strong></li>
<li>Skilled in manufacture of baskets and mats</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religion: Animism</strong> (belief in spirituality of objects, places, and creatures) and <strong>Totemism</strong> (Worship of any species of plants or animals thought to possess supernatural powers)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Irula or Irular Tribe</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Occupation:</strong> Agriculturists<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Grow Paddy, Ragi, dhal, plantains, chillies and turmeric</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religion:</strong> The majority worship <strong>Vishnu</strong> under the name of Rangaswami and Siva without differentiation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some practice <strong>animism</strong> and worship the tiger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mudugars or Muduka</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Have social divisions at kal (clan) level.</li>
<li><strong>Traditional Occupation:</strong> Food gatherers and hunters.</li>
<li><strong>Religion: Hinduism</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Worship Shiva</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/namath-basai-brings-tribal-children-back-to-school/article32403908.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/namath-basai-kerala'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'India Announces Package to Maldives',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has committed to Maldives a five-pronged package including air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications to help it deal with the economic impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598081536_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598081536_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The package includes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Greater Mal&eacute; Connectivity Project (GMCP)</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A financial package consisting of a grant of 100 million USD and new line of credit of 400 million USD.</li>
<li>This will be the <strong>largest civilian infrastructure project in Maldives,</strong> connecting Mal&eacute; (the capital) with three neighbouring islands &mdash; Villingili, Gulhifalhu (<strong>where a port is being built under Indian line of credit</strong>) and Thilafushi (new industrial zone) &ndash; by construction of a bridge-and-causeway link.</li>
<li>This will boost economic activity, generate employment and promote holistic urban development in the Mal&eacute; region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Direct Cargo Ferry Service:</strong> It will be run between India and Maldives.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The service is expected to enhance sea connectivity and provide predictability in supplies for importers in Maldives and exporters in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Air Travel Bubble Between India and Maldives:</strong> This will facilitate movement of people for employment, tourism and medical emergencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Maldives is the<strong> first neighbouring country</strong> of India with which an<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/travel-bubble" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> air bubble</strong></a> is being operationalised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Quotas for Supply of Essential Commodities:</strong> This was renewed for 2020-21. The commodities include food items as well as river sand and stone aggregates to assure food security, and supply of essential construction items.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Aid:</strong> In addition a financial aid of 250 million USD will be provided to Maldives by India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on India-Maldives-China</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian aid is being appreciated and contrasted with the previous expensive commercial loans to Maldives by China which are being termed <strong>&ldquo;debt-trap diplomacy&rdquo;</strong> of <strong>China,</strong> wherein China intentionally<strong> extends excessive credit to another country</strong> with the intention of extracting economic or political concessions from the debtor country.</li>
<li>The GMCP is also being compared to the Chinese built <strong>Sinemale Friendship bridge</strong> connecting Male to two other islands as it will be much bigger than the latter.</li>
<li>The India-Maldives relationship suffered a setback when Maldives entered into a <strong>Free-Trade Agreement (FTA)</strong> with China in 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/parliamentary-election-in-maldives" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>election of a new pro-India government in Maldives</strong></a>, the relationships have improved and Maldives is also considering <strong>pulling out of the FTA with China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since September 2018, India and Maldives have seen a number of bilateral visits.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-visit-to-maldives" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s Prime Minister visited Maldives</strong></a> to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Solih.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maldives-presidents-visit-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maldives President also visited India</strong> </a>in December 2018.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/visit-of-home-minister-of-maldives" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Home Minister of Maldives met Indian Home Minister</strong></a> on 21<sup>st</sup> February, 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At present, India-assisted projects in the region include<strong> water and sewerage projects on 34 islands,</strong> reclamation projects for the Addl island, a port on Gulhifalhu, airport redevelopment at Hanimaadhoo, and a hospital and a cricket stadium in Hulhumale.</li>
<li>India had also announced a 800 million USD Line of Credit to Maldives in December 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Significance of Maldives for India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Geographical:</strong> Maldives&rsquo; <strong>proximity to the west coast of India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maldives is barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy -the southernmost island of Lakshadweep.</li>
<li>Lakshadweep group is separated from Maldives by<strong> Eight Degree Channel.</strong></li>
<li>It is situated at the <strong>hub of commercial sea-lanes</strong> running through Indian Ocean. More than 97% of India&rsquo;s international trade by volume and 75% by value passes through the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong> India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and later established its mission at Male in 1972.</li>
<li><strong>Operation Cactus:</strong> In 1988, in response to a request from the Maldives, India activated Operation Cactus to deploy its military and ensure regime continuity in Male.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence:</strong> Its potential to allow a third nation&rsquo;s naval presence in the area.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since China&rsquo;s naval expansion into the Indian Ocean, Maldives' significance has steadily grown and now it&rsquo;s at the heart of international geopolitics.</li>
<li>India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Ekuverin&rsquo; is a joint military exercise between India and Maldives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geo-political:</strong> Maldives is an important aspect of India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Neighbourhood First&rsquo; policy.</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;India First&rsquo;</strong> has been a stated policy of the Government of Maldives.</li>
<li>Maldives is<strong> a member of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</a></strong> and the <strong>South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)..</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade and Tourism:</strong> India is Maldives&rsquo; 4th largest trade partner after UAE, China and Singapore. In 2018, India was the 5th largest source of tourist arrivals in Maldives.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, India was the 5<sup>th</sup> largest source of tourist arrivals in Maldives.e.</li>
<li>India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for export of essential commodities.</li>
<li>India-Maldives bilateral trade now stands at US$ 288.99 Million heavily in favour of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disaster Management:</strong> The Government of India has provided large-scale assistance to Maldives in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and during the 2014 Male water crisis.</li>
<li><strong>Diaspora:</strong> There is a<strong> significant Indian diaspora in the Maldives.</strong> Indians are the second largest expatriate community in Maldives with an approximate strength of around 22,000. About 25% of Doctors and Teachers in Maldives are Indian nationals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Given the economic hardships being faced by Maldives due to Covid-19 pandemic and previous debts, this package will definitely warm up the relationship between both the countries. This will also provide a strategic edge to India over China with regards to Maldives.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-announces-500-million-assistance-for-mega-infra-project-in-maldives/article32343775.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/india-announces-package-to-maldives'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'National Handloom Day Announcements & Challenges Ahead',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/listen-to-the-weaver-national-handloom-day-jaya-jaitly-6563310/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Handloom Day announcements look like a mix of the good and the bad, but are mostly foggy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in the Indian Express on 21<sup>st</sup> of August 2020. It analyses the announcements made on the National Handloom Day 2020 and the challenges that lie ahead.</p>
</div>
<p>Sixth <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-handloom-day-1#:~:text=On%20the%20occasion%20of%20the,celebrated%20in%20Chennai%20in%202015." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Handloom Day</strong> </a>was celebrated on the 7<sup>th</sup> of August 2020 and it was marked by many announcements by the Ministry of Textiles. Due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic</strong></a>, the day was celebrated on a virtual platform by the concerned ministry. These announcements pave way for much needed push for the handloom industry but it also poses some challenges.</p>
<h3>The Announcements</h3>
<p><strong>Termination of the handloom, powerloom, wool, jute and silk boards:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Textiles declared the termination of the handloom, powerloom, wool, jute and silk boards.</li>
<li>The boards have been scrapped with a view on achieving minimum government and maximum governance.</li>
<li>The moves are aimed at a leaner government machinery and for systematic rationalisation of government bodies.</li>
<li>These boards had become spaces for political patronage and were of no real benefit to weavers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>New Handloom Portal:</strong> A handloom portal was launched on National Handloom Day along with a social media campaign to instil pride in the weaving community.</p>
<p><strong>Virtual Fair:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Handloom Export Promotion Council</strong> also organized a virtual fair.</li>
<li>The fair is to connect more than 150 participants from various regions of the country to showcase their products with solitary designs and skills.</li>
<li>The fair will showcase elegant and beautiful handloom products which can be bought by the buying community directly from the masters themselves.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Meet The Maker campaign:</strong> The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), a not-for-profit organization that works to further the business of fashion in India and ensure its sustainable growth, launched campaigns including Meet the Makers which will promote the handloom makers.</p>
<p><strong>COVID-19 support fund:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A new fund was also started by FDCI to support the upcoming designers across the country. FDCI will be buying merchandise from weavers, which would be used to make high-in-demand cotton masks or ensembles.</li>
<li>The idea behind this is to buy unsold handloom fabrics stocked with them, which would help the weaving community earn a better livelihood.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Atma Nirbhar Bharat:</strong> PM Modi also urged everyone to be Vocal for handmade and strengthen efforts towards an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbhar Bharat.</strong></a> Textiles minister Smriti Irani urged people to buy Handloom and celebrate this Indian heritage.</p>
<h3>The Challenges</h3>
<p><strong>Creating new institutions:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The handloom, powerloom, wool, jute and silk boards may have been dismantled but demolitions must lead to building a better institution, not banish the voice of the weavers concerned.</li>
<li>It has to be replaced by a well-chosen modern, dynamic, autonomous and inclusive body of genuinely experienced and credible voices from the handloom-weaving chain, including spinners, weavers, dyers, designers, private and public craft institutions, e-market platform providers and experts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Interlinking:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The announcement also involves the integration of plans with other ministries like Tourism. Moreover, other ministries/departments such as the culture, social justice, women &amp; child welfare, minority affairs should also be included.</li>
<li>All these ministries touch textiles and crafts and often, their functioning results in duplication and overlapping rather than effectively integrating with the Ministry of Textiles.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>IT Infrastructure:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Information technology(IT) is undoubtedly the new &ldquo;king&rdquo;, but if weavers have to avail of all knowledge from a special handloom portal, they need connectivity, computers and digital knowledge.</li>
<li>While the markets move online, it is equally important for the artisans to get adequately equipped and trained in operating online portals.</li>
<li>Online exhibitions through Indian embassies must be organised to make the global audience aware of the rich legacy of handlooms and to honour artisans from India them in domestic as well as international markets.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Raw Material:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Fourth All India Handloom Census (2019-2020) cites raw material support needed by nearly 59.5 percent of weaver households.</li>
<li>From cotton, silk, and woollen yarn to dyes, costs have increased and so has the shortage.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Credit Support:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Textile Association of India records that the budget allocation for the textile sector came down to Rs 4,831 crore in (2019-2020) from Rs 6,943 in the previous fiscal.</li>
<li>This also means that various schemes be it housing, subsidies, health insurance will affect the weaver too.</li>
<li>Quite often smaller weavers are at the mercy of money lenders, and they commit suicides.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Reduced numbers:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With many traditional families moving to cities for jobs as labourers, weavers have been leaving the loom.</li>
<li>While the recent Handloom Census (2019-2020) records that there are nearly 31.44 lakh handloom households, and it has seen a rise from 27.83 lakh in the last census, the numbers are still dismal.</li>
<li>If in 1995-96, the numbers were at 65.51 lakh, there is no denying that there is immense cause for concern.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lack of access:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Poor infrastructure, older looms and inaccessibility to reach prime markets have made lives of handloom weavers even more difficult.</li>
<li>While many organisations and NGOs have been helping local communities to reach consumers directly, there is a need to make it a level playing field of weavers of every income bracket, be it a master weaver with over 50 people working under him, or a smaller weaver, who with his six-member family works from home.</li>
<li>While there are many government schemes currently for weavers, there&rsquo;s basically 3% of weavers who are aware of the Weavers Health Insurance Scheme and only 10.5 per cent know of the credit waivers for loans that they can avail (Handloom Census 2019-2020).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Out</h3>
<p><strong>Awareness and Access:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Providing awareness, accessibility to markets and design R&amp;D, easy access to raw material and better credit support can make a difference to weavers in different corners of the country.</li>
<li>This would go a long way in promoting the Handloom heritage of our country.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Implementation of Satyam and Ajay Shankar Committee recommendations:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government must implement the<strong> Satyam and Ajay Shankar committee reports</strong> which dealt with ease of doing business and the handloom sectors of India similar to what it did to the Kasturirangan Report which is the basis for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-education-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Education Policy 2020.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bottom-up Approach:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The prime minister&rsquo;s call of &ldquo;Local to Global&rdquo; clearly indicates a bottom-up approach from production to marketing.</li>
<li>This is a way through which migrants will stay home. Local production for local markets is a brilliant strategy and needs encouragement.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Handloom Day</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In July 2015, it was decided by the Government of India to celebrate August 7 every year as the National Handloom Day to revive the roots of handlooms and provide work to weavers.</li>
<li>On August 7, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first National Handloom Day, at the centenary of Madras University in Chennai.</li>
<li>August 7 was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on this day in 1905 in Calcutta Town Hall to protest against the partition of Bengal by the British government.</li>
<li>The main essence behind National Handloom Day is just to boost the confidence or income of artisans but also to provide greater recognition to handloom products.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598013747_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598013747_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="560" height="399" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffae0; border-style: dotted;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the challenges of handloom industries in India. Is the government doing enough to address the issues?</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WKqKaESD8LY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/step-back-from-parochialism/story-NMZCTTXHaAOlCfT1QhELkJ.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Step back from parochialism&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on August 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-handloom-day-announcements-challenges-ahead'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Chinese Involvement in Teesta River',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Bangladesh is likely to receive<strong> an almost USD 1 billion loan from China</strong> for a comprehensive management and restoration <strong>project on the Teesta river.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/trans-boundary-water-conflicts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Teesta river water conflict</strong></a> is one of the most contentious issues between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Bangladesh</strong> </a>and the discussion comes amidst the ongoing<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India-China standoff</strong></a> in Ladakh.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Teesta River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>tributary of the Brahmaputra</strong> (known as Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through India and Bangladesh.</li>
<li><strong>Origin: In the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim</strong> and flows to the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.</li>
<li><strong>Drainage:</strong> It covers nearly the entire floodplains of Sikkim while draining 2,800 sq km of Bangladesh. For West Bengal, it is the lifeline of half-a-dozen districts in North Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Latest Development:</strong> In March 2020, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/teesta-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Border Roads Organisation</strong></a> (BRO) opened a 360 feet long bailey suspension bridge over Teesta river in Munshithang, Sikkim.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598007204_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598007204_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="579" height="346" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Project:</strong> The management and restoration project is <strong>aimed at managing the river basin efficiently, controlling floods and tackling the water crisis</strong> in Bangladesh in summers.</li>
<li><strong>India-Bangladesh Teesta Dispute:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh sought a<strong> fair and equitable distribution of Teesta waters</strong> from India, on the lines of the<strong> Ganga Water Treaty 1996.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The treaty is an <strong>agreement to share surface waters at the Farakka Barrage</strong> near their mutual border.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In<strong> 2015,</strong> the Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to Dhaka <strong>generated expectations</strong> to take forward the issue but it <strong>still remains unresolved.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, individual <strong>states have significant influence over transboundary agreements,</strong> impeding the policymaking process.</li>
<li><strong>West Bengal</strong> is one of the key stakeholders of the Teesta agreement and is <strong>yet to endorse the deal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bangladesh-China Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China is the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh</strong> and is the foremost source of imports with the trade heavily favouring China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, the trade between the two countries was USD 18 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tariff-exemption-on-bangladesh-exports-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> declared zero duty</strong> </a><strong>on 97% of imports from Bangladesh</strong> recently and the move has been widely <strong>welcomed in Bangladesh.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concession comes from <strong>China&rsquo;s duty-free, quota-free programme for the least developed countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China has promised around <strong>USD 30 billion worth of financial assistance</strong> to Bangladesh.</li>
<li>China is the <strong>biggest arms supplier to Bangladesh</strong> which has been a <strong>matter of legacy,</strong> strengthening the defence ties.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-bangladesh-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>liberation of Bangladesh in 1971</strong></a>, officers of the Pakistan Army joined the Bangladesh Army and preferred Chinese weapons because they were <strong>well-versed with them.</strong></li>
<li>As a result, <strong>Bangladesh forces are equipped with Chinese arms</strong> including tanks, missile launchers, fighter aircraft and several weapons systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Bangladesh Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both countries enjoy a <strong>robust relationship with each other carefully cultivated since 2008,</strong> especially with the Sheikh Hasina government.</li>
<li>Bangladesh&rsquo;s <strong>crackdown against anti-India outfits</strong> has helped the Indian government <strong>maintain peace in the eastern and Northeast states.</strong></li>
<li>Bangladesh is<strong> India&rsquo;s biggest trade partner in South Asia</strong> and the economic and development partnership has benefitted it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018-19, India&rsquo;s exports and imports with Bangladesh stood at USD 9.21 billion and USD 1.04 billion respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India also <strong>grants 15 to 20 lakh visas every year to Bangladesh nationals</strong> for medical treatment, tourism, work and just entertainment.</li>
<li>India has provided <strong>developmental assistance worth USD 10 billion,</strong> making Bangladesh the <strong>largest recipient</strong> of India&rsquo;s total of USD 30 billion aid globally.</li>
<li>For India, Bangladesh has been a <strong>key partner in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood#:~:text=What%20is%20Neighbourhood%20first%20policy%3F&amp;text=It%20was%20started%20well%20by,as%20a%20mini%20SAARC%20summit." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neighbourhood First</a> Policy.</strong></li>
<li>Both have <strong>cooperated on<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pandemic</a>-related moves</strong> and India has <strong>provided medical aid</strong> to Bangladesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh supported India&rsquo;s call for a regional (<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAARC</strong></a>) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>emergency fund</strong></a> <strong>for fighting <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> </strong>and declared a <strong>contribution of USD 1.5 million</strong> in March 2020.</li>
<li>Bangladesh is<strong> ready to collaborate in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/clinical-trial-of-covid-19-vaccine-zycov-d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">development of a Covid-19 vaccine</a></strong>, including its trial and looks forward to the early and affordable availability of the vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>first trial run for trans-shipment of Indian cargo</strong> through Bangladesh to Northeast states under a pact on the <strong>use of Chittagong and Mongla ports</strong> took place in July 2020.</li>
<li>However, the proposed countrywide <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register of Citizens</strong></a> <strong>(NRC) and the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 </a></strong>have<strong> irritated the relations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh has expressed reservations about CAA and has held it unnecessary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bangladesh has expressed <strong>concerns at the rise in killings at the Indo-Bangladesh border</strong> by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-armed-police-force-capf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Border Security Force</strong></a> (BSF).</li>
<li>Indian Foreign Secretary has recently visited Dhaka to discuss<strong> &ldquo;security-related issues of mutual interest&rdquo;</strong> while trying to address the potential irritant issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There was an agreement on<strong> timely implementation of projects</strong> and greater attention to development projects in Bangladesh under the <strong>Indian Lines of Credit.</strong></li>
<li>Bangladesh has requested to reopen travel through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/8th-foundation-day-of-lpai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Benapole-Petrapole land port</strong></a> which has been halted by the West Bengal government in the wake of the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the wake of the Ladakh standoff, India needs to become even more sensitive to Chinese defence inroads into Bangladesh.</li>
<li>The Teesta project is important and urgent from India&rsquo;s point of view, so it is crucial to solve it as soon as possible.</li>
<li>India has to implement all its assurances in a time-bound manner otherwise the latent anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh threatens to damage the friendly ties.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/china-twist-in-teesta-river-project-challenge-6563398/" 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/chinese-involvement-in-teesta-river'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'National Strategy for Financial Education',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India</strong></a> (RBI) has released the <strong>National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE): 2020-2025 document</strong> for creating a<strong> financially aware and empowered India.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>second</strong> NSFE , the first one being released in 2013.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598003120_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598003120_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This NSFE for the period 2020-2025 has been prepared by the<strong> National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE)</strong> in consultation with all the <strong>Financial Sector Regulators</strong> viz. <strong>RBI,</strong> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India</strong></a> (SEBI), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sandbox-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India</strong></a> (IRDAI), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-pension-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority</strong></a> (PFRDA), etc. under the aegis of the <strong>Technical Group on Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy (TGFIFL).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCFE is a Section 8 (Not for Profit) Company under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/committee-to-review-the-offences-under-the-companies-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Companies Act, 2013</strong> </a>promoted by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It emphasizes a <strong>multi-stakeholder-led approach</strong> for empowering various sections of the population to develop adequate <strong>knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour</strong> which are needed to manage their money better and to plan for the future i.e. ensuring their <strong>financial well-being.</strong></li>
<li>It has recommended a <strong>&lsquo;5 C&rsquo; approach</strong> for dissemination of financial education in the country:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Content:</strong> Financial Literacy content for various sections of population.</li>
<li><strong>Capacity:</strong> Develop the capacity and <strong>&lsquo;Code of Conduct&rsquo;</strong> for financial education providers.</li>
<li><strong>Community:</strong> Evolve community led approaches for disseminating financial literacy in a sustainable manner.</li>
<li><strong>Communication :</strong> Use technology, media and innovative ways of communication for dissemination of financial education messages.</li>
<li><strong>Collaboration :</strong> Streamline efforts of <strong>other stakeholders</strong> for financial literacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inculcate <strong>financial literacy</strong> concepts among the various sections of the population through financial education to make it an important life skill.</li>
<li>Encourage <strong>active savings</strong> behaviour.</li>
<li>Encourage<strong> participation</strong> in financial markets to meet financial goals and objectives.</li>
<li>Develop <strong>credit discipline</strong> and encourage availing credit from formal financial institutions as per requirement.</li>
<li>Improve usage of <strong>digital financial services</strong> in a safe and secure manner.</li>
<li>Manage risk at various life stages through relevant and suitable<strong> insurance</strong> cover.</li>
<li>Plan for old age and retirement through coverage of suitable <strong>pension</strong> products.</li>
<li>Knowledge about <strong>rights, duties and avenues</strong> for grievance redressal.</li>
<li>Improve <strong>research and evaluation</strong> methods to assess progress in financial education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Strategy also suggests adoption of a robust <strong>&lsquo;Monitoring and Evaluation Framework</strong> to assess the progress made.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TGFIFL would be responsible for periodic <strong>monitoring and implementation</strong> of NSFE under the oversight of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-stability-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>TGFIL was set up in November 2011 by the FSDC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, RBI also released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-strategy-for-financial-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI)</strong></a> for the period 2019-2024.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an ambitious strategy which aims to strengthen the ecosystem for various modes of digital financial services in all Tier-II to Tier VI centres to create the <strong>necessary infrastructure to move towards a less-cash society</strong> by March 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Financial literacy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organization for Economic Co-operation &amp; Development (OECD)</strong></a>, it is defined as a combination of financial awareness, knowledge, skills, attitude, and behaviour necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve individual<strong> financial well-being. </strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Financial Education</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is defined as the process by which financial consumers/investors improve their <strong>understanding of financial products,</strong> concepts and risks and through information, instruction and/or objective advice, develop the skills and confidence to become more <strong>aware</strong> of financial risks and opportunities, to make informed choices, to know where to go for help and to take other effective actions to improve their<strong> financial well-being.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598003091_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598003091_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has made tremendous progress in bringing its citizens into the formal financial system over the last many years. Many important financial inclusion initiatives have been taken by the government such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-6th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana</strong></a>, social security schemes viz. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/financial-inclusion-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana</strong></a>, <strong>Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana</strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-pension-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atal Pension Yojana</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-kisan-maan-dhan-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana</a></strong>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-shram-yogi-maan-dhan-pm-sym" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mann Dhan Yojana</strong> </a>(PM-SYM) and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudra-scheme-and-employment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.</strong></a></li>
<li>The latest available<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Bank&rsquo;s</strong></a> <strong>Findex</strong> 2017 Report had brought out that the proportion of adults with a formal account in the country has risen from 35% in 2011, to 80% in 2017.</li>
<li>However,the country still needs to tread a long path to achieve a respectable financial literacy rate which is crucial for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/inclusive-growth-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inclusive growth.</strong></a> For this besides the already existing delivery channels for disseminating financial education messages, newer modes such as social media platforms, should be effectively deployed.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/rbi-releases-national-strategy-for-financial-education/article32401294.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/national-strategy-for-financial-education'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Women in Research And Development',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <strong>Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018,</strong> India&rsquo;s private sector research companies appear to <strong>employ a larger proportion of women in core research and development activities</strong> than government-funded major scientific agencies do.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India had 3,41,818 scientists in R&amp;D with nearly 2,03,759 employed by government institutions or in the higher education sector, as of 2018.</li>
<li>Of the 20,351 women employed in private R&amp;D companies, about<strong> three in four</strong> were involved in &ldquo;R&amp;D activities&rdquo;.</li>
<li>However, of the 23,008 women in major scientific agencies (government), <strong>fewer than half</strong> were in the same &lsquo;R&amp;D activities&rsquo; category.</li>
<li>Also, for <strong>every one woman, there are six</strong> male scientists in<strong> private</strong> sector R&amp;D establishments. However, the ratio is<strong> four for one</strong> in major scientific agencies.</li>
<li>The bulk of scientists (in private and publicly funded organisations included) were in &lsquo;Engineering Technology&rsquo; followed by the Medical Sciences and Natural Sciences.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg" p=""><strong>Science and Technology Indicators (STI)</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The STI is a periodic compendium of the state of scientific research in India.</li>
<li>It is prepared by the <strong>National Science and Technology Management Information System,</strong> a division of the <strong>Department of Science Technology.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons for low participation of women in R&amp;D:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recruiters and managers at private firms are held<strong> more accountable</strong> to hire as well as promote female employees, as compared to those in government offices.</li>
<li>The large drop in the number of women between the doctoral and professional stages appears to be in part due to<strong> social pressure on women</strong> to have a family which is seen as incompatible with a professional career.</li>
<li>There are also <strong>patriarchal attitudes in hiring practices,</strong> so many women are discriminated against at this stage as well, with administrators deciding that women &lsquo;should&rsquo; be opting for family over a career.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Women in STEM:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO</strong> </a>data from 2014-16 shows that only around <strong>30% of female students</strong> select STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)-related fields in higher education.</li>
<li>Female enrolment is particularly<strong> low</strong> in information technology (3%), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5%) and engineering and allied streams (8%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research as a Profession:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to a 2018 fact sheet prepared by UNESCO on women in science, only <strong>28.8% of researchers are women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share in Nobel Prizes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Between <strong>1901 and 2019,</strong> 334 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prizes</strong></a> have been awarded to 616 Laureates in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine, of which just <strong>20 have been won by women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share in Abel Prizes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/abel-prize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>American mathematician Karen Uhlenbeck</strong></a> became the first woman to win the Abel Prize, following 16 male mathematicians.</li>
<li>The Abel Prize is a Norwegian prize awarded annually by the King of Norway to one or more <strong>outstanding mathematicians.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share in Fields Medals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Fields Medal so far has also been awarded to only one woman mathematician, the late Maryam Mirzakhani of Iran, as opposed to 59 men since 1936.</li>
<li>The Fields Medal is awarded<strong> every four years</strong> by the <strong>International Congress of Mathematicians</strong> to recognize outstanding mathematical achievement for existing work and for the promise of future achievement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Scenario</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Women in STEM:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The female enrolment in science streams rose from 2010-11 to 2015-16.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a> report in 2015-16, 9.3% of female students in Undergraduate (UG) courses were enrolled in engineering, compared to 15.6% across genders. Conversely, 4.3% of female students were enrolled in medical science, compared to 3.3% across genders.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research as a Profession:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Only 13.9% of women work as a researcher in India. At <strong>master&rsquo;s and doctoral levels, female enrolment</strong> remained<strong> lower</strong> than overall enrolment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Presence at Technical Professions:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The NITI Aayog report has also found that in over 620 institutes and universities, including IITs, NITs, ISRO, and DRDO, the presence of women was 20.0% among Scientific and Administrative Staff, 28.7% among Post-Doctoral Fellows, and 33.5% among PhD scholars.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Gap Index</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-gender-gap-index-2020-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Global Gender Gap Index 2020</strong></a>, a study covering 153 economies, India has slipped to the 112<sup>th</sup> spot from its 108<sup>th</sup> position in 2018.</li>
<li>The report also says it would take nearly a hundred years to close the gender gap in various fields in India compared to the time it would take in other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Work Participation:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <strong>World Bank,</strong> India ranks <strong>163<sup>rd</sup> out of 181 countries</strong> in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/declining-female-labour-force-participation-editorial-upsc-ias-economy-gender-inequality-gktoday" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> female labour force participation.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, India is one of the few countries in the world where women&rsquo;s work participation rates have fallen sharply &mdash; from 29% in 2004-5 to 22% in 2011-12 and to 17% in 2017-18.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inequality at Work:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <strong>Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE),</strong> a large percentage of all the jobs lost last year were held by women. Out of the 11 million jobs lost in 2018, women accounted for 8.8 million.</li>
<li><strong>Indian women <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/declining-female-labour-force-participation-editorial-upsc-ias-economy-gender-inequality-gktoday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">receive 34% fewer wages</a></strong> than men for equivalent work, spend around five hours a day on unpaid care work compared to a mere half an hour for men and are primarily engaged in low-paying, informal sector work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives to Promote Women in Science</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Vigyan Jyoti Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-for-gender-equality-in-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vigyan Jyoti Scheme</strong></a> is launched by the <strong>Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST).</strong></li>
<li>It is intended to create a<strong> level-playing field</strong> for the <strong>meritorious girls in high school</strong> to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in their higher education.</li>
<li>It also offers exposure for girl students from the rural background to help to plan their journey from school to a job of their choice in the field of science.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GATI Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-for-gender-equality-in-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI)</strong> </a>will develop a <strong>comprehensive Charter and a framework for assessing Gender Equality</strong> in STEM</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>KIRAN Scheme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kiran-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) Scheme</strong></a> is started by the <strong>Department of Science and Technology (DST)</strong> aimed to <strong>bring gender parity in the Science &amp; Technology sector</strong> by inducting more women talent in the research &amp; development domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BBBP</strong> </a>is the joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development to ensure<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> survival, protection, and empowerment of the girl child.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-science-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Science Day (NSD)</strong></a> was celebrated on 28<sup>th</sup> February 2020 with the theme &lsquo;Women In Science&rsquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Dr Niti Kumar,</strong> a senior scientist from the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI)</strong></a>, Lucknow received <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/serb-women-excellence-award-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SERB Women Excellence Award-2020</strong></a> on this occasion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aishe-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report 2018-19</strong></a>, the gender gap in the country <strong>narrowed</strong> as compared to the previous year, i.e. 2017-18.</li>
<li>Initiatives like<strong> She-box</strong> are ensuring <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-to-boost-womens-workforce-participation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>workplace safety</strong></a> and boost better participation of women in all areas of economy,</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inequalities in gender participation in science emanate from social-economic issues, which can be treated by bringing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/subdued-gender-participation-in-stem" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>behavioural change.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-needs-more-women-parliamentarians" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>better political representation of women</strong></a> can go a long way in deconstructing the stereotype of women</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-to-boost-womens-workforce-participation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Better workforce participation</strong></a> can only be brought by collective effort of the society and the people in governance.</li>
<li>Growth in jobs must be inclusive and new jobs need to be secure with <strong>better work conditions, including social security benefits.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/private-firms-employ-more-women-in-rd/article32406949.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/women-in-research-and-development'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'ARIIA 2020 Rankings',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020</strong> rankings was announced.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Around 674 institutions participated in the ARIIA rankings in 2020 compared with 496 in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> initiative of the Ministry of Education,</strong> Government of India to systematically rank all the major higher educational institutions and universities in India on indicators related to <strong>&ldquo;Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development&rdquo;</strong> amongst students and faculties.</li>
<li>More than quantity, ARIIA<strong> focuses on quality of innovations</strong> and tries to measure the real impact created by these innovations nationally and internationally.</li>
<li><strong>Rank Categorisation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two broad categories: <strong>publicly funded institutions and private or self-financed institutions.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>publicly funded institutions</strong> have been further categorized into:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Institute of National Importance, Central Universities &amp; Central Funded Technical Institutes.</li>
<li>State University &amp; Deemed Universities (Government &amp; Government Aided)</li>
<li>Government and Government / Aided College/Institutes</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> private or self-financed institutions</strong> have been categorized further into:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>private or self-financed universities</li>
<li>private or self-financed college/institutes</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>6<sup>th</sup> sub- category</strong> for higher educational institutions<strong> for women</strong> has been introduced in 2020 <strong>to encourage women</strong> and bringing <strong>gender parity</strong> in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Indicators For Rankings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Budget &amp; Funding Support.</li>
<li>Infrastructure &amp; Facilities.</li>
<li>Awareness, Promotions &amp; support for Idea Generation &amp; Innovation.</li>
<li>Promotion &amp; Support for Entrepreneurship Development.</li>
<li>Innovative Learning Methods &amp; Courses.</li>
<li>Intellectual Property Generation, Technology Transfer &amp; Commercialization.</li>
<li>Innovation in Governance of the Institution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>List of Topper Institutes in 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras</strong> in<strong> Institute of National Importance, Central Universities &amp; Central Funded Technical Institutes </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>Maharashtra&rsquo;s Institute of Chemical Technology</strong> in the<strong> government and government-aided universities </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>College of Engineering Pune </strong>in the<strong> government and government aided college/institutions </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>Odisha&rsquo;s Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) </strong>in the<strong> private or self-financed universities </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>SR Engineering College, Telangana </strong>in the<strong> private colleges </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>Avinashilingam Institute for Home Sciences and Higher Education, Coimbatore </strong>in the<strong> higher educational institutions for women </strong>category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/education/iit-madras-tops-ariia-rankings/article32383875.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/ariia-2020-rankings'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Military Coup in Mali',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has resigned</strong> after soldiers had arrested him and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse in the capital, Bamako as part of a coup.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has prompted its West African neighbours to threaten border closures and sanctions against the coup leaders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crisis-in-libya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2011 crisis in Libya</strong></a> led Mali along the path to chaos.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Weapons from Libya were supplied across the Sahara Desert</strong> and fuelled a <strong>separatist conflict</strong> in northern Mali. This turned into an <strong>Islamist militant offensive</strong> which prompted a coup in the capital Bamako (Mali).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> Mali has <strong>three overlapping sets</strong> of problems:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political crisis</strong> that grew out of the disputed legislative elections of March 2020.</li>
<li><strong>Economic crisis</strong> due to economic stagnation, corruption and further complications by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a> There was dissatisfaction among the troops due to poor payments.</li>
<li><strong>Security crisis</strong> due to the failure to contain <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>terrorism</strong></a> and jihadists and the actions of the military against civilians.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Military Coup:</strong> It calls itself the <strong>National Committee for the Salvation of the People</strong> and has <strong>pledged to stabilise the country</strong> by enacting a <strong>political transition and stage elections</strong> within a reasonable time.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has imposed a curfew and closed the borders sealing the country.</li>
<li>It would respect all the past agreements, including<strong> Mali&rsquo;s support for anti-jihadist missions</strong> in the region and its <strong>commitment to the Algiers process</strong> which is a<strong> 2015 peace agreement between the Malian government and armed groups in the north of the country.</strong></li>
<li>It held that <strong>United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali</strong> (MINUSMA), <strong>France&rsquo;s Barkhane force,</strong> the <strong>G5 Sahel</strong> (Institutional framework of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger), <strong>Takuba</strong> (a European special-forces initiative) will remain Mali&rsquo;s partners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reactions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>France has urged Mali to return to civilian rule,</strong> saying "the fight against terrorist groups and the defence of democracy and the rule of law are inseparable".<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>France, Mali's former colonial ruler,</strong> has several thousand troops based in Mali fighting Islamist militant groups.</li>
<li>Various jihadist groups, some linked to <strong>al-Qaeda</strong> and the <strong>Islamic State group,</strong> are based in the deserts of northern Mali, from where they have spread to neighbouring countries, especially Burkina Faso and Niger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/09-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>African Union</strong> </a>had already <strong>suspended Mali</strong> on the account that military coups were something of the past and cannot be accepted in present times.</li>
<li>The <strong>15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)</strong> has also<strong> taken swift action against Mali</strong> by closing borders, suspending financial flows and ejecting it from decision-making bodies.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN's Security Council</strong> </a>has <strong>demanded the immediate release</strong> of all government officials and the <strong>restoration of constitutional order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Republic of Mali<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597995063_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597995063_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mali is a vast country stretching into the <strong>Sahara Desert in western Africa.</strong></li>
<li>Once home to several pre-colonial empires, the <strong>landlocked, arid African country</strong> of Mali is <strong>one of the largest on the continent</strong> and is <strong>among the poorest in the world.</strong></li>
<li>After <strong>independence from France in 1960,</strong> Mali suffered droughts, rebellions, a coup and 23 years of military dictatorship until <strong>democratic elections in 1992.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has experienced <strong>several military takeovers</strong> and is currently battling to contain a wave of jihadist attacks and ethnic violence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Capital:</strong> Bamako.</li>
<li><strong>Population:</strong> Around 19 million.</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> 1.25 million sq km.</li>
<li><strong>Major languages:</strong> French, Bambara, Berber and Arabic.</li>
<li><strong>Religions:</strong> Islam and Indigenous beliefs.</li>
<li><strong>Currency:</strong> Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA) franc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The latest military coup is apparently a reaction to the security challenges but also to corruption, disputed elections, and political drift. However, it itself seems unlikely to fix anything.</li>
<li>It highlights a familiar truth that while foreign intervention has its uses, the key to repairing a nation like Mali lies in its own hands and with its own faltering democratic institutions.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/mali-wakes-up-to-military-rule-after-president-is-forced-out/article32389817.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/military-coup-in-mali'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Organic Farming in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India ranks 1<sup>st</sup> in number of organic farmers</strong> and 9<sup>th</sup> in terms of area under organic farming.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Scenario Regarding Organic Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Sikkim</strong> became the first State in the <strong>world</strong> to become <strong>fully organic in 2016.</strong></li>
<li><strong>North East India</strong> has traditionally been organic and the consumption of chemicals is far less than the rest of the country.</li>
<li>Similarly the tribal and island territories have been traditionally practicing organic farming.</li>
<li>The major organic exports from India have been <strong>flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice and pulses.</strong></li>
<li>There was an increase of nearly 50% in organic exports in 2018-19, touching Rs. 5151 crore.</li>
<li>Commencement of exports from Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland to UK, USA, Eswatini and Italy have proved the potential by increasing volumes and expanding to new destinations as the demand for <strong>health foods</strong> increases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives to Promote Organic Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER) is a <strong>Central Sector Scheme,</strong> a sub-mission under <strong>National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)</strong></li>
<li>It was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2015 for implementation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.</li>
<li>The scheme aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, launched in 2015 is an elaborated component of <strong>Soil Health Management (SHM)</strong> of major project <strong>National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).</strong></li>
<li>Under PKVY, Organic farming is promoted through adoption of organic villages by cluster approach and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Certification Schemes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong> </a>is the food regulator in the country and is also responsible for regulating organic food in the domestic market and imports.</li>
<li><strong>Participatory Guarantee System (PGS):</strong> PGS is a process of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agriculture-export-policy-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>certifying organic products</strong></a>, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards. <strong>PGS Green</strong> is given to chemical free produce under transition to &lsquo;organic&rsquo; which takes 3 years. It is mainly for <strong>domestic purpose.</strong></li>
<li><strong>National Program for Organic Production (NPOP):</strong> NPOP grants organic farming certification through a process of third party certification for<strong> export purposes.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-soil-health-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Soil Health Card Scheme</strong></a> has led to a <strong>decline of 8-10%<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/soil-health-card-scheme-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> in the use of chemical fertilizers</a></strong> and also raised productivity by 5-6%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agri-export Policy 2018</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Focus on clusters</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agriculture-export-policy-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Marketing and promotion of &ldquo;Produce of India&rdquo;</strong> </a>have positively impacted the organic farming in India</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One District - One Product (ODOP)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The programme aims to encourage more<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> visibility and sale of indigenous and specialized products/crafts of Uttar Pradesh</strong></a>, generating employment at the district level.</li>
<li>The presence of aggregators is imperative to bring about economies of scale for the small and marginal farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)</strong> launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM FME scheme</strong> </a>as a part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan&rsquo;.</strong></a></li>
<li>It aims to bring in new technology, apart from affordable credit to help small entrepreneurs penetrate new markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Zero Budget Natural Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zero budget natural farming</strong></a> is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawing from traditional Indian practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Organic Farming</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to FSSAI,&rsquo;organic farming&rsquo; is a system of farm design and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production <strong>without the use of synthetic external inputs</strong> such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides and synthetic hormones or genetically modified organisms.</li>
<li><strong>Organic farm produce</strong> means the produce obtained from <strong>organic agriculture,</strong> while <strong>organic food</strong> means food products that have been produced in accordance with <strong>specified standards for organic production.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Natural farming is not a new concept in India, with farmers having tilled their land without the use of chemicals - largely relying on organic residues, cow dung, composts, etc. since time immemorial. This is also in sync with the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal</strong></a> 2 targeting &lsquo;end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Hence with <strong>greater awareness</strong> and<strong> capacity building</strong> of the producers in compliance with international standards, Indian organic farmers will soon be reinforcing their rightful place in global agri trade.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1645497" 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/organic-farming-in-india'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Expansion of the NCC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Defence has approved the proposal to expand the <strong>National Cadet Corps (NCC)</strong> in border and coastal districts.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The expansion of the NCC was announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech.</li>
<li>Restructuring of the NCC was one of the<strong> key recommendations of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/abolition-of-posts-in-mes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Committee of Experts (CoE) headed by Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (Retd)</a></strong> in 2016.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Shekatkar Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Defence under the chairmanship of Lt. Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar had constituted a committee to recommend measures to<strong> enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces</strong> which submitted its report in December 2016.</li>
<li>Few Recommendations:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations.</li>
<li>Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.</li>
<li>Improving the <strong>efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.</strong></li>
<li>Recommended a roll-on defence budget to have enough capital expenditure available for modernisation as against the present practice of surrendering unspent capital budget at the end of each financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion:</strong> A total of one lakh cadets from <strong>173 border and coastal districts</strong> will be inducted into the NCC of which <strong>one-third of them will be girls.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The expansion plan would be implemented in partnership with the States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Training and Administration:</strong> The <strong>Army</strong> will provide training and administrative support to the NCC units located<strong> in the border areas, Navy</strong> to the units in the <strong>coastal areas</strong> and<strong> Indian Air Force</strong> to the units<strong> close to Air Force stations.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong> It will provide<strong> trained manpower for disaster management</strong> and <strong>skill training to youth</strong> for making their career in the armed forces.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will increase <strong>youth&rsquo;s interest in careers</strong> in Navy, Coast Guard and also Merchant shipping avenues.</li>
<li>In the border area, the trained cadets<strong> can play supporting roles</strong> to the Armed forces in various forms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Cadet Corps</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NCC was <strong>formed in 1948</strong> (on the recommendation of H. N. Kunzru Committee-1946), and has its roots to British era uniformed youth entities like University Corps or University Officer Training Corps. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently it has a strength of around 14 lakh cadets from Army, Navy and Air Force wings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NCC falls under the <strong>purview of the Ministry of Defence</strong> and is headed by a <strong>Director General of three-star military rank.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>enrolls cadets at high school and college level</strong> and also awards certificates on completion of various phases. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NCC cadets receive basic military training at various levels and also have academic curriculum basics related to Armed forces and their functioning.</li>
<li>Various training camps, adventure activities and military training camps are an important aspect of NCC training.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> NCC cadets have played an important role over the years in relief efforts during various emergency situations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the ongoing pandemic, over 60,000 NCC cadets have been deployed for voluntary relief work in coordination with district and state authorities across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/defence-minister-approves-proposal-to-expand-ncc-in-173-border-coastal-districts/article32366589.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/expansion-of-the-ncc'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Day 32',
			'catname' => '60 days refresher',
			'desc' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">Defence</h2>
<p>Every year several questions have been asked from defence technology. The scope of questions that can come from this topic is very broad. However, by analysing the previous year questions it can be depicted that a lot of times questions are asked on those events which have remained in news. Thus, we have picked some current affairs for this type of questions</p>
<h2>Defence Policy &amp; Framework</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-acquisition-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Acquisition Council</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/def-connect-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Def Connect 2019</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-anti-drone-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Anti-Drone Guidelines</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reviewing-defence-procurement-procedure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reviewing Defence Procurement Procedure</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-space-research-agency-dsra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-new-sop-for-arms-export" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's New SOP for Arms Export</strong></a></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defense-manufacturing-rules-eased" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defense Manufacturing Rules Eased</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-raksha-gyan-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-flawed-defence-procurement-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A Flawed Defence Procurement Policy</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Indigenisation of Defence Technology</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/advanced-torpedo-decoy-system-maareech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Advanced Torpedo Decoy System: Maareech</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/a-sat-and-adtcr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A-SAT and ADTCR</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-industrial-corridors" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Industrial Corridors</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pinaka-missile-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pinaka Missile System</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-missile-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BrahMos Missile</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/drdo-successfully-tests-indigenous-anti-tank-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenous Anti-tank Missile</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lcu-l-56-commissioned-into-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>LCU L-56 Commissioned into Indian Navy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bhabha-kavach" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bhabha Kavach</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/third-generation-nag-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Third Generation NAG Missile</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ins-viraat-to-be-scrapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>INS Viraat to be Scrapped</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ins-shivalik-and-sindhukirti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>INS 'Shivalik' and 'Sindhukirti'</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/indigenisation-of-defence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indigenisation of Defence</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/varunastra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Varunastra</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/successful-test-firing-of-agni-v" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Successful Test Firing of Agni V</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-nuclear-triad-complete" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Nuclear Triad Complete</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Modernization of the Defence Industry</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iaf-gets-apache-helicopters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IAF Gets Apache Helicopters</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/spike-lr-anti-tank-guided-missiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Spike-LR Anti-Tank Guided Missiles</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/innovations-for-defence-excellence-idex-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Initiative</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-unmanned-aircraft-system-uas-rules-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Draft Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2020</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-nod-to-integrated-air-defence-weapon-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US Nod to Integrated Air Defence Weapon System</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/apache-helicopters-for-indian-army" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Apache Helicopters for Indian Army</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mk-45-naval-guns" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MK-45 Naval Guns</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electromagnetic-interference-compatibility-and-pulse" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electromagnetic Interference, Compatibility and Pulse</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/spice-2000-bombs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SPICE-2000 Bombs</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/akula-class-attack-submarine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Akula Class &ndash; Attack Submarine</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/advanced-medium-combat-aircraft" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-successfully-tests-its-first-hypersonic-aircraft" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China Successfully Tests its First Hypersonic Aircraft</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>S-400 Air Defense Systems</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/induction-of-french-rafale-aircrafts-in-iaf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Induction of French Rafale Aircrafts in IAF</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-need-to-modernise-indian-air-force" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Need to Modernise Indian Air Force</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Security Organisations</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/naval-innovation-and-indigenisation-organisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navy-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Navy Day</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navy-gets-its-first-woman-pilot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Navy Gets its First Woman Pilot</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/87th-air-force-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>87<sup>th</sup> Air Force Day</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Years Questions</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2017)</p>
<ol>
<li>The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations.</li>
<li>The International Panel on Fissile Materials&middot; is an organ of International Atomic Energy Agency.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only </p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2 </p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(d) Neither 1 nor 2</span></strong></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. With reference to &lsquo;Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)&rsquo;, consider the following statements: (2015)</p>
<ol>
<li>It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.</li>
<li>It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only </p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2 </p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(d) Neither 1 nor 2</span></strong></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: (2008)</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;"></td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">
<p><strong>List-I </strong></p>
<p><strong>(Service/Agency)</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;"></td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">
<p><strong>List-II</strong></p>
<p><strong>(Country)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;">A.</td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Foreign Intelligence Service</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Israel</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;">B.</td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Ministry of State Security</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Britain</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;">C.</td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Secret Intelligence Service</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">China</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;">D.</td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">The Mossad</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;">4.</td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Russia</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Code:</p>
<p>A B C D</p>
<p>(a) 4 1 2 3</p>
<p>(b) 2 3 4 1</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) 4 3 2 1</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) 2 1 4 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. &lsquo;Hand-in-Hand 2007&rsquo; a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of which one of the following countries? (2008)</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) China</strong> </span></p>
<p>(b) Japan</p>
<p>(c) Russia </p>
<p>(d) USA</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which one of the following is the best description of &lsquo;INS Astradharini&rsquo;, that was in the news recently? (2016)</p>
<p>(a) Amphibious warfare ship</p>
<p>(b) Nuclear-powered submarine</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2014)</p>
<ol>
<li>It is a surface-to-surface missile.</li>
<li>It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.</li>
<li>It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) 1 only</strong> </span></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only </p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. In the context of Indian defence, consider the following statements: (2009)</p>
<ol>
<li>The Shourya missile flies with a speed of more than 8 Mach.</li>
<li>The range of Shourya missile is more than 1600 km.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only </p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2 </p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(d) Neither 1 nor 2</span></strong></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. What is &ldquo;Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)&rdquo;, sometimes seen in the news? (2018)</p>
<p>(a) An Israeli radar system</p>
<p>(b) India&rsquo;s indigenous anti-missile programme</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(c) An American anti-missile system</span></strong></p>
<p>(d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea.</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. From which one of the following did India buy the Barak anti-missile defence systems? (2008)</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(a) Israel</span> </strong></p>
<p>(b) France</p>
<p>(c) Russia </p>
<p>(d) USA</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. In the context of the Indian defence, what is &lsquo;Dhruv&rsquo;? (2008)</p>
<p>(a) Aircraft-carrying warship</p>
<p>(b) Missile-carrying submarine</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Advanced light helicopter</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Intercontinental ballistic missile</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/60-days-refresher-programme/day-32'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Revamping of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/pm-fasal-bima-yojana-2-0-centre-revamps-flagship-scheme-to-ensure-quick-payment-of-claims-to-farmers/2053505/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;PM-Fasal Bima Yojana 2.0&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Financial Express on 13/08/2020. It talks about the Centre government&rsquo;s decision to revamp Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in order to ensure quick payment of claims to farmers.</p>
</div>
<p>The frequent occurrence of rainfall deficits, dry spells, and the late onset of rainfall due to climate change have underlined the importance of crop insurance for farmers. Citing the significance of crop insurance, the union government had earlier launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana-(pmfby)" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).</strong></a></p>
<p>PMFBY aims to increase production in agriculture by providing support to ensure inclusive risk cover for crops of farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to the post-harvest stage.</p>
<p>Since the launch of the PMFBY in 2016, millions of farmers have benefited from the scheme. However, in order to ensure more efficient and effective implementation of the scheme, the central government has approved the revamping of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).</p>
<p>With the revamped PMFBY 2.0, the government envisages leveraging technology in a comprehensive manner to address the issues impacting timely assessment and payment of claims.</p>
<h3>Need for Revamping</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Non-Voluntary Uptil Now:</strong> PMFBY has until now been a<strong> voluntary scheme only for non-loanee farmers, while mandatory for those availing crop loans from banks.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the case of loanee farmers, banks have been deducting their share of the premium (2-5%) against loan accounts on a compulsory basis and remitting the same to the insurance companies.</li>
<li>Farmers haven&rsquo;t taken kindly to this, not the least as the said companies are neither in direct contact with them and nor do they issue any policy certificates, unlike in car or health insurance.</li>
<li>The current scheme, it would seem, has served to provide the insurance to the loans of banks more than the crops of farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Upper Limit of Central Subsidy:</strong> Until now, there was <strong>no upper limit for the central subsidy</strong> and as a result of it the insurers never showed the needed willingness or intention to actively involve themselves in the scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Huge Pendency:</strong> There has been a huge <strong>pendency of settlement of state subsidy to the insurance companies, over the last three to four seasons in several states.</strong> This has affected the timely payment of claims.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will be worth mentioning here that delay in the release of the state share of subsidy is the major reason for the delay in payment of claims to farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>PMFBY to PMFBY 2.0</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Completely Voluntary:</strong> It has been decided to make enrolment 100% voluntary for all farmers from 2020 Kharif.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From now on, insurance companies will have to make efforts to create real awareness among farmers about the benefits of crop risk coverage.</li>
<li>Crop insurance would, thus, become an informed choice for loanee farmers, just as it already is for their non-loanee counterparts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limit to Central Subsidy:</strong> The Cabinet has decided to cap the Centre&rsquo;s premium subsidy under these schemes for premium rates up to 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for irrigated areas/crops.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will shift the onus to the insurance companies&rsquo;, as they would have to actively seek out farmers and convince them of the importance of crop insurance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Flexibility to States:</strong> The government has given the flexibility to states/UTs to implement PMFBY and given them the option to select any number of additional risk covers/features like prevented sowing, localised calamity, mid-season adversity, and post-harvest losses.</li>
<li><strong>Penalising the Pendency:</strong> In the revamped PMFBY, a provision has been incorporated wherein if states don&rsquo;t release their share before March 31 for the Kharif season and September 30 for rabi, they would not be allowed to participate in the scheme in subsequent seasons.</li>
<li><strong>Investing in ICE Activities:</strong> Insurance companies have to now spend 0.5% of the total premium collected on<strong> information, education and communication (IEC)</strong> activities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A central advisory committee has also been set up with the implementing state governments and insurance companies to ensure uniformity of message across the country and remove gaps in dissemination of information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Awareness Generation:</strong> The changes made in the scheme are welcome but there are some challenges too.<strong> Awareness generation</strong> will be one of the major challenges in the smooth implementation of the scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Bringing Behavioural Change:</strong> Apart from this, a lot more needs to be done in bringing about a<strong> behavioural change</strong> regarding the cost of insurance being a necessary input and not a money-back investment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>With the revamping of PMFBY, the entire effort of the government is to ensure transparent and timely assessment of the yield, and quick computation and payment of claims to the farmers, to realise the <strong>goal of Atmanirbhar Krishi in general and Atmanirbhar Farmers in particular.</strong></p>
<p>Further, the voluntariness and the time-bound implementation of crop insurance under the revamped PMFBY will help it become a<strong> true insurance scheme now.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the success story so far</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.</li>
<li>It is a replacement scheme of the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and the Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (MNAIS)</li>
<li>Under this scheme there will be a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops. In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%. The rest of the premium will be borne by the Government.</li>
<li>It aims to provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of natural calamities, pests &amp; diseases.</li>
<li>PMFBY aims to support production in agriculture by providing support to ensure inclusive risk cover for crops of farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to the post-harvest stage.</li>
<li>Since the launch of the PMFBY in 2016, millions of farmers have benefited from the scheme. In the first three years, farmers paid Rs 13,000 crore as premium, while they received Rs 60,000 crore as insurance claim under PMFBY.</li>
<li>The scheme has completed four years and has been implemented in 27 states and UTs.The sum insured has almost doubled under this scheme from Rs 22,000 per hectare to Rs 39,000 per hectare.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #efffeb;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Enumerate the reasons why the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima yojana has not been very successful in meeting its objectives. Also, analyse how far the modifications brought up by the government will help in its effective implementation.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_TZB78I9hWA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/peace-is-precious-6560333/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Peace is precious&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Indian Express on August 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube Channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revamping-of-pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Dashboard',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D1vn0pYQ7ns" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) dashboard would allow monitoring of all the infrastructure projects under the 111 trillion rupees <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National infrastructure pipeline (NIP).</strong></a></li>
<li>NIP dashboard will be a digital platform to ensure data and updated information for investments across various sectors.</li>
<li>All the infrastructure projects will be mapped and evaluated by the concerned departments.</li>
<li>The Finance ministry will monitor the implementation and actual progress compared to the initial estimates of the NIP for each project.</li>
<li>The move assumes significance as focus on infrastructure projects will help revive the economy following the covid-19 crisis.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NIP will enable a forward outlook on infrastructure projects which will create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure for all, thereby making growth more inclusive.</li>
<li>NIP includes economic and social infrastructure projects.</li>
<li>It also includes both greenfield and brownfield projects.</li>
<li>It will help in stepping-up annual infrastructure investment to achieve the Gross Domestic Product <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(GDP) of $5 trillion by 2024-25.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Centre and states are expected to have almost equal share in implementing NIP, while the private sector contribution is expected to be around 21%</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Utility of NIP dashboard</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NIP dashboard will <strong>link the national infrastructure pipeline to the India investment grid</strong> which manages and monitors investments across various sectors capturing data on Investments from States and Central Government.</li>
<li>The dashboard would provide<strong> real-time information</strong> about the projects for prospective investors also letting the people of the country know how many projects are being implemented.</li>
<li>If any approval stucks somewhere it would be highlighted on the dashboard. This would increase accountability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues of implementation in infrastructure sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In Infrastructure development there are several stages: design stage, finance stage, bidding stage, construction stage and operation stage.</li>
<li><strong>Design stage:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It involves making blueprint of the projects, finance stage deals with getting funds or investments, bidding is mainly about assigning the projects to suitable companies, and construction and operational stage deals with on ground physical implementations of the projects.</li>
<li>There are few caveats at each stage, in the design stage, India lags behind countries like China which focus more on the design stage than any other stage to enhance the standards of their infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Finance stage</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To develop projects from ideas on paper, corporate bonds and long term financing is required for the development of the projects.</li>
<li>Government resources like tax money are not adequate therefore there is a need to raise money capital from the private sector and foreign investments.</li>
<li>However the borrowed money is to be paid back, announcing freebies like free electricity to get political mileage increases the economic stress on infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bidding Stage</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many companies are awarded contracts in corrupt ways through crony capitalism. Many times in the bidding of a project design and past record of the bidder are not properly scrutinised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Construction Stage:</strong> Due to land acquisition delays and litigation issues, the rate of implementation of projects is very slow on global standards, due to which India is behind than most of the countries in rate of project execution, the NIP dashboard does not address these issues.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Getting approvals are very difficult in terms of land access, environmental clearances,impending litigation in court delays the infrastructure projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Operational Stage:</strong> Lot of foreign investment is available for completed assets for example Delhi and Hyderabad metro, but new projects are not looked at by the foreign investors.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus it is the responsibility of the government to initiate the primary construction which could be done by using Indian rupees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data provided on the dashboard should not just provide data on investments for economic analysis, but also be made more actionable by providing information about upcoming projects.</li>
<li>In infrastructure projects initiated by the government, they could too use private consultants in designing and determining techno-economic feasibility.</li>
<li>The private sector should also be involved on a collaboration basis with the governments, whether it is a detailed project report or anything it should be done in a partnership mode rather than shifting responsibility. The onus of implementation of the project should be shared.</li>
<li>Online bidding can be a viable option to bring about transparency in bidding.</li>
<li>In monetizing the infrastructural assets, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National interest infrastructure investment</a> trust</strong> could play crucial role</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The NIP dashboard is a step in the right direction to provide real time information and data on Infrastructure projects. This would facilitate assimilation of data and information from all the stakeholders like Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies, Banks and Financial Institution, PE funds, and private investors, both local and foreign on one platform to increase accountability and transparency in the infrastructure sector.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-national-infrastructure-pipeline-nip-dashboard'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Turkey-Greece Stand-off',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, France has deployed its military in the eastern Mediterranean Sea amid <strong>tensions between Greece and Turkey</strong> over <strong>recently-discovered gas reserves.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to France the military has been deployed <strong>to strengthen the autonomous assessment of the situation</strong> and to <strong>affirm France&rsquo;s commitment to free movement,</strong> to the security of maritime navigation in the Mediterranean and<strong> respect for international law.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Stand-off:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> The<strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> European Union</a> (EU)</strong> and its allies in West Asia and North Africa made <strong>plans to build a gas pipeline</strong> from the Mediterranean to Europe&rsquo;s mainland to transport the gas. However,<strong> they have kept Turkey out of it,</strong> which has infuriated Turkey. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The gas transport would help <strong>reduce the EU's dependency on Russia.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in 2019, the <strong>EastMed Gas Forum</strong> was formed by <strong>Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine, </strong>and<strong> Turkey was again excluded.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Turkey&rsquo;s Counter:</strong> Turkey challenged the EU pipeline project and reached an agreement with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crisis-in-libya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Libya</strong> </a>to form an <strong>Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)</strong> from its southern shores to Libya&rsquo;s northern coast across the Mediterranean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, Greece<strong> claimed the Turkish zone violated its maritime sovereignty</strong> and later announced its EEZ with Egypt, which clashed with Turkey&rsquo;s zone.</li>
<li>Reacting to the deal, Turkey sent its survey ship near the <strong>island of Kastellorizo</strong> area mentioned in the <strong>Greece-Egypt agreement.</strong></li>
<li>This is not the first time Greece and Turkey have been at odds. Over the past four decades, the <strong>countries have gone to war at least three times. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597921345_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597921345_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Overlapping Claims: Turkey and Greece, vehemently <strong>disagree over overlapping claims to hydrocarbon resources</strong> in the region based on <strong>conflicting views on the extent of their continental shelves in waters</strong> dotted with mostly Greek islands. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Turkey says that despite having <strong>the longest coastline in the eastern Mediterranean</strong> it is<strong> confined into a narrow strip of waters due to the extension of Greece's continental shelf,</strong> based on the presence of many Greek islands near its shore.</li>
<li>The island of Kastellorizo, which is about 2 km off Turkey's southern coast and 570 km from the Greek mainland, is a particular source of Turkish frustration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Involvement of Many Countries:&nbsp;</strong>The highly complicated issue now has the <strong>potential to involve Europe, West Asia and North Africa.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>France, the EU&rsquo;s most powerful military force, has<strong> thrown its weight behind Greece and Cyprus.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cyprus is physically divided</strong> with the <strong>southern part ruled by the internationally-recognised government</strong> and the <strong>northern part controlled by Turkey.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An <strong>alliance</strong> is also emerging among Greece, Cyprus, Italy and France, which is backed by Egypt, Israel and the UAE.</li>
<li>Turkey stands <strong>almost isolated,</strong> but remains a <strong>key power</strong> in the Mediterranean.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If the EU wants to transport gas from the coast of Israel to Europe via Cyprus and Italy, an<strong> open conflict with Turkey cannot help.</strong> What is in everybody&rsquo;s interest is to <strong>bring down tensions </strong>and <strong>find a diplomatic and mutually acceptable solution</strong> to the gas conflict.</li>
<li>Excluding Turkey, which has a long Mediterranean coast, is unwise. Allowing a resurgent Turkey to bully smaller powers in the region would be strategically disastrous. The EU has to <strong>strike a balance</strong> between these two options.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/france-reinforces-naval-forces-in-mediterranean/article32347629.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Project',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Chief Minister of Punjab has warned the Centre of political unrest in the state if asked to proceed with the <strong>Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal project.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Punjab has staked claims to Yamuna&rsquo;s waters and also reiterated the need for a tribunal on water sharing.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597921034_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597921034_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="284" height="362" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1960:</strong> The dispute can be traced back to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indus-waters-treaty-1960" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indus Water Treaty</strong></a> between<strong> India and Pakistan,</strong> allowing the former<strong> &lsquo;free and unrestricted use&rsquo; of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.</strong></li>
<li><strong>1966: Creation of Haryana from the old (undivided) Punjab</strong>&nbsp;presented the problem of giving Haryana its share of river waters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For Haryana to get its share of the waters of the Sutlej and its tributary Beas, a <strong>canal linking the Sutlej with the Yamuna</strong> was planned (SYL Canal).</li>
<li><strong>Punjab refused to share waters with Haryana</strong> stating it was against the <strong>riparian principle</strong> which dictates that the water of a river belongs only to the State and country or States and countries through which the river in question flows.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1981:</strong> Both states <strong>mutually agreed for the re-allocation of water.</strong></li>
<li><strong>1982: Construction of 214-km SYL was launched</strong> in Kapoori village, Punjab.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Agitations, protests and assassinations</strong> were carried out in protest creating the environment of <strong>terrorism</strong> in the state and making the<strong> issue of national security.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1996:</strong> Haryana moved the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> (SC) seeking directions to Punjab to complete the work on the SYL.</li>
<li><strong>2002 and 2004:</strong> SC directed Punjab to complete the work in its territory.</li>
<li><strong>2004:</strong> Punjab Assembly passed the <strong>Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, terminating its water-sharing agreements</strong> and thus jeopardising the construction of SYL in Punjab.</li>
<li><strong>2016:</strong> SC started hearings into a <strong>presidential reference (Article 143) to decide on the legality of the 2004 Act</strong> and declared that Punjab reneged on its promise to share the waters of rivers. Thus, the<strong> act was termed constitutionally invalid.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SC has directed the Chief Ministers of both states to <strong>negotiate and settle the SYL canal issue</strong> at the highest political level to be mediated by the Centre.</li>
<li>Punjab has <strong>asked for a tribunal for fresh time-bound assessment</strong> of the water availability.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Punjab holds that there has been <strong>no adjudication or scientific assessment of river waters</strong> in the state till date.</li>
<li>The availability of Ravi-Beas water has also come down from the estimated 17.17 MAF in 1981 to 13.38 MAF in 2013. A fresh tribunal would ascertain all this.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Punjab&rsquo;s Unwillingness:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Punjab is <strong>facing severe water crisis due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depleting-groundwater" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over-exploitation of its underground aquifers</a></strong> for the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>wheat/paddy</strong></a> monocycle.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-aquifer-mapping-and-management-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Ground Water Authority&rsquo;s</strong></a> <strong>report,</strong> its underground water is over-exploited in about 79% of the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Punjab feels that it has <strong>utilised its precious groundwater resources to grow the crop for the entire country</strong> and should not be forced to share its waters as it <strong>faces the threat of<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> desertification.</a></strong></li>
<li>Also, the<strong> youth of the state may start feeling that the state has been discriminated against</strong> once the construction of the canal restarts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Pakistan and secessionist organisations like Sikh For Justice</strong> could exploit the situation to foment trouble in the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 143: Advisory Jurisdiction</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Constitution under Article 143<strong> authorises the President to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court</strong> in the <strong>two categories</strong> of matters:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On any <strong>question of law or fact of public importance</strong> which has arisen or which is likely to arise. The SC <strong>may tender or may refuse to tender its opinion</strong> to the President.</li>
<li>On any <strong>dispute arising out of any pre-constitution</strong> treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanador other similar instruments. Here, the<strong> SC must tender its opinion</strong> to the President.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In both the cases, the opinion expressed by the Supreme Court is<strong> only advisory and not a judicial pronouncement.</strong> Hence, it is <strong>not binding on the President.</strong></li>
<li>The references made by the President under Article 143 are <strong>decided by a Bench consisting of at least five judges.</strong></li>
<li>Few important references made by the President to the SC under its advisory jurisdiction are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Berubari Union, 1960.</li>
<li>Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, 1992.</li>
<li>Rama Janma Bhumi case, 1993.</li>
<li>Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004.</li>
<li>2G spectrum case verdict and the mandatory auctioning of natural resources across all sectors, 2012.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Punjab needs to understand the importance of the canal for Haryana and should rethink its previous stands. Adequate measures should be put in place before any new decision to keep the possible political turmoil in control. Neighbouring states and centre will have to play a crucial role.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s time for the Centre to chart a new course centred on Punjab&rsquo;s demand for a fresh tribunal for the division of the river waters. For that, it&rsquo;s imperative that all stakeholders stop further complicating the situation.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-punjab-cm-has-warned-against-restarting-syl-canal-work-6561662/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Shortcomings of Indian Chemical Industry: TIFAC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a report by the <strong>Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council</strong> (TIFAC) has <strong>highlighted the shortcomings of the Indian chemical industry</strong> which prove to be barriers in competing with China.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>TIFAC is an<strong> autonomous organisation and think-tank of the Department of Science and Technology</strong> and it commissioned the report in March 2020 when the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19&nbsp;</a></strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> had started accelerating in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India <strong>does not have enough technology, plants and infrastructure</strong> to manufacture key chemicals in a cost-effective and less polluting manner.</li>
<li>India has nearly <strong>stopped manufacturing several key Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong> (API).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <strong>given up the manufacturing of APIs</strong> for ascorbic acid, aspartame and antibiotics like rifampicin, doxycycline, tazobactam acid and even steroids.</li>
<li><strong>Production of intermediates</strong> such as atorvastatin, chloroquine, gabapentin, ciprofloxacin, cephalosporins, immunosuppressants has also been <strong>stopped.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India <strong>depends on China for 67% of chemical intermediates and API</strong> that it needs to manufacture drugs and export.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <strong>also depends on the USA and Italy</strong> for API.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The chemical industry is almost entirely <strong>dependent on China for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine</strong> (HCQ).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hydroxychloroquine is an <strong>oral drug</strong> used in the <strong>treatment of autoimmune diseases</strong> like rheumatoid arthritis.</li>
<li>In March 2020, the <strong>Indian Council of Medical Research</strong> (ICMR) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-use-of-hydroxy-chloroquine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>suggested its use to contain the spread of Covid-19</strong></a> for restricted populations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Manufacturers are <strong>unable to meet the price</strong> at which chemicals are produced by China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solvent and chemicals <strong>manufacturing costs in India are over 15% more</strong> than in China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>share of Indian bulk drugs and intermediates in the total pharmaceutical export mix reduced</strong> to 20% in 2018 from 42% in 2008.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are significant ingredients in the manufacturing of drugs and are also called bulk drugs.</li>
<li>The Hubei province of China is the hub of the API manufacturing industry.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pharmaceutical Intermediates</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are chemical compounds which form the building blocks of the APIs and are produced as a by-product during the production of API.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need for mission mode chemical engineering</strong> with defined targets for uninterrupted synthesis of API molecules.</li>
<li><strong>Creation of mega drug manufacturing clusters</strong> with common infrastructure in India.</li>
<li><strong>Development of a technology platform for biocatalysis</strong> for cost optimization and investing in the fermentation sector of large capacity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Biocatalysis</strong> refers to the use of natural substances from biological sources (such as enzymes) to speed up (catalyze) chemical reactions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government encouragement for Indian companies</strong> working in chemical segments.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Implementation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-tifac" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>various recommendations</strong></a> by TIFAC will help India to become <strong><a href="/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-may-2020#6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atmanirbhar</a></strong> (self-reliant) in the pharmaceutical sector by reducing its import dependence.</li>
<li>More schemes like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-approved-to-promote-drug-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks and Production Linked Incentives</strong></a> (PLI) are needed to reduce the manufacturing cost of bulk drugs and promote domestic manufacturing.</li>
</ul>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Black Box on Aircraft',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The black boxes of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft which recently crashed in Kozhikode (Kerala) have been found.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These boxes will help investigators gather information about the crucial events that led to the crash.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> A black box, technically known as an <strong>Electronic Flight Data Recorder,</strong> is an orange-coloured heavily protected recording device placed in a flight. It is used to investigate the details of the events immediately preceding an accident.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Black Boxes are <strong>compulsory on any commercial flight or corporate jet</strong> where they are usually<strong> kept in the tail of an aircraft,</strong> where they are more likely to survive a crash.</li>
<li>It usually takes at least <strong>10-15 days to analyse the data</strong> recovered from the black boxes.</li>
<li>Black boxes are also used in vehicles other than planes like <strong>railways, cars</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Invention:</strong> Australian Scientist<strong> David Warren</strong> was the first to build a FDR/CVR prototype in 1958.</li>
<li><strong>Parts:</strong> The "black box" is made up of two separate pieces of equipment: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FDR records things like airspeed, altitude, vertical acceleration and fuel flow.</li>
<li>CVR records the conversations in the cockpit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Older black boxes used <strong>magnetic tape,</strong> a technology that was first introduced in the 1960s. Magnetic tape works like any tape recorder.</li>
<li>These days, black boxes use solid-state memory boards, which came along in the 1990s.<strong> Solid state memory boards</strong> use stacked arrays of memory chips, and are stronger.</li>
<li>The FDR contains <strong>Crash-Survivable Memory Units</strong> (CSMUs) which are engineered to withstand extreme heat, jarring crashes and tons of pressure.</li>
<li>To make black boxes discoverable in situations where they are under water, they are equipped with a <strong>Beacon</strong> that sends out ultrasound signals for 30 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Methods to Investigate an Aircrash</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Accounts from Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel.</li>
<li>Recordings of the conversation between ATC and the pilots moments before the crash.</li>
<li>Various data recorders at the airport, which would tell about the precise point and speed of touchdown on the runway.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In certain cases &ndash; like the Malaysian Airlines MH370 flight, they are not found.</li>
<li>They still lack video recording capabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Alternatives:</strong> It is being tried to <strong>stream</strong> all of their essential data <strong>directly to a ground-based station</strong> in <strong>realtime</strong> which would eliminate the desperate search for a box that may have been destroyed in a crash, and will be more dependable.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Aircraft Security</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-civil-aviation-organisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)</a></strong> is a UN specialized agency, established in <strong>1944</strong> to manage the administration and governance of the <strong>Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Chicago Convention was signed on 7<sup>th</sup> December, 1944 in Chicago (USA) by 52 signatory states including <strong>India.</strong></li>
<li>It coordinates international air travel, establishes rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, security, and sustainability, and details the rights of the signatories in relation to air travel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/counter-drone-strategy-for-countrys-airports-is-ready" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bureau of Civil Aviation Security</a> (BCAS)</strong> is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (India). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the regulatory authority for civil aviation security in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)</strong> is a division of the Ministry of Civil Aviation which investigates aircraft accidents and incidents in India.</li>
<li>Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aircraft-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020</strong> </a>which seeks to amend the<strong> Aircraft Act, 1934.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-black-boxes-are-important-to-an-air-crash-investigation-6545872/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Development of Synthetic Flavonoids',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, scientists from <strong>Agharkar Research Institute</strong> (ARI), Pune have found the first <strong>synthetic route for producing flavonoids molecules</strong> related to the treatment of tuberculosis and chikungunya.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ARI is an <strong>autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology</strong> (DST), Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is for the <strong>first time that scientists have been able to synthesize the flavonoid molecules</strong> such as<strong> rugosa flavonoids, podocare flavone and isoflavone</strong> in a lab.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These three molecules have so far been isolated from plants only and are found to <strong>inhibit <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-tuberculosis-day#:~:text=Transmission%3A%20TB%20is%20spread%20from,a%20treatable%20and%20curable%20disease." target="_blank" rel="noopener">tuberculosis</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chikungunya</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flavonoids:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Flavonoids are part of the<strong> polyphenol class of phytonutrients (plant chemicals)</strong> found in almost all fruits and vegetables. Along with<strong> carotenoids</strong> (organic pigments), they are<strong> responsible for the vivid colours</strong> in fruits and vegetables.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Polyphenols have historically been used in <strong>Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine</strong> and are associated with skin protection, brain function, blood sugar and blood pressure regulation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These are <strong>powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits</strong> as well. A diet rich in flavonoids can protect from diseases related to heart, liver, kidney, brain and other infectious diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Availability:</strong> It will ensure their <strong>availability at all seasons</strong> without the dependence on natural timings of the plantations.</li>
<li><strong>Uniformity:</strong> Inconsistency in natural products can occur in different seasons, places and species. Man-made molecules will have a<strong> uniform structure and medicinal properties</strong> similar to the natural product.</li>
<li><strong>Less-exploitative:</strong> Acquiring them from labs will <strong>solve the problem of over-exploitation of medicinal plants</strong> which puts an extra burden on the environment.</li>
<li><strong>Cost-effective:</strong> The development method in labs is<strong> simple and cost-effective</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Possible Use of Flavonoids:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Flavonoids can <strong>ease the lives of women who face problems in the premenopausal stage</strong> because its chemical structure is similar to the female <strong>hormone 17-beta-estradiol.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Estradiol</strong> is an estrogen steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone which is involved in the regulation of the estrous (oestrous) and menstrual female reproductive cycles.</li>
<li><strong>Premenopausal stage</strong> refers to the time when female bodies make the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the menstrual cycles and reproductive years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Preliminary indications and computational analysis show the <strong>capacity of these molecules to inhibit <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> by targeting spike protein and proteases (an enzyme that catalyzes proteolysis, the breakdown of proteins).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since flavonoids boost-up immunity, a <strong>flavonoid-rich diet is recommended to stay safe from Covid-19.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1647247" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/development-of-synthetic-flavonoids'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Sri Lanka to Draft a New Constitution',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa</strong> (elected in 2019), while addressing the inaugural session of the Parliament, said that Sri Lanka will draft a new Constitution and <strong>abolish the 19<sup>th</sup> Amendment</strong> that curtailed the powers of the President and strengthened the role of Parliament.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s new Cabinet includes members from the Rajapaksa family.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mahinda Rajapaksha</strong> is the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Rajapaksa led Sri Lanka People&rsquo;s Party (SLPP) won a landslide victory in the recently held parliamentary elections (August 2020), allowing the influential family to consolidate power for the next five years.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598083004_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598083004_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>19<sup>th</sup> Amendment:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was <strong>passed in 2015</strong> during the former President Maithripala Sirisena-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe&rsquo;s term (2015-19).</li>
<li>It sought not only to<strong> clip the President&rsquo;s executive powers,</strong> but also to <strong>strengthen independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It brought back the two-term limit on Presidency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was<strong> hailed by many, including members of civil society, </strong>as a<strong> progressive legislation</strong> in contemporary Sri Lankan history, even as its critics found it falling short in some respects.</li>
<li>However, the<strong> Rajapaksa</strong> camp viewed its clauses as primarily<strong> intended to prevent its leaders&rsquo; return to power.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It<strong> prevented dual citizens from contesting elections.</strong> At the time, two of the Rajapaksa family members including the current president were dual citizens of the USA and Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its <strong>abolishment will strengthen Rajapaksa's grip on power</strong> because the country will return to its previous constitutional status, in which the President could appoint officials for the police, judiciary and public service and dissolve Parliament anytime after one year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Constitution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President said that the new Constitution would prioritise the concept of <strong>&ldquo;one country, one law for all the people.&rdquo;</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sri Lanka's <strong>constitution has been changed 19 times from 1978,</strong> creating a lot of uncertainties and confusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Changes will be made to ensure the stability of Parliament and people&rsquo;s direct representation, while retaining the salutary aspects of the proportional representation system.</li>
<li><strong>Rights activists see the planned changes</strong> to the Constitution as an attempt to further<strong> empower</strong> the SLPP and the Rajpaksha brothers&rsquo; mainly<strong> Buddhist - Sinhalese speaking electorate.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rajapaksa family, which dominated the government from 2005 to 2015, witnessed the climax of the country&rsquo;s long<strong> civil war (1983-2009).</strong></li>
<li>The war divided Sri Lanka along ethnic lines - pitting the majority <strong>Buddhist Sinhalese-dominated government against Tamil rebels</strong> who wanted a separate state.</li>
<li>The rebels were defeated by government forces in 2009.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India - Sri Lanka Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed an agreement for extending a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-signs-currency-swap-for-sri-lanka" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> USD 400 million currency swap facility</strong></a> to Sri Lanka to boost the foreign reserves and ensure financial stability of the country, which is badly hit by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic.</a></strong></li>
<li>Earlier, India assisted Sri Lanka by sending <strong>four consignments of essential medicines and equipment</strong> in the month of April and May 2020 to fight the pandemic.</li>
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-sri-lanka-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Housing Project</strong> </a>is Government of India&rsquo;s flagship project of developmental assistance to Sri Lanka. Its initial commitment is to build 50,000 houses for those affected by the civil war as well as for the estate workers in the plantation areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bilateral Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India and Sri Lanka conduct joint<strong> Military (Mitra Shakti)</strong> and <strong>Naval (SLINEX)</strong> exercises.</li>
<li>Given the proximity of the territorial waters of both countries, especially in the Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar, incidents of straying of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fishermen-issue-with-sri-lanka" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fishermen</strong></a> are common. Both countries have agreed on certain practical arrangements to deal with the issue of bona fide fishermen of either side crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rajapaksa brothers have <strong>not paid that much attention to India&rsquo;s entreaties</strong> after the civil war ended <strong>to devolve more powers to Tamil areas.</strong></li>
<li>Sri Lanka&rsquo;s new ruling clan is sharply<strong> aware of India&rsquo;s troubles with China on the LAC</strong> and in the region. The Rajapaksas will continue <strong>using China as a counter-weight to India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For <strong>Sri Lanka,</strong> the <strong>Constitution-making process</strong> of the new Government<strong> shall strengthen Sri Lanka&rsquo;s democracy</strong> and provide an inclusive platform for the country to achieve prosperity for all.</li>
<li>For <strong>India,</strong> it should <strong>push for the reconciliation efforts for the Tamils</strong> in Sri Lanka while remaining <strong>sensitive to Sri Lanka&rsquo;s security concerns.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-to-draft-new-constitution/article32406766.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/sri-lanka-to-draft-a-new-constitution'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Indian Bison (Gaur)',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a case of poaching of Indian Bison was discovered using a sniffer dog in West Bengal.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Bison or Gaur <em>(Bos gaurus)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598082695_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598082695_image6.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></em></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong> Native to South and Southeast Asia<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, they are found in Nagarhole, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-highway-766" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bandipur</strong></a>, Masinagudi National Parks and BR Hills.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vulnerable</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List.</strong></a></li>
<li>Included in the<strong> Schedule I</strong> of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important Facts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the<strong> tallest species of wild cattle</strong> found in India and <strong>largest extant bovine.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/estimation-exercise-of-indian-gaur-in-nilgiris" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first population estimation exercise</strong> </a><strong>of the Indian Gaur (Bison)</strong> was carried out in the <strong>Nilgiris Forest Division, Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, the conservation breeding of Gaur was started at Mysuru zoo under the conservation breeding programme of the<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reconstitution-of-central-zoo-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Central Zoo Authority</a> (CZA).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Food Scarcity:</strong> Due to the destruction in the grasslands, planting of commercially important trees, invasive plant species and indiscriminate grazing of domestic animals</li>
<li><strong>Poaching:</strong> For their commercial value as well as due to the high demand of gaur meat.</li>
<li><strong>Habitat Loss:</strong> Due to deforestation and commercial plantations.</li>
<li><strong>Human-Animal Conflict:</strong> Due to living in proximity with human habitations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sniffer-dog-orlando-cracks-his-first-case-bison-poaching-in-north-bengal/article32416037.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/indian-bison-gaur'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Namath Basai: Kerala',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>The Kerala State government is carrying out a unique programme called<strong> &ldquo;Namath Basai&rdquo; </strong>of <strong>teaching tribal children in their mother tongue.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The programme is being implemented by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/samagra-shiksha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Samagra Shiksha Kerala</strong> </a><strong>(SSK).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SSK is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12.</li>
<li>It aims at improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has succeeded in retaining <strong>hundreds of tribal children in their online classes</strong> using their mother tongue as language of instruction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Teaching in the tribal language has to a good extent stopped students from dropping out, which is quite usual in hamlets</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It offers pre-recorded classes through a YouTube channel in three tribal languages in <strong>Attappady</strong> valley in Palakkad District Kerala.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These languages belong to the <strong>Irula, Muduka and Kurumba tribes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is being introduced in the tribal belts of Wayanad and Idukki as well. Classes are offered in the Oorali, Muthuvan and Paniya languages in Idukki.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Wayanad has the highest number of tribals in Kerala followed by Idukki.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Kurumba Tribe</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Popularly known as Mala Pulayans, Hill Pulayans and Pamba Pulayans.</li>
<li>Traditional occupation : Foraging and shifting cultivation<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Collect forest products like honey, wax, soapnut, turmeric, ginger and wild cardamoms.</li>
<li>Art of<strong> body tattooing.</strong></li>
<li>Skilled in manufacture of baskets and mats</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religion: Animism</strong> (belief in spirituality of objects, places, and creatures) and <strong>Totemism</strong> (Worship of any species of plants or animals thought to possess supernatural powers)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Irula or Irular Tribe</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Occupation:</strong> Agriculturists<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Grow Paddy, Ragi, dhal, plantains, chillies and turmeric</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religion:</strong> The majority worship <strong>Vishnu</strong> under the name of Rangaswami and Siva without differentiation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some practice <strong>animism</strong> and worship the tiger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mudugars or Muduka</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Have social divisions at kal (clan) level.</li>
<li><strong>Traditional Occupation:</strong> Food gatherers and hunters.</li>
<li><strong>Religion: Hinduism</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Worship Shiva</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/namath-basai-brings-tribal-children-back-to-school/article32403908.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/namath-basai-kerala'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'India Announces Package to Maldives',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has committed to Maldives a five-pronged package including air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications to help it deal with the economic impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598081536_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598081536_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The package includes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Greater Mal&eacute; Connectivity Project (GMCP)</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A financial package consisting of a grant of 100 million USD and new line of credit of 400 million USD.</li>
<li>This will be the <strong>largest civilian infrastructure project in Maldives,</strong> connecting Mal&eacute; (the capital) with three neighbouring islands &mdash; Villingili, Gulhifalhu (<strong>where a port is being built under Indian line of credit</strong>) and Thilafushi (new industrial zone) &ndash; by construction of a bridge-and-causeway link.</li>
<li>This will boost economic activity, generate employment and promote holistic urban development in the Mal&eacute; region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Direct Cargo Ferry Service:</strong> It will be run between India and Maldives.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The service is expected to enhance sea connectivity and provide predictability in supplies for importers in Maldives and exporters in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Air Travel Bubble Between India and Maldives:</strong> This will facilitate movement of people for employment, tourism and medical emergencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Maldives is the<strong> first neighbouring country</strong> of India with which an<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/travel-bubble" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> air bubble</strong></a> is being operationalised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Quotas for Supply of Essential Commodities:</strong> This was renewed for 2020-21. The commodities include food items as well as river sand and stone aggregates to assure food security, and supply of essential construction items.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Aid:</strong> In addition a financial aid of 250 million USD will be provided to Maldives by India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on India-Maldives-China</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian aid is being appreciated and contrasted with the previous expensive commercial loans to Maldives by China which are being termed <strong>&ldquo;debt-trap diplomacy&rdquo;</strong> of <strong>China,</strong> wherein China intentionally<strong> extends excessive credit to another country</strong> with the intention of extracting economic or political concessions from the debtor country.</li>
<li>The GMCP is also being compared to the Chinese built <strong>Sinemale Friendship bridge</strong> connecting Male to two other islands as it will be much bigger than the latter.</li>
<li>The India-Maldives relationship suffered a setback when Maldives entered into a <strong>Free-Trade Agreement (FTA)</strong> with China in 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/parliamentary-election-in-maldives" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>election of a new pro-India government in Maldives</strong></a>, the relationships have improved and Maldives is also considering <strong>pulling out of the FTA with China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since September 2018, India and Maldives have seen a number of bilateral visits.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-visit-to-maldives" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s Prime Minister visited Maldives</strong></a> to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Solih.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maldives-presidents-visit-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maldives President also visited India</strong> </a>in December 2018.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/visit-of-home-minister-of-maldives" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Home Minister of Maldives met Indian Home Minister</strong></a> on 21<sup>st</sup> February, 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At present, India-assisted projects in the region include<strong> water and sewerage projects on 34 islands,</strong> reclamation projects for the Addl island, a port on Gulhifalhu, airport redevelopment at Hanimaadhoo, and a hospital and a cricket stadium in Hulhumale.</li>
<li>India had also announced a 800 million USD Line of Credit to Maldives in December 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Significance of Maldives for India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Geographical:</strong> Maldives&rsquo; <strong>proximity to the west coast of India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maldives is barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy -the southernmost island of Lakshadweep.</li>
<li>Lakshadweep group is separated from Maldives by<strong> Eight Degree Channel.</strong></li>
<li>It is situated at the <strong>hub of commercial sea-lanes</strong> running through Indian Ocean. More than 97% of India&rsquo;s international trade by volume and 75% by value passes through the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong> India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and later established its mission at Male in 1972.</li>
<li><strong>Operation Cactus:</strong> In 1988, in response to a request from the Maldives, India activated Operation Cactus to deploy its military and ensure regime continuity in Male.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence:</strong> Its potential to allow a third nation&rsquo;s naval presence in the area.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since China&rsquo;s naval expansion into the Indian Ocean, Maldives' significance has steadily grown and now it&rsquo;s at the heart of international geopolitics.</li>
<li>India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Ekuverin&rsquo; is a joint military exercise between India and Maldives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geo-political:</strong> Maldives is an important aspect of India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Neighbourhood First&rsquo; policy.</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;India First&rsquo;</strong> has been a stated policy of the Government of Maldives.</li>
<li>Maldives is<strong> a member of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</a></strong> and the <strong>South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)..</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade and Tourism:</strong> India is Maldives&rsquo; 4th largest trade partner after UAE, China and Singapore. In 2018, India was the 5th largest source of tourist arrivals in Maldives.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, India was the 5<sup>th</sup> largest source of tourist arrivals in Maldives.e.</li>
<li>India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for export of essential commodities.</li>
<li>India-Maldives bilateral trade now stands at US$ 288.99 Million heavily in favour of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disaster Management:</strong> The Government of India has provided large-scale assistance to Maldives in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and during the 2014 Male water crisis.</li>
<li><strong>Diaspora:</strong> There is a<strong> significant Indian diaspora in the Maldives.</strong> Indians are the second largest expatriate community in Maldives with an approximate strength of around 22,000. About 25% of Doctors and Teachers in Maldives are Indian nationals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Given the economic hardships being faced by Maldives due to Covid-19 pandemic and previous debts, this package will definitely warm up the relationship between both the countries. This will also provide a strategic edge to India over China with regards to Maldives.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-announces-500-million-assistance-for-mega-infra-project-in-maldives/article32343775.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/india-announces-package-to-maldives'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'National Handloom Day Announcements & Challenges Ahead',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/listen-to-the-weaver-national-handloom-day-jaya-jaitly-6563310/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Handloom Day announcements look like a mix of the good and the bad, but are mostly foggy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in the Indian Express on 21<sup>st</sup> of August 2020. It analyses the announcements made on the National Handloom Day 2020 and the challenges that lie ahead.</p>
</div>
<p>Sixth <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-handloom-day-1#:~:text=On%20the%20occasion%20of%20the,celebrated%20in%20Chennai%20in%202015." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Handloom Day</strong> </a>was celebrated on the 7<sup>th</sup> of August 2020 and it was marked by many announcements by the Ministry of Textiles. Due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic</strong></a>, the day was celebrated on a virtual platform by the concerned ministry. These announcements pave way for much needed push for the handloom industry but it also poses some challenges.</p>
<h3>The Announcements</h3>
<p><strong>Termination of the handloom, powerloom, wool, jute and silk boards:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Textiles declared the termination of the handloom, powerloom, wool, jute and silk boards.</li>
<li>The boards have been scrapped with a view on achieving minimum government and maximum governance.</li>
<li>The moves are aimed at a leaner government machinery and for systematic rationalisation of government bodies.</li>
<li>These boards had become spaces for political patronage and were of no real benefit to weavers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>New Handloom Portal:</strong> A handloom portal was launched on National Handloom Day along with a social media campaign to instil pride in the weaving community.</p>
<p><strong>Virtual Fair:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Handloom Export Promotion Council</strong> also organized a virtual fair.</li>
<li>The fair is to connect more than 150 participants from various regions of the country to showcase their products with solitary designs and skills.</li>
<li>The fair will showcase elegant and beautiful handloom products which can be bought by the buying community directly from the masters themselves.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Meet The Maker campaign:</strong> The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), a not-for-profit organization that works to further the business of fashion in India and ensure its sustainable growth, launched campaigns including Meet the Makers which will promote the handloom makers.</p>
<p><strong>COVID-19 support fund:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A new fund was also started by FDCI to support the upcoming designers across the country. FDCI will be buying merchandise from weavers, which would be used to make high-in-demand cotton masks or ensembles.</li>
<li>The idea behind this is to buy unsold handloom fabrics stocked with them, which would help the weaving community earn a better livelihood.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Atma Nirbhar Bharat:</strong> PM Modi also urged everyone to be Vocal for handmade and strengthen efforts towards an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbhar Bharat.</strong></a> Textiles minister Smriti Irani urged people to buy Handloom and celebrate this Indian heritage.</p>
<h3>The Challenges</h3>
<p><strong>Creating new institutions:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The handloom, powerloom, wool, jute and silk boards may have been dismantled but demolitions must lead to building a better institution, not banish the voice of the weavers concerned.</li>
<li>It has to be replaced by a well-chosen modern, dynamic, autonomous and inclusive body of genuinely experienced and credible voices from the handloom-weaving chain, including spinners, weavers, dyers, designers, private and public craft institutions, e-market platform providers and experts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Interlinking:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The announcement also involves the integration of plans with other ministries like Tourism. Moreover, other ministries/departments such as the culture, social justice, women &amp; child welfare, minority affairs should also be included.</li>
<li>All these ministries touch textiles and crafts and often, their functioning results in duplication and overlapping rather than effectively integrating with the Ministry of Textiles.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>IT Infrastructure:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Information technology(IT) is undoubtedly the new &ldquo;king&rdquo;, but if weavers have to avail of all knowledge from a special handloom portal, they need connectivity, computers and digital knowledge.</li>
<li>While the markets move online, it is equally important for the artisans to get adequately equipped and trained in operating online portals.</li>
<li>Online exhibitions through Indian embassies must be organised to make the global audience aware of the rich legacy of handlooms and to honour artisans from India them in domestic as well as international markets.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Raw Material:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Fourth All India Handloom Census (2019-2020) cites raw material support needed by nearly 59.5 percent of weaver households.</li>
<li>From cotton, silk, and woollen yarn to dyes, costs have increased and so has the shortage.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Credit Support:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Textile Association of India records that the budget allocation for the textile sector came down to Rs 4,831 crore in (2019-2020) from Rs 6,943 in the previous fiscal.</li>
<li>This also means that various schemes be it housing, subsidies, health insurance will affect the weaver too.</li>
<li>Quite often smaller weavers are at the mercy of money lenders, and they commit suicides.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Reduced numbers:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With many traditional families moving to cities for jobs as labourers, weavers have been leaving the loom.</li>
<li>While the recent Handloom Census (2019-2020) records that there are nearly 31.44 lakh handloom households, and it has seen a rise from 27.83 lakh in the last census, the numbers are still dismal.</li>
<li>If in 1995-96, the numbers were at 65.51 lakh, there is no denying that there is immense cause for concern.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lack of access:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Poor infrastructure, older looms and inaccessibility to reach prime markets have made lives of handloom weavers even more difficult.</li>
<li>While many organisations and NGOs have been helping local communities to reach consumers directly, there is a need to make it a level playing field of weavers of every income bracket, be it a master weaver with over 50 people working under him, or a smaller weaver, who with his six-member family works from home.</li>
<li>While there are many government schemes currently for weavers, there&rsquo;s basically 3% of weavers who are aware of the Weavers Health Insurance Scheme and only 10.5 per cent know of the credit waivers for loans that they can avail (Handloom Census 2019-2020).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Out</h3>
<p><strong>Awareness and Access:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Providing awareness, accessibility to markets and design R&amp;D, easy access to raw material and better credit support can make a difference to weavers in different corners of the country.</li>
<li>This would go a long way in promoting the Handloom heritage of our country.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Implementation of Satyam and Ajay Shankar Committee recommendations:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government must implement the<strong> Satyam and Ajay Shankar committee reports</strong> which dealt with ease of doing business and the handloom sectors of India similar to what it did to the Kasturirangan Report which is the basis for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-education-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Education Policy 2020.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bottom-up Approach:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The prime minister&rsquo;s call of &ldquo;Local to Global&rdquo; clearly indicates a bottom-up approach from production to marketing.</li>
<li>This is a way through which migrants will stay home. Local production for local markets is a brilliant strategy and needs encouragement.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Handloom Day</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In July 2015, it was decided by the Government of India to celebrate August 7 every year as the National Handloom Day to revive the roots of handlooms and provide work to weavers.</li>
<li>On August 7, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first National Handloom Day, at the centenary of Madras University in Chennai.</li>
<li>August 7 was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on this day in 1905 in Calcutta Town Hall to protest against the partition of Bengal by the British government.</li>
<li>The main essence behind National Handloom Day is just to boost the confidence or income of artisans but also to provide greater recognition to handloom products.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598013747_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598013747_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="560" height="399" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffae0; border-style: dotted;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the challenges of handloom industries in India. Is the government doing enough to address the issues?</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WKqKaESD8LY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/step-back-from-parochialism/story-NMZCTTXHaAOlCfT1QhELkJ.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Step back from parochialism&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on August 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-handloom-day-announcements-challenges-ahead'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Chinese Involvement in Teesta River',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Bangladesh is likely to receive<strong> an almost USD 1 billion loan from China</strong> for a comprehensive management and restoration <strong>project on the Teesta river.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/trans-boundary-water-conflicts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Teesta river water conflict</strong></a> is one of the most contentious issues between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Bangladesh</strong> </a>and the discussion comes amidst the ongoing<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India-China standoff</strong></a> in Ladakh.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Teesta River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>tributary of the Brahmaputra</strong> (known as Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through India and Bangladesh.</li>
<li><strong>Origin: In the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim</strong> and flows to the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.</li>
<li><strong>Drainage:</strong> It covers nearly the entire floodplains of Sikkim while draining 2,800 sq km of Bangladesh. For West Bengal, it is the lifeline of half-a-dozen districts in North Bengal.</li>
<li><strong>Latest Development:</strong> In March 2020, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/teesta-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Border Roads Organisation</strong></a> (BRO) opened a 360 feet long bailey suspension bridge over Teesta river in Munshithang, Sikkim.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598007204_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598007204_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="579" height="346" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Project:</strong> The management and restoration project is <strong>aimed at managing the river basin efficiently, controlling floods and tackling the water crisis</strong> in Bangladesh in summers.</li>
<li><strong>India-Bangladesh Teesta Dispute:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh sought a<strong> fair and equitable distribution of Teesta waters</strong> from India, on the lines of the<strong> Ganga Water Treaty 1996.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The treaty is an <strong>agreement to share surface waters at the Farakka Barrage</strong> near their mutual border.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In<strong> 2015,</strong> the Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to Dhaka <strong>generated expectations</strong> to take forward the issue but it <strong>still remains unresolved.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, individual <strong>states have significant influence over transboundary agreements,</strong> impeding the policymaking process.</li>
<li><strong>West Bengal</strong> is one of the key stakeholders of the Teesta agreement and is <strong>yet to endorse the deal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bangladesh-China Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China is the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh</strong> and is the foremost source of imports with the trade heavily favouring China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, the trade between the two countries was USD 18 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tariff-exemption-on-bangladesh-exports-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> declared zero duty</strong> </a><strong>on 97% of imports from Bangladesh</strong> recently and the move has been widely <strong>welcomed in Bangladesh.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concession comes from <strong>China&rsquo;s duty-free, quota-free programme for the least developed countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>China has promised around <strong>USD 30 billion worth of financial assistance</strong> to Bangladesh.</li>
<li>China is the <strong>biggest arms supplier to Bangladesh</strong> which has been a <strong>matter of legacy,</strong> strengthening the defence ties.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-bangladesh-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>liberation of Bangladesh in 1971</strong></a>, officers of the Pakistan Army joined the Bangladesh Army and preferred Chinese weapons because they were <strong>well-versed with them.</strong></li>
<li>As a result, <strong>Bangladesh forces are equipped with Chinese arms</strong> including tanks, missile launchers, fighter aircraft and several weapons systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Bangladesh Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both countries enjoy a <strong>robust relationship with each other carefully cultivated since 2008,</strong> especially with the Sheikh Hasina government.</li>
<li>Bangladesh&rsquo;s <strong>crackdown against anti-India outfits</strong> has helped the Indian government <strong>maintain peace in the eastern and Northeast states.</strong></li>
<li>Bangladesh is<strong> India&rsquo;s biggest trade partner in South Asia</strong> and the economic and development partnership has benefitted it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018-19, India&rsquo;s exports and imports with Bangladesh stood at USD 9.21 billion and USD 1.04 billion respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India also <strong>grants 15 to 20 lakh visas every year to Bangladesh nationals</strong> for medical treatment, tourism, work and just entertainment.</li>
<li>India has provided <strong>developmental assistance worth USD 10 billion,</strong> making Bangladesh the <strong>largest recipient</strong> of India&rsquo;s total of USD 30 billion aid globally.</li>
<li>For India, Bangladesh has been a <strong>key partner in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood#:~:text=What%20is%20Neighbourhood%20first%20policy%3F&amp;text=It%20was%20started%20well%20by,as%20a%20mini%20SAARC%20summit." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neighbourhood First</a> Policy.</strong></li>
<li>Both have <strong>cooperated on<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pandemic</a>-related moves</strong> and India has <strong>provided medical aid</strong> to Bangladesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh supported India&rsquo;s call for a regional (<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAARC</strong></a>) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>emergency fund</strong></a> <strong>for fighting <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> </strong>and declared a <strong>contribution of USD 1.5 million</strong> in March 2020.</li>
<li>Bangladesh is<strong> ready to collaborate in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/clinical-trial-of-covid-19-vaccine-zycov-d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">development of a Covid-19 vaccine</a></strong>, including its trial and looks forward to the early and affordable availability of the vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>first trial run for trans-shipment of Indian cargo</strong> through Bangladesh to Northeast states under a pact on the <strong>use of Chittagong and Mongla ports</strong> took place in July 2020.</li>
<li>However, the proposed countrywide <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register of Citizens</strong></a> <strong>(NRC) and the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 </a></strong>have<strong> irritated the relations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh has expressed reservations about CAA and has held it unnecessary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bangladesh has expressed <strong>concerns at the rise in killings at the Indo-Bangladesh border</strong> by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-armed-police-force-capf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Border Security Force</strong></a> (BSF).</li>
<li>Indian Foreign Secretary has recently visited Dhaka to discuss<strong> &ldquo;security-related issues of mutual interest&rdquo;</strong> while trying to address the potential irritant issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There was an agreement on<strong> timely implementation of projects</strong> and greater attention to development projects in Bangladesh under the <strong>Indian Lines of Credit.</strong></li>
<li>Bangladesh has requested to reopen travel through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/8th-foundation-day-of-lpai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Benapole-Petrapole land port</strong></a> which has been halted by the West Bengal government in the wake of the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the wake of the Ladakh standoff, India needs to become even more sensitive to Chinese defence inroads into Bangladesh.</li>
<li>The Teesta project is important and urgent from India&rsquo;s point of view, so it is crucial to solve it as soon as possible.</li>
<li>India has to implement all its assurances in a time-bound manner otherwise the latent anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh threatens to damage the friendly ties.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/china-twist-in-teesta-river-project-challenge-6563398/" 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/chinese-involvement-in-teesta-river'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'National Strategy for Financial Education',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India</strong></a> (RBI) has released the <strong>National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE): 2020-2025 document</strong> for creating a<strong> financially aware and empowered India.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>second</strong> NSFE , the first one being released in 2013.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598003120_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598003120_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This NSFE for the period 2020-2025 has been prepared by the<strong> National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE)</strong> in consultation with all the <strong>Financial Sector Regulators</strong> viz. <strong>RBI,</strong> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India</strong></a> (SEBI), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sandbox-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India</strong></a> (IRDAI), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-pension-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority</strong></a> (PFRDA), etc. under the aegis of the <strong>Technical Group on Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy (TGFIFL).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCFE is a Section 8 (Not for Profit) Company under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/committee-to-review-the-offences-under-the-companies-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Companies Act, 2013</strong> </a>promoted by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It emphasizes a <strong>multi-stakeholder-led approach</strong> for empowering various sections of the population to develop adequate <strong>knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour</strong> which are needed to manage their money better and to plan for the future i.e. ensuring their <strong>financial well-being.</strong></li>
<li>It has recommended a <strong>&lsquo;5 C&rsquo; approach</strong> for dissemination of financial education in the country:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Content:</strong> Financial Literacy content for various sections of population.</li>
<li><strong>Capacity:</strong> Develop the capacity and <strong>&lsquo;Code of Conduct&rsquo;</strong> for financial education providers.</li>
<li><strong>Community:</strong> Evolve community led approaches for disseminating financial literacy in a sustainable manner.</li>
<li><strong>Communication :</strong> Use technology, media and innovative ways of communication for dissemination of financial education messages.</li>
<li><strong>Collaboration :</strong> Streamline efforts of <strong>other stakeholders</strong> for financial literacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inculcate <strong>financial literacy</strong> concepts among the various sections of the population through financial education to make it an important life skill.</li>
<li>Encourage <strong>active savings</strong> behaviour.</li>
<li>Encourage<strong> participation</strong> in financial markets to meet financial goals and objectives.</li>
<li>Develop <strong>credit discipline</strong> and encourage availing credit from formal financial institutions as per requirement.</li>
<li>Improve usage of <strong>digital financial services</strong> in a safe and secure manner.</li>
<li>Manage risk at various life stages through relevant and suitable<strong> insurance</strong> cover.</li>
<li>Plan for old age and retirement through coverage of suitable <strong>pension</strong> products.</li>
<li>Knowledge about <strong>rights, duties and avenues</strong> for grievance redressal.</li>
<li>Improve <strong>research and evaluation</strong> methods to assess progress in financial education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Strategy also suggests adoption of a robust <strong>&lsquo;Monitoring and Evaluation Framework</strong> to assess the progress made.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TGFIFL would be responsible for periodic <strong>monitoring and implementation</strong> of NSFE under the oversight of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-stability-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>TGFIL was set up in November 2011 by the FSDC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, RBI also released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-strategy-for-financial-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI)</strong></a> for the period 2019-2024.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an ambitious strategy which aims to strengthen the ecosystem for various modes of digital financial services in all Tier-II to Tier VI centres to create the <strong>necessary infrastructure to move towards a less-cash society</strong> by March 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Financial literacy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organization for Economic Co-operation &amp; Development (OECD)</strong></a>, it is defined as a combination of financial awareness, knowledge, skills, attitude, and behaviour necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve individual<strong> financial well-being. </strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Financial Education</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is defined as the process by which financial consumers/investors improve their <strong>understanding of financial products,</strong> concepts and risks and through information, instruction and/or objective advice, develop the skills and confidence to become more <strong>aware</strong> of financial risks and opportunities, to make informed choices, to know where to go for help and to take other effective actions to improve their<strong> financial well-being.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598003091_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598003091_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has made tremendous progress in bringing its citizens into the formal financial system over the last many years. Many important financial inclusion initiatives have been taken by the government such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-6th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana</strong></a>, social security schemes viz. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/financial-inclusion-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana</strong></a>, <strong>Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana</strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-pension-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atal Pension Yojana</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-kisan-maan-dhan-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana</a></strong>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-shram-yogi-maan-dhan-pm-sym" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mann Dhan Yojana</strong> </a>(PM-SYM) and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudra-scheme-and-employment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.</strong></a></li>
<li>The latest available<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Bank&rsquo;s</strong></a> <strong>Findex</strong> 2017 Report had brought out that the proportion of adults with a formal account in the country has risen from 35% in 2011, to 80% in 2017.</li>
<li>However,the country still needs to tread a long path to achieve a respectable financial literacy rate which is crucial for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/inclusive-growth-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inclusive growth.</strong></a> For this besides the already existing delivery channels for disseminating financial education messages, newer modes such as social media platforms, should be effectively deployed.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/rbi-releases-national-strategy-for-financial-education/article32401294.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/national-strategy-for-financial-education'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Women in Research And Development',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <strong>Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018,</strong> India&rsquo;s private sector research companies appear to <strong>employ a larger proportion of women in core research and development activities</strong> than government-funded major scientific agencies do.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India had 3,41,818 scientists in R&amp;D with nearly 2,03,759 employed by government institutions or in the higher education sector, as of 2018.</li>
<li>Of the 20,351 women employed in private R&amp;D companies, about<strong> three in four</strong> were involved in &ldquo;R&amp;D activities&rdquo;.</li>
<li>However, of the 23,008 women in major scientific agencies (government), <strong>fewer than half</strong> were in the same &lsquo;R&amp;D activities&rsquo; category.</li>
<li>Also, for <strong>every one woman, there are six</strong> male scientists in<strong> private</strong> sector R&amp;D establishments. However, the ratio is<strong> four for one</strong> in major scientific agencies.</li>
<li>The bulk of scientists (in private and publicly funded organisations included) were in &lsquo;Engineering Technology&rsquo; followed by the Medical Sciences and Natural Sciences.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg" p=""><strong>Science and Technology Indicators (STI)</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The STI is a periodic compendium of the state of scientific research in India.</li>
<li>It is prepared by the <strong>National Science and Technology Management Information System,</strong> a division of the <strong>Department of Science Technology.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons for low participation of women in R&amp;D:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recruiters and managers at private firms are held<strong> more accountable</strong> to hire as well as promote female employees, as compared to those in government offices.</li>
<li>The large drop in the number of women between the doctoral and professional stages appears to be in part due to<strong> social pressure on women</strong> to have a family which is seen as incompatible with a professional career.</li>
<li>There are also <strong>patriarchal attitudes in hiring practices,</strong> so many women are discriminated against at this stage as well, with administrators deciding that women &lsquo;should&rsquo; be opting for family over a career.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Women in STEM:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO</strong> </a>data from 2014-16 shows that only around <strong>30% of female students</strong> select STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)-related fields in higher education.</li>
<li>Female enrolment is particularly<strong> low</strong> in information technology (3%), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5%) and engineering and allied streams (8%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research as a Profession:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to a 2018 fact sheet prepared by UNESCO on women in science, only <strong>28.8% of researchers are women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share in Nobel Prizes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Between <strong>1901 and 2019,</strong> 334 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prizes</strong></a> have been awarded to 616 Laureates in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine, of which just <strong>20 have been won by women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share in Abel Prizes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/abel-prize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>American mathematician Karen Uhlenbeck</strong></a> became the first woman to win the Abel Prize, following 16 male mathematicians.</li>
<li>The Abel Prize is a Norwegian prize awarded annually by the King of Norway to one or more <strong>outstanding mathematicians.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Share in Fields Medals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Fields Medal so far has also been awarded to only one woman mathematician, the late Maryam Mirzakhani of Iran, as opposed to 59 men since 1936.</li>
<li>The Fields Medal is awarded<strong> every four years</strong> by the <strong>International Congress of Mathematicians</strong> to recognize outstanding mathematical achievement for existing work and for the promise of future achievement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Scenario</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Women in STEM:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The female enrolment in science streams rose from 2010-11 to 2015-16.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a> report in 2015-16, 9.3% of female students in Undergraduate (UG) courses were enrolled in engineering, compared to 15.6% across genders. Conversely, 4.3% of female students were enrolled in medical science, compared to 3.3% across genders.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research as a Profession:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Only 13.9% of women work as a researcher in India. At <strong>master&rsquo;s and doctoral levels, female enrolment</strong> remained<strong> lower</strong> than overall enrolment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Presence at Technical Professions:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The NITI Aayog report has also found that in over 620 institutes and universities, including IITs, NITs, ISRO, and DRDO, the presence of women was 20.0% among Scientific and Administrative Staff, 28.7% among Post-Doctoral Fellows, and 33.5% among PhD scholars.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Gap Index</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-gender-gap-index-2020-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Global Gender Gap Index 2020</strong></a>, a study covering 153 economies, India has slipped to the 112<sup>th</sup> spot from its 108<sup>th</sup> position in 2018.</li>
<li>The report also says it would take nearly a hundred years to close the gender gap in various fields in India compared to the time it would take in other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Work Participation:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <strong>World Bank,</strong> India ranks <strong>163<sup>rd</sup> out of 181 countries</strong> in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/declining-female-labour-force-participation-editorial-upsc-ias-economy-gender-inequality-gktoday" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> female labour force participation.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, India is one of the few countries in the world where women&rsquo;s work participation rates have fallen sharply &mdash; from 29% in 2004-5 to 22% in 2011-12 and to 17% in 2017-18.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inequality at Work:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <strong>Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE),</strong> a large percentage of all the jobs lost last year were held by women. Out of the 11 million jobs lost in 2018, women accounted for 8.8 million.</li>
<li><strong>Indian women <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/declining-female-labour-force-participation-editorial-upsc-ias-economy-gender-inequality-gktoday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">receive 34% fewer wages</a></strong> than men for equivalent work, spend around five hours a day on unpaid care work compared to a mere half an hour for men and are primarily engaged in low-paying, informal sector work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives to Promote Women in Science</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Vigyan Jyoti Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-for-gender-equality-in-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vigyan Jyoti Scheme</strong></a> is launched by the <strong>Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST).</strong></li>
<li>It is intended to create a<strong> level-playing field</strong> for the <strong>meritorious girls in high school</strong> to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in their higher education.</li>
<li>It also offers exposure for girl students from the rural background to help to plan their journey from school to a job of their choice in the field of science.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GATI Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-for-gender-equality-in-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI)</strong> </a>will develop a <strong>comprehensive Charter and a framework for assessing Gender Equality</strong> in STEM</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>KIRAN Scheme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kiran-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) Scheme</strong></a> is started by the <strong>Department of Science and Technology (DST)</strong> aimed to <strong>bring gender parity in the Science &amp; Technology sector</strong> by inducting more women talent in the research &amp; development domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BBBP</strong> </a>is the joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development to ensure<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-25th-january-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> survival, protection, and empowerment of the girl child.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-science-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Science Day (NSD)</strong></a> was celebrated on 28<sup>th</sup> February 2020 with the theme &lsquo;Women In Science&rsquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Dr Niti Kumar,</strong> a senior scientist from the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI)</strong></a>, Lucknow received <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/serb-women-excellence-award-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SERB Women Excellence Award-2020</strong></a> on this occasion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aishe-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report 2018-19</strong></a>, the gender gap in the country <strong>narrowed</strong> as compared to the previous year, i.e. 2017-18.</li>
<li>Initiatives like<strong> She-box</strong> are ensuring <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-to-boost-womens-workforce-participation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>workplace safety</strong></a> and boost better participation of women in all areas of economy,</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inequalities in gender participation in science emanate from social-economic issues, which can be treated by bringing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/subdued-gender-participation-in-stem" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>behavioural change.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-needs-more-women-parliamentarians" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>better political representation of women</strong></a> can go a long way in deconstructing the stereotype of women</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-to-boost-womens-workforce-participation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Better workforce participation</strong></a> can only be brought by collective effort of the society and the people in governance.</li>
<li>Growth in jobs must be inclusive and new jobs need to be secure with <strong>better work conditions, including social security benefits.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/private-firms-employ-more-women-in-rd/article32406949.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/women-in-research-and-development'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'ARIIA 2020 Rankings',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020</strong> rankings was announced.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Around 674 institutions participated in the ARIIA rankings in 2020 compared with 496 in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> initiative of the Ministry of Education,</strong> Government of India to systematically rank all the major higher educational institutions and universities in India on indicators related to <strong>&ldquo;Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development&rdquo;</strong> amongst students and faculties.</li>
<li>More than quantity, ARIIA<strong> focuses on quality of innovations</strong> and tries to measure the real impact created by these innovations nationally and internationally.</li>
<li><strong>Rank Categorisation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two broad categories: <strong>publicly funded institutions and private or self-financed institutions.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>publicly funded institutions</strong> have been further categorized into:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Institute of National Importance, Central Universities &amp; Central Funded Technical Institutes.</li>
<li>State University &amp; Deemed Universities (Government &amp; Government Aided)</li>
<li>Government and Government / Aided College/Institutes</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> private or self-financed institutions</strong> have been categorized further into:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>private or self-financed universities</li>
<li>private or self-financed college/institutes</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>6<sup>th</sup> sub- category</strong> for higher educational institutions<strong> for women</strong> has been introduced in 2020 <strong>to encourage women</strong> and bringing <strong>gender parity</strong> in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Indicators For Rankings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Budget &amp; Funding Support.</li>
<li>Infrastructure &amp; Facilities.</li>
<li>Awareness, Promotions &amp; support for Idea Generation &amp; Innovation.</li>
<li>Promotion &amp; Support for Entrepreneurship Development.</li>
<li>Innovative Learning Methods &amp; Courses.</li>
<li>Intellectual Property Generation, Technology Transfer &amp; Commercialization.</li>
<li>Innovation in Governance of the Institution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>List of Topper Institutes in 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras</strong> in<strong> Institute of National Importance, Central Universities &amp; Central Funded Technical Institutes </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>Maharashtra&rsquo;s Institute of Chemical Technology</strong> in the<strong> government and government-aided universities </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>College of Engineering Pune </strong>in the<strong> government and government aided college/institutions </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>Odisha&rsquo;s Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) </strong>in the<strong> private or self-financed universities </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>SR Engineering College, Telangana </strong>in the<strong> private colleges </strong>category.</li>
<li><strong>Avinashilingam Institute for Home Sciences and Higher Education, Coimbatore </strong>in the<strong> higher educational institutions for women </strong>category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/education/iit-madras-tops-ariia-rankings/article32383875.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/ariia-2020-rankings'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Military Coup in Mali',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has resigned</strong> after soldiers had arrested him and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse in the capital, Bamako as part of a coup.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has prompted its West African neighbours to threaten border closures and sanctions against the coup leaders.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crisis-in-libya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2011 crisis in Libya</strong></a> led Mali along the path to chaos.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Weapons from Libya were supplied across the Sahara Desert</strong> and fuelled a <strong>separatist conflict</strong> in northern Mali. This turned into an <strong>Islamist militant offensive</strong> which prompted a coup in the capital Bamako (Mali).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> Mali has <strong>three overlapping sets</strong> of problems:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political crisis</strong> that grew out of the disputed legislative elections of March 2020.</li>
<li><strong>Economic crisis</strong> due to economic stagnation, corruption and further complications by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a> There was dissatisfaction among the troops due to poor payments.</li>
<li><strong>Security crisis</strong> due to the failure to contain <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>terrorism</strong></a> and jihadists and the actions of the military against civilians.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Military Coup:</strong> It calls itself the <strong>National Committee for the Salvation of the People</strong> and has <strong>pledged to stabilise the country</strong> by enacting a <strong>political transition and stage elections</strong> within a reasonable time.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has imposed a curfew and closed the borders sealing the country.</li>
<li>It would respect all the past agreements, including<strong> Mali&rsquo;s support for anti-jihadist missions</strong> in the region and its <strong>commitment to the Algiers process</strong> which is a<strong> 2015 peace agreement between the Malian government and armed groups in the north of the country.</strong></li>
<li>It held that <strong>United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali</strong> (MINUSMA), <strong>France&rsquo;s Barkhane force,</strong> the <strong>G5 Sahel</strong> (Institutional framework of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger), <strong>Takuba</strong> (a European special-forces initiative) will remain Mali&rsquo;s partners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reactions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>France has urged Mali to return to civilian rule,</strong> saying "the fight against terrorist groups and the defence of democracy and the rule of law are inseparable".<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>France, Mali's former colonial ruler,</strong> has several thousand troops based in Mali fighting Islamist militant groups.</li>
<li>Various jihadist groups, some linked to <strong>al-Qaeda</strong> and the <strong>Islamic State group,</strong> are based in the deserts of northern Mali, from where they have spread to neighbouring countries, especially Burkina Faso and Niger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/09-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>African Union</strong> </a>had already <strong>suspended Mali</strong> on the account that military coups were something of the past and cannot be accepted in present times.</li>
<li>The <strong>15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)</strong> has also<strong> taken swift action against Mali</strong> by closing borders, suspending financial flows and ejecting it from decision-making bodies.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN's Security Council</strong> </a>has <strong>demanded the immediate release</strong> of all government officials and the <strong>restoration of constitutional order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Republic of Mali<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597995063_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597995063_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mali is a vast country stretching into the <strong>Sahara Desert in western Africa.</strong></li>
<li>Once home to several pre-colonial empires, the <strong>landlocked, arid African country</strong> of Mali is <strong>one of the largest on the continent</strong> and is <strong>among the poorest in the world.</strong></li>
<li>After <strong>independence from France in 1960,</strong> Mali suffered droughts, rebellions, a coup and 23 years of military dictatorship until <strong>democratic elections in 1992.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has experienced <strong>several military takeovers</strong> and is currently battling to contain a wave of jihadist attacks and ethnic violence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Capital:</strong> Bamako.</li>
<li><strong>Population:</strong> Around 19 million.</li>
<li><strong>Area:</strong> 1.25 million sq km.</li>
<li><strong>Major languages:</strong> French, Bambara, Berber and Arabic.</li>
<li><strong>Religions:</strong> Islam and Indigenous beliefs.</li>
<li><strong>Currency:</strong> Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA) franc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The latest military coup is apparently a reaction to the security challenges but also to corruption, disputed elections, and political drift. However, it itself seems unlikely to fix anything.</li>
<li>It highlights a familiar truth that while foreign intervention has its uses, the key to repairing a nation like Mali lies in its own hands and with its own faltering democratic institutions.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/mali-wakes-up-to-military-rule-after-president-is-forced-out/article32389817.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/military-coup-in-mali'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Organic Farming in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India ranks 1<sup>st</sup> in number of organic farmers</strong> and 9<sup>th</sup> in terms of area under organic farming.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Scenario Regarding Organic Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Sikkim</strong> became the first State in the <strong>world</strong> to become <strong>fully organic in 2016.</strong></li>
<li><strong>North East India</strong> has traditionally been organic and the consumption of chemicals is far less than the rest of the country.</li>
<li>Similarly the tribal and island territories have been traditionally practicing organic farming.</li>
<li>The major organic exports from India have been <strong>flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice and pulses.</strong></li>
<li>There was an increase of nearly 50% in organic exports in 2018-19, touching Rs. 5151 crore.</li>
<li>Commencement of exports from Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland to UK, USA, Eswatini and Italy have proved the potential by increasing volumes and expanding to new destinations as the demand for <strong>health foods</strong> increases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives to Promote Organic Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER) is a <strong>Central Sector Scheme,</strong> a sub-mission under <strong>National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)</strong></li>
<li>It was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2015 for implementation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.</li>
<li>The scheme aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, launched in 2015 is an elaborated component of <strong>Soil Health Management (SHM)</strong> of major project <strong>National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).</strong></li>
<li>Under PKVY, Organic farming is promoted through adoption of organic villages by cluster approach and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Certification Schemes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong> </a>is the food regulator in the country and is also responsible for regulating organic food in the domestic market and imports.</li>
<li><strong>Participatory Guarantee System (PGS):</strong> PGS is a process of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agriculture-export-policy-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>certifying organic products</strong></a>, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards. <strong>PGS Green</strong> is given to chemical free produce under transition to &lsquo;organic&rsquo; which takes 3 years. It is mainly for <strong>domestic purpose.</strong></li>
<li><strong>National Program for Organic Production (NPOP):</strong> NPOP grants organic farming certification through a process of third party certification for<strong> export purposes.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-soil-health-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Soil Health Card Scheme</strong></a> has led to a <strong>decline of 8-10%<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/soil-health-card-scheme-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> in the use of chemical fertilizers</a></strong> and also raised productivity by 5-6%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agri-export Policy 2018</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Focus on clusters</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agriculture-export-policy-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Marketing and promotion of &ldquo;Produce of India&rdquo;</strong> </a>have positively impacted the organic farming in India</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One District - One Product (ODOP)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The programme aims to encourage more<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> visibility and sale of indigenous and specialized products/crafts of Uttar Pradesh</strong></a>, generating employment at the district level.</li>
<li>The presence of aggregators is imperative to bring about economies of scale for the small and marginal farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)</strong> launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM FME scheme</strong> </a>as a part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan&rsquo;.</strong></a></li>
<li>It aims to bring in new technology, apart from affordable credit to help small entrepreneurs penetrate new markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Zero Budget Natural Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zero budget natural farming</strong></a> is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawing from traditional Indian practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Organic Farming</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to FSSAI,&rsquo;organic farming&rsquo; is a system of farm design and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production <strong>without the use of synthetic external inputs</strong> such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides and synthetic hormones or genetically modified organisms.</li>
<li><strong>Organic farm produce</strong> means the produce obtained from <strong>organic agriculture,</strong> while <strong>organic food</strong> means food products that have been produced in accordance with <strong>specified standards for organic production.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Natural farming is not a new concept in India, with farmers having tilled their land without the use of chemicals - largely relying on organic residues, cow dung, composts, etc. since time immemorial. This is also in sync with the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal</strong></a> 2 targeting &lsquo;end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Hence with <strong>greater awareness</strong> and<strong> capacity building</strong> of the producers in compliance with international standards, Indian organic farmers will soon be reinforcing their rightful place in global agri trade.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1645497" 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/organic-farming-in-india'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Expansion of the NCC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Defence has approved the proposal to expand the <strong>National Cadet Corps (NCC)</strong> in border and coastal districts.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The expansion of the NCC was announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech.</li>
<li>Restructuring of the NCC was one of the<strong> key recommendations of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/abolition-of-posts-in-mes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Committee of Experts (CoE) headed by Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (Retd)</a></strong> in 2016.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Shekatkar Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry of Defence under the chairmanship of Lt. Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar had constituted a committee to recommend measures to<strong> enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces</strong> which submitted its report in December 2016.</li>
<li>Few Recommendations:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations.</li>
<li>Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.</li>
<li>Improving the <strong>efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.</strong></li>
<li>Recommended a roll-on defence budget to have enough capital expenditure available for modernisation as against the present practice of surrendering unspent capital budget at the end of each financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion:</strong> A total of one lakh cadets from <strong>173 border and coastal districts</strong> will be inducted into the NCC of which <strong>one-third of them will be girls.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The expansion plan would be implemented in partnership with the States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Training and Administration:</strong> The <strong>Army</strong> will provide training and administrative support to the NCC units located<strong> in the border areas, Navy</strong> to the units in the <strong>coastal areas</strong> and<strong> Indian Air Force</strong> to the units<strong> close to Air Force stations.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong> It will provide<strong> trained manpower for disaster management</strong> and <strong>skill training to youth</strong> for making their career in the armed forces.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will increase <strong>youth&rsquo;s interest in careers</strong> in Navy, Coast Guard and also Merchant shipping avenues.</li>
<li>In the border area, the trained cadets<strong> can play supporting roles</strong> to the Armed forces in various forms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Cadet Corps</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NCC was <strong>formed in 1948</strong> (on the recommendation of H. N. Kunzru Committee-1946), and has its roots to British era uniformed youth entities like University Corps or University Officer Training Corps. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently it has a strength of around 14 lakh cadets from Army, Navy and Air Force wings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NCC falls under the <strong>purview of the Ministry of Defence</strong> and is headed by a <strong>Director General of three-star military rank.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>enrolls cadets at high school and college level</strong> and also awards certificates on completion of various phases. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NCC cadets receive basic military training at various levels and also have academic curriculum basics related to Armed forces and their functioning.</li>
<li>Various training camps, adventure activities and military training camps are an important aspect of NCC training.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> NCC cadets have played an important role over the years in relief efforts during various emergency situations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the ongoing pandemic, over 60,000 NCC cadets have been deployed for voluntary relief work in coordination with district and state authorities across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/defence-minister-approves-proposal-to-expand-ncc-in-173-border-coastal-districts/article32366589.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/expansion-of-the-ncc'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Day 32',
		'catname' => '60 days refresher',
		'desc' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">Defence</h2>
<p>Every year several questions have been asked from defence technology. The scope of questions that can come from this topic is very broad. However, by analysing the previous year questions it can be depicted that a lot of times questions are asked on those events which have remained in news. Thus, we have picked some current affairs for this type of questions</p>
<h2>Defence Policy &amp; Framework</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-acquisition-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Acquisition Council</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/def-connect-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Def Connect 2019</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-anti-drone-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Anti-Drone Guidelines</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reviewing-defence-procurement-procedure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reviewing Defence Procurement Procedure</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-space-research-agency-dsra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-new-sop-for-arms-export" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's New SOP for Arms Export</strong></a></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defense-manufacturing-rules-eased" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defense Manufacturing Rules Eased</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-raksha-gyan-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-flawed-defence-procurement-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A Flawed Defence Procurement Policy</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Indigenisation of Defence Technology</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/advanced-torpedo-decoy-system-maareech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Advanced Torpedo Decoy System: Maareech</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/a-sat-and-adtcr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A-SAT and ADTCR</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-industrial-corridors" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Industrial Corridors</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pinaka-missile-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pinaka Missile System</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-missile-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BrahMos Missile</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/drdo-successfully-tests-indigenous-anti-tank-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DRDO Successfully Tests Indigenous Anti-tank Missile</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lcu-l-56-commissioned-into-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>LCU L-56 Commissioned into Indian Navy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bhabha-kavach" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bhabha Kavach</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/third-generation-nag-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Third Generation NAG Missile</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ins-viraat-to-be-scrapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>INS Viraat to be Scrapped</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ins-shivalik-and-sindhukirti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>INS 'Shivalik' and 'Sindhukirti'</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/indigenisation-of-defence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indigenisation of Defence</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/varunastra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Varunastra</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/successful-test-firing-of-agni-v" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Successful Test Firing of Agni V</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-nuclear-triad-complete" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Nuclear Triad Complete</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Modernization of the Defence Industry</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iaf-gets-apache-helicopters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IAF Gets Apache Helicopters</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/spike-lr-anti-tank-guided-missiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Spike-LR Anti-Tank Guided Missiles</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/innovations-for-defence-excellence-idex-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Initiative</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-unmanned-aircraft-system-uas-rules-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Draft Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2020</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-nod-to-integrated-air-defence-weapon-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US Nod to Integrated Air Defence Weapon System</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/apache-helicopters-for-indian-army" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Apache Helicopters for Indian Army</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mk-45-naval-guns" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MK-45 Naval Guns</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electromagnetic-interference-compatibility-and-pulse" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electromagnetic Interference, Compatibility and Pulse</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/spice-2000-bombs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SPICE-2000 Bombs</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/akula-class-attack-submarine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Akula Class &ndash; Attack Submarine</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/advanced-medium-combat-aircraft" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-successfully-tests-its-first-hypersonic-aircraft" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China Successfully Tests its First Hypersonic Aircraft</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-going-ahead-with-purchase-of-S-400-air-defence-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>S-400 Air Defense Systems</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/induction-of-french-rafale-aircrafts-in-iaf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Induction of French Rafale Aircrafts in IAF</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-need-to-modernise-indian-air-force" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Need to Modernise Indian Air Force</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Security Organisations</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/naval-innovation-and-indigenisation-organisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navy-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Navy Day</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navy-gets-its-first-woman-pilot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Navy Gets its First Woman Pilot</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/87th-air-force-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>87<sup>th</sup> Air Force Day</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Years Questions</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2017)</p>
<ol>
<li>The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations.</li>
<li>The International Panel on Fissile Materials&middot; is an organ of International Atomic Energy Agency.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only </p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2 </p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(d) Neither 1 nor 2</span></strong></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. With reference to &lsquo;Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)&rsquo;, consider the following statements: (2015)</p>
<ol>
<li>It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.</li>
<li>It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only </p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2 </p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(d) Neither 1 nor 2</span></strong></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: (2008)</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;"></td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">
<p><strong>List-I </strong></p>
<p><strong>(Service/Agency)</strong></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;"></td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">
<p><strong>List-II</strong></p>
<p><strong>(Country)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;">A.</td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Foreign Intelligence Service</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;">1.</td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Israel</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;">B.</td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Ministry of State Security</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;">2.</td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Britain</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;">C.</td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Secret Intelligence Service</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;">3.</td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">China</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 4.29936%; border-style: hidden;">D.</td>
<td style="width: 45.7006%; border-style: hidden;">The Mossad</td>
<td style="width: 3.82166%; border-style: hidden;">4.</td>
<td style="width: 20.7006%; border-style: hidden;">Russia</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Code:</p>
<p>A B C D</p>
<p>(a) 4 1 2 3</p>
<p>(b) 2 3 4 1</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) 4 3 2 1</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) 2 1 4 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. &lsquo;Hand-in-Hand 2007&rsquo; a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of which one of the following countries? (2008)</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) China</strong> </span></p>
<p>(b) Japan</p>
<p>(c) Russia </p>
<p>(d) USA</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which one of the following is the best description of &lsquo;INS Astradharini&rsquo;, that was in the news recently? (2016)</p>
<p>(a) Amphibious warfare ship</p>
<p>(b) Nuclear-powered submarine</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2014)</p>
<ol>
<li>It is a surface-to-surface missile.</li>
<li>It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.</li>
<li>It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) 1 only</strong> </span></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only </p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. In the context of Indian defence, consider the following statements: (2009)</p>
<ol>
<li>The Shourya missile flies with a speed of more than 8 Mach.</li>
<li>The range of Shourya missile is more than 1600 km.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only </p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2 </p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(d) Neither 1 nor 2</span></strong></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. What is &ldquo;Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)&rdquo;, sometimes seen in the news? (2018)</p>
<p>(a) An Israeli radar system</p>
<p>(b) India&rsquo;s indigenous anti-missile programme</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(c) An American anti-missile system</span></strong></p>
<p>(d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea.</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. From which one of the following did India buy the Barak anti-missile defence systems? (2008)</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(a) Israel</span> </strong></p>
<p>(b) France</p>
<p>(c) Russia </p>
<p>(d) USA</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. In the context of the Indian defence, what is &lsquo;Dhruv&rsquo;? (2008)</p>
<p>(a) Aircraft-carrying warship</p>
<p>(b) Missile-carrying submarine</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Advanced light helicopter</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Intercontinental ballistic missile</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/60-days-refresher-programme/day-32'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Revamping of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/pm-fasal-bima-yojana-2-0-centre-revamps-flagship-scheme-to-ensure-quick-payment-of-claims-to-farmers/2053505/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;PM-Fasal Bima Yojana 2.0&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Financial Express on 13/08/2020. It talks about the Centre government&rsquo;s decision to revamp Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in order to ensure quick payment of claims to farmers.</p>
</div>
<p>The frequent occurrence of rainfall deficits, dry spells, and the late onset of rainfall due to climate change have underlined the importance of crop insurance for farmers. Citing the significance of crop insurance, the union government had earlier launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana-(pmfby)" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).</strong></a></p>
<p>PMFBY aims to increase production in agriculture by providing support to ensure inclusive risk cover for crops of farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to the post-harvest stage.</p>
<p>Since the launch of the PMFBY in 2016, millions of farmers have benefited from the scheme. However, in order to ensure more efficient and effective implementation of the scheme, the central government has approved the revamping of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).</p>
<p>With the revamped PMFBY 2.0, the government envisages leveraging technology in a comprehensive manner to address the issues impacting timely assessment and payment of claims.</p>
<h3>Need for Revamping</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Non-Voluntary Uptil Now:</strong> PMFBY has until now been a<strong> voluntary scheme only for non-loanee farmers, while mandatory for those availing crop loans from banks.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the case of loanee farmers, banks have been deducting their share of the premium (2-5%) against loan accounts on a compulsory basis and remitting the same to the insurance companies.</li>
<li>Farmers haven&rsquo;t taken kindly to this, not the least as the said companies are neither in direct contact with them and nor do they issue any policy certificates, unlike in car or health insurance.</li>
<li>The current scheme, it would seem, has served to provide the insurance to the loans of banks more than the crops of farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Upper Limit of Central Subsidy:</strong> Until now, there was <strong>no upper limit for the central subsidy</strong> and as a result of it the insurers never showed the needed willingness or intention to actively involve themselves in the scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Huge Pendency:</strong> There has been a huge <strong>pendency of settlement of state subsidy to the insurance companies, over the last three to four seasons in several states.</strong> This has affected the timely payment of claims.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will be worth mentioning here that delay in the release of the state share of subsidy is the major reason for the delay in payment of claims to farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>PMFBY to PMFBY 2.0</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Completely Voluntary:</strong> It has been decided to make enrolment 100% voluntary for all farmers from 2020 Kharif.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From now on, insurance companies will have to make efforts to create real awareness among farmers about the benefits of crop risk coverage.</li>
<li>Crop insurance would, thus, become an informed choice for loanee farmers, just as it already is for their non-loanee counterparts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limit to Central Subsidy:</strong> The Cabinet has decided to cap the Centre&rsquo;s premium subsidy under these schemes for premium rates up to 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for irrigated areas/crops.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will shift the onus to the insurance companies&rsquo;, as they would have to actively seek out farmers and convince them of the importance of crop insurance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Flexibility to States:</strong> The government has given the flexibility to states/UTs to implement PMFBY and given them the option to select any number of additional risk covers/features like prevented sowing, localised calamity, mid-season adversity, and post-harvest losses.</li>
<li><strong>Penalising the Pendency:</strong> In the revamped PMFBY, a provision has been incorporated wherein if states don&rsquo;t release their share before March 31 for the Kharif season and September 30 for rabi, they would not be allowed to participate in the scheme in subsequent seasons.</li>
<li><strong>Investing in ICE Activities:</strong> Insurance companies have to now spend 0.5% of the total premium collected on<strong> information, education and communication (IEC)</strong> activities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A central advisory committee has also been set up with the implementing state governments and insurance companies to ensure uniformity of message across the country and remove gaps in dissemination of information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Awareness Generation:</strong> The changes made in the scheme are welcome but there are some challenges too.<strong> Awareness generation</strong> will be one of the major challenges in the smooth implementation of the scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Bringing Behavioural Change:</strong> Apart from this, a lot more needs to be done in bringing about a<strong> behavioural change</strong> regarding the cost of insurance being a necessary input and not a money-back investment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>With the revamping of PMFBY, the entire effort of the government is to ensure transparent and timely assessment of the yield, and quick computation and payment of claims to the farmers, to realise the <strong>goal of Atmanirbhar Krishi in general and Atmanirbhar Farmers in particular.</strong></p>
<p>Further, the voluntariness and the time-bound implementation of crop insurance under the revamped PMFBY will help it become a<strong> true insurance scheme now.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the success story so far</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.</li>
<li>It is a replacement scheme of the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and the Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (MNAIS)</li>
<li>Under this scheme there will be a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops. In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%. The rest of the premium will be borne by the Government.</li>
<li>It aims to provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of natural calamities, pests &amp; diseases.</li>
<li>PMFBY aims to support production in agriculture by providing support to ensure inclusive risk cover for crops of farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to the post-harvest stage.</li>
<li>Since the launch of the PMFBY in 2016, millions of farmers have benefited from the scheme. In the first three years, farmers paid Rs 13,000 crore as premium, while they received Rs 60,000 crore as insurance claim under PMFBY.</li>
<li>The scheme has completed four years and has been implemented in 27 states and UTs.The sum insured has almost doubled under this scheme from Rs 22,000 per hectare to Rs 39,000 per hectare.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #efffeb;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Enumerate the reasons why the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima yojana has not been very successful in meeting its objectives. Also, analyse how far the modifications brought up by the government will help in its effective implementation.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_TZB78I9hWA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/peace-is-precious-6560333/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Peace is precious&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Indian Express on August 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube Channel.</p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revamping-of-pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Dashboard',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D1vn0pYQ7ns" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) dashboard would allow monitoring of all the infrastructure projects under the 111 trillion rupees <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National infrastructure pipeline (NIP).</strong></a></li>
<li>NIP dashboard will be a digital platform to ensure data and updated information for investments across various sectors.</li>
<li>All the infrastructure projects will be mapped and evaluated by the concerned departments.</li>
<li>The Finance ministry will monitor the implementation and actual progress compared to the initial estimates of the NIP for each project.</li>
<li>The move assumes significance as focus on infrastructure projects will help revive the economy following the covid-19 crisis.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NIP will enable a forward outlook on infrastructure projects which will create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure for all, thereby making growth more inclusive.</li>
<li>NIP includes economic and social infrastructure projects.</li>
<li>It also includes both greenfield and brownfield projects.</li>
<li>It will help in stepping-up annual infrastructure investment to achieve the Gross Domestic Product <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(GDP) of $5 trillion by 2024-25.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Centre and states are expected to have almost equal share in implementing NIP, while the private sector contribution is expected to be around 21%</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Utility of NIP dashboard</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NIP dashboard will <strong>link the national infrastructure pipeline to the India investment grid</strong> which manages and monitors investments across various sectors capturing data on Investments from States and Central Government.</li>
<li>The dashboard would provide<strong> real-time information</strong> about the projects for prospective investors also letting the people of the country know how many projects are being implemented.</li>
<li>If any approval stucks somewhere it would be highlighted on the dashboard. This would increase accountability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues of implementation in infrastructure sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In Infrastructure development there are several stages: design stage, finance stage, bidding stage, construction stage and operation stage.</li>
<li><strong>Design stage:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It involves making blueprint of the projects, finance stage deals with getting funds or investments, bidding is mainly about assigning the projects to suitable companies, and construction and operational stage deals with on ground physical implementations of the projects.</li>
<li>There are few caveats at each stage, in the design stage, India lags behind countries like China which focus more on the design stage than any other stage to enhance the standards of their infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Finance stage</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To develop projects from ideas on paper, corporate bonds and long term financing is required for the development of the projects.</li>
<li>Government resources like tax money are not adequate therefore there is a need to raise money capital from the private sector and foreign investments.</li>
<li>However the borrowed money is to be paid back, announcing freebies like free electricity to get political mileage increases the economic stress on infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bidding Stage</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many companies are awarded contracts in corrupt ways through crony capitalism. Many times in the bidding of a project design and past record of the bidder are not properly scrutinised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Construction Stage:</strong> Due to land acquisition delays and litigation issues, the rate of implementation of projects is very slow on global standards, due to which India is behind than most of the countries in rate of project execution, the NIP dashboard does not address these issues.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Getting approvals are very difficult in terms of land access, environmental clearances,impending litigation in court delays the infrastructure projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Operational Stage:</strong> Lot of foreign investment is available for completed assets for example Delhi and Hyderabad metro, but new projects are not looked at by the foreign investors.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus it is the responsibility of the government to initiate the primary construction which could be done by using Indian rupees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data provided on the dashboard should not just provide data on investments for economic analysis, but also be made more actionable by providing information about upcoming projects.</li>
<li>In infrastructure projects initiated by the government, they could too use private consultants in designing and determining techno-economic feasibility.</li>
<li>The private sector should also be involved on a collaboration basis with the governments, whether it is a detailed project report or anything it should be done in a partnership mode rather than shifting responsibility. The onus of implementation of the project should be shared.</li>
<li>Online bidding can be a viable option to bring about transparency in bidding.</li>
<li>In monetizing the infrastructural assets, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National interest infrastructure investment</a> trust</strong> could play crucial role</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The NIP dashboard is a step in the right direction to provide real time information and data on Infrastructure projects. This would facilitate assimilation of data and information from all the stakeholders like Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies, Banks and Financial Institution, PE funds, and private investors, both local and foreign on one platform to increase accountability and transparency in the infrastructure sector.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-national-infrastructure-pipeline-nip-dashboard'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Turkey-Greece Stand-off',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, France has deployed its military in the eastern Mediterranean Sea amid <strong>tensions between Greece and Turkey</strong> over <strong>recently-discovered gas reserves.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to France the military has been deployed <strong>to strengthen the autonomous assessment of the situation</strong> and to <strong>affirm France&rsquo;s commitment to free movement,</strong> to the security of maritime navigation in the Mediterranean and<strong> respect for international law.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Stand-off:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> The<strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> European Union</a> (EU)</strong> and its allies in West Asia and North Africa made <strong>plans to build a gas pipeline</strong> from the Mediterranean to Europe&rsquo;s mainland to transport the gas. However,<strong> they have kept Turkey out of it,</strong> which has infuriated Turkey. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The gas transport would help <strong>reduce the EU's dependency on Russia.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in 2019, the <strong>EastMed Gas Forum</strong> was formed by <strong>Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine, </strong>and<strong> Turkey was again excluded.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Turkey&rsquo;s Counter:</strong> Turkey challenged the EU pipeline project and reached an agreement with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crisis-in-libya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Libya</strong> </a>to form an <strong>Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)</strong> from its southern shores to Libya&rsquo;s northern coast across the Mediterranean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, Greece<strong> claimed the Turkish zone violated its maritime sovereignty</strong> and later announced its EEZ with Egypt, which clashed with Turkey&rsquo;s zone.</li>
<li>Reacting to the deal, Turkey sent its survey ship near the <strong>island of Kastellorizo</strong> area mentioned in the <strong>Greece-Egypt agreement.</strong></li>
<li>This is not the first time Greece and Turkey have been at odds. Over the past four decades, the <strong>countries have gone to war at least three times. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597921345_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597921345_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Overlapping Claims: Turkey and Greece, vehemently <strong>disagree over overlapping claims to hydrocarbon resources</strong> in the region based on <strong>conflicting views on the extent of their continental shelves in waters</strong> dotted with mostly Greek islands. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Turkey says that despite having <strong>the longest coastline in the eastern Mediterranean</strong> it is<strong> confined into a narrow strip of waters due to the extension of Greece's continental shelf,</strong> based on the presence of many Greek islands near its shore.</li>
<li>The island of Kastellorizo, which is about 2 km off Turkey's southern coast and 570 km from the Greek mainland, is a particular source of Turkish frustration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Involvement of Many Countries:&nbsp;</strong>The highly complicated issue now has the <strong>potential to involve Europe, West Asia and North Africa.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>France, the EU&rsquo;s most powerful military force, has<strong> thrown its weight behind Greece and Cyprus.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cyprus is physically divided</strong> with the <strong>southern part ruled by the internationally-recognised government</strong> and the <strong>northern part controlled by Turkey.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An <strong>alliance</strong> is also emerging among Greece, Cyprus, Italy and France, which is backed by Egypt, Israel and the UAE.</li>
<li>Turkey stands <strong>almost isolated,</strong> but remains a <strong>key power</strong> in the Mediterranean.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If the EU wants to transport gas from the coast of Israel to Europe via Cyprus and Italy, an<strong> open conflict with Turkey cannot help.</strong> What is in everybody&rsquo;s interest is to <strong>bring down tensions </strong>and <strong>find a diplomatic and mutually acceptable solution</strong> to the gas conflict.</li>
<li>Excluding Turkey, which has a long Mediterranean coast, is unwise. Allowing a resurgent Turkey to bully smaller powers in the region would be strategically disastrous. The EU has to <strong>strike a balance</strong> between these two options.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/france-reinforces-naval-forces-in-mediterranean/article32347629.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/turkey-greece-stand-off'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Project',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Chief Minister of Punjab has warned the Centre of political unrest in the state if asked to proceed with the <strong>Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal project.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Punjab has staked claims to Yamuna&rsquo;s waters and also reiterated the need for a tribunal on water sharing.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597921034_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597921034_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="284" height="362" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1960:</strong> The dispute can be traced back to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indus-waters-treaty-1960" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indus Water Treaty</strong></a> between<strong> India and Pakistan,</strong> allowing the former<strong> &lsquo;free and unrestricted use&rsquo; of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.</strong></li>
<li><strong>1966: Creation of Haryana from the old (undivided) Punjab</strong>&nbsp;presented the problem of giving Haryana its share of river waters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For Haryana to get its share of the waters of the Sutlej and its tributary Beas, a <strong>canal linking the Sutlej with the Yamuna</strong> was planned (SYL Canal).</li>
<li><strong>Punjab refused to share waters with Haryana</strong> stating it was against the <strong>riparian principle</strong> which dictates that the water of a river belongs only to the State and country or States and countries through which the river in question flows.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1981:</strong> Both states <strong>mutually agreed for the re-allocation of water.</strong></li>
<li><strong>1982: Construction of 214-km SYL was launched</strong> in Kapoori village, Punjab.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Agitations, protests and assassinations</strong> were carried out in protest creating the environment of <strong>terrorism</strong> in the state and making the<strong> issue of national security.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>1996:</strong> Haryana moved the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> (SC) seeking directions to Punjab to complete the work on the SYL.</li>
<li><strong>2002 and 2004:</strong> SC directed Punjab to complete the work in its territory.</li>
<li><strong>2004:</strong> Punjab Assembly passed the <strong>Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, terminating its water-sharing agreements</strong> and thus jeopardising the construction of SYL in Punjab.</li>
<li><strong>2016:</strong> SC started hearings into a <strong>presidential reference (Article 143) to decide on the legality of the 2004 Act</strong> and declared that Punjab reneged on its promise to share the waters of rivers. Thus, the<strong> act was termed constitutionally invalid.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SC has directed the Chief Ministers of both states to <strong>negotiate and settle the SYL canal issue</strong> at the highest political level to be mediated by the Centre.</li>
<li>Punjab has <strong>asked for a tribunal for fresh time-bound assessment</strong> of the water availability.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Punjab holds that there has been <strong>no adjudication or scientific assessment of river waters</strong> in the state till date.</li>
<li>The availability of Ravi-Beas water has also come down from the estimated 17.17 MAF in 1981 to 13.38 MAF in 2013. A fresh tribunal would ascertain all this.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Punjab&rsquo;s Unwillingness:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Punjab is <strong>facing severe water crisis due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depleting-groundwater" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over-exploitation of its underground aquifers</a></strong> for the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>wheat/paddy</strong></a> monocycle.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-aquifer-mapping-and-management-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Ground Water Authority&rsquo;s</strong></a> <strong>report,</strong> its underground water is over-exploited in about 79% of the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Punjab feels that it has <strong>utilised its precious groundwater resources to grow the crop for the entire country</strong> and should not be forced to share its waters as it <strong>faces the threat of<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> desertification.</a></strong></li>
<li>Also, the<strong> youth of the state may start feeling that the state has been discriminated against</strong> once the construction of the canal restarts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Pakistan and secessionist organisations like Sikh For Justice</strong> could exploit the situation to foment trouble in the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 143: Advisory Jurisdiction</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Constitution under Article 143<strong> authorises the President to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court</strong> in the <strong>two categories</strong> of matters:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On any <strong>question of law or fact of public importance</strong> which has arisen or which is likely to arise. The SC <strong>may tender or may refuse to tender its opinion</strong> to the President.</li>
<li>On any <strong>dispute arising out of any pre-constitution</strong> treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanador other similar instruments. Here, the<strong> SC must tender its opinion</strong> to the President.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In both the cases, the opinion expressed by the Supreme Court is<strong> only advisory and not a judicial pronouncement.</strong> Hence, it is <strong>not binding on the President.</strong></li>
<li>The references made by the President under Article 143 are <strong>decided by a Bench consisting of at least five judges.</strong></li>
<li>Few important references made by the President to the SC under its advisory jurisdiction are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Berubari Union, 1960.</li>
<li>Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, 1992.</li>
<li>Rama Janma Bhumi case, 1993.</li>
<li>Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004.</li>
<li>2G spectrum case verdict and the mandatory auctioning of natural resources across all sectors, 2012.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Punjab needs to understand the importance of the canal for Haryana and should rethink its previous stands. Adequate measures should be put in place before any new decision to keep the possible political turmoil in control. Neighbouring states and centre will have to play a crucial role.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s time for the Centre to chart a new course centred on Punjab&rsquo;s demand for a fresh tribunal for the division of the river waters. For that, it&rsquo;s imperative that all stakeholders stop further complicating the situation.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-punjab-cm-has-warned-against-restarting-syl-canal-work-6561662/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Shortcomings of Indian Chemical Industry: TIFAC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a report by the <strong>Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council</strong> (TIFAC) has <strong>highlighted the shortcomings of the Indian chemical industry</strong> which prove to be barriers in competing with China.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>TIFAC is an<strong> autonomous organisation and think-tank of the Department of Science and Technology</strong> and it commissioned the report in March 2020 when the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19&nbsp;</a></strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a> had started accelerating in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India <strong>does not have enough technology, plants and infrastructure</strong> to manufacture key chemicals in a cost-effective and less polluting manner.</li>
<li>India has nearly <strong>stopped manufacturing several key Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong> (API).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <strong>given up the manufacturing of APIs</strong> for ascorbic acid, aspartame and antibiotics like rifampicin, doxycycline, tazobactam acid and even steroids.</li>
<li><strong>Production of intermediates</strong> such as atorvastatin, chloroquine, gabapentin, ciprofloxacin, cephalosporins, immunosuppressants has also been <strong>stopped.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India <strong>depends on China for 67% of chemical intermediates and API</strong> that it needs to manufacture drugs and export.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <strong>also depends on the USA and Italy</strong> for API.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The chemical industry is almost entirely <strong>dependent on China for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine</strong> (HCQ).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hydroxychloroquine is an <strong>oral drug</strong> used in the <strong>treatment of autoimmune diseases</strong> like rheumatoid arthritis.</li>
<li>In March 2020, the <strong>Indian Council of Medical Research</strong> (ICMR) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-use-of-hydroxy-chloroquine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>suggested its use to contain the spread of Covid-19</strong></a> for restricted populations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Manufacturers are <strong>unable to meet the price</strong> at which chemicals are produced by China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solvent and chemicals <strong>manufacturing costs in India are over 15% more</strong> than in China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>share of Indian bulk drugs and intermediates in the total pharmaceutical export mix reduced</strong> to 20% in 2018 from 42% in 2008.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are significant ingredients in the manufacturing of drugs and are also called bulk drugs.</li>
<li>The Hubei province of China is the hub of the API manufacturing industry.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pharmaceutical Intermediates</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are chemical compounds which form the building blocks of the APIs and are produced as a by-product during the production of API.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need for mission mode chemical engineering</strong> with defined targets for uninterrupted synthesis of API molecules.</li>
<li><strong>Creation of mega drug manufacturing clusters</strong> with common infrastructure in India.</li>
<li><strong>Development of a technology platform for biocatalysis</strong> for cost optimization and investing in the fermentation sector of large capacity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Biocatalysis</strong> refers to the use of natural substances from biological sources (such as enzymes) to speed up (catalyze) chemical reactions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government encouragement for Indian companies</strong> working in chemical segments.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Implementation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-tifac" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>various recommendations</strong></a> by TIFAC will help India to become <strong><a href="/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-may-2020#6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atmanirbhar</a></strong> (self-reliant) in the pharmaceutical sector by reducing its import dependence.</li>
<li>More schemes like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-approved-to-promote-drug-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks and Production Linked Incentives</strong></a> (PLI) are needed to reduce the manufacturing cost of bulk drugs and promote domestic manufacturing.</li>
</ul>',
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	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Black Box on Aircraft',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The black boxes of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft which recently crashed in Kozhikode (Kerala) have been found.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These boxes will help investigators gather information about the crucial events that led to the crash.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> A black box, technically known as an <strong>Electronic Flight Data Recorder,</strong> is an orange-coloured heavily protected recording device placed in a flight. It is used to investigate the details of the events immediately preceding an accident.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Black Boxes are <strong>compulsory on any commercial flight or corporate jet</strong> where they are usually<strong> kept in the tail of an aircraft,</strong> where they are more likely to survive a crash.</li>
<li>It usually takes at least <strong>10-15 days to analyse the data</strong> recovered from the black boxes.</li>
<li>Black boxes are also used in vehicles other than planes like <strong>railways, cars</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Invention:</strong> Australian Scientist<strong> David Warren</strong> was the first to build a FDR/CVR prototype in 1958.</li>
<li><strong>Parts:</strong> The "black box" is made up of two separate pieces of equipment: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FDR records things like airspeed, altitude, vertical acceleration and fuel flow.</li>
<li>CVR records the conversations in the cockpit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Older black boxes used <strong>magnetic tape,</strong> a technology that was first introduced in the 1960s. Magnetic tape works like any tape recorder.</li>
<li>These days, black boxes use solid-state memory boards, which came along in the 1990s.<strong> Solid state memory boards</strong> use stacked arrays of memory chips, and are stronger.</li>
<li>The FDR contains <strong>Crash-Survivable Memory Units</strong> (CSMUs) which are engineered to withstand extreme heat, jarring crashes and tons of pressure.</li>
<li>To make black boxes discoverable in situations where they are under water, they are equipped with a <strong>Beacon</strong> that sends out ultrasound signals for 30 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Methods to Investigate an Aircrash</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Accounts from Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel.</li>
<li>Recordings of the conversation between ATC and the pilots moments before the crash.</li>
<li>Various data recorders at the airport, which would tell about the precise point and speed of touchdown on the runway.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In certain cases &ndash; like the Malaysian Airlines MH370 flight, they are not found.</li>
<li>They still lack video recording capabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Alternatives:</strong> It is being tried to <strong>stream</strong> all of their essential data <strong>directly to a ground-based station</strong> in <strong>realtime</strong> which would eliminate the desperate search for a box that may have been destroyed in a crash, and will be more dependable.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Aircraft Security</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-civil-aviation-organisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)</a></strong> is a UN specialized agency, established in <strong>1944</strong> to manage the administration and governance of the <strong>Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Chicago Convention was signed on 7<sup>th</sup> December, 1944 in Chicago (USA) by 52 signatory states including <strong>India.</strong></li>
<li>It coordinates international air travel, establishes rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, security, and sustainability, and details the rights of the signatories in relation to air travel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/counter-drone-strategy-for-countrys-airports-is-ready" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bureau of Civil Aviation Security</a> (BCAS)</strong> is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (India). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the regulatory authority for civil aviation security in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)</strong> is a division of the Ministry of Civil Aviation which investigates aircraft accidents and incidents in India.</li>
<li>Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aircraft-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020</strong> </a>which seeks to amend the<strong> Aircraft Act, 1934.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-black-boxes-are-important-to-an-air-crash-investigation-6545872/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Search/index.ctp, line 85
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

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