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ACT-Accelerator

Why in News Carl Bildt has been appointed as WHO Special Envoy for the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator). The...

02 Apr 2021 News Analysis
NGT Orders Pollution Control Boards to Increase Capacity

Why in News Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to strengthen its capacity and...

02 Apr 2021 News Analysis
China-Iran Strategic Cooperation Pact

Why in News China and Iran have signed a 25-year "strategic cooperation pact” which includes "political economic and strategic...

01 Apr 2021 News Analysis
Evolving India-Bangladesh Relations

This article is based on “Good neighbours: On India-Bangladesh ties” which was published in The Hindu on 31/03/2021. It talks about the...

01 Apr 2021 News Editorials
Uniform Civil Code

Why in News Recently, a petition has been filed in Supreme Court against Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on divorce and alimony. Key...

01 Apr 2021 News Analysis
4% Inflation Target Retained by Government

Why in News The Government of India has decided to retain the inflation target of 4%, with a tolerance band of +/- 2 percentage points for the...

01 Apr 2021 News Analysis
Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: UNESCAP

Why in News A report ‘Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-Covid-19 resilient economies’ has recently...

01 Apr 2021 News Analysis
Global Gender Gap Report 2021: WEF

Why in News India has fallen 28 places in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2021. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, One Stop...

01 Apr 2021 News Analysis
Human Rights Report 2020: USA

Why in News The US State Department, in its 2020 Human Rights Report, pointed out several Human Rights Issues in India. The report, which is...

01 Apr 2021 News Analysis
Suez Canal Blockade

This article is based on “Suez crisis and the fragility of global trade” which was published in The Hindustan Times on 28/03/2021. It...

31 Mar 2021 News Editorials
The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process

Why in News External Affairs Minister of India attended the 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. He called for a...

31 Mar 2021 News Analysis
Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin

Why in News Due to adverse impact of Covid-19, only 5.4% of the sanctioned houses under the central government's flagship rural housing scheme,...

31 Mar 2021 News Analysis
Tata - Mistry Judgement

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court overturned the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) decision and upheld Tata Group’s...

31 Mar 2021 News Analysis
Asteroid Apophis

Why in News Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has ruled out the possibility of the dreaded asteroid Apophis causing...

31 Mar 2021 News Analysis
PM’s Visit to Bangladesh

Why in News The Prime Minister of India paid a State Visit to Bangladesh to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of...

31 Mar 2021 News Analysis
Slumbering Parliamentary System

This article is based on ‘Dormant Parliament, fading business’ which was published in The Hindu on 27/03/2021. It talks about the...

30 Mar 2021 News Editorials
New Red Algal Seaweed Species

Why in News Recently, two new red algal seaweed species have been discovered along India’s coastline. India has a vast coastline of over...

30 Mar 2021 News Analysis
India-South Korea: Friendship Park

Why in News Recently, Indian Defence Minister and his South Korean counterpart inaugurated the India-Korea Friendship Park in a ceremony at the...

30 Mar 2021 News Analysis
Shifting Health to the Concurrent List

Why in News Fifteenth Finance Commission Chairman N.K. Singh said that health should be shifted to the Concurrent list under the Constitution....

30 Mar 2021 News Analysis
NISAR: Joint Earth Observing Mission of NASA and ISRO

Why in News NASA and ISRO are collaborating on developing an SUV-sized satellite called NISAR, which will detect movements of the planet’s...

30 Mar 2021 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'ACT-Accelerator',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Carl Bildt has been appointed as <strong>WHO Special Envoy </strong>for the <strong>Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ACT-Accelerator is a groundbreaking <strong>global collaboration</strong> to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> tests, treatments and vaccines.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ACT-Accelerator:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was launched in the month of April, 2020 at an event co-hosted by the Director-General of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a>, the<strong> President of France,</strong> the <strong>President of the European Commission,</strong> and the <strong>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.</strong></li>
<li>It brings together <strong>governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, and philanthropists</strong> and <strong>global health organizations.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The participants include the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/goalkeepers-award" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CEPI</strong></a>, <strong>Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavi</a></strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Global Fund</a></strong>, <strong>Unitaid, Wellcome Trust (London), the WHO and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It aims to<strong> end the pandemic, restore full societal and economic activity</strong> globally and <strong>facilitate high-level control of Covid-19 disease.</strong></li>
<li>The ACT-Accelerator is organized into<strong> four pillars of work:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Diagnostics, treatment, vaccines </strong>and<strong> health system strengthening.</strong></li>
<li>Each pillar is vital to the overall effort and involves innovation and collaboration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>COVAX:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>COVAX is one of four pillars of the ACT Accelerator.</li>
<li>It is an effort to ensure that <strong>people in all corners of the world will get access to Covid-19 vaccines,</strong> regardless of their wealth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The initial aim is to have <strong>2 billion doses available by the end of 2021,</strong> which should be enough to protect high risk and vulnerable people, as well as frontline healthcare workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is co-led by <strong>Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO),</strong> working in partnership with vaccine manufacturers of developed and developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Role:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>started shipping Covid-19 vaccines to Africa</strong> under the COVAX facility.</li>
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Serum Institute of India (SII) had received funds</strong></a> from Gavi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation <strong>to double its supply of Covid-19 vaccines</strong> (200 million doses) to India and other poorer countries as part of the <strong>Gavi COVAX facility. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of ACT-Accelerator:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a crucial time for ACT-Accelerator when the world is rolling out vaccines against Covid-19, introducing new diagnostics and scaling up life-saving oxygen and <strong>corticosteroids</strong> for severe disease.</li>
<li>It will help in addressing the uneven distribution of vaccines globally and the emergence of new variants of concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Corticosteroids</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Corticosteroids are a class of drug that<strong> lowers inflammation in the body.</strong> They also reduce immune system activity.</li>
<li>Corticosteroids<strong> ease swelling, itching, redness, and allergic reactions,</strong> thus used in the treatment of diseases like asthma, arthritis, lupus, allergies etc.</li>
<li>Corticosteroids resemble cortisol, a <strong>hormone naturally produced by the body&rsquo;s adrenal glands.</strong> The body needs cortisol to stay healthy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cortisol is a major player in a wide range of processes in the body, including metabolism, immune response, and stress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/covid-19-carl-bildt-appointed-who-special-envoy-for-act-accelerator-76241#:~:text=Tedros%20Adhanom%20Ghebreyesus%2C%20the%20director,Accelerator)%20March%2031%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'NGT Orders Pollution Control Boards to Increase Capacity',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/10-years-of-national-green-tribunal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> directed the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to strengthen its capacity and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong></a> to form a uniform recruitment criteria.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The order was to <strong>ensure better monitoring for improved compliance of environmental norms.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in January 2021, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court (SC)</strong> </a>had taken suo motu cognizance of pollution of water bodies by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-court-s-view-on-pollution-in-yamuna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>untreated sewage in Haryana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Plea:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2018, a case was filed with NGT&rsquo;s principal bench for revising existing monitoring mechanism by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This included an interval of mandatory inspections of <strong>highly polluting</strong> industries and policy for auto renewal of <strong>Consent to Operate (CTO) c</strong>ertificate under <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/22-05-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974</strong></a> as well as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tackling-the-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The plea pointed out that an earlier report of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-aquifer-mapping-and-management-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)</strong> </a>had established <strong>deterioration of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depleting-groundwater" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ground water quality in Haryana.</a></strong></li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</strong></a> of India&rsquo;s 2016 report also recorded operation of several projects without valid consent to establish or CTO certificates, showing ineffectiveness of monitoring mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NGTs Action:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The NGT passed an order for the Haryana government to revisit its inspection policy and make it adequate to ensure effective enforcement of law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Haryana's Proposal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Haryana government, in compliance to the NGT order, proposed a revised policy with increased frequency of inspection, installation of online monitoring devices to capture real-time data and pre-verification of documents before issuing renewal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Order:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inspection at <strong>higher frequencies.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Capacity enhancement</strong> of SPCBs/<strong>Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)</strong> with <strong>consent funds.</strong></li>
<li>Capacity enhancement of CPCB utilising <strong>environment compensation funds.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Annual performance audit</strong> of state PCBs/PCCs.</li>
<li><strong>CPCB to prepare a format</strong> containing qualifications, minimum eligibility criteria and required experience for key positions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the name of &lsquo;ease of doing business&rsquo;, powers and authorities of SPCB have been compromised. The latest judgement of NGT is a<strong> fresh start to the long-delayed initiative of strengthening CPCB/SPCBs/PCCs.</strong></li>
<li>The judgment of NGT could be termed as landmark. The <strong>NGT has tried to erase the bottlenecks, which were being used to halt the strengthening of environmental regulation.</strong></li>
<li>The important part of the judgement is asking <strong>CPCB to come out with standard recruitment rules</strong> which can be followed by all states. The existing SPCBs recruitment rules have not been updated for decades.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CPCB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CPCB is a <strong>statutory organisation</strong> which was constituted in September, 1974 under the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/22-05-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</strong></a></li>
<li>It was entrusted with the powers and functions under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tackling-the-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</strong></a></li>
<li>It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change of the provisions of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1#:~:text=On%2027%20January%201994%2C%20the,Schedule%201%20of%20the%20notification." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SPCB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They supplement the CPCB as they are a statutory organization entrusted to implement Environmental Laws and rules within the jurisdiction of a state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environment Compensation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Environmental compensation is a policy instrument for the protection of the environment which works on the<strong> &lsquo;Polluter Pays Principle&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environment Compensation Fund:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> specialised type of fund</strong> collected by<strong> charging the environmental violations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Example:</strong> Illegal discharge in water bodies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/how-this-landmark-ngt-order-will-shape-the-future-of-india-s-pollution-control-bodies-76187" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:DTE</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ngt-orders-pollution-control-boards-to-increase-capacity'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'China-Iran Strategic Cooperation Pact',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>China and Iran have signed<strong> a 25-year "strategic cooperation pact&rdquo;</strong> which includes "political economic and strategic components".</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement <strong>comes amid a major push from China to back Iran to deal with the continuing weight of sanctions reinstated by the US</strong> after its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Pact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will deepen relations between Iran and China and would establish a blueprint for "reciprocal investments in the fields of transport, ports, energy, industry and services."</li>
<li>It forms <strong>a part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/italy-joins-belt-road-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative</a> (BRI),</strong> a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase its influence overseas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China's Growing Role in the Middle East:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617277331_pasted%20image 0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617277331_pasted image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Iran relies on China as its largest trading partner.</li>
<li>Chinese foreign minister, in his recent visit to West Asian nations, proposed <strong>a five-point initiative</strong> for achieving security and stability in the Middle East, advocating "mutual respect, upholding equity and justice, achieving non-proliferation, jointly fostering collective security, and accelerating development cooperation.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Earlier, China and Russia called for the US to unconditionally return to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/restoration-of-jcpoa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)</strong></a> as soon as possible and revoke the unilateral sanctions against Iran. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In this context, they proposed "the establishment of a regional security dialogue platform to converge a new consensus on resolving the security concerns of countries in the region.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Military Partnership:</strong> China is also concluding a security and military partnership with Iran. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China calls for &ldquo;joint training and exercises, joint research and weapons development and intelligence sharing&rdquo; to fight &ldquo;the lopsided battle with terrorism, drug and human trafficking and cross-border crimes&rdquo;.</li>
<li>The sizable Chinese investments in Iranian ports development <strong>may eventually be turned into permanent military access arrangements</strong> with Iran.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Stakes Around the Chabahar Port:</strong> With a growing Chinese presence in Iran, India is concerned about its strategic stakes around the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chabahar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chabahar port</strong></a> project that it has been developing. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The port is close to Gwadar port in Pakistan, which is being developed by China as part of its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that links it to the Indian Ocean through BRI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geopolitical Rivalry:</strong> India finds itself caught in the geopolitical rivalry between the US &amp; China over Iran. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s dilemma also stems from the fact that robust support from the US is essential when it is locked in a border stand-off with China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Relationship with Other Countries:</strong> Growing Chinese footsteps in Iran will have a long-lasting impact on India&rsquo;s relationship with not only Iran but also on Afghanistan and Central Asian nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2015, Iran with the P5+1 group of world powers - the USA, UK, France, China, Russia, and Germany agreed on a long-term deal on its nuclear programme.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The deal was named as <strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)</strong> and in common parlance as <strong>Iran Nuclear Deal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear activity in return for the lifting of sanctions and access to global trade.</li>
<li>The agreement allowed Iran to accumulate small amounts of uranium for research but it banned the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iran-steps-up-uranium-enrichment#:~:text=For%20nuclear%20weapons%2C%20enrichment%20is,Uranium%2Freactor%2Dgrade%20uranium." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>enrichment of uranium</strong></a>, which is used to make reactor fuel and nuclear weapons.</li>
<li>Iran was also required to redesign a heavy-water reactor being built, whose spent fuel could contain plutonium suitable for a bomb and to allow international inspections.</li>
<li>In 2018, the <strong>United States declared its withdrawal from JCPOA</strong> and imposed unilateral sanction on Iran.</li>
<li>Iran has pulled away from restrictions imposed under the deal in order to put pressure on the other signatories &mdash; Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China &mdash; to provide new economic incentives to offset US sanctions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iran-china-sign-25-year-cooperation-agreement/article34176965.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/china-iran-strategic-cooperation-pact'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Evolving India-Bangladesh Relations',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/good-neighbours-the-hindu-editorial-on-india-bangladesh-ties/article34201043.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Good neighbours: On India-Bangladesh ties&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Hindu on 31/03/2021. It talks about the new trends in India-Bangladesh ties.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister of India visited Bangladesh to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the war of liberation and the centenary year of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gandhi-peace-prize-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</strong></a></p>
<p>Historically, India&rsquo;s has played a critical role in the creation of Bangladesh. India&rsquo;s political, diplomatic, military and humanitarian support during Bangladesh&rsquo;s Liberation War played an important role towards Bangladesh&rsquo;s independence.</p>
<p>This is the first foreign visit since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic of the Indian Prime Minister and it conveys that India attaches <strong>great importance to the relationship with its eastern neighbour.</strong></p>
<p>Further, the recent events highlight a deeper understanding on both sides of the India-Bangladesh relationship. However, there are few challenges that need to be resolved for a win-win relationship.</p>
<h3>New Trends in India-Bangladesh Ties</h3>
<p>In the last decade, India-Bangladesh relations have warmed up, entering a new era of cooperation, and moving beyond historical and cultural ties to become more assimilated in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy, and defence. This can reflected in the following events:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Military Cooperation:</strong> The Bangladesh government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has<strong> uprooted anti-India insurgency elements</strong> from its borders, making the India-Bangladesh border one of the region&rsquo;s most peaceful. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This has allowed India to make a massive redeployment of military resources to its more contentious borders elsewhere.</li>
<li>Further, Bangladesh handed over many of India&rsquo;s &ldquo;most wanted&rdquo; criminals.</li>
<li>India has also accepted an <strong>international tribunal verdict</strong> in favour of Bangladesh that resolved a <strong>40-year-old maritime dispute</strong> and built confidence as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land Boundary Agreement:</strong> Bangladesh and India have achieved the rare feat of solving their border issues peacefully by ratifying the historic <strong>Land Boundary Agreement in 2015.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In that agreement, enclaves were swapped allowing inhabitants to choose their country of residence and become citizens of either India or Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade Relations:</strong> Bangladesh today is India&rsquo;s biggest trading partner in South Asia with exports to Bangladesh in FY 2018-19 at $9.21 billion and imports at $1.04 billion. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, India has offered duty free access to multiple Bangladeshi products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development Sector:</strong> On the development front, cooperation has deepened, with India extending three lines of credit to Bangladesh in recent years amounting to $8 billion for the construction of roads, railways, bridges, and ports.</li>
<li><strong>Improved Connectivity:</strong> Connectivity between the two countries has greatly improved. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A direct bus service between Kolkata and Agartala runs a route distance of 500 km, as compared to the 1,650 km if it ran through the Chicken&rsquo;s Neck to remain within India.</li>
<li>Bangladesh allows the shipment of goods from its Mongla and Chattogram (Chittagong) seaports carried by road, rail, and water ways to Agartala.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>News Areas of Engagement:</strong> Bangladeshis make up a large portion of tourists in India, outnumbering all tourists arriving from western Europe in 2017, with one in every five tourists being a Bangladeshi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh accounts for more than <strong>35% of India&rsquo;s international medical patients</strong> and contributes more than 50% of India&rsquo;s revenue from medical tourism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in India-Bangladesh Ties</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Teesta River Dispute:</strong> Despite the remarkable progress, the unresolved Teesta water sharing issue looms large.</li>
<li><strong>Illegal Migration:</strong> The problem of Bangladeshi civilians being killed at the border has dented relations. The year 2020 saw the highest number of border shootings by the Border Security Force. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These shootings occur as many Bangladeshi people try to illegally migrate into India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NRC &amp; CAA:</strong> Indian government&rsquo;s proposal to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the whole of India and impetus for the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA), reflects poorly on India-Bangladesh relations.</li>
<li><strong>China Factor:</strong> Despite its &lsquo;Neighbourhood First Policy&rsquo;, India has been losing its influence in the region to China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, once considered traditional Indian allies, are increasingly tilting towards China due to the Asian giant&rsquo;s massive trade, infrastructural and defence investments in these countries.</li>
<li>China, in lieu of its cheque-book diplomacy, is well-entrenched in South Asia, including Bangladesh, with which it enjoys significant economic and defence relations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Learning From Bangladesh:</strong> Bangladesh is the region&rsquo;s fastest growing economy, with social indicators that other countries, including India, can learn.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the vital link with which India can realise the full potential of either the economic or strategic underpinnings of its Act East policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Sharing:</strong> While all countries desire to be recognised as equal, they also want bigger countries to take more responsibility for protecting this equality. This, India must &ldquo;play a pioneering role in India-Bangladesh relations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, as the larger country, the onus is on India to be generous enough to let the water flow and resolve the dispute over Teesta water and six other rivers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing Trade:</strong> Trade could be more balanced if non-tariff barriers from the Indian side could be removed.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>As Bangladesh celebrates its 50 years of independence, India continues to be one of its most important neighbours and strategic partners. To make the recent gains irreversible, both countries need to continue working on the three Cs &mdash; cooperation, collaboration, and consolidation.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fafffc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The recent events highlight a deeper understanding on both sides of the India-Bangladesh relationship. Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/evolving-india-bangladesh-relations'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Uniform Civil Code',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a petition has been filed in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>against <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/uniform-civil-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uniform Civil Code (UCC)</strong></a> on divorce and alimony.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617275102_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617275102_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UCC is one that would <strong>provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters</strong> such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.</li>
<li><strong>Article 44</strong> of the Constitution lays down that the <strong>state shall endeavour to secure a UCC</strong> for the citizens throughout the territory of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Article 44 is one of the<strong> Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).</strong></li>
<li>DPSP as defined in<strong> Article 37,</strong> are not justiciable (not enforceable by any court) but the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status of Uniform Codes in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil matters such as<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/22-05-2020#:~:text=In%20India%2C%20contract%20farming%20is,farming%20sponsors%20and%20dispute%20settlement." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Contract Act 1872</strong></a>, Civil Procedure Code, Transfer of Property Act 1882, Partnership Act 1932, <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/right-to-information-master-key-to-good-governance-2nd-arc#:~:text=Section%20123%20of%20the%20Indian,abundant%20discretion%20in%20the%20matter." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Evidence Act, 1872</strong></a> etc.</li>
<li>States, however, have made hundreds of amendments and, therefore, in certain matters, there is diversity even under these secular civil laws. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, several states refused to be governed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-motor-vehicles-bill-for-road-safety#:~:text=The%20Motor%20Vehicles%20(Amendment)%20Bill%2C%202019%20is%20based%20on,while%20dealing%20with%20transport%20departments." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>uniform Motor Vehicles Act, 2019.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The origin of the UCC dates back to colonial India when the British government submitted its report in 1835 stressing the need for <strong>uniformity in the codification of Indian law relating to crimes, evidence, and contracts,</strong> specifically <strong>recommending that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims be kept outside such codification.</strong></li>
<li>Increase in legislations dealing with personal issues in the far end of the British rule forced the government to form the<strong> B N Rau Committee to codify Hindu law in 1941.</strong></li>
<li>Based on these recommendations, <strong>a bill was then adopted in 1956 as the Hindu Succession Act</strong> to amend and codify the law relating to intestate or unwilled succession, among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, there were separate personal laws for muslim, chirstian and Parsis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to bring uniformity, the courts have often said in their judgements that the <strong>government should move towards a UCC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The judgement in the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/criminalising-triple-talaq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shah Bano case</a> (1985)</strong> is well known.</li>
<li>Another case was the<strong> Sarla Mudgal Case (1995),</strong> which dealt with issue of bigamy and conflict between the personal laws existing on matters of marriage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>By arguing that practices such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/muslim-women-rights-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>triple talaq</strong> </a>and<strong> polygamy</strong> impact adversely the right of a woman to a life of dignity, the Centre has raised the question whether constitutional protection given to religious practices should extend even to those that are not in compliance with fundamental rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications of Uniform Civil Code on Personal Laws:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Protection to Vulnerable Section of Society:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The UCC aims to provide protection to vulnerable sections as envisaged by Ambedkar including<strong> women and religious minorities,</strong> while also promoting <strong>nationalistic fervour through unity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Simplification of Laws:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The code will <strong>simplify the complex laws around marriage ceremonies, inheritance, succession, adoptions</strong> making them one for all. The same civil law will then be applicable to all citizens irrespective of their faith.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Adhering to Ideal of Secularism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Secularism is the objective enshrined in the Preamble, a <strong>secular republic needs a common law for all citizens</strong> rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Justice:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If a UCC is enacted, all personal laws will cease to exist. It will<strong> do away with gender biases in existing laws.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Exceptions in Central Family Laws:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The preliminary sections in all central family law Acts enacted by Parliament since Independence declare that they will apply to &ldquo;the whole of India except the state of <strong>Jammu and Kashmir.&rdquo;</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A Second exception was added in 1968 in all these Acts, pronouncing that &ldquo;nothing herein contained shall apply to the Renoncants in the<strong> Union Territory of Pondicherry.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>A third exception, none of these Acts applies in Goa, Daman and Diu.</li>
<li>A fourth exception, relating to the north-eastern states of Nagaland and Mizoram, emanates from <strong>Articles 371A and 371G</strong> of the Constitution, decreeing that no parliamentary legislation will replace the customary law and religion-based system for its administration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Communal Politics:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The demand for a uniform civil code has been framed in the context of communal politics.</li>
<li>A large section of society sees it as <strong>majoritarianism under the garb of social reform.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Hurdle:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/regulating-right-to-freedom-of-religion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 25</strong></a> of Indian constitution, that seeks to preserve the <strong>freedom to practise and propagate any religion</strong> gets into conflict with the concepts of <strong>equality enshrined under<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-i#:~:text=Context%20%2D%20The%20Muslim%20Women%20(Protection,the%20violative%20of%20Article%2014." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Article 14</a></strong> of indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and society will have to work hard to <strong>build trust, but more importantly, make common cause</strong> with social reformers rather than religious conservatives.</li>
<li>Rather than an omnibus approach, the <strong>government could bring separate aspects</strong> such as marriage, adoption, succession and maintenance into a UCC <strong>in stages.</strong></li>
<li>Need of the hour is the<strong> codification of all personal laws</strong> so that prejudices and stereotypes in every one of them would come to light and can be tested on the anvil of fundamental rights of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/plea-in-sc-against-bid-to-take-away-muslim-womans-right/article34208540.ece#:~:text=Petitioner%20says%20it%20is%20against%20fundamental%20right%20to%20religion,-A%20petition%20has&amp;text=In%20December%20last%20year%2C%20the,and%20alimony%20for%20all%20religions." 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/uniform-civil-code-2'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => '4% Inflation Target Retained by Government',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Government of India has decided to retain the<strong> inflation target of 4%,</strong> with a <strong>tolerance band of +/- 2 percentage points</strong> for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/monetary-policy-report-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Monetary Policy Committee</strong></a> of 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) for the coming five years.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the RBI in its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/flexible-inflation-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Currency and Finance (RCF) report</strong> </a>for the year 2020-21 also recommended the inflation target to be kept same as 4% +/-2% for next 5 years.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To control the price rise, <strong>the Centre in 2016 gave a mandate to the RBI to keep the retail inflation at 4% with a margin of 2% on either side</strong> for a five-year period <strong>ending 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2021.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-data-august-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Consumer Price Index (CPI)</strong></a> tracks the change in retail prices of goods and services which households purchase for their daily consumption.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> inflation target for the period 1<sup>st</sup> April, 2021 to 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2026</strong> under the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 has been <strong>kept at the same level</strong> as was for previous 5 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617273847_unnamed.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617273847_unnamed.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="254" height="499" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>central bank and the government agreed in 2015 on a policy framework</strong> that stipulated a primary objective of ensuring price stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.</li>
<li>The <strong>Flexible Inflation Target (FIT) was adopted in 2016.</strong> The <strong>Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended</strong> to provide a statutory basis for a FTI framework.</li>
<li>The amended Act <strong>provides for the inflation target to be set by the Government, in consultation with the RBI, once every five years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inflation Targeting:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a central banking policy</strong> that revolves around adjusting monetary policy to achieve a specified annual rate of inflation.</li>
<li>Inflation targeting is known to <strong>bring more stability, predictability, and transparency</strong> in deciding monetary policy.</li>
<li><strong>Strict Inflation Targeting:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is adopted when the central bank is only concerned about <strong>keeping inflation as close to a given inflation target as possible,</strong> and nothing else.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flexible Inflation Targeting:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is adopted<strong> when the central bank is to some extent also concerned about other things,</strong> for instance, the stability of interest rates, exchange rates, output and employment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Monetary Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the macroeconomic policy laid down by the central bank. It <strong>involves management of money supply and interest rate and is the demand side economic policy</strong> used by the government of a country to achieve macroeconomic objectives like inflation, consumption, growth and liquidity.</li>
<li>In India, monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India is<strong> aimed at managing the quantity of money in order to meet the requirements of different sectors</strong> of the economy and to increase the pace of economic growth.</li>
<li>The RBI implements the monetary policy through <strong>open market operations, bank rate policy, reserve system, credit control policy, moral persuasion</strong> and through many other instruments.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Monetary Policy Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>statutory and institutionalized framework</strong> under the<strong> Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934,</strong> for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman</strong> of the committee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The MPC <strong>determines the policy interest rate (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/monetary-policy-report-rbi#:~:text=Key%20Points,lends%20money%20to%20commercial%20banks." target="_blank" rel="noopener">repo rate</a>)</strong> required to achieve the inflation target (4%).</li>
<li>An RBI-appointed committee led by the then deputy governor Urjit Patel in 2014 recommended the establishment of the Monetary Policy Committee.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/govt-retains-4-inflation-target-for-rbis-rate-panel-for-2021-26/article34209262.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/4-inflation-target-retained-by-government'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: UNESCAP',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A report <strong>&lsquo;Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-Covid-19 resilient economies&rsquo;</strong> has recently been released by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/survey-2019-ambitions-beyond-growth-escap#:~:text=the%20Pacific%20(UNESCAP)-,The%20United%20Nations%20Economic%20and%20Social%20Commission%20for%20Asia%20and,Asia%2DPacific%20Region%20including%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the report, <strong>India is estimated to record an economic growth of 7% in 2021-22, over <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-emerged-out-of-technical-recession" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contraction of 7.7%</a> witnessed in the previous fiscal</strong> on account of the pandemic&rsquo;s impact on normal business activity.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Other Observation Regarding India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s 2021 economic output, however, is expected to remain below the 2019 level</strong> despite a robust reduction in new <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/double-mutant-coronavirus-variant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> cases and the start of <strong>vaccine roll-out.</strong></li>
<li>India entered the pandemic with already subdued <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GDP (Gross Domestic Product)</a> growth </strong>and<strong> investment.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Moreover, one of the most stringent lockdowns in the world caused the severe economic disruptions that the country experienced in the year 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A subsequent <strong>change in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-lockdown-on-indian-corporates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lockdown policies</a></strong> and<strong> success in reducing infection rates</strong> supported an impressive economic turnaround in the later months of 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong> The report mentions two major challenges for India on its path to faster recovery.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Maintaining low borrowing costs, </strong>and</li>
<li><strong>Keeping <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-performing loans</a> in check.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Observation Regarding Asia Pacific Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> socio-economic impact</strong> of the Covid-19 pandemic was amplified due to<strong> lack of resilience and investments</strong> in people and the planet.</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s</strong> swift and effective response to Covid-19 enabled it to become the <strong>only major economy worldwide to achieve a positive annual economic growth rate in 2020.</strong></li>
<li>On an average, developing Asia-Pacific economies are expected to grow 5.9% in 2021 and 5% in 2022.</li>
<li>The prospect of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/k-shaped-economic-recovery#:~:text=K%2DShaped%20Recovery%3A,industries%2C%20or%20groups%20of%20people." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>K-shaped recovery</strong></a>, characterized by uneven post-pandemic recovery across countries and <strong>widened inequality gaps within countries,</strong> is highlighted as a <strong>primary policy challenge.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>K-Shaped Recovery</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A K-shaped recovery occurs when, following a recession,<strong> different parts of the economy recover at different rates, times, or magnitudes.</strong> This is in contrast to an even, uniform recovery across sectors, industries, or groups of people.</li>
<li>A K-shaped recovery leads to<strong> changes in the structure of the economy</strong> or the broader society as economic outcomes and relations are fundamentally changed before and after the recession.</li>
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shapes-of-economic-recovery" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>type of recovery</strong></a> is called K-shaped because the path of different parts of the economy when charted together may diverge, resembling the two arms of the Roman letter "K."</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617271667_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617271667_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;"></ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For a more <strong>robust and inclusive recovery,</strong> the report calls for a more <strong>synchronised Covid-19 vaccination programme</strong> across countries. There is a need to <strong>leverage regional cooperation.</strong></li>
<li>It recommends that<strong> fiscal and monetary support</strong> should be sustained, as premature tightening could increase long-term scars.</li>
<li>Continuity in <strong>policy support is a must and recovery policy packages</strong> should focus on building resilience and investing in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=To%20bring%20sustainable%20development%20in,over%20the%20next%2015%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</strong></a></li>
<li>To deal with various economic and non-economic shocks, a more<strong> integrated risk management approach</strong> to planning and policymaking is needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617271755_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617271755_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Produced annually <strong>since 1947,</strong> the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific is the <strong>oldest United Nations report on the region&rsquo;s progress.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Survey monitors regional progress, provides cutting-edge analyses</strong> and <strong>guides policy discussion</strong> on the current and emerging socio-economic issues and policy challenges to support inclusive and sustainable development in the region.</li>
<li>Since 1957, the Survey has also contained a study or studies focusing on a significant aspect or challenge relevant to the economies of the Asia-Pacific region.</li>
<li>The Survey of 2021 studies the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and provides insights for post-Covid-19 resilient economies.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is the <strong>regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region.</strong></li>
<li>It has <strong>53 Member States and 9 Associate Members</strong> from Asia-Pacific Region including India.</li>
<li>Established: <strong>1947</strong></li>
<li>Headquarters: <strong>Bangkok,</strong> Thailand</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To overcome some of the region&rsquo;s greatest challenges by providing results-oriented projects, technical assistance and capacity building to member States.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/india-2021-economic-output-likely-to-remain-below-2019-level-un-report-7251473/" 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/economic-and-social-survey-of-asia-and-the-pacific-2021-unescap'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Global Gender Gap Report 2021: WEF',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has fallen 28 places in the<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-gender-gap-index-2020-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Economic Forum&rsquo;s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report</a> 2021.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, One Stop Centre (OSC) Scheme, Ujjawala Scheme are some the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-crime-against-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> initiatives launched by the government</strong> </a>to address the issue of gender inequality.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>the principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution</strong> in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Gender Gap Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was<strong> first published in 2006</strong> by the WEF.</li>
<li>It <strong>benchmarks 156 countries</strong> on their progress towards gender parity in four <strong>dimensions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Economic Participation and Opportunity,</li>
<li>Educational Attainment,</li>
<li>Health and Survival and</li>
<li>Political Empowerment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Over the Index, the <strong>highest possible score is 1</strong> (equality) and the <strong>lowest possible score is 0</strong> (inequality).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To serve as a compass to<strong> track progress on relative gaps between women and men</strong> on health, education, economy and politics. Through this annual yardstick, the stakeholders within each country are able to set priorities relevant in each specific economic, political and cultural context.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Position:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Overall Ranking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is now <strong>one of the worst performers in South Asia,</strong> it is<strong> now ranked 140 among 156 countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In South Asia, Bangladesh ranked 65, Nepal 106, Pakistan 153, Afghanistan 156, Bhutan 130 and Sri Lanka 116.</li>
<li>India<strong> had ranked 112<sup>th</sup> among 153 countries</strong> in 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></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political Empowerment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>declined on the political empowerment index</strong> as well by 13.5 percentage points, and a decline in the number of women ministers, from 23.1% in 2019 to 9.1% in 2021.</li>
<li>However, it has still performed relatively well compared to other countries, <strong>ranking at 51 in women&rsquo;s participation in politics.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Education Attainment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the index of education attainment, India has been <strong>ranked at 114.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Participation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The report notes that the economic participation gender gap actually<strong> widened in India by 3% this year.</strong></li>
<li>The share of women in professional and technical roles declined further to 29.2%.</li>
<li>The share of women in senior and managerial positions also is at 14.6% and only 8.9% firms in the country have top female managers.</li>
<li>The<strong> estimated earned income of women in India</strong> is only <strong>one-fifth of men&rsquo;s,</strong> which puts the country among the bottom 10 globally on this indicator.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the income of an average woman is below 16% of that of an average man, while in India it is 20.7%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health and Survival index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On this India has <strong>fared the worst, ranking at 155.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The only country to have fared worse is China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report points to <strong>a skewed sex ratio</strong> as the major factor. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It says the ratio can be attributed to norms of son preference and gender-biased prenatal sex-selective practices.</li>
<li>China and India together account for about 90 to 95% of the estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million missing female births annually worldwide due to gender-biased prenatal sex selective practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617265692_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617265692_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="504" height="472" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Region Wise Rank:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>South Asia</strong> incidentally is one of the <strong>worst performing regions,</strong> followed only by the Middle East and northern Africa.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Largest Gender Gap in Political Empowerment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The gender gap in political empowerment remains the largest: women represent only 26.1% of some 35,500 parliament seats and just 22.6% of over 3,400 ministers worldwide.</li>
<li>In 81 countries, there has never been a woman head of state, as of 15th January, 2021.</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh is the only country where more women have held head-of-state positions</strong> than men in the past 50 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Participation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The countries with the largest gender gaps in economic participation include Iran, India, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Timeframe to Close the Gap:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will take South Asia <strong>195.4 years</strong> to close the gender gap, while Western Europe will take 52.1 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Economic Forum</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Economic Forum is the<strong> International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>established in 1971</strong> as a not-for-profit foundation and is <strong>headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.</strong> It is independent, impartial and not tied to any special interests.</li>
<li>The Forum strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance.</li>
<li>Some <strong>major reports</strong> published by WEF are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/energy-transition-index-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Energy Transition Index</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-competitiveness-index-4-0-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Competitiveness Report</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Global IT Report<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>WEF along with INSEAD, and Cornell University publishes this report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Global Gender Gap Report.</li>
<li>Global Risk Report.</li>
<li>Global Travel and Tourism Report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ranked-140-of-156-countries-india-slips-28-spots-in-wefs-global-gender-gap-report-7253575/" 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/global-gender-gap-report-2021-wef'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Human Rights Report 2020: USA',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The US State Department, in its <strong>2020 Human Rights Report,</strong> pointed out several Human Rights Issues in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report, which is submitted each year to the US Congress, is retrospective and contains a country wise discussion of the state of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-rights-day-2#:~:text=These%20include%20'right%20to%20social,policy%20to%20be%20followed%20by" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>human rights.</strong></a></li>
<li>Earlier in March 2021, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-in-the-world-2021-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Freedom in the World 2021</strong></a> report had <strong>downgraded India&rsquo;s status from &lsquo;Free&rsquo; to &lsquo;Partly Free&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India has also been classified as an <strong>&ldquo;electoral autocracy&rdquo;</strong> in the annual report named <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/autocratisation-goes-viral-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autocratisation Goes Viral&nbsp;</a></strong>of<strong> Sweden-based Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Harassment of Journalists:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The harassment and detention of journalists critical of the (Indian) government in their reporting and on social media, has continued, although the <strong>government generally respected the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-of-speech-and-expression-on-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">freedom of expression</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It mentioned restrictions on the press, including <strong>violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accessing Private Data:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Government&rsquo;s requests for user data from Internet companies had increased dramatically.</li>
<li>The government made 49,382 user data requests in 2019 from Facebook, a <strong>32% increase from 2018.</strong> Over the same period, <strong>Google requests increased by 69%, while Twitter requests saw a 68% increase. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arbitrary Deprivation of Life:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report highlighted the case of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/custodial-violence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unreasonable Detentions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report takes note of the <strong>April 2020 detention of protesters against the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019#:~:text=The%20Citizenship%20Act%2C1955%20provides,(OCIs)%20and%20their%20rights." target="_blank" rel="noopener">citizenship laws</a></strong> and various other incidents under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unlawful-activities-prevention-act-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967.</strong></a></li>
<li>Detention of politicians under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/public-safety-act-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jammu &amp; Kashmir&rsquo;s Public Safety Act 1978</strong></a>, was also mentioned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improvement in Human Rights Situation in Jammu &amp; Kashmir:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government continued taking steps to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir by <strong>gradually lifting some security and communications restrictions.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>government partially <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restoration-of-4g-internet-in-j-k" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restored internet access</a></strong>, however, high-speed 4G mobile internet remained restricted in most parts of Jammu &amp; Kashmir for the year 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Restrictive Rules and Lack of Investigation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Overly restrictive rules on <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-governmental-organizations-ngos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-governmental organisations</strong></a>, restrictions on political participation, widespread <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-anti-corruption-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>corruption</strong></a> at all levels in the government, lack of investigation of and accountability for <strong>violence against women,</strong> and forced and compulsory child labour, as well as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bonded-labour-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bonded labour.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religious Freedom:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tolerance of <strong>violations of religious freedom;</strong> crimes involving violence and <strong>discrimination targeting members of minority groups</strong> including women based on religious affiliation or social status.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Human Right Provisions in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enunciated in the Constitution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fundamental Rights: <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Articles 12 to 35</a></strong> of the Constitution. These include the Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right Against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural &amp; Educational Rights, Saving of Certain Laws and Right to Constitutional Remedies.</li>
<li><strong>Directive Principles of State Policy: Article 36 to 51</strong> of the Constitution. These include 'right to social security, right to work, to free choice of employment, and protection against unemployment, right to equal pay for equal work, right to existence worthy of human dignity, right to free &amp; compulsory education, equal justice &amp; free legal aid and the principles of policy to be followed by the State.'</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Statutory Provisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993</strong> (as amended in 2019) provided for the constitution of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-on-public-s-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Human Rights Commission</strong></a> at the Union level, which steers State Human Rights Commission in States and Human Rights Courts for better protection of Human Rights and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA <strong>defines Human Rights</strong> as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India took active part in drafting of the <strong>Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These 30 rights and freedoms include civil and political rights, like the right to life, liberty, free speech and privacy and economic, social and cultural rights, like the right to social security, health and education, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/curbs-on-indian-media-continue-us-rights-report/article34201598.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-rights-report-2020-usa'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Suez Canal Blockade',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/suez-crisis-and-the-fragility-of-global-trade-101616939623003.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Suez crisis and the fragility of global trade&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on 28/03/2021. It talks about the issues emanating out of the blockade of Suez canal.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/suez-canal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Suez Canal</strong></a>, one of the world&rsquo;s most critical transit routes, got blocked due to a large container vessel, the MV Ever Given. This has caused enormous disruption to global shipping.</p>
<p>This temporary closure has been very expensive for global trade, as it is estimated that the loss per hour is almost $400 million. The negative impact on the intricate and delicately balanced global supply-chain and oil prices will impose additional costs on the customer globally.</p>
<p>Suez canal closure leads to a cascading downstream disruption of trade and economic consequences. This aspect points to the fragility of global trade and needs to strengthen them.</p>
<h3>Suez Canal: Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The origins of the Suez Canal go back to the ancient period and the first waterway was dug during the reign of Senusret III Pharaoh of Egypt (1874 BC). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, this rudimentary canal was abandoned due to silting and reopened several times in the intervening centuries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The modern Suez was built in the mid-19th century through efforts by the French and opened for navigation on November 17, 1869.</li>
<li>In 1858, the Universal Suez Ship Canal Company was tasked to construct and operate the canal for 99 years, after which rights would be handed to the Egyptian government.</li>
<li>Located in Egypt, the artificial sea-level waterway was built between 1859 and 1869 linking the<strong> Mediterranean Sea</strong> and the <strong>Red Sea.</strong></li>
<li>The Suez Canal is pivotal in connecting Europe and Asia, as it negates the need to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and thus cutting distances by up to 7,000 km.</li>
<li>The Suez Canal put Egypt at a strategic junction between Asia and Europe. In the wave of assertion by colonies and quasi-colonies, Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal in 1956. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to protect the corporate interests that hinged on the Canal, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt. This war was termed the Suez<strong> Crisis 1956.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Suez Canal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enabler for Colonisation:</strong> The construction of the Suez Canal was a<strong> tectonic development</strong> for global maritime connectivity and impacted colonial history in a definitive manner. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rise of the British Empire was enabled considerably by this canal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Life-line of Global Trade:</strong> The canal continues to be the lifeline for all trade between the West and East as 10% of the global trade passes through it every year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The value of goods shipped through the canal is estimated to be $9.5 billion daily and the canal generates a major share of the revenue for the Egyptian government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One of Global Choke Points:</strong> The Suez along, with the <strong>Panama canal</strong> (that links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans), are the two most critical canals in the global maritime domain along with the Volga-Don and the Grand Canal (China).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Suez Closure</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Suez situation could compound issues for a supply chain already under pressure from the pandemic and a surge in buying.</li>
<li>The closure could affect shipments of oil and natural gas from the Mideast to Europe.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>It turns out, that while much has changed from 1869 and 1956 -<strong> &ldquo;data is the new oil&rdquo;</strong>, after all a large part of the global economy still runs on the very real grooves left by history.</p>
<p>Given the scale of the consequences of both fiscal and supply-chain disruption &mdash; the need to objectively review existing procedures and protocols specific to the Suez merits the highest priority.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617193092_pasted%20image 0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617193092_pasted image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fefffa;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Suez canal closure points to the fragility of global trade and needs to strengthen the supply chain. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/suez-canal-blockade'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>External Affairs Minister of India attended the 9<sup>th</sup> <strong>Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process</strong> held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He called for a<strong> &ldquo;double peace&rdquo;</strong> which means<strong> peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan</strong> and also said India supports the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/usa-taliban-peace-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intra-Afghan Negotiations (IAN).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was founded in November, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey.</li>
<li>It provides a<strong> platform for sincere and results-oriented regional cooperation by placing Afghanistan at its center,</strong> in recognition of the fact that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the Heart of Asia region.</li>
<li>This platform was established to <strong>address the shared challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners.</strong></li>
<li>The Heart of Asia comprises 15 participating countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 supporting regional and international organizations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India</strong> is a <strong>participating country.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since its inception the process has become a cardinal element in regional cooperation and has created a <strong>platform for Afghanistan&rsquo;s near and extended neighbors, international supporters and organizations to engage in constructive dialogue</strong> and to <strong>address the existing and emerging regional challenges</strong> through regional cooperation with Afghanistan at its core.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intra-Afghan Negotiations (IAN):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It refers to the<strong> talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents</strong> with the goal of bringing an end to nearly two decades of a conflict that has laid waste to the country and killed tens of thousands of combatants and civilians.</li>
<li>The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the <strong>date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire,</strong> including agreement over the <strong>future political roadmap</strong> of Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The negotiations will cover a variety of issues, including the<strong> rights of women, free speech, and changes to the country&rsquo;s constitution.</strong></li>
<li>The talks would also lay out the <strong>fate of tens of thousands of Taliban fighters</strong> as well as the heavily armed militias belonging to Afghanistan&rsquo;s warlords who have amassed wealth and power since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Connectivity Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the conference, the Afghanistan President appreciated the number of regional connectivity initiatives including the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chabahar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chabahar port project</strong></a>, as well as the <strong>Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India believes any peace process must be<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-afghan-policy-and-taliban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled</strong></a>, has to respect the<strong> national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan</strong> and preserve the progress made in the establishment of a<strong> democratic Islamic Republic in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections</strong> of society must be preserved and the issue of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>TAPI Pipeline</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>TAPI Pipeline, also called <strong>Peace pipeline,</strong> is a 1,814km natural gas pipeline that originates from Turkmenistan and passes through Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach India.</li>
<li>It aims to monetise Turkmenistan&rsquo;s gas reserves and supply them to neighbouring countries to promote the use of natural gas and improve energy security.</li>
<li>The project is being developed by<strong> TAPI Pipeline Company (TPCL),</strong> a consortium established by four individual state-owned gas companies Turkmengaz (Turkmenistan), Afghan Gas (Afghanistan), Interstate Gas Service (Pakistan), and <strong>Gas Authority of India and Indian Oil (India).</strong></li>
<li>The four countries signed an Inter Government Agreement (IGA) and Gas Pipeline Framework Agreements (GPFA) in December 2010 for the development of the pipeline.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617190801_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617190801_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/to-ensure-durable-peace-in-and-around-afghanistan-is-essential-jaishankar/article34198123.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/the-heart-of-asia-istanbul-process'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to adverse impact of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a>, only 5.4% of the sanctioned houses under</strong> the central government's flagship rural housing scheme, <strong>Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin</strong>, have <strong>reached completion for the year 2020-2021.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Launch:</strong> To achieve the objective of <strong>&ldquo;Housing for All&rdquo; by 2022</strong>, the erstwhile rural housing scheme <strong>Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)</strong> <strong>was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G)</strong> w.e.f 1<sup>st</sup> April, 2016.</li>
<li><strong>Ministry Involved:</strong> Ministry of <strong>Rural development.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To <strong>provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families</strong>, who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by the end of <strong>March 2022.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Beneficiaries:</strong> People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action, ex servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, disabled persons and minorities.</li>
<li><strong>Selection of Beneficiaries:</strong> Through a three stage validation - Socio Economic Caste Census 2011, Gram Sabha, and geo-tagging.</li>
<li><strong>Cost Sharing:</strong> The cost of unit assistance is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio <strong>60:40</strong> <strong>in plain areas</strong> and <strong>90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The minimum size of the house has been increased to 25 sq.mt (from 20sq.mt) with a hygienic cooking space.</li>
<li>The unit assistance has been increased from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1.20 lakh in plain and from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1.30 lakh in hilly states.</li>
<li>The assistance for construction of toilets shall be leveraged through convergence with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGS</strong></a> or any other dedicated source of funding.</li>
<li>Convergence for <strong>piped drinking water, electricity connection, LPG gas connection etc.</strong> different Government programmers are also to be attempted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance of the Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Only 55% of the construction</strong> target has been completed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Of the <strong>2.28 crore houses to be built</strong> for the rural poor, less than <strong>1.27 crore had been built</strong> by January 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Money</strong> has been sanctioned to <strong>almost 85% of beneficiaries.</strong></li>
<li>This scheme has helped in <strong>employment generation.</strong> Many states provided employment to their migrant labourers during lock down.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana &ndash; Urban</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launch:</strong> 25<sup>th</sup> June 2015, intends to provide housing for all in urban areas by year 2022.</li>
<li><strong>Implemented by:</strong> Ministry of <strong>Housing and Urban Affairs</strong></li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Addresses Urban housing shortage</strong> <strong>among the Urban</strong> <strong>Poor</strong> including the Slum Dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to eligible urban poor.</li>
<li>The Mission <strong>covers the entire urban area</strong> consisting of Statutory Towns, Notified Planning Areas, Development Authorities, Special Area Development Authorities, Industrial Development Authorities or any such authority under State legislation which is entrusted with the functions of urban planning &amp; regulations.</li>
<li>All houses under PMAY(U) <strong>have basic amenities like toilet, water supply, electricity and kitchen.</strong></li>
<li>The Mission <strong>promotes women empowerment</strong> by providing the ownership of houses in the name of female members or in joint name.</li>
<li><strong>Preference is also given to differently abled persons, senior citizens, SCs, STs, OBCs, Minority, single women, transgender</strong> and other weaker &amp; vulnerable sections of the society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Divided into Four Verticals:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In-situ Rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation.</li>
<li>Credit Linked Subsidy.</li>
<li>Affordable Housing in Partnership.</li>
<li>Beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/only-54-of-houses-under-centres-flagship-scheme-reached-completion-so-far-this-year/article34190006.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/pradhan-mantri-awaas-yojana-gramin'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Tata - Mistry Judgement',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> overturned the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-company-law-appellate-tribunal-nclat-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) decision</strong></a> and upheld <strong>Tata Group&rsquo;s decision to remove Cyrus Pallonji Mistry as the Executive Chairman and Director of Tata Sons.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Supreme Court Observations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Minority shareholders</strong> or their representatives are <strong>not automatically entitled to a seat</strong> on the private company&rsquo;s board like a small shareholder&rsquo;s representative.</li>
<li>The provisions contained in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/companies-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Companies Act 2013</strong> </a>only protects the<strong> rights of small shareholders</strong> of listed companies by asking such companies to have on their board at least one director elected by such small shareholders.</li>
<li>Since the <strong>Mistry family and the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group</strong> are not small shareholders, but minority shareholders, there is no statutory provision which gives them the <strong>&ldquo;right to claim proportionate representation,&rdquo;</strong> on the board of Tata Sons.</li>
<li><strong>Private companies,</strong> which have <strong>minority shareholders, are free to make an enabling provision</strong> but are<strong> under no statutory obligation</strong> to give minority shareholder seats on the board.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Minority Shareholders</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They are the equity holders of a firm <strong>who do not enjoy the voting power of the firm by virtue of his or her below 50% ownership</strong> of the firm&rsquo;s equity capital.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Small Shareholders</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the Companies Act, small shareholders is a shareholder or group of shareholders who hold shares of nominal value of not more than Rs. 20,000.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Companies Act 2013</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an Indian company law which regulates incorporation of a company, responsibilities of a company, directors, dissolution of a company.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Though the judgment does not directly impact the right of minority shareholders, such shareholders will have to ensure that they have a contract with the majority shareholders or the promoters of the company to ensure they have adequate representation on the board.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Company Law Appellate Tribunal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013</strong> for hearing appeals against the orders of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Company Law Tribunal</a> (NCLT).</strong></li>
<li>NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCLAT also hears appeals against the orders passed by<strong> Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/competition-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Competition Commission of India (CCI).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-supreme-court-rights-of-minority-shareholders-tata-mistry-judgment-7251412/" 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/tata-mistry-judgement'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Asteroid Apophis',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong> </a>has ruled out the possibility of the dreaded <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/163348-2002-nn4-a-near-earth-asteroid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asteroid</a> Apophis</strong> causing any damage to the Earth for the next 100 years.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Size:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apophis is <strong>a near-Earth asteroid</strong> with a relatively<strong> large size</strong> (about 335 meters wide).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Name &amp; Discovery:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Named after the ancient <strong>Egyptian god of chaos and darkness,</strong> it was <strong>discovered in 2004,</strong> after which NASA had said that it was one of the asteroids that posed the greatest threat to Earth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apophis was predicted to come threateningly close to us in the years 2029 and 2036, but NASA later ruled these events out.</li>
<li>However, there were still<strong> fears about a possible collision in 2068.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Near Earth Flight:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the asteroid flew past Earth on <strong>5<sup>th</sup> March 2021,</strong> coming<strong> within 17 million km of our planet.</strong> During this approach, scientists used radar observations to study in detail the asteroid&rsquo;s orbit around the sun.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact if it Hits Earth:</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617178272_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617178272_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Asteroids</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Asteroids are <strong>rocky objects that orbit the Sun,</strong> much smaller than planets. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are also called minor planets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to NASA, <strong>9,94,383 is the count of known asteroids,</strong> the remnants from the formation of the solar system over 4.6 billion years ago.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Categorization:&nbsp;</strong>Asteroids are divided into <strong>three classes: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>First Group:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Those found in the<strong> main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter,</strong> which is estimated to contain somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Second Group:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is that of trojans, which are<strong> asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet.</strong> NASA reports the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars trojans. In 2011, they reported an <strong>Earth trojan</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Third Group:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is <strong>Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA),</strong> which have orbits that pass close by the Earth. Those that cross the Earth&rsquo;s orbit are called Earth-crossers. More than 10,000 such asteroids are known, out of which over 1,400 are classified as <strong>Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).</strong></li>
<li>NASA&rsquo;s Center for Near-Earth Object Study (CNEOS) determines the times and distances of these objects, when their approach to the Earth is close, through the Asteroid Watch Widget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Potentially Hazardous Asteroids</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It means that an <strong>asteroid has the potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth.</strong></li>
<li>Specifically, all asteroids with a <strong>Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID)</strong> of 0.05 AU (which is about 7,480,000 Km) or less and an Absolute Magnitude (H) of 22.0 (about 150 mt in diameter) or less are considered PHAs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance</strong> is a method for calculating the minimum distance between two almost overlapping elliptical orbits.</li>
<li>The <strong>Astronomical Unit (AU)</strong> is the distance between the Earth and the Sun and is roughly 150 million km.</li>
<li>The <strong>absolute magnitude</strong> is a measure of the star's luminosity i.e. the total amount of energy radiated by the star every second.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Apophis</strong> is categorised as a PHA.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617178442_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617178442_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/asteroid-apophis-earth-nasa-7249248/" 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/asteroid-apophis'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'PM’s Visit to Bangladesh',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Prime Minister of India paid a State Visit to Bangladesh</strong> to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50-years-of-india-bangladesh-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Independence of Bangladesh</strong></a>, the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sheikh-mujibur-rehman" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman</strong></a> and<strong> 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations</strong> between India and Bangladesh.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Joint Celebrations of Historical Links:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh thanked India for conferring <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gandhi-peace-prize-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gandhi Peace Prize</strong></a> for the year 2020 on <strong>Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</strong></li>
<li>Jointly inaugurated the <strong>Bangabandhu - Bapu Digital Exhibition</strong> in Dhaka.</li>
<li>To mark the <strong>50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of India-Bangladesh friendship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both sides released respective <strong>commemorative postage stamps.</strong></li>
<li>Decided to <strong>commemorate 6<sup>th</sup> December as Maitri Diwas,</strong> the day when India recognized Bangladesh in the year 1971.</li>
<li>India announced the establishment of the <strong>Bangabandhu Chair at the University of Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bangladesh<strong> thanked India for naming the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nadia</strong> on the Bangladesh-India border as<strong> "Shadhinota Shorok&rdquo;</strong> commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vijay-diwas-50-years-of-indo-pak-war-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Liberation War.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Resources Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh reiterated its long-pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the <strong>sharing of the waters of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/teesta-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teesta river</a>.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The draft agreement has already been agreed upon by both Governments in January 2011.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India also requested for early finalization of the draft of the interim agreement for sharing of water of <strong>Feni River,</strong> pending with the Bangladesh side which had been agreed upon by both sides in 2011.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, requested working towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely, <strong>Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Directed the <strong>Joint Technical Committee</strong> to expeditiously commence the feasibility study of the <strong>Ganges-Padma barrage</strong> for optimum utilization of the Ganges waters received by Bangladesh as per the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/trans-boundary-water-conflicts#:~:text=Bangladesh%20has%20sought%20an%20%E2%80%9Cequitable,)%2C%20but%20to%20no%20avail." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, 1996.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617176344_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617176344_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="694" height="383" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Trade for Growth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Stressed the need for<strong> predictability of trade policies, regulations and procedures</strong> and the need for <strong>removal of non-tariff barriers.</strong></li>
<li>Stressed the urgent need for up-gradation of infrastructure and facilities of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/8th-foundation-day-of-lpai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Land Customs Stations (LCSs)/Land Ports</strong> </a>in a coordinated manner to facilitate trade between the two countries.</li>
<li>Reiterated the importance of <strong>harmonization of standards and mutual recognition</strong> of agreements and certificates for enhancing bilateral trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bureau-of-indian-standards-bis-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)</a></strong> would collaborate for the capacity building and development of testing and Lab facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India congratulated Bangladesh on its<strong> upcoming graduation from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/developing-country-status-in-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Least Developed Country (LDC)</a> status.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Emphasized on expeditious conclusion of</strong> the ongoing joint study on the prospects of entering into a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Comprehensive+Economic+Partnership+Agreement+%28CEPA+drishti+ias&amp;rlz=1C1OKWM_enIN943IN943&amp;biw=1242&amp;bih=568&amp;sxsrf=ALeKk038BXMH1y-Nmi_jBNzDW_lLk4JyvQ%3A1617091355398&amp;ei=G9tiYLfOF-OF4-EP9fe-uAM&amp;oq=Comprehensive+Economic+Partnership+Agreement+%28CEPA+drishti+ias&amp;gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EANQ4FtY4Ftgpl5oAHACeACAAZwBiAGgApIBAzAuMpgBAKABAqABAaoBB2d3cy13aXrAAQE&amp;sclient=gws-wiz&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj3x7rextfvAhXjwjgGHfW7DzcQ4dUDCA0&amp;uact=5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).</strong></a></li>
<li>Bangladesh invited<strong> Indian investment in the jute mills of Bangladesh</strong> to revitalize and modernize the jute sector.</li>
<li>India requested early finalization of modalities for implementation of the <strong>Katihar &ndash; Parbotipur &ndash; Bornagar cross border electricity interconnection.</strong></li>
<li>Took stock of progress in the implementation of the<strong> India Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline</strong> and unit-1 of the <strong>Maitree Super Thermal Power Project.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Connectivity for Prosperity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India expressed gratitude for Bangladesh&rsquo;s initiative of<strong> revitalizing the pre-1965 rail connectivity.</strong></li>
<li>Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-myanmar-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India &ndash; Myanmar - Thailand trilateral highway project.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also agreed to an early operationalization of the <strong>BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement</strong> through expeditious signing of the Enabling MoU for Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to commence the movement of goods and passengers, with provision for Bhutan to join at a later date.</li>
<li>India urged for <strong>early operationalization of the trans-shipment Agreement</strong> on the use of <strong>Chattogram and Mongla Ports</strong> for the Movement of Goods to and from India<strong> (Kolkata to Agartala via Chattogram).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India also requested for trans-shipment arrangement in Munshiganj and Pangaon as part of the<strong> Protocol on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protocol-on-inland-water-transit-and-trade#:~:text=As%20per%20the%20Protocol%20on,transit%20and%20inter%20country%20trade." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inland Water Transit and Trade.</a></strong></li>
<li>Recently, <strong>Maitree Setu</strong> (between India and Bangladesh) <strong>over River Feni in South Tripura</strong> has been inaugurated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bangladesh offered the use of<strong> Chattogram and Sylhet International Airport,</strong> by the people of North East India, especially of Tripura.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Public Health:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh thanked the Government of India for giving 3.2 million doses of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covishield-and-covaxin-approved-for-restricted-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Oxford Astra Zeneca Covishield</strong></a> vaccine made in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Border Management and Security Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh reiterated the request for 1.3 km <strong>Innocent Passage</strong> through river route along with <strong>River Padma,</strong> on humanitarian grounds. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India requested for completion of border fencing at all pending sectors at the international border at the earliest, beginning from the Tripura (India) - Bangladesh sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong> Emphasized on the frequent exchange of programs and enhancing cooperation in<strong> training and capacity building.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has offered<strong> a USD 500 million line of credit</strong> for defence imports from India into Bangladesh and thus requested for early operationalization of this defense Line of Credit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Welcomed the signing of an MoU on <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/disaster-management-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Disaster Management</strong></a>, <strong>Resilience and Mitigation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Areas of Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Acknowledged the potential of new and emerging areas of cooperation in cutting edge areas of science, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence</strong></a>, <strong>peaceful uses of nuclear technology, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">big data</a> and technology enabled services in health and education. </strong></li>
<li><strong>50 young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh</strong> were invited to visit India and present their ideas to venture capitalists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Partners in the Region and the World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agreed to continue working together for common objectives in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> and other multilateral fora.</li>
<li>Emphasized that the regional organizations, such as <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> and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></a> have an important role to play, particularly in the post-<strong>Covid-19</strong> situation.</li>
<li>Bangladesh thanked India for convening the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19#:~:text=Key%20Points,a%20contribution%20to%20the%20fund." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAARC leaders Video Conference</strong></a> in March 2020 and for proposing creation of the<strong> SAARC Emergency Response Fund</strong> to counter effects of the global pandemic in the South Asian region.</li>
<li>Bangladesh highlighted that the country would assume chairmanship of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)</strong> </a>for the first time in October 2021 and requested the support of India for working towards greater maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean region.</li>
<li>India welcomed the <strong>decision of Bangladesh to join the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Development Bank (NDB).</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The two Prime Ministers also announced/ unveiled the following:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foundation stone laying ceremony for a <strong>memorial in the honour of the Martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces</strong> who sacrificed their lives during Liberation War of 1971 at Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria.</li>
<li>Foundation stone for five packages out of total eight packages of <strong>Rooppur Power Evacuation Project.</strong></li>
<li>Inauguration of <strong>3 border haats, Nalikata (India) - Saydabad (Bangladesh), Ryngku (India) - Bagan Bari </strong>(Bangladesh)<strong> and Bholagunj (India) &ndash; Bholagunj (Bangladesh).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Border Haats aim at promoting the wellbeing of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of two countries, by establishing a traditional system of marketing the local produce through local markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Inauguration of <strong>&lsquo;Mitali Express&rsquo; -</strong> passenger train connecting Dhaka on Bangladesh side and New Jalpaiguri on the Indian.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/millions-depend-on-teesta-waters-hasina-tells-modi/article34179390.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/pm-s-visit-to-bangladesh'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Slumbering Parliamentary System',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/dormant-parliament-fading-business/article34173052.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Dormant Parliament, fading business&rsquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 27/03/2021. It talks about the deteriorating efficiency of the Parliament and related issues.</p>
</div>
<p>The Parliament of a country is central to the very idea of democracy assigned with the pivotal roles of framing legislation, ensuring accountability of governments and holding debates and discussion on various concerns.</p>
<p>In this context, the Parliament of India, even after so many years, has neither evolved nor matured as it could, might or should have.</p>
<p>Shorter Parliamentary sessions and leniency in the scrutiny of the Bills have diminished the stature and efficiency of the Parliament.</p>
<p>To preserve the very idea of India as a democratic country, the Parliament needs to function more actively in terms of framing bills, its scrutiny and holding sessions.</p>
<h3>Dormancy in Parliament and Related Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Shorter Parliamentary Sessions, a Trend:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/budget-2021-highlights-physical-and-financial-capital" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget</strong></a> Session of Parliament for 2021 ended two weeks before the planned time due to involvement of political leaders in campaigning for the state assembly elections. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Budget session of 2020 was also curtailed due to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> nationwide lockdown</strong></a> imposed due to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pandemic.</a></strong></li>
<li>The 18 days Monsoon session in 2020 also lasted for only 10 days while the winter session was cancelled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Weakened Legislature Scrutiny:</strong> 13 Bills were introduced in the budget session out of which 8 were passed within the session and none of the 13 bills was referred to any parliamentary committee for examination.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The introduction and passing of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-of-nct-of-delhi-amendment-bill-2021#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20central%20government%20introduced,Territory%20of%20Delhi%20Act%2C%201991." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021</strong> </a>by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was merely a 10 day process.</li>
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-mines-minerals-amendment-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021</strong></a> was also passed by both Houses within a week.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-bank-for-financing-infrastructure-and-development-bill-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) Bill, 2021</strong></a> was passed within three days of introduction.</li>
<li>The <strong>Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021,</strong> aimed at increasing the limit of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> FDI</strong></a> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/insurance-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>insurance</strong> </a>companies from 49% to 74% also took just a week between introduction and passing by both Houses.</li>
<li>This quick work should be read as a sign of<strong> abdication by Parliament of its duty</strong> to scrutinise Bills, rather than as a sign of efficiency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gradual Marginalisation of Parliamentary Committees:</strong> According to data by PRS Legislative Research, the percentage of Bills referred to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-of-tenure-of-standing-committees" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)</strong></a> declined from 71% in the 15<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha (2009-14) to 27% in the 16<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha and just 11% in the 17<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha (2019-present). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the DRSCs, there are negligible bills referred to Select Committees of the Houses or Joint Parliamentary Committees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discussion for Union Budget:</strong> The Constitution of India requires the Lok Sabha to approve the expenditure Budget of each department and Ministry. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Lok Sabha had listed the budget of just five Ministries for detailed discussion and discussed only three of these.</li>
<li>Moreover, 76% of the total Budget was approved without any discussion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Absence of the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha:</strong> Article 93 of the Constitution provides for the Lok Sabha to select two of its members as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The current Lok Sabha is in the absence of the Deputy Speaker, which is elected within a couple of months of the formation of a new Lok Sabha.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Parliamentary Scrutiny:</strong> Parliament must ensure sufficient scrutiny over the proposals and actions of the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may include: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Creating a system of research support to Members of Parliament.</li>
<li>Providing sufficient time for MPs to examine issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, to compensate for the issue of parliamentary sessions being shortened due to pandemic, remote working and technology related solutions is the way forward.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transparency in Legislative Procedures:</strong> Ensuring that Bills and budgets are examined by committees and public feedback is taken. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help citizens know where we went wrong and how it can be corrected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legislative Impact Assessment:</strong> A detailed framework for pre and post Legislative Impact Assessment (LIA) is needed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every legislative proposal must incorporate a detailed account of social, economic, environmental and administrative impact for wider awareness and subsequent legal assessment.</li>
<li>Besides, a new <strong>Legislation Committee of Parliament</strong> should be constituted to coordinate legislative planning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Parliamentary Committee Reforms:</strong> Measures for the effective functioning of Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) like longer tenure, promoting specialization, etc are needed. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In countries such as Sweden, Finland and Australia, it is mandated to send either all or at least some specific bill to the parliamentary committees.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India should also mandate a similar requirement to avail the benefits of the committee system that have been taken for granted so far.</li>
<li>Circumventing the Parliamentary committees in the passing of significant legislation is a sign of weakening democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening the Role of the Opposition:</strong> In order to strengthen the role of the opposition, the institution of <strong>&lsquo;Shadow Cabinet&rsquo;</strong> can be formed in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Shadow cabinet is a unique institution of the British cabinet system formed by the opposition party to balance the ruling cabinet.</li>
<li>In such a system each action of Cabinet Minister must be countersigned by the minister in the shadow cabinet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Parliament has the central role in our democracy as the representative body that checks the work of the government. In order to fulfil its constitutional mandate, it is imperative that Parliament functions effectively.</li>
<li>Also, proper scrutiny of the bills is an essential requirement of a quality legislation. Circumventing the parliamentary committees while passing legislations undermines the very spirit of the democracy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617108662_pm2.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617108662_pm2.PNG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffefa;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;The dormancy of the Parliament makes democracy in India as good as dead. The deterioration in Parliament&rsquo;s functioning needs to be stopped to make it fulfil its constitutional mandate&rdquo;. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/slumbering-parliamentary-system'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'New Red Algal Seaweed Species',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, two<strong> new red algal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saksham-portal-and-seaweed-mission-tifac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seaweed</a> species</strong> have been discovered along India&rsquo;s coastline.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has a <strong>vast coastline</strong> of over 7,500 kms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617107256_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617107256_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They grow in the<strong> intertidal regions of the coast,</strong> namely the area that is submerged during the high tide and exposed during low tides.</li>
<li>The genus<strong> Hypnea consists of calcareous, erect, branched red seaweeds.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are 61 species of which <strong>10 were reported in India.</strong> With two new species, the <strong>total number of species now would be 63.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hypnea indica</strong> was discovered in Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Somnath Pathan and Sivrajpur in Gujarat.</li>
<li><strong>Hypnea bullata</strong> was discovered from Kanyakumari and Diu island of Daman and Diu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hypnea variants of seaweeds can <strong>fetch good monetary value if commercial-scale cultivation is taken up.</strong> Hypnea contains Carrageenan, a biomolecule commonly used in the food industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Seaweeds</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are the <strong>primitive, marine non-flowering marine algae without root, stem and leaves,</strong> play a major role in marine ecosystems.</li>
<li>Large seaweeds form dense underwater forests known as<strong> kelp forests,</strong> which act as underwater nurseries for fish, snails and sea urchins.</li>
<li>Some species of seaweeds viz. Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria crassa, Gracilaria verrucosa, Sargassum spp. and Turbinaria spp.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seaweeds, <strong>found mostly in the intertidal region,</strong> in shallow and deep waters of the sea and also in estuaries and backwaters.</li>
<li>The southern <strong>Gulf of Mannar&rsquo;s rocky intertidal and lower intertidal regions have rich populations</strong> of several seaweed species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bioindicator:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When waste from agriculture, industries, aquaculture and households are let into the ocean, it causes nutrient imbalance leading to algal blooming, the sign of marine chemical damage. <strong>Seaweeds absorb the excess nutrients</strong> and balance out the ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Iron Sequestrator:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These aquatic organisms heavily rely on iron for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bbx11-gene-greening-of-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>photosynthesis.</strong></a> When the quantity of this mineral exceeds healthy levels and becomes dangerous to marine life, seaweeds trap it and prevent damage. Similarly, most <strong>heavy metals found in marine ecosystems are trapped and removed by seaweeds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oxygen and Nutrient Supplier:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On their part, the<strong> seaweeds derive nutrition through photosynthesis of sunlight and nutrients present in seawater.</strong> They release oxygen through every part of their bodies. They also <strong>supply organic nutrients to other marine life forms.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role in Climate Mitigation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seaweed has a significant role in mitigating climate change. By afforesting 9% of the ocean with seaweed, it is possible to sequester 53 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. Hence, there is a proposal termed as<strong> &lsquo;ocean afforestation&rsquo;</strong> for farming seaweed to remove carbon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Utilities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They can be used as fertilizers and to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pegasus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>increase aquaculture production.</strong></a></li>
<li>When <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/animal-husbandry#:~:text=It%20supports%20the%20livelihood%20of,%25%20(2018%2D19)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>livestock</strong> </a>is fed with seaweed, methane emission from cattle may be reduced substantially.</li>
<li>They can be buried in beach dunes to<strong> combat beach erosion.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>used as an ingredient in preparing toothpaste, cosmetics and paints.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has launched a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saksham-portal-and-seaweed-mission-tifac" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Seaweed Mission.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/two-new-seaweed-species-discovered-along-indias-coastline-7250122/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-red-algal-seaweed-species'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'India-South Korea: Friendship Park',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Indian Defence Minister and his South Korean counterpart inaugurated the <strong>India-Korea Friendship Park</strong> in a ceremony at the Delhi Cantonment.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Later on both the ministers concluded a <strong>bilateral meeting</strong> and explored different areas of cooperation.</li>
<li>Earlier in February 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-ministers-visit-to-south-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prime Minister of India visited South Korea</strong></a> (Republic of Korea).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617105479_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617105479_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Spread across a green area of six acres, the park includes an <strong>entrance gate made in Korean style,</strong> a jogging track, well landscaped garden and an <strong>amphitheatre.</strong></li>
<li>Has an <strong>imposing handshake</strong> artifact standing tall at the entrance bearing flags of India and South Korea.</li>
<li>Has <strong>statue of General KS Thimayya,</strong> a celebrated soldier who led the Indian contingent in the Korean War as Chairman of <strong>Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC)</strong> in Korea headed by India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One of the follow-up actions to the Armistice Agreement in the Korean War was the establishment of a <strong>NNRC</strong> which <strong>was to decide on the fate of over 20,000 prisoners of war from both sides. </strong></li>
<li><strong>India was chosen as the Chair of the NNRC,</strong> with Poland and Czechoslovakia representing the Communist bloc and Sweden and Switzerland representing the Western world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>five pillars</strong> raised in the backdrop of General Thimayya&rsquo;s statue are embossed with details of operations carried out by<strong> 60 Parachute Field Ambulance</strong> (deployed by India) during the Korean war where they had treated about 1,95,000 cases, and performed about 2,300 field surgeries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One pillar also encompasses <strong>Nobel Laureate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rabindranath-tagore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore&rsquo;s</a></strong> narration of<strong> Korea as &ldquo;The Lamp of the East&rdquo;</strong> which was published in Korean daily &ldquo;Dong-A-ilbo&rdquo; in 1929.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Developed By:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The park has been developed in joint consultation with the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Indian Army, Delhi Cantonment Board, Embassy of Korea and Korean War Veterans Association of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The park's significance is not only because of it being a<strong> symbol of strong India-South Korea friendly relations,</strong> but also as a <strong>monument to India&rsquo;s contributions</strong> as part of 21 countries which participated in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/70-years-of-korean-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Korean war 1950-53</strong></a>, under the aegis of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Discussed at the Meet:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Discussed <strong>maritime cooperation</strong> as part of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific</strong></a> strategy and also cooperation in the defense industry and future technologies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The two countries have a logistics agreement helping the Indian navy while operating in the Indo-Pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-South Korea Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the Korean War (1950- 53), <strong>India played a major role in a cease-fire agreement</strong> signed between both the warring sides (North Korea and South Korea) and the ceasefire was declared on 27<sup>th</sup> July 1953.</li>
<li>In <strong>May 2015,</strong> the bilateral relationship was <strong>upgraded to &lsquo;special strategic partnership&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India has a major role to play in South Korea&rsquo;s Southern Policy</strong> under which Korea is looking at expanding relations beyond its immediate region.</li>
<li>Similarly, South Korea is a major player in India&rsquo;s<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-act-east-policy-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Act East Policy</strong></a> under which India aims to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The current bilateral trade between India and South Korea is at USD 21 billion and the <strong>target that has been set is USD 50 billion by the year 2030.</strong></li>
<li>India and South Korea have signed the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), 2010</strong></a> which has facilitated the growth of trade relations.</li>
<li>To facilitate investment from Korea, India has launched a <strong>"Korea Plus&rdquo;</strong> facilitation cell under <strong>&lsquo;Invest India&rsquo;</strong> to guide, assist and handhold investors.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s share in Korea&rsquo;s global trade was <strong>1.72% in 2020</strong> and India&rsquo;s contribution in Korea&rsquo;s global imports increased from<strong> 0.78% in 2001 to 1.05% in 2020. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Korean Buddhist Monk Hyecho</strong> or Hong Jiao visited India from 723 to 729 AD and wrote the travelogue<strong> "Pilgrimage to the five kingdoms of India"</strong> which gives a vivid account of Indian culture, politics &amp; society.</li>
<li>Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore had composed a short but evocative poem &ndash; <strong>'Lamp of the East' -</strong> in 1929 about Korea's glorious past and its promising bright future.</li>
<li>To further enhance cultural exchanges between India and Korea,<strong> Indian Cultural Centres (ICC)</strong> were established in <strong>Seoul in April 2011</strong> and in <strong>Busan in December 2013.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Platforms Shared by Both the Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-trade-organisation-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Trade Organization</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN Plus</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Asia Summit (EAS)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g-20-summit-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G-20</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and South Korea relations have made great strides in recent years and have become truly <strong>multidimensional,</strong> spurred by a <strong>significant convergence of interests, mutual goodwill and high level exchanges.</strong></li>
<li>However, there is massive <strong>scope to expand ties between India and South Korea and make it a unique relationship in Asia.</strong> What is needed is political will and new imagination in diverse areas such as cultural relations, building on people-to-people contacts, harnessing democracy and liberal values, and cementing civilisational connections.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1707844" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Shifting Health to the Concurrent List',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15th-finance-commission-recommendations-resource-allocation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fifteenth Finance Commission</strong></a> Chairman N.K. Singh said that<strong> health should be shifted to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-planning-to-bypass-central-legislation#:~:text=Concurrent%20List%3A%20Both%2C%20the%20Parliament,is%20desirable%20but%20not%20essential." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Concurrent list</a></strong> under the Constitution. Presently, &lsquo;Health&rsquo; is under the State List.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He also pitched for a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/development-finance-institution-to-fund-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Developmental Finance Institution (DFI)</strong> </a>dedicated to healthcare investments.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Arguments for Shifting &lsquo;Health&rsquo; to the Concurrent List:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Centre with Greater Flexibility:</strong> Bringing health into the Concurrent list would give the <strong>Centre greater flexibility to enact regulatory changes</strong> and <strong>reinforce the obligation</strong> of all stakeholders towards providing better healthcare.</li>
<li><strong>Rationalisation and Streamlining of the Multiple Acts:</strong> There is a multiplicity of Acts, rules and regulations, and mushrooming institutions, yet the regulation of the sector is far from adequate. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With the health in the concurrent list, uniformity of acts can be ensured.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Centre Expertise to States:</strong> The Central government is also <strong>technically better equipped</strong> to come up with the health schemes because it has the assistance of <strong>multiple research bodies and departments</strong> dedicated to the management of public health. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>States on the other hand do not have the technical expertise to independently design comprehensive public health policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments Against Shifting &lsquo;Health&rsquo; to the Concurrent List:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Right to Health:</strong> It is neither necessary nor sufficient to guarantee the provision of accessible, affordable and adequate healthcare for all. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Besides, the<strong> right to health</strong> is, arguably, already provided for via the Constitution&rsquo;s <strong>Article 21</strong> that guarantees protection of life and liberty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Federal Structure:</strong> Shifting ever more subjects from the states to the Centre would erode India&rsquo;s federal nature and impair efficiency by abandoning the <strong>principle of subsidiarity,</strong> which holds that any task should be left to the level of government best placed to do it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Trust Cooperative Federalism:</strong> The centre must direct its energies to designing policy that would help states deliver on their constitutional mandate to provide adequate, accessible and affordable healthcare for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Burden With Centre:</strong> The Centre has onerous responsibilities of its own, for which it struggles to find resources. Taking more functions would help neither the states nor the Centre discharge their constitutional obligations.</li>
<li><strong>Encourage States:</strong> The Centre <strong>devolves 41%</strong> of the taxes it collects to the states. The Centre should encourage the states to do what they are supposed to do, while the Centre optimises use of its own resources, focusing on its obligations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Health being a state subject does not preclude the Centre offering constructive support.</li>
<li>The NITI Aayog&rsquo;s Health Index, financial assistance through the insurance-based programme Ayushman Bharat, improved regulatory environment for healthcare providers and medical education are examples of such support that can nudge states in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Developmental Finance Institution (DFI) for Health Care:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A health sector-specific DFI is much needed on the same lines as that of DFIs for other sectors like <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-bank-for-agriculture-and-rural-development-nabard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development -NABARD</a> (agriculture), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/liquidity-boost-to-nbfcs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Housing Bank- NHB</a> (Housing)</strong> and <strong>Tourism Finance Corporation of India Ltd. - TFCI (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tourism-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tourism</a>).</strong></li>
<li>Such a<strong> DFI would increase health care access in tier-2 and tier-3 cities</strong> and also come with<strong> technical assistance</strong> that ensures proper usage of funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Suggestions by N.K. Singh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increase the <strong>government spending on health to 2.5% of GDP by 2025.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Primary healthcare</strong> should be a fundamental commitment of all States in particular and should be allocated<strong> at least two-thirds of health spending.</strong></li>
<li>To have<strong> a standardisation of health care codes for both the Centre and states.</strong></li>
<li>Forming an<strong> All India Medical and Health Service.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Given the inter-state disparity in the availability of medical doctors, it is essential to constitute the Service as is envisaged under Section 2A of the <strong>All-India Services Act, 1951.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Emphasised the importance of <strong>universalising healthcare insurance,</strong> as a large section of the society still remain uncovered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Universalisation of Healthcare Insurance: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Existing Insurance Coverage:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)</strong></a> covers the <strong>bottom two income quintiles</strong> and <strong>commercial insurance largely covers top-income quintiles,</strong> thereby creating a<strong> &lsquo;missing middle&rsquo;</strong> class in between.</li>
<li><strong>Missing Middle:</strong> This refers to people in the middle two income quintiles, where the population is not rich enough to afford commercial insurance and not poor enough to be covered under government-sponsored health insurance schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Concurrent List</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The subject-wise distribution of legislative power is given in the three lists of the <strong>Seventh Schedule</strong> of the Constitution:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>List-I- the Union List</strong></li>
<li><strong>List-II- the State List</strong></li>
<li><strong>List-III- the Concurrent List</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both, the<strong> Parliament and state legislature can make laws</strong> with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the <strong>Concurrent List.</strong></li>
<li>It includes the matters on which <strong>uniformity of legislation throughout</strong> the country is desirable but not essential.</li>
<li>However State legislation operates to the extent that it is not in conflict with the Central legislation. At times, the very presence of a central legislation can negate the state&rsquo;s ability to legislate.</li>
<li>This list has <strong>at present 52 subjects</strong> (originally 47) like criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, marriage and divorce, population control and family planning, electricity, labour welfare,economic and social planning, drugs, newspapers, books and printing press, and others.</li>
<li>The <strong>42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act of 1976</strong> transferred<strong> five subjects to Concurrent List from State List i.e</strong> education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, and administration of justice; constitution and organisation of all courts except the Supreme Court and the High Courts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Development Finance Institution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are specialized institutions set up primarily to provide development/ Project finance especially in developing countries.</li>
<li>These DFIs are usually majority-owned by national governments.</li>
<li>The source of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bimal-jalan-panel-on-economic-capital-framework" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>capital of these banks</strong></a> is national or international development funds.</li>
<li>This ensures their creditworthiness and their ability to provide project finance at a very competitive rate.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/move-health-to-concurrent-list/article34172894.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'NISAR: Joint Earth Observing Mission of NASA and ISRO',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>NASA and ISRO are collaborating on developing an <strong>SUV-sized satellite called NISAR,</strong> which will <strong>detect movements of the planet&rsquo;s surface as small as 0.4 inches</strong> over areas about half the size of a tennis court.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The satellite <strong>will be launched in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center</strong> in Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh)<strong> into a near-polar orbit.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Name &lsquo;NISAR&rsquo;:</strong> The name<strong> NISAR</strong> is short for <strong>NASA-ISRO-SAR.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>SAR</strong> here refers to the <strong>Synthetic Aperture Radar</strong> that NASA will use to measure changes in the surface of the Earth.</li>
<li>It refers to a technique for producing <strong>high-resolution images.</strong> Because of the precision, the radar can penetrate clouds and darkness, which means that it can <strong>collect data day and night in any weather.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Function:</strong> It will scan the globe <strong>every 12 days</strong> over the course of its <strong>three-year mission</strong> of imaging the <strong>Earth&rsquo;s land, ice sheets</strong> and<strong> sea ice</strong> to give an unprecedented view of the planet.</li>
<li><strong>Role of NASA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Aeronautics and Space Administration</a> (NASA</strong> - space agency of the USA) will provide one of the radars for the satellite, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers and a payload data subsystem.</li>
<li><strong>NISAR</strong> will be equipped with the<strong> largest reflector antenna</strong> ever launched by <strong>NASA.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of ISRO:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Space and Research Organisation</a> (ISRO)</strong> will provide the spacecraft bus, the second type of radar (called the<strong> S-band radar</strong>), the launch vehicle and associated launch services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Primary Goals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tracking subtle changes in the Earth&rsquo;s surface,</li>
<li>Spotting warning signs of imminent volcanic eruptions,</li>
<li>Helping to monitor groundwater supplies, and</li>
<li>Tracking the rate at which ice sheets are melting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expected Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NISAR's data can help people worldwide <strong>better manage natural resources and hazards,</strong> as well as providing information for scientists to better understand the <strong>effects and pace of climate change.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The images will be detailed enough<strong> to show local changes</strong> and broad enough to <strong>measure regional trends.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As the mission continues for years, the data will allow for better understanding of the causes and consequences of <strong>land surface changes.</strong></li>
<li>It will also add to our <strong>understanding of our planet's hard outer layer, called its crust.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>S-Band Radar</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>S band radars</strong> operate on a wavelength of 8-15 cm and a frequency of 2-4 GHz.</li>
<li>Because of the wavelength and frequency, S-band radars are not easily attenuated. This makes them useful for near and far range weather observation.</li>
<li>The <strong>drawback</strong> to this band of radar is that it requires a<strong> large antenna dish</strong> and a <strong>large motor</strong> to power it. It is not uncommon for a S-band dish to exceed 25 feet in size.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/nasa-isro-joint-mission-nisar-7246785/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'ACT-Accelerator',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Carl Bildt has been appointed as <strong>WHO Special Envoy </strong>for the <strong>Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ACT-Accelerator is a groundbreaking <strong>global collaboration</strong> to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> tests, treatments and vaccines.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ACT-Accelerator:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was launched in the month of April, 2020 at an event co-hosted by the Director-General of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a>, the<strong> President of France,</strong> the <strong>President of the European Commission,</strong> and the <strong>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.</strong></li>
<li>It brings together <strong>governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, and philanthropists</strong> and <strong>global health organizations.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The participants include the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/goalkeepers-award" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CEPI</strong></a>, <strong>Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavi</a></strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Global Fund</a></strong>, <strong>Unitaid, Wellcome Trust (London), the WHO and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It aims to<strong> end the pandemic, restore full societal and economic activity</strong> globally and <strong>facilitate high-level control of Covid-19 disease.</strong></li>
<li>The ACT-Accelerator is organized into<strong> four pillars of work:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Diagnostics, treatment, vaccines </strong>and<strong> health system strengthening.</strong></li>
<li>Each pillar is vital to the overall effort and involves innovation and collaboration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>COVAX:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>COVAX is one of four pillars of the ACT Accelerator.</li>
<li>It is an effort to ensure that <strong>people in all corners of the world will get access to Covid-19 vaccines,</strong> regardless of their wealth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The initial aim is to have <strong>2 billion doses available by the end of 2021,</strong> which should be enough to protect high risk and vulnerable people, as well as frontline healthcare workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is co-led by <strong>Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO),</strong> working in partnership with vaccine manufacturers of developed and developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Role:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>started shipping Covid-19 vaccines to Africa</strong> under the COVAX facility.</li>
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Serum Institute of India (SII) had received funds</strong></a> from Gavi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation <strong>to double its supply of Covid-19 vaccines</strong> (200 million doses) to India and other poorer countries as part of the <strong>Gavi COVAX facility. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of ACT-Accelerator:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a crucial time for ACT-Accelerator when the world is rolling out vaccines against Covid-19, introducing new diagnostics and scaling up life-saving oxygen and <strong>corticosteroids</strong> for severe disease.</li>
<li>It will help in addressing the uneven distribution of vaccines globally and the emergence of new variants of concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Corticosteroids</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Corticosteroids are a class of drug that<strong> lowers inflammation in the body.</strong> They also reduce immune system activity.</li>
<li>Corticosteroids<strong> ease swelling, itching, redness, and allergic reactions,</strong> thus used in the treatment of diseases like asthma, arthritis, lupus, allergies etc.</li>
<li>Corticosteroids resemble cortisol, a <strong>hormone naturally produced by the body&rsquo;s adrenal glands.</strong> The body needs cortisol to stay healthy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cortisol is a major player in a wide range of processes in the body, including metabolism, immune response, and stress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/covid-19-carl-bildt-appointed-who-special-envoy-for-act-accelerator-76241#:~:text=Tedros%20Adhanom%20Ghebreyesus%2C%20the%20director,Accelerator)%20March%2031%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/act-accelerator'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'NGT Orders Pollution Control Boards to Increase Capacity',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/10-years-of-national-green-tribunal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> directed the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to strengthen its capacity and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong></a> to form a uniform recruitment criteria.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The order was to <strong>ensure better monitoring for improved compliance of environmental norms.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in January 2021, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court (SC)</strong> </a>had taken suo motu cognizance of pollution of water bodies by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-court-s-view-on-pollution-in-yamuna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>untreated sewage in Haryana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Plea:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2018, a case was filed with NGT&rsquo;s principal bench for revising existing monitoring mechanism by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This included an interval of mandatory inspections of <strong>highly polluting</strong> industries and policy for auto renewal of <strong>Consent to Operate (CTO) c</strong>ertificate under <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/22-05-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974</strong></a> as well as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tackling-the-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The plea pointed out that an earlier report of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-aquifer-mapping-and-management-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)</strong> </a>had established <strong>deterioration of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depleting-groundwater" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ground water quality in Haryana.</a></strong></li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</strong></a> of India&rsquo;s 2016 report also recorded operation of several projects without valid consent to establish or CTO certificates, showing ineffectiveness of monitoring mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NGTs Action:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The NGT passed an order for the Haryana government to revisit its inspection policy and make it adequate to ensure effective enforcement of law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Haryana's Proposal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Haryana government, in compliance to the NGT order, proposed a revised policy with increased frequency of inspection, installation of online monitoring devices to capture real-time data and pre-verification of documents before issuing renewal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Order:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Inspection at <strong>higher frequencies.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Capacity enhancement</strong> of SPCBs/<strong>Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)</strong> with <strong>consent funds.</strong></li>
<li>Capacity enhancement of CPCB utilising <strong>environment compensation funds.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Annual performance audit</strong> of state PCBs/PCCs.</li>
<li><strong>CPCB to prepare a format</strong> containing qualifications, minimum eligibility criteria and required experience for key positions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the name of &lsquo;ease of doing business&rsquo;, powers and authorities of SPCB have been compromised. The latest judgement of NGT is a<strong> fresh start to the long-delayed initiative of strengthening CPCB/SPCBs/PCCs.</strong></li>
<li>The judgment of NGT could be termed as landmark. The <strong>NGT has tried to erase the bottlenecks, which were being used to halt the strengthening of environmental regulation.</strong></li>
<li>The important part of the judgement is asking <strong>CPCB to come out with standard recruitment rules</strong> which can be followed by all states. The existing SPCBs recruitment rules have not been updated for decades.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CPCB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CPCB is a <strong>statutory organisation</strong> which was constituted in September, 1974 under the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/22-05-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</strong></a></li>
<li>It was entrusted with the powers and functions under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tackling-the-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</strong></a></li>
<li>It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change of the provisions of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1#:~:text=On%2027%20January%201994%2C%20the,Schedule%201%20of%20the%20notification." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SPCB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They supplement the CPCB as they are a statutory organization entrusted to implement Environmental Laws and rules within the jurisdiction of a state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environment Compensation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Environmental compensation is a policy instrument for the protection of the environment which works on the<strong> &lsquo;Polluter Pays Principle&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Environment Compensation Fund:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> specialised type of fund</strong> collected by<strong> charging the environmental violations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Example:</strong> Illegal discharge in water bodies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/how-this-landmark-ngt-order-will-shape-the-future-of-india-s-pollution-control-bodies-76187" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ngt-orders-pollution-control-boards-to-increase-capacity'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'China-Iran Strategic Cooperation Pact',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>China and Iran have signed<strong> a 25-year "strategic cooperation pact&rdquo;</strong> which includes "political economic and strategic components".</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement <strong>comes amid a major push from China to back Iran to deal with the continuing weight of sanctions reinstated by the US</strong> after its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Pact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will deepen relations between Iran and China and would establish a blueprint for "reciprocal investments in the fields of transport, ports, energy, industry and services."</li>
<li>It forms <strong>a part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/italy-joins-belt-road-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative</a> (BRI),</strong> a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase its influence overseas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China's Growing Role in the Middle East:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617277331_pasted%20image 0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617277331_pasted image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Iran relies on China as its largest trading partner.</li>
<li>Chinese foreign minister, in his recent visit to West Asian nations, proposed <strong>a five-point initiative</strong> for achieving security and stability in the Middle East, advocating "mutual respect, upholding equity and justice, achieving non-proliferation, jointly fostering collective security, and accelerating development cooperation.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Earlier, China and Russia called for the US to unconditionally return to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/restoration-of-jcpoa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)</strong></a> as soon as possible and revoke the unilateral sanctions against Iran. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In this context, they proposed "the establishment of a regional security dialogue platform to converge a new consensus on resolving the security concerns of countries in the region.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Military Partnership:</strong> China is also concluding a security and military partnership with Iran. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China calls for &ldquo;joint training and exercises, joint research and weapons development and intelligence sharing&rdquo; to fight &ldquo;the lopsided battle with terrorism, drug and human trafficking and cross-border crimes&rdquo;.</li>
<li>The sizable Chinese investments in Iranian ports development <strong>may eventually be turned into permanent military access arrangements</strong> with Iran.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Stakes Around the Chabahar Port:</strong> With a growing Chinese presence in Iran, India is concerned about its strategic stakes around the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chabahar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chabahar port</strong></a> project that it has been developing. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The port is close to Gwadar port in Pakistan, which is being developed by China as part of its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that links it to the Indian Ocean through BRI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geopolitical Rivalry:</strong> India finds itself caught in the geopolitical rivalry between the US &amp; China over Iran. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s dilemma also stems from the fact that robust support from the US is essential when it is locked in a border stand-off with China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Relationship with Other Countries:</strong> Growing Chinese footsteps in Iran will have a long-lasting impact on India&rsquo;s relationship with not only Iran but also on Afghanistan and Central Asian nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2015, Iran with the P5+1 group of world powers - the USA, UK, France, China, Russia, and Germany agreed on a long-term deal on its nuclear programme.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The deal was named as <strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)</strong> and in common parlance as <strong>Iran Nuclear Deal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear activity in return for the lifting of sanctions and access to global trade.</li>
<li>The agreement allowed Iran to accumulate small amounts of uranium for research but it banned the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iran-steps-up-uranium-enrichment#:~:text=For%20nuclear%20weapons%2C%20enrichment%20is,Uranium%2Freactor%2Dgrade%20uranium." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>enrichment of uranium</strong></a>, which is used to make reactor fuel and nuclear weapons.</li>
<li>Iran was also required to redesign a heavy-water reactor being built, whose spent fuel could contain plutonium suitable for a bomb and to allow international inspections.</li>
<li>In 2018, the <strong>United States declared its withdrawal from JCPOA</strong> and imposed unilateral sanction on Iran.</li>
<li>Iran has pulled away from restrictions imposed under the deal in order to put pressure on the other signatories &mdash; Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China &mdash; to provide new economic incentives to offset US sanctions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iran-china-sign-25-year-cooperation-agreement/article34176965.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/china-iran-strategic-cooperation-pact'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Evolving India-Bangladesh Relations',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/good-neighbours-the-hindu-editorial-on-india-bangladesh-ties/article34201043.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Good neighbours: On India-Bangladesh ties&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Hindu on 31/03/2021. It talks about the new trends in India-Bangladesh ties.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister of India visited Bangladesh to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the war of liberation and the centenary year of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gandhi-peace-prize-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</strong></a></p>
<p>Historically, India&rsquo;s has played a critical role in the creation of Bangladesh. India&rsquo;s political, diplomatic, military and humanitarian support during Bangladesh&rsquo;s Liberation War played an important role towards Bangladesh&rsquo;s independence.</p>
<p>This is the first foreign visit since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic of the Indian Prime Minister and it conveys that India attaches <strong>great importance to the relationship with its eastern neighbour.</strong></p>
<p>Further, the recent events highlight a deeper understanding on both sides of the India-Bangladesh relationship. However, there are few challenges that need to be resolved for a win-win relationship.</p>
<h3>New Trends in India-Bangladesh Ties</h3>
<p>In the last decade, India-Bangladesh relations have warmed up, entering a new era of cooperation, and moving beyond historical and cultural ties to become more assimilated in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy, and defence. This can reflected in the following events:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Military Cooperation:</strong> The Bangladesh government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has<strong> uprooted anti-India insurgency elements</strong> from its borders, making the India-Bangladesh border one of the region&rsquo;s most peaceful. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This has allowed India to make a massive redeployment of military resources to its more contentious borders elsewhere.</li>
<li>Further, Bangladesh handed over many of India&rsquo;s &ldquo;most wanted&rdquo; criminals.</li>
<li>India has also accepted an <strong>international tribunal verdict</strong> in favour of Bangladesh that resolved a <strong>40-year-old maritime dispute</strong> and built confidence as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land Boundary Agreement:</strong> Bangladesh and India have achieved the rare feat of solving their border issues peacefully by ratifying the historic <strong>Land Boundary Agreement in 2015.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In that agreement, enclaves were swapped allowing inhabitants to choose their country of residence and become citizens of either India or Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade Relations:</strong> Bangladesh today is India&rsquo;s biggest trading partner in South Asia with exports to Bangladesh in FY 2018-19 at $9.21 billion and imports at $1.04 billion. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, India has offered duty free access to multiple Bangladeshi products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development Sector:</strong> On the development front, cooperation has deepened, with India extending three lines of credit to Bangladesh in recent years amounting to $8 billion for the construction of roads, railways, bridges, and ports.</li>
<li><strong>Improved Connectivity:</strong> Connectivity between the two countries has greatly improved. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A direct bus service between Kolkata and Agartala runs a route distance of 500 km, as compared to the 1,650 km if it ran through the Chicken&rsquo;s Neck to remain within India.</li>
<li>Bangladesh allows the shipment of goods from its Mongla and Chattogram (Chittagong) seaports carried by road, rail, and water ways to Agartala.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>News Areas of Engagement:</strong> Bangladeshis make up a large portion of tourists in India, outnumbering all tourists arriving from western Europe in 2017, with one in every five tourists being a Bangladeshi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh accounts for more than <strong>35% of India&rsquo;s international medical patients</strong> and contributes more than 50% of India&rsquo;s revenue from medical tourism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in India-Bangladesh Ties</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Teesta River Dispute:</strong> Despite the remarkable progress, the unresolved Teesta water sharing issue looms large.</li>
<li><strong>Illegal Migration:</strong> The problem of Bangladeshi civilians being killed at the border has dented relations. The year 2020 saw the highest number of border shootings by the Border Security Force. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These shootings occur as many Bangladeshi people try to illegally migrate into India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NRC &amp; CAA:</strong> Indian government&rsquo;s proposal to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the whole of India and impetus for the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA), reflects poorly on India-Bangladesh relations.</li>
<li><strong>China Factor:</strong> Despite its &lsquo;Neighbourhood First Policy&rsquo;, India has been losing its influence in the region to China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, once considered traditional Indian allies, are increasingly tilting towards China due to the Asian giant&rsquo;s massive trade, infrastructural and defence investments in these countries.</li>
<li>China, in lieu of its cheque-book diplomacy, is well-entrenched in South Asia, including Bangladesh, with which it enjoys significant economic and defence relations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Learning From Bangladesh:</strong> Bangladesh is the region&rsquo;s fastest growing economy, with social indicators that other countries, including India, can learn.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the vital link with which India can realise the full potential of either the economic or strategic underpinnings of its Act East policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Sharing:</strong> While all countries desire to be recognised as equal, they also want bigger countries to take more responsibility for protecting this equality. This, India must &ldquo;play a pioneering role in India-Bangladesh relations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, as the larger country, the onus is on India to be generous enough to let the water flow and resolve the dispute over Teesta water and six other rivers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing Trade:</strong> Trade could be more balanced if non-tariff barriers from the Indian side could be removed.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>As Bangladesh celebrates its 50 years of independence, India continues to be one of its most important neighbours and strategic partners. To make the recent gains irreversible, both countries need to continue working on the three Cs &mdash; cooperation, collaboration, and consolidation.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fafffc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The recent events highlight a deeper understanding on both sides of the India-Bangladesh relationship. Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/evolving-india-bangladesh-relations'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Uniform Civil Code',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a petition has been filed in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>against <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/uniform-civil-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uniform Civil Code (UCC)</strong></a> on divorce and alimony.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617275102_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617275102_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UCC is one that would <strong>provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters</strong> such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.</li>
<li><strong>Article 44</strong> of the Constitution lays down that the <strong>state shall endeavour to secure a UCC</strong> for the citizens throughout the territory of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Article 44 is one of the<strong> Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).</strong></li>
<li>DPSP as defined in<strong> Article 37,</strong> are not justiciable (not enforceable by any court) but the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status of Uniform Codes in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil matters such as<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/22-05-2020#:~:text=In%20India%2C%20contract%20farming%20is,farming%20sponsors%20and%20dispute%20settlement." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Contract Act 1872</strong></a>, Civil Procedure Code, Transfer of Property Act 1882, Partnership Act 1932, <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/right-to-information-master-key-to-good-governance-2nd-arc#:~:text=Section%20123%20of%20the%20Indian,abundant%20discretion%20in%20the%20matter." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Evidence Act, 1872</strong></a> etc.</li>
<li>States, however, have made hundreds of amendments and, therefore, in certain matters, there is diversity even under these secular civil laws. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, several states refused to be governed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-motor-vehicles-bill-for-road-safety#:~:text=The%20Motor%20Vehicles%20(Amendment)%20Bill%2C%202019%20is%20based%20on,while%20dealing%20with%20transport%20departments." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>uniform Motor Vehicles Act, 2019.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The origin of the UCC dates back to colonial India when the British government submitted its report in 1835 stressing the need for <strong>uniformity in the codification of Indian law relating to crimes, evidence, and contracts,</strong> specifically <strong>recommending that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims be kept outside such codification.</strong></li>
<li>Increase in legislations dealing with personal issues in the far end of the British rule forced the government to form the<strong> B N Rau Committee to codify Hindu law in 1941.</strong></li>
<li>Based on these recommendations, <strong>a bill was then adopted in 1956 as the Hindu Succession Act</strong> to amend and codify the law relating to intestate or unwilled succession, among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, there were separate personal laws for muslim, chirstian and Parsis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to bring uniformity, the courts have often said in their judgements that the <strong>government should move towards a UCC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The judgement in the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/criminalising-triple-talaq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shah Bano case</a> (1985)</strong> is well known.</li>
<li>Another case was the<strong> Sarla Mudgal Case (1995),</strong> which dealt with issue of bigamy and conflict between the personal laws existing on matters of marriage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>By arguing that practices such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/muslim-women-rights-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>triple talaq</strong> </a>and<strong> polygamy</strong> impact adversely the right of a woman to a life of dignity, the Centre has raised the question whether constitutional protection given to religious practices should extend even to those that are not in compliance with fundamental rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications of Uniform Civil Code on Personal Laws:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Protection to Vulnerable Section of Society:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The UCC aims to provide protection to vulnerable sections as envisaged by Ambedkar including<strong> women and religious minorities,</strong> while also promoting <strong>nationalistic fervour through unity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Simplification of Laws:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The code will <strong>simplify the complex laws around marriage ceremonies, inheritance, succession, adoptions</strong> making them one for all. The same civil law will then be applicable to all citizens irrespective of their faith.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Adhering to Ideal of Secularism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Secularism is the objective enshrined in the Preamble, a <strong>secular republic needs a common law for all citizens</strong> rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Justice:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If a UCC is enacted, all personal laws will cease to exist. It will<strong> do away with gender biases in existing laws.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Exceptions in Central Family Laws:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The preliminary sections in all central family law Acts enacted by Parliament since Independence declare that they will apply to &ldquo;the whole of India except the state of <strong>Jammu and Kashmir.&rdquo;</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A Second exception was added in 1968 in all these Acts, pronouncing that &ldquo;nothing herein contained shall apply to the Renoncants in the<strong> Union Territory of Pondicherry.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>A third exception, none of these Acts applies in Goa, Daman and Diu.</li>
<li>A fourth exception, relating to the north-eastern states of Nagaland and Mizoram, emanates from <strong>Articles 371A and 371G</strong> of the Constitution, decreeing that no parliamentary legislation will replace the customary law and religion-based system for its administration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Communal Politics:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The demand for a uniform civil code has been framed in the context of communal politics.</li>
<li>A large section of society sees it as <strong>majoritarianism under the garb of social reform.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Hurdle:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/regulating-right-to-freedom-of-religion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 25</strong></a> of Indian constitution, that seeks to preserve the <strong>freedom to practise and propagate any religion</strong> gets into conflict with the concepts of <strong>equality enshrined under<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-i#:~:text=Context%20%2D%20The%20Muslim%20Women%20(Protection,the%20violative%20of%20Article%2014." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Article 14</a></strong> of indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and society will have to work hard to <strong>build trust, but more importantly, make common cause</strong> with social reformers rather than religious conservatives.</li>
<li>Rather than an omnibus approach, the <strong>government could bring separate aspects</strong> such as marriage, adoption, succession and maintenance into a UCC <strong>in stages.</strong></li>
<li>Need of the hour is the<strong> codification of all personal laws</strong> so that prejudices and stereotypes in every one of them would come to light and can be tested on the anvil of fundamental rights of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/plea-in-sc-against-bid-to-take-away-muslim-womans-right/article34208540.ece#:~:text=Petitioner%20says%20it%20is%20against%20fundamental%20right%20to%20religion,-A%20petition%20has&amp;text=In%20December%20last%20year%2C%20the,and%20alimony%20for%20all%20religions." 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/uniform-civil-code-2'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => '4% Inflation Target Retained by Government',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Government of India has decided to retain the<strong> inflation target of 4%,</strong> with a <strong>tolerance band of +/- 2 percentage points</strong> for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/monetary-policy-report-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Monetary Policy Committee</strong></a> of 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) for the coming five years.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the RBI in its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/flexible-inflation-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Currency and Finance (RCF) report</strong> </a>for the year 2020-21 also recommended the inflation target to be kept same as 4% +/-2% for next 5 years.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To control the price rise, <strong>the Centre in 2016 gave a mandate to the RBI to keep the retail inflation at 4% with a margin of 2% on either side</strong> for a five-year period <strong>ending 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2021.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-data-august-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Consumer Price Index (CPI)</strong></a> tracks the change in retail prices of goods and services which households purchase for their daily consumption.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> inflation target for the period 1<sup>st</sup> April, 2021 to 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2026</strong> under the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 has been <strong>kept at the same level</strong> as was for previous 5 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617273847_unnamed.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617273847_unnamed.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="254" height="499" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>central bank and the government agreed in 2015 on a policy framework</strong> that stipulated a primary objective of ensuring price stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.</li>
<li>The <strong>Flexible Inflation Target (FIT) was adopted in 2016.</strong> The <strong>Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended</strong> to provide a statutory basis for a FTI framework.</li>
<li>The amended Act <strong>provides for the inflation target to be set by the Government, in consultation with the RBI, once every five years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inflation Targeting:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a central banking policy</strong> that revolves around adjusting monetary policy to achieve a specified annual rate of inflation.</li>
<li>Inflation targeting is known to <strong>bring more stability, predictability, and transparency</strong> in deciding monetary policy.</li>
<li><strong>Strict Inflation Targeting:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is adopted when the central bank is only concerned about <strong>keeping inflation as close to a given inflation target as possible,</strong> and nothing else.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flexible Inflation Targeting:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is adopted<strong> when the central bank is to some extent also concerned about other things,</strong> for instance, the stability of interest rates, exchange rates, output and employment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Monetary Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the macroeconomic policy laid down by the central bank. It <strong>involves management of money supply and interest rate and is the demand side economic policy</strong> used by the government of a country to achieve macroeconomic objectives like inflation, consumption, growth and liquidity.</li>
<li>In India, monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India is<strong> aimed at managing the quantity of money in order to meet the requirements of different sectors</strong> of the economy and to increase the pace of economic growth.</li>
<li>The RBI implements the monetary policy through <strong>open market operations, bank rate policy, reserve system, credit control policy, moral persuasion</strong> and through many other instruments.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Monetary Policy Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>statutory and institutionalized framework</strong> under the<strong> Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934,</strong> for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman</strong> of the committee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The MPC <strong>determines the policy interest rate (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/monetary-policy-report-rbi#:~:text=Key%20Points,lends%20money%20to%20commercial%20banks." target="_blank" rel="noopener">repo rate</a>)</strong> required to achieve the inflation target (4%).</li>
<li>An RBI-appointed committee led by the then deputy governor Urjit Patel in 2014 recommended the establishment of the Monetary Policy Committee.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/govt-retains-4-inflation-target-for-rbis-rate-panel-for-2021-26/article34209262.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/4-inflation-target-retained-by-government'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: UNESCAP',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A report <strong>&lsquo;Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-Covid-19 resilient economies&rsquo;</strong> has recently been released by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/survey-2019-ambitions-beyond-growth-escap#:~:text=the%20Pacific%20(UNESCAP)-,The%20United%20Nations%20Economic%20and%20Social%20Commission%20for%20Asia%20and,Asia%2DPacific%20Region%20including%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the report, <strong>India is estimated to record an economic growth of 7% in 2021-22, over <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-emerged-out-of-technical-recession" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contraction of 7.7%</a> witnessed in the previous fiscal</strong> on account of the pandemic&rsquo;s impact on normal business activity.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Other Observation Regarding India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s 2021 economic output, however, is expected to remain below the 2019 level</strong> despite a robust reduction in new <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/double-mutant-coronavirus-variant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> cases and the start of <strong>vaccine roll-out.</strong></li>
<li>India entered the pandemic with already subdued <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GDP (Gross Domestic Product)</a> growth </strong>and<strong> investment.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Moreover, one of the most stringent lockdowns in the world caused the severe economic disruptions that the country experienced in the year 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A subsequent <strong>change in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-lockdown-on-indian-corporates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lockdown policies</a></strong> and<strong> success in reducing infection rates</strong> supported an impressive economic turnaround in the later months of 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong> The report mentions two major challenges for India on its path to faster recovery.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Maintaining low borrowing costs, </strong>and</li>
<li><strong>Keeping <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-performing loans</a> in check.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Observation Regarding Asia Pacific Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> socio-economic impact</strong> of the Covid-19 pandemic was amplified due to<strong> lack of resilience and investments</strong> in people and the planet.</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s</strong> swift and effective response to Covid-19 enabled it to become the <strong>only major economy worldwide to achieve a positive annual economic growth rate in 2020.</strong></li>
<li>On an average, developing Asia-Pacific economies are expected to grow 5.9% in 2021 and 5% in 2022.</li>
<li>The prospect of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/k-shaped-economic-recovery#:~:text=K%2DShaped%20Recovery%3A,industries%2C%20or%20groups%20of%20people." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>K-shaped recovery</strong></a>, characterized by uneven post-pandemic recovery across countries and <strong>widened inequality gaps within countries,</strong> is highlighted as a <strong>primary policy challenge.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>K-Shaped Recovery</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A K-shaped recovery occurs when, following a recession,<strong> different parts of the economy recover at different rates, times, or magnitudes.</strong> This is in contrast to an even, uniform recovery across sectors, industries, or groups of people.</li>
<li>A K-shaped recovery leads to<strong> changes in the structure of the economy</strong> or the broader society as economic outcomes and relations are fundamentally changed before and after the recession.</li>
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shapes-of-economic-recovery" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>type of recovery</strong></a> is called K-shaped because the path of different parts of the economy when charted together may diverge, resembling the two arms of the Roman letter "K."</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617271667_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617271667_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;"></ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For a more <strong>robust and inclusive recovery,</strong> the report calls for a more <strong>synchronised Covid-19 vaccination programme</strong> across countries. There is a need to <strong>leverage regional cooperation.</strong></li>
<li>It recommends that<strong> fiscal and monetary support</strong> should be sustained, as premature tightening could increase long-term scars.</li>
<li>Continuity in <strong>policy support is a must and recovery policy packages</strong> should focus on building resilience and investing in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=To%20bring%20sustainable%20development%20in,over%20the%20next%2015%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</strong></a></li>
<li>To deal with various economic and non-economic shocks, a more<strong> integrated risk management approach</strong> to planning and policymaking is needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617271755_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617271755_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Produced annually <strong>since 1947,</strong> the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific is the <strong>oldest United Nations report on the region&rsquo;s progress.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Survey monitors regional progress, provides cutting-edge analyses</strong> and <strong>guides policy discussion</strong> on the current and emerging socio-economic issues and policy challenges to support inclusive and sustainable development in the region.</li>
<li>Since 1957, the Survey has also contained a study or studies focusing on a significant aspect or challenge relevant to the economies of the Asia-Pacific region.</li>
<li>The Survey of 2021 studies the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and provides insights for post-Covid-19 resilient economies.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is the <strong>regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region.</strong></li>
<li>It has <strong>53 Member States and 9 Associate Members</strong> from Asia-Pacific Region including India.</li>
<li>Established: <strong>1947</strong></li>
<li>Headquarters: <strong>Bangkok,</strong> Thailand</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To overcome some of the region&rsquo;s greatest challenges by providing results-oriented projects, technical assistance and capacity building to member States.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/india-2021-economic-output-likely-to-remain-below-2019-level-un-report-7251473/" 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/economic-and-social-survey-of-asia-and-the-pacific-2021-unescap'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Global Gender Gap Report 2021: WEF',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has fallen 28 places in the<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-gender-gap-index-2020-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Economic Forum&rsquo;s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report</a> 2021.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, One Stop Centre (OSC) Scheme, Ujjawala Scheme are some the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-crime-against-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> initiatives launched by the government</strong> </a>to address the issue of gender inequality.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>the principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution</strong> in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Gender Gap Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was<strong> first published in 2006</strong> by the WEF.</li>
<li>It <strong>benchmarks 156 countries</strong> on their progress towards gender parity in four <strong>dimensions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Economic Participation and Opportunity,</li>
<li>Educational Attainment,</li>
<li>Health and Survival and</li>
<li>Political Empowerment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Over the Index, the <strong>highest possible score is 1</strong> (equality) and the <strong>lowest possible score is 0</strong> (inequality).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To serve as a compass to<strong> track progress on relative gaps between women and men</strong> on health, education, economy and politics. Through this annual yardstick, the stakeholders within each country are able to set priorities relevant in each specific economic, political and cultural context.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Position:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Overall Ranking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is now <strong>one of the worst performers in South Asia,</strong> it is<strong> now ranked 140 among 156 countries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In South Asia, Bangladesh ranked 65, Nepal 106, Pakistan 153, Afghanistan 156, Bhutan 130 and Sri Lanka 116.</li>
<li>India<strong> had ranked 112<sup>th</sup> among 153 countries</strong> in 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></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political Empowerment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>declined on the political empowerment index</strong> as well by 13.5 percentage points, and a decline in the number of women ministers, from 23.1% in 2019 to 9.1% in 2021.</li>
<li>However, it has still performed relatively well compared to other countries, <strong>ranking at 51 in women&rsquo;s participation in politics.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Education Attainment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the index of education attainment, India has been <strong>ranked at 114.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Participation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The report notes that the economic participation gender gap actually<strong> widened in India by 3% this year.</strong></li>
<li>The share of women in professional and technical roles declined further to 29.2%.</li>
<li>The share of women in senior and managerial positions also is at 14.6% and only 8.9% firms in the country have top female managers.</li>
<li>The<strong> estimated earned income of women in India</strong> is only <strong>one-fifth of men&rsquo;s,</strong> which puts the country among the bottom 10 globally on this indicator.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the income of an average woman is below 16% of that of an average man, while in India it is 20.7%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health and Survival index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On this India has <strong>fared the worst, ranking at 155.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The only country to have fared worse is China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report points to <strong>a skewed sex ratio</strong> as the major factor. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It says the ratio can be attributed to norms of son preference and gender-biased prenatal sex-selective practices.</li>
<li>China and India together account for about 90 to 95% of the estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million missing female births annually worldwide due to gender-biased prenatal sex selective practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617265692_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617265692_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="504" height="472" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Region Wise Rank:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>South Asia</strong> incidentally is one of the <strong>worst performing regions,</strong> followed only by the Middle East and northern Africa.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Largest Gender Gap in Political Empowerment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The gender gap in political empowerment remains the largest: women represent only 26.1% of some 35,500 parliament seats and just 22.6% of over 3,400 ministers worldwide.</li>
<li>In 81 countries, there has never been a woman head of state, as of 15th January, 2021.</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh is the only country where more women have held head-of-state positions</strong> than men in the past 50 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Participation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The countries with the largest gender gaps in economic participation include Iran, India, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Timeframe to Close the Gap:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will take South Asia <strong>195.4 years</strong> to close the gender gap, while Western Europe will take 52.1 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Economic Forum</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Economic Forum is the<strong> International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>established in 1971</strong> as a not-for-profit foundation and is <strong>headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.</strong> It is independent, impartial and not tied to any special interests.</li>
<li>The Forum strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance.</li>
<li>Some <strong>major reports</strong> published by WEF are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/energy-transition-index-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Energy Transition Index</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-competitiveness-index-4-0-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Competitiveness Report</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Global IT Report<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>WEF along with INSEAD, and Cornell University publishes this report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Global Gender Gap Report.</li>
<li>Global Risk Report.</li>
<li>Global Travel and Tourism Report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ranked-140-of-156-countries-india-slips-28-spots-in-wefs-global-gender-gap-report-7253575/" 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/global-gender-gap-report-2021-wef'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Human Rights Report 2020: USA',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The US State Department, in its <strong>2020 Human Rights Report,</strong> pointed out several Human Rights Issues in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report, which is submitted each year to the US Congress, is retrospective and contains a country wise discussion of the state of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-rights-day-2#:~:text=These%20include%20'right%20to%20social,policy%20to%20be%20followed%20by" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>human rights.</strong></a></li>
<li>Earlier in March 2021, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-in-the-world-2021-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Freedom in the World 2021</strong></a> report had <strong>downgraded India&rsquo;s status from &lsquo;Free&rsquo; to &lsquo;Partly Free&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India has also been classified as an <strong>&ldquo;electoral autocracy&rdquo;</strong> in the annual report named <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/autocratisation-goes-viral-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autocratisation Goes Viral&nbsp;</a></strong>of<strong> Sweden-based Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Harassment of Journalists:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The harassment and detention of journalists critical of the (Indian) government in their reporting and on social media, has continued, although the <strong>government generally respected the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-of-speech-and-expression-on-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">freedom of expression</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It mentioned restrictions on the press, including <strong>violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accessing Private Data:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Government&rsquo;s requests for user data from Internet companies had increased dramatically.</li>
<li>The government made 49,382 user data requests in 2019 from Facebook, a <strong>32% increase from 2018.</strong> Over the same period, <strong>Google requests increased by 69%, while Twitter requests saw a 68% increase. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arbitrary Deprivation of Life:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report highlighted the case of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/custodial-violence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unreasonable Detentions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report takes note of the <strong>April 2020 detention of protesters against the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019#:~:text=The%20Citizenship%20Act%2C1955%20provides,(OCIs)%20and%20their%20rights." target="_blank" rel="noopener">citizenship laws</a></strong> and various other incidents under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unlawful-activities-prevention-act-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967.</strong></a></li>
<li>Detention of politicians under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/public-safety-act-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jammu &amp; Kashmir&rsquo;s Public Safety Act 1978</strong></a>, was also mentioned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improvement in Human Rights Situation in Jammu &amp; Kashmir:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government continued taking steps to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir by <strong>gradually lifting some security and communications restrictions.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>government partially <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restoration-of-4g-internet-in-j-k" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restored internet access</a></strong>, however, high-speed 4G mobile internet remained restricted in most parts of Jammu &amp; Kashmir for the year 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Restrictive Rules and Lack of Investigation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Overly restrictive rules on <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-governmental-organizations-ngos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-governmental organisations</strong></a>, restrictions on political participation, widespread <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-anti-corruption-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>corruption</strong></a> at all levels in the government, lack of investigation of and accountability for <strong>violence against women,</strong> and forced and compulsory child labour, as well as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bonded-labour-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bonded labour.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Religious Freedom:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tolerance of <strong>violations of religious freedom;</strong> crimes involving violence and <strong>discrimination targeting members of minority groups</strong> including women based on religious affiliation or social status.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Human Right Provisions in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enunciated in the Constitution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Fundamental Rights: <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Articles 12 to 35</a></strong> of the Constitution. These include the Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right Against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural &amp; Educational Rights, Saving of Certain Laws and Right to Constitutional Remedies.</li>
<li><strong>Directive Principles of State Policy: Article 36 to 51</strong> of the Constitution. These include 'right to social security, right to work, to free choice of employment, and protection against unemployment, right to equal pay for equal work, right to existence worthy of human dignity, right to free &amp; compulsory education, equal justice &amp; free legal aid and the principles of policy to be followed by the State.'</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Statutory Provisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993</strong> (as amended in 2019) provided for the constitution of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-on-public-s-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Human Rights Commission</strong></a> at the Union level, which steers State Human Rights Commission in States and Human Rights Courts for better protection of Human Rights and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA <strong>defines Human Rights</strong> as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India took active part in drafting of the <strong>Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These 30 rights and freedoms include civil and political rights, like the right to life, liberty, free speech and privacy and economic, social and cultural rights, like the right to social security, health and education, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/curbs-on-indian-media-continue-us-rights-report/article34201598.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-rights-report-2020-usa'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Suez Canal Blockade',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/suez-crisis-and-the-fragility-of-global-trade-101616939623003.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Suez crisis and the fragility of global trade&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on 28/03/2021. It talks about the issues emanating out of the blockade of Suez canal.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/suez-canal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Suez Canal</strong></a>, one of the world&rsquo;s most critical transit routes, got blocked due to a large container vessel, the MV Ever Given. This has caused enormous disruption to global shipping.</p>
<p>This temporary closure has been very expensive for global trade, as it is estimated that the loss per hour is almost $400 million. The negative impact on the intricate and delicately balanced global supply-chain and oil prices will impose additional costs on the customer globally.</p>
<p>Suez canal closure leads to a cascading downstream disruption of trade and economic consequences. This aspect points to the fragility of global trade and needs to strengthen them.</p>
<h3>Suez Canal: Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The origins of the Suez Canal go back to the ancient period and the first waterway was dug during the reign of Senusret III Pharaoh of Egypt (1874 BC). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, this rudimentary canal was abandoned due to silting and reopened several times in the intervening centuries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The modern Suez was built in the mid-19th century through efforts by the French and opened for navigation on November 17, 1869.</li>
<li>In 1858, the Universal Suez Ship Canal Company was tasked to construct and operate the canal for 99 years, after which rights would be handed to the Egyptian government.</li>
<li>Located in Egypt, the artificial sea-level waterway was built between 1859 and 1869 linking the<strong> Mediterranean Sea</strong> and the <strong>Red Sea.</strong></li>
<li>The Suez Canal is pivotal in connecting Europe and Asia, as it negates the need to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and thus cutting distances by up to 7,000 km.</li>
<li>The Suez Canal put Egypt at a strategic junction between Asia and Europe. In the wave of assertion by colonies and quasi-colonies, Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal in 1956. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to protect the corporate interests that hinged on the Canal, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt. This war was termed the Suez<strong> Crisis 1956.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Suez Canal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enabler for Colonisation:</strong> The construction of the Suez Canal was a<strong> tectonic development</strong> for global maritime connectivity and impacted colonial history in a definitive manner. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rise of the British Empire was enabled considerably by this canal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Life-line of Global Trade:</strong> The canal continues to be the lifeline for all trade between the West and East as 10% of the global trade passes through it every year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The value of goods shipped through the canal is estimated to be $9.5 billion daily and the canal generates a major share of the revenue for the Egyptian government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One of Global Choke Points:</strong> The Suez along, with the <strong>Panama canal</strong> (that links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans), are the two most critical canals in the global maritime domain along with the Volga-Don and the Grand Canal (China).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Suez Closure</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Suez situation could compound issues for a supply chain already under pressure from the pandemic and a surge in buying.</li>
<li>The closure could affect shipments of oil and natural gas from the Mideast to Europe.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>It turns out, that while much has changed from 1869 and 1956 -<strong> &ldquo;data is the new oil&rdquo;</strong>, after all a large part of the global economy still runs on the very real grooves left by history.</p>
<p>Given the scale of the consequences of both fiscal and supply-chain disruption &mdash; the need to objectively review existing procedures and protocols specific to the Suez merits the highest priority.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617193092_pasted%20image 0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617193092_pasted image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fefffa;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Suez canal closure points to the fragility of global trade and needs to strengthen the supply chain. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/suez-canal-blockade'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>External Affairs Minister of India attended the 9<sup>th</sup> <strong>Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process</strong> held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He called for a<strong> &ldquo;double peace&rdquo;</strong> which means<strong> peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan</strong> and also said India supports the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/usa-taliban-peace-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intra-Afghan Negotiations (IAN).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was founded in November, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey.</li>
<li>It provides a<strong> platform for sincere and results-oriented regional cooperation by placing Afghanistan at its center,</strong> in recognition of the fact that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the Heart of Asia region.</li>
<li>This platform was established to <strong>address the shared challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners.</strong></li>
<li>The Heart of Asia comprises 15 participating countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 supporting regional and international organizations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India</strong> is a <strong>participating country.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since its inception the process has become a cardinal element in regional cooperation and has created a <strong>platform for Afghanistan&rsquo;s near and extended neighbors, international supporters and organizations to engage in constructive dialogue</strong> and to <strong>address the existing and emerging regional challenges</strong> through regional cooperation with Afghanistan at its core.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intra-Afghan Negotiations (IAN):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It refers to the<strong> talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents</strong> with the goal of bringing an end to nearly two decades of a conflict that has laid waste to the country and killed tens of thousands of combatants and civilians.</li>
<li>The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the <strong>date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire,</strong> including agreement over the <strong>future political roadmap</strong> of Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The negotiations will cover a variety of issues, including the<strong> rights of women, free speech, and changes to the country&rsquo;s constitution.</strong></li>
<li>The talks would also lay out the <strong>fate of tens of thousands of Taliban fighters</strong> as well as the heavily armed militias belonging to Afghanistan&rsquo;s warlords who have amassed wealth and power since the Taliban were ousted from power in 2001.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Connectivity Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the conference, the Afghanistan President appreciated the number of regional connectivity initiatives including the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chabahar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chabahar port project</strong></a>, as well as the <strong>Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India believes any peace process must be<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-afghan-policy-and-taliban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled</strong></a>, has to respect the<strong> national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan</strong> and preserve the progress made in the establishment of a<strong> democratic Islamic Republic in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections</strong> of society must be preserved and the issue of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>TAPI Pipeline</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>TAPI Pipeline, also called <strong>Peace pipeline,</strong> is a 1,814km natural gas pipeline that originates from Turkmenistan and passes through Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach India.</li>
<li>It aims to monetise Turkmenistan&rsquo;s gas reserves and supply them to neighbouring countries to promote the use of natural gas and improve energy security.</li>
<li>The project is being developed by<strong> TAPI Pipeline Company (TPCL),</strong> a consortium established by four individual state-owned gas companies Turkmengaz (Turkmenistan), Afghan Gas (Afghanistan), Interstate Gas Service (Pakistan), and <strong>Gas Authority of India and Indian Oil (India).</strong></li>
<li>The four countries signed an Inter Government Agreement (IGA) and Gas Pipeline Framework Agreements (GPFA) in December 2010 for the development of the pipeline.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617190801_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617190801_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/to-ensure-durable-peace-in-and-around-afghanistan-is-essential-jaishankar/article34198123.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/the-heart-of-asia-istanbul-process'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to adverse impact of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a>, only 5.4% of the sanctioned houses under</strong> the central government's flagship rural housing scheme, <strong>Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin</strong>, have <strong>reached completion for the year 2020-2021.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Launch:</strong> To achieve the objective of <strong>&ldquo;Housing for All&rdquo; by 2022</strong>, the erstwhile rural housing scheme <strong>Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)</strong> <strong>was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G)</strong> w.e.f 1<sup>st</sup> April, 2016.</li>
<li><strong>Ministry Involved:</strong> Ministry of <strong>Rural development.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To <strong>provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families</strong>, who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by the end of <strong>March 2022.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Beneficiaries:</strong> People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action, ex servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, disabled persons and minorities.</li>
<li><strong>Selection of Beneficiaries:</strong> Through a three stage validation - Socio Economic Caste Census 2011, Gram Sabha, and geo-tagging.</li>
<li><strong>Cost Sharing:</strong> The cost of unit assistance is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio <strong>60:40</strong> <strong>in plain areas</strong> and <strong>90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The minimum size of the house has been increased to 25 sq.mt (from 20sq.mt) with a hygienic cooking space.</li>
<li>The unit assistance has been increased from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1.20 lakh in plain and from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1.30 lakh in hilly states.</li>
<li>The assistance for construction of toilets shall be leveraged through convergence with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G)</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGS</strong></a> or any other dedicated source of funding.</li>
<li>Convergence for <strong>piped drinking water, electricity connection, LPG gas connection etc.</strong> different Government programmers are also to be attempted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Performance of the Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Only 55% of the construction</strong> target has been completed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Of the <strong>2.28 crore houses to be built</strong> for the rural poor, less than <strong>1.27 crore had been built</strong> by January 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Money</strong> has been sanctioned to <strong>almost 85% of beneficiaries.</strong></li>
<li>This scheme has helped in <strong>employment generation.</strong> Many states provided employment to their migrant labourers during lock down.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana &ndash; Urban</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launch:</strong> 25<sup>th</sup> June 2015, intends to provide housing for all in urban areas by year 2022.</li>
<li><strong>Implemented by:</strong> Ministry of <strong>Housing and Urban Affairs</strong></li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Addresses Urban housing shortage</strong> <strong>among the Urban</strong> <strong>Poor</strong> including the Slum Dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to eligible urban poor.</li>
<li>The Mission <strong>covers the entire urban area</strong> consisting of Statutory Towns, Notified Planning Areas, Development Authorities, Special Area Development Authorities, Industrial Development Authorities or any such authority under State legislation which is entrusted with the functions of urban planning &amp; regulations.</li>
<li>All houses under PMAY(U) <strong>have basic amenities like toilet, water supply, electricity and kitchen.</strong></li>
<li>The Mission <strong>promotes women empowerment</strong> by providing the ownership of houses in the name of female members or in joint name.</li>
<li><strong>Preference is also given to differently abled persons, senior citizens, SCs, STs, OBCs, Minority, single women, transgender</strong> and other weaker &amp; vulnerable sections of the society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Divided into Four Verticals:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In-situ Rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation.</li>
<li>Credit Linked Subsidy.</li>
<li>Affordable Housing in Partnership.</li>
<li>Beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/only-54-of-houses-under-centres-flagship-scheme-reached-completion-so-far-this-year/article34190006.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/pradhan-mantri-awaas-yojana-gramin'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Tata - Mistry Judgement',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> overturned the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-company-law-appellate-tribunal-nclat-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) decision</strong></a> and upheld <strong>Tata Group&rsquo;s decision to remove Cyrus Pallonji Mistry as the Executive Chairman and Director of Tata Sons.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Supreme Court Observations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Minority shareholders</strong> or their representatives are <strong>not automatically entitled to a seat</strong> on the private company&rsquo;s board like a small shareholder&rsquo;s representative.</li>
<li>The provisions contained in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/companies-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Companies Act 2013</strong> </a>only protects the<strong> rights of small shareholders</strong> of listed companies by asking such companies to have on their board at least one director elected by such small shareholders.</li>
<li>Since the <strong>Mistry family and the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group</strong> are not small shareholders, but minority shareholders, there is no statutory provision which gives them the <strong>&ldquo;right to claim proportionate representation,&rdquo;</strong> on the board of Tata Sons.</li>
<li><strong>Private companies,</strong> which have <strong>minority shareholders, are free to make an enabling provision</strong> but are<strong> under no statutory obligation</strong> to give minority shareholder seats on the board.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Minority Shareholders</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They are the equity holders of a firm <strong>who do not enjoy the voting power of the firm by virtue of his or her below 50% ownership</strong> of the firm&rsquo;s equity capital.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Small Shareholders</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the Companies Act, small shareholders is a shareholder or group of shareholders who hold shares of nominal value of not more than Rs. 20,000.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Companies Act 2013</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an Indian company law which regulates incorporation of a company, responsibilities of a company, directors, dissolution of a company.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Though the judgment does not directly impact the right of minority shareholders, such shareholders will have to ensure that they have a contract with the majority shareholders or the promoters of the company to ensure they have adequate representation on the board.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Company Law Appellate Tribunal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013</strong> for hearing appeals against the orders of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Company Law Tribunal</a> (NCLT).</strong></li>
<li>NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCLAT also hears appeals against the orders passed by<strong> Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/competition-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Competition Commission of India (CCI).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-supreme-court-rights-of-minority-shareholders-tata-mistry-judgment-7251412/" 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/tata-mistry-judgement'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Asteroid Apophis',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong> </a>has ruled out the possibility of the dreaded <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/163348-2002-nn4-a-near-earth-asteroid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asteroid</a> Apophis</strong> causing any damage to the Earth for the next 100 years.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Size:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apophis is <strong>a near-Earth asteroid</strong> with a relatively<strong> large size</strong> (about 335 meters wide).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Name &amp; Discovery:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Named after the ancient <strong>Egyptian god of chaos and darkness,</strong> it was <strong>discovered in 2004,</strong> after which NASA had said that it was one of the asteroids that posed the greatest threat to Earth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apophis was predicted to come threateningly close to us in the years 2029 and 2036, but NASA later ruled these events out.</li>
<li>However, there were still<strong> fears about a possible collision in 2068.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Near Earth Flight:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the asteroid flew past Earth on <strong>5<sup>th</sup> March 2021,</strong> coming<strong> within 17 million km of our planet.</strong> During this approach, scientists used radar observations to study in detail the asteroid&rsquo;s orbit around the sun.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact if it Hits Earth:</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617178272_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617178272_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Asteroids</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Asteroids are <strong>rocky objects that orbit the Sun,</strong> much smaller than planets. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are also called minor planets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to NASA, <strong>9,94,383 is the count of known asteroids,</strong> the remnants from the formation of the solar system over 4.6 billion years ago.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Categorization:&nbsp;</strong>Asteroids are divided into <strong>three classes: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>First Group:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Those found in the<strong> main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter,</strong> which is estimated to contain somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Second Group:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is that of trojans, which are<strong> asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet.</strong> NASA reports the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars trojans. In 2011, they reported an <strong>Earth trojan</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Third Group:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is <strong>Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA),</strong> which have orbits that pass close by the Earth. Those that cross the Earth&rsquo;s orbit are called Earth-crossers. More than 10,000 such asteroids are known, out of which over 1,400 are classified as <strong>Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).</strong></li>
<li>NASA&rsquo;s Center for Near-Earth Object Study (CNEOS) determines the times and distances of these objects, when their approach to the Earth is close, through the Asteroid Watch Widget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Potentially Hazardous Asteroids</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It means that an <strong>asteroid has the potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth.</strong></li>
<li>Specifically, all asteroids with a <strong>Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID)</strong> of 0.05 AU (which is about 7,480,000 Km) or less and an Absolute Magnitude (H) of 22.0 (about 150 mt in diameter) or less are considered PHAs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance</strong> is a method for calculating the minimum distance between two almost overlapping elliptical orbits.</li>
<li>The <strong>Astronomical Unit (AU)</strong> is the distance between the Earth and the Sun and is roughly 150 million km.</li>
<li>The <strong>absolute magnitude</strong> is a measure of the star's luminosity i.e. the total amount of energy radiated by the star every second.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Apophis</strong> is categorised as a PHA.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617178442_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617178442_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/asteroid-apophis-earth-nasa-7249248/" 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/asteroid-apophis'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'PM’s Visit to Bangladesh',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Prime Minister of India paid a State Visit to Bangladesh</strong> to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50-years-of-india-bangladesh-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Independence of Bangladesh</strong></a>, the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sheikh-mujibur-rehman" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman</strong></a> and<strong> 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations</strong> between India and Bangladesh.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Joint Celebrations of Historical Links:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh thanked India for conferring <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gandhi-peace-prize-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gandhi Peace Prize</strong></a> for the year 2020 on <strong>Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</strong></li>
<li>Jointly inaugurated the <strong>Bangabandhu - Bapu Digital Exhibition</strong> in Dhaka.</li>
<li>To mark the <strong>50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of India-Bangladesh friendship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both sides released respective <strong>commemorative postage stamps.</strong></li>
<li>Decided to <strong>commemorate 6<sup>th</sup> December as Maitri Diwas,</strong> the day when India recognized Bangladesh in the year 1971.</li>
<li>India announced the establishment of the <strong>Bangabandhu Chair at the University of Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bangladesh<strong> thanked India for naming the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nadia</strong> on the Bangladesh-India border as<strong> "Shadhinota Shorok&rdquo;</strong> commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vijay-diwas-50-years-of-indo-pak-war-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Liberation War.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Resources Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh reiterated its long-pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the <strong>sharing of the waters of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/teesta-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teesta river</a>.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The draft agreement has already been agreed upon by both Governments in January 2011.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India also requested for early finalization of the draft of the interim agreement for sharing of water of <strong>Feni River,</strong> pending with the Bangladesh side which had been agreed upon by both sides in 2011.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, requested working towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely, <strong>Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Directed the <strong>Joint Technical Committee</strong> to expeditiously commence the feasibility study of the <strong>Ganges-Padma barrage</strong> for optimum utilization of the Ganges waters received by Bangladesh as per the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/trans-boundary-water-conflicts#:~:text=Bangladesh%20has%20sought%20an%20%E2%80%9Cequitable,)%2C%20but%20to%20no%20avail." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, 1996.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617176344_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617176344_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="694" height="383" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Trade for Growth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Stressed the need for<strong> predictability of trade policies, regulations and procedures</strong> and the need for <strong>removal of non-tariff barriers.</strong></li>
<li>Stressed the urgent need for up-gradation of infrastructure and facilities of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/8th-foundation-day-of-lpai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Land Customs Stations (LCSs)/Land Ports</strong> </a>in a coordinated manner to facilitate trade between the two countries.</li>
<li>Reiterated the importance of <strong>harmonization of standards and mutual recognition</strong> of agreements and certificates for enhancing bilateral trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bureau-of-indian-standards-bis-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)</a></strong> would collaborate for the capacity building and development of testing and Lab facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India congratulated Bangladesh on its<strong> upcoming graduation from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/developing-country-status-in-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Least Developed Country (LDC)</a> status.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Emphasized on expeditious conclusion of</strong> the ongoing joint study on the prospects of entering into a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Comprehensive+Economic+Partnership+Agreement+%28CEPA+drishti+ias&amp;rlz=1C1OKWM_enIN943IN943&amp;biw=1242&amp;bih=568&amp;sxsrf=ALeKk038BXMH1y-Nmi_jBNzDW_lLk4JyvQ%3A1617091355398&amp;ei=G9tiYLfOF-OF4-EP9fe-uAM&amp;oq=Comprehensive+Economic+Partnership+Agreement+%28CEPA+drishti+ias&amp;gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EANQ4FtY4Ftgpl5oAHACeACAAZwBiAGgApIBAzAuMpgBAKABAqABAaoBB2d3cy13aXrAAQE&amp;sclient=gws-wiz&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj3x7rextfvAhXjwjgGHfW7DzcQ4dUDCA0&amp;uact=5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).</strong></a></li>
<li>Bangladesh invited<strong> Indian investment in the jute mills of Bangladesh</strong> to revitalize and modernize the jute sector.</li>
<li>India requested early finalization of modalities for implementation of the <strong>Katihar &ndash; Parbotipur &ndash; Bornagar cross border electricity interconnection.</strong></li>
<li>Took stock of progress in the implementation of the<strong> India Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline</strong> and unit-1 of the <strong>Maitree Super Thermal Power Project.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Connectivity for Prosperity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India expressed gratitude for Bangladesh&rsquo;s initiative of<strong> revitalizing the pre-1965 rail connectivity.</strong></li>
<li>Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-myanmar-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India &ndash; Myanmar - Thailand trilateral highway project.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also agreed to an early operationalization of the <strong>BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement</strong> through expeditious signing of the Enabling MoU for Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to commence the movement of goods and passengers, with provision for Bhutan to join at a later date.</li>
<li>India urged for <strong>early operationalization of the trans-shipment Agreement</strong> on the use of <strong>Chattogram and Mongla Ports</strong> for the Movement of Goods to and from India<strong> (Kolkata to Agartala via Chattogram).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India also requested for trans-shipment arrangement in Munshiganj and Pangaon as part of the<strong> Protocol on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protocol-on-inland-water-transit-and-trade#:~:text=As%20per%20the%20Protocol%20on,transit%20and%20inter%20country%20trade." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inland Water Transit and Trade.</a></strong></li>
<li>Recently, <strong>Maitree Setu</strong> (between India and Bangladesh) <strong>over River Feni in South Tripura</strong> has been inaugurated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bangladesh offered the use of<strong> Chattogram and Sylhet International Airport,</strong> by the people of North East India, especially of Tripura.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Public Health:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh thanked the Government of India for giving 3.2 million doses of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covishield-and-covaxin-approved-for-restricted-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Oxford Astra Zeneca Covishield</strong></a> vaccine made in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Border Management and Security Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh reiterated the request for 1.3 km <strong>Innocent Passage</strong> through river route along with <strong>River Padma,</strong> on humanitarian grounds. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India requested for completion of border fencing at all pending sectors at the international border at the earliest, beginning from the Tripura (India) - Bangladesh sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong> Emphasized on the frequent exchange of programs and enhancing cooperation in<strong> training and capacity building.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has offered<strong> a USD 500 million line of credit</strong> for defence imports from India into Bangladesh and thus requested for early operationalization of this defense Line of Credit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Welcomed the signing of an MoU on <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/disaster-management-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Disaster Management</strong></a>, <strong>Resilience and Mitigation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Areas of Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Acknowledged the potential of new and emerging areas of cooperation in cutting edge areas of science, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence</strong></a>, <strong>peaceful uses of nuclear technology, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">big data</a> and technology enabled services in health and education. </strong></li>
<li><strong>50 young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh</strong> were invited to visit India and present their ideas to venture capitalists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Partners in the Region and the World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agreed to continue working together for common objectives in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> and other multilateral fora.</li>
<li>Emphasized that the regional organizations, such as <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> and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></a> have an important role to play, particularly in the post-<strong>Covid-19</strong> situation.</li>
<li>Bangladesh thanked India for convening the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19#:~:text=Key%20Points,a%20contribution%20to%20the%20fund." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAARC leaders Video Conference</strong></a> in March 2020 and for proposing creation of the<strong> SAARC Emergency Response Fund</strong> to counter effects of the global pandemic in the South Asian region.</li>
<li>Bangladesh highlighted that the country would assume chairmanship of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)</strong> </a>for the first time in October 2021 and requested the support of India for working towards greater maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean region.</li>
<li>India welcomed the <strong>decision of Bangladesh to join the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5th-annual-meeting-of-ndb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Development Bank (NDB).</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The two Prime Ministers also announced/ unveiled the following:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foundation stone laying ceremony for a <strong>memorial in the honour of the Martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces</strong> who sacrificed their lives during Liberation War of 1971 at Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria.</li>
<li>Foundation stone for five packages out of total eight packages of <strong>Rooppur Power Evacuation Project.</strong></li>
<li>Inauguration of <strong>3 border haats, Nalikata (India) - Saydabad (Bangladesh), Ryngku (India) - Bagan Bari </strong>(Bangladesh)<strong> and Bholagunj (India) &ndash; Bholagunj (Bangladesh).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Border Haats aim at promoting the wellbeing of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of two countries, by establishing a traditional system of marketing the local produce through local markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Inauguration of <strong>&lsquo;Mitali Express&rsquo; -</strong> passenger train connecting Dhaka on Bangladesh side and New Jalpaiguri on the Indian.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/millions-depend-on-teesta-waters-hasina-tells-modi/article34179390.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/pm-s-visit-to-bangladesh'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Slumbering Parliamentary System',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/dormant-parliament-fading-business/article34173052.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Dormant Parliament, fading business&rsquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 27/03/2021. It talks about the deteriorating efficiency of the Parliament and related issues.</p>
</div>
<p>The Parliament of a country is central to the very idea of democracy assigned with the pivotal roles of framing legislation, ensuring accountability of governments and holding debates and discussion on various concerns.</p>
<p>In this context, the Parliament of India, even after so many years, has neither evolved nor matured as it could, might or should have.</p>
<p>Shorter Parliamentary sessions and leniency in the scrutiny of the Bills have diminished the stature and efficiency of the Parliament.</p>
<p>To preserve the very idea of India as a democratic country, the Parliament needs to function more actively in terms of framing bills, its scrutiny and holding sessions.</p>
<h3>Dormancy in Parliament and Related Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Shorter Parliamentary Sessions, a Trend:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/budget-2021-highlights-physical-and-financial-capital" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget</strong></a> Session of Parliament for 2021 ended two weeks before the planned time due to involvement of political leaders in campaigning for the state assembly elections. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Budget session of 2020 was also curtailed due to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> nationwide lockdown</strong></a> imposed due to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pandemic.</a></strong></li>
<li>The 18 days Monsoon session in 2020 also lasted for only 10 days while the winter session was cancelled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Weakened Legislature Scrutiny:</strong> 13 Bills were introduced in the budget session out of which 8 were passed within the session and none of the 13 bills was referred to any parliamentary committee for examination.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The introduction and passing of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-of-nct-of-delhi-amendment-bill-2021#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20central%20government%20introduced,Territory%20of%20Delhi%20Act%2C%201991." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021</strong> </a>by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was merely a 10 day process.</li>
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-mines-minerals-amendment-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021</strong></a> was also passed by both Houses within a week.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-bank-for-financing-infrastructure-and-development-bill-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) Bill, 2021</strong></a> was passed within three days of introduction.</li>
<li>The <strong>Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021,</strong> aimed at increasing the limit of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> FDI</strong></a> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/insurance-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>insurance</strong> </a>companies from 49% to 74% also took just a week between introduction and passing by both Houses.</li>
<li>This quick work should be read as a sign of<strong> abdication by Parliament of its duty</strong> to scrutinise Bills, rather than as a sign of efficiency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gradual Marginalisation of Parliamentary Committees:</strong> According to data by PRS Legislative Research, the percentage of Bills referred to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-of-tenure-of-standing-committees" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)</strong></a> declined from 71% in the 15<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha (2009-14) to 27% in the 16<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha and just 11% in the 17<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha (2019-present). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the DRSCs, there are negligible bills referred to Select Committees of the Houses or Joint Parliamentary Committees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discussion for Union Budget:</strong> The Constitution of India requires the Lok Sabha to approve the expenditure Budget of each department and Ministry. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Lok Sabha had listed the budget of just five Ministries for detailed discussion and discussed only three of these.</li>
<li>Moreover, 76% of the total Budget was approved without any discussion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Absence of the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha:</strong> Article 93 of the Constitution provides for the Lok Sabha to select two of its members as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The current Lok Sabha is in the absence of the Deputy Speaker, which is elected within a couple of months of the formation of a new Lok Sabha.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Parliamentary Scrutiny:</strong> Parliament must ensure sufficient scrutiny over the proposals and actions of the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may include: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Creating a system of research support to Members of Parliament.</li>
<li>Providing sufficient time for MPs to examine issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, to compensate for the issue of parliamentary sessions being shortened due to pandemic, remote working and technology related solutions is the way forward.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transparency in Legislative Procedures:</strong> Ensuring that Bills and budgets are examined by committees and public feedback is taken. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help citizens know where we went wrong and how it can be corrected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legislative Impact Assessment:</strong> A detailed framework for pre and post Legislative Impact Assessment (LIA) is needed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every legislative proposal must incorporate a detailed account of social, economic, environmental and administrative impact for wider awareness and subsequent legal assessment.</li>
<li>Besides, a new <strong>Legislation Committee of Parliament</strong> should be constituted to coordinate legislative planning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Parliamentary Committee Reforms:</strong> Measures for the effective functioning of Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) like longer tenure, promoting specialization, etc are needed. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In countries such as Sweden, Finland and Australia, it is mandated to send either all or at least some specific bill to the parliamentary committees.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India should also mandate a similar requirement to avail the benefits of the committee system that have been taken for granted so far.</li>
<li>Circumventing the Parliamentary committees in the passing of significant legislation is a sign of weakening democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening the Role of the Opposition:</strong> In order to strengthen the role of the opposition, the institution of <strong>&lsquo;Shadow Cabinet&rsquo;</strong> can be formed in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Shadow cabinet is a unique institution of the British cabinet system formed by the opposition party to balance the ruling cabinet.</li>
<li>In such a system each action of Cabinet Minister must be countersigned by the minister in the shadow cabinet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Parliament has the central role in our democracy as the representative body that checks the work of the government. In order to fulfil its constitutional mandate, it is imperative that Parliament functions effectively.</li>
<li>Also, proper scrutiny of the bills is an essential requirement of a quality legislation. Circumventing the parliamentary committees while passing legislations undermines the very spirit of the democracy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617108662_pm2.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617108662_pm2.PNG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffefa;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;The dormancy of the Parliament makes democracy in India as good as dead. The deterioration in Parliament&rsquo;s functioning needs to be stopped to make it fulfil its constitutional mandate&rdquo;. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/slumbering-parliamentary-system'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'New Red Algal Seaweed Species',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, two<strong> new red algal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saksham-portal-and-seaweed-mission-tifac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seaweed</a> species</strong> have been discovered along India&rsquo;s coastline.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has a <strong>vast coastline</strong> of over 7,500 kms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617107256_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617107256_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They grow in the<strong> intertidal regions of the coast,</strong> namely the area that is submerged during the high tide and exposed during low tides.</li>
<li>The genus<strong> Hypnea consists of calcareous, erect, branched red seaweeds.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are 61 species of which <strong>10 were reported in India.</strong> With two new species, the <strong>total number of species now would be 63.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hypnea indica</strong> was discovered in Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Somnath Pathan and Sivrajpur in Gujarat.</li>
<li><strong>Hypnea bullata</strong> was discovered from Kanyakumari and Diu island of Daman and Diu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hypnea variants of seaweeds can <strong>fetch good monetary value if commercial-scale cultivation is taken up.</strong> Hypnea contains Carrageenan, a biomolecule commonly used in the food industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Seaweeds</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are the <strong>primitive, marine non-flowering marine algae without root, stem and leaves,</strong> play a major role in marine ecosystems.</li>
<li>Large seaweeds form dense underwater forests known as<strong> kelp forests,</strong> which act as underwater nurseries for fish, snails and sea urchins.</li>
<li>Some species of seaweeds viz. Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria crassa, Gracilaria verrucosa, Sargassum spp. and Turbinaria spp.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seaweeds, <strong>found mostly in the intertidal region,</strong> in shallow and deep waters of the sea and also in estuaries and backwaters.</li>
<li>The southern <strong>Gulf of Mannar&rsquo;s rocky intertidal and lower intertidal regions have rich populations</strong> of several seaweed species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bioindicator:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When waste from agriculture, industries, aquaculture and households are let into the ocean, it causes nutrient imbalance leading to algal blooming, the sign of marine chemical damage. <strong>Seaweeds absorb the excess nutrients</strong> and balance out the ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Iron Sequestrator:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These aquatic organisms heavily rely on iron for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bbx11-gene-greening-of-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>photosynthesis.</strong></a> When the quantity of this mineral exceeds healthy levels and becomes dangerous to marine life, seaweeds trap it and prevent damage. Similarly, most <strong>heavy metals found in marine ecosystems are trapped and removed by seaweeds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oxygen and Nutrient Supplier:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On their part, the<strong> seaweeds derive nutrition through photosynthesis of sunlight and nutrients present in seawater.</strong> They release oxygen through every part of their bodies. They also <strong>supply organic nutrients to other marine life forms.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role in Climate Mitigation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seaweed has a significant role in mitigating climate change. By afforesting 9% of the ocean with seaweed, it is possible to sequester 53 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. Hence, there is a proposal termed as<strong> &lsquo;ocean afforestation&rsquo;</strong> for farming seaweed to remove carbon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Utilities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They can be used as fertilizers and to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pegasus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>increase aquaculture production.</strong></a></li>
<li>When <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/animal-husbandry#:~:text=It%20supports%20the%20livelihood%20of,%25%20(2018%2D19)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>livestock</strong> </a>is fed with seaweed, methane emission from cattle may be reduced substantially.</li>
<li>They can be buried in beach dunes to<strong> combat beach erosion.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>used as an ingredient in preparing toothpaste, cosmetics and paints.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has launched a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saksham-portal-and-seaweed-mission-tifac" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Seaweed Mission.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/two-new-seaweed-species-discovered-along-indias-coastline-7250122/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-red-algal-seaweed-species'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'India-South Korea: Friendship Park',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Indian Defence Minister and his South Korean counterpart inaugurated the <strong>India-Korea Friendship Park</strong> in a ceremony at the Delhi Cantonment.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Later on both the ministers concluded a <strong>bilateral meeting</strong> and explored different areas of cooperation.</li>
<li>Earlier in February 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-ministers-visit-to-south-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prime Minister of India visited South Korea</strong></a> (Republic of Korea).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617105479_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617105479_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Spread across a green area of six acres, the park includes an <strong>entrance gate made in Korean style,</strong> a jogging track, well landscaped garden and an <strong>amphitheatre.</strong></li>
<li>Has an <strong>imposing handshake</strong> artifact standing tall at the entrance bearing flags of India and South Korea.</li>
<li>Has <strong>statue of General KS Thimayya,</strong> a celebrated soldier who led the Indian contingent in the Korean War as Chairman of <strong>Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC)</strong> in Korea headed by India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One of the follow-up actions to the Armistice Agreement in the Korean War was the establishment of a <strong>NNRC</strong> which <strong>was to decide on the fate of over 20,000 prisoners of war from both sides. </strong></li>
<li><strong>India was chosen as the Chair of the NNRC,</strong> with Poland and Czechoslovakia representing the Communist bloc and Sweden and Switzerland representing the Western world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>five pillars</strong> raised in the backdrop of General Thimayya&rsquo;s statue are embossed with details of operations carried out by<strong> 60 Parachute Field Ambulance</strong> (deployed by India) during the Korean war where they had treated about 1,95,000 cases, and performed about 2,300 field surgeries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One pillar also encompasses <strong>Nobel Laureate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rabindranath-tagore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore&rsquo;s</a></strong> narration of<strong> Korea as &ldquo;The Lamp of the East&rdquo;</strong> which was published in Korean daily &ldquo;Dong-A-ilbo&rdquo; in 1929.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Developed By:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The park has been developed in joint consultation with the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Indian Army, Delhi Cantonment Board, Embassy of Korea and Korean War Veterans Association of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The park's significance is not only because of it being a<strong> symbol of strong India-South Korea friendly relations,</strong> but also as a <strong>monument to India&rsquo;s contributions</strong> as part of 21 countries which participated in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/70-years-of-korean-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Korean war 1950-53</strong></a>, under the aegis of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Discussed at the Meet:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Discussed <strong>maritime cooperation</strong> as part of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific</strong></a> strategy and also cooperation in the defense industry and future technologies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The two countries have a logistics agreement helping the Indian navy while operating in the Indo-Pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-South Korea Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the Korean War (1950- 53), <strong>India played a major role in a cease-fire agreement</strong> signed between both the warring sides (North Korea and South Korea) and the ceasefire was declared on 27<sup>th</sup> July 1953.</li>
<li>In <strong>May 2015,</strong> the bilateral relationship was <strong>upgraded to &lsquo;special strategic partnership&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India has a major role to play in South Korea&rsquo;s Southern Policy</strong> under which Korea is looking at expanding relations beyond its immediate region.</li>
<li>Similarly, South Korea is a major player in India&rsquo;s<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-act-east-policy-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Act East Policy</strong></a> under which India aims to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The current bilateral trade between India and South Korea is at USD 21 billion and the <strong>target that has been set is USD 50 billion by the year 2030.</strong></li>
<li>India and South Korea have signed the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), 2010</strong></a> which has facilitated the growth of trade relations.</li>
<li>To facilitate investment from Korea, India has launched a <strong>"Korea Plus&rdquo;</strong> facilitation cell under <strong>&lsquo;Invest India&rsquo;</strong> to guide, assist and handhold investors.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s share in Korea&rsquo;s global trade was <strong>1.72% in 2020</strong> and India&rsquo;s contribution in Korea&rsquo;s global imports increased from<strong> 0.78% in 2001 to 1.05% in 2020. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Korean Buddhist Monk Hyecho</strong> or Hong Jiao visited India from 723 to 729 AD and wrote the travelogue<strong> "Pilgrimage to the five kingdoms of India"</strong> which gives a vivid account of Indian culture, politics &amp; society.</li>
<li>Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore had composed a short but evocative poem &ndash; <strong>'Lamp of the East' -</strong> in 1929 about Korea's glorious past and its promising bright future.</li>
<li>To further enhance cultural exchanges between India and Korea,<strong> Indian Cultural Centres (ICC)</strong> were established in <strong>Seoul in April 2011</strong> and in <strong>Busan in December 2013.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Platforms Shared by Both the Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-trade-organisation-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Trade Organization</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN Plus</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Asia Summit (EAS)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g-20-summit-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G-20</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and South Korea relations have made great strides in recent years and have become truly <strong>multidimensional,</strong> spurred by a <strong>significant convergence of interests, mutual goodwill and high level exchanges.</strong></li>
<li>However, there is massive <strong>scope to expand ties between India and South Korea and make it a unique relationship in Asia.</strong> What is needed is political will and new imagination in diverse areas such as cultural relations, building on people-to-people contacts, harnessing democracy and liberal values, and cementing civilisational connections.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1707844" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-south-korea-friendship-park'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Shifting Health to the Concurrent List',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15th-finance-commission-recommendations-resource-allocation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fifteenth Finance Commission</strong></a> Chairman N.K. Singh said that<strong> health should be shifted to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-planning-to-bypass-central-legislation#:~:text=Concurrent%20List%3A%20Both%2C%20the%20Parliament,is%20desirable%20but%20not%20essential." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Concurrent list</a></strong> under the Constitution. Presently, &lsquo;Health&rsquo; is under the State List.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He also pitched for a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/development-finance-institution-to-fund-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Developmental Finance Institution (DFI)</strong> </a>dedicated to healthcare investments.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Arguments for Shifting &lsquo;Health&rsquo; to the Concurrent List:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Centre with Greater Flexibility:</strong> Bringing health into the Concurrent list would give the <strong>Centre greater flexibility to enact regulatory changes</strong> and <strong>reinforce the obligation</strong> of all stakeholders towards providing better healthcare.</li>
<li><strong>Rationalisation and Streamlining of the Multiple Acts:</strong> There is a multiplicity of Acts, rules and regulations, and mushrooming institutions, yet the regulation of the sector is far from adequate. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With the health in the concurrent list, uniformity of acts can be ensured.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Centre Expertise to States:</strong> The Central government is also <strong>technically better equipped</strong> to come up with the health schemes because it has the assistance of <strong>multiple research bodies and departments</strong> dedicated to the management of public health. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>States on the other hand do not have the technical expertise to independently design comprehensive public health policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments Against Shifting &lsquo;Health&rsquo; to the Concurrent List:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Right to Health:</strong> It is neither necessary nor sufficient to guarantee the provision of accessible, affordable and adequate healthcare for all. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Besides, the<strong> right to health</strong> is, arguably, already provided for via the Constitution&rsquo;s <strong>Article 21</strong> that guarantees protection of life and liberty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Federal Structure:</strong> Shifting ever more subjects from the states to the Centre would erode India&rsquo;s federal nature and impair efficiency by abandoning the <strong>principle of subsidiarity,</strong> which holds that any task should be left to the level of government best placed to do it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Trust Cooperative Federalism:</strong> The centre must direct its energies to designing policy that would help states deliver on their constitutional mandate to provide adequate, accessible and affordable healthcare for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Burden With Centre:</strong> The Centre has onerous responsibilities of its own, for which it struggles to find resources. Taking more functions would help neither the states nor the Centre discharge their constitutional obligations.</li>
<li><strong>Encourage States:</strong> The Centre <strong>devolves 41%</strong> of the taxes it collects to the states. The Centre should encourage the states to do what they are supposed to do, while the Centre optimises use of its own resources, focusing on its obligations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Health being a state subject does not preclude the Centre offering constructive support.</li>
<li>The NITI Aayog&rsquo;s Health Index, financial assistance through the insurance-based programme Ayushman Bharat, improved regulatory environment for healthcare providers and medical education are examples of such support that can nudge states in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Developmental Finance Institution (DFI) for Health Care:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A health sector-specific DFI is much needed on the same lines as that of DFIs for other sectors like <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-bank-for-agriculture-and-rural-development-nabard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development -NABARD</a> (agriculture), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/liquidity-boost-to-nbfcs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Housing Bank- NHB</a> (Housing)</strong> and <strong>Tourism Finance Corporation of India Ltd. - TFCI (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tourism-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tourism</a>).</strong></li>
<li>Such a<strong> DFI would increase health care access in tier-2 and tier-3 cities</strong> and also come with<strong> technical assistance</strong> that ensures proper usage of funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Suggestions by N.K. Singh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increase the <strong>government spending on health to 2.5% of GDP by 2025.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Primary healthcare</strong> should be a fundamental commitment of all States in particular and should be allocated<strong> at least two-thirds of health spending.</strong></li>
<li>To have<strong> a standardisation of health care codes for both the Centre and states.</strong></li>
<li>Forming an<strong> All India Medical and Health Service.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Given the inter-state disparity in the availability of medical doctors, it is essential to constitute the Service as is envisaged under Section 2A of the <strong>All-India Services Act, 1951.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Emphasised the importance of <strong>universalising healthcare insurance,</strong> as a large section of the society still remain uncovered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Universalisation of Healthcare Insurance: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Existing Insurance Coverage:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)</strong></a> covers the <strong>bottom two income quintiles</strong> and <strong>commercial insurance largely covers top-income quintiles,</strong> thereby creating a<strong> &lsquo;missing middle&rsquo;</strong> class in between.</li>
<li><strong>Missing Middle:</strong> This refers to people in the middle two income quintiles, where the population is not rich enough to afford commercial insurance and not poor enough to be covered under government-sponsored health insurance schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Concurrent List</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The subject-wise distribution of legislative power is given in the three lists of the <strong>Seventh Schedule</strong> of the Constitution:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>List-I- the Union List</strong></li>
<li><strong>List-II- the State List</strong></li>
<li><strong>List-III- the Concurrent List</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both, the<strong> Parliament and state legislature can make laws</strong> with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the <strong>Concurrent List.</strong></li>
<li>It includes the matters on which <strong>uniformity of legislation throughout</strong> the country is desirable but not essential.</li>
<li>However State legislation operates to the extent that it is not in conflict with the Central legislation. At times, the very presence of a central legislation can negate the state&rsquo;s ability to legislate.</li>
<li>This list has <strong>at present 52 subjects</strong> (originally 47) like criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, marriage and divorce, population control and family planning, electricity, labour welfare,economic and social planning, drugs, newspapers, books and printing press, and others.</li>
<li>The <strong>42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act of 1976</strong> transferred<strong> five subjects to Concurrent List from State List i.e</strong> education, forests, weights and measures, protection of wild animals and birds, and administration of justice; constitution and organisation of all courts except the Supreme Court and the High Courts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Development Finance Institution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are specialized institutions set up primarily to provide development/ Project finance especially in developing countries.</li>
<li>These DFIs are usually majority-owned by national governments.</li>
<li>The source of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bimal-jalan-panel-on-economic-capital-framework" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>capital of these banks</strong></a> is national or international development funds.</li>
<li>This ensures their creditworthiness and their ability to provide project finance at a very competitive rate.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/move-health-to-concurrent-list/article34172894.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'NISAR: Joint Earth Observing Mission of NASA and ISRO',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>NASA and ISRO are collaborating on developing an <strong>SUV-sized satellite called NISAR,</strong> which will <strong>detect movements of the planet&rsquo;s surface as small as 0.4 inches</strong> over areas about half the size of a tennis court.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The satellite <strong>will be launched in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center</strong> in Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh)<strong> into a near-polar orbit.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Name &lsquo;NISAR&rsquo;:</strong> The name<strong> NISAR</strong> is short for <strong>NASA-ISRO-SAR.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>SAR</strong> here refers to the <strong>Synthetic Aperture Radar</strong> that NASA will use to measure changes in the surface of the Earth.</li>
<li>It refers to a technique for producing <strong>high-resolution images.</strong> Because of the precision, the radar can penetrate clouds and darkness, which means that it can <strong>collect data day and night in any weather.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Function:</strong> It will scan the globe <strong>every 12 days</strong> over the course of its <strong>three-year mission</strong> of imaging the <strong>Earth&rsquo;s land, ice sheets</strong> and<strong> sea ice</strong> to give an unprecedented view of the planet.</li>
<li><strong>Role of NASA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Aeronautics and Space Administration</a> (NASA</strong> - space agency of the USA) will provide one of the radars for the satellite, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers and a payload data subsystem.</li>
<li><strong>NISAR</strong> will be equipped with the<strong> largest reflector antenna</strong> ever launched by <strong>NASA.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of ISRO:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Space and Research Organisation</a> (ISRO)</strong> will provide the spacecraft bus, the second type of radar (called the<strong> S-band radar</strong>), the launch vehicle and associated launch services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Primary Goals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tracking subtle changes in the Earth&rsquo;s surface,</li>
<li>Spotting warning signs of imminent volcanic eruptions,</li>
<li>Helping to monitor groundwater supplies, and</li>
<li>Tracking the rate at which ice sheets are melting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expected Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NISAR's data can help people worldwide <strong>better manage natural resources and hazards,</strong> as well as providing information for scientists to better understand the <strong>effects and pace of climate change.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The images will be detailed enough<strong> to show local changes</strong> and broad enough to <strong>measure regional trends.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As the mission continues for years, the data will allow for better understanding of the causes and consequences of <strong>land surface changes.</strong></li>
<li>It will also add to our <strong>understanding of our planet's hard outer layer, called its crust.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>S-Band Radar</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>S band radars</strong> operate on a wavelength of 8-15 cm and a frequency of 2-4 GHz.</li>
<li>Because of the wavelength and frequency, S-band radars are not easily attenuated. This makes them useful for near and far range weather observation.</li>
<li>The <strong>drawback</strong> to this band of radar is that it requires a<strong> large antenna dish</strong> and a <strong>large motor</strong> to power it. It is not uncommon for a S-band dish to exceed 25 feet in size.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/nasa-isro-joint-mission-nisar-7246785/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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