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Anti-Trust Lawsuit Against Google

This article is based on “Reining in Monopolies” which was published in The Business Standard on 22/10/2020. It talks about the...

22 Oct 2020 News Editorials
ECI Committee on Expenditure Limit

Why in News Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has constituted a committee to examine the issues concerning the expenditure limit for...

22 Oct 2020 News Analysis
OSIRIS-REx Mission: NASA

Why in News Recently, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched down on the surface of asteroid Bennu to collect rock and dust...

22 Oct 2020 News Analysis
COVIRAP : A Quick Covid-19 Test

Why in News Recently, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a new low-cost Covid-19 diagnostic method named COVIRAP, developed by...

22 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Environmental Clearance to Kaleshwaram Project Invalid

Why in News Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has declared that the environmental clearance (EC) granted to the Kaleshwaram Lift...

21 Oct 2020 News Analysis
India International Science Festival 2020

Why in News The 6th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) will be held virtually in 2020. The 5th edition was held in...

21 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Nazca Lines: Peru

Why in News Recently, a giant cat geoglyph was discovered on a hill at the famous Nazca Lines site in Peru. Key Points The Nazca Lines: These...

21 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Dilution of Offset Policy

This article is based on “Offset dilution in defence, a flawed policy turn” which was published in The Hindu on 21/10/2020. It talks...

21 Oct 2020 News Editorials
Antitrust Case Against Google: USA

Why in News Recently, the US Justice Department has sued Google, accusing the company of illegally abusing its dominance in internet search in ways...

21 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Taiwan Insecurity of China

Why in News Recently, China has objected to any official exchanges between India and Taiwan. Key Points Chinese Concern: The statement from...

21 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Punjab Assembly Rejects Centre’s Farm Laws

Why in News Recently, Punjab became the first State in the country to formally reject the Central government’s three Farm Acts by passing...

21 Oct 2020 News Analysis
FDI Inflow

Why in News During April to August, 2020, total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow of USD 35.73 billion was received. It is the highest ever for...

21 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Refroming Nutrient-Based Subsidy Regime

This article is based on “Tinkering at margins” which was published in The Indian Express on 19/10/2020. It talks about the issues...

20 Oct 2020 News Editorials
The Big Picture: VAIBHAV Summit

Why in News? The Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit is a global virtual summit of overseas and resident Indian Researchers and...

20 Oct 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute

Why in News Recently, Assam-Mizoram border witnessed firing over a territory dispute, which spotlights the long-standing inter-state boundary issues...

20 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Ayushman Sahakar Scheme

Why in News The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched Ayushman Sahakar, a scheme to assist cooperatives in creation of healthcare...

20 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Rationalisation of Autonomous Institutions

Why in News The Ministry of Finance has recommended that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) “disengage”...

20 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Australia to Join Malabar Exercise

Why in News Recently, Australia has agreed to join the Malabar Exercise on India’s request. The exercise is scheduled to be held in November...

20 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Skinks of India

Why in News Recently, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) brought a study on skinks (a kind of lizard), titled Skinks of India. Key...

19 Oct 2020 News Analysis
10 Years of National Green Tribunal

This article is based on “The hues in the green tribunal’s resilient journey” which was published in The Hindu on 19/10/2020. It...

19 Oct 2020 News Editorials

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			'title' => 'Anti-Trust Lawsuit Against Google',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
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<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/reining-in-monopolies-120102101744_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Reining in Monopolies&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Business Standard on 22/10/2020. It talks about the antitrust suit against Google and issues related to unfair trade practice in digital space.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/21-10-2020#6800" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antitrust suit against Google.</strong> </a>DoJ alleged Google for unlawfully maintaining a monopoly in general search services and search advertising.</p>
<p>DOJ claims that Google uses its financial power to pay for mobile-phone manufacturers, carriers and browsers, to maintain Google as their preset, default search engine and thereby creating a self-reinforcing cycle of dominance.</p>
<p>These illegal trade practices, if true, results in an unprecedented concentration of market power in the hands of digital platforms like google. Moreover, current regulations in key international markets are fragmented, outdated and do not reflect consumer interests and international market realities in the digital environment.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is time to establish appropriate rules and standards with a holistic mindset, so that fair competition can be ensured in digital market space.</p>
<h3>Alleged Monopolistic Practices By Google</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Google is one of the most important businesses in the digital economy. Due to its innovation it has positioned itself as a leader in the Internet environment worldwide. In perusal of this Google has established dominant digital products. For example:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Google&rsquo;s licensed operating system, Android, rules the smartphone market, while the Chrome browser has a dominant market share in desktops and mobiles.</li>
<li>The Android dominance allows Google to charge a whopping 30% commission on apps listed in the Android Play Store.</li>
<li>Based on this, Google is alleged of using this dominance to promote other businesses it controls.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On similar charges, Google was fined a record <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>4.3 billion euros in the EU</strong></a> for anti-competitive practices, and told to offer a choice of four default browsers on the Android.</li>
<li>In 2019, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/competition-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Competition Commission of India</strong></a> had held Google guilty of misuse of its dominant position in the mobile Android market and said the company had imposed &ldquo;unfair conditions&rdquo; on device manufacturers to prevent them from using other operating systems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Characteristics of the Digital Economy</h3>
<p>There are three key characteristics of the digital economy:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Extreme Returns to Scale:</strong> The cost of production of digital services is much less than proportional to the number of customers served.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Financial Advantage with dominant players in the digital world pushes competition to the extreme disadvantage to new entrants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Network Externalities:</strong> The mechanics of the digital economy, notably the so-called network effect, fuel rapid growth of platform companies to unprecedented size, market power and influence on public opinion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The convenience of using a technology or a service increases with the number of users that adopt it.</li>
<li>Consequently, it is not enough for a new entrant to offer better quality and/or a lower price than the incumbent does; it also has to convince users of the incumbent to coordinate their migration to its own services.</li>
<li>Network effects could thus prevent a superior platform from displacing an established incumbent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of Data:</strong> The evolution of technology has made it possible for companies to collect, store, and use large amounts of data.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Data is not only one of the key ingredients of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a> but also a crucial input to many online services, production processes, and logistics.</li>
<li>Therefore, the ability to use data to develop new, innovative services and products is a competitive parameter whose relevance will continue to increase.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Economies of Scope:</strong> A consequence of these characteristics is the presence of strong &ldquo;economies of scope&rdquo;, which favour the development of ecosystems and give digital giants like Google a strong competitive advantage.</li>
<li><strong>Asymmetrical Access to Data:</strong> With the diversity of the media landscape and the digital economy, asymmetrical access to data and a lack of transparency harms consumers.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Options:</strong> Global digital platforms have built data ecosystems allowing them to easily obtain consent in exchange for access to their services.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Antitrust Law in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Antitrust law, also referred to as Competition law, aims to protect trade and commerce from unfair restraints, monopolies and price-fixing.</li>
<li>It ensures that fair competition exists in an open-market economy.</li>
<li>The Competition Act, 2002 is India&rsquo;s antitrust law. It repealed and replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) on the recommendations of the Raghavan committee.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>In order to achieve fair competition in the digital Market regulators all across the globe can take following measure:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ensuring Fair Balance:</strong> Issues emanating from digital markets imply that &ldquo;the invisible hand of the market&rdquo; must be supplemented by &ldquo;the visible hand&rdquo; of competition authorities or of the legislator.</li>
<li><strong>Need For Data Regulation:</strong> Given the significance of data in this new age , there is a need for global convention on Data protection and Privacy regulation.</li>
<li><strong>Fair Digital Taxation:</strong> A level playing field needs to be achieved with a comprehensive tax policy response coordinated at international level.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new tax framework should reflect the nature of global digital business models and avoid unfair double-taxation to other players as collateral damage of tax initiatives.</li>
<li>Thus, it is essential that governments and businesses work together to develop an efficient tax framework to harmonize international tax rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Whenever any sector turns into a monopoly, or becomes highly concentrated in market share, regulators must also ensure competition is not wiped out by unethical means.</p>
<p>India&rsquo;s own Competition Commission needs to consider being more active in the regulation of sectors like telecom, retail, ports, and airports, where such concentrations are occurring.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfaff;">
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss issues related to unfair trade practice in digital space in light of the recent antitrust suit against Google.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pCfjmjCYF4M" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/after-losing-rs-21-trillion-time-to-relook-the-psu-policy/2110297/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;After losing Rs 21-trillion, time to relook the PSU policy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Financial Express on October 22th,2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'ECI Committee on Expenditure Limit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India</strong></a> (ECI) has constituted a <strong>committee to examine the issues concerning the expenditure limit for a candidate.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Committee:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been tasked with <strong>assessing the change in the number of electors</strong> across states/UTs and the <strong>change in the Cost Inflation Index</strong> (CII) and their bearing on expenditure pattern of candidates in recent elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political parties</strong> in the feedback to the Commission had <strong>asked for an increase in the expenditure</strong> of Bihar assembly elections to meet the<strong> increased digital campaign expenses</strong> amid the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Ministry of Law and Justice notified an <strong>amendment in Rule 90 of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961,</strong> which <strong>enhanced the existing expenditure limit by 10%,</strong> applicable with <strong>immediate effect.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Earlier Revisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The expenditure limit was<strong> last revised in 2014</strong> while the same was done for <strong>Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2018,</strong> following their<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-telangana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> bifurcation</strong> </a><strong>in 2014.</strong></li>
<li>After that, the limit has not been increased <strong>despite an increase in the electorate</strong> from 834 million in 2014 to 921 million in 2020 and an <strong>increase in the Cost Inflation Index</strong> from 220 in 2014 to 301 in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expenditure Limit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> amount an election candidate can legally spend for their election campaign</strong> and has to account for, which <strong>includes expenses on</strong> public meetings, rallies, advertisements, posters, banners vehicles and advertisements.</li>
<li>These <strong>limits range from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 28 lakh</strong> for <strong>assembly elections</strong> and from <strong>Rs. 54 lakh to Rs. 70 lakh</strong> for<strong> Lok Sabha elections.</strong></li>
<li>Under <strong>Section 77 of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-representation-of-the-people-act-part-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951</a></strong>, every candidate shall keep a <strong>separate and correct account of all expenditure</strong> incurred between the date on which they have been nominated and the date of declaration of the result.</li>
<li>All candidates are required to <strong>submit their expenditure statement to the ECI within 30 days</strong> of the completion of the elections.</li>
<li>An <strong>incorrect account or expenditure beyond the cap can lead to disqualification</strong> of the candidate by the ECI <strong>for up to three years,</strong> under <strong>Section 10A of RPA, 1951.</strong></li>
<li>The limit prescribed by the ECI is <strong>meant for legitimate expenditure</strong> because a lot of money in elections is spent for illegitimate purposes.</li>
<li>It has often been <strong>argued that these limits are unrealistic</strong> as the <strong>actual expenditure</strong> incurred by the candidate is <strong>much higher.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>December 2019,</strong> a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/introduction-of-private-member-s-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>private member&rsquo;s bill</strong></a> was introduced in the Parliament which<strong> intended to do away with the cap on election spending</strong> by candidates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The move was taken on the ground that the<strong> ceiling on election expenses ends up being counterproductive</strong> by encouraging candidates to under-report their expenditure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is <strong>no cap on a political party&rsquo;s expenditure,</strong> which is often<strong> exploited by candidates of the party.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, <strong>all registered political parties</strong> have to <strong>submit a statement of their election expenditure to the ECI within 90 days</strong> of the completion of the elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Funding of Elections:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this system, the <strong>states bear the election expenditure of political parties</strong> contesting the Election.</li>
<li>This can <strong>bring transparency in the funding process</strong> as public finance can limit the influence of interested donors&rsquo; money and thereby help curb corruption.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations on State Funding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998):</strong> It suggested that state funding would <strong>ensure a level playing field for poorer political parties</strong> and argued that such a move would be in public interest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It also recommended that state funds should only be given to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-party-status-by-election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recognised national and State parties</strong></a> and funding should be given in the form of free facilities provided to these parties and their candidates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Law Commission Report (1999):</strong> It stated that a state funding of elections is <strong>&lsquo;desirable&rsquo;</strong> provided that political <strong>parties are prohibited from taking funds from other sources.</strong></li>
<li><strong>National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000):</strong> It <strong>did not support</strong> the idea but mentioned that an appropriate framework for the regulation of political parties needs to be implemented before state funding is considered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eci-not-in-favour-of-state-political-fundings-for-polls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ECI is not in favour of state funding</strong> </a>of elections on the grounds that it would <strong>not be able to prohibit or check candidates&rsquo; and other expenditures</strong> over and above what is provided for by the state.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cost Inflation Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is <strong>used to estimate the increase in the prices of goods and assets year-by-year due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/return-of-inflation#:~:text=Inflation%20refers%20to%20the%20rise,transport%2C%20consumer%20staples%2C%20etc.&amp;text=Inflation%20is%20indicative%20of%20the,unit%20of%20a%20country's%20currency." target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflation</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>calculated to match the prices to the inflation rate.</strong> In simple words, an increase in the inflation rate over time will lead to a rise in the prices.</li>
<li>Cost Inflation Index =<strong> 75% of the average rise in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Price Index</a></strong> (urban) for the immediately preceding year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Consumer Price Index</strong> compares the current price of a basket of goods and services (which represent the economy) with the cost of the same basket of goods and services in the previous year to calculate the increase in prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Central Government specifies CII by notifying in the official gazette.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1666540" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'OSIRIS-REx Mission: NASA',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/water-on-asteroid-bennu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NASA&rsquo;s OSIRIS-REx</strong></a> <strong>spacecraft</strong> briefly touched down on the surface of <strong>asteroid Bennu</strong> to collect rock and dust samples.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About OSIRIS-REx Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>United States&rsquo; first asteroid sample return mission,</strong> aiming to collect and carry a pristine, unaltered sample from an asteroid back to earth for scientific study.</li>
<li>The <strong>OSIRIS-REx</strong> (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) <strong>spacecraft was launched in 2016</strong> for the journey <strong>to Bennu.</strong></li>
<li>The mission is essentially a<strong> seven-year-long voyage</strong> and will conclude when at least 60 grams of samples are delivered back to the Earth (in 2023).</li>
<li>As per 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>, the mission promises to bring the <strong>largest amount of extraterrestrial material back to the Earth since the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/apollo-11-50-years#:~:text=The%20Apollo%20program%20was%20designed,them%20safely%20back%20to%20Earth.&amp;text=Apollo%20mission%20was%20announced%20at,Soviet%20Union%20in%20space%20developments)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apollo era.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apollo was the NASA program that resulted in American astronauts&rsquo; making a total of 11 space flights and walking on the moon (1968-72).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The spacecraft <strong>contains five instruments</strong> meant to explore Bennu including cameras, a spectrometer and a laser altimeter.</li>
<li>Recently, the <strong>spacecraft&rsquo;s robotic arm called the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM),</strong> made an attempt to &ldquo;TAG&rdquo; the asteroid at a sample site and collected a sample.</li>
<li>The departure window for the mission will open up in 2021, after which it will take over two years to reach back to Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Asteroid Bennu:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bennu is<strong> an ancient asteroid,</strong> currently<strong> more than 200 million miles from Earth.</strong></li>
<li>Bennu <strong>offers scientists a window into the early solar system</strong> as it was first taking shape billions of years ago and tossing ingredients that could have helped seed life on Earth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Significantly, Bennu hasn&rsquo;t undergone drastic changes since its formation over billions of years ago and therefore it contains chemicals and rocks dating back to the birth of the solar system. It is also relatively close to the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>So far, it is known that <strong>this asteroid is a B-type asteroid,</strong> implying that it contains <strong>significant amounts of carbon</strong> and various other minerals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Because of its high carbon content, it reflects about 4% of the light that hits it, which is very low when compared with a planet like Venus, which reflects about 65% of the light that hits it. Earth reflects about 30%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Around <strong>20-40% of Bennu&rsquo;s interior is empty space</strong> and scientists believe that <strong>it was formed in the first 10 million years of the solar system&rsquo;s formation,</strong> implying that it is <strong>roughly 4.5 billion years old.</strong></li>
<li>As per high-resolution photographs taken by the spacecraft, the surface of the asteroid is <strong>covered in massive boulders,</strong> making it more difficult to collect samples from its surface.</li>
<li>There is a slight possibility that Bennu, which is classified as a <strong>Near Earth Object (NEO), might strike the Earth</strong> in the next century, between the years 2175 and 2199. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NEOs are comets and asteroids nudged by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into orbits which allows them to enter the Earth&rsquo;s neighbourhood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The asteroid was<strong> discovered</strong> by a team from the NASA-funded Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research team in 1999.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dUWfXJLPiBg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asteroids</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are <strong>rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets.</strong> They are <strong>also called minor planets.</strong></li>
<li>According to NASA, 9,94,383 is the count of known asteroids, the <strong>remnants from the formation of the solar system over 4.6 billion years ago.</strong></li>
<li>Asteroids are <strong>divided into three classes.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First, those found in the <strong>main asteroid belt</strong> between Mars and Jupiter, which is estimated to contain somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids.</li>
<li>The second group is that of<strong> trojans,</strong> which are asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NASA reports the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars trojans. In 2011, they reported an Earth trojan as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The third classification 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 <strong>Earth-crossers.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>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>PHAs are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid&rsquo;s potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth.</li>
<li>Specifically, all asteroids with an Earth Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) of 0.05 au or less and an absolute magnitude (H) of 22.0 or less are considered PHAs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-asteroid-bennu-and-why-is-nasa-studying-it-6822479/" 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/osiris-rex-mission-nasa'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'COVIRAP : A Quick Covid-19 Test',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/antibody-kits-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)</strong></a> has approved a new low-cost <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> diagnostic method named<strong> COVIRAP,</strong> developed by the<strong> Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603352051_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603352051_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Working of COVIRAP:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>COVIRAP has an <strong>automated pre-programmable temperature control unit, a special detection unit on genomic analysis,</strong> and a<strong> customised smartphone app</strong> for results.</li>
<li>The machine has an<strong> isothermal nucleic acid amplification method,</strong> which did away with the need for a<strong> thermocycler.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Isothermal amplification of nucleic acids</strong> is a process that rapidly and efficiently accumulates <strong>nucleic acid sequences</strong> at constant temperature. The Isothermal Amplification Techniques have been developed as <strong>alternatives to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Thermocyclers</strong> are instruments used to<strong> amplify DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) samples</strong> by the<strong> polymerase chain reaction.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Once the sample is processed in the machine after being mixed with solutions developed by the IIT team, treated paper strips (similar to the pregnancy strips) are dipped into it, and the emergence of coloured lines will depict the presence of the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit of COVIRAP Process:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> It is a cheaper process, its machine costs less than Rs. 5,000 and the test kits would each cost about Rs. 500.</li>
<li><strong>Quicker:</strong> The<strong> test is completed within an hour while <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/radt-vs-rt-pcr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RT-PCR test</a> (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction)</strong> takes 3-4 hours for testing the sample.</li>
<li><strong>Simpler to Handle:</strong> The portable test unit that <strong>can be handled by unskilled operators outside the lab environment.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is also better than the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/feluda-test-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FELUDA test</strong></a> because the FELUDA employs a gene editing technology called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-gene-editing-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CRISPR-cas9</strong></a>, which requires a lab testing environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reusable:</strong> The <strong>same unit can be used for a large number of tests</strong> on replacement of the paper cartridge after each test.</li>
<li><strong>Efficient:</strong> This assay (testing) holds the <strong>capability of detecting extremely low levels of viral loads</strong> compared to any other method based on similar principles of testing.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This means that very early stages of infection can be detected, thereby isolating the patient and arresting the uncontrolled spread of infection in the community via asymptomatic patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Accuracy:</strong> It correctly detected <strong>108 out of the 115 positive samples</strong> identified by an RT-PCR machine, and <strong>83 out of 85 negative samples,</strong> meaning that it has a <strong>94% sensitivity and 98% specificity</strong> in comparison to RT-PCR (i.e lower than RT-PCR).</li>
<li><strong>Other Usage:</strong> The COVIRAP testing machine <strong>can also perform tests other than Covid-19.</strong> It can be used in influenza, malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, TB etc, which are under the category of isothermal nucleic acid-based tests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603352088_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603352088_image2.png" caption="false" width="320" height="432" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RT-PCR Test</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Kary Mullis,</strong> the American biochemist invented the PCR technique. He was awarded the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Nobel Prize</strong> </a>for Chemistry in 1993.</li>
<li>Under this,<strong> copies of a segment of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)</strong> are created using an enzyme called Polymerase.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The &lsquo;chain reaction&rsquo; signifies how the DNA fragments are copied, exponentially &mdash; one is copied into two, the two are copied into four, and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A fluorescent <strong>DNA binding dye called the &ldquo;probe&rdquo; is added to DNA,</strong> which shows the presence of the virus on a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/portable-device-to-detect-adulteration-in-milk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fluorometer.</strong></a></li>
<li>Since coronavirus is made of<strong> RNA (ribonucleic acid),</strong> therefore to detect coronavirus, <strong>RNA is converted into DNA</strong> using a technique called reverse transcription.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A &lsquo;reverse transcriptase&rsquo; enzyme converts the RNA into DNA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Copies of the DNA are then made and amplified.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/coronavirus-low-cost-testing-method-approved-by-icmr/article32909442.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/covirap-a-quick-covid-19-test'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Environmental Clearance to Kaleshwaram Project Invalid',
			'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> has declared that the environmental clearance (EC) granted to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-project-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project</strong> </a>in Telangana was ex post facto (i.e. granted after completion of substantial work) and illegal.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>multi-purpose irrigation project,</strong> on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-lift-irrigation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Godavari River</strong></a> in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana initiated in 2016.</li>
<li>The project starts at the confluence point of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-lift-irrigation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pranahita River</strong></a> <strong>and Godavari River.</strong></li>
<li>Originally called <strong>Dr. B R Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project</strong> in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, it was redesigned, extended and <strong>renamed as Kaleshwaram project in Telangana in 2014.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues in the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> petition filed in 2018</strong> stated that while the <strong>Kaleshwaram Project</strong> was a <strong>lift irrigation system,</strong> the<strong> state government wrongly claimed, until the grant of environmental clearance (EC),</strong> that the project was not for lift irrigation, but <strong>only for drinking water supply.</strong></li>
<li>Substantial work of the project had already been undertaken before granting of EC in December 2017. Thus, the EC was ex post facto, in violation of the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had published the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/draft-eia-notification-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020</strong></a>, with the intention to replace the existing EIA Notification 2006 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.</li>
<li>The draft notification <strong>has provisions for post facto project clearance,</strong> reiteration of a March 2017 notification for projects operating without clearance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Project also underwent change by increase in capacity and inclusion of <strong>Mission Bhagiratha</strong> to provide drinking water to Hyderabad and certain villages of Telangana. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the pre-feasibility report submitted in January, 2017 and draft of EIA report submitted in July, 2017 did not mention the Mission Bhagiratha<strong> which involved interlinking of the two projects.</strong></li>
<li>Feasibility of the changed project was never evaluated while granting EC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NGT&rsquo;s Observation:</strong> There are <strong>two legal issues confronting the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>One,</strong> Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation<strong> Project was functioning without requisite prior environmental clearance</strong> under <strong>EIA Notification, 2006, until 2017,</strong> when the EC was granted.</li>
<li><strong>Second,</strong> project contractor L&amp;T was alleged to have cleared large areas of forest land for construction of quarters for its employees, <strong>without requisite forest clearance</strong> under the <strong>Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>NGT directed</strong> that until the Telangana government obtains final forest clearance, it should <strong>stop all work except the drinking water component.</strong></li>
<li>It has further asked MoEFCC to consider measures to prevent recurrence of such violations where EC is sought ex post facto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is particularly required when the projects are multi-purpose and part of it requires EC, so that such requirement is not defeated on specious plea that the project was partly not covered by the schedule Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification as has happened in the present case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It observed that<strong> accountability of the responsible person needs to be fixed and remedial measures has to be taken.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For that purpose, it has directed the MoEFCC to <strong>constitute a seven-member expert committee.</strong></li>
<li>The expert committee could assess the extent of damage caused in going ahead with the project without EC &ndash; the period from 2008 to 2017 &mdash; and identify the necessary restoration measures.</li>
<li>The expert committee must be constituted within a month and needs to complete its exercise within six months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mission Bhagiratha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>project for safe drinking water</strong> for every village and city household in Telangana State.</li>
<li>It <strong>aims to provide piped water</strong> to 2.32 crore people in 20 lakh households in urban and 60 lakhs in rural areas of Telangana.</li>
<li>The project will supply clean drinking water to all households in the state through <strong>water sourced from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/2nd-meeting-of-the-apex-council-for-krishna-and-godavari-river-water-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">River Godavari and River Krishna.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ngt-red-flags-kaleshwaram-project-green-clearance-was-in-violation-of-law-halt-work-6813921/" 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/environmental-clearance-to-kaleshwaram-project-invalid'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'India International Science Festival 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The 6<sup>th</sup> edition of the <strong>India International Science Festival (IISF)</strong> will be held virtually in 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fifth-india-international-science-festival#:~:text=The%20Prime%20Minister%20of%20India,%2D%208th%20November%2C%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5<sup>th</sup> edition</strong></a> was held in Kolkata in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>IISF:</strong> It is a festival to <strong>celebrate the achievements of India&rsquo;s scientific and technological advancements</strong> with students, innovators, craftsmen, farmers, scientists and technocrats from India and abroad.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was<strong> launched in 2015</strong> to<strong> promote Science and Technology</strong> and demonstrate how science could lead India towards a developed nation within a short span of time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To <strong>engage the public with science</strong> and celebrate the joy of science and show the ways how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) provide solutions to improve people's lives.</li>
<li><strong>Organising Agencies: Ministry of Science &amp; Technology</strong> and <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> in association with <strong>Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA)</strong> organise IISF <strong>every year.</strong></li>
<li><strong>IISF 2020:</strong> The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)</strong></a> will spearhead the IISF 2020 with support of all other concerned ministries and departments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CSIR is<strong> funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Vijnana Bharati</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Swadeshi Science Movement</strong> was started in <strong>Indian Institute of Science- Bengaluru</strong> by a few eminent scientists under the guidance of <strong>Prof. K I Vasu.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This movement gradually gained momentum and emerged as an organization with national presence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>1991,</strong> it was decided to launch the Swadeshi Science Movement at all India Level and named it Vijnana Bharati.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s one of the<strong> objectives</strong> is to motivate young scientists towards greater creativity and originality.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in<strong> New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1666172" 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-international-science-festival-2020'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Nazca Lines: Peru',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a giant cat geoglyph was discovered on a hill at the famous <strong>Nazca Lines site</strong> in Peru.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Nazca Lines:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603277210_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603277210_image4.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are a group of geoglyphs known for the <strong>depictions of larger-than-life animals, plants and imaginary beings.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Geoglyphs are the <strong>large designs made on the ground</strong> by creators using elements of the landscape such as stones, gravel, dirt or lumber.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These are believed to be the <strong>greatest known archaeological enigma,</strong> owing to their <strong>size, continuity, nature</strong> and<strong> quality.</strong></li>
<li>The site is <strong>around 450 km away from capital Lima.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Drawn more than 2 millennia ago</strong> on the surface of southern Peru&rsquo;s arid Pampa Colorada, the geoglyphs feature different subjects, but mainly plants and animals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The figures include pelicans (the largest ones sized around 935 feet long), Andean Condors (443 feet), monkeys (360 feet), etc.</li>
<li><strong>Variety of geometric shapes</strong> such as triangles, trapezoids and spirals, and some have been associated with astronomical functions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discovery and Heritage Site:</strong> The Lines were<strong> first discovered</strong> in <strong>1927,</strong> and were declared a <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Site by UNESCO</strong></a> in <strong>1994.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Cat Geoglyph:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603277229_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603277229_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cultural Linkage:</strong> It dates from 500 BC &ndash; 200 AD <strong>(Paracas age).&nbsp;</strong>The cat geoglyph is believed to be older than the ones previously found at Nazca.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> Paracas culture</strong> was an Andean society existing between approximately 800 BCE and 100 BCE, with an extensive knowledge of irrigation and water management. It was in present day Peru in the Paracas Desert region.</li>
<li>Representations of felines of this type are frequent in the iconography of ceramics and textiles of the Paracas society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cat-geoglyph-peru-nazca-lines-6813164/" 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/nazca-lines-peru'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Dilution of Offset Policy',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/offset-dilution-in-defence-a-flawed-policy-turn/article32903639.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Offset dilution in defence, a flawed policy turn&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 21/10/2020. It talks about the benefits and associated challenges with the recent changes in offset policy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the government diluted the &ldquo;offset&rdquo; policy in defence procurement. This Policy decision was taken with a view to reduce cost of defense deals and also in response to a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report</strong> </a>on the same issue.</p>
<p>Henceforth, the offset clause will not be applicable to bilateral deals and deals with a single (monopoly) seller. However, as the major defense deals of India are taken under the above mentioned route, this would virtually mean the scrapping of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-defence-production-and-export-promotion-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defence offset policy.</strong></a></p>
<p>Due to this, many experts contend that the move is a setback for augmenting domestic capabilities or for realising the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Therefore, the government should rethink its defense offset policy to leverage the associated benefits emanating from it.</p>
<h3>Offset Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Why Needed:</strong> Developing country buyers often lack an industrial base and research and development (R&amp;D) facilities. However, large buyers such as India seek to exercise their &ldquo;buying power&rdquo; to secure defense deals, not just the lowest price.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They also try to acquire the technology to upgrade domestic production and build R&amp;D capabilities.</li>
<li>The offset clause is the instrument for securing these goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>What is Offset:</strong> The offset is an obligation by an international player to boost India&rsquo;s domestic defence industry if India is buying defence equipment from it.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since defence contracts are costly, the government wants part of that money either to benefit the Indian industry, or to allow the country to gain in terms of technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key Objectives:</strong> The key objective of the Defence Offset Policy is to leverage capital acquisitions to develop Indian defence industry by:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fostering development of internationally competitive enterprises.</li>
<li>Augmenting capacity for Research, Design and Development related to defence products and services.</li>
<li>Encouraging development of synergistic sectors like civil aerospace, and internal security&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Case Study: Benefits of Offset Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Offset policy was initiated in 2005, under which for contracts valued at ₹300 crore or more, 30% of it will result in offsets, implemented through Indian offset partners.</li>
<li>The 2005 policy helped promote a vibrant aerospace cluster, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mostly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)</strong></a> around Bengaluru.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By 2014, exports increased to $6.7 billion from a paltry $62.5 million in 2005, according to the United Nations Comtrade Database.</li>
<li>The offset clause enabled India to join the league of the world&rsquo;s top 10 aerospace exporters; the only country without a major domestic aerospace firm.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issue With New Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CAG Report:</strong> According to the recent CAG report, between 2007 and 2018, the government reportedly signed 46 offset contracts worth ₹66,427 crore of investments.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the realised investments were merely 8%, or worth ₹5,457 crore.</li>
<li>It also noted that there is not a single case where the foreign vendor had transferred high technology to the Indian industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Policy:</strong> In a response to CAG report, the government has decided not to have an offset clause in procurement of defence equipment if the deal is done through inter-government agreement (IGA), government-to-government or an ab initio single vendor.</li>
<li><strong>Misplaced Rationale:</strong> The government held that the offset load extra cost in the contract to balance the costs, and doing away with the offsets can bring down the costs in such contracts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the higher (upfront) cost of the agreement due to the offset clause would pay for itself by: reducing costs in the long term by indigenisation of production and the potential technology spill-overs for domestic industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of New Policy:</strong> As most defence deals are bilateral, or a single supplier deal (given the monopoly over the technology).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dilution means practically giving up the offset clause.</li>
<li>This would impact India&rsquo;s prospects for boosting defence production and technological self-reliance.</li>
<li>Further, India has voluntarily given up a powerful instrument of bargaining to acquire scarce advanced technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Review &amp; Proper Implementation of Offset Clause:</strong> The offset policy can succeed, if it is designed and executed correctly, as a parallel episode in the aerospace industry demonstrates.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite the heft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India is a lightweight in global civilian aircraft manufacturing, as the public sector giant mostly devotes itself to defence production.</li>
<li>The much-touted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforms-in-civil-aviation-industry" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Civil Aircraft Development (NCAD) project</strong></a> &mdash; to come up with an indigenously designed Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) &mdash; has remained a non-starter from day one.</li>
<li>Thus, apart from reviewing the current offset policy, there is a need to establish a formal mechanism for implementation of the defence offset policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Better Regulation &amp; Facilitation:</strong> While evidence suggests that domestic industry can absorb offsets, what India needs is an effective body to handle offsets, liberal FDI and licensing policies, and a better banking provision.</li>
<li><strong>Need for Clear Roadmap:</strong> Also there is a need for a clear roadmap for transfer of technology through offsets, keeping in view India's long-term military industrial objectives.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India needs to re-conceive or re-imagine the offset clause in defence contracts with stricter enforcement of the deals, in national interest, and in order to aim for &lsquo;Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan&rsquo;, or a self-reliant India.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603276437_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603276437_image0.jpg" 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: #f7f8ff;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss what do you mean by an offset policy and issues linked with the recent policy changes.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JQixlvqoMzA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/the-significance-of-the-malabar-exercise/story-GtJRK9jo4kpKiyb5TswbaI.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The significance of the Malabar exercise&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on October 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/dilution-of-offset-policy'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Antitrust Case Against Google: USA',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>US Justice Department has sued Google,</strong> accusing the company of illegally<strong> abusing its dominance in internet search</strong> in ways that harm competitors and consumers.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The lawsuit (or <strong>antitrust action</strong> against the company) comes after a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-big-tech-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>report by the US House of Representatives panel</strong></a> that found <strong>Google</strong> and three other tech giants -- <strong>Facebook</strong> Inc, <strong>Apple</strong> Inc and <strong>Amazon.com</strong> Inc &mdash; all <strong>abused their power as gatekeepers</strong> in the digital economy to thwart competitive threats.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>US Government&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Google is <strong>illegally protecting its dominant position in the market for search and search advertising with the deals</strong> it has struck with companies like Apple.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Google pays Apple billions of dollars a year to have its search engine set as the default option on iPhones and other devices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges contracts</strong> that Google has with smartphone makers that use Google&rsquo;s Android operating system, requiring them to install its search engine as the default.</li>
<li>All this <strong>stifles competition and innovation from smaller upstart rivals</strong> to Google and<strong> harms consumers</strong> by reducing the quality of search and limiting privacy protections and alternative search options.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Many countries have broad laws that protect consumers and regulate how companies operate their businesses. The goal of these laws is to<strong> provide an equal playing field for similar businesses</strong> that operate in a specific industry <strong>while preventing them from gaining too much power over their competition.</strong> These are called <strong>antitrust laws.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investigated Google&rsquo;s behavior and acquisitions in the overall market for digital advertising,</strong> which includes search, web display and video ads. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Online advertising was the source of virtually all of Alphabet&rsquo;s USD 34 billion in profit last year. Alphabet Inc. is Google&rsquo;s parent company.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Most of Google&rsquo;s services are offered for free in exchange for personal information</strong> that helps it sell its ads.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Goods that are free to consumers <strong>are not exempt from antitrust oversight.</strong></li>
<li>In the <strong>landmark Microsoft case of the late 1990s,</strong> the software giant bundled its web browser for free into its dominant Windows operating system.</li>
<li><strong>Microsoft lost</strong> because, using restrictive contracts, it bullied personal computer makers and others to try to prevent them from offering competing web browser software &mdash; competition that could have undermined the Windows monopoly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Google&rsquo;s Defense:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>deals</strong> that the Justice Department is citing are <strong>entirely legal.</strong> Such company-to-company deals violate antitrust law only if they can be shown to exclude competition. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Users can freely switch to other search engines, like Microsoft&rsquo;s Bing or Yahoo Search, anytime they want. Google&rsquo;s search service is the runaway market leader because people prefer it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, its services have <strong>helped hold down the prices of smartphones. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Report by the US House of Representatives panel:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Big Tech Companies</strong> like Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple <strong>act as a &ldquo;gatekeeper&rdquo;,</strong> i.e. can control access to information.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Gatekeepers can also decide whether a message will be spread to a wider audience.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These companies <strong>not only wield tremendous power, but also abuse it</strong> by charging exorbitant fees, imposing oppressive contract terms, and <strong>extracting valuable data from the people</strong> and businesses that rely on them.</li>
<li>Companies ran the marketplace for their respective domains, while also competing in it and to ensure they retain the number one position, the companies have <strong>restored to</strong> &ldquo;self-preferencing, predatory pricing, or exclusionary conduct&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Self-preferencing</strong> involves actions by an undertaking which are designed to favour its own products or services over those of its competitors.</li>
<li><strong>Predatory pricing</strong> is an act of setting prices low in an attempt to eliminate the competition.</li>
<li><strong>Exclusionary conduct</strong> is a conduct that creates or maintains monopoly power by disadvantaging and harming competitors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The step is a<strong> response</strong> to the policy question of what measures, if any, should be taken to curb today&rsquo;s tech giants, which hold the power to shape markets, communication and even public opinion.</li>
<li>The US Justice Department has come up with the <strong>possibility of structurally breaking up Google,</strong> and not just imposing conditions on its behavior as has happened in Europe.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Critics contend that multibillion-dollar fines and mandated changes in Google&rsquo;s practices imposed by European regulators in recent years weren&rsquo;t severe enough and that structural changes are needed for Google to change its conduct.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Scenario in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/antitrust-case-against-google" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Various antitrust probes</strong></a> are going on<strong> against Google in India.</strong> Google has had run-ins with regulators, especially 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>
<li>In the last two years, the <strong>CCI has raised issues with Google&rsquo;s commercial flight search option,</strong> its<strong> dominant position in the search marketplace,</strong> the <strong>abuse of its dominant position</strong> in the Android phone and smart television market, and others.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, for example, <strong>CCI had held Google guilty of misuse of its dominant position in the mobile Android market</strong> and said the company had imposed &ldquo;unfair conditions&rdquo; on device manufacturers to prevent them from using other operating systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, Google has also been<strong> accused of following a high and unfair commission mechanism for apps listed on its Play Store.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Antitrust Laws</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Antitrust laws are <strong>regulations that monitor the distribution of economic power</strong> in business, making sure that<strong> healthy competition is allowed</strong> to flourish and economies can grow.</li>
<li>Antitrust laws<strong> apply to nearly all industries and sectors,</strong> touching every level of business, including manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and marketing.</li>
<li>These <strong>prohibit a number of business practices that restrain trade. Examples</strong> of illegal practices are <strong>price-fixing conspiracies, corporate mergers</strong> that are likely to cut back the competitive fervor of certain markets, and <strong>predatory acts</strong> designed to gain or hold on to <strong>monopoly power.</strong></li>
<li>In India,<strong> competition policy</strong> has been implemented via the <strong>Competition Act, 2002</strong> which alongwith its amendment, establishes a <strong>Competition Commission of India</strong> to prevent anti-competitive practices, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of the consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets in India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With this lawsuit, the big tech companies are likely to come under more scrutiny from regulators including the CCI in India.</li>
<li>In coming years, as India plans to regulate the use of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>personal</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-personal-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-personal data</strong></a>, these tech companies could face scrutiny over how they manage and use the data they collect from users in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-files-landmark-antitrust-case-against-google/article32904830.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/antitrust-case-against-google-usa'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Taiwan Insecurity of China',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, China has objected to any official exchanges between India and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solomon-islands-and-taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Taiwan</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Chinese Concern:</strong> The statement from China came in response to reports that India and Taiwan were considering going forward with<strong> talks on a trade deal.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China believes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/why-china-insists-on-chinese-taipei-rather-than-taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'One-China principle&rsquo;</strong> </a>is a universal consensus of the international community, including India.</li>
<li>China also objected to the recent<strong> campaign (posters and social media)</strong> in India <strong>wishing Taiwan &ldquo;Happy National Day&rdquo;</strong> (October 10) and referring to it as <strong>a &ldquo;country&rdquo; or a &ldquo;nation&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>China is also opposing inclusion of Australia in the upcoming <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-be-included-in-malabar-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malabar naval exercise</strong></a> with India, Japan and the United States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-Taiwan Relations</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Taiwan do not maintain formal diplomatic relations. The areas of cooperation between India and Taiwan have been limited due to negligible political relations.</li>
<li><strong>From</strong> 1995 to 2014, the bilateral trade turnover has grown manifold from just $934 million to $5.91 billion.</li>
<li><strong>Technology:</strong> In the field of science and technology, there are more than thirty ongoing government-funded joint research projects.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In August 2015, the Taiwan-based Foxconn, one of the largest hardware manufacturers in the world, announced an investment of $5 billion in India.</li>
<li>India and Taiwan <strong>in 2018</strong> signed a<strong> bilateral investment agreement.</strong> India-Taiwan trade ties have been <strong>expanded</strong> and Taiwanese firms are <strong>prominent investors in India,</strong></li>
<li>Taiwan has for long been a world leader in high-tech hardware manufacturing, and can contribute much to the <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make in India</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital India</a>&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres#:~:text=Smart%20City%20Mission,create%20smart%20outcomes%20for%20citizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smart Cities</a>&rdquo;</strong> campaigns.</li>
<li>Taiwan&rsquo;s agro-technology and food processing technology can also be very beneficial for India&rsquo;s agriculture sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both sides have also expanded <strong>educational exchanges</strong> after a mutual degree recognition agreement in higher education was <strong>signed in 2010.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>One China policy:</strong> India finds it difficult to realise the full potential of its bilateral relationship with Taiwan. At present, about 16 countries worldwide continue to recognise Taiwan as an independent state. India is not among the sixteen countries.</li>
<li><strong>Trade &amp; Investment:</strong> The economic exchange is still relatively insignificant. Taiwan&rsquo;s share of trade with India is around 1% of its global trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Taiwan</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603272458_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603272458_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Taiwan - the Republic of China (ROC), home to <strong>twenty-three million people,</strong> is an island <strong>off the southern coast of China</strong> that has been governed independently from mainland China since <strong>1949.</strong></li>
<li>Its neighbours include China (officially the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, PRC) to the west, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south.</li>
<li>Taiwan is the most populous state that is not a member of the United Nations and the largest economy outside the UN.</li>
<li>Taiwan is Asia&rsquo;s 5<sup>th</sup> largest economy.</li>
<li>It is a global leader in chip manufacture and the second-largest manufacturer of IT hardware, etc.</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Claim:</strong> The People&rsquo;s Republic of China (PRC) views the island as a province, while in Taiwan&mdash;a territory with its own democratically elected government&mdash;leading political voices have differing views on the island&rsquo;s status and relations with the mainland.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China and Taiwan maintain a fragile relationship, which has improved during the past seven years but is periodically tested.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Taiwan has invested heavily on China studies. India should take advantage of this fact. Resource rich India can benefit from Taiwan&rsquo;s technology. For instance, India has abundant natural bamboo resources while Taiwan owns the world-class bamboo charcoal technology. With this sort of technology, India can make use of its bamboo resources to produce high value-added goods.</li>
<li>With the recent appointment of a senior diplomat to serve as the <strong>new envoy to Taiwan,</strong> India has signalled a shift in its One-China policy (although not officially abandoned) a clear indication of taking forward the diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-warns-india-on-ties-with-taiwan/article32902761.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/taiwan-insecurity-of-china'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Punjab Assembly Rejects Centre’s Farm Laws',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Punjab became the first State in the country to formally reject the Central government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protests-against-farm-ordinances" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>three Farm Acts</strong> </a>by passing three Bills to negate the Union laws.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It also rejected the proposed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essential-commodities-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electricity Amendment Bill</strong> </a>and demanded their immediate annulment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Punjab State Bills:</strong> The Punjab assembly introduced <strong>three farm Bills:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It seeks to ensure that sale or purchase of wheat or paddy in Punjab is not allowed below the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msp-raised-for-rabi-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Minimum Support Price (MSP).</strong> </a></li>
<li>It also seeks to provide for <strong>punishment for harassment of farmers</strong> or payment of less price to the farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment Bill, 2020.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for <strong>imprisonment of not less than three years and fines</strong> for sale-purchase of wheat or paddy under a farming agreement below the MSP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It<strong> prevents hoarding and black-marketing</strong> of agricultural produce and seeks to ensure status quo ante with regard to implementation of the Central Act namely, &lsquo;The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While the central law <strong>abolished any market fees or licences for private players outside the APMCs,</strong> the <strong>Punjab bills have reintroduced it.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These fees will go towards a fund for the welfare of small and marginal farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assembly also introduced <strong>Code of Civil Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It seeks to<strong> exempt agricultural land not exceeding 2.5 acres</strong> from <strong>Section 60 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908,</strong> which provides for attachment of various properties - moveable and immoveable in execution of decree (judgement).</li>
<li>It also seeks to<strong> exempt the Properties of the farmers</strong> such as cattle, implements, cowsheds, etc from attachment.</li>
<li>These exemptions are provided, given the <strong>farmers&rsquo; apprehension about attachment-decree of their land as a consequence of enforcement of farming contracts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rationale:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Central laws were aimed to do away with government interference in agricultural trade</strong> by creating trading areas free of middlemen and government taxes <strong>outside the structure</strong> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committees</strong></a> (APMCs).</li>
<li>This according to <strong>farmers was giving preference for corporate interests</strong> at the cost of farmers&rsquo; interests and a lack of regulation in these non-APMC mandis were a cause for concern for farmers.</li>
<li>The absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis was seen as a <strong>precursor to the withdrawal of the guarantee of MSP-based procurement.</strong></li>
<li><strong>To annul the apprehensions of farmers,</strong> the Punjab government has <strong>changed the application of central laws to the state.</strong> It will <strong>restore the agricultural safeguards</strong> for the farmers through the regulatory framework of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, there are apprehensions that this step taken by the Punjab Government may discourage private players to buy at rates less than MSP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Punjab government states that<strong> 86.2% of farmers in the state are small and marginal,</strong> with the majority owning less than two acres of land. Consequently, <strong>they have limited access to multiple markets, and lack the negotiation power needed to operate in a private market.</strong></li>
<li>The Bills also point out that <strong>agriculture, agricultural markets, and land is the primary legislative domain of the state.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier three <strong>Farm Acts were passed</strong> by the Central government under <strong>Entry 33 of the Concurrent List.</strong> Entry 33 of the Concurrent List mentions trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution of domestic and imported products of an industry; foodstuffs, including oilseeds and oils; cattle fodder; raw cotton and jute.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, if foodstuffs are considered synonymous with agriculture, then all the powers of states in respect of agriculture, listed so elaborately in the Constitution, shall become redundant.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>States have <strong>no authority to overrule</strong> the legislations passed by the Centre <strong>except</strong> under <strong>Article 254(2).</strong></li>
<li>Article 254(2) <strong>enables a State government to pass a law, on any subject in the Concurrent List, that may contradict a Central law,</strong> provided it gets the President&rsquo;s assent.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2014, the Rajasthan government took this Article 254 (2) route to make changes to the central labour laws &mdash; the Factories Act, the Industrial Disputes act, and the Contract Labour Act &mdash; which subsequently got the President&rsquo;s assent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the <strong>Parliament is not barred from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter</strong> including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State.</li>
<li><strong>Article 257(1)</strong> also states that the executive power of every State shall be so exercised as <strong>not to impede or prejudice</strong> the exercise of the executive power of the Centre. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It authorises the Centre to impose <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/president-s-rule-in-maharashtra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>President&rsquo;s Rule</strong></a> in case when the State is exercising its executive power prejudicial to Centre&rsquo;s executive power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from the Governor, the Punjab government's new farm Bills need the assent of the President since they seek to amend laws passed by the central government. If not, they can at best serve as a symbolic political statement against the Centre's farm laws.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/punjab-govt-presents-3-bills-to-negate-centres-three-agriculture-laws/article32898619.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/punjab-assembly-rejects-centre-s-farm-laws'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'FDI Inflow',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>During <strong>April to August, 2020,</strong> total Foreign Direct Investment<strong> (FDI) inflow of USD 35.73 billion</strong> was received. It is the <strong>highest ever for the first 5 months of a financial year.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI inflow has increased <strong>despite</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-contracted-by-23-9-in-first-quarter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth contracted 23.9%</strong></a> in the first quarter (April-June 2020).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recent Increase in FDI Inflows:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FDI (USD 35.73 billion) received in the first 5 months of 2020-21 is <strong>13% higher</strong> as compared to the first five months of 2019-20 (USD 31.60 billion).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total FDI inflow <strong>grew by 55%,</strong> i.e. from <strong>USD 231.37 billion in 2008-14 </strong>to<strong> USD 358.29 billion in 2014-20.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>FDI equity inflow</strong> (one of the three components of FDI) received during April to August, 2020 was USD 27.10 billion. It is <strong>also the highest ever for the first 5 months</strong> of a financial year and <strong>16% more</strong> compared to the first five months of 2019-20 (USD 23.35 billion).</li>
<li><strong>Measures taken by the Government</strong> on the fronts of <strong>FDI policy reforms, investment facilitation</strong> and<strong> ease of doing business</strong> have resulted in increased FDI inflows into the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-investment-report-unctad" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Investment Report 2020 by the UNCTAD</strong></a>, <strong>India was the 9<sup>th</sup> largest recipient of FDI in 2019. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Measures to increase FDI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2020, schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-for-electronic-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics manufacturing</strong></a>, have been notified to attract foreign investments.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Central Government <strong>amended FDI Policy 2017,</strong> to permit <strong>100% FDI under automatic route in coal mining activities.</strong></li>
<li>Further, the government <strong>permitted 26% FDI in digital sectors.</strong> The sector has particularly high return capabilities in India as favourable demographics, substantial mobile and internet penetration, massive consumption along with technology uptake provides great market opportunity for a foreign investor.</li>
<li><strong>FDI in manufacturing</strong> was already under the <strong>100% automatic route,</strong> however in 2019, the government clarified that <strong>investments in Indian entities engaged in contract manufacturing is also permitted under the 100% automatic</strong> route provided it is undertaken through a legitimate contract.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Contract Manufacturing:</strong> Production of goods by one firm, under the label or brand of another firm.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP)</strong> is the online single point interface of the Government of India with investors to facilitate FDI. It is <strong>administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade,</strong> Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in FDI Inflows is further Expected:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As foreign investors have indicated interest in the<strong> government&rsquo;s moves to allow <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/privatisation-of-railways#:~:text=Private%20participation%20in%20passenger%20train,30%2C000%20crore." target="_blank" rel="noopener">private train operations</a> and bid out airports.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In March 2020, Government<strong> permitted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/100-fdi-in-air-india-for-nris" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-resident Indians (NRIs) to acquire up to 100% stake in Air India.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Valuable sectors such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-fdi-policy-in-defence-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defence manufacturing</strong></a> where the government <strong>enhanced the FDI limit under the automatic route from 49% to 74%</strong> in May 2020, could also attract large investments going forward.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI is the<strong> process</strong> whereby residents of one country (the home country) acquire ownership of assets for the purpose of controlling the production, distribution and other activities of a firm in another country (the host country).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>different from Foreign Portfolio Investment</strong> where the foreign entity merely buys stocks and bonds of a company. FPI <strong>does not provide the investor with control over the business.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flows of FDI</strong> comprise capital provided (either directly or through other related enterprises) by a foreign direct investor to an enterprise.</li>
<li>FDI has <strong>three components,</strong> viz., equity capital, reinvested earnings and intra-company loans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Equity capital</strong> is the foreign direct investor&rsquo;s purchase of shares of an enterprise in a country other than its own.</li>
<li><strong>Reinvested earnings</strong> comprise the direct investors&rsquo; share (in proportion to direct equity participation) of earnings not distributed as dividends by affiliates, or earnings not remitted to the direct investor. Such retained profits by affiliates are reinvested.</li>
<li><strong>Intra-company loans or intra-company debt transactions</strong> refer to short- or long-term borrowing and lending of funds between direct investors (or enterprises) and affiliate enterprises.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Routes through which India gets FDI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Automatic Route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the RBI.</li>
<li><strong>Government route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity has to take the approval of the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP)</strong> facilitates the single window clearance of applications which are through approval route.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a <strong>major driver of economic growth</strong> and an <strong>important source of non-debt finance</strong> for the economic development of India. A <strong>robust and easily accessible FDI regime, thus, should be ensured.</strong></li>
<li>Economic growth in the post-pandemic period and India&rsquo;s large market shall continue to attract market-seeking investments to the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/16-surge-in-fdi-inflows-till-august/article32903664.ece?homepage=true" 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/fdi-inflow'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Refroming Nutrient-Based Subsidy Regime',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/farmers-fertilisers-urea-agriculture-narendra-modi-government-6778507/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Tinkering at margins&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 19/10/2020. It talks about the issues related to the Nutrient-based subsidy regime for fertilizers.</p>
</div>
<p>It's been over a decade since the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-cuts-non-urea-fertiliser-subsidy#:~:text=Nutrient%20Based%20Subsidy%20Scheme&amp;text=It%20aims%20to%20ensure%20the,decontrolled%20and%20set%20by%20manufacturers." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) regime for fertilisers</strong> </a>was instituted. NBS envisaged linking subsidy to nutrient composition rather than products per se.</p>
<p>NBS was expected to wean away farmers from applying too much urea containing only nitrogen and increase the consumption of P&amp;K fertilizers which will result in balanced fertilization.</p>
<p>After the launch of NBS, the fertiliser consumption has increased manifold over the years. However, similar gains are not visible in the food grain production or improvement of soil health. Hence, an urgent need has arisen for a rethink on the overall fertilizer subsidy policy in India.</p>
<h3>NBS and It&rsquo;s Rationale</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under NBS, the fertilizers are provided to the farmers at the subsidized rates based on the nutrients (N, P, K &amp; S) contained in these fertilizers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, fertilizers which are fortified with secondary and micronutrients such as molybdenum (Mo) and zinc are given additional subsidy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under this Policy, the subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&amp;K) fertilizers is announced by the Government on an annual basis for each nutrient on a per kg basis.</li>
<li>These rates are determined taking into account the international and domestic prices of P&amp;K fertilizers, exchange rate, inventory level in the country etc.</li>
<li>NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&amp;K fertilizers so that optimum balance (N:P:K= 4:2:1 ) of NPK fertilization is achieved.</li>
<li>This would improve soil health and as a result the yield from the crops would increase resulting in enhanced income to the farmers.</li>
<li>Also, as the government expects rational use of fertilizers, this would also ease off the burden of fertilizer subsidy.</li>
<li>It is being implemented from April 2010 by the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals &amp; Fertilizers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to NBS</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Urea Outside NBS:</strong> The urea remains under price control and NBS has been implemented only in other fertilisers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The price of fertilisers (other than urea) &mdash; which were decontrolled have gone up from 2.5 to four times during these 10 years. However, since April 2010, the price of urea has been raised by hardly 11%.</li>
<li>This has led to farmers using more urea than before, which has further worsened fertiliser imbalance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic &amp; Environmental Cost:</strong> Considering that fertilizer subsidy is the second-biggest subsidy after food subsidy, the NBS policy is not only damaging the fiscal health of the economy but also proving detrimental to the soil health of the country.</li>
<li><strong>Diversion of Urea</strong>: Subsidised urea is getting diverted to bulk buyers/traders or even non-agricultural users such as plywood and animal feed makers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is being smuggled to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>The government has launched a slew of reforms regarding the use of urea, which includes compulsory <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-chemicals-fertilizers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>neem-coating of all urea</strong></a> and directly making fertiliser subsidy payment to companies. However, these measures merely address the diversion of urea, but they don&rsquo;t fix the real problem &mdash; of overuse by farmers themselves. Therefore, following steps can be taken by the government:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Fertilizers:</strong> DBT scheme can bring benefits to the farmer on various fronts; choice of improved products at competitive rates, gain from enhanced extension services from the industry on best practices leading to "sustainable and responsible" agriculture production, and better earnings for such produce.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, DBT in fertilizers must be preceded by holistic financial inclusion in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enabling Last-Mile Connectivity:</strong> Affordable and workable" last mile" technologies can enable the Government to set up the required framework for disbursal, which in turn will allow for focused targeting of subsidy based on land, crop, soil health and other geographical factors.</li>
<li><strong>Bringing Urea Under NBS:</strong> In order to address the imbalance in the fertilizer use, urea has to come under NBS.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A feasible way to do it is by hiking urea prices and simultaneously reducing the NBS rates of phosphorus, potash and sulphur to make other fertilisers cheaper.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Long Term Reform:</strong> In the long run, NBS itself should be replaced by a flat per-acre cash subsidy that could be used to purchase any fertiliser. That includes value-added and customised products containing not just other nutrients, but delivering even nitrogen more efficiently than urea.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Considering that all three nutrients namely N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus) and K (potassium) are critical to increasing crop yields and quality of produce, the Government must necessarily go for a uniform policy for ail fertilisers. Thus to begin with, the subsidy regime, covering both subsidy rates and payment terms, urea should be brought in sync with P&amp;K fertilisers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603193731_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603193731_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" 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: #f7f7ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Due to economic and environmental implications associated with Nutrient based subsidy for fertilizers, there is an urgent need for a rethink on the overall fertilizer subsidy policy in India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yg7AN7Fv-wc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/no-great-escape-the-hindu-editorial-on-indias-low-rank-on-nutritional-indices/article32887692.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;No great escape: On India&rsquo;s low rank on nutritional indices&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on October 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/refroming-nutrient-based-subsidy-regime'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: VAIBHAV Summit',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VaS9rmwKX1k" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>The <strong>Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV)</strong> Summit is a global virtual summit of overseas and resident Indian Researchers and Academicians being organized from 2<sup>nd</sup> October to 31<sup>st</sup> October 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will bring Indian origin luminaries in academic institutes and R&amp;D organizations across the world and resident counterparts on a single platform to debate upon collaboration mechanisms to strengthen academic and S&amp;T base in India for global development.</li>
<li><strong>Key areas of discussion will include:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quantum-technology#:~:text=Quantum%20computers%20compute%20in%20%27qubits,a%20state%20called%20quantum%20superposition." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>quantum technologies</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence</strong> </a>and machine learning, communications technologies, computational and data sciences and aerospace technologies among others.</li>
<li><strong>Organisers:</strong> The Summit is a joint effort of various Science &amp; Technology (S&amp;T) and Academic organisations, including<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-dst" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Department of S&amp;T</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objectives of the Summit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The goal is to create an<strong> ecosystem of knowledge and innovation</strong> in the country through global outreach.</li>
<li>To<strong> leverage the expertise and experience</strong> of the Indian scientists overseas.</li>
<li>To participate with India's journey of <strong>technological developments.</strong></li>
<li>Pandemic needs<strong> immediate technology</strong> such as drug delivery, vaccination. Working out on such solutions in order to help mankind.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Summit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Over 3000 Academicians &amp; Scientists of Indian Origin and over 10,000 Indian Scientists participating in the Summit.</li>
<li>VAIBHAV Summit 2020 celebrates Science and Innovation from India and World.</li>
<li>The summit will reflect on the collaboration and cooperation instruments with academia and scientists in India and abroad.</li>
<li>To boost the innovation ecosystem in India, VAIBHAV will add a new dimension to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aatmanirbhar-bharat-arise-atal-new-india-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).</strong></a></li>
<li>The summit seeks active support and ideation from Indian Diaspora for developing skills of Indian aspirants in alignment with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-education-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Educational Policy.</strong></a></li>
<li>With Indian roots, global outlook and experience, accomplished scientists, researchers and academicians of Indian descent, around the world can play a vital part in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>"Aatmanirbhar Bharat"</strong></a> initiative.</li>
<li><strong>Eighteen verticals</strong> have been identified to have engagement in the VAIBHAV Summit. Example- Agriculture, Health, Energy and Transportation.</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong> Programs like <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/higher-education-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GIAN</strong></a>, <strong>VAJRA</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/scheme-for-promotion-of-academic-and-research-collaboration-sparc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SPARC</strong></a> have been previously launched by the government of India to attract global scientists to work with the Indian researchers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Initiative for Academics Network (GIAN)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a programme that seeks to invite distinguished academicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, experts from premier institutions from across the world, to teach in the higher educational institutions in India.</li>
<li>It aims at<strong> tapping the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs</strong> to engage with the institutes of higher education in India to augment the country&rsquo;s existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reforms, and further strengthen India&rsquo;s scientific and technological capabilities.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme is a dedicated program exclusively for overseas scientists and academicians with emphasis on Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)/Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to work as adjunct/visiting faculty for a specific period of time in Indian Public funded academic and research institutions.</li>
<li>The <strong>Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body</strong> of the <strong>Department of Science and Technology</strong> is the implementing agency for the Scheme.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Human Resource Development</strong> has launched the web portal of the Scheme &ldquo;Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)&rdquo;.</li>
<li>SPARC aims at improving the research ecosystem of <strong>India&rsquo;s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations</strong> between Indian institutions and the best institutions in the world from 28 selected nations to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance in the first phase.</li>
<li>Under this Scheme, 600 joint research proposals will be awarded for 2 years to facilitate research collaboration between Indian research groups with the best in class faculty and renowned research groups in the leading universities of the world, in areas that are at the cutting edge of science or with direct social relevance to mankind, specifically India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Role of the Indian Diaspora</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Indian diaspora are the <strong>excellent ambassadors of India</strong> at the world stage.</li>
<li>Their efforts will help create an<strong> ideal research ecosystem;</strong> merging tradition with modernity leads to prosperity.</li>
<li>The &lsquo;Vaibhav Summit' is planned with the Indian Diaspora working in the World's top universities and R&amp;D organisations to strengthen the factors enabling the outcome driven research and education.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Areas of Concern</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Continuous engagement:</strong> Arranging a structured platform for continuous engagement of all the stakeholders and converting the knowledge back to wealth is a big challenge.</li>
<li><strong>Absence of schemes or scholarships:</strong> for sending Indian scholars and scientists to foreign institutions for further studies and researches.</li>
<li><strong>Rankings of institutions:</strong> No Indian Institution ranking in top 100 colleges can create a <strong>challenge in attracting more foreign engagement.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launching programs</strong> for Indian scientists and researchers to go to international institutions.</li>
<li>Academic community will be benefitted, the collaborations through the summit can be a really good way of <strong>changing the international perception</strong> of our educational institutions.</li>
<li>Shifting towards more innovative ideas, as innovation will lead to economic growth.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>While multiple emerging challenges in today&rsquo;s global ecosystem are in urgent need of attention,<strong> &lsquo;Ideation through Virtual Associations&rsquo;, &lsquo;Complementary Research&rsquo; </strong>and<strong> &lsquo;Collaborative Development&rsquo;</strong> are emergent phenomena of this decade; collaboration is the new driver of Innovation.</p>',
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		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Assam-Mizoram border</strong> witnessed firing over a territory dispute, which spotlights the <strong>long-standing inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast,</strong> particularly between Assam and the states which were carved out of it.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mizoram borders Assam&rsquo;s Barak Valley</strong> and the boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram is <strong>165 km</strong> long. <strong>Both states border Bangladesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603186135_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603186135_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="380" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ongoing Tussle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Residents of Lailapur village in <strong>Assam&rsquo;s Cachar district</strong> clashed with residents of localities near Vairengte in <strong>Mizoram&rsquo;s Kolasib district.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in October 2020, a similar clash took place on the border of <strong>Karimganj (Assam)</strong> and <strong>Mamit (Mizoram)</strong> districts.</li>
<li>Mizoram civil society groups blame <strong>&ldquo;illegal Bangladeshis&rdquo;</strong> (alleged migrants from Bangladesh) on the Assam side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The boundary issue between present-day Assam and Mizoram dates back to the <strong>colonial era when inner lines were demarcated according to the administrative needs of British Raj.</strong></li>
<li>The issue could not be settled once and for all when the <strong>state was created in independent India.</strong> The result is<strong> both states continue to have a differing perception</strong> of the border.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizoram was granted statehood in<strong> 1987</strong> by the <strong>State of Mizoram Act, 1986.</strong></li>
<li>Assam became a <strong>constituent state of India in 1950 and lost much of its territory to new states that emerged</strong> from within its borders between the early 1960s and the early 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assam-Mizoram dispute<strong> stems from a notification of 1875</strong> that <strong>differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar,</strong> and another of <strong>1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>During colonial times, <strong>Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills,</strong> a district of Assam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mizoram</strong> believes the <strong>boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875</strong> notification, which is derived from the <strong>Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizo leaders have argued in the past against <strong>the demarcation notified in 1933</strong> because Mizo society <strong>was not consulted.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation,</strong> and that is the point of conflict.</li>
<li>According to an agreement between the governments of Assam and Mizoram, the <strong>status quo should be maintained in no man&rsquo;s land</strong> in the border area.</li>
<li>In the Northeast&rsquo;s complex boundary equations, <strong>clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents are less frequent than they are between other neighbouring states of Assam,</strong> like with Nagaland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Boundary Issues in Northeast:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During British rule,<strong> Assam included present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya besides Mizoram,</strong> which became separate states one by one.</li>
<li>Currently, Assam has <strong>boundary problems with each of them.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Assam-Nagaland:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-state-actors-in-nagaland#:~:text=1963%3A%20Nagaland%20achieved%20statehood%20in%20December%201963." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagaland</strong></a> shares a <strong>500-km boundary</strong> with Assam.</li>
<li>It achieved <strong>statehood in December 1963</strong> and was <strong>formed out of the Naga Hills district of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh</strong> (then North-East Frontier Agency).</li>
<li><strong>Violent clashes and armed conflicts,</strong> marked by killings, have occurred on the Assam-Nagaland border since 1965.</li>
<li>The boundary dispute is in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assam-Arunachal Pradesh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both states have a <strong>boundary of over 800 km.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-mizoram-and-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong></a> was granted statehood by the <strong>State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986</strong> in<strong> 1987.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Clashes were first reported in 1992</strong> and since then, there have been several accusations of illegal encroachment from both sides, and intermittent clashes.</li>
<li>This boundary issue is also <strong>being heard by the Supreme Court.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assam-Meghalaya:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>884-km boundary</strong> between the two states also witnesses flare-ups.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-manipur-meghalaya-and-tripura#:~:text=On%20the%20Statehood%20Day%20of,(Reorganisation)%20Act%2C%201971." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Meghalaya</strong></a> came into existence as an autonomous state within the state of Assam in April 1970 comprising the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills districts. In <strong>1972, it got statehood.</strong></li>
<li>As per Meghalaya government statements, today there are <strong>12 areas of dispute between the two states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/assam-mizoram-border-clashes-union-home-secy-talks-to-top-state-officials-6790272/" 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/assam-mizoram-border-dispute'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Ayushman Sahakar Scheme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare</strong> has launched <strong>Ayushman Sahakar,</strong> a scheme to <strong>assist cooperatives in creation of healthcare infrastructure</strong> in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Formulated By: National Cooperative Development Corporation</strong> (NCDC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCDC was <strong>set up under an Act of Parliament in 1963</strong> for promotion and development of cooperatives.</li>
<li>It functions under the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.</strong></li>
<li>Recent initiatives include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-cooptube-ncdc-channel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel</strong></a> (Youth-focussed), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-mitra-scheme-on-internship-programmehttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-mitra-scheme-on-internship-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sahakar Mitra</strong> </a>(Internship Programme), etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NCDC would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore</strong> in the coming years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any Cooperative Society with suitable provision in its byelaws to undertake healthcare related activities would be able to access the NCDC fund.</li>
<li>The<strong> scheme covers</strong> establishment, modernization, expansion, repairs, renovation of <strong>hospital</strong> and <strong>healthcare and education infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NCDC <strong>assistance will flow either through the State Governments/ UT Administrations or directly</strong> to the eligible cooperatives.</li>
<li>The scheme also provides <strong>working capital and margin money</strong> to meet operational requirements.</li>
<li>Further, the scheme provides<strong> interest subvention of 1% to women majority cooperatives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a <strong>comprehensive approach-</strong>hospitals, healthcare, medical education, nursing education, paramedical education, health insurance and holistic health systems such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-indian-system-of-medicine-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AYUSH</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has brought into focus the <strong>requirement of creation of more facilities.</strong></li>
<li>There are about 52 hospitals across the country run by cooperatives. They have cumulative bed strength of more than 5,000. The scheme would give<strong> a boost to provision of healthcare services by cooperatives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme<strong> aligns itself with the focus of the National Health Policy, 2017,</strong> covering the health systems in all their dimensions- investments in health, organization of healthcare services, access to technologies, development of human resources, encouragement of medical pluralism, affordable health care to farmers etc.</li>
<li>It is<strong> in line with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-digital-health-mission#:~:text=Health%20Expenditure%3A%20The%20policy%20proposes,23%20by%20the%20year%202025." target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Digital Health Mission</a></strong> and would bring transformation in rural areas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cooperatives have a strong presence in rural areas, thus, cooperatives utilizing the scheme would revolutionize the way healthcare delivery takes place in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cooperatives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organisation (ILO)</strong></a>, a cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Provisions of Indian Constitution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Constitution (97<sup>th</sup> Amendment) Act, 2011</strong> added a new <strong>Part IXB</strong> right after Part IXA (Municipals) regarding the cooperatives working in India.</li>
<li>The word &ldquo;cooperatives&rdquo; was added after &ldquo;unions and associations&rdquo; in <strong>Article 19(1)(c) under Part III of the Constitution.</strong> This enables all the citizens to form cooperatives by giving it the status of fundamental right of citizens.</li>
<li>A new <strong>Article 43B</strong> was added in the <strong>Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)</strong> regarding the &ldquo;promotion of cooperative societies&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1665800" 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/ayushman-sahakar-schemeq'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Rationalisation of Autonomous Institutions',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Finance has recommended</strong> that the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) &ldquo;disengage&rdquo; from five autonomous institutions</strong> working under it and <strong>merge two</strong> others, thus <strong>reducing the 16 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">autonomous organisations</a></strong> under the ministry<strong> to 9.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recommendations are a part of the report that has been <strong>prepared in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under rule 229 of General Finance rules 2017.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rule 229 pertains to &lsquo;General Principles for setting up of Autonomous Organisations&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The purpose of the report is to make specific and actionable recommendations for rationalisation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>autonomous bodies</strong></a> with a view to furthering the aim of<strong> &lsquo;minimum government, maximum governance,&rsquo;</strong> ensuring<strong> efficient use of public funds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations for MoEFCC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Disengagement</strong> from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sal-forest-tortoise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> (WII-Dehradun), <strong>Indian Institute of Forest Management</strong> (IIFM-Bhopal),<strong> Indian Plywood Industries Research &amp; Training Institute</strong> (Bengaluru), <strong>CPR Environmental Education Centre</strong> (Chennai) and <strong>Centre for Environment Education</strong> (Ahmedabad). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>&lsquo;Disengagement&rsquo; will involve<strong> two aspects - phasing out government support</strong> to the institution in a time-bound manner, <strong>disassociating from the management</strong> of the institutions and allowing the relevant industry/stakeholders to run them.</li>
<li><strong>Disengagement</strong> by the government <strong>with a three-year timeline</strong> and a <strong>gradual budget reduction of 25% each year</strong> is recommended.</li>
<li>Both<strong> WII</strong> and<strong> IIFM</strong> can be <strong>converted to deemed universities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Society of Integrated Coastal Management</strong> (New Delhi) should be merged with the <strong>National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management</strong> (Tamil Nadu), as both perform similar roles of promoting coastal management. This will <strong>avoid duplication</strong> of activities and <strong>attain economies of scale.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History</strong> (Tamil Nadu), which receives Rs. 14 crore annually from MoEFCC, should be merged with the ministry.</li>
<li><strong>Statutory bodies</strong> such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upgradation-and-expansion-of-zoos-in-ppp-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Zoo Authority</a> (CZA)</strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority</a> (NTCA)</strong>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Biodiversity Authority</strong></a> should continue to function under and with the financial support of MoEFCC.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These bodies should be encouraged to become &lsquo;self-financed&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appreciation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the <strong>first time ever that such an audit has been done</strong> of institutions which took around four years to get completed.</li>
<li>Making WII and other institutions into deemed universities will <strong>give more freedom to the institutions</strong> to initiate more courses and have enhanced faculties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The disengagement will make these institutions <strong>worry for financial issues rather than research,</strong> which should be their prime focus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The environment is a public issue and there must be good public institutions to safeguard it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s disengagement from these institutions is seen as <strong>&lsquo;the first step towards sending them into private hands&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the government feels that funds are not being utilised properly or the institutions are not performing well, their officials should be held accountable rather than taking the route of disengagement as this will have an impact on those students who dream of studying these specialised subjects but cannot afford the high fees charged by private universities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Steps:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the<strong> Ministry of Textiles</strong> has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-handloom-day-announcements-challenges-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>abolished the All India Handloom Board and the All India Handicrafts Board.</strong></a></li>
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for<strong> closure of Autonomous Bodies,</strong> namely, <strong>Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)</strong> and <strong>Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK)</strong> and the functions were proposed to be vested in Department of Health &amp; Family Welfare (DoHFW).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Autonomous Bodies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are <strong>set up</strong> whenever it is felt that certain functions need to be discharged outside the governmental set up with some amount of independence and flexibility without day-to-day interference of the Governmental machinery.</li>
<li>These are set up<strong> by the Ministries/Departments concerned with the subject matter</strong> and are funded through grants-in-aid, either fully or partially, depending on the extent which such institutes generate internal resources of their own. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <strong>grants are regulated by the Ministry of Finance</strong> through their instructions as well as the instructions relating to powers for creation of posts and etc.</li>
<li>The amount disbursed to autonomous/grantee bodies was Rs. 799.55 billion, which,<strong> in 2019-20, was increased</strong> to Rs. 943.84 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are mostly registered as societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and in certain cases they have been set up as statutory institutions under the provisions contained in various Acts.</li>
<li>These are a <strong>major stakeholder in the government&rsquo;s functioning</strong> as they are engaged in diverse activities, ranging from formulating frameworks for policies, conducting research, and preserving the cultural heritage, etc. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Institutes imparting technical, medical and higher education fall in this category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to review the governance of ABs, and devise uniform procedures. Many of ABs act as interfaces between the government and the public. Thus, each ministry should undertake a comprehensive review of ABs under their jurisdiction. ABs that have outlived the cause for which they were established may need to be closed or merged with a similar organisation or their memorandum altered as per the new charter.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-suggests-disengaging-wii-iifm-three-other-premier-green-institutions-6793717/" 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/rationalisation-of-autonomous-institutions'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Australia to Join Malabar Exercise',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Australia has agreed to join the Malabar Exercise</strong> on India&rsquo;s request. The exercise is scheduled to be held in November 2020.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Malabar Exercise</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>annual trilateral naval exercise</strong> between the navies of <strong>India, Japan, and the USA</strong> which is held <strong>alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.</strong></li>
<li>It began as a <strong>bilateral <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-8th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">naval exercise</a></strong> between <strong>India and the USA in 1992</strong> and was expanded into a trilateral format with the<strong> inclusion of Japan in 2015.</strong></li>
<li>The Exercise is <strong>aimed to support free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific</strong> and remain committed to a <strong>rules based international order.</strong></li>
<li>It is<strong> also aimed at interoperability</strong> with an emphasis on humanitarian assistance, surface war manoeuvres, anti-submarines warfare, counter-terror operations, gunnery training and aerial surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>2020 Malabar Exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2020 Exercise is expected to be held in the<strong> Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.</strong> In 2019, the exercise was conducted off the coast of Japan.</li>
<li>Due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> the exercise had been planned in a <strong>&lsquo;non-contact - at sea&rsquo; format.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Its objective</strong> is to enhance safety and security in the maritime domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Australia&rsquo;s Inclusion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The issue of Australia&rsquo;s inclusion in Malabar had again come up for discussion at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quad</strong></a> foreign ministers meet in Tokyo held in October 2020. Thereafter, India invited Australia to join the Exercise.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Quad</strong> is the informal strategic dialogue between India, the USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a <strong>free, open and prosperous&rdquo; Indo-Pacific region.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The move will bolster the ability of India, Australia, Japan and the United States to work together to<strong> uphold peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.</strong></li>
<li>It is also expected to further lay the foundations for the eventual <strong>formalisation of the Quad grouping.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite regular requests from Australia, India resisted issuing the invitation due to its concerns that the move would give the appearance of a<strong> &lsquo;quadrilateral military alliance&rsquo;</strong> aimed at China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2017, Australia had requested for observer status in the Malabar Exercise.</li>
<li>China has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to any expansion of the Malabar Exercise, which it sees as a multilateral naval construct designed to &ldquo;counter and contain&rdquo; it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-China tensions</strong></a> over the situation at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aksai-chin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong> </a>(LAC) may have brought more flexibility to India's decision making process.</li>
<li><strong>Japan and the U.S.A also have been pressing India</strong> for Australia&rsquo;s inclusion in Malabar Exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Cooperation Between Quad Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Japan had signed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-logistics-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>military logistics agreement</strong></a> in September, 2020.</li>
<li>India has signed maritime information sharing agreements for <strong>Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)</strong> with Australia and Japan and a similar agreement is under discussion with the U.S.A.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>MDA</strong> is defined by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/international-maritime-organization-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Maritime Organization</strong> </a>as the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of a country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India and U.S.A. are also stepping up efforts to conclude the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement</a> (BECA)</strong> ahead of the <strong>Indo-US 2+2 ministerial meeting</strong> on 26-27 October, 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BECA, a key military pact, will allow India to use U.S.A.&rsquo;s geospatial intelligence and enhance accuracy of automated systems and weapons like missiles and armed drones.</li>
<li>BECA is one of the <strong>four foundational military communication agreements</strong> between the two countries. The other three being <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GSOMIA, LEMOA, CISMOA.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>GSOMIA:</strong> General Security Of Military Information Agreement</li>
<li><strong>LEMOA:</strong> Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement</li>
<li><strong>CISMOA:</strong> Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Defence and Foreign ministers of the two countries will Participate at the 2+2 ministerial meeting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As India seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain, high-end military exercises like Malabar are key to enhancing maritime capabilities, building interoperability with its close partners, and demonstrating its collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.</li>
<li>The fast-tracking of work on BECA and the decision of the four Quad countries to participate in the Malabar Exercise are perceived to be a strategic signal to an aggressive China.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/australia-to-join-malabar-naval-exercise-next-month/article32892277.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/australia-to-join-malabar-exercise'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Skinks of India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)</strong> brought a <strong>study on skinks (a kind of lizard),</strong> titled <strong>Skinks of India.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092421_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092421_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Skinks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With 1,602 species of skinks across the world, It is the <strong>largest family of lizards,</strong> having long bodies, relatively small or no legs, no pronounced neck and glossy scales.</li>
<li>It is found around homes, garages, and open spaces such as sparks and school playgrounds, and around lakes.</li>
<li>Skinks are <strong>non-venomous, highly alert, agile and fast moving</strong> and actively <strong>forage for a variety of insects and small invertebrates.</strong></li>
<li>They have a <strong>prominent role in maintaining ecosystems,</strong> however, <strong>not much is known about their breeding habits, and ecology</strong> because identification of the species can be confusing.</li>
<li>In India <strong>skinks are found in all kinds of habitats</strong> in the country, from the Himalayas to the coasts and from dense forests to the deserts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gives a<strong> phylogenetic</strong> (evolutionary development) and <strong>bio-geographical analysis</strong> of distribution of these species in all the <strong>11 bio-geographic zones of India.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092732_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092732_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="320" height="453" /></a></strong></li>
<li>India is <strong>home to less than 4% of the skinks</strong> across the globe. <strong>62 species of skinks</strong> are found in India and about 57% of them <strong>(33 species) are endemic.</strong></li>
<li>India is home to <strong>16 genera of skinks, four of which are endemic.</strong> The four genera of skinks are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Sepsophis:</strong> Sepsophis punctatus is endemic to the northern part of Eastern Ghats</li>
<li><strong>Barkudia:</strong> They are limbless skinks found in the hills and coastal plains of the eastern coast.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Barkudia insularis</strong> is believed to be found only in the Barkud Island in Chilka lake in Odisha.</li>
<li><strong>Barkudia melanosticta</strong> is endemic to Visakhapatnam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kaestlea:</strong> They are also known as <strong>blue-tailed ground skinks</strong> and are endemic to the Western Ghats.</li>
<li><strong>Ristella:</strong> They are also known as <strong>Cat skinks</strong> and endemic to the southern part of Western Ghats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Zoological Survey of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization of the<strong> Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change </strong>was <strong>established in 1916.</strong></li>
<li>It is a national centre for<strong> faunistic survey</strong> and exploration of the resources leading to the <strong>advancement of knowledge</strong> on the exceptionally <strong>rich faunal diversity of the country.</strong></li>
<li>It has its<strong> headquarters at Kolkata</strong> and 16 regional stations located in different geographic locations of the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/celebrating-skinks-zsi-lists-62-species-in-india/article32886528.ece#:~:text=A%20recent%20publication%20by%20the,(33%20species)%20are%20endemic." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => '10 Years of National Green Tribunal',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-hues-in-the-green-tribunals-resilient-journey/article32887705.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The hues in the green tribunal&rsquo;s resilient journey&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 19/10/2020. It talks about the benefits and associated challenges with the National Green Tribunal.</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> is one of the few dedicated environmental courts in the world. The jurisdiction of NGT has an all-encompassing scope, which covers forests, wildlife, environment, climate change and coastal protection.</p>
<p>Since its inception, the NGT has protected vast acres of forest land, halted polluting construction activities in metros and smaller towns. It has protected the rights of tribal communities and ensured the enforcement of the &ldquo;polluter pays&rdquo; principle in letter and spirit.</p>
<p>Within its decade of existence, the NGT has delivered some important judgments and has given a new outlook to environmental jurisprudence in India. However, there are several challenges that act as a roadblock in efficient functioning of the NGT.</p>
<h3>Genesis of NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>M.C. Mehta &amp; Anr. Etc vs Union Of India &amp; Ors. Etc (1986) case:</strong> The then Chief Justice of India, Justice P.N. Bhagwati had suggested setting up Environmental Courts because:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to more cases involving issues of environmental pollution, ecological destruction and conflicts over natural resources.</li>
<li>Increasing need for assessment and evolution of scientific and technical data regarding environmental matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A.P. Pollution Control Board vs Prof. M.V. Nayudu (1999) case:</strong> The Supreme Court in the landmark case, emphasised on the need for a court that was &ldquo;a combination of a Judge and Technical Experts&rdquo; with an appeal to the Supreme Court from the Environmental Court.</li>
<li><strong>Establishment of NGT:</strong> The NGT was established on 18<sup>th</sup> October, 2010 under the <strong>National Green Tribunal Act 2010</strong> for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.</li>
<li>The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Judgment Given By NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the<strong> Almitra H Patel Vs Union of India case,</strong> it directed states to implement Solid Waste Management Rules and prohibited open burning of waste on lands.</li>
<li>In 2012, NGT suspended the clearance given to the South Korean steel maker, POSCO, to set up a 12 million-tonne steel plant in Odisha.</li>
<li>In the<strong> Save Mon Federation Vs Union of India case,</strong> the NGT suspended a ₹6,400-crore hydro project, to save the habitat of a bird.</li>
<li>A December 2016 amendment to EIA 2006 notification &mdash; the amendments basically sought to give local authorities powers to grant environmental clearance to builders &mdash; was nullified by the NGT, terming it as a &ldquo;ploy&rdquo; (by the government) to circumvent the 2006 rules.</li>
<li>Many Projects which were approved in violation of the law such as an Aranmula Airport, Kerala; Lower Demwe Hydro Power Project and Nyamnjangu in Arunachal Pradesh; mining projects in in Goa; and coal mining projects in Chhattisgarh were either cancelled or fresh assessments were directed.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Dedicated Court For Environmental Matters:</strong> NGT ensures enforcement of any legal right relating to the environment and provides relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the burden on the High Courts and the Supreme Court is also reduced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Allows Specialization:</strong> NGT is staffed with judges and environmental experts. This makes it a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NGT also employs legal and scientific methods and assessed environment impact assessment reports before deciding the case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wider Reach:</strong> The quality of time spent on these issues could also be increased as, unlike the Supreme Court, the tribunal could have benches in various States, thereby increasing access to all citizens.</li>
<li><strong>Time Bound Disposal of Cases:</strong> The Tribunal is mandated to make an endeavor for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit to Jurisdiction:</strong> Two important acts - <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/without-land-or-recourse-scheduled-tribes-and-other-traditional-forest-dwellers-recognition-of-forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006</strong> </a>have been kept out of NGT&rsquo;s jurisdiction. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This restricts the jurisdiction area of NGT and at times hampers its functioning as the crucial forest rights issue is linked directly to the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Obstacle to Development:</strong> Decisions of NGT have also been criticised and challenged due to their repercussions on economic growth and development.</li>
<li><strong>Looming Vacancies:</strong> NGT only has three judicial and three expert members against the sanctioned strength of 10 each.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lack of human and financial resources has led to high pendency of cases - which undermines NGT&rsquo;s very objective of disposal of appeals within 6 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Additional Layer to Judicial Process:</strong> NGT was conceptualised to ease out the burden on the higher courts. However, the Supreme Court in L Chandrakumar case, opined that Tribunals could not be effective substitutes of High Courts under Articles 226 and 227. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This eventually leads to cases reaching the judiciary by way of appeal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limited Regional Benches:</strong> NGT being located in only big cities spread across India. However, environmental exploitation is also taking place in the tribal areas of dense forest. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, the justice delivery mechanism is also hindered by a limited number of regional benches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of Regional Benches:</strong> NGT benches have to expand manifolds. These new regional benched should have been based in a place that has the highest forest cover or large mineral deposit.</li>
<li><strong>System of Larger Bench in NGT:</strong> Appeal may be provided against the order of the NGT before a larger Bench of the Tribunal before the matter reaches to the Supreme Court or High Court.</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Administrative Inadequacy:</strong> Vacancies in NGT, needs to be filled as soon as possible.</li>
<li><strong>Collaborative Approach:</strong> There is a need for the central and state governments to work in collaboration with the NGT for balancing between environment &amp; economy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NGT should also identify institutions and experts who can help it to scientifically estimate environmental damages/compensation/fines on a case-to-case basis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the present era, equilibrium between development and environment is of utmost importance.</p>
<p>Therefore, NGT should not be seen as an not been seen as obstacle to development but a way to sustainable development&ldquo;. Thus, the government must address all underlying issues related to NGT as soon as possible.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #a600ff; background-color: #fffbeb;">
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given a new outlook to environmental jurisprudence in India. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Anti-Trust Lawsuit Against Google',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/reining-in-monopolies-120102101744_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Reining in Monopolies&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Business Standard on 22/10/2020. It talks about the antitrust suit against Google and issues related to unfair trade practice in digital space.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/21-10-2020#6800" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antitrust suit against Google.</strong> </a>DoJ alleged Google for unlawfully maintaining a monopoly in general search services and search advertising.</p>
<p>DOJ claims that Google uses its financial power to pay for mobile-phone manufacturers, carriers and browsers, to maintain Google as their preset, default search engine and thereby creating a self-reinforcing cycle of dominance.</p>
<p>These illegal trade practices, if true, results in an unprecedented concentration of market power in the hands of digital platforms like google. Moreover, current regulations in key international markets are fragmented, outdated and do not reflect consumer interests and international market realities in the digital environment.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is time to establish appropriate rules and standards with a holistic mindset, so that fair competition can be ensured in digital market space.</p>
<h3>Alleged Monopolistic Practices By Google</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Google is one of the most important businesses in the digital economy. Due to its innovation it has positioned itself as a leader in the Internet environment worldwide. In perusal of this Google has established dominant digital products. For example:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Google&rsquo;s licensed operating system, Android, rules the smartphone market, while the Chrome browser has a dominant market share in desktops and mobiles.</li>
<li>The Android dominance allows Google to charge a whopping 30% commission on apps listed in the Android Play Store.</li>
<li>Based on this, Google is alleged of using this dominance to promote other businesses it controls.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On similar charges, Google was fined a record <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>4.3 billion euros in the EU</strong></a> for anti-competitive practices, and told to offer a choice of four default browsers on the Android.</li>
<li>In 2019, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/competition-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Competition Commission of India</strong></a> had held Google guilty of misuse of its dominant position in the mobile Android market and said the company had imposed &ldquo;unfair conditions&rdquo; on device manufacturers to prevent them from using other operating systems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Characteristics of the Digital Economy</h3>
<p>There are three key characteristics of the digital economy:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Extreme Returns to Scale:</strong> The cost of production of digital services is much less than proportional to the number of customers served.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Financial Advantage with dominant players in the digital world pushes competition to the extreme disadvantage to new entrants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Network Externalities:</strong> The mechanics of the digital economy, notably the so-called network effect, fuel rapid growth of platform companies to unprecedented size, market power and influence on public opinion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The convenience of using a technology or a service increases with the number of users that adopt it.</li>
<li>Consequently, it is not enough for a new entrant to offer better quality and/or a lower price than the incumbent does; it also has to convince users of the incumbent to coordinate their migration to its own services.</li>
<li>Network effects could thus prevent a superior platform from displacing an established incumbent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of Data:</strong> The evolution of technology has made it possible for companies to collect, store, and use large amounts of data.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Data is not only one of the key ingredients of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a> but also a crucial input to many online services, production processes, and logistics.</li>
<li>Therefore, the ability to use data to develop new, innovative services and products is a competitive parameter whose relevance will continue to increase.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Economies of Scope:</strong> A consequence of these characteristics is the presence of strong &ldquo;economies of scope&rdquo;, which favour the development of ecosystems and give digital giants like Google a strong competitive advantage.</li>
<li><strong>Asymmetrical Access to Data:</strong> With the diversity of the media landscape and the digital economy, asymmetrical access to data and a lack of transparency harms consumers.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Options:</strong> Global digital platforms have built data ecosystems allowing them to easily obtain consent in exchange for access to their services.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Antitrust Law in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Antitrust law, also referred to as Competition law, aims to protect trade and commerce from unfair restraints, monopolies and price-fixing.</li>
<li>It ensures that fair competition exists in an open-market economy.</li>
<li>The Competition Act, 2002 is India&rsquo;s antitrust law. It repealed and replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) on the recommendations of the Raghavan committee.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>In order to achieve fair competition in the digital Market regulators all across the globe can take following measure:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ensuring Fair Balance:</strong> Issues emanating from digital markets imply that &ldquo;the invisible hand of the market&rdquo; must be supplemented by &ldquo;the visible hand&rdquo; of competition authorities or of the legislator.</li>
<li><strong>Need For Data Regulation:</strong> Given the significance of data in this new age , there is a need for global convention on Data protection and Privacy regulation.</li>
<li><strong>Fair Digital Taxation:</strong> A level playing field needs to be achieved with a comprehensive tax policy response coordinated at international level.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new tax framework should reflect the nature of global digital business models and avoid unfair double-taxation to other players as collateral damage of tax initiatives.</li>
<li>Thus, it is essential that governments and businesses work together to develop an efficient tax framework to harmonize international tax rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Whenever any sector turns into a monopoly, or becomes highly concentrated in market share, regulators must also ensure competition is not wiped out by unethical means.</p>
<p>India&rsquo;s own Competition Commission needs to consider being more active in the regulation of sectors like telecom, retail, ports, and airports, where such concentrations are occurring.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfaff;">
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss issues related to unfair trade practice in digital space in light of the recent antitrust suit against Google.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pCfjmjCYF4M" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/after-losing-rs-21-trillion-time-to-relook-the-psu-policy/2110297/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;After losing Rs 21-trillion, time to relook the PSU policy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Financial Express on October 22th,2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'ECI Committee on Expenditure Limit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission of India</strong></a> (ECI) has constituted a <strong>committee to examine the issues concerning the expenditure limit for a candidate.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Committee:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been tasked with <strong>assessing the change in the number of electors</strong> across states/UTs and the <strong>change in the Cost Inflation Index</strong> (CII) and their bearing on expenditure pattern of candidates in recent elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political parties</strong> in the feedback to the Commission had <strong>asked for an increase in the expenditure</strong> of Bihar assembly elections to meet the<strong> increased digital campaign expenses</strong> amid the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Ministry of Law and Justice notified an <strong>amendment in Rule 90 of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961,</strong> which <strong>enhanced the existing expenditure limit by 10%,</strong> applicable with <strong>immediate effect.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Earlier Revisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The expenditure limit was<strong> last revised in 2014</strong> while the same was done for <strong>Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2018,</strong> following their<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-telangana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> bifurcation</strong> </a><strong>in 2014.</strong></li>
<li>After that, the limit has not been increased <strong>despite an increase in the electorate</strong> from 834 million in 2014 to 921 million in 2020 and an <strong>increase in the Cost Inflation Index</strong> from 220 in 2014 to 301 in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expenditure Limit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> amount an election candidate can legally spend for their election campaign</strong> and has to account for, which <strong>includes expenses on</strong> public meetings, rallies, advertisements, posters, banners vehicles and advertisements.</li>
<li>These <strong>limits range from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 28 lakh</strong> for <strong>assembly elections</strong> and from <strong>Rs. 54 lakh to Rs. 70 lakh</strong> for<strong> Lok Sabha elections.</strong></li>
<li>Under <strong>Section 77 of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-representation-of-the-people-act-part-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951</a></strong>, every candidate shall keep a <strong>separate and correct account of all expenditure</strong> incurred between the date on which they have been nominated and the date of declaration of the result.</li>
<li>All candidates are required to <strong>submit their expenditure statement to the ECI within 30 days</strong> of the completion of the elections.</li>
<li>An <strong>incorrect account or expenditure beyond the cap can lead to disqualification</strong> of the candidate by the ECI <strong>for up to three years,</strong> under <strong>Section 10A of RPA, 1951.</strong></li>
<li>The limit prescribed by the ECI is <strong>meant for legitimate expenditure</strong> because a lot of money in elections is spent for illegitimate purposes.</li>
<li>It has often been <strong>argued that these limits are unrealistic</strong> as the <strong>actual expenditure</strong> incurred by the candidate is <strong>much higher.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>December 2019,</strong> a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/introduction-of-private-member-s-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>private member&rsquo;s bill</strong></a> was introduced in the Parliament which<strong> intended to do away with the cap on election spending</strong> by candidates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The move was taken on the ground that the<strong> ceiling on election expenses ends up being counterproductive</strong> by encouraging candidates to under-report their expenditure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is <strong>no cap on a political party&rsquo;s expenditure,</strong> which is often<strong> exploited by candidates of the party.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, <strong>all registered political parties</strong> have to <strong>submit a statement of their election expenditure to the ECI within 90 days</strong> of the completion of the elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Funding of Elections:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this system, the <strong>states bear the election expenditure of political parties</strong> contesting the Election.</li>
<li>This can <strong>bring transparency in the funding process</strong> as public finance can limit the influence of interested donors&rsquo; money and thereby help curb corruption.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations on State Funding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998):</strong> It suggested that state funding would <strong>ensure a level playing field for poorer political parties</strong> and argued that such a move would be in public interest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It also recommended that state funds should only be given to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-party-status-by-election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recognised national and State parties</strong></a> and funding should be given in the form of free facilities provided to these parties and their candidates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Law Commission Report (1999):</strong> It stated that a state funding of elections is <strong>&lsquo;desirable&rsquo;</strong> provided that political <strong>parties are prohibited from taking funds from other sources.</strong></li>
<li><strong>National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2000):</strong> It <strong>did not support</strong> the idea but mentioned that an appropriate framework for the regulation of political parties needs to be implemented before state funding is considered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eci-not-in-favour-of-state-political-fundings-for-polls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ECI is not in favour of state funding</strong> </a>of elections on the grounds that it would <strong>not be able to prohibit or check candidates&rsquo; and other expenditures</strong> over and above what is provided for by the state.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cost Inflation Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is <strong>used to estimate the increase in the prices of goods and assets year-by-year due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/return-of-inflation#:~:text=Inflation%20refers%20to%20the%20rise,transport%2C%20consumer%20staples%2C%20etc.&amp;text=Inflation%20is%20indicative%20of%20the,unit%20of%20a%20country's%20currency." target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflation</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>calculated to match the prices to the inflation rate.</strong> In simple words, an increase in the inflation rate over time will lead to a rise in the prices.</li>
<li>Cost Inflation Index =<strong> 75% of the average rise in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Price Index</a></strong> (urban) for the immediately preceding year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Consumer Price Index</strong> compares the current price of a basket of goods and services (which represent the economy) with the cost of the same basket of goods and services in the previous year to calculate the increase in prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Central Government specifies CII by notifying in the official gazette.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1666540" 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/eci-committee-on-expenditure-limit'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'OSIRIS-REx Mission: NASA',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/water-on-asteroid-bennu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NASA&rsquo;s OSIRIS-REx</strong></a> <strong>spacecraft</strong> briefly touched down on the surface of <strong>asteroid Bennu</strong> to collect rock and dust samples.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About OSIRIS-REx Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>United States&rsquo; first asteroid sample return mission,</strong> aiming to collect and carry a pristine, unaltered sample from an asteroid back to earth for scientific study.</li>
<li>The <strong>OSIRIS-REx</strong> (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) <strong>spacecraft was launched in 2016</strong> for the journey <strong>to Bennu.</strong></li>
<li>The mission is essentially a<strong> seven-year-long voyage</strong> and will conclude when at least 60 grams of samples are delivered back to the Earth (in 2023).</li>
<li>As per 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>, the mission promises to bring the <strong>largest amount of extraterrestrial material back to the Earth since the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/apollo-11-50-years#:~:text=The%20Apollo%20program%20was%20designed,them%20safely%20back%20to%20Earth.&amp;text=Apollo%20mission%20was%20announced%20at,Soviet%20Union%20in%20space%20developments)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apollo era.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apollo was the NASA program that resulted in American astronauts&rsquo; making a total of 11 space flights and walking on the moon (1968-72).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The spacecraft <strong>contains five instruments</strong> meant to explore Bennu including cameras, a spectrometer and a laser altimeter.</li>
<li>Recently, the <strong>spacecraft&rsquo;s robotic arm called the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM),</strong> made an attempt to &ldquo;TAG&rdquo; the asteroid at a sample site and collected a sample.</li>
<li>The departure window for the mission will open up in 2021, after which it will take over two years to reach back to Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Asteroid Bennu:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bennu is<strong> an ancient asteroid,</strong> currently<strong> more than 200 million miles from Earth.</strong></li>
<li>Bennu <strong>offers scientists a window into the early solar system</strong> as it was first taking shape billions of years ago and tossing ingredients that could have helped seed life on Earth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Significantly, Bennu hasn&rsquo;t undergone drastic changes since its formation over billions of years ago and therefore it contains chemicals and rocks dating back to the birth of the solar system. It is also relatively close to the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>So far, it is known that <strong>this asteroid is a B-type asteroid,</strong> implying that it contains <strong>significant amounts of carbon</strong> and various other minerals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Because of its high carbon content, it reflects about 4% of the light that hits it, which is very low when compared with a planet like Venus, which reflects about 65% of the light that hits it. Earth reflects about 30%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Around <strong>20-40% of Bennu&rsquo;s interior is empty space</strong> and scientists believe that <strong>it was formed in the first 10 million years of the solar system&rsquo;s formation,</strong> implying that it is <strong>roughly 4.5 billion years old.</strong></li>
<li>As per high-resolution photographs taken by the spacecraft, the surface of the asteroid is <strong>covered in massive boulders,</strong> making it more difficult to collect samples from its surface.</li>
<li>There is a slight possibility that Bennu, which is classified as a <strong>Near Earth Object (NEO), might strike the Earth</strong> in the next century, between the years 2175 and 2199. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NEOs are comets and asteroids nudged by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into orbits which allows them to enter the Earth&rsquo;s neighbourhood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The asteroid was<strong> discovered</strong> by a team from the NASA-funded Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research team in 1999.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dUWfXJLPiBg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asteroids</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are <strong>rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets.</strong> They are <strong>also called minor planets.</strong></li>
<li>According to NASA, 9,94,383 is the count of known asteroids, the <strong>remnants from the formation of the solar system over 4.6 billion years ago.</strong></li>
<li>Asteroids are <strong>divided into three classes.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First, those found in the <strong>main asteroid belt</strong> between Mars and Jupiter, which is estimated to contain somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids.</li>
<li>The second group is that of<strong> trojans,</strong> which are asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NASA reports the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars trojans. In 2011, they reported an Earth trojan as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The third classification 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 <strong>Earth-crossers.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>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>PHAs are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid&rsquo;s potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth.</li>
<li>Specifically, all asteroids with an Earth Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) of 0.05 au or less and an absolute magnitude (H) of 22.0 or less are considered PHAs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-asteroid-bennu-and-why-is-nasa-studying-it-6822479/" 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/osiris-rex-mission-nasa'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'COVIRAP : A Quick Covid-19 Test',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/antibody-kits-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)</strong></a> has approved a new low-cost <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> diagnostic method named<strong> COVIRAP,</strong> developed by the<strong> Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603352051_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603352051_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Working of COVIRAP:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>COVIRAP has an <strong>automated pre-programmable temperature control unit, a special detection unit on genomic analysis,</strong> and a<strong> customised smartphone app</strong> for results.</li>
<li>The machine has an<strong> isothermal nucleic acid amplification method,</strong> which did away with the need for a<strong> thermocycler.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Isothermal amplification of nucleic acids</strong> is a process that rapidly and efficiently accumulates <strong>nucleic acid sequences</strong> at constant temperature. The Isothermal Amplification Techniques have been developed as <strong>alternatives to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Thermocyclers</strong> are instruments used to<strong> amplify DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) samples</strong> by the<strong> polymerase chain reaction.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Once the sample is processed in the machine after being mixed with solutions developed by the IIT team, treated paper strips (similar to the pregnancy strips) are dipped into it, and the emergence of coloured lines will depict the presence of the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit of COVIRAP Process:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> It is a cheaper process, its machine costs less than Rs. 5,000 and the test kits would each cost about Rs. 500.</li>
<li><strong>Quicker:</strong> The<strong> test is completed within an hour while <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/radt-vs-rt-pcr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RT-PCR test</a> (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction)</strong> takes 3-4 hours for testing the sample.</li>
<li><strong>Simpler to Handle:</strong> The portable test unit that <strong>can be handled by unskilled operators outside the lab environment.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is also better than the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/feluda-test-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FELUDA test</strong></a> because the FELUDA employs a gene editing technology called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-gene-editing-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CRISPR-cas9</strong></a>, which requires a lab testing environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reusable:</strong> The <strong>same unit can be used for a large number of tests</strong> on replacement of the paper cartridge after each test.</li>
<li><strong>Efficient:</strong> This assay (testing) holds the <strong>capability of detecting extremely low levels of viral loads</strong> compared to any other method based on similar principles of testing.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This means that very early stages of infection can be detected, thereby isolating the patient and arresting the uncontrolled spread of infection in the community via asymptomatic patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Accuracy:</strong> It correctly detected <strong>108 out of the 115 positive samples</strong> identified by an RT-PCR machine, and <strong>83 out of 85 negative samples,</strong> meaning that it has a <strong>94% sensitivity and 98% specificity</strong> in comparison to RT-PCR (i.e lower than RT-PCR).</li>
<li><strong>Other Usage:</strong> The COVIRAP testing machine <strong>can also perform tests other than Covid-19.</strong> It can be used in influenza, malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, TB etc, which are under the category of isothermal nucleic acid-based tests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603352088_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603352088_image2.png" caption="false" width="320" height="432" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RT-PCR Test</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Kary Mullis,</strong> the American biochemist invented the PCR technique. He was awarded the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Nobel Prize</strong> </a>for Chemistry in 1993.</li>
<li>Under this,<strong> copies of a segment of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)</strong> are created using an enzyme called Polymerase.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The &lsquo;chain reaction&rsquo; signifies how the DNA fragments are copied, exponentially &mdash; one is copied into two, the two are copied into four, and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A fluorescent <strong>DNA binding dye called the &ldquo;probe&rdquo; is added to DNA,</strong> which shows the presence of the virus on a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/portable-device-to-detect-adulteration-in-milk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fluorometer.</strong></a></li>
<li>Since coronavirus is made of<strong> RNA (ribonucleic acid),</strong> therefore to detect coronavirus, <strong>RNA is converted into DNA</strong> using a technique called reverse transcription.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A &lsquo;reverse transcriptase&rsquo; enzyme converts the RNA into DNA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Copies of the DNA are then made and amplified.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/coronavirus-low-cost-testing-method-approved-by-icmr/article32909442.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/covirap-a-quick-covid-19-test'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Environmental Clearance to Kaleshwaram Project Invalid',
		'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> has declared that the environmental clearance (EC) granted to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-project-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project</strong> </a>in Telangana was ex post facto (i.e. granted after completion of substantial work) and illegal.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>multi-purpose irrigation project,</strong> on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-lift-irrigation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Godavari River</strong></a> in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana initiated in 2016.</li>
<li>The project starts at the confluence point of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaleshwaram-lift-irrigation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pranahita River</strong></a> <strong>and Godavari River.</strong></li>
<li>Originally called <strong>Dr. B R Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project</strong> in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, it was redesigned, extended and <strong>renamed as Kaleshwaram project in Telangana in 2014.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues in the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> petition filed in 2018</strong> stated that while the <strong>Kaleshwaram Project</strong> was a <strong>lift irrigation system,</strong> the<strong> state government wrongly claimed, until the grant of environmental clearance (EC),</strong> that the project was not for lift irrigation, but <strong>only for drinking water supply.</strong></li>
<li>Substantial work of the project had already been undertaken before granting of EC in December 2017. Thus, the EC was ex post facto, in violation of the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had published the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/draft-eia-notification-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020</strong></a>, with the intention to replace the existing EIA Notification 2006 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.</li>
<li>The draft notification <strong>has provisions for post facto project clearance,</strong> reiteration of a March 2017 notification for projects operating without clearance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Project also underwent change by increase in capacity and inclusion of <strong>Mission Bhagiratha</strong> to provide drinking water to Hyderabad and certain villages of Telangana. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the pre-feasibility report submitted in January, 2017 and draft of EIA report submitted in July, 2017 did not mention the Mission Bhagiratha<strong> which involved interlinking of the two projects.</strong></li>
<li>Feasibility of the changed project was never evaluated while granting EC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NGT&rsquo;s Observation:</strong> There are <strong>two legal issues confronting the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>One,</strong> Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation<strong> Project was functioning without requisite prior environmental clearance</strong> under <strong>EIA Notification, 2006, until 2017,</strong> when the EC was granted.</li>
<li><strong>Second,</strong> project contractor L&amp;T was alleged to have cleared large areas of forest land for construction of quarters for its employees, <strong>without requisite forest clearance</strong> under the <strong>Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>NGT directed</strong> that until the Telangana government obtains final forest clearance, it should <strong>stop all work except the drinking water component.</strong></li>
<li>It has further asked MoEFCC to consider measures to prevent recurrence of such violations where EC is sought ex post facto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is particularly required when the projects are multi-purpose and part of it requires EC, so that such requirement is not defeated on specious plea that the project was partly not covered by the schedule Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification as has happened in the present case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It observed that<strong> accountability of the responsible person needs to be fixed and remedial measures has to be taken.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For that purpose, it has directed the MoEFCC to <strong>constitute a seven-member expert committee.</strong></li>
<li>The expert committee could assess the extent of damage caused in going ahead with the project without EC &ndash; the period from 2008 to 2017 &mdash; and identify the necessary restoration measures.</li>
<li>The expert committee must be constituted within a month and needs to complete its exercise within six months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mission Bhagiratha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>project for safe drinking water</strong> for every village and city household in Telangana State.</li>
<li>It <strong>aims to provide piped water</strong> to 2.32 crore people in 20 lakh households in urban and 60 lakhs in rural areas of Telangana.</li>
<li>The project will supply clean drinking water to all households in the state through <strong>water sourced from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/2nd-meeting-of-the-apex-council-for-krishna-and-godavari-river-water-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">River Godavari and River Krishna.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ngt-red-flags-kaleshwaram-project-green-clearance-was-in-violation-of-law-halt-work-6813921/" 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/environmental-clearance-to-kaleshwaram-project-invalid'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'India International Science Festival 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The 6<sup>th</sup> edition of the <strong>India International Science Festival (IISF)</strong> will be held virtually in 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fifth-india-international-science-festival#:~:text=The%20Prime%20Minister%20of%20India,%2D%208th%20November%2C%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5<sup>th</sup> edition</strong></a> was held in Kolkata in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>IISF:</strong> It is a festival to <strong>celebrate the achievements of India&rsquo;s scientific and technological advancements</strong> with students, innovators, craftsmen, farmers, scientists and technocrats from India and abroad.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was<strong> launched in 2015</strong> to<strong> promote Science and Technology</strong> and demonstrate how science could lead India towards a developed nation within a short span of time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To <strong>engage the public with science</strong> and celebrate the joy of science and show the ways how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) provide solutions to improve people's lives.</li>
<li><strong>Organising Agencies: Ministry of Science &amp; Technology</strong> and <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> in association with <strong>Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA)</strong> organise IISF <strong>every year.</strong></li>
<li><strong>IISF 2020:</strong> The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)</strong></a> will spearhead the IISF 2020 with support of all other concerned ministries and departments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CSIR is<strong> funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Vijnana Bharati</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Swadeshi Science Movement</strong> was started in <strong>Indian Institute of Science- Bengaluru</strong> by a few eminent scientists under the guidance of <strong>Prof. K I Vasu.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This movement gradually gained momentum and emerged as an organization with national presence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>1991,</strong> it was decided to launch the Swadeshi Science Movement at all India Level and named it Vijnana Bharati.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s one of the<strong> objectives</strong> is to motivate young scientists towards greater creativity and originality.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in<strong> New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1666172" 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-international-science-festival-2020'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Nazca Lines: Peru',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a giant cat geoglyph was discovered on a hill at the famous <strong>Nazca Lines site</strong> in Peru.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Nazca Lines:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603277210_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603277210_image4.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These are a group of geoglyphs known for the <strong>depictions of larger-than-life animals, plants and imaginary beings.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Geoglyphs are the <strong>large designs made on the ground</strong> by creators using elements of the landscape such as stones, gravel, dirt or lumber.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These are believed to be the <strong>greatest known archaeological enigma,</strong> owing to their <strong>size, continuity, nature</strong> and<strong> quality.</strong></li>
<li>The site is <strong>around 450 km away from capital Lima.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Drawn more than 2 millennia ago</strong> on the surface of southern Peru&rsquo;s arid Pampa Colorada, the geoglyphs feature different subjects, but mainly plants and animals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The figures include pelicans (the largest ones sized around 935 feet long), Andean Condors (443 feet), monkeys (360 feet), etc.</li>
<li><strong>Variety of geometric shapes</strong> such as triangles, trapezoids and spirals, and some have been associated with astronomical functions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discovery and Heritage Site:</strong> The Lines were<strong> first discovered</strong> in <strong>1927,</strong> and were declared a <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Site by UNESCO</strong></a> in <strong>1994.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Cat Geoglyph:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603277229_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603277229_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cultural Linkage:</strong> It dates from 500 BC &ndash; 200 AD <strong>(Paracas age).&nbsp;</strong>The cat geoglyph is believed to be older than the ones previously found at Nazca.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> Paracas culture</strong> was an Andean society existing between approximately 800 BCE and 100 BCE, with an extensive knowledge of irrigation and water management. It was in present day Peru in the Paracas Desert region.</li>
<li>Representations of felines of this type are frequent in the iconography of ceramics and textiles of the Paracas society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/cat-geoglyph-peru-nazca-lines-6813164/" 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/nazca-lines-peru'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Dilution of Offset Policy',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/offset-dilution-in-defence-a-flawed-policy-turn/article32903639.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Offset dilution in defence, a flawed policy turn&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 21/10/2020. It talks about the benefits and associated challenges with the recent changes in offset policy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the government diluted the &ldquo;offset&rdquo; policy in defence procurement. This Policy decision was taken with a view to reduce cost of defense deals and also in response to a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report</strong> </a>on the same issue.</p>
<p>Henceforth, the offset clause will not be applicable to bilateral deals and deals with a single (monopoly) seller. However, as the major defense deals of India are taken under the above mentioned route, this would virtually mean the scrapping of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-defence-production-and-export-promotion-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defence offset policy.</strong></a></p>
<p>Due to this, many experts contend that the move is a setback for augmenting domestic capabilities or for realising the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Therefore, the government should rethink its defense offset policy to leverage the associated benefits emanating from it.</p>
<h3>Offset Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Why Needed:</strong> Developing country buyers often lack an industrial base and research and development (R&amp;D) facilities. However, large buyers such as India seek to exercise their &ldquo;buying power&rdquo; to secure defense deals, not just the lowest price.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They also try to acquire the technology to upgrade domestic production and build R&amp;D capabilities.</li>
<li>The offset clause is the instrument for securing these goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>What is Offset:</strong> The offset is an obligation by an international player to boost India&rsquo;s domestic defence industry if India is buying defence equipment from it.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since defence contracts are costly, the government wants part of that money either to benefit the Indian industry, or to allow the country to gain in terms of technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Key Objectives:</strong> The key objective of the Defence Offset Policy is to leverage capital acquisitions to develop Indian defence industry by:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fostering development of internationally competitive enterprises.</li>
<li>Augmenting capacity for Research, Design and Development related to defence products and services.</li>
<li>Encouraging development of synergistic sectors like civil aerospace, and internal security&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Case Study: Benefits of Offset Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Offset policy was initiated in 2005, under which for contracts valued at ₹300 crore or more, 30% of it will result in offsets, implemented through Indian offset partners.</li>
<li>The 2005 policy helped promote a vibrant aerospace cluster, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mostly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)</strong></a> around Bengaluru.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By 2014, exports increased to $6.7 billion from a paltry $62.5 million in 2005, according to the United Nations Comtrade Database.</li>
<li>The offset clause enabled India to join the league of the world&rsquo;s top 10 aerospace exporters; the only country without a major domestic aerospace firm.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issue With New Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CAG Report:</strong> According to the recent CAG report, between 2007 and 2018, the government reportedly signed 46 offset contracts worth ₹66,427 crore of investments.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the realised investments were merely 8%, or worth ₹5,457 crore.</li>
<li>It also noted that there is not a single case where the foreign vendor had transferred high technology to the Indian industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Policy:</strong> In a response to CAG report, the government has decided not to have an offset clause in procurement of defence equipment if the deal is done through inter-government agreement (IGA), government-to-government or an ab initio single vendor.</li>
<li><strong>Misplaced Rationale:</strong> The government held that the offset load extra cost in the contract to balance the costs, and doing away with the offsets can bring down the costs in such contracts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the higher (upfront) cost of the agreement due to the offset clause would pay for itself by: reducing costs in the long term by indigenisation of production and the potential technology spill-overs for domestic industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of New Policy:</strong> As most defence deals are bilateral, or a single supplier deal (given the monopoly over the technology).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The dilution means practically giving up the offset clause.</li>
<li>This would impact India&rsquo;s prospects for boosting defence production and technological self-reliance.</li>
<li>Further, India has voluntarily given up a powerful instrument of bargaining to acquire scarce advanced technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Review &amp; Proper Implementation of Offset Clause:</strong> The offset policy can succeed, if it is designed and executed correctly, as a parallel episode in the aerospace industry demonstrates.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite the heft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India is a lightweight in global civilian aircraft manufacturing, as the public sector giant mostly devotes itself to defence production.</li>
<li>The much-touted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforms-in-civil-aviation-industry" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Civil Aircraft Development (NCAD) project</strong></a> &mdash; to come up with an indigenously designed Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) &mdash; has remained a non-starter from day one.</li>
<li>Thus, apart from reviewing the current offset policy, there is a need to establish a formal mechanism for implementation of the defence offset policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Better Regulation &amp; Facilitation:</strong> While evidence suggests that domestic industry can absorb offsets, what India needs is an effective body to handle offsets, liberal FDI and licensing policies, and a better banking provision.</li>
<li><strong>Need for Clear Roadmap:</strong> Also there is a need for a clear roadmap for transfer of technology through offsets, keeping in view India's long-term military industrial objectives.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India needs to re-conceive or re-imagine the offset clause in defence contracts with stricter enforcement of the deals, in national interest, and in order to aim for &lsquo;Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan&rsquo;, or a self-reliant India.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603276437_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603276437_image0.jpg" 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: #f7f8ff;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss what do you mean by an offset policy and issues linked with the recent policy changes.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JQixlvqoMzA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/the-significance-of-the-malabar-exercise/story-GtJRK9jo4kpKiyb5TswbaI.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The significance of the Malabar exercise&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on October 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/dilution-of-offset-policy'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Antitrust Case Against Google: USA',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>US Justice Department has sued Google,</strong> accusing the company of illegally<strong> abusing its dominance in internet search</strong> in ways that harm competitors and consumers.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The lawsuit (or <strong>antitrust action</strong> against the company) comes after a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-big-tech-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>report by the US House of Representatives panel</strong></a> that found <strong>Google</strong> and three other tech giants -- <strong>Facebook</strong> Inc, <strong>Apple</strong> Inc and <strong>Amazon.com</strong> Inc &mdash; all <strong>abused their power as gatekeepers</strong> in the digital economy to thwart competitive threats.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>US Government&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Google is <strong>illegally protecting its dominant position in the market for search and search advertising with the deals</strong> it has struck with companies like Apple.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Google pays Apple billions of dollars a year to have its search engine set as the default option on iPhones and other devices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges contracts</strong> that Google has with smartphone makers that use Google&rsquo;s Android operating system, requiring them to install its search engine as the default.</li>
<li>All this <strong>stifles competition and innovation from smaller upstart rivals</strong> to Google and<strong> harms consumers</strong> by reducing the quality of search and limiting privacy protections and alternative search options.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Many countries have broad laws that protect consumers and regulate how companies operate their businesses. The goal of these laws is to<strong> provide an equal playing field for similar businesses</strong> that operate in a specific industry <strong>while preventing them from gaining too much power over their competition.</strong> These are called <strong>antitrust laws.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investigated Google&rsquo;s behavior and acquisitions in the overall market for digital advertising,</strong> which includes search, web display and video ads. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Online advertising was the source of virtually all of Alphabet&rsquo;s USD 34 billion in profit last year. Alphabet Inc. is Google&rsquo;s parent company.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Most of Google&rsquo;s services are offered for free in exchange for personal information</strong> that helps it sell its ads.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Goods that are free to consumers <strong>are not exempt from antitrust oversight.</strong></li>
<li>In the <strong>landmark Microsoft case of the late 1990s,</strong> the software giant bundled its web browser for free into its dominant Windows operating system.</li>
<li><strong>Microsoft lost</strong> because, using restrictive contracts, it bullied personal computer makers and others to try to prevent them from offering competing web browser software &mdash; competition that could have undermined the Windows monopoly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Google&rsquo;s Defense:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>deals</strong> that the Justice Department is citing are <strong>entirely legal.</strong> Such company-to-company deals violate antitrust law only if they can be shown to exclude competition. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Users can freely switch to other search engines, like Microsoft&rsquo;s Bing or Yahoo Search, anytime they want. Google&rsquo;s search service is the runaway market leader because people prefer it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, its services have <strong>helped hold down the prices of smartphones. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Report by the US House of Representatives panel:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Big Tech Companies</strong> like Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple <strong>act as a &ldquo;gatekeeper&rdquo;,</strong> i.e. can control access to information.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Gatekeepers can also decide whether a message will be spread to a wider audience.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These companies <strong>not only wield tremendous power, but also abuse it</strong> by charging exorbitant fees, imposing oppressive contract terms, and <strong>extracting valuable data from the people</strong> and businesses that rely on them.</li>
<li>Companies ran the marketplace for their respective domains, while also competing in it and to ensure they retain the number one position, the companies have <strong>restored to</strong> &ldquo;self-preferencing, predatory pricing, or exclusionary conduct&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Self-preferencing</strong> involves actions by an undertaking which are designed to favour its own products or services over those of its competitors.</li>
<li><strong>Predatory pricing</strong> is an act of setting prices low in an attempt to eliminate the competition.</li>
<li><strong>Exclusionary conduct</strong> is a conduct that creates or maintains monopoly power by disadvantaging and harming competitors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The step is a<strong> response</strong> to the policy question of what measures, if any, should be taken to curb today&rsquo;s tech giants, which hold the power to shape markets, communication and even public opinion.</li>
<li>The US Justice Department has come up with the <strong>possibility of structurally breaking up Google,</strong> and not just imposing conditions on its behavior as has happened in Europe.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Critics contend that multibillion-dollar fines and mandated changes in Google&rsquo;s practices imposed by European regulators in recent years weren&rsquo;t severe enough and that structural changes are needed for Google to change its conduct.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Scenario in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/antitrust-case-against-google" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Various antitrust probes</strong></a> are going on<strong> against Google in India.</strong> Google has had run-ins with regulators, especially 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>
<li>In the last two years, the <strong>CCI has raised issues with Google&rsquo;s commercial flight search option,</strong> its<strong> dominant position in the search marketplace,</strong> the <strong>abuse of its dominant position</strong> in the Android phone and smart television market, and others.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, for example, <strong>CCI had held Google guilty of misuse of its dominant position in the mobile Android market</strong> and said the company had imposed &ldquo;unfair conditions&rdquo; on device manufacturers to prevent them from using other operating systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, Google has also been<strong> accused of following a high and unfair commission mechanism for apps listed on its Play Store.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Antitrust Laws</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Antitrust laws are <strong>regulations that monitor the distribution of economic power</strong> in business, making sure that<strong> healthy competition is allowed</strong> to flourish and economies can grow.</li>
<li>Antitrust laws<strong> apply to nearly all industries and sectors,</strong> touching every level of business, including manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and marketing.</li>
<li>These <strong>prohibit a number of business practices that restrain trade. Examples</strong> of illegal practices are <strong>price-fixing conspiracies, corporate mergers</strong> that are likely to cut back the competitive fervor of certain markets, and <strong>predatory acts</strong> designed to gain or hold on to <strong>monopoly power.</strong></li>
<li>In India,<strong> competition policy</strong> has been implemented via the <strong>Competition Act, 2002</strong> which alongwith its amendment, establishes a <strong>Competition Commission of India</strong> to prevent anti-competitive practices, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of the consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets in India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With this lawsuit, the big tech companies are likely to come under more scrutiny from regulators including the CCI in India.</li>
<li>In coming years, as India plans to regulate the use of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>personal</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-personal-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-personal data</strong></a>, these tech companies could face scrutiny over how they manage and use the data they collect from users in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-files-landmark-antitrust-case-against-google/article32904830.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/antitrust-case-against-google-usa'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Taiwan Insecurity of China',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, China has objected to any official exchanges between India and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solomon-islands-and-taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Taiwan</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Chinese Concern:</strong> The statement from China came in response to reports that India and Taiwan were considering going forward with<strong> talks on a trade deal.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China believes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/why-china-insists-on-chinese-taipei-rather-than-taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'One-China principle&rsquo;</strong> </a>is a universal consensus of the international community, including India.</li>
<li>China also objected to the recent<strong> campaign (posters and social media)</strong> in India <strong>wishing Taiwan &ldquo;Happy National Day&rdquo;</strong> (October 10) and referring to it as <strong>a &ldquo;country&rdquo; or a &ldquo;nation&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>China is also opposing inclusion of Australia in the upcoming <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-be-included-in-malabar-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malabar naval exercise</strong></a> with India, Japan and the United States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-Taiwan Relations</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Taiwan do not maintain formal diplomatic relations. The areas of cooperation between India and Taiwan have been limited due to negligible political relations.</li>
<li><strong>From</strong> 1995 to 2014, the bilateral trade turnover has grown manifold from just $934 million to $5.91 billion.</li>
<li><strong>Technology:</strong> In the field of science and technology, there are more than thirty ongoing government-funded joint research projects.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In August 2015, the Taiwan-based Foxconn, one of the largest hardware manufacturers in the world, announced an investment of $5 billion in India.</li>
<li>India and Taiwan <strong>in 2018</strong> signed a<strong> bilateral investment agreement.</strong> India-Taiwan trade ties have been <strong>expanded</strong> and Taiwanese firms are <strong>prominent investors in India,</strong></li>
<li>Taiwan has for long been a world leader in high-tech hardware manufacturing, and can contribute much to the <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make in India</a>&rdquo;</strong>, <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital India</a>&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>&ldquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres#:~:text=Smart%20City%20Mission,create%20smart%20outcomes%20for%20citizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smart Cities</a>&rdquo;</strong> campaigns.</li>
<li>Taiwan&rsquo;s agro-technology and food processing technology can also be very beneficial for India&rsquo;s agriculture sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both sides have also expanded <strong>educational exchanges</strong> after a mutual degree recognition agreement in higher education was <strong>signed in 2010.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>One China policy:</strong> India finds it difficult to realise the full potential of its bilateral relationship with Taiwan. At present, about 16 countries worldwide continue to recognise Taiwan as an independent state. India is not among the sixteen countries.</li>
<li><strong>Trade &amp; Investment:</strong> The economic exchange is still relatively insignificant. Taiwan&rsquo;s share of trade with India is around 1% of its global trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Taiwan</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603272458_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603272458_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Taiwan - the Republic of China (ROC), home to <strong>twenty-three million people,</strong> is an island <strong>off the southern coast of China</strong> that has been governed independently from mainland China since <strong>1949.</strong></li>
<li>Its neighbours include China (officially the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, PRC) to the west, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south.</li>
<li>Taiwan is the most populous state that is not a member of the United Nations and the largest economy outside the UN.</li>
<li>Taiwan is Asia&rsquo;s 5<sup>th</sup> largest economy.</li>
<li>It is a global leader in chip manufacture and the second-largest manufacturer of IT hardware, etc.</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Claim:</strong> The People&rsquo;s Republic of China (PRC) views the island as a province, while in Taiwan&mdash;a territory with its own democratically elected government&mdash;leading political voices have differing views on the island&rsquo;s status and relations with the mainland.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China and Taiwan maintain a fragile relationship, which has improved during the past seven years but is periodically tested.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Taiwan has invested heavily on China studies. India should take advantage of this fact. Resource rich India can benefit from Taiwan&rsquo;s technology. For instance, India has abundant natural bamboo resources while Taiwan owns the world-class bamboo charcoal technology. With this sort of technology, India can make use of its bamboo resources to produce high value-added goods.</li>
<li>With the recent appointment of a senior diplomat to serve as the <strong>new envoy to Taiwan,</strong> India has signalled a shift in its One-China policy (although not officially abandoned) a clear indication of taking forward the diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-warns-india-on-ties-with-taiwan/article32902761.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/taiwan-insecurity-of-china'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Punjab Assembly Rejects Centre’s Farm Laws',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Punjab became the first State in the country to formally reject the Central government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protests-against-farm-ordinances" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>three Farm Acts</strong> </a>by passing three Bills to negate the Union laws.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It also rejected the proposed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essential-commodities-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electricity Amendment Bill</strong> </a>and demanded their immediate annulment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Punjab State Bills:</strong> The Punjab assembly introduced <strong>three farm Bills:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It seeks to ensure that sale or purchase of wheat or paddy in Punjab is not allowed below the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msp-raised-for-rabi-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Minimum Support Price (MSP).</strong> </a></li>
<li>It also seeks to provide for <strong>punishment for harassment of farmers</strong> or payment of less price to the farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment Bill, 2020.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for <strong>imprisonment of not less than three years and fines</strong> for sale-purchase of wheat or paddy under a farming agreement below the MSP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It<strong> prevents hoarding and black-marketing</strong> of agricultural produce and seeks to ensure status quo ante with regard to implementation of the Central Act namely, &lsquo;The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While the central law <strong>abolished any market fees or licences for private players outside the APMCs,</strong> the <strong>Punjab bills have reintroduced it.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These fees will go towards a fund for the welfare of small and marginal farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assembly also introduced <strong>Code of Civil Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It seeks to<strong> exempt agricultural land not exceeding 2.5 acres</strong> from <strong>Section 60 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908,</strong> which provides for attachment of various properties - moveable and immoveable in execution of decree (judgement).</li>
<li>It also seeks to<strong> exempt the Properties of the farmers</strong> such as cattle, implements, cowsheds, etc from attachment.</li>
<li>These exemptions are provided, given the <strong>farmers&rsquo; apprehension about attachment-decree of their land as a consequence of enforcement of farming contracts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rationale:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Central laws were aimed to do away with government interference in agricultural trade</strong> by creating trading areas free of middlemen and government taxes <strong>outside the structure</strong> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committees</strong></a> (APMCs).</li>
<li>This according to <strong>farmers was giving preference for corporate interests</strong> at the cost of farmers&rsquo; interests and a lack of regulation in these non-APMC mandis were a cause for concern for farmers.</li>
<li>The absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis was seen as a <strong>precursor to the withdrawal of the guarantee of MSP-based procurement.</strong></li>
<li><strong>To annul the apprehensions of farmers,</strong> the Punjab government has <strong>changed the application of central laws to the state.</strong> It will <strong>restore the agricultural safeguards</strong> for the farmers through the regulatory framework of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, there are apprehensions that this step taken by the Punjab Government may discourage private players to buy at rates less than MSP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Punjab government states that<strong> 86.2% of farmers in the state are small and marginal,</strong> with the majority owning less than two acres of land. Consequently, <strong>they have limited access to multiple markets, and lack the negotiation power needed to operate in a private market.</strong></li>
<li>The Bills also point out that <strong>agriculture, agricultural markets, and land is the primary legislative domain of the state.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional Issues</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier three <strong>Farm Acts were passed</strong> by the Central government under <strong>Entry 33 of the Concurrent List.</strong> Entry 33 of the Concurrent List mentions trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution of domestic and imported products of an industry; foodstuffs, including oilseeds and oils; cattle fodder; raw cotton and jute.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, if foodstuffs are considered synonymous with agriculture, then all the powers of states in respect of agriculture, listed so elaborately in the Constitution, shall become redundant.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>States have <strong>no authority to overrule</strong> the legislations passed by the Centre <strong>except</strong> under <strong>Article 254(2).</strong></li>
<li>Article 254(2) <strong>enables a State government to pass a law, on any subject in the Concurrent List, that may contradict a Central law,</strong> provided it gets the President&rsquo;s assent.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2014, the Rajasthan government took this Article 254 (2) route to make changes to the central labour laws &mdash; the Factories Act, the Industrial Disputes act, and the Contract Labour Act &mdash; which subsequently got the President&rsquo;s assent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the <strong>Parliament is not barred from enacting at any time any law with respect to the same matter</strong> including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by the Legislature of the State.</li>
<li><strong>Article 257(1)</strong> also states that the executive power of every State shall be so exercised as <strong>not to impede or prejudice</strong> the exercise of the executive power of the Centre. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It authorises the Centre to impose <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/president-s-rule-in-maharashtra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>President&rsquo;s Rule</strong></a> in case when the State is exercising its executive power prejudicial to Centre&rsquo;s executive power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Apart from the Governor, the Punjab government's new farm Bills need the assent of the President since they seek to amend laws passed by the central government. If not, they can at best serve as a symbolic political statement against the Centre's farm laws.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/punjab-govt-presents-3-bills-to-negate-centres-three-agriculture-laws/article32898619.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/punjab-assembly-rejects-centre-s-farm-laws'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'FDI Inflow',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>During <strong>April to August, 2020,</strong> total Foreign Direct Investment<strong> (FDI) inflow of USD 35.73 billion</strong> was received. It is the <strong>highest ever for the first 5 months of a financial year.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI inflow has increased <strong>despite</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-contracted-by-23-9-in-first-quarter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth contracted 23.9%</strong></a> in the first quarter (April-June 2020).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recent Increase in FDI Inflows:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FDI (USD 35.73 billion) received in the first 5 months of 2020-21 is <strong>13% higher</strong> as compared to the first five months of 2019-20 (USD 31.60 billion).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total FDI inflow <strong>grew by 55%,</strong> i.e. from <strong>USD 231.37 billion in 2008-14 </strong>to<strong> USD 358.29 billion in 2014-20.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>FDI equity inflow</strong> (one of the three components of FDI) received during April to August, 2020 was USD 27.10 billion. It is <strong>also the highest ever for the first 5 months</strong> of a financial year and <strong>16% more</strong> compared to the first five months of 2019-20 (USD 23.35 billion).</li>
<li><strong>Measures taken by the Government</strong> on the fronts of <strong>FDI policy reforms, investment facilitation</strong> and<strong> ease of doing business</strong> have resulted in increased FDI inflows into the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-investment-report-unctad" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Investment Report 2020 by the UNCTAD</strong></a>, <strong>India was the 9<sup>th</sup> largest recipient of FDI in 2019. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Measures to increase FDI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2020, schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-for-electronic-manufacturing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics manufacturing</strong></a>, have been notified to attract foreign investments.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Central Government <strong>amended FDI Policy 2017,</strong> to permit <strong>100% FDI under automatic route in coal mining activities.</strong></li>
<li>Further, the government <strong>permitted 26% FDI in digital sectors.</strong> The sector has particularly high return capabilities in India as favourable demographics, substantial mobile and internet penetration, massive consumption along with technology uptake provides great market opportunity for a foreign investor.</li>
<li><strong>FDI in manufacturing</strong> was already under the <strong>100% automatic route,</strong> however in 2019, the government clarified that <strong>investments in Indian entities engaged in contract manufacturing is also permitted under the 100% automatic</strong> route provided it is undertaken through a legitimate contract.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Contract Manufacturing:</strong> Production of goods by one firm, under the label or brand of another firm.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP)</strong> is the online single point interface of the Government of India with investors to facilitate FDI. It is <strong>administered by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade,</strong> Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in FDI Inflows is further Expected:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As foreign investors have indicated interest in the<strong> government&rsquo;s moves to allow <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/privatisation-of-railways#:~:text=Private%20participation%20in%20passenger%20train,30%2C000%20crore." target="_blank" rel="noopener">private train operations</a> and bid out airports.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In March 2020, Government<strong> permitted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/100-fdi-in-air-india-for-nris" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-resident Indians (NRIs) to acquire up to 100% stake in Air India.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Valuable sectors such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-fdi-policy-in-defence-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defence manufacturing</strong></a> where the government <strong>enhanced the FDI limit under the automatic route from 49% to 74%</strong> in May 2020, could also attract large investments going forward.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI is the<strong> process</strong> whereby residents of one country (the home country) acquire ownership of assets for the purpose of controlling the production, distribution and other activities of a firm in another country (the host country).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>different from Foreign Portfolio Investment</strong> where the foreign entity merely buys stocks and bonds of a company. FPI <strong>does not provide the investor with control over the business.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flows of FDI</strong> comprise capital provided (either directly or through other related enterprises) by a foreign direct investor to an enterprise.</li>
<li>FDI has <strong>three components,</strong> viz., equity capital, reinvested earnings and intra-company loans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Equity capital</strong> is the foreign direct investor&rsquo;s purchase of shares of an enterprise in a country other than its own.</li>
<li><strong>Reinvested earnings</strong> comprise the direct investors&rsquo; share (in proportion to direct equity participation) of earnings not distributed as dividends by affiliates, or earnings not remitted to the direct investor. Such retained profits by affiliates are reinvested.</li>
<li><strong>Intra-company loans or intra-company debt transactions</strong> refer to short- or long-term borrowing and lending of funds between direct investors (or enterprises) and affiliate enterprises.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Routes through which India gets FDI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Automatic Route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the RBI.</li>
<li><strong>Government route:</strong> In this, the foreign entity has to take the approval of the government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal (FIFP)</strong> facilitates the single window clearance of applications which are through approval route.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a <strong>major driver of economic growth</strong> and an <strong>important source of non-debt finance</strong> for the economic development of India. A <strong>robust and easily accessible FDI regime, thus, should be ensured.</strong></li>
<li>Economic growth in the post-pandemic period and India&rsquo;s large market shall continue to attract market-seeking investments to the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/16-surge-in-fdi-inflows-till-august/article32903664.ece?homepage=true" 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/fdi-inflow'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Refroming Nutrient-Based Subsidy Regime',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/farmers-fertilisers-urea-agriculture-narendra-modi-government-6778507/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Tinkering at margins&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 19/10/2020. It talks about the issues related to the Nutrient-based subsidy regime for fertilizers.</p>
</div>
<p>It's been over a decade since the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/centre-cuts-non-urea-fertiliser-subsidy#:~:text=Nutrient%20Based%20Subsidy%20Scheme&amp;text=It%20aims%20to%20ensure%20the,decontrolled%20and%20set%20by%20manufacturers." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) regime for fertilisers</strong> </a>was instituted. NBS envisaged linking subsidy to nutrient composition rather than products per se.</p>
<p>NBS was expected to wean away farmers from applying too much urea containing only nitrogen and increase the consumption of P&amp;K fertilizers which will result in balanced fertilization.</p>
<p>After the launch of NBS, the fertiliser consumption has increased manifold over the years. However, similar gains are not visible in the food grain production or improvement of soil health. Hence, an urgent need has arisen for a rethink on the overall fertilizer subsidy policy in India.</p>
<h3>NBS and It&rsquo;s Rationale</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under NBS, the fertilizers are provided to the farmers at the subsidized rates based on the nutrients (N, P, K &amp; S) contained in these fertilizers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, fertilizers which are fortified with secondary and micronutrients such as molybdenum (Mo) and zinc are given additional subsidy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under this Policy, the subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&amp;K) fertilizers is announced by the Government on an annual basis for each nutrient on a per kg basis.</li>
<li>These rates are determined taking into account the international and domestic prices of P&amp;K fertilizers, exchange rate, inventory level in the country etc.</li>
<li>NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&amp;K fertilizers so that optimum balance (N:P:K= 4:2:1 ) of NPK fertilization is achieved.</li>
<li>This would improve soil health and as a result the yield from the crops would increase resulting in enhanced income to the farmers.</li>
<li>Also, as the government expects rational use of fertilizers, this would also ease off the burden of fertilizer subsidy.</li>
<li>It is being implemented from April 2010 by the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals &amp; Fertilizers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to NBS</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Urea Outside NBS:</strong> The urea remains under price control and NBS has been implemented only in other fertilisers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The price of fertilisers (other than urea) &mdash; which were decontrolled have gone up from 2.5 to four times during these 10 years. However, since April 2010, the price of urea has been raised by hardly 11%.</li>
<li>This has led to farmers using more urea than before, which has further worsened fertiliser imbalance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic &amp; Environmental Cost:</strong> Considering that fertilizer subsidy is the second-biggest subsidy after food subsidy, the NBS policy is not only damaging the fiscal health of the economy but also proving detrimental to the soil health of the country.</li>
<li><strong>Diversion of Urea</strong>: Subsidised urea is getting diverted to bulk buyers/traders or even non-agricultural users such as plywood and animal feed makers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is being smuggled to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>The government has launched a slew of reforms regarding the use of urea, which includes compulsory <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-chemicals-fertilizers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>neem-coating of all urea</strong></a> and directly making fertiliser subsidy payment to companies. However, these measures merely address the diversion of urea, but they don&rsquo;t fix the real problem &mdash; of overuse by farmers themselves. Therefore, following steps can be taken by the government:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Fertilizers:</strong> DBT scheme can bring benefits to the farmer on various fronts; choice of improved products at competitive rates, gain from enhanced extension services from the industry on best practices leading to "sustainable and responsible" agriculture production, and better earnings for such produce.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, DBT in fertilizers must be preceded by holistic financial inclusion in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enabling Last-Mile Connectivity:</strong> Affordable and workable" last mile" technologies can enable the Government to set up the required framework for disbursal, which in turn will allow for focused targeting of subsidy based on land, crop, soil health and other geographical factors.</li>
<li><strong>Bringing Urea Under NBS:</strong> In order to address the imbalance in the fertilizer use, urea has to come under NBS.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A feasible way to do it is by hiking urea prices and simultaneously reducing the NBS rates of phosphorus, potash and sulphur to make other fertilisers cheaper.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Long Term Reform:</strong> In the long run, NBS itself should be replaced by a flat per-acre cash subsidy that could be used to purchase any fertiliser. That includes value-added and customised products containing not just other nutrients, but delivering even nitrogen more efficiently than urea.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Considering that all three nutrients namely N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus) and K (potassium) are critical to increasing crop yields and quality of produce, the Government must necessarily go for a uniform policy for ail fertilisers. Thus to begin with, the subsidy regime, covering both subsidy rates and payment terms, urea should be brought in sync with P&amp;K fertilisers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603193731_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603193731_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" 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: #f7f7ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Due to economic and environmental implications associated with Nutrient based subsidy for fertilizers, there is an urgent need for a rethink on the overall fertilizer subsidy policy in India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yg7AN7Fv-wc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/no-great-escape-the-hindu-editorial-on-indias-low-rank-on-nutritional-indices/article32887692.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;No great escape: On India&rsquo;s low rank on nutritional indices&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on October 19<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/refroming-nutrient-based-subsidy-regime'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: VAIBHAV Summit',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VaS9rmwKX1k" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>The <strong>Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV)</strong> Summit is a global virtual summit of overseas and resident Indian Researchers and Academicians being organized from 2<sup>nd</sup> October to 31<sup>st</sup> October 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will bring Indian origin luminaries in academic institutes and R&amp;D organizations across the world and resident counterparts on a single platform to debate upon collaboration mechanisms to strengthen academic and S&amp;T base in India for global development.</li>
<li><strong>Key areas of discussion will include:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quantum-technology#:~:text=Quantum%20computers%20compute%20in%20%27qubits,a%20state%20called%20quantum%20superposition." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>quantum technologies</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence</strong> </a>and machine learning, communications technologies, computational and data sciences and aerospace technologies among others.</li>
<li><strong>Organisers:</strong> The Summit is a joint effort of various Science &amp; Technology (S&amp;T) and Academic organisations, including<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-dst" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Department of S&amp;T</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objectives of the Summit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The goal is to create an<strong> ecosystem of knowledge and innovation</strong> in the country through global outreach.</li>
<li>To<strong> leverage the expertise and experience</strong> of the Indian scientists overseas.</li>
<li>To participate with India's journey of <strong>technological developments.</strong></li>
<li>Pandemic needs<strong> immediate technology</strong> such as drug delivery, vaccination. Working out on such solutions in order to help mankind.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Summit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Over 3000 Academicians &amp; Scientists of Indian Origin and over 10,000 Indian Scientists participating in the Summit.</li>
<li>VAIBHAV Summit 2020 celebrates Science and Innovation from India and World.</li>
<li>The summit will reflect on the collaboration and cooperation instruments with academia and scientists in India and abroad.</li>
<li>To boost the innovation ecosystem in India, VAIBHAV will add a new dimension to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aatmanirbhar-bharat-arise-atal-new-india-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).</strong></a></li>
<li>The summit seeks active support and ideation from Indian Diaspora for developing skills of Indian aspirants in alignment with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-education-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Educational Policy.</strong></a></li>
<li>With Indian roots, global outlook and experience, accomplished scientists, researchers and academicians of Indian descent, around the world can play a vital part in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>"Aatmanirbhar Bharat"</strong></a> initiative.</li>
<li><strong>Eighteen verticals</strong> have been identified to have engagement in the VAIBHAV Summit. Example- Agriculture, Health, Energy and Transportation.</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong> Programs like <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/higher-education-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GIAN</strong></a>, <strong>VAJRA</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/scheme-for-promotion-of-academic-and-research-collaboration-sparc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SPARC</strong></a> have been previously launched by the government of India to attract global scientists to work with the Indian researchers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Initiative for Academics Network (GIAN)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a programme that seeks to invite distinguished academicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, experts from premier institutions from across the world, to teach in the higher educational institutions in India.</li>
<li>It aims at<strong> tapping the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs</strong> to engage with the institutes of higher education in India to augment the country&rsquo;s existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reforms, and further strengthen India&rsquo;s scientific and technological capabilities.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme is a dedicated program exclusively for overseas scientists and academicians with emphasis on Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)/Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to work as adjunct/visiting faculty for a specific period of time in Indian Public funded academic and research institutions.</li>
<li>The <strong>Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body</strong> of the <strong>Department of Science and Technology</strong> is the implementing agency for the Scheme.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Human Resource Development</strong> has launched the web portal of the Scheme &ldquo;Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)&rdquo;.</li>
<li>SPARC aims at improving the research ecosystem of <strong>India&rsquo;s higher educational institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations</strong> between Indian institutions and the best institutions in the world from 28 selected nations to jointly solve problems of national and international relevance in the first phase.</li>
<li>Under this Scheme, 600 joint research proposals will be awarded for 2 years to facilitate research collaboration between Indian research groups with the best in class faculty and renowned research groups in the leading universities of the world, in areas that are at the cutting edge of science or with direct social relevance to mankind, specifically India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Role of the Indian Diaspora</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Indian diaspora are the <strong>excellent ambassadors of India</strong> at the world stage.</li>
<li>Their efforts will help create an<strong> ideal research ecosystem;</strong> merging tradition with modernity leads to prosperity.</li>
<li>The &lsquo;Vaibhav Summit' is planned with the Indian Diaspora working in the World's top universities and R&amp;D organisations to strengthen the factors enabling the outcome driven research and education.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Areas of Concern</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Continuous engagement:</strong> Arranging a structured platform for continuous engagement of all the stakeholders and converting the knowledge back to wealth is a big challenge.</li>
<li><strong>Absence of schemes or scholarships:</strong> for sending Indian scholars and scientists to foreign institutions for further studies and researches.</li>
<li><strong>Rankings of institutions:</strong> No Indian Institution ranking in top 100 colleges can create a <strong>challenge in attracting more foreign engagement.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launching programs</strong> for Indian scientists and researchers to go to international institutions.</li>
<li>Academic community will be benefitted, the collaborations through the summit can be a really good way of <strong>changing the international perception</strong> of our educational institutions.</li>
<li>Shifting towards more innovative ideas, as innovation will lead to economic growth.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>While multiple emerging challenges in today&rsquo;s global ecosystem are in urgent need of attention,<strong> &lsquo;Ideation through Virtual Associations&rsquo;, &lsquo;Complementary Research&rsquo; </strong>and<strong> &lsquo;Collaborative Development&rsquo;</strong> are emergent phenomena of this decade; collaboration is the new driver of Innovation.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-vaibhav-summit'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Assam-Mizoram border</strong> witnessed firing over a territory dispute, which spotlights the <strong>long-standing inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast,</strong> particularly between Assam and the states which were carved out of it.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mizoram borders Assam&rsquo;s Barak Valley</strong> and the boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram is <strong>165 km</strong> long. <strong>Both states border Bangladesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603186135_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603186135_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="380" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ongoing Tussle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Residents of Lailapur village in <strong>Assam&rsquo;s Cachar district</strong> clashed with residents of localities near Vairengte in <strong>Mizoram&rsquo;s Kolasib district.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier in October 2020, a similar clash took place on the border of <strong>Karimganj (Assam)</strong> and <strong>Mamit (Mizoram)</strong> districts.</li>
<li>Mizoram civil society groups blame <strong>&ldquo;illegal Bangladeshis&rdquo;</strong> (alleged migrants from Bangladesh) on the Assam side.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The boundary issue between present-day Assam and Mizoram dates back to the <strong>colonial era when inner lines were demarcated according to the administrative needs of British Raj.</strong></li>
<li>The issue could not be settled once and for all when the <strong>state was created in independent India.</strong> The result is<strong> both states continue to have a differing perception</strong> of the border.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizoram was granted statehood in<strong> 1987</strong> by the <strong>State of Mizoram Act, 1986.</strong></li>
<li>Assam became a <strong>constituent state of India in 1950 and lost much of its territory to new states that emerged</strong> from within its borders between the early 1960s and the early 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assam-Mizoram dispute<strong> stems from a notification of 1875</strong> that <strong>differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar,</strong> and another of <strong>1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>During colonial times, <strong>Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills,</strong> a district of Assam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mizoram</strong> believes the <strong>boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875</strong> notification, which is derived from the <strong>Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizo leaders have argued in the past against <strong>the demarcation notified in 1933</strong> because Mizo society <strong>was not consulted.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation,</strong> and that is the point of conflict.</li>
<li>According to an agreement between the governments of Assam and Mizoram, the <strong>status quo should be maintained in no man&rsquo;s land</strong> in the border area.</li>
<li>In the Northeast&rsquo;s complex boundary equations, <strong>clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents are less frequent than they are between other neighbouring states of Assam,</strong> like with Nagaland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Boundary Issues in Northeast:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During British rule,<strong> Assam included present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya besides Mizoram,</strong> which became separate states one by one.</li>
<li>Currently, Assam has <strong>boundary problems with each of them.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Assam-Nagaland:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-state-actors-in-nagaland#:~:text=1963%3A%20Nagaland%20achieved%20statehood%20in%20December%201963." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagaland</strong></a> shares a <strong>500-km boundary</strong> with Assam.</li>
<li>It achieved <strong>statehood in December 1963</strong> and was <strong>formed out of the Naga Hills district of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh</strong> (then North-East Frontier Agency).</li>
<li><strong>Violent clashes and armed conflicts,</strong> marked by killings, have occurred on the Assam-Nagaland border since 1965.</li>
<li>The boundary dispute is in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assam-Arunachal Pradesh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both states have a <strong>boundary of over 800 km.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-mizoram-and-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong></a> was granted statehood by the <strong>State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986</strong> in<strong> 1987.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Clashes were first reported in 1992</strong> and since then, there have been several accusations of illegal encroachment from both sides, and intermittent clashes.</li>
<li>This boundary issue is also <strong>being heard by the Supreme Court.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assam-Meghalaya:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>884-km boundary</strong> between the two states also witnesses flare-ups.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-manipur-meghalaya-and-tripura#:~:text=On%20the%20Statehood%20Day%20of,(Reorganisation)%20Act%2C%201971." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Meghalaya</strong></a> came into existence as an autonomous state within the state of Assam in April 1970 comprising the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills districts. In <strong>1972, it got statehood.</strong></li>
<li>As per Meghalaya government statements, today there are <strong>12 areas of dispute between the two states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/assam-mizoram-border-clashes-union-home-secy-talks-to-top-state-officials-6790272/" 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/assam-mizoram-border-dispute'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Ayushman Sahakar Scheme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare</strong> has launched <strong>Ayushman Sahakar,</strong> a scheme to <strong>assist cooperatives in creation of healthcare infrastructure</strong> in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Formulated By: National Cooperative Development Corporation</strong> (NCDC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCDC was <strong>set up under an Act of Parliament in 1963</strong> for promotion and development of cooperatives.</li>
<li>It functions under the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.</strong></li>
<li>Recent initiatives include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-cooptube-ncdc-channel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel</strong></a> (Youth-focussed), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-mitra-scheme-on-internship-programmehttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahakar-mitra-scheme-on-internship-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sahakar Mitra</strong> </a>(Internship Programme), etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NCDC would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore</strong> in the coming years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any Cooperative Society with suitable provision in its byelaws to undertake healthcare related activities would be able to access the NCDC fund.</li>
<li>The<strong> scheme covers</strong> establishment, modernization, expansion, repairs, renovation of <strong>hospital</strong> and <strong>healthcare and education infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NCDC <strong>assistance will flow either through the State Governments/ UT Administrations or directly</strong> to the eligible cooperatives.</li>
<li>The scheme also provides <strong>working capital and margin money</strong> to meet operational requirements.</li>
<li>Further, the scheme provides<strong> interest subvention of 1% to women majority cooperatives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has a <strong>comprehensive approach-</strong>hospitals, healthcare, medical education, nursing education, paramedical education, health insurance and holistic health systems such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-indian-system-of-medicine-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AYUSH</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has brought into focus the <strong>requirement of creation of more facilities.</strong></li>
<li>There are about 52 hospitals across the country run by cooperatives. They have cumulative bed strength of more than 5,000. The scheme would give<strong> a boost to provision of healthcare services by cooperatives.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme<strong> aligns itself with the focus of the National Health Policy, 2017,</strong> covering the health systems in all their dimensions- investments in health, organization of healthcare services, access to technologies, development of human resources, encouragement of medical pluralism, affordable health care to farmers etc.</li>
<li>It is<strong> in line with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-digital-health-mission#:~:text=Health%20Expenditure%3A%20The%20policy%20proposes,23%20by%20the%20year%202025." target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Digital Health Mission</a></strong> and would bring transformation in rural areas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cooperatives have a strong presence in rural areas, thus, cooperatives utilizing the scheme would revolutionize the way healthcare delivery takes place in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cooperatives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organisation (ILO)</strong></a>, a cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Provisions of Indian Constitution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Constitution (97<sup>th</sup> Amendment) Act, 2011</strong> added a new <strong>Part IXB</strong> right after Part IXA (Municipals) regarding the cooperatives working in India.</li>
<li>The word &ldquo;cooperatives&rdquo; was added after &ldquo;unions and associations&rdquo; in <strong>Article 19(1)(c) under Part III of the Constitution.</strong> This enables all the citizens to form cooperatives by giving it the status of fundamental right of citizens.</li>
<li>A new <strong>Article 43B</strong> was added in the <strong>Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)</strong> regarding the &ldquo;promotion of cooperative societies&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1665800" 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/ayushman-sahakar-schemeq'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Rationalisation of Autonomous Institutions',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Finance has recommended</strong> that the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) &ldquo;disengage&rdquo; from five autonomous institutions</strong> working under it and <strong>merge two</strong> others, thus <strong>reducing the 16 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">autonomous organisations</a></strong> under the ministry<strong> to 9.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recommendations are a part of the report that has been <strong>prepared in accordance with the guidelines prescribed under rule 229 of General Finance rules 2017.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rule 229 pertains to &lsquo;General Principles for setting up of Autonomous Organisations&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The purpose of the report is to make specific and actionable recommendations for rationalisation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>autonomous bodies</strong></a> with a view to furthering the aim of<strong> &lsquo;minimum government, maximum governance,&rsquo;</strong> ensuring<strong> efficient use of public funds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations for MoEFCC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Disengagement</strong> from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sal-forest-tortoise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> (WII-Dehradun), <strong>Indian Institute of Forest Management</strong> (IIFM-Bhopal),<strong> Indian Plywood Industries Research &amp; Training Institute</strong> (Bengaluru), <strong>CPR Environmental Education Centre</strong> (Chennai) and <strong>Centre for Environment Education</strong> (Ahmedabad). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>&lsquo;Disengagement&rsquo; will involve<strong> two aspects - phasing out government support</strong> to the institution in a time-bound manner, <strong>disassociating from the management</strong> of the institutions and allowing the relevant industry/stakeholders to run them.</li>
<li><strong>Disengagement</strong> by the government <strong>with a three-year timeline</strong> and a <strong>gradual budget reduction of 25% each year</strong> is recommended.</li>
<li>Both<strong> WII</strong> and<strong> IIFM</strong> can be <strong>converted to deemed universities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Society of Integrated Coastal Management</strong> (New Delhi) should be merged with the <strong>National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management</strong> (Tamil Nadu), as both perform similar roles of promoting coastal management. This will <strong>avoid duplication</strong> of activities and <strong>attain economies of scale.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History</strong> (Tamil Nadu), which receives Rs. 14 crore annually from MoEFCC, should be merged with the ministry.</li>
<li><strong>Statutory bodies</strong> such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upgradation-and-expansion-of-zoos-in-ppp-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Zoo Authority</a> (CZA)</strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority</a> (NTCA)</strong>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Biodiversity Authority</strong></a> should continue to function under and with the financial support of MoEFCC.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These bodies should be encouraged to become &lsquo;self-financed&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appreciation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the <strong>first time ever that such an audit has been done</strong> of institutions which took around four years to get completed.</li>
<li>Making WII and other institutions into deemed universities will <strong>give more freedom to the institutions</strong> to initiate more courses and have enhanced faculties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The disengagement will make these institutions <strong>worry for financial issues rather than research,</strong> which should be their prime focus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The environment is a public issue and there must be good public institutions to safeguard it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s disengagement from these institutions is seen as <strong>&lsquo;the first step towards sending them into private hands&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the government feels that funds are not being utilised properly or the institutions are not performing well, their officials should be held accountable rather than taking the route of disengagement as this will have an impact on those students who dream of studying these specialised subjects but cannot afford the high fees charged by private universities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Steps:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the<strong> Ministry of Textiles</strong> has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-handloom-day-announcements-challenges-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>abolished the All India Handloom Board and the All India Handicrafts Board.</strong></a></li>
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for<strong> closure of Autonomous Bodies,</strong> namely, <strong>Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)</strong> and <strong>Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK)</strong> and the functions were proposed to be vested in Department of Health &amp; Family Welfare (DoHFW).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Autonomous Bodies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are <strong>set up</strong> whenever it is felt that certain functions need to be discharged outside the governmental set up with some amount of independence and flexibility without day-to-day interference of the Governmental machinery.</li>
<li>These are set up<strong> by the Ministries/Departments concerned with the subject matter</strong> and are funded through grants-in-aid, either fully or partially, depending on the extent which such institutes generate internal resources of their own. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <strong>grants are regulated by the Ministry of Finance</strong> through their instructions as well as the instructions relating to powers for creation of posts and etc.</li>
<li>The amount disbursed to autonomous/grantee bodies was Rs. 799.55 billion, which,<strong> in 2019-20, was increased</strong> to Rs. 943.84 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are mostly registered as societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and in certain cases they have been set up as statutory institutions under the provisions contained in various Acts.</li>
<li>These are a <strong>major stakeholder in the government&rsquo;s functioning</strong> as they are engaged in diverse activities, ranging from formulating frameworks for policies, conducting research, and preserving the cultural heritage, etc. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Institutes imparting technical, medical and higher education fall in this category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to review the governance of ABs, and devise uniform procedures. Many of ABs act as interfaces between the government and the public. Thus, each ministry should undertake a comprehensive review of ABs under their jurisdiction. ABs that have outlived the cause for which they were established may need to be closed or merged with a similar organisation or their memorandum altered as per the new charter.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-suggests-disengaging-wii-iifm-three-other-premier-green-institutions-6793717/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rationalisation-of-autonomous-institutions'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Australia to Join Malabar Exercise',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Australia has agreed to join the Malabar Exercise</strong> on India&rsquo;s request. The exercise is scheduled to be held in November 2020.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Malabar Exercise</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>annual trilateral naval exercise</strong> between the navies of <strong>India, Japan, and the USA</strong> which is held <strong>alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.</strong></li>
<li>It began as a <strong>bilateral <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-8th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">naval exercise</a></strong> between <strong>India and the USA in 1992</strong> and was expanded into a trilateral format with the<strong> inclusion of Japan in 2015.</strong></li>
<li>The Exercise is <strong>aimed to support free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific</strong> and remain committed to a <strong>rules based international order.</strong></li>
<li>It is<strong> also aimed at interoperability</strong> with an emphasis on humanitarian assistance, surface war manoeuvres, anti-submarines warfare, counter-terror operations, gunnery training and aerial surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>2020 Malabar Exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2020 Exercise is expected to be held in the<strong> Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.</strong> In 2019, the exercise was conducted off the coast of Japan.</li>
<li>Due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> the exercise had been planned in a <strong>&lsquo;non-contact - at sea&rsquo; format.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Its objective</strong> is to enhance safety and security in the maritime domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Australia&rsquo;s Inclusion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The issue of Australia&rsquo;s inclusion in Malabar had again come up for discussion at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quad</strong></a> foreign ministers meet in Tokyo held in October 2020. Thereafter, India invited Australia to join the Exercise.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Quad</strong> is the informal strategic dialogue between India, the USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a <strong>free, open and prosperous&rdquo; Indo-Pacific region.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The move will bolster the ability of India, Australia, Japan and the United States to work together to<strong> uphold peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.</strong></li>
<li>It is also expected to further lay the foundations for the eventual <strong>formalisation of the Quad grouping.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite regular requests from Australia, India resisted issuing the invitation due to its concerns that the move would give the appearance of a<strong> &lsquo;quadrilateral military alliance&rsquo;</strong> aimed at China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2017, Australia had requested for observer status in the Malabar Exercise.</li>
<li>China has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to any expansion of the Malabar Exercise, which it sees as a multilateral naval construct designed to &ldquo;counter and contain&rdquo; it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-China tensions</strong></a> over the situation at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aksai-chin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong> </a>(LAC) may have brought more flexibility to India's decision making process.</li>
<li><strong>Japan and the U.S.A also have been pressing India</strong> for Australia&rsquo;s inclusion in Malabar Exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Cooperation Between Quad Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Japan had signed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-logistics-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>military logistics agreement</strong></a> in September, 2020.</li>
<li>India has signed maritime information sharing agreements for <strong>Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)</strong> with Australia and Japan and a similar agreement is under discussion with the U.S.A.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>MDA</strong> is defined by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/international-maritime-organization-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Maritime Organization</strong> </a>as the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of a country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India and U.S.A. are also stepping up efforts to conclude the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement</a> (BECA)</strong> ahead of the <strong>Indo-US 2+2 ministerial meeting</strong> on 26-27 October, 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BECA, a key military pact, will allow India to use U.S.A.&rsquo;s geospatial intelligence and enhance accuracy of automated systems and weapons like missiles and armed drones.</li>
<li>BECA is one of the <strong>four foundational military communication agreements</strong> between the two countries. The other three being <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-exchange-and-cooperation-agreement-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GSOMIA, LEMOA, CISMOA.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>GSOMIA:</strong> General Security Of Military Information Agreement</li>
<li><strong>LEMOA:</strong> Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement</li>
<li><strong>CISMOA:</strong> Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Defence and Foreign ministers of the two countries will Participate at the 2+2 ministerial meeting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As India seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain, high-end military exercises like Malabar are key to enhancing maritime capabilities, building interoperability with its close partners, and demonstrating its collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.</li>
<li>The fast-tracking of work on BECA and the decision of the four Quad countries to participate in the Malabar Exercise are perceived to be a strategic signal to an aggressive China.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/australia-to-join-malabar-naval-exercise-next-month/article32892277.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Skinks of India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)</strong> brought a <strong>study on skinks (a kind of lizard),</strong> titled <strong>Skinks of India.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092421_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092421_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Skinks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With 1,602 species of skinks across the world, It is the <strong>largest family of lizards,</strong> having long bodies, relatively small or no legs, no pronounced neck and glossy scales.</li>
<li>It is found around homes, garages, and open spaces such as sparks and school playgrounds, and around lakes.</li>
<li>Skinks are <strong>non-venomous, highly alert, agile and fast moving</strong> and actively <strong>forage for a variety of insects and small invertebrates.</strong></li>
<li>They have a <strong>prominent role in maintaining ecosystems,</strong> however, <strong>not much is known about their breeding habits, and ecology</strong> because identification of the species can be confusing.</li>
<li>In India <strong>skinks are found in all kinds of habitats</strong> in the country, from the Himalayas to the coasts and from dense forests to the deserts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gives a<strong> phylogenetic</strong> (evolutionary development) and <strong>bio-geographical analysis</strong> of distribution of these species in all the <strong>11 bio-geographic zones of India.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092732_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603092732_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="320" height="453" /></a></strong></li>
<li>India is <strong>home to less than 4% of the skinks</strong> across the globe. <strong>62 species of skinks</strong> are found in India and about 57% of them <strong>(33 species) are endemic.</strong></li>
<li>India is home to <strong>16 genera of skinks, four of which are endemic.</strong> The four genera of skinks are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Sepsophis:</strong> Sepsophis punctatus is endemic to the northern part of Eastern Ghats</li>
<li><strong>Barkudia:</strong> They are limbless skinks found in the hills and coastal plains of the eastern coast.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Barkudia insularis</strong> is believed to be found only in the Barkud Island in Chilka lake in Odisha.</li>
<li><strong>Barkudia melanosticta</strong> is endemic to Visakhapatnam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kaestlea:</strong> They are also known as <strong>blue-tailed ground skinks</strong> and are endemic to the Western Ghats.</li>
<li><strong>Ristella:</strong> They are also known as <strong>Cat skinks</strong> and endemic to the southern part of Western Ghats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Zoological Survey of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization of the<strong> Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change </strong>was <strong>established in 1916.</strong></li>
<li>It is a national centre for<strong> faunistic survey</strong> and exploration of the resources leading to the <strong>advancement of knowledge</strong> on the exceptionally <strong>rich faunal diversity of the country.</strong></li>
<li>It has its<strong> headquarters at Kolkata</strong> and 16 regional stations located in different geographic locations of the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/celebrating-skinks-zsi-lists-62-species-in-india/article32886528.ece#:~:text=A%20recent%20publication%20by%20the,(33%20species)%20are%20endemic." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skinks-of-india'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => '10 Years of National Green Tribunal',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-hues-in-the-green-tribunals-resilient-journey/article32887705.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The hues in the green tribunal&rsquo;s resilient journey&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 19/10/2020. It talks about the benefits and associated challenges with the National Green Tribunal.</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> is one of the few dedicated environmental courts in the world. The jurisdiction of NGT has an all-encompassing scope, which covers forests, wildlife, environment, climate change and coastal protection.</p>
<p>Since its inception, the NGT has protected vast acres of forest land, halted polluting construction activities in metros and smaller towns. It has protected the rights of tribal communities and ensured the enforcement of the &ldquo;polluter pays&rdquo; principle in letter and spirit.</p>
<p>Within its decade of existence, the NGT has delivered some important judgments and has given a new outlook to environmental jurisprudence in India. However, there are several challenges that act as a roadblock in efficient functioning of the NGT.</p>
<h3>Genesis of NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>M.C. Mehta &amp; Anr. Etc vs Union Of India &amp; Ors. Etc (1986) case:</strong> The then Chief Justice of India, Justice P.N. Bhagwati had suggested setting up Environmental Courts because:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to more cases involving issues of environmental pollution, ecological destruction and conflicts over natural resources.</li>
<li>Increasing need for assessment and evolution of scientific and technical data regarding environmental matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A.P. Pollution Control Board vs Prof. M.V. Nayudu (1999) case:</strong> The Supreme Court in the landmark case, emphasised on the need for a court that was &ldquo;a combination of a Judge and Technical Experts&rdquo; with an appeal to the Supreme Court from the Environmental Court.</li>
<li><strong>Establishment of NGT:</strong> The NGT was established on 18<sup>th</sup> October, 2010 under the <strong>National Green Tribunal Act 2010</strong> for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.</li>
<li>The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Judgment Given By NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the<strong> Almitra H Patel Vs Union of India case,</strong> it directed states to implement Solid Waste Management Rules and prohibited open burning of waste on lands.</li>
<li>In 2012, NGT suspended the clearance given to the South Korean steel maker, POSCO, to set up a 12 million-tonne steel plant in Odisha.</li>
<li>In the<strong> Save Mon Federation Vs Union of India case,</strong> the NGT suspended a ₹6,400-crore hydro project, to save the habitat of a bird.</li>
<li>A December 2016 amendment to EIA 2006 notification &mdash; the amendments basically sought to give local authorities powers to grant environmental clearance to builders &mdash; was nullified by the NGT, terming it as a &ldquo;ploy&rdquo; (by the government) to circumvent the 2006 rules.</li>
<li>Many Projects which were approved in violation of the law such as an Aranmula Airport, Kerala; Lower Demwe Hydro Power Project and Nyamnjangu in Arunachal Pradesh; mining projects in in Goa; and coal mining projects in Chhattisgarh were either cancelled or fresh assessments were directed.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of NGT</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Dedicated Court For Environmental Matters:</strong> NGT ensures enforcement of any legal right relating to the environment and provides relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the burden on the High Courts and the Supreme Court is also reduced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Allows Specialization:</strong> NGT is staffed with judges and environmental experts. This makes it a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NGT also employs legal and scientific methods and assessed environment impact assessment reports before deciding the case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wider Reach:</strong> The quality of time spent on these issues could also be increased as, unlike the Supreme Court, the tribunal could have benches in various States, thereby increasing access to all citizens.</li>
<li><strong>Time Bound Disposal of Cases:</strong> The Tribunal is mandated to make an endeavor for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limit to Jurisdiction:</strong> Two important acts - <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/without-land-or-recourse-scheduled-tribes-and-other-traditional-forest-dwellers-recognition-of-forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006</strong> </a>have been kept out of NGT&rsquo;s jurisdiction. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This restricts the jurisdiction area of NGT and at times hampers its functioning as the crucial forest rights issue is linked directly to the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Obstacle to Development:</strong> Decisions of NGT have also been criticised and challenged due to their repercussions on economic growth and development.</li>
<li><strong>Looming Vacancies:</strong> NGT only has three judicial and three expert members against the sanctioned strength of 10 each.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lack of human and financial resources has led to high pendency of cases - which undermines NGT&rsquo;s very objective of disposal of appeals within 6 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Additional Layer to Judicial Process:</strong> NGT was conceptualised to ease out the burden on the higher courts. However, the Supreme Court in L Chandrakumar case, opined that Tribunals could not be effective substitutes of High Courts under Articles 226 and 227. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This eventually leads to cases reaching the judiciary by way of appeal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limited Regional Benches:</strong> NGT being located in only big cities spread across India. However, environmental exploitation is also taking place in the tribal areas of dense forest. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, the justice delivery mechanism is also hindered by a limited number of regional benches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of Regional Benches:</strong> NGT benches have to expand manifolds. These new regional benched should have been based in a place that has the highest forest cover or large mineral deposit.</li>
<li><strong>System of Larger Bench in NGT:</strong> Appeal may be provided against the order of the NGT before a larger Bench of the Tribunal before the matter reaches to the Supreme Court or High Court.</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Administrative Inadequacy:</strong> Vacancies in NGT, needs to be filled as soon as possible.</li>
<li><strong>Collaborative Approach:</strong> There is a need for the central and state governments to work in collaboration with the NGT for balancing between environment &amp; economy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NGT should also identify institutions and experts who can help it to scientifically estimate environmental damages/compensation/fines on a case-to-case basis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the present era, equilibrium between development and environment is of utmost importance.</p>
<p>Therefore, NGT should not be seen as an not been seen as obstacle to development but a way to sustainable development&ldquo;. Thus, the government must address all underlying issues related to NGT as soon as possible.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #a600ff; background-color: #fffbeb;">
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given a new outlook to environmental jurisprudence in India. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
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		'featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles__tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.tag_id' => 'integer',
		'tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles.secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles__type' => 'integer',
		'articles.type' => 'integer',
		'type' => 'integer',
		'articles__publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles.publishon' => 'datetime',
		'publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles__posturl' => 'string',
		'articles.posturl' => 'string',
		'posturl' => 'string',
		'articles__metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles.metatitle' => 'string',
		'metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles__metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles.metadescription' => 'string',
		'metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles__metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles.metakeyword' => 'text',
		'metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles__status' => 'integer',
		'articles.status' => 'integer',
		'status' => 'integer',
		'articles__sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles.sort_order' => 'integer',
		'sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles__addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.addedby' => 'integer',
		'addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 51
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 301
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

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

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