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Saviour Sibling

Why in News Recently, doctors successfully conducted India’s first ‘saviour sibling’ experiment. The Saviour Sibling named...

16 Oct 2020 News Analysis
GST Compensation: Centre to Borrow on Behalf of States

Why in News Recently, the Centre has decided to borrow an estimated revenue shortfall of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore as loans to States to meet the Goods and...

16 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Wheat Variety MACS 6478

Why in News The wheat variety called MACS 6478 has doubled the crop yield for farmers in Karanjkhop, a village in Maharashtra. Key...

16 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Promoting Export Dynamism

This article is based on “The domestic market mirage” which was published in The Indian Express on 15/10/2020. It talks about the...

15 Oct 2020 News Editorials
Third Assembly of ISA

Why in News Recently, India and France have been re-elected as the President and Co-President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for a term...

15 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna

Why in News The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the second phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” for the underprivileged...

15 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Pulse Release from Buffer Stocks

Why in News The Union government plans to release 40,000 tonnes of tur dal from its buffer stock into the retail market in small lots, in a bid to...

15 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Madhuca Diplostemon: Rediscovered in Kerala

Why in News Recently, Madhuca diplostemon tree has been rediscovered after a gap of more than 180 years from a sacred grove in Kollam district,...

15 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Parasitic Infections in One-Horned Rhinoceros

Why in News Recently, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India has published reports titled ‘Prevalence of Endoparasitic Infections in Free-Ranging...

15 Oct 2020 News Analysis
The Big Picture: Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Vehicles

Why in News? Aimed at a significant push for hydrogen vehicles in the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified standards...

14 Oct 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
CRISPR Technology

This article is based on “Gene editing, the good first and then the worries” which was published in The Hindu on 13/10/2020. It talks...

14 Oct 2020 News Editorials
C-DAC’s MoUs on Supercomputing

Why in News Recently, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity)...

14 Oct 2020 News Analysis
India-Mexico

Why in News Recently, the 5th meeting of the India-Mexico Bilateral High-Level Group (BHLG) on Trade, Investment and Cooperation has been held...

14 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Aquaponics Facility

Why in News A pilot ‘Aquaponics facility’ has been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Mohali at Guru...

14 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Mars Opposition

Why in News Due to the ‘opposition’ effect, Mars will look much brighter and bigger than usual in October 2020. Key Points About...

14 Oct 2020 News Analysis
World Mental Health Day 2020

Why in News World Mental Health Day is observed on 10th October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues...

14 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Increase in Human-Leopard Conflict: Study

Why in News A study conducted across Karnataka indicates that the human-leopard policy guidelines have had little impact on the ground and it has...

14 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict & India

This article is based on “Nagorno-Karabakh and India” which was published in Indian Express on 13/10/2020. It talks about the...

13 Oct 2020 News Editorials
Measures to Boost Consumption Demand and Capex

Why in News Recently, the government has announced a twin set of measures to boost consumption demand and capital expenditure (Capex), which are...

13 Oct 2020 News Analysis
Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019: UNDRR

Why in News In a new report “The Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019”, the United Nations pointed out that climate change is largely to...

13 Oct 2020 News Analysis

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Saviour Sibling',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, doctors successfully conducted <strong>India&rsquo;s first &lsquo;saviour sibling&rsquo; experiment.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> Saviour Sibling named Kavya</strong> saved her 6-year-old brother (suffering from Thalassemia).</li>
<li>150- 200 ml bone marrow was harvested from Kavya in an hour-long procedure and then given to her brother Abhijeet through transfusion.</li>
<li><strong>Kavya suffered low haemoglobin</strong> for some time but it was <strong>corrected with supplements</strong> and she also<strong> endured some pain</strong> in the areas from where the marrow was taken for a few days. Presently, <strong>both Kavya and Abhijeet are healthy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Saviour Sibling&rsquo;</strong> refers to<strong> babies that are created to serve an older sibling as a donor of organs, bone marrow or cells.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Stem cells from the umbilical cord blood or blood of the saviour sibling</strong> are used for <strong>treatment of serious blood disorders like</strong> <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/thalassemia-bal-sewa-yojna" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thalassemia</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-sickle-cell-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sickle cell anaemia.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are <strong>created with In vitro fertilisation (IVF)</strong> so that they can <strong>undergo pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (or testing)</strong> to rule out any genetic disorders and also check bone marrow compatibility. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT)</strong> refers to the genetic profiling of embryos. It is used to screen embryos for genetic diseases or chromosomal abnormalities.</li>
<li>From each embryo, PGT<strong> takes a biopsy of only a few cells</strong> and conducts a <strong>genetic analysis.</strong></li>
<li>This analysis can search to<strong> exclude embryos</strong> carrying a genetic variant that causes a <strong>hereditary disease,</strong> and it can search to find <strong>embryos that are an Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) match to a sibling.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>HLA</strong> is a type of molecule found on the surface of most cells in the body. These <strong>play an important part in the body&rsquo;s immune response to foreign substances.</strong></li>
<li>These <strong>make up a person&rsquo;s tissue type,</strong> which varies from person to person.</li>
<li><strong>HLA typing</strong> is<strong> important in organ transplantation protocols,</strong> as they determine the likelihood of rejection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>world&rsquo;s first saviour sibling, Adam Nash, </strong>was born in<strong> 2000</strong> in the<strong> USA.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For those families with a child that requires a stem cell transplant, often there is a <strong>hurdle of finding a donor for the transplant.</strong></li>
<li>A successful transplant requires an <strong>HLA match</strong> between donor and recipient. However, the <strong>probability of finding a suitable match among family members is about 30% overall.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ethical Considerations and Implications:</strong> In<strong> a 2004 paper</strong> published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, UK researchers debated <strong>whether selecting saviour siblings should be banned.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They studied the arguments to ban it:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That saviour siblings <strong>would be wrongfully treated as means rather than ends.</strong></li>
<li>They would cause or <strong>constitute a slide towards <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/worlds-first-gene-edited-babies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">designer babies</a>,</strong></li>
<li>They <strong>would suffer physically and/or emotionally. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>But the paper found these arguments to be flawed.</strong> It concluded that the <strong>selection of saviour siblings should be permitted,</strong> especially given that prohibiting it would result in the preventable deaths of a number of existing children.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>In vitro Fertilisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IVF is one of the more widely known types of <strong>Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).</strong></li>
<li>In vitro comes from the latin word<strong> &lsquo;in glass&rsquo;,</strong> i.e. studies are done in a test tube rather than in a human or animal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>opposite</strong> to &lsquo;In-vitro&rsquo; is <strong>&lsquo;In-vivo&rsquo;,</strong> which comes from the latin word <strong>&lsquo;within the living&rsquo;.</strong> In vivo refers to experimentation being done in a living organism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In vitro means outside the body. Fertilization means the sperm has attached to and entered the egg.</li>
<li>During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from the ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently there is a significant gap between the biotechnology advancements in prenatal testing versus the necessary legal and ethical framework. It is imperative that legal and ethical standards be set for the benefit of both the families and professionals involved in the creation of savior children.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/a-sister-born-to-save-ailing-brother/article32856312.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/saviour-sibling'
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'GST Compensation: Centre to Borrow on Behalf of States',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Centre has decided to borrow an estimated revenue shortfall of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore as loans to States</strong> to meet the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax (GST)</strong></a> shortfall.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Borrowing:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The borrowing <strong>will not have any impact on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financing-the-fiscal-deficit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fiscal deficit</a> of the Government of India</strong> as the Centre is acting as mediator only. The Centre is borrowing the loan and passing that on to the states.</li>
<li>The<strong> amounts will be reflected as the capital receipts of the state governments</strong> and as part of financing of its respective fiscal deficits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>economic slowdown had reduced both GST and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cess-fund-for-welfare-of-construction-workers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cess</a> collections</strong> in FY 2019-20, resulting in a 40% gap (shortfall) between the compensation paid and cess collected.</li>
<li>The state&rsquo;s <strong>GST revenue gap in 2020-21</strong> is expected to be about Rs. 3 lakh crore, while cess collections are only projected to reach Rs. 65,000 crore, leaving a <strong>shortfall of Rs. 2.35 lakh crore.</strong></li>
<li>The Centre <strong>distinguished the GST shortfall into two types:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to GST implementation itself.</li>
<li>Caused by the impact of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Finance Minister termed the fall of GST revenue due to Covid-19 as an<strong> act of God.</strong> However, the<strong> GST Compensation Act, 2017</strong> did not foresee an act of God.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The GST Compensation Act, 2017 <strong>guaranteed states that they would be compensated for any loss of revenue in the first five years of GST implementation,</strong> until 2022, using a <strong>cess levied on sin and luxury goods.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Centre has been at loggerheads with many states over the compensation issue due to GST shortfall. In August 2020 at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-meet-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST Council</strong></a> meet, the <strong>Centre had proposed two options to states to meet the shortfall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A special window could be provided, in consultation with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a>, so that the states can get Rs. 97,000 crore at a reasonable rate of interest, the amount can be repaid after five years (of GST implementation) ending 2022 from cess collection.</li>
<li>Another option is that this entire gap of Rs. 2.35 lakh crore can be met by the borrowing by the states in consultation with RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, many states were against these two options and were planning to move the Supreme Court over the issue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The borrowing by the Centre would <strong>avoid differential rates of interest</strong> that individual states may be charged for their respective <strong>State Development Loans (SDLs)</strong> and would be an<strong> administratively easier arrangement.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>country&rsquo;s general government debt,</strong> which includes both the Centre&rsquo;s and States&rsquo; borrowings<strong> will not increase due to this step.</strong></li>
<li>The States that get the benefit from the Special Window are likely to borrow a considerably lesser amount from the additional borrowing facility of 2% of Gross State Domestic Product under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbhar Package.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The borrowing limits of state governments was increased from 3% to 5% of GSDP for the year 2020-21 under <strong>Atma Nirbhar Package.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Goods and Services Tax</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GST was introduced through the <strong>101<sup>st</sup> Constitution Amendment Act, 2016.</strong></li>
<li>It is an <strong>indirect tax</strong> levied on the supply of final goods and services. The GST has <strong>subsumed indirect taxes</strong> like excise duty, Value Added Tax (VAT), service tax, luxury tax etc.</li>
<li>It is essentially a<strong> consumption tax</strong> and is levied at the final consumption point.</li>
<li>It is <strong>levied only on the value addition</strong> and is collected on goods and services at each point of sale in the supply line.</li>
<li>The GST that a merchant pays to procure goods or services (i.e. on inputs) can <strong>be set off</strong> later against the tax applicable on supply of final goods and services. The set off tax is called <strong>input tax credit.</strong></li>
<li>The GST avoids the cascading effect or tax on tax which increases the tax burden on the end consumer.</li>
<li><strong>Tax Structure under GST:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Central GST</strong> to cover Excise duty, Service tax etc, <strong>State GST</strong> to cover VAT, luxury tax etc.</li>
<li><strong>Integrated GST</strong> to cover inter-state trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IGST per se is not a tax but a system to coordinate state and union taxes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has a <strong>4-tier tax structure</strong> for all goods and services under the slabs-<strong> 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/centre-to-borrow-on-behalf-of-states-to-meet-gst-shortfall/article32864640.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-compensation-centre-to-borrow-on-behalf-of-states'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Wheat Variety MACS 6478',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>wheat variety</strong> called <strong>MACS 6478</strong> has <strong>doubled the crop yield</strong> for farmers in Karanjkhop, a village in Maharashtra.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Developed By:</strong> Scientists from <strong>Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune-</strong> an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).</li>
<li><strong>Features:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602831584_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602831584_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="256" height="254" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>common wheat or bread wheat</strong> <em>(Triticum aestivum).</em><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Other popular wheat varieties are<strong> durum wheat</strong> <em>(T. durum)</em> and <strong>club wheat</strong> <em>(T. compactum).</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hybrid Crop,</strong> i.e. produced by the cross-breeding of two genetically different varieties or species. Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly created in nature when open-pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties (not genetically modified).</li>
<li><strong>Matures in 110 days</strong> and is <strong>resistant to</strong> most races of<strong> leaf and stem rust.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is <strong>against the normal maturing attained after 140 to 150 days,</strong> required for wheat varieties cultivated commonly in northern India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This<strong> amber colored medium sized grain</strong> contains <strong>14% protein, 44.1 ppm (parts per million) zinc</strong> and<strong> 42.8 ppm iron</strong> which is higher than other cultivated varieties.</li>
<li>Farmers get a <strong>yield of 45-60 quintal per hectare</strong> with the new variety as against earlier average yield ranging 25-30 quintal per hectare when they cultivated Lok 1, HD 2189 and other old varieties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other ARI Wheat Variety (MACS 4028):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/macs-4028-wheat-variety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bio-fortified durum variety</strong></a> has very high protein (14.7%), iron (46.1 ppm) and zinc (40.3 ppm) content, compared to the corresponding levels of 8-10%, 28-32 ppm and 30-32 ppm in normally-grown varieties. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Biofortification</strong> is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Maturing in just over<strong> 100 days,</strong> it is <strong>suitable for cultivation in rainfed </strong>and<strong> low fertility conditions in Maharashtra and Karnataka.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>chosen for a UNICEF-funded Farming System for Nutrition project,</strong> operated through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research&rsquo;s (ICAR) Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK)</strong></a>, as part of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Nutrition Strategy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>ARI has also bred <strong>MACS 2971,</strong> a high-yielding variety of the traditionally cultivated dicoccum (also known as &lsquo;khapli&rsquo;) wheat that is rich in dietary fibre.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/karan-vandana-a-new-hybrid-wheat-variety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karan Vandana</strong></a> (DBW 187) wheat variety, developed by the <strong>Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR)</strong> under the <strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),</strong> is used for cultivation in North Eastern Plains Zones.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Recent Activities by ARI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Found the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/development-of-synthetic-flavonoids" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> first synthetic route for producing flavonoids molecules</strong> </a>related to the treatment of tuberculosis and chikungunya.</li>
<li>Found that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reasons-behind-pink-water-of-lonar-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>colour of Lonar lake water</strong></a> in Maharashtra&rsquo;s Buldhana district turned pink due to a large presence of the <strong>salt-loving &lsquo;Haloarchaea&rsquo; microbes.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/alternative-dwarfing-genes-in-wheat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mapped two alternative dwarfing genes Rht14 and Rht18</strong></a> in wheat that can help in reducing rice crop residue burning i.e. stubble burning.</li>
<li>Isolated and cultivated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/methanotrophic-bacteria-for-methane-mitigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>45 different strains of methanotrophs</strong></a> (methane-utilising bacteria) and created the first indigenous methanotroph culture.</li>
<li>A <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/methane-hydrates-in-krishna-godavari-basin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin.</a> </strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1664266" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wheat-variety-macs-6478'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Promoting Export Dynamism',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-trade-domestic-market-exports-covid-19-6725538/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The domestic market mirage&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 15/10/2020. It talks about the importance of promotion of exports in sustaining long-term economic growth.</p>
</div>
<p>In the event of combating slowdown in Indian economy, the government of India launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma-Nirbhar Abhiyaan</strong></a>. The policy of Atma-nirbhar is an attempt to reorient the economic structure towards ensuring &ldquo;self-sufficiency&rdquo;.</p>
<p>Under this, the government encourages citizens to buy Indian, and the setting up of targets towards building self-reliance in certain sectors. Apart from it, the Abhiyan also encourages more public spending, tax cuts to boost private consumption and private investment, and/or financial sector reform to boost private investment.</p>
<p>However, these initiatives have their own limitations. Therefore, as India contemplates Atma nirbharta, the economic policy should also strive to promote export dynamism and propel Indian economy to the path of long term sustained economic growth.</p>
<h3>Exports and Economic Growth Relation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All the evidence across the world and in India has shown that rapid and sustained economic growth requires export dynamism.</li>
<li>Pre-1991, a 3.5% growth rate was associated with export growth of about 4.5%.</li>
<li>However, India&rsquo;s GDP growth of over 6% after 1991 was associated with real export growth of about 11%.</li>
<li>Also, growth rates of developing countries reflect that it is difficult to achieve quick, sustained, and high rates of economic growth, by solely focusing on domestic demand/consumption-led growth.</li>
<li>Moreover, if domestic producers are competitive internationally, they will be competitive domestically and domestic consumers and firms will also benefit. However, the reverse is not true i.e. being competitive only domestically is no guarantee of efficiency and low cost.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues in Current Economic Policies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limited Domestic Consumption:</strong> Government seeks to promote consumption-led growth, but consumption growth will be limited by the fact that household debt has grown rapidly in the last few years.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consumption can grow only if incomes grow and income is related to employment status of the people which has been showing a declining trend in India for the past many years..</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitation of Public Expenditure:</strong> Government has resorted to increased public spending to combat the economic slowdown triggered by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic</a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, post-Covid, India&rsquo;s debt has been expected to rise from about 70% of GDP to about 85-90% and fiscal deficit is likely to be in the double-digit range.</li>
<li>Thus, the fiscal space for spending will be severely limited both because of high levels of deficits and indebtedness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitation of Expansionary Monetary Policy:</strong> India may well have scope for expansionary fiscal policy in the short run but not as a medium run growth strategy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is because India&rsquo;s interest rates are not at zero and are unlikely to be so because of persistent inflation.</li>
<li>Therefore, India&rsquo;s borrowing is still considered risky which can be reflected in recent downgrading of ratings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for India&rsquo;s Underperformance in Exports</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Low Level of Participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs):</strong> India&rsquo;s participation in GVCs has been low compared to the major exporting nations in East and Southeast Asia.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the contrary, export growth of capital intensive products from China has been mainly driven by its participation in the GVCs.</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s export promotion policies since the 1990s have relied heavily on a strategy of integrating its domestic industries within the GVCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Market Penetration in High-Income Countries:</strong> With low participation in GVCs have resulted in a disproportionate shift in India&rsquo;s geographical direction of exports from traditional rich country markets to other destinations like African countries.</li>
<li><strong>Specialization versus Diversification:</strong> Indian exports is characterised by high diversification combined with low specialization in exports.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This implies that India is spreading its exports thinly over many products and partners, leading to its lacklustre performance compared to countries like China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Domestic Factors:</strong> The factors like lacklustre infrastructure, complex land and labour markets have impeded the creations of conditions for Indian companies to compete in global markets.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Trade Liberalisation:</strong> India needs to raise its share in world trade beyond 2 per cent. Doing so requires greater trade liberalisation. It will require signing of more free trade agreements.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, India wants to access developed countries markets, it should be willing to open its markets also.</li>
<li>For example, in the context of trade with Europe, it still imposes high duties on India&rsquo;s exports which disadvantages India. Europe will only be willing to sign such an agreement if India is willing to open its markets like automotives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Ease of doing Business:</strong> Export success will also require genuine easing of costs of trading and doing business in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, a more appropriate policy response is to focus on boosting competitiveness &mdash; building infrastructure, ensuring cheap power, reforming land and labour markets, and creating conditions for companies to compete in global markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Becoming Part of GVCs:</strong> India should be striving to embed itself in global value chains.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If India wants to become a major exporter, it should specialize more in the areas of its comparative advantage and achieve significant quantity expansion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy Stability:</strong> In the post Covid world, multinational companies in order to hedge against supply chain disruptions will look to shift away from China.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, in order to attract GVCs India should provide policy stability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>For a long-term sustained economic growth, India needs to have a remarkable export performance. This will be driven by a set of interrelated factors viz. a high level of participation in GVCs; a high degree of specialization in labour-intensive production activities; large scale in the chosen sectors of specialization; and a high level of export penetration in traditional rich countries.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602762864_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602762864_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="619" height="293" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e4f7f4; border-color: #11a892;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question<br /><br /></strong></em>As India contemplates Atma nirbharta (self-sufficiency), the economic policy should also strive to promote export dynamism. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1XBmOVbNTrU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/readying-the-ground-property-cards-a-good-step-but-the-real-need-is-conclusive-titling/2104819/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Readying the ground&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Financial Express on October 14<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/promoting-export-dynamism'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Third Assembly of ISA',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> India and France</strong> have been re-elected as the President and Co-President of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a> (ISA) for a term of two years at the virtual third Assembly of ISA.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first two assemblies were held in<strong> India in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-assembly-of-international-solar-alliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2018</a></strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2019</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Assembly approved institutionalising ISA&rsquo;s engagement with the private and public corporate sector through the <strong>Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action</strong> (CSCA).</li>
<li><strong>Various solar awards</strong> were conferred on countries as well as institutions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/birth-anniversary-of-m-visvesvaraya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visvesvaraya</a> award</strong> recognises the countries with a maximum floating solar capacity in each of the four regions of ISA, which are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Asia Pacific Region.</li>
<li>Africa Region.</li>
<li>Europe and others Region.</li>
<li>Latin America and Caribbean Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Kalpana Chawla award</strong> for outstanding contribution of scientists and engineers working in the field of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>solar energy</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Diwakar award</strong> recognises organisations and institutions that have been working for the benefit of differently-abled people and have maximised the use of solar energy in the host country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assembly was <strong>presented the report prepared by</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-forest-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Resources Institute</strong></a> (WRI) which <strong>identifies the sources of funds, opportunities and constraints, in scaling up solar investments and the contribution</strong> of ISA in assisting Member countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ISA will work with WRI to develop a roadmap for <strong>mobilisation of USD 1 trillion by 2030</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the wake of the global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>, ISA responded by setting up <strong>ISA CARES</strong> (like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM-CARES</strong></a> in India), an initiative dedicated to the deployment of solar energy in the healthcare sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The initiative <strong>aims to solarize one primary health sector</strong> in each district of the target member countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ISA Secretariat has launched a <strong>Seventh Programme on Solarising Heating and Cooling systems</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Demand for cooling alone outpaced solar deployment in 2017.</li>
<li>Heating and cooling systems have scope to directly convert solar radiation and at higher efficiency levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SAARC</a> Development Fund&rsquo;s</strong> technical assistance along with the <strong>ISA Technical Assistance</strong> is proposed to be implemented jointly with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asian-development-outlook-2019-strengthening-disaster-resilience-adb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The ISA has recently signed a tripartite agreement with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> and the Government of India and is now actively involved in preparing a vision and <strong>implementation plan for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-sun-one-world-one-grid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;One Sun, One World, One Grid&rdquo;</a> Initiative</strong> to harness the power of interconnected grids for enabling energy transition to a low-carbon world.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Perspective and Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President of the ISA Assembly, <strong>India&rsquo;s Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister</strong> appreciated the Alliance Members coming together to work for combating climate change.</li>
<li>He also<strong> highlighted various activities and programmes</strong> initiated by ISA since the 2<sup>nd</sup> Assembly like the <strong>development of a pipeline</strong> of more than USD 5 billion,<strong> aggregated demand</strong> for more than 270,000 solar pumps across 22 countries, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>France&rsquo;s Role:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France has <strong>committed 1.5 billion Euros</strong> for financing solar projects in ISA member states up until 2022.</li>
<li>The <strong>first project under the Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative</strong> (SRMI) <strong>is being</strong> launched in<strong> Mozambique</strong> with the support of <strong>France and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a></strong> (EU).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SRMI will help mobilise billions in private investment to finance more than 10 GWs of solar projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the frame of the <strong>ISA&rsquo;s Solar Technology Application Resource Centre</strong> (Star-C) <strong>programme</strong>, the <strong>French National Institute for Solar Energy</strong> (INES) will launch a specific program for the small island states of the Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>Indian initiative</strong> that was launched by the <strong>Prime Minister of India and the President of France</strong> on <strong>30<sup>th</sup> November 2015 in Paris</strong>, France on the side-lines of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties</strong></a> (COP-21), with <strong>121 solar resource-rich countries</strong> lying <strong>fully or partially between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn</strong> as prospective members.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries.</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong> Till now, <strong>87 countries have signed the Framework Agreement</strong> of the ISA and of these <strong>67 have deposited their instruments of ratification</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nicaragua, a Central American country</strong> is the <strong>87<sup>th</sup> and the latest</strong> country to sign the agreement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has <strong>allotted 5 acres of land</strong> to the ISA in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-thermal-energy-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Institute of Solar Energy</strong></a> (NISE) campus, Gurugram and has released a <strong>sum of Rs. 160 crore</strong> for creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure and meeting day to day recurring expenditure of the ISA up to the year 2021-22.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1664423" 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/third-assembly-of-isa'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</strong> launched the <strong>second phase</strong> of <strong>&ldquo;Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna&rdquo;</strong> for the <strong>underprivileged Thalassemic patients</strong>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)</strong> program was launched in <strong>2017</strong> and is funded by <strong>Coal India <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corporate-social-responsibility-csr-expenditure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)</a></strong>. It will be <strong>extended</strong> for next two years from 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>HSCT</strong> refers to the <strong>transplantation of stem cells</strong> from various sources (bone marrow, growth factor&ndash;stimulated peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood) for the treatment of various diseases like autoimmune, and genetic diseases.</li>
<li><strong>Hematopoietic Stem Cell:</strong> It is an immature cell that can develop into all types of blood cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Hematopoietic stem cells are found in the peripheral blood and the bone marrow. Also called blood stem cell.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> It aims to provide a<strong> one-time cure opportunity for Haemoglobinopathies like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease</strong> for patients who have a matched family donor.</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Only patients whose <strong>monthly family income is below Rs 20,000</strong> will be eligible for this assistance.</li>
<li>The scheme has been extended to cover <strong>Aplastic Anaemia patients</strong> (lack of blood cell production in body).</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> The CSR initiative was targeted to provide financial assistance to a total of 200 patients by providing a package cost not exceeding <strong>rupees 10 lakhs per HSCT</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Statistics:</strong> It is estimated 10,000 to 12,000 children are born with thalassemia every year in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Data on the prevalence of <strong>silent carriers</strong> (persons without symptoms but potential to transmit to offsprings) for various Haemoglobinopathies show that silent carriers are <strong>2.9-4.6% for Thalassemia</strong>, while it can be as high as <strong>40% for sickle cell anaemia</strong> especially among the tribal population.</li>
<li>Haemoglobin variants like<strong> Hemoglobin E (HBE)</strong> - deformed hemoglobin- in <strong>eastern India</strong> can be as common as <strong>3-50%</strong> which calls for more attention to these diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Thalassemia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>genetic blood disorder</strong> that causes the body to have less hemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen. Thalassemia can cause anemia, leading to fatigue.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sickle Cell Disease</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an inherited disease caused by defects, called mutations, in the beta globin gene that helps make hemoglobin. The red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a &ldquo;sickle&rdquo;. The <strong>sickle cells die early</strong>, which causes a <strong>constant shortage of red blood cells</strong>.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-sickle-cell-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Sickle Cell Day 2020</strong> </a>was observed to increase awareness about the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) at the national level.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The day is recognised by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> and celebrated every year on <strong>19<sup>th</sup> June</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1664398" 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/thalassemia-bal-sewa-yojna'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Pulse Release from Buffer Stocks',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union government<strong> plans to release 40,000 tonnes of tur dal</strong> from its buffer stock into the retail market in small lots, in a bid to cool down the recent hike in pulses prices.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hiking Prices:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Major <strong>consuming centres</strong> (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Bihar and Tamil Nadu) <strong>of urad and tur dal</strong> have seen a <strong>20% <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/higher-food-prices-and-nutrition-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spike</a> in prices</strong> over the last two weeks alone.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These states have <strong>expressed an interest in buying one lakh tonnes of pulses</strong> from the Central buffer stock at the MSP rates to sell at subsidised prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At an all-India level, the<strong> average retail prices of urad</strong> have shot up <strong>almost 40% in comparison to 2019</strong>, while the <strong>average retail prices of tur dal</strong> have <strong>increased by almost 24%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Retail Intervention:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Department of Consumer Affairs</strong> (DoCA) has introduced retail intervention, a mechanism to use the buffer stock of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bihar-to-sell-kashmiri-apples" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India</strong></a> (NAFED).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NAFED procures pulses from farmers at <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minimum Support Price</a></strong> (MSP) rates to moderate retail prices by supplying pulses to the States and the Union Territories.</li>
<li>The States are supplied pulses either in bulk or in retail packs for supply through the ration shops of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System</strong> </a>(PDS), or through milk and vegetable outlets run by the government or cooperatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For such retail intervention, <strong>offer prices are fixed on the basis of MSP itself</strong>.</li>
<li>This move will also help clear NAFED&rsquo;s existing stock to make way for procurement from this season&rsquo;s harvest, due to arrive in markets soon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Using Open Market Sale:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the retail intervention, the DoCA has also<strong> decided to release 40,000 metric tonnes of tur from the buffer stock in Open Market Sale</strong> (OMS) Scheme in small lots so that the releases may reach the retail market at a faster pace and help in cooling off rising prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Earlier Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre extended the procurement window for its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-annadata-aay-anrakshan-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Price Support Scheme (PSS)</strong></a> <strong>up to 90 days from the date of commencement</strong> of the scheme in each State.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The PSS is <strong>operationalised on the State governments&rsquo; request</strong> when the prices fall below the MSP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Centre promised to provide <strong>one kg of pulses per month to all families with ration cards for the three months</strong> as part of a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 relief package</a> (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is registered under the <strong>Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002</strong>.</li>
<li>It was <strong>set up in 1958</strong> with the objective to <strong>promote cooperative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Agricultural farmers are the members</strong> of the General Body of NAFED, who participate in the decision-making process.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Minimum Support Price</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>rate at which the government buys grains from farmers</strong>.</li>
<li>The reason behind the idea is to <strong>counter the price volatility</strong> of agricultural commodities <strong>due to the factors like</strong> variations in the supply, lack of market integration and information asymmetry.</li>
<li>It is fixed on the recommendations of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-corporation-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Open Market Sale Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-corporation-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Corporation of India</strong></a> (FCI) sells surplus stocks of wheat and rice at <strong>predetermined prices through e-auction in the open market</strong> from time to time to <strong>enhance the supply</strong> of food grains.</li>
<li>It is done especially <strong>during the lean season to moderate the open market prices</strong> in the deficit regions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Food and nutrition security is ensured if all of the citizens of a nation have enough nutritious food available, all of them have the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality and there is no barrier on access to food.</li>
<li>The right to nutritious food is a well-established principle of international human rights law. It has evolved to include an obligation for state parties to respect, protect and fulfil their citizens&rsquo; right to food and nutrition security.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/as-prices-rise-centre-to-release-14-lakh-tonnes-of-pulses-from-buffer-stock/article32853962.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/pulse-release-from-buffer-stocks'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Madhuca Diplostemon: Rediscovered in Kerala',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<em><strong> Madhuca diplostemon</strong></em> tree has been rediscovered after a gap of more than 180 years from a sacred grove in <strong>Kollam district, Kerala</strong>.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602750134_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602750134_image2.png" width="310" height="232" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tree is locally known as <em><strong>Kavilippa</strong></em> in Malayalam.</li>
<li>It has been identified by the scientists at the <strong>Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute</strong> (JNTBGRI) at <strong>Palode, Kerala</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>threatened species of the Western Ghats</strong> was believed to be extinct.</li>
<li>This is the <strong>second time</strong> a tree of this species has ever been located and <strong>only one mature tree has been found so far</strong>, which makes this remarkable rediscovery <strong>extremely valuable from a scientific, environmental and conservation point</strong> of view.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> 1835, Robert Wight, a surgeon-botanist with the East India Company</strong>, found the first specimen.</li>
<li>Since its original collection, specimens of the tree were never collected again, neither from its locality nor elsewhere, and botanical explorations in Eastern and Western Ghats failed to locate the species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature</strong></a> (IUCN) has included it in the <strong>endangered</strong> species list.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, since there is only one specimen left in a single locality, it is <strong>eligible to be categorised</strong> as <strong>'Critically Endangered'</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The JNTBGRI is planning to undertake the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-conservation-of-tigers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> ex-situ conservation</strong> </a>of this species through the <strong>institute&rsquo;s species recovery programme</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/extinct-tree-found-after-180-years-in-kollam-grove/article32760018.ece#:~:text=Madhuca%20diplostemon-,It%20was%20in%201835%20that%20Madhuca%20diplostemon%2C%20a%20threatened%20species,sacred%20grove%20in%20Kollam%20district." 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/madhuca-diplostemon-rediscovered-in-kerala'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Parasitic Infections in One-Horned Rhinoceros',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/living-planet-report-wwf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Wildlife Fund (WWF)</strong></a> India has published reports titled <strong>&lsquo;Prevalence of Endoparasitic Infections in Free-Ranging Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros&rsquo;</strong> for Assam and West Bengal.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602749527_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602749527_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="342" height="205" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Poaching</strong> is believed to be the <strong>main cause of death</strong> in rhinos, however, they also die of natural causes which have not been studied in great detail.</li>
<li>Since <strong>2017</strong>, the <strong>Rhino Task Force of Assam</strong> and <strong>WWF India</strong> have been undertaking steps to study pathogens found in fresh rhino dung samples in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Before this, there was no systematic study on the prevalence of disease-causing parasites and diseases caused by these in the rhino population in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the researchers,<strong> habitat degradation</strong> can lead to an <strong>increased exposure to pathogens</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to increasing livestock pressure on protected areas, there is a possible threat of pathogens getting transferred from domestic animals to wild animals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>From the samples from Assam and West Bengal, the study concluded that <strong>parasites from four genera were present in an estimated 68% of India&rsquo;s rhino population</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>overall prevalence of endoparasites</strong> was <strong>58.57%</strong> in <strong>Assam</strong> and <strong>88.46%</strong> in <strong>West Bengal</strong>; results from UP are pending.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Endoparasites</strong> are <strong>parasites that live in the tissues and organs of their hosts,</strong> such as tapeworms, flukes, and protozoans of vertebrates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Greater One-Horned Rhino</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are <strong>three species of rhino in Asia &mdash; Greater one-horned</strong> (<em>Rhinoceros unicornis</em>), <strong>Javan</strong> and <strong>Sumatran</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Poaching</strong> for the horns and <strong>habitat loss</strong> are the two greatest threats to the survival of Asia's rhinos.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asian-rhino-range-countries-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>five rhino range nations</strong></a> (<strong>India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia </strong>and <strong>Malaysia</strong>) have signed a declaration &lsquo;The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019&rsquo; for the conservation and protection of the species.</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Javan</strong> and <strong>Sumatran</strong> Rhino are <strong>critically endangered</strong> and the <strong>Greater one-horned</strong> <strong>(or Indian)</strong> rhino is <strong>vulnerable</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>.</li>
<li>All three listed under <strong>Appendix I <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CITES)</a></strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Greater one-horned rhino</strong> is listed under the <strong>Schedule I of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat of Greater One-Horned Rhino:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The species is restricted to small habitats in Indo-Nepal terai and northern West Bengal and Assam.</li>
<li>In India, rhinos are mainly found in <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaziranga-national-park-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaziranga NP</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pobitora-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pobitora WLS</a></strong>, Orang NP, Manas NP in Assam, Jaldapara NP and Gorumara NP in West Bengal and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dudhwa-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dudhwa TR</strong></a> in Uttar Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)</strong> has begun a project to create <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dna-database-for-indian-rhinos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DNA profiles of all rhinos</strong></a> in the country.</li>
<li><strong>National Rhino Conservation Strategy:</strong> It was launched in 2019 to conserve the greater one-horned rhinoceros.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Rhino Vision 2020:</strong> Launched in 2005, it is an ambitious effort to attain a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos spread over seven protected areas in the Indian state of Assam by the year 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/beyond-poaching-how-rhino-dung-offers-clues-on-health-and-natural-death-6726950/" 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/parasitic-infections-in-one-horned-rhinoceros'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Vehicles',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fk-jIaid2FQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>Aimed at a significant push for hydrogen vehicles in the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified standards for the safety evaluation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fuel-cell-electric-vehicle" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Based Vehicles.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This would facilitate the promotion of hydrogen fuel cell-based vehicles in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The notified standards are also at par with the available international standards.</li>
<li>The prospective manufacturer and suppliers of such vehicles will now have the standards available for their testing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hydrogen in Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In contrast to other electric vehicles, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fuel-cell-electric-vehicle" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FCEVs</strong></a> produce electricity using a fuel cell powered by hydrogen, rather than drawing electricity from only a battery.</li>
<li>During the vehicle design process, the power of the vehicle is defined by the size of the electric motor(s) that receive electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination.</li>
<li>Most FCEVs today use the battery for recapturing braking energy, providing extra power during short acceleration events and to smooth out the power delivered from the fuel cell with the option to idle or turn off the fuel cell during low power needs.</li>
<li>The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is different from an all-electric vehicle, where the amount of power and energy available are both closely related to the battery's size.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fuel Cell</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fuel cells and batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy and are very useful forms of galvanic cells.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A galvanic or voltaic cell is an electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy through the redox reactions that occur within the cell.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>hydrogen</strong> fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts specifically hydrogen into electrical energy.</li>
<li>Galvanic cells that are designed to convert the energy of combustion of fuels like hydrogen, methane, methanol, etc. directly into electrical energy are called fuel cells. One of the most successful fuel cells uses the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Production of Hydrogen for HFC</h3>
<p>In the context of India there are mainly three effective methods for the production of hydrogen for the hydrogen fuel cell:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Natural gas:</strong> Natural gas reforming is an advanced and mature production process that builds upon the existing natural gas pipeline delivery infrastructure. Natural gas contains methane (CH4) that can be used to produce hydrogen with thermal processes, such as steam-methane reformation and partial oxidation.</li>
<li><strong>Thermochemical water splitting:</strong> It uses high temperatures&mdash;from concentrated solar power or from the waste heat of nuclear power reactions&mdash;and chemical reactions to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Thermochemical water splitting</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The process uses high-temperature heat (500&deg;&ndash;2,000&deg;C) to drive a series of chemical reactions that produce hydrogen.</li>
<li>The chemicals used in the process are reused within each cycle, creating a closed loop that consumes only water and produces hydrogen and oxygen.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biomass based production:</strong> Biomass is organic material which includes agriculture crop residues, forest residues, special crops grown specifically for energy use , organic municipal solid waste, and animal wastes. This renewable resource can be used to produce hydrogen, along with other byproducts, by gasification.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Biomass Gasification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Biomass gasification is a technology pathway that uses a controlled process involving heat, steam, and oxygen to convert biomass to hydrogen and other products, without combustion.</li>
<li>As growing biomass removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the net carbon emissions of this method can be low, especially if coupled with carbon capture, utilization, and storage in the long term.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Advantage of HFC over Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Loss of energy in ICE:</strong> In an ICE, the chemical energy of hydrogen is first converted into thermal energy, the heat energy is then converted into mechanical energy which is then converted into electrical energy, too much of energy is lost.</li>
<li><strong>Higher efficiency of HFCs:</strong> The conversion of energy takes place at lower temperature, the loss is comparatively much less and the efficiency is higher.</li>
<li><strong>Dual purpose:</strong> The fuel cell solves dual purpose as it can run the vehicle and can generate standby power in case of emergencies as well.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; background-color: #0b1040; height: 19px;" colspan="2"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Pros and Cons of using Hydrogen Fuel Cells (HFCs) in Vehicles</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #808cbd;"><strong>Pros</strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #808cbd;"><strong>Cons</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 89px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hydrogen is a clean fuel, no emission of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter is there.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Estimated cost of a vehicle running on Hydrogen Fuel Cells is $ 50,000 (₹ 36,66,872).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 111px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 111px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Only water is the residue of HFCs which can be used in the desert areas.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 111px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A hydrogen based fuel is highly inflammable, the production, transport and storage of the fuel is a possible challenge.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 89px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The biomass based hydrogen production will lead to the boost in the rural economy.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The investment required in storing and dispensing of the HFC Vehicle is expectedly very high.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 111px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 111px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Vehicles running on HFCs are best suited for heavy duty vehicles as electric vehicles are only limited to lighter vehicles.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 111px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the international market of HFC vehicles is very less, the loss and the chances of facing it are very high.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Commitments:</strong> India has to adhere to its commitment in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop25-climate-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Paris Climate Agreement</strong> </a>and its <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/11-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Targets</strong> </a>and ensure that its mobility in the future is with zero emissions.</li>
<li><strong>Role of Governments and OEMs:</strong> The governments across the world and the leading <strong>Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs)</strong> should step forward to invest in this field as their investment can lower such high cost of production and maintenance of these vehicles drastically.</li>
<li><strong>Welcoming the Newer Technologies:</strong> Although electric vehicles solve a large part of the emission problems, HFCVs are the best option in case of the heavy duty vehicles such as trucks and tractors, which is produced in large numbers in India. Hence the technology should be embraced with welcoming hands.</li>
<li><strong>Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles:</strong> India is the leading producer of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles, which could be used as an alternative technology to the high cost Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (HICEV)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A HICEV is a vehicle powered by a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. Some versions are hydrogen-gasoline hybrids.</li>
<li>Hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles are different from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (which use electrochemical use of hydrogen rather than combustion).</li>
<li>Instead, the hydrogen internal combustion engine is simply a modified version of the traditional gasoline-powered internal combustion engine.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India's INDC Targets, to be achieved primarily by 2030</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To reduce the emissions intensity of the GDP by about a third.</li>
<li>A total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources.</li>
<li>India also promised an additional carbon sink (a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently HFC is still in its infancy stage however we can't depend on conventional fuel for future, hence we should work on alternatives like HFC, electric, solar energy to meet energy requirements for transportation purposes.</li>
<li>Hydrogen Fuel Cell has a big role to play in mobility and zero emission technology in future.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-hydrogen-fuel-cell-for-vehicles'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'CRISPR Technology',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/gene-editing-the-good-first-and-then-the-worries/article32837842.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Gene editing, the good first and then the worries&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 13/10/2020. It talks about the opportunity and issues related to CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-chemistry-2020#:~:text=Recently%2C%20Emmanuelle%20Charpentier%20of%20France,to%20a%20women%2Donly%20team." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2020</strong></a> was given to two women scientists namely Emmanuelle Charpentier (France) &amp; Jennifer A. Doudna (Germany). The nobel prize was given to them for the development of a method for genome editing.</p>
<p>The two scientists have pioneered the use of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-gene-editing-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)</strong></a> &ndash; Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) system as a gene-editing tool.</p>
<p>Using components of the CRISPR system, researchers can add, remove, or even alter specific DNA. This has led to a significant impact in biology, medicine, and agriculture.</p>
<p>However, there is growing fear that the promising <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/genetic-engineering-promises-perils" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gene-editing system</strong></a> can cause many social and anthropogenic issues.</p>
<h3>Application of Gene-Editing</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agriculture:</strong> It is being tried out in agriculture primarily to increase plant yield, quality, disease resistance, herbicide resistance and domestication of wild species.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The huge potential to edit genes using this tool has been used to create a large number of crop varieties with improved agronomic performance; it has also brought in sweeping changes to breeding technologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Genetic-Research:</strong> CRISPR systems are already delivering superior genetic models for fundamental disease research, drug screening, and therapy development, rapid diagnostics, in-vivo editing and correction of heritable conditions.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scientists are working on the theory that CRISPR might be used to boost the function of the body's T-cells so that the immune system is better at recognizing and killing cancer.</li>
<li>Disorders of the blood and immune system are other potential targets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Medical Treatment:</strong> CRISPR/Cas9 has also been seen as a promising way to create potential genome editing treatments for diseases such as HIV, cancer or sickle cell disease.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such therapeutics could inactivate a disease-causing gene, or correct a genetic mutation.</li>
<li>Researchers in China edited human embryos to try to correct a faulty gene that caused an inherited blood disorder.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Therapeutic Cloning:</strong> It is a process whereby embryonic cells are cloned to obtain biological organs for transplantation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Debate in Agriculture Genetic Modification:</strong> There are concerns over the inadvertent effects, such as the creation of food that can cause an allergic reaction.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two studies, one from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and the other from the biopharmaceutical company Novartis, have highlighted that CRISPR-Cas9-edited cells might trigger cancer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Germline Modification:</strong> Germline Editing means deliberately changing the genes passed on to children and future generations &ndash; in other words, creating genetically modified people.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the most of the ethical discussions related to genome editing center around human germline editing. This is because changes made in the germline would be passed down to future generations.</li>
<li>Human germline modification has for many years been widely considered off-limits, for both safety and social reasons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Germline is the cellular lineage of a sexually reproducing organism from which eggs and sperm are derived.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genetic Inequality:</strong> Through Gene-editing, wealthy parents can buy the latest offspring upgrades for their children.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will lead to the emergence of genetic haves and have-nots and even greater inequality than the present world already lives with.</li>
<li>Some of the key scientists in this field have concerns about the potential misuse of a technology that could be used for eugenics, to create genetic discrimination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Illegal Experimentation:</strong> Last year, a Chinese researcher used the tool to modify a particular gene in the embryo to make babies immune to HIV infection, which led to international furore.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Though no guidelines have been drawn up so far, there is a general consensus in the scientific and ethics communities that the gene-editing technique should not be used clinically on embryos.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Status In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, several rules, guidelines, and policies backed by the &ldquo;Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989&rdquo; notified under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Protection Act, 1986</strong></a>, regulate genetically modified organisms.</li>
<li>Apart from it, the <strong>National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research involving human participants, 2017,</strong> by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Biomedical and Health Research Regulation Bill implies regulation of the gene-editing process.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is especially so in the usage of its language &ldquo;modification, deletion or removal of parts of heritable material&rdquo;.</li>
<li>However, there is no explicit mention of the term gene editing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The gene-editing tool has indeed taken &ldquo;life sciences into a new epoch&rdquo;. However, like other scientific development it can turn out to be both as a boon or a bane. Therefore, it all depends how well the gene-editing science is regulated for the welfare of humankind.</p>
<p>Thus, it is time that India came up with a specific law to ban germline editing and put out guidelines for conducting gene-editing research giving rise to modified organisms.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602675987_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602675987_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" 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: #efffed;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The gene-editing tool has indeed taken &ldquo;life sciences into a new epoch&rdquo;. However, like other scientific development it can turn out to be both as a boon or a bane. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sv37wyM3xTI" 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.business-standard.com/article/opinion/award-for-auctions-120101201551_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Award for auctions&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Business Standard on October 12<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/crispr-technology'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'C-DAC’s MoUs on Supercomputing',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jatan-virtual-museum-software" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing</strong></a> (C-DAC) under the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (Meity) has signed 13 MoUs with the <strong>premier academic and research and development</strong> (R&amp;D) institutions of India.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aims behind the Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>establish supercomputing infrastructure</strong> with assembly and manufacturing in India and<strong> critical components</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-supercomputing-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Supercomputing Mission</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Supercomputing</strong> has <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/national-supercomputer-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>applications</strong></a> in so many areas like computational biology and chemistry, molecular dynamics, national security,<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> big data</strong></a> analytics, government information systems, and so on.</li>
<li>It becomes a powerful tool, paired with <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)</strong></a>, enabling it to empower people and make India ready to tackle future challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To develop <strong>India&rsquo;s indigenous hardware</strong> encompassing <strong>exascale</strong> chip design, design and manufacture of exascale server boards, exascale interconnects and storage including<strong> silicon-photonics</strong> at C-DAC to <strong>achieve complete self-reliance</strong> envisioned under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat</strong></a> Initiative.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Exascale computing</strong> refers to computing systems capable of calculating at least 10<sup>18</sup> floating-point operations per second.</li>
<li><strong>Silicon photonics</strong> is an evolving technology in which data is transferred among computer chips by optical rays. Optical rays can carry far more data in less time than electrical conductors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Supercomputing Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was <strong>announced in 2015,</strong> with an aim to connect national academic and R&amp;D institutions with a grid of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities at an estimated cost of <strong>Rs. 4,500 crores</strong> over a <strong>period of seven years.</strong></li>
<li>It supports the government's vision of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'Digital India'</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'Make in India'</strong></a> initiatives.</li>
<li>It is being implemented by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-dst" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department of Science and Technology</strong> </a>(DST) and <strong>Department of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (DeitY) through <strong>C-DAC and Indian Institute of Science</strong> (IISc), Bangalore.</li>
<li><strong>The Mission envisages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To improve the number of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-supercomputing-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> supercomputers</strong></a> owned by India.</li>
<li>To <strong>build a strong base of 20,000 skilled persons</strong> over a period of five years who will be equipped to handle the complexities of supercomputers.</li>
<li>To empower Indian national academic and R&amp;D institutions to spread over the country by<strong> installing a vast supercomputing grid</strong> comprising more than 70 <strong>high-performance computing</strong> (HPC) facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India&rsquo;s Top Five Supercomputers</strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602674975_Image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602674975_Image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>PARAM 8000,</strong> considered to be <strong>India&rsquo;s first supercomputer</strong> was indigenously built in <strong>1991</strong> by C-DAC.</li>
<li><strong>SUMMIT</strong> (USA) is the <strong>fastest supercomputer in the world</strong> which can deliver upto 187,659.3 TFlop/s.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1663952" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/c-dac-s-mous-on-supercomputing'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'India-Mexico',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>5<sup>th</sup></strong> meeting of the<strong> India-Mexico Bilateral High-Level Group</strong> (BHLG) <strong>on Trade, Investment and Cooperation</strong> has been held through video conference.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>4<sup>th</sup> meeting</strong> of BHLG on Trade, Investment and Cooperation at the level of Commerce Secretary was held<strong> in Mexico City in July 2016.</strong></li>
<li>On <strong>1<sup>st</sup> August 2020,</strong> India and Mexico celebrated the <strong>70<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations</strong> between them.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both sides discussed a number of bilateral ongoing and outstanding issues, ranging from <strong>Audio-visual Co-production, Bilateral Investment Treaty, market access for agricultural products, a cooperation framework on Sanitary and Phytosanitary</strong> (SPS) and <strong>Technical Barriers to Trade</strong> (TBT) measures, <strong>cooperation in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intellectual Property Rights</a></strong> (IPR), and exploring ways to <strong>promote <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/tourism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tourism</a> and people-to-people contact.</strong></li>
<li>They also <strong>agreed to expand and diversify</strong> the bilateral trade relationship through enhanced cooperation in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, healthcare, agro-products, fisheries, food processing and aerospace industry, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Two Memorandum of Understandings</strong> (MoUs) have been signed, to foster the cooperation in the domains of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Electronics, Computer Software and Telecommunications and Information Technologies.</li>
<li>Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Mexico Relations</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602672435_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602672435_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="350" height="247" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Historical Ties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Being <strong>colonies in the past,</strong> India and Mexico have <strong>European connections of the <a href="/gs-special/gs-special-world-history/colonialism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">colonial</a> era.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Mexico</strong> was the<strong> first Latin American country to recognise India</strong> after Independence and establish diplomatic relations with India in 1950.</li>
<li><strong>Mexican wheat varieties</strong> used in Indo-Mexican hybrids were the <strong>backbone of India&rsquo;s<a href="/mains-practice-question/question-97" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Green Revolution</a></strong> in the 1960s.</li>
<li>In the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War</strong> </a>years, Mexico and India had worked together closely as members of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> (UN), both actively championing the interests of developing countries such as in the <strong>Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations</strong> (under the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organisation</strong></a>).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both countries are the <strong>members of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G-20</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political and Bilateral Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries <strong>established a &lsquo;Privileged Partnership&rsquo; in 2007.</strong></li>
<li>In 2015, both countries <strong>agreed to work</strong> for achieving a<strong> &lsquo;Strategic Partnership&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The two countries have <strong>several bilateral agreements and MoUs,</strong> including for Investment Promotion and Protection, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extradition-treaty-between-india-and-belgium" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Extradition</strong></a>, Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, Space Cooperation, etc.</li>
<li>India gives<strong> 20 scholarships</strong> to Mexico under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-president-s-visit-to-comoros-and-sierra-leone" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme</strong> </a>and Mexican diplomats are also given training at <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Survey of India</strong></a> (FSI).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic and Commercial Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mexico is<strong> currently India&rsquo;s largest trading partner in Latin America.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2018-19, it accounted for almost a quarter of India&rsquo;s trade with the region. <strong>India is currently Mexico&rsquo;s ninth-most important</strong> global trading partner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> last decade has seen a spurt in trade</strong> between the two countries, which has grown from around USD 5 billion in 2015-16 to<strong> USD 9.4 billion in 2018-19.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Exports:</strong> Vehicles and auto parts, organic chemicals, electrical machinery and electronic equipment, aluminium products, readymade garments, iron and steel products and gems and jewellery.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Imports:</strong> Crude oil, electrical goods and machinery, organic chemicals, vehicles and auto parts and iron and steel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries share a<strong> common concern over growing traditional and non-traditional security challenges,</strong> particularly the <strong>rise of<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> global terrorism</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Ties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Centre</strong> has been functioning in Mexico since October 2010, teaching Yoga, classical dances, music, etc.</li>
<li>An <strong>agreement on cultural cooperation</strong> has been in existence <strong>since 1975</strong> and cooperation activities are carried out through four-yearly<strong> &lsquo;Programmes of Cultural Cooperation&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Community:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian community in Mexico is estimated to be more than 7,000, comprising mostly software engineers of Indian IT companies, academics/professors, and private businessmen.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism</strong> between the two countries is <strong>steadily increasing</strong> and Mexicans have been extended the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-july-7th-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>online e-Tourist Visa facility.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Indian nationals holding ordinary passports but having a valid visa for</strong> the USA, the UK, Canada, Schengen area or Japan, and holders of permanent residence in the same countries or Member States of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-future-of-free-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pacific Alliance</strong></a> viz. Colombia, Chile and Peru<strong> do not need a visa for short tourism or business visits</strong> to Mexico.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Differences:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mexico and India have had <strong>different viewpoints on the issue of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/50-years-of-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty-npt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nuclear non-proliferation</a></strong>. However, during Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s 2016 visit, Mexico pledged support for India's bid to be part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nuclear Suppliers Group</strong></a> (NSG).</li>
<li>Both countries have differences on the issue of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/un-reforms-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mexico has been a member of the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United for Consensus (UfC) group/Coffee Club</strong> </a>that, unlike India and the other <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet#:~:text=The%20foreign%20ministers%20of%20the,on%2027th%20September%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Group of Four</strong></a> (G-4) members (Japan, Germany and Brazil), opposes the expansion of permanent membership in the UNSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Mexico have striking similarities in geo-climatic conditions, biodiversity, physiognomy and people, cultural and family values. Both are heirs to a great civilizational heritage and contacts between them indicatively go back centuries.</li>
<li>Both India and Mexico are non-permanent members of the Security Council for the period 2021-2022, which is a good opportunity to set aside their differences on global governance issues and work closely on areas of mutual interest.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1663960" 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-mexico'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Aquaponics Facility',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A <strong>pilot &lsquo;Aquaponics facility&rsquo;</strong> has been developed by the<strong> Centre for Development of Advanced Computing</strong> (C-DAC), Mohali at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University (GADVASU), Ludhiana.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>State-of-the-art facility:</strong> It is equipped with <strong>advanced sensors</strong> for <strong>monitoring and automated controls</strong> of the farming system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> supercomputing power being provided by C-DAC</strong> in developing agriculture technology.</li>
<li><strong>Funding Support</strong> was provided by<strong> the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (Meity).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The facility is <strong>nearly 100% organic.</strong></li>
<li>Needs much less land for a given yield of crop.</li>
<li>Consumes 90% less water.</li>
<li>The fish and plants grown together are more nutritious.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Demand</strong> for fishes and crops (lettuce, spinach, capsicum, coriander, broccoli and some other leafy plants) is increasing rapidly in urban areas.</li>
<li>The <strong>aspirational rural youth will be drawn into the mainstream</strong> with help of this technology and agri-economy will get a boost.</li>
<li>This technique will help the farmer in <strong>increasing the productivity</strong> of his land.</li>
<li>Also augment farmer&rsquo;s <strong>income</strong> especially in non-coastal areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Aquaponics</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602668522_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602668522_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="510" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aquaponics is a system that <strong>combines <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hydroponics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hydroponics</a></strong>,<strong> soil-less agriculture,</strong> and <strong>aquaculture</strong> within a closed system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hydroponics:</strong> It is a method of <strong>growing plants</strong> in a <strong>water-based, nutrient-rich solution.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hydroponics does not use soil, instead, the root system is supported using an inert medium such as clay pellets.</li>
<li>The basic premise behind hydroponics is to allow the plant&rsquo;s roots to come in direct contact with the nutrient solution, while also having access to oxygen, which is essential for proper growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aquaculture:</strong> Breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, and aquatic plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are <strong>three biological components</strong> in the aquaponics process: fish, plants, and bacteria (for cycling of nutrients- ammonia to nitrate conversion).</li>
<li><strong>Process:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With aquaponics, the farmer combines the aquaculture with hydroponic vegetables &ndash; the <strong>fish waste provides fertilizer</strong> for growing plants.</li>
<li>The<strong> plants absorb nutrients and filter the water.</strong> This filtered water is used to <strong>replenish the fish tank.</strong> This is an <strong>environment friendly technique.</strong></li>
<li>The result is value-added, local production of both fish and vegetables together, using the same water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>B<strong>enefits:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Extremely <strong>water efficient.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Does not require soil.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Does not use fertilizers</strong> or chemical pesticides.</li>
<li><strong>Prevents aquaculture waste from polluting</strong> nearby watersheds.</li>
<li>Higher <strong>control on production</strong> leading to lower losses.</li>
<li>Can be used on <strong>non-arable lands</strong> such as deserts, degraded soil or salty, sandy islands.</li>
<li>While the creation of an aquaponics system may require a large initial investment, once it has been built it only <strong>incurs low recurring costs.</strong></li>
<li>In addition, aquaponics can offer <strong>quality-of-life improvements</strong> because the food is produced locally using comparatively simple harvest methods and culturally appropriate crops can be grown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>C-DAC is the premier <strong>Research &amp; Development organization</strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (Meity) for carrying out R&amp;D in IT, Electronics and associated areas.</li>
<li>India's first supercomputer <strong>PARAM 8000</strong> was indigenously built (in 1991) by the C-DAC.</li>
<li><strong>Various activities of C-DAC in the area of agriculture: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Electronic Nose and Vision (ENOVISION) system</strong> for measuring quality parameters of <strong>tea and rice.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This work is being <strong>extended to other products</strong> such as chilli, turmeric and to environmental engineering.</li>
<li>C-DAC has also developed <strong>Wireless Data Logger</strong> used for determining the fitness of perishable agricultural items.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ubiquitous Agriculture (u-Agri):</strong> An <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-must-get-on-the-iot-highway-fast#:~:text=Internet%20Of%20Things%20(IoT)%20is%20a%20computing%20concept%20that%20describes,than%20the%20object%20by%20itself." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Internet of Things</strong></a> (IoT) based system for acquiring micro-climate information from agricultural fields and providing personalized and localized advisories on Pest and Disease Forewarning and Irrigation Scheduling, to farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1664061" 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/aquaponics-facility'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Mars Opposition',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to the<strong> &lsquo;opposition&rsquo; effect, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mars</a></strong> will look much <strong>brighter and bigger than usual</strong> in October 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Opposition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Opposition, in astronomy, is the <strong>circumstance</strong> in which <strong>two celestial bodies appear in opposite directions in the sky.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Examples:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Moon,</strong> when <strong>full,</strong> is said to be in opposition to the Sun; the Earth is then approximately between them.</li>
<li>A <strong>superior planet</strong> (one with an <strong>orbit farther from the Sun than Earth&rsquo;s</strong>) is in opposition when Earth passes between it and the Sun. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>opposition of a planet is a good time to observe it,</strong> because the <strong>planet is then typically at its nearest point to the Earth</strong> for a given year and because it is close, the planet appears brighter in the sky.</li>
<li>The planets <strong>Venus and Mercury,</strong> whose orbits are smaller than Earth&rsquo;s, <strong>can never be in opposition to the Sun.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Mars Opposition: Mars</strong> and the<strong> Sun </strong>are on<strong> directly opposite sides of Earth. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Timing:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>About<strong> every 26 months</strong>, the Earth passes between the Sun and Mars, this is when the three are arranged in a straight line.</li>
<li>In <strong>2020,</strong> while <strong>Mars&rsquo; closest approach to Earth</strong> was on <strong>6<sup>th</sup> October,</strong> the <strong>opposition</strong> happened on <strong>13<sup>th</sup> October.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Mars&rsquo;s next close approach</strong> will happen on<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> December, 2022,</strong> when the planet will be 62.07 km away from the Earth.</li>
<li>Significantly, the <strong>closest distance is relative</strong> and hence can <strong>vary.</strong></li>
<li>As per NASA, <strong>Mars</strong> made its<strong> closest approach to Earth</strong> in <strong>2003</strong> in nearly 60,000 years and it <strong>won&rsquo;t be that close to the planet until 2287.</strong></li>
<li>This is because the<strong> orbits of Earth and Mars are not perfectly circular</strong> and their shapes can change slightly because of <strong>gravitational tugging</strong> (pulling)<strong> by other planets.</strong> For instance, Jupiter influences the orbit of Mars.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mars will outshine Jupiter,</strong> becoming the <strong>third brightest object</strong> (moon and Venus are first and second, respectively) in the night sky during the month of October.</li>
<li>During Opposition, Mars <strong>appears as a bright star to the unaided eye</strong> and when viewed from a telescope, it grows dramatically in size. Using a telescope <strong>shows more of the planet&rsquo;s details</strong> such as dark and light regions, the solar ice caps and Mars&rsquo; surface.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602661045_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602661045_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="265" height="262" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-mars-is-the-brightest-this-month-6723839/" 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/mars-opposition'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'World Mental Health Day 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>World Mental Health Day is observed on <strong>10<sup>th</sup> October every year,</strong> with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>2020 Theme:</strong> Mental Health for All, Greater Investment &ndash; Greater Access</li>
<li><strong>The Big Event for Mental Health:</strong> It is the <strong>first ever global online advocacy event on mental health,</strong> hosted by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> on the day.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impact of Covid-19 on Mental Health:</strong> Surveys have indicated that the <strong>pandemic is increasing</strong> mental health problems.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Half the respondents from seven countries in a survey by non-profit <strong>International Society for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement</strong> reported negative effects on mental health.</li>
<li><strong>Practo,</strong> an integrated health care company, reported a <strong>665% jump</strong> in the number of mental health consultations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>More than two-thirds</strong> of the queries were from those <strong>aged 21-40.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Anxiety, stress</strong> and <strong>panic attacks</strong> were the most commonly discussed topics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the <strong>United States, more than 90% of respondents</strong> to a survey of Harvard Medical School reported <strong>increased worry, frustration, boredom or anxiety.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> global economic cost of mental illness</strong> is expected to be<strong> more than USD 16 trillion</strong> over the next 20 years, which is more than the cost of any other non-communicable disease.</li>
<li><strong>More Vulnerable:</strong> People in<strong> younger</strong> age,<strong> female</strong> gender and those <strong>with comorbidities</strong> reported more psychological impact.</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Related to Pandemic:</strong> The pandemic has <strong>increased isolation</strong> and <strong>loss of income</strong> which are well known triggers of mental health conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The disease itself has been reported to lead to neurological and mental complications such as delirium, agitation and stroke.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> has <strong>disrupted or halted mental health services</strong> in 93% of the countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding and aid:</strong> Lack of funding for huge challenges posed by pandemic and mental health issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> World Health Organisation</strong> (WHO) pointed out that c<strong>ountries are spending less than 2% of their health budget</strong> on mental health.</li>
<li>Only around <strong>1% of the international aid</strong> available for health is earmarked for mental health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A report published in The Lancet Psychiatry in February 2020 indicates that in 2017, there were<strong> 197.3 million people</strong> with mental disorders in India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The top mental illnesses were <strong>depressive disorder</strong> (45.7 million) and <strong>anxiety</strong> disorder (44.9 million).</li>
<li>The contribution of mental disorders to the total DALYs in India increased from 2.5% in 1990 to <strong>4.7%</strong> in 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Depressive disorder and anxiety disorder contributed the most to the total mental disorders DALYs.</li>
<li><strong>Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs):</strong> The burden of disability associated with a disease or disorder can be measured in units called disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>DALYs represent the total number of years lost to illness, disability, or premature death within a given population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Budgetary Spending:</strong> The year 2020 began with a reduction of budget allocation for<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/mental-healthcare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> mental health in India.</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s healthcare budget in 2018 was Rs. 52,800 crore, of which Rs. 50 crore was for mental health and that was reduced to Rs 40 crore the following year.</li>
<li>India is<strong> barely spending 0.5% of the health budget</strong> on this sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives:</strong> The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/mental-healthcare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mental Health Care Act (MHCA) 2017</strong> </a>came into force in 2018 to meet the requirements of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-principles-for-people-with-disabilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</strong></a> which India ratified in 2007.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>KIRAN:</strong> The <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</strong> has launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kiran-mental-health-rehabilitation-helpline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>24/7 toll-free helpline</strong></a> to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health concerns.</li>
<li><strong>Manodarpan Initiative:</strong> It is an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/manodarpan-mental-health-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>initiative</strong></a> of the <strong>Ministry of Education</strong> under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is aimed to provide psychosocial support to students, family members and teachers for their mental health and well-being during the times of Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mental Health Care Act, 2017</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Right to make an Advance Directive,</strong> wherein patients can state on how to be treated or not to be treated for the illness during a mental health situation.</li>
<li><strong>Right to appoint a Nominated Representative:</strong> A person shall have the right to appoint a nominated representative to take on his/her behalf, all health related decisions like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Right to access mental health care,</li>
<li>Right to free &amp; quality services,</li>
<li>Right to get free medicines,</li>
<li>Right to community living,</li>
<li>Right to protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,</li>
<li>Right to live in an environment, safe and hygienic, having basic amenities,</li>
<li>Right to legal aid, and</li>
<li>No Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) without anesthesia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This act brought changes in <strong>Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code</strong> (which criminalized attempted suicide). The attempt to commit suicide is punishable only as an exception.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increasing the number of psychologists and psychiatrists alone won&rsquo;t help. Stigma and awareness are two separate issues although interlinked. They need to be addressed in parallel in order to tackle the burden of mental illness.</li>
<li><strong>Community Partnership:</strong> By forming <strong>self-help groups</strong> of carers families along with <strong>NGO&rsquo;s</strong> which brings community participation and helps reduce the social stigma associated with mental illness.</li>
<li><strong>Increase Resources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing mental healthcare facilities and related infrastructure through more resource allocation in the budget.</li>
<li>Adequate Mental healthcare professional availability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Empathetic Service delivery:</strong> Delivery of services should be sensitive, compassionate and free from stigma and discrimination in public healthcare institutions.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-mental-health-day-2020'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Increase in Human-Leopard Conflict: Study',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A study conducted across Karnataka indicates that the <strong>human-leopard policy guidelines</strong> have had little impact on the ground and it has not led to decrease in human-leopard conflict.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>guidelines for human-leopard conflict management</strong> were brought out by the Government of India in April 2011<strong> to reduce conflict with leopards, discourage their translocation, and suggest improved ways of handling emergency conflict situations. </strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of The Study:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The number of leopards captured per month <strong>increased more than threefold</strong> (from 1.5 to 4.6) since 2011.</li>
<li>Similarly, there was a <strong>threefold increase in the number of leopards translocated</strong> per month (from 1 to 3.5).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Translocation</strong> is the managed movement of live indigenous plants or animals (taonga) from one location to another.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for capture and translocation of leopards (in order of prominence)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Livestock depredation (38.1%)</li>
<li>Leopards rescued from snares and wells (15.7%),</li>
<li>Anxiety caused owing to leopard sightings in human habitations (13.7%),</li>
<li>Leopards entering human dwellings (10.9%).</li>
<li>Human injuries (4.5%)</li>
<li>Human deaths (2%)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related News</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A recent study by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/traffic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>TRAFFIC</strong></a> India on the seizure and mortality of <strong>&lsquo;common leopards&rsquo; <em>(Panthera pardus fusca)</em></strong> revealed that of the total of 747 leopard deaths between 2015-2019 in India, 596 were linked to illegal wildlife trade and activities related to poaching.</li>
<li>The Government of India launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-snow-leopard-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>First National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment</strong></a> in <strong>2019,</strong> to mark the occasion of <strong>International Snow Leopard Day (23<sup>rd</sup> October).</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> a <strong>national census of leopards around tiger habitats</strong> was carried out in India except for the northeast. 7,910 individuals were estimated in surveyed areas and a national total of <strong>12,000-14,000 estimated.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Common Leopard</strong> <em>(Panthera pardus)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602657580_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602657580_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in small parts of Western and Central Asia, on the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian leopard <em>(Panthera pardus fusca)</em> is a leopard widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong> Habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts, and persecution due to conflict situations</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: Vulnerable</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a>: Appendix I</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a>: Schedule I</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/human-leopard-conflict-has-increased-threefold-in-karnataka-finds-study/article32754945.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/increase-in-human-leopard-conflict-study'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict & India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-india-6722267/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Nagorno-Karabakh and India&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Indian Express on 13/10/2020. It talks about the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and its impact on India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, a three decades-old unresolved ethno territorial <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan</strong></a> over Nagorno-Karabakh flared up once again. The conflict is between two relatively small countries and is territorial in nature.</p>
<p>However, several regional and global players particularly Russia, Europe, Turkey and Iran are also involved to secure their strategic, security and economic interests in the region.</p>
<p>As the strategic importance of the region is derived from energy exports, the stability of the region is very important for regional growth and oil importing countries like India.</p>
<p>Further, the conflict may cause geopolitical unrest in the region which is already suffering from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>.Therefore, regional powers must strive to find a diplomatic solution to the problem and prevent the clash turning into a full blown regional conflict.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602588263_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602588263_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Genesis of the Conflict</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Centre of Conflict:</strong> Nagorno-Karabakh, the centre of the conflict, is located within Azerbaijan but is populated, mostly, by those of Armenian ethnicity (and mostly Christian compared to the Shia Muslim majority Azerbaijan).</li>
<li><strong>Background of the Conflict:</strong> The conflict can be traced back to the pre-Soviet era when the region was at the meeting point of Ottoman, Russian and the Persian empires.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Once Azerbaijan and Armenia became Soviet Republics in 1921, Russia (erstwhile Sovient Union) gave Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan but offered autonomy to the contested region.</li>
<li>In the 1980s, when the Soviet power was receding, separatist currents picked up in Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1988, the national assembly voted to dissolve the region&rsquo;s autonomous status and join Armenia.</li>
<li>However, Azerbaijan suppressed such calls, which led to a military conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flash Point of Conflict:</strong> The self-declaration of independence by Nagorno-Karabakh in September 1991 in the backdrop of an imminent collapse of the USSR resulted in a war between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh &mdash; supported by Armenia.</li>
<li><strong>Ceasefire:</strong> This clash lasted till a ceasefire agreement was reached in 1994, mediated largely by Russia. Since then, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe <strong>(OSCE) Minsk Group</strong> co-chaired by the USA, Russia and France have engaged Azerbaijan and Armenia extensively to resolve the conflict.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By that time, Armenia had taken control of Nagorno-Karabakh and handed it to Armenian rebels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Present Day Condition:</strong> The rebels have declared independence, but have not won recognition from any country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The region is still treated as a part of Azerbaijan by the international community, and Azerbaijan wants to take it back.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Strategic Significance of The Region</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The energy-rich Azerbaijan has built several gas and oil pipelines across the Caucasus (the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea) to Turkey and Europe.</li>
<li>Some of these pipelines pass close to the conflict zone (within 16 km of the border).</li>
<li>In an open war between the two countries, the pipelines could be targeted, which would impact energy supplies and may even lead to higher oil prices globally.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Regional Players</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Turkey:</strong> The conflict between the two former Soviet republics has wider geopolitical implications as Turkey, which shares a border with Armenia, is backing Azerbaijan.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the deep cultural ties between the two countries, Turkey is staunchly backing Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>Further, this fits well into<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/turkey-greece-stand-off" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Turkey&rsquo;s aggressive foreign policy</strong></a>, which seeks to expand Turkish interests to the former Ottoman territories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Russia:</strong> Russia enjoys good ties with both Azerbaijan and Armenia and supplies weapons to both.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Armenia is more dependent on Russia than the energy-rich Azerbaijan and Russia also has a military base in Armenia.</li>
<li>Therefore, Russia is trying to strike a balance between the two, by mediating a ceasefire between the warring sides, but it has yet to convene a meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani political or military leaderships.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Israel:</strong> The conflict marks a strange coupling of Turkey and Israel, which are hostile to one another both diplomatically and in terms of security.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Yet both states, dominated by their Sunni and Jewish communities respectively, support and arm Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>Also, Israel&rsquo;s major military and security firms seek to benefit from Azerbaijan&rsquo;s eagerness to be armed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of India: Interests &amp; Challenges</h3>
<p><strong>Asymmetry in Relations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With Armenia, India has a friendship and cooperation treaty (signed in 1995), which, incidentally, would prohibit India from providing military or any other assistance to Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>In the case of Azerbaijan, ONGC/OVL has made investments in an oilfield project in Azerbaijan and GAIL is exploring the possibilities of cooperation in LNG.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Azerbaijan also falls on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-firm-takes-over-chabahar-port-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC)</strong> </a>route, connecting India with Russia through Central Asia.</li>
<li>It can also connect India with Turkey and beyond through the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars passenger and freight rail link.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Armenia extends its unequivocal support to India on Kashmir issue whereas Azerbaijan not only opposess but also promotes Pakistan&rsquo;s narrative on this issue.</li>
<li>India does not have a publicly articulated policy for the South Caucasus &mdash; unlike &ldquo;Neighbourhood First&rdquo;, &ldquo;Act East&rdquo; or &ldquo;Central Asia Connect&rdquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The region has remained on the periphery of its foreign policy radar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Balancing Between The Two Extremes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The conflict is essentially a conflict between two international principles viz. the principle of territorial integrity advocated by Azerbaijan and the principle of the right to self-determination invoked by Nagorno-Karabakh and supported by Armenia.</li>
<li>India has every reason not to support Azerbaijan&rsquo;s territorial integrity as Azerbaijan has shown scant regard for India&rsquo;s territorial integrity violated by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li>At the same time it is difficult for India to publicly endorse Nagorno-Karabakh is right for self-determination in view of the possible repercussions it can have repercussions for India as its adversaries like Pakistan may misuse it not only by making erroneous connections with Kashmir but also re-ignite secessionist movement in certain parts of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Armenia-Azerbaijan conflicts reflect the failure of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In the absence of a peacekeeping force and the political will for peace, low-level frictions have persisted over the years.</p>
<p>Under these circumstances, India has done the right thing to adopt a balanced and neutral stance and pitching for a political solution as outlined in the Madrid Principles.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Madrid Principles</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Co-chaired by Russia, France and the U.S., the Minsk Group put forward in 2007 the Madrid Principles as the basis for the formulation of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>In concrete terms, the Madrid Principles envisaged the demilitarisation of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian majority region that seceded from Azerbaijan towards the end of the Soviet Union, and the gradual liberation of Azerbaijani territory that Armenia had occupied in the 1991-94 war.</li>
<li>These steps are also consistent with the UN Security Council&rsquo;s 1993 resolutions, calling for the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces from Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>Besides, the Madrid Principles mentioned that international peacekeeping operations were to be deployed immediately after the Peace Agreement came into force, to monitor the Armenian redeployment</li>
<li>Also, internally displaced persons and refugees were to be provided the right to return to their original place of residence.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fff3e6;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the impact of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict on India&rsquo;s Connect Central Asia policy.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tpb6ozjbB3k" 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://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/india-afghanistan-peace-delhi-abdullah-6721203/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Talking peace&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on October 12<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Measures to Boost Consumption Demand and Capex',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government has announced a <strong>twin set of measures to boost consumption demand and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-expenditure-as-a-part-of-gdp#:~:text=Capital%20expenditure%20is%20the%20money,well%20as%20investment%20in%20shares." target="_blank" rel="noopener">capital expenditure</a></strong> (Capex), which are estimated to result in quick spending of more than Rs. 1 lakh crore by March 2021.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These measures are the <strong>Leave Travel Concession (LTC) voucher scheme</strong> and a <strong>festival advance scheme.</strong> Also, <strong>measures have been announced to step up Capex by the Centre and the states.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Supply constraints in the economy have eased</strong> over recent months, but <strong>consumer demand remained affected</strong> and these measures <strong>aim at advancing consumer spending</strong> and Capex.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Capex steps are<strong> &ldquo;directly linked to an increase in economic output</strong> given their <strong>high multiplier effect&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The earlier announced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat</strong> </a>package<strong> addressed the requirement of essential goods for needy sections</strong> of the society and now these measures <strong>aim at promoting consumption of high-value items by those</strong> employees whose salaries and jobs have <strong>not been affected by </strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pandemic</a>.</strong></li>
<li>With the <strong>participation of the private sector,</strong> these will stimulate growth in the economy by <strong>advancing the consumption of non-essential, relatively high-value goods and services</strong> in the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leave Travel Concession Voucher Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Leave Travel Concession:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Central government employees</strong> get LTC in a <strong>block of four years,</strong> one each to a destination of choice and home town or two for home town.</li>
<li>Under this, the <strong>air or rail fare is reimbursed</strong> as per pay scale/entitlement. Also, a <strong>leave encashment of ten days</strong> (pay+dearness allowance) <strong>is paid.</strong></li>
<li>However, employees <strong>will not be able to avail the LTC in the 2018-21 year block due to the ongoing pandemic</strong> and this is where the LTC will benefit government employees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In lieu of one LTC during 2018-21, employees will<strong> receive cash payment.</strong> There will be <strong>full payment on leave encashment</strong> and <strong>fare will be paid as per three slabs depending upon the class of entitlement.</strong> Further, there will be <strong>no tax on fare payment.</strong></li>
<li>An employee opting for this scheme will have to <strong>buy goods and services worth three times the fare and one time leave encashment,</strong> and do so <strong>before 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</strong></li>
<li>The money is to be spent on goods attracting<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Goods and Services Tax</strong> </a>(GST) of <strong>12% or more and only digital payments</strong> will be allowed. Also, employees will have to <strong>provide the GST invoice.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the amount is <strong>not spent</strong> then the employee will have to<strong> pay tax as per the marginal tax rate</strong> on the LTC component.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The same benefits will be available to<strong> private-sector employees if the employers decide to offer the scheme</strong> to their employees and they decide to avail it.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits to Economy:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government <strong>expects a demand generation of Rs. 28,000 crore</strong> (Rs. 19,000 crore from central government employees and the rest from states) in the economy.</li>
<li>While <strong>GST collections have been<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-goods-and-services-tax-gst-collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> severely impacted</a></strong> in the first half of the fiscal due to Covid-19 pandemic, a <strong>consumption boost will lift GST collections in the second half</strong> of the year as the scheme calls for expenditure to be done till 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</li>
<li><strong>If private-sector employees also participate, i</strong>t may lead to a <strong>significant jump in overall consumption and rise in GST collections.</strong></li>
<li>Since most employees have not been able to travel after the pandemic, the shifting of the LTC benefit is <strong>expected to generate demand</strong> elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Festival Advance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Festival advance, which was <strong>abolished in line with recommendations of the 7<sup>th</sup> Pay Commission,</strong> has been <strong>restored for one time</strong> till 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</li>
<li>All central government employees will <strong>get an interest-free advance of Rs. 10,000 that will be recovered in 10 instalments.</strong> It will be given in the form of a <strong>pre-loaded RuPay card</strong> of the advance value.</li>
<li>The government<strong> expects to disburse Rs. 4,000 crore</strong> under the scheme by 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021 and<strong> if all states provide</strong> similar advances, <strong>another Rs. 8,000 crore</strong> is likely to be disbursed.</li>
<li>This is expected to <strong>generate consumer demand ahead of festivals</strong> like Diwali.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Measures to Boost Capital Expenditure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>An additional budget of Rs 25,000 crore</strong> for Capex on roads, defence infrastructure, water supply, urban development, and domestically produced capital equipment. This is<strong> expected to come through re-allocation</strong> of resources.</li>
<li><strong>Special assistance will be provided to states in the form of interest-free 50-year loans of Rs. 12,000 crore,</strong> which can be used only for Capex purposes, with certain conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Too Many Restrictions:</strong> Provisions like buying goods and services worth three times the fare, only in goods attracting GST of 12% or more through digital mode before 31<sup>st</sup> March etc. <strong>end the freedom of the consumer</strong> in decision making.</li>
<li><strong>Smaller Size:</strong> Capex amounts are <strong>too small to have any meaningful impact</strong> on economic growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With the previous rounds of budgetary fiscal support of around 1% of GDP, current measures take total fiscal support to <strong>about 1.2% of GDP,</strong> which is <strong>small compared with the size of the growth hit</strong> and reflects India&rsquo;s weak fiscal starting position.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limited Impact:</strong> As the measures are aimed at encouraging spending for government employees <strong>rather than private/vulnerable section</strong> (where <strong>job losses/income losses have been significant</strong>), the<strong> overall impact will be limited.</strong></li>
<li><strong>On Tourism:</strong> LTC Voucher Scheme may impact the travel and tourism industry negatively if consumers choose to spend through the scheme. <strong>Demand in travel and tourism has already fallen significantly</strong> after the Covid-19 induced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lockdown-extended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdowns</strong></a> and closed borders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602583941_image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602583941_image8.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government seeks to coincide the schemes with the upcoming festive period to spur overall consumption and is also spending less to not to put additional burden on the exchequer, in the midst of a notable shortfall in tax and divestment revenues.</li>
<li>The strategic intent behind the schemes is to direct spending towards items for which demand had slumped during the period of lockdowns but this may defeat the larger purpose of reviving demand. Consumption-led growth can arguably lead to a slackening of future growth if it entails growing imbalances due to limits to capacity creation, and rising debt burdens, particularly for households.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/govt-spending-finance-ministry-ltc-festival-advance-6722667/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019: UNDRR',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In a new report<strong> &ldquo;The Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019&rdquo;,</strong> the United Nations pointed out that climate change is largely to blame for a near doubling of natural disasters in the past 20 years.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report is published by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/undrr-global-assessment-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction</strong></a> <strong>(UNDRR).</strong> The report <strong>did not touch on biological hazards and disease-related disasters</strong> like the coronavirus pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction</strong> is observed on<strong> 13<sup>th</sup> October</strong> every year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>7,348 major disaster</strong> events had occurred between 2000 and 2019, <strong>affecting 4.2 billion people</strong> and <strong>costing</strong> the global economy some <strong>USD 2.97 trillion.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The figure is<strong> far more than the 4,212</strong> major natural disasters recorded between <strong>1980 and 1999.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>6,681 climate-linked disasters</strong> had been recorded in the period 2000-19, up from 3,656 during the previous 20-year-period.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Climate-related disasters include disasters categorized as meteorological, climatological, or hydrological.</li>
<li>There had also been an <strong>increase in geophysical events</strong> like earthquakes and tsunamis that are <strong>not related to climate</strong> but are particularly deadly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major floods</strong> had more than doubled to 3,254, there had been 2,034 major storms up from 1,457 in 20 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India</strong> is the <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> most affected country by floods</strong> after China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Extreme heat is proving especially deadly. <strong>Heatwaves of 2015 in India</strong> resulted in 2,248 deaths.</li>
<li>The <strong>deadliest single disaster</strong> in the past 20 years was the<strong> 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami,</strong> with 2,26,400 deaths, followed by the <strong>Haiti earthquake</strong> in 2010, which claimed some 2,22,000 lives.</li>
<li>The data showed that <strong>Asia</strong> has suffered the <strong>highest number of disasters</strong> in the past 20 years with 3,068 such events, followed by the Americas with 1,756 and Africa with 1,192.</li>
<li>In terms of affected countries, <strong>China</strong> topped the list with 577 events followed by the <strong>United States</strong> with 467 and<strong> India</strong> (321 events).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Governments are not doing enough to prevent climate hazards.</li>
<li>A<strong> temperature increase of 3&deg;C</strong> of the global climate is estimated to <strong>increase the frequency of potentially high impact natural hazard events</strong> across the world. This could render <strong>current national and local strategies</strong> for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation <strong>obsolete</strong> in many countries.</li>
<li><strong>Shifting rainfall patterns and greater variability</strong> in precipitation poses a <strong>risk to the 70% of global agriculture</strong> that is rain-fed and the 1.3 billion people dependent on degrading agricultural land.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concentrated impact due to a single disaster in some countries provides an opportunity for a more focused approach on disaster risk reduction. However, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> demonstrates the need for a systemic, multi hazard approach in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world.</li>
<li>There is a requirement for<strong> strengthening disaster risk governance</strong> to manage disaster risk with clear vision, competence, plans, guidelines, funding and coordination across sectors and in a manner, which takes account of the increasingly systemic nature of disaster risk.</li>
<li><strong>Public and private investment</strong> in disaster risk prevention and reduction through <strong>structural</strong> and <strong>non-structural measures</strong> needs to be stepped up to create disaster resilient societies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UNDRR was <strong>established in 1999</strong> as a dedicated secretariat to facilitate the implementation of the <strong>International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).</strong></li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
<li>It is mandated to serve as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities.</li>
<li>It is an <strong>organisational unit of the UN Secretariat</strong> and is led by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG).</li>
<li><strong>UNDRR&rsquo;s Strategic Framework 2016-2021</strong> has a vision to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses for a sustainable future with the <strong>mandate to act as the custodian of <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/sendai-framework-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Sendai Framework</a> (India is a signatory).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Scenario</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-disaster-management-authority-ndma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Disaster Management Authority</strong></a> (NDMA) is the apex statutory body for disaster management in India.</li>
<li>The NDMA was formally constituted in 2006, in accordance with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invocation-of-disaster-management-act-2005-to-deal-with-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Disaster Management Act, 2005</strong></a> with the Prime Minister as its Chairperson.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/disaster-management-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Disaster Management Plan</strong></a> (NDMP) defines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders including Central Ministries/ Departments, State Governments, UT Administrations, District Authorities and local self Governments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Primary responsibility of disaster management rests with the <strong>States.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Central Government</strong> conducts regular mock drill, community training and awareness programmes to prepare the civilian populations for disasters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/climate-change-to-blame-for-doubling-of-disasters/article32837772.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Saviour Sibling',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, doctors successfully conducted <strong>India&rsquo;s first &lsquo;saviour sibling&rsquo; experiment.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> Saviour Sibling named Kavya</strong> saved her 6-year-old brother (suffering from Thalassemia).</li>
<li>150- 200 ml bone marrow was harvested from Kavya in an hour-long procedure and then given to her brother Abhijeet through transfusion.</li>
<li><strong>Kavya suffered low haemoglobin</strong> for some time but it was <strong>corrected with supplements</strong> and she also<strong> endured some pain</strong> in the areas from where the marrow was taken for a few days. Presently, <strong>both Kavya and Abhijeet are healthy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Saviour Sibling&rsquo;</strong> refers to<strong> babies that are created to serve an older sibling as a donor of organs, bone marrow or cells.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Stem cells from the umbilical cord blood or blood of the saviour sibling</strong> are used for <strong>treatment of serious blood disorders like</strong> <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/thalassemia-bal-sewa-yojna" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thalassemia</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-sickle-cell-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sickle cell anaemia.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are <strong>created with In vitro fertilisation (IVF)</strong> so that they can <strong>undergo pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (or testing)</strong> to rule out any genetic disorders and also check bone marrow compatibility. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT)</strong> refers to the genetic profiling of embryos. It is used to screen embryos for genetic diseases or chromosomal abnormalities.</li>
<li>From each embryo, PGT<strong> takes a biopsy of only a few cells</strong> and conducts a <strong>genetic analysis.</strong></li>
<li>This analysis can search to<strong> exclude embryos</strong> carrying a genetic variant that causes a <strong>hereditary disease,</strong> and it can search to find <strong>embryos that are an Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) match to a sibling.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>HLA</strong> is a type of molecule found on the surface of most cells in the body. These <strong>play an important part in the body&rsquo;s immune response to foreign substances.</strong></li>
<li>These <strong>make up a person&rsquo;s tissue type,</strong> which varies from person to person.</li>
<li><strong>HLA typing</strong> is<strong> important in organ transplantation protocols,</strong> as they determine the likelihood of rejection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>world&rsquo;s first saviour sibling, Adam Nash, </strong>was born in<strong> 2000</strong> in the<strong> USA.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For those families with a child that requires a stem cell transplant, often there is a <strong>hurdle of finding a donor for the transplant.</strong></li>
<li>A successful transplant requires an <strong>HLA match</strong> between donor and recipient. However, the <strong>probability of finding a suitable match among family members is about 30% overall.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ethical Considerations and Implications:</strong> In<strong> a 2004 paper</strong> published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, UK researchers debated <strong>whether selecting saviour siblings should be banned.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They studied the arguments to ban it:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That saviour siblings <strong>would be wrongfully treated as means rather than ends.</strong></li>
<li>They would cause or <strong>constitute a slide towards <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/worlds-first-gene-edited-babies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">designer babies</a>,</strong></li>
<li>They <strong>would suffer physically and/or emotionally. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>But the paper found these arguments to be flawed.</strong> It concluded that the <strong>selection of saviour siblings should be permitted,</strong> especially given that prohibiting it would result in the preventable deaths of a number of existing children.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>In vitro Fertilisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IVF is one of the more widely known types of <strong>Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).</strong></li>
<li>In vitro comes from the latin word<strong> &lsquo;in glass&rsquo;,</strong> i.e. studies are done in a test tube rather than in a human or animal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>opposite</strong> to &lsquo;In-vitro&rsquo; is <strong>&lsquo;In-vivo&rsquo;,</strong> which comes from the latin word <strong>&lsquo;within the living&rsquo;.</strong> In vivo refers to experimentation being done in a living organism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In vitro means outside the body. Fertilization means the sperm has attached to and entered the egg.</li>
<li>During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from the ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently there is a significant gap between the biotechnology advancements in prenatal testing versus the necessary legal and ethical framework. It is imperative that legal and ethical standards be set for the benefit of both the families and professionals involved in the creation of savior children.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/a-sister-born-to-save-ailing-brother/article32856312.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saviour-sibling'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'GST Compensation: Centre to Borrow on Behalf of States',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Centre has decided to borrow an estimated revenue shortfall of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore as loans to States</strong> to meet the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax (GST)</strong></a> shortfall.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Borrowing:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The borrowing <strong>will not have any impact on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financing-the-fiscal-deficit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fiscal deficit</a> of the Government of India</strong> as the Centre is acting as mediator only. The Centre is borrowing the loan and passing that on to the states.</li>
<li>The<strong> amounts will be reflected as the capital receipts of the state governments</strong> and as part of financing of its respective fiscal deficits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>economic slowdown had reduced both GST and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cess-fund-for-welfare-of-construction-workers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cess</a> collections</strong> in FY 2019-20, resulting in a 40% gap (shortfall) between the compensation paid and cess collected.</li>
<li>The state&rsquo;s <strong>GST revenue gap in 2020-21</strong> is expected to be about Rs. 3 lakh crore, while cess collections are only projected to reach Rs. 65,000 crore, leaving a <strong>shortfall of Rs. 2.35 lakh crore.</strong></li>
<li>The Centre <strong>distinguished the GST shortfall into two types:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to GST implementation itself.</li>
<li>Caused by the impact of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Finance Minister termed the fall of GST revenue due to Covid-19 as an<strong> act of God.</strong> However, the<strong> GST Compensation Act, 2017</strong> did not foresee an act of God.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The GST Compensation Act, 2017 <strong>guaranteed states that they would be compensated for any loss of revenue in the first five years of GST implementation,</strong> until 2022, using a <strong>cess levied on sin and luxury goods.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Centre has been at loggerheads with many states over the compensation issue due to GST shortfall. In August 2020 at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-meet-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST Council</strong></a> meet, the <strong>Centre had proposed two options to states to meet the shortfall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A special window could be provided, in consultation with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a>, so that the states can get Rs. 97,000 crore at a reasonable rate of interest, the amount can be repaid after five years (of GST implementation) ending 2022 from cess collection.</li>
<li>Another option is that this entire gap of Rs. 2.35 lakh crore can be met by the borrowing by the states in consultation with RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, many states were against these two options and were planning to move the Supreme Court over the issue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The borrowing by the Centre would <strong>avoid differential rates of interest</strong> that individual states may be charged for their respective <strong>State Development Loans (SDLs)</strong> and would be an<strong> administratively easier arrangement.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>country&rsquo;s general government debt,</strong> which includes both the Centre&rsquo;s and States&rsquo; borrowings<strong> will not increase due to this step.</strong></li>
<li>The States that get the benefit from the Special Window are likely to borrow a considerably lesser amount from the additional borrowing facility of 2% of Gross State Domestic Product under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbhar Package.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The borrowing limits of state governments was increased from 3% to 5% of GSDP for the year 2020-21 under <strong>Atma Nirbhar Package.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Goods and Services Tax</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GST was introduced through the <strong>101<sup>st</sup> Constitution Amendment Act, 2016.</strong></li>
<li>It is an <strong>indirect tax</strong> levied on the supply of final goods and services. The GST has <strong>subsumed indirect taxes</strong> like excise duty, Value Added Tax (VAT), service tax, luxury tax etc.</li>
<li>It is essentially a<strong> consumption tax</strong> and is levied at the final consumption point.</li>
<li>It is <strong>levied only on the value addition</strong> and is collected on goods and services at each point of sale in the supply line.</li>
<li>The GST that a merchant pays to procure goods or services (i.e. on inputs) can <strong>be set off</strong> later against the tax applicable on supply of final goods and services. The set off tax is called <strong>input tax credit.</strong></li>
<li>The GST avoids the cascading effect or tax on tax which increases the tax burden on the end consumer.</li>
<li><strong>Tax Structure under GST:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Central GST</strong> to cover Excise duty, Service tax etc, <strong>State GST</strong> to cover VAT, luxury tax etc.</li>
<li><strong>Integrated GST</strong> to cover inter-state trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IGST per se is not a tax but a system to coordinate state and union taxes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has a <strong>4-tier tax structure</strong> for all goods and services under the slabs-<strong> 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/centre-to-borrow-on-behalf-of-states-to-meet-gst-shortfall/article32864640.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/gst-compensation-centre-to-borrow-on-behalf-of-states'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Wheat Variety MACS 6478',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>wheat variety</strong> called <strong>MACS 6478</strong> has <strong>doubled the crop yield</strong> for farmers in Karanjkhop, a village in Maharashtra.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Developed By:</strong> Scientists from <strong>Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune-</strong> an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).</li>
<li><strong>Features:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602831584_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602831584_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="256" height="254" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>common wheat or bread wheat</strong> <em>(Triticum aestivum).</em><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Other popular wheat varieties are<strong> durum wheat</strong> <em>(T. durum)</em> and <strong>club wheat</strong> <em>(T. compactum).</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hybrid Crop,</strong> i.e. produced by the cross-breeding of two genetically different varieties or species. Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly created in nature when open-pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties (not genetically modified).</li>
<li><strong>Matures in 110 days</strong> and is <strong>resistant to</strong> most races of<strong> leaf and stem rust.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is <strong>against the normal maturing attained after 140 to 150 days,</strong> required for wheat varieties cultivated commonly in northern India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This<strong> amber colored medium sized grain</strong> contains <strong>14% protein, 44.1 ppm (parts per million) zinc</strong> and<strong> 42.8 ppm iron</strong> which is higher than other cultivated varieties.</li>
<li>Farmers get a <strong>yield of 45-60 quintal per hectare</strong> with the new variety as against earlier average yield ranging 25-30 quintal per hectare when they cultivated Lok 1, HD 2189 and other old varieties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other ARI Wheat Variety (MACS 4028):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/macs-4028-wheat-variety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bio-fortified durum variety</strong></a> has very high protein (14.7%), iron (46.1 ppm) and zinc (40.3 ppm) content, compared to the corresponding levels of 8-10%, 28-32 ppm and 30-32 ppm in normally-grown varieties. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Biofortification</strong> is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Maturing in just over<strong> 100 days,</strong> it is <strong>suitable for cultivation in rainfed </strong>and<strong> low fertility conditions in Maharashtra and Karnataka.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>chosen for a UNICEF-funded Farming System for Nutrition project,</strong> operated through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research&rsquo;s (ICAR) Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK)</strong></a>, as part of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Nutrition Strategy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>ARI has also bred <strong>MACS 2971,</strong> a high-yielding variety of the traditionally cultivated dicoccum (also known as &lsquo;khapli&rsquo;) wheat that is rich in dietary fibre.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/karan-vandana-a-new-hybrid-wheat-variety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karan Vandana</strong></a> (DBW 187) wheat variety, developed by the <strong>Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR)</strong> under the <strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),</strong> is used for cultivation in North Eastern Plains Zones.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Recent Activities by ARI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Found the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/development-of-synthetic-flavonoids" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> first synthetic route for producing flavonoids molecules</strong> </a>related to the treatment of tuberculosis and chikungunya.</li>
<li>Found that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reasons-behind-pink-water-of-lonar-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>colour of Lonar lake water</strong></a> in Maharashtra&rsquo;s Buldhana district turned pink due to a large presence of the <strong>salt-loving &lsquo;Haloarchaea&rsquo; microbes.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/alternative-dwarfing-genes-in-wheat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mapped two alternative dwarfing genes Rht14 and Rht18</strong></a> in wheat that can help in reducing rice crop residue burning i.e. stubble burning.</li>
<li>Isolated and cultivated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/methanotrophic-bacteria-for-methane-mitigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>45 different strains of methanotrophs</strong></a> (methane-utilising bacteria) and created the first indigenous methanotroph culture.</li>
<li>A <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/methane-hydrates-in-krishna-godavari-basin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin.</a> </strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1664266" 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/wheat-variety-macs-6478'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Promoting Export Dynamism',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-trade-domestic-market-exports-covid-19-6725538/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The domestic market mirage&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 15/10/2020. It talks about the importance of promotion of exports in sustaining long-term economic growth.</p>
</div>
<p>In the event of combating slowdown in Indian economy, the government of India launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma-Nirbhar Abhiyaan</strong></a>. The policy of Atma-nirbhar is an attempt to reorient the economic structure towards ensuring &ldquo;self-sufficiency&rdquo;.</p>
<p>Under this, the government encourages citizens to buy Indian, and the setting up of targets towards building self-reliance in certain sectors. Apart from it, the Abhiyan also encourages more public spending, tax cuts to boost private consumption and private investment, and/or financial sector reform to boost private investment.</p>
<p>However, these initiatives have their own limitations. Therefore, as India contemplates Atma nirbharta, the economic policy should also strive to promote export dynamism and propel Indian economy to the path of long term sustained economic growth.</p>
<h3>Exports and Economic Growth Relation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All the evidence across the world and in India has shown that rapid and sustained economic growth requires export dynamism.</li>
<li>Pre-1991, a 3.5% growth rate was associated with export growth of about 4.5%.</li>
<li>However, India&rsquo;s GDP growth of over 6% after 1991 was associated with real export growth of about 11%.</li>
<li>Also, growth rates of developing countries reflect that it is difficult to achieve quick, sustained, and high rates of economic growth, by solely focusing on domestic demand/consumption-led growth.</li>
<li>Moreover, if domestic producers are competitive internationally, they will be competitive domestically and domestic consumers and firms will also benefit. However, the reverse is not true i.e. being competitive only domestically is no guarantee of efficiency and low cost.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues in Current Economic Policies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Limited Domestic Consumption:</strong> Government seeks to promote consumption-led growth, but consumption growth will be limited by the fact that household debt has grown rapidly in the last few years.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consumption can grow only if incomes grow and income is related to employment status of the people which has been showing a declining trend in India for the past many years..</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitation of Public Expenditure:</strong> Government has resorted to increased public spending to combat the economic slowdown triggered by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic</a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, post-Covid, India&rsquo;s debt has been expected to rise from about 70% of GDP to about 85-90% and fiscal deficit is likely to be in the double-digit range.</li>
<li>Thus, the fiscal space for spending will be severely limited both because of high levels of deficits and indebtedness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitation of Expansionary Monetary Policy:</strong> India may well have scope for expansionary fiscal policy in the short run but not as a medium run growth strategy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is because India&rsquo;s interest rates are not at zero and are unlikely to be so because of persistent inflation.</li>
<li>Therefore, India&rsquo;s borrowing is still considered risky which can be reflected in recent downgrading of ratings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for India&rsquo;s Underperformance in Exports</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Low Level of Participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs):</strong> India&rsquo;s participation in GVCs has been low compared to the major exporting nations in East and Southeast Asia.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the contrary, export growth of capital intensive products from China has been mainly driven by its participation in the GVCs.</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s export promotion policies since the 1990s have relied heavily on a strategy of integrating its domestic industries within the GVCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Market Penetration in High-Income Countries:</strong> With low participation in GVCs have resulted in a disproportionate shift in India&rsquo;s geographical direction of exports from traditional rich country markets to other destinations like African countries.</li>
<li><strong>Specialization versus Diversification:</strong> Indian exports is characterised by high diversification combined with low specialization in exports.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This implies that India is spreading its exports thinly over many products and partners, leading to its lacklustre performance compared to countries like China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Domestic Factors:</strong> The factors like lacklustre infrastructure, complex land and labour markets have impeded the creations of conditions for Indian companies to compete in global markets.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Trade Liberalisation:</strong> India needs to raise its share in world trade beyond 2 per cent. Doing so requires greater trade liberalisation. It will require signing of more free trade agreements.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, India wants to access developed countries markets, it should be willing to open its markets also.</li>
<li>For example, in the context of trade with Europe, it still imposes high duties on India&rsquo;s exports which disadvantages India. Europe will only be willing to sign such an agreement if India is willing to open its markets like automotives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Ease of doing Business:</strong> Export success will also require genuine easing of costs of trading and doing business in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, a more appropriate policy response is to focus on boosting competitiveness &mdash; building infrastructure, ensuring cheap power, reforming land and labour markets, and creating conditions for companies to compete in global markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Becoming Part of GVCs:</strong> India should be striving to embed itself in global value chains.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If India wants to become a major exporter, it should specialize more in the areas of its comparative advantage and achieve significant quantity expansion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy Stability:</strong> In the post Covid world, multinational companies in order to hedge against supply chain disruptions will look to shift away from China.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, in order to attract GVCs India should provide policy stability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>For a long-term sustained economic growth, India needs to have a remarkable export performance. This will be driven by a set of interrelated factors viz. a high level of participation in GVCs; a high degree of specialization in labour-intensive production activities; large scale in the chosen sectors of specialization; and a high level of export penetration in traditional rich countries.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602762864_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602762864_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="619" height="293" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #e4f7f4; border-color: #11a892;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question<br /><br /></strong></em>As India contemplates Atma nirbharta (self-sufficiency), the economic policy should also strive to promote export dynamism. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1XBmOVbNTrU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/readying-the-ground-property-cards-a-good-step-but-the-real-need-is-conclusive-titling/2104819/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Readying the ground&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Financial Express on October 14<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/promoting-export-dynamism'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Third Assembly of ISA',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> India and France</strong> have been re-elected as the President and Co-President of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a> (ISA) for a term of two years at the virtual third Assembly of ISA.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The first two assemblies were held in<strong> India in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-assembly-of-international-solar-alliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2018</a></strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2019</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Assembly approved institutionalising ISA&rsquo;s engagement with the private and public corporate sector through the <strong>Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action</strong> (CSCA).</li>
<li><strong>Various solar awards</strong> were conferred on countries as well as institutions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/birth-anniversary-of-m-visvesvaraya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visvesvaraya</a> award</strong> recognises the countries with a maximum floating solar capacity in each of the four regions of ISA, which are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Asia Pacific Region.</li>
<li>Africa Region.</li>
<li>Europe and others Region.</li>
<li>Latin America and Caribbean Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Kalpana Chawla award</strong> for outstanding contribution of scientists and engineers working in the field of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>solar energy</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Diwakar award</strong> recognises organisations and institutions that have been working for the benefit of differently-abled people and have maximised the use of solar energy in the host country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Assembly was <strong>presented the report prepared by</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-forest-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Resources Institute</strong></a> (WRI) which <strong>identifies the sources of funds, opportunities and constraints, in scaling up solar investments and the contribution</strong> of ISA in assisting Member countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ISA will work with WRI to develop a roadmap for <strong>mobilisation of USD 1 trillion by 2030</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the wake of the global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>, ISA responded by setting up <strong>ISA CARES</strong> (like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM-CARES</strong></a> in India), an initiative dedicated to the deployment of solar energy in the healthcare sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The initiative <strong>aims to solarize one primary health sector</strong> in each district of the target member countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ISA Secretariat has launched a <strong>Seventh Programme on Solarising Heating and Cooling systems</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Demand for cooling alone outpaced solar deployment in 2017.</li>
<li>Heating and cooling systems have scope to directly convert solar radiation and at higher efficiency levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SAARC</a> Development Fund&rsquo;s</strong> technical assistance along with the <strong>ISA Technical Assistance</strong> is proposed to be implemented jointly with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asian-development-outlook-2019-strengthening-disaster-resilience-adb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The ISA has recently signed a tripartite agreement with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> and the Government of India and is now actively involved in preparing a vision and <strong>implementation plan for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-sun-one-world-one-grid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;One Sun, One World, One Grid&rdquo;</a> Initiative</strong> to harness the power of interconnected grids for enabling energy transition to a low-carbon world.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Perspective and Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President of the ISA Assembly, <strong>India&rsquo;s Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister</strong> appreciated the Alliance Members coming together to work for combating climate change.</li>
<li>He also<strong> highlighted various activities and programmes</strong> initiated by ISA since the 2<sup>nd</sup> Assembly like the <strong>development of a pipeline</strong> of more than USD 5 billion,<strong> aggregated demand</strong> for more than 270,000 solar pumps across 22 countries, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>France&rsquo;s Role:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France has <strong>committed 1.5 billion Euros</strong> for financing solar projects in ISA member states up until 2022.</li>
<li>The <strong>first project under the Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative</strong> (SRMI) <strong>is being</strong> launched in<strong> Mozambique</strong> with the support of <strong>France and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a></strong> (EU).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SRMI will help mobilise billions in private investment to finance more than 10 GWs of solar projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the frame of the <strong>ISA&rsquo;s Solar Technology Application Resource Centre</strong> (Star-C) <strong>programme</strong>, the <strong>French National Institute for Solar Energy</strong> (INES) will launch a specific program for the small island states of the Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>Indian initiative</strong> that was launched by the <strong>Prime Minister of India and the President of France</strong> on <strong>30<sup>th</sup> November 2015 in Paris</strong>, France on the side-lines of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties</strong></a> (COP-21), with <strong>121 solar resource-rich countries</strong> lying <strong>fully or partially between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn</strong> as prospective members.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries.</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong> Till now, <strong>87 countries have signed the Framework Agreement</strong> of the ISA and of these <strong>67 have deposited their instruments of ratification</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nicaragua, a Central American country</strong> is the <strong>87<sup>th</sup> and the latest</strong> country to sign the agreement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has <strong>allotted 5 acres of land</strong> to the ISA in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-thermal-energy-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Institute of Solar Energy</strong></a> (NISE) campus, Gurugram and has released a <strong>sum of Rs. 160 crore</strong> for creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure and meeting day to day recurring expenditure of the ISA up to the year 2021-22.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1664423" 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/third-assembly-of-isa'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</strong> launched the <strong>second phase</strong> of <strong>&ldquo;Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna&rdquo;</strong> for the <strong>underprivileged Thalassemic patients</strong>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)</strong> program was launched in <strong>2017</strong> and is funded by <strong>Coal India <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corporate-social-responsibility-csr-expenditure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)</a></strong>. It will be <strong>extended</strong> for next two years from 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>HSCT</strong> refers to the <strong>transplantation of stem cells</strong> from various sources (bone marrow, growth factor&ndash;stimulated peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood) for the treatment of various diseases like autoimmune, and genetic diseases.</li>
<li><strong>Hematopoietic Stem Cell:</strong> It is an immature cell that can develop into all types of blood cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Hematopoietic stem cells are found in the peripheral blood and the bone marrow. Also called blood stem cell.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> It aims to provide a<strong> one-time cure opportunity for Haemoglobinopathies like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease</strong> for patients who have a matched family donor.</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Only patients whose <strong>monthly family income is below Rs 20,000</strong> will be eligible for this assistance.</li>
<li>The scheme has been extended to cover <strong>Aplastic Anaemia patients</strong> (lack of blood cell production in body).</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> The CSR initiative was targeted to provide financial assistance to a total of 200 patients by providing a package cost not exceeding <strong>rupees 10 lakhs per HSCT</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Statistics:</strong> It is estimated 10,000 to 12,000 children are born with thalassemia every year in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Data on the prevalence of <strong>silent carriers</strong> (persons without symptoms but potential to transmit to offsprings) for various Haemoglobinopathies show that silent carriers are <strong>2.9-4.6% for Thalassemia</strong>, while it can be as high as <strong>40% for sickle cell anaemia</strong> especially among the tribal population.</li>
<li>Haemoglobin variants like<strong> Hemoglobin E (HBE)</strong> - deformed hemoglobin- in <strong>eastern India</strong> can be as common as <strong>3-50%</strong> which calls for more attention to these diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Thalassemia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>genetic blood disorder</strong> that causes the body to have less hemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen. Thalassemia can cause anemia, leading to fatigue.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sickle Cell Disease</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an inherited disease caused by defects, called mutations, in the beta globin gene that helps make hemoglobin. The red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a &ldquo;sickle&rdquo;. The <strong>sickle cells die early</strong>, which causes a <strong>constant shortage of red blood cells</strong>.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-sickle-cell-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Sickle Cell Day 2020</strong> </a>was observed to increase awareness about the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) at the national level.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The day is recognised by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> and celebrated every year on <strong>19<sup>th</sup> June</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1664398" 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/thalassemia-bal-sewa-yojna'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Pulse Release from Buffer Stocks',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union government<strong> plans to release 40,000 tonnes of tur dal</strong> from its buffer stock into the retail market in small lots, in a bid to cool down the recent hike in pulses prices.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hiking Prices:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Major <strong>consuming centres</strong> (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Bihar and Tamil Nadu) <strong>of urad and tur dal</strong> have seen a <strong>20% <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/higher-food-prices-and-nutrition-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spike</a> in prices</strong> over the last two weeks alone.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These states have <strong>expressed an interest in buying one lakh tonnes of pulses</strong> from the Central buffer stock at the MSP rates to sell at subsidised prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At an all-India level, the<strong> average retail prices of urad</strong> have shot up <strong>almost 40% in comparison to 2019</strong>, while the <strong>average retail prices of tur dal</strong> have <strong>increased by almost 24%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Retail Intervention:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Department of Consumer Affairs</strong> (DoCA) has introduced retail intervention, a mechanism to use the buffer stock of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bihar-to-sell-kashmiri-apples" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India</strong></a> (NAFED).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NAFED procures pulses from farmers at <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minimum Support Price</a></strong> (MSP) rates to moderate retail prices by supplying pulses to the States and the Union Territories.</li>
<li>The States are supplied pulses either in bulk or in retail packs for supply through the ration shops of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System</strong> </a>(PDS), or through milk and vegetable outlets run by the government or cooperatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For such retail intervention, <strong>offer prices are fixed on the basis of MSP itself</strong>.</li>
<li>This move will also help clear NAFED&rsquo;s existing stock to make way for procurement from this season&rsquo;s harvest, due to arrive in markets soon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Using Open Market Sale:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the retail intervention, the DoCA has also<strong> decided to release 40,000 metric tonnes of tur from the buffer stock in Open Market Sale</strong> (OMS) Scheme in small lots so that the releases may reach the retail market at a faster pace and help in cooling off rising prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Earlier Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre extended the procurement window for its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-annadata-aay-anrakshan-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Price Support Scheme (PSS)</strong></a> <strong>up to 90 days from the date of commencement</strong> of the scheme in each State.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The PSS is <strong>operationalised on the State governments&rsquo; request</strong> when the prices fall below the MSP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Centre promised to provide <strong>one kg of pulses per month to all families with ration cards for the three months</strong> as part of a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 relief package</a> (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is registered under the <strong>Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002</strong>.</li>
<li>It was <strong>set up in 1958</strong> with the objective to <strong>promote cooperative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Agricultural farmers are the members</strong> of the General Body of NAFED, who participate in the decision-making process.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Minimum Support Price</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>rate at which the government buys grains from farmers</strong>.</li>
<li>The reason behind the idea is to <strong>counter the price volatility</strong> of agricultural commodities <strong>due to the factors like</strong> variations in the supply, lack of market integration and information asymmetry.</li>
<li>It is fixed on the recommendations of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-corporation-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Open Market Sale Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-corporation-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Corporation of India</strong></a> (FCI) sells surplus stocks of wheat and rice at <strong>predetermined prices through e-auction in the open market</strong> from time to time to <strong>enhance the supply</strong> of food grains.</li>
<li>It is done especially <strong>during the lean season to moderate the open market prices</strong> in the deficit regions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Food and nutrition security is ensured if all of the citizens of a nation have enough nutritious food available, all of them have the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality and there is no barrier on access to food.</li>
<li>The right to nutritious food is a well-established principle of international human rights law. It has evolved to include an obligation for state parties to respect, protect and fulfil their citizens&rsquo; right to food and nutrition security.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/as-prices-rise-centre-to-release-14-lakh-tonnes-of-pulses-from-buffer-stock/article32853962.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/pulse-release-from-buffer-stocks'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Madhuca Diplostemon: Rediscovered in Kerala',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<em><strong> Madhuca diplostemon</strong></em> tree has been rediscovered after a gap of more than 180 years from a sacred grove in <strong>Kollam district, Kerala</strong>.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602750134_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602750134_image2.png" width="310" height="232" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The tree is locally known as <em><strong>Kavilippa</strong></em> in Malayalam.</li>
<li>It has been identified by the scientists at the <strong>Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute</strong> (JNTBGRI) at <strong>Palode, Kerala</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>threatened species of the Western Ghats</strong> was believed to be extinct.</li>
<li>This is the <strong>second time</strong> a tree of this species has ever been located and <strong>only one mature tree has been found so far</strong>, which makes this remarkable rediscovery <strong>extremely valuable from a scientific, environmental and conservation point</strong> of view.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> 1835, Robert Wight, a surgeon-botanist with the East India Company</strong>, found the first specimen.</li>
<li>Since its original collection, specimens of the tree were never collected again, neither from its locality nor elsewhere, and botanical explorations in Eastern and Western Ghats failed to locate the species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature</strong></a> (IUCN) has included it in the <strong>endangered</strong> species list.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, since there is only one specimen left in a single locality, it is <strong>eligible to be categorised</strong> as <strong>'Critically Endangered'</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The JNTBGRI is planning to undertake the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-conservation-of-tigers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> ex-situ conservation</strong> </a>of this species through the <strong>institute&rsquo;s species recovery programme</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/extinct-tree-found-after-180-years-in-kollam-grove/article32760018.ece#:~:text=Madhuca%20diplostemon-,It%20was%20in%201835%20that%20Madhuca%20diplostemon%2C%20a%20threatened%20species,sacred%20grove%20in%20Kollam%20district." 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/madhuca-diplostemon-rediscovered-in-kerala'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Parasitic Infections in One-Horned Rhinoceros',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/living-planet-report-wwf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Wildlife Fund (WWF)</strong></a> India has published reports titled <strong>&lsquo;Prevalence of Endoparasitic Infections in Free-Ranging Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros&rsquo;</strong> for Assam and West Bengal.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602749527_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602749527_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="342" height="205" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Poaching</strong> is believed to be the <strong>main cause of death</strong> in rhinos, however, they also die of natural causes which have not been studied in great detail.</li>
<li>Since <strong>2017</strong>, the <strong>Rhino Task Force of Assam</strong> and <strong>WWF India</strong> have been undertaking steps to study pathogens found in fresh rhino dung samples in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Before this, there was no systematic study on the prevalence of disease-causing parasites and diseases caused by these in the rhino population in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the researchers,<strong> habitat degradation</strong> can lead to an <strong>increased exposure to pathogens</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to increasing livestock pressure on protected areas, there is a possible threat of pathogens getting transferred from domestic animals to wild animals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>From the samples from Assam and West Bengal, the study concluded that <strong>parasites from four genera were present in an estimated 68% of India&rsquo;s rhino population</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>overall prevalence of endoparasites</strong> was <strong>58.57%</strong> in <strong>Assam</strong> and <strong>88.46%</strong> in <strong>West Bengal</strong>; results from UP are pending.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Endoparasites</strong> are <strong>parasites that live in the tissues and organs of their hosts,</strong> such as tapeworms, flukes, and protozoans of vertebrates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Greater One-Horned Rhino</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are <strong>three species of rhino in Asia &mdash; Greater one-horned</strong> (<em>Rhinoceros unicornis</em>), <strong>Javan</strong> and <strong>Sumatran</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Poaching</strong> for the horns and <strong>habitat loss</strong> are the two greatest threats to the survival of Asia's rhinos.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asian-rhino-range-countries-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>five rhino range nations</strong></a> (<strong>India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia </strong>and <strong>Malaysia</strong>) have signed a declaration &lsquo;The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019&rsquo; for the conservation and protection of the species.</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Javan</strong> and <strong>Sumatran</strong> Rhino are <strong>critically endangered</strong> and the <strong>Greater one-horned</strong> <strong>(or Indian)</strong> rhino is <strong>vulnerable</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>.</li>
<li>All three listed under <strong>Appendix I <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CITES)</a></strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Greater one-horned rhino</strong> is listed under the <strong>Schedule I of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat of Greater One-Horned Rhino:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The species is restricted to small habitats in Indo-Nepal terai and northern West Bengal and Assam.</li>
<li>In India, rhinos are mainly found in <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaziranga-national-park-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaziranga NP</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pobitora-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pobitora WLS</a></strong>, Orang NP, Manas NP in Assam, Jaldapara NP and Gorumara NP in West Bengal and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dudhwa-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dudhwa TR</strong></a> in Uttar Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)</strong> has begun a project to create <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dna-database-for-indian-rhinos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DNA profiles of all rhinos</strong></a> in the country.</li>
<li><strong>National Rhino Conservation Strategy:</strong> It was launched in 2019 to conserve the greater one-horned rhinoceros.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Rhino Vision 2020:</strong> Launched in 2005, it is an ambitious effort to attain a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos spread over seven protected areas in the Indian state of Assam by the year 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/beyond-poaching-how-rhino-dung-offers-clues-on-health-and-natural-death-6726950/" 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/parasitic-infections-in-one-horned-rhinoceros'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Vehicles',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fk-jIaid2FQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>Aimed at a significant push for hydrogen vehicles in the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified standards for the safety evaluation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fuel-cell-electric-vehicle" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Based Vehicles.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This would facilitate the promotion of hydrogen fuel cell-based vehicles in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The notified standards are also at par with the available international standards.</li>
<li>The prospective manufacturer and suppliers of such vehicles will now have the standards available for their testing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hydrogen in Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In contrast to other electric vehicles, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fuel-cell-electric-vehicle" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FCEVs</strong></a> produce electricity using a fuel cell powered by hydrogen, rather than drawing electricity from only a battery.</li>
<li>During the vehicle design process, the power of the vehicle is defined by the size of the electric motor(s) that receive electric power from the appropriately sized fuel cell and battery combination.</li>
<li>Most FCEVs today use the battery for recapturing braking energy, providing extra power during short acceleration events and to smooth out the power delivered from the fuel cell with the option to idle or turn off the fuel cell during low power needs.</li>
<li>The amount of energy stored onboard is determined by the size of the hydrogen fuel tank.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is different from an all-electric vehicle, where the amount of power and energy available are both closely related to the battery's size.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fuel Cell</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fuel cells and batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy and are very useful forms of galvanic cells.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A galvanic or voltaic cell is an electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy through the redox reactions that occur within the cell.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>hydrogen</strong> fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts specifically hydrogen into electrical energy.</li>
<li>Galvanic cells that are designed to convert the energy of combustion of fuels like hydrogen, methane, methanol, etc. directly into electrical energy are called fuel cells. One of the most successful fuel cells uses the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Production of Hydrogen for HFC</h3>
<p>In the context of India there are mainly three effective methods for the production of hydrogen for the hydrogen fuel cell:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Natural gas:</strong> Natural gas reforming is an advanced and mature production process that builds upon the existing natural gas pipeline delivery infrastructure. Natural gas contains methane (CH4) that can be used to produce hydrogen with thermal processes, such as steam-methane reformation and partial oxidation.</li>
<li><strong>Thermochemical water splitting:</strong> It uses high temperatures&mdash;from concentrated solar power or from the waste heat of nuclear power reactions&mdash;and chemical reactions to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Thermochemical water splitting</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The process uses high-temperature heat (500&deg;&ndash;2,000&deg;C) to drive a series of chemical reactions that produce hydrogen.</li>
<li>The chemicals used in the process are reused within each cycle, creating a closed loop that consumes only water and produces hydrogen and oxygen.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biomass based production:</strong> Biomass is organic material which includes agriculture crop residues, forest residues, special crops grown specifically for energy use , organic municipal solid waste, and animal wastes. This renewable resource can be used to produce hydrogen, along with other byproducts, by gasification.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Biomass Gasification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Biomass gasification is a technology pathway that uses a controlled process involving heat, steam, and oxygen to convert biomass to hydrogen and other products, without combustion.</li>
<li>As growing biomass removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the net carbon emissions of this method can be low, especially if coupled with carbon capture, utilization, and storage in the long term.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Advantage of HFC over Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Loss of energy in ICE:</strong> In an ICE, the chemical energy of hydrogen is first converted into thermal energy, the heat energy is then converted into mechanical energy which is then converted into electrical energy, too much of energy is lost.</li>
<li><strong>Higher efficiency of HFCs:</strong> The conversion of energy takes place at lower temperature, the loss is comparatively much less and the efficiency is higher.</li>
<li><strong>Dual purpose:</strong> The fuel cell solves dual purpose as it can run the vehicle and can generate standby power in case of emergencies as well.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; background-color: #0b1040; height: 19px;" colspan="2"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Pros and Cons of using Hydrogen Fuel Cells (HFCs) in Vehicles</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #808cbd;"><strong>Pros</strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; height: 19px; background-color: #808cbd;"><strong>Cons</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 89px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hydrogen is a clean fuel, no emission of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter is there.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Estimated cost of a vehicle running on Hydrogen Fuel Cells is $ 50,000 (₹ 36,66,872).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 111px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 111px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Only water is the residue of HFCs which can be used in the desert areas.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 111px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A hydrogen based fuel is highly inflammable, the production, transport and storage of the fuel is a possible challenge.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 89px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The biomass based hydrogen production will lead to the boost in the rural economy.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The investment required in storing and dispensing of the HFC Vehicle is expectedly very high.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 111px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 111px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Vehicles running on HFCs are best suited for heavy duty vehicles as electric vehicles are only limited to lighter vehicles.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 111px; background-color: #ebe8fc;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the international market of HFC vehicles is very less, the loss and the chances of facing it are very high.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Commitments:</strong> India has to adhere to its commitment in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop25-climate-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Paris Climate Agreement</strong> </a>and its <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/11-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Targets</strong> </a>and ensure that its mobility in the future is with zero emissions.</li>
<li><strong>Role of Governments and OEMs:</strong> The governments across the world and the leading <strong>Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs)</strong> should step forward to invest in this field as their investment can lower such high cost of production and maintenance of these vehicles drastically.</li>
<li><strong>Welcoming the Newer Technologies:</strong> Although electric vehicles solve a large part of the emission problems, HFCVs are the best option in case of the heavy duty vehicles such as trucks and tractors, which is produced in large numbers in India. Hence the technology should be embraced with welcoming hands.</li>
<li><strong>Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles:</strong> India is the leading producer of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles, which could be used as an alternative technology to the high cost Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (HICEV)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A HICEV is a vehicle powered by a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. Some versions are hydrogen-gasoline hybrids.</li>
<li>Hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles are different from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (which use electrochemical use of hydrogen rather than combustion).</li>
<li>Instead, the hydrogen internal combustion engine is simply a modified version of the traditional gasoline-powered internal combustion engine.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India's INDC Targets, to be achieved primarily by 2030</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To reduce the emissions intensity of the GDP by about a third.</li>
<li>A total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources.</li>
<li>India also promised an additional carbon sink (a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently HFC is still in its infancy stage however we can't depend on conventional fuel for future, hence we should work on alternatives like HFC, electric, solar energy to meet energy requirements for transportation purposes.</li>
<li>Hydrogen Fuel Cell has a big role to play in mobility and zero emission technology in future.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-hydrogen-fuel-cell-for-vehicles'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'CRISPR Technology',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/gene-editing-the-good-first-and-then-the-worries/article32837842.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Gene editing, the good first and then the worries&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 13/10/2020. It talks about the opportunity and issues related to CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-chemistry-2020#:~:text=Recently%2C%20Emmanuelle%20Charpentier%20of%20France,to%20a%20women%2Donly%20team." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2020</strong></a> was given to two women scientists namely Emmanuelle Charpentier (France) &amp; Jennifer A. Doudna (Germany). The nobel prize was given to them for the development of a method for genome editing.</p>
<p>The two scientists have pioneered the use of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-gene-editing-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)</strong></a> &ndash; Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) system as a gene-editing tool.</p>
<p>Using components of the CRISPR system, researchers can add, remove, or even alter specific DNA. This has led to a significant impact in biology, medicine, and agriculture.</p>
<p>However, there is growing fear that the promising <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/genetic-engineering-promises-perils" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gene-editing system</strong></a> can cause many social and anthropogenic issues.</p>
<h3>Application of Gene-Editing</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Agriculture:</strong> It is being tried out in agriculture primarily to increase plant yield, quality, disease resistance, herbicide resistance and domestication of wild species.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The huge potential to edit genes using this tool has been used to create a large number of crop varieties with improved agronomic performance; it has also brought in sweeping changes to breeding technologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Genetic-Research:</strong> CRISPR systems are already delivering superior genetic models for fundamental disease research, drug screening, and therapy development, rapid diagnostics, in-vivo editing and correction of heritable conditions.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scientists are working on the theory that CRISPR might be used to boost the function of the body's T-cells so that the immune system is better at recognizing and killing cancer.</li>
<li>Disorders of the blood and immune system are other potential targets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Medical Treatment:</strong> CRISPR/Cas9 has also been seen as a promising way to create potential genome editing treatments for diseases such as HIV, cancer or sickle cell disease.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such therapeutics could inactivate a disease-causing gene, or correct a genetic mutation.</li>
<li>Researchers in China edited human embryos to try to correct a faulty gene that caused an inherited blood disorder.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Therapeutic Cloning:</strong> It is a process whereby embryonic cells are cloned to obtain biological organs for transplantation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Debate in Agriculture Genetic Modification:</strong> There are concerns over the inadvertent effects, such as the creation of food that can cause an allergic reaction.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two studies, one from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and the other from the biopharmaceutical company Novartis, have highlighted that CRISPR-Cas9-edited cells might trigger cancer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Germline Modification:</strong> Germline Editing means deliberately changing the genes passed on to children and future generations &ndash; in other words, creating genetically modified people.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the most of the ethical discussions related to genome editing center around human germline editing. This is because changes made in the germline would be passed down to future generations.</li>
<li>Human germline modification has for many years been widely considered off-limits, for both safety and social reasons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Germline is the cellular lineage of a sexually reproducing organism from which eggs and sperm are derived.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genetic Inequality:</strong> Through Gene-editing, wealthy parents can buy the latest offspring upgrades for their children.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will lead to the emergence of genetic haves and have-nots and even greater inequality than the present world already lives with.</li>
<li>Some of the key scientists in this field have concerns about the potential misuse of a technology that could be used for eugenics, to create genetic discrimination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Illegal Experimentation:</strong> Last year, a Chinese researcher used the tool to modify a particular gene in the embryo to make babies immune to HIV infection, which led to international furore.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Though no guidelines have been drawn up so far, there is a general consensus in the scientific and ethics communities that the gene-editing technique should not be used clinically on embryos.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Status In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, several rules, guidelines, and policies backed by the &ldquo;Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989&rdquo; notified under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Protection Act, 1986</strong></a>, regulate genetically modified organisms.</li>
<li>Apart from it, the <strong>National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research involving human participants, 2017,</strong> by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Biomedical and Health Research Regulation Bill implies regulation of the gene-editing process.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is especially so in the usage of its language &ldquo;modification, deletion or removal of parts of heritable material&rdquo;.</li>
<li>However, there is no explicit mention of the term gene editing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The gene-editing tool has indeed taken &ldquo;life sciences into a new epoch&rdquo;. However, like other scientific development it can turn out to be both as a boon or a bane. Therefore, it all depends how well the gene-editing science is regulated for the welfare of humankind.</p>
<p>Thus, it is time that India came up with a specific law to ban germline editing and put out guidelines for conducting gene-editing research giving rise to modified organisms.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602675987_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602675987_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" 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: #efffed;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The gene-editing tool has indeed taken &ldquo;life sciences into a new epoch&rdquo;. However, like other scientific development it can turn out to be both as a boon or a bane. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sv37wyM3xTI" 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.business-standard.com/article/opinion/award-for-auctions-120101201551_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Award for auctions&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Business Standard on October 12<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/crispr-technology'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'C-DAC’s MoUs on Supercomputing',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jatan-virtual-museum-software" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing</strong></a> (C-DAC) under the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (Meity) has signed 13 MoUs with the <strong>premier academic and research and development</strong> (R&amp;D) institutions of India.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aims behind the Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>establish supercomputing infrastructure</strong> with assembly and manufacturing in India and<strong> critical components</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-supercomputing-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Supercomputing Mission</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Supercomputing</strong> has <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/national-supercomputer-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>applications</strong></a> in so many areas like computational biology and chemistry, molecular dynamics, national security,<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> big data</strong></a> analytics, government information systems, and so on.</li>
<li>It becomes a powerful tool, paired with <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)</strong></a>, enabling it to empower people and make India ready to tackle future challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To develop <strong>India&rsquo;s indigenous hardware</strong> encompassing <strong>exascale</strong> chip design, design and manufacture of exascale server boards, exascale interconnects and storage including<strong> silicon-photonics</strong> at C-DAC to <strong>achieve complete self-reliance</strong> envisioned under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat</strong></a> Initiative.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Exascale computing</strong> refers to computing systems capable of calculating at least 10<sup>18</sup> floating-point operations per second.</li>
<li><strong>Silicon photonics</strong> is an evolving technology in which data is transferred among computer chips by optical rays. Optical rays can carry far more data in less time than electrical conductors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Supercomputing Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was <strong>announced in 2015,</strong> with an aim to connect national academic and R&amp;D institutions with a grid of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities at an estimated cost of <strong>Rs. 4,500 crores</strong> over a <strong>period of seven years.</strong></li>
<li>It supports the government's vision of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'Digital India'</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'Make in India'</strong></a> initiatives.</li>
<li>It is being implemented by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-dst" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department of Science and Technology</strong> </a>(DST) and <strong>Department of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (DeitY) through <strong>C-DAC and Indian Institute of Science</strong> (IISc), Bangalore.</li>
<li><strong>The Mission envisages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To improve the number of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-supercomputing-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> supercomputers</strong></a> owned by India.</li>
<li>To <strong>build a strong base of 20,000 skilled persons</strong> over a period of five years who will be equipped to handle the complexities of supercomputers.</li>
<li>To empower Indian national academic and R&amp;D institutions to spread over the country by<strong> installing a vast supercomputing grid</strong> comprising more than 70 <strong>high-performance computing</strong> (HPC) facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India&rsquo;s Top Five Supercomputers</strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602674975_Image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602674975_Image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>PARAM 8000,</strong> considered to be <strong>India&rsquo;s first supercomputer</strong> was indigenously built in <strong>1991</strong> by C-DAC.</li>
<li><strong>SUMMIT</strong> (USA) is the <strong>fastest supercomputer in the world</strong> which can deliver upto 187,659.3 TFlop/s.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1663952" 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/c-dac-s-mous-on-supercomputing'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'India-Mexico',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>5<sup>th</sup></strong> meeting of the<strong> India-Mexico Bilateral High-Level Group</strong> (BHLG) <strong>on Trade, Investment and Cooperation</strong> has been held through video conference.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>4<sup>th</sup> meeting</strong> of BHLG on Trade, Investment and Cooperation at the level of Commerce Secretary was held<strong> in Mexico City in July 2016.</strong></li>
<li>On <strong>1<sup>st</sup> August 2020,</strong> India and Mexico celebrated the <strong>70<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations</strong> between them.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both sides discussed a number of bilateral ongoing and outstanding issues, ranging from <strong>Audio-visual Co-production, Bilateral Investment Treaty, market access for agricultural products, a cooperation framework on Sanitary and Phytosanitary</strong> (SPS) and <strong>Technical Barriers to Trade</strong> (TBT) measures, <strong>cooperation in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intellectual Property Rights</a></strong> (IPR), and exploring ways to <strong>promote <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/tourism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tourism</a> and people-to-people contact.</strong></li>
<li>They also <strong>agreed to expand and diversify</strong> the bilateral trade relationship through enhanced cooperation in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, healthcare, agro-products, fisheries, food processing and aerospace industry, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Two Memorandum of Understandings</strong> (MoUs) have been signed, to foster the cooperation in the domains of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Electronics, Computer Software and Telecommunications and Information Technologies.</li>
<li>Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Mexico Relations</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602672435_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602672435_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="350" height="247" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Historical Ties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Being <strong>colonies in the past,</strong> India and Mexico have <strong>European connections of the <a href="/gs-special/gs-special-world-history/colonialism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">colonial</a> era.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Mexico</strong> was the<strong> first Latin American country to recognise India</strong> after Independence and establish diplomatic relations with India in 1950.</li>
<li><strong>Mexican wheat varieties</strong> used in Indo-Mexican hybrids were the <strong>backbone of India&rsquo;s<a href="/mains-practice-question/question-97" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Green Revolution</a></strong> in the 1960s.</li>
<li>In the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War</strong> </a>years, Mexico and India had worked together closely as members of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> (UN), both actively championing the interests of developing countries such as in the <strong>Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations</strong> (under the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organisation</strong></a>).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both countries are the <strong>members of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G-20</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political and Bilateral Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries <strong>established a &lsquo;Privileged Partnership&rsquo; in 2007.</strong></li>
<li>In 2015, both countries <strong>agreed to work</strong> for achieving a<strong> &lsquo;Strategic Partnership&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The two countries have <strong>several bilateral agreements and MoUs,</strong> including for Investment Promotion and Protection, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extradition-treaty-between-india-and-belgium" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Extradition</strong></a>, Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, Space Cooperation, etc.</li>
<li>India gives<strong> 20 scholarships</strong> to Mexico under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-president-s-visit-to-comoros-and-sierra-leone" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme</strong> </a>and Mexican diplomats are also given training at <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Survey of India</strong></a> (FSI).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic and Commercial Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mexico is<strong> currently India&rsquo;s largest trading partner in Latin America.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2018-19, it accounted for almost a quarter of India&rsquo;s trade with the region. <strong>India is currently Mexico&rsquo;s ninth-most important</strong> global trading partner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> last decade has seen a spurt in trade</strong> between the two countries, which has grown from around USD 5 billion in 2015-16 to<strong> USD 9.4 billion in 2018-19.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Exports:</strong> Vehicles and auto parts, organic chemicals, electrical machinery and electronic equipment, aluminium products, readymade garments, iron and steel products and gems and jewellery.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Imports:</strong> Crude oil, electrical goods and machinery, organic chemicals, vehicles and auto parts and iron and steel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both countries share a<strong> common concern over growing traditional and non-traditional security challenges,</strong> particularly the <strong>rise of<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> global terrorism</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Ties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Centre</strong> has been functioning in Mexico since October 2010, teaching Yoga, classical dances, music, etc.</li>
<li>An <strong>agreement on cultural cooperation</strong> has been in existence <strong>since 1975</strong> and cooperation activities are carried out through four-yearly<strong> &lsquo;Programmes of Cultural Cooperation&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Community:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian community in Mexico is estimated to be more than 7,000, comprising mostly software engineers of Indian IT companies, academics/professors, and private businessmen.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism</strong> between the two countries is <strong>steadily increasing</strong> and Mexicans have been extended the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-july-7th-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>online e-Tourist Visa facility.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Indian nationals holding ordinary passports but having a valid visa for</strong> the USA, the UK, Canada, Schengen area or Japan, and holders of permanent residence in the same countries or Member States of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-future-of-free-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pacific Alliance</strong></a> viz. Colombia, Chile and Peru<strong> do not need a visa for short tourism or business visits</strong> to Mexico.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Differences:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mexico and India have had <strong>different viewpoints on the issue of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/50-years-of-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty-npt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nuclear non-proliferation</a></strong>. However, during Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s 2016 visit, Mexico pledged support for India's bid to be part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nuclear Suppliers Group</strong></a> (NSG).</li>
<li>Both countries have differences on the issue of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/un-reforms-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mexico has been a member of the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United for Consensus (UfC) group/Coffee Club</strong> </a>that, unlike India and the other <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet#:~:text=The%20foreign%20ministers%20of%20the,on%2027th%20September%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Group of Four</strong></a> (G-4) members (Japan, Germany and Brazil), opposes the expansion of permanent membership in the UNSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Mexico have striking similarities in geo-climatic conditions, biodiversity, physiognomy and people, cultural and family values. Both are heirs to a great civilizational heritage and contacts between them indicatively go back centuries.</li>
<li>Both India and Mexico are non-permanent members of the Security Council for the period 2021-2022, which is a good opportunity to set aside their differences on global governance issues and work closely on areas of mutual interest.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1663960" 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-mexico'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Aquaponics Facility',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A <strong>pilot &lsquo;Aquaponics facility&rsquo;</strong> has been developed by the<strong> Centre for Development of Advanced Computing</strong> (C-DAC), Mohali at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University (GADVASU), Ludhiana.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>State-of-the-art facility:</strong> It is equipped with <strong>advanced sensors</strong> for <strong>monitoring and automated controls</strong> of the farming system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> supercomputing power being provided by C-DAC</strong> in developing agriculture technology.</li>
<li><strong>Funding Support</strong> was provided by<strong> the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (Meity).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The facility is <strong>nearly 100% organic.</strong></li>
<li>Needs much less land for a given yield of crop.</li>
<li>Consumes 90% less water.</li>
<li>The fish and plants grown together are more nutritious.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Demand</strong> for fishes and crops (lettuce, spinach, capsicum, coriander, broccoli and some other leafy plants) is increasing rapidly in urban areas.</li>
<li>The <strong>aspirational rural youth will be drawn into the mainstream</strong> with help of this technology and agri-economy will get a boost.</li>
<li>This technique will help the farmer in <strong>increasing the productivity</strong> of his land.</li>
<li>Also augment farmer&rsquo;s <strong>income</strong> especially in non-coastal areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Aquaponics</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602668522_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602668522_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="510" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aquaponics is a system that <strong>combines <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hydroponics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hydroponics</a></strong>,<strong> soil-less agriculture,</strong> and <strong>aquaculture</strong> within a closed system.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hydroponics:</strong> It is a method of <strong>growing plants</strong> in a <strong>water-based, nutrient-rich solution.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hydroponics does not use soil, instead, the root system is supported using an inert medium such as clay pellets.</li>
<li>The basic premise behind hydroponics is to allow the plant&rsquo;s roots to come in direct contact with the nutrient solution, while also having access to oxygen, which is essential for proper growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aquaculture:</strong> Breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, and aquatic plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are <strong>three biological components</strong> in the aquaponics process: fish, plants, and bacteria (for cycling of nutrients- ammonia to nitrate conversion).</li>
<li><strong>Process:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With aquaponics, the farmer combines the aquaculture with hydroponic vegetables &ndash; the <strong>fish waste provides fertilizer</strong> for growing plants.</li>
<li>The<strong> plants absorb nutrients and filter the water.</strong> This filtered water is used to <strong>replenish the fish tank.</strong> This is an <strong>environment friendly technique.</strong></li>
<li>The result is value-added, local production of both fish and vegetables together, using the same water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>B<strong>enefits:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Extremely <strong>water efficient.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Does not require soil.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Does not use fertilizers</strong> or chemical pesticides.</li>
<li><strong>Prevents aquaculture waste from polluting</strong> nearby watersheds.</li>
<li>Higher <strong>control on production</strong> leading to lower losses.</li>
<li>Can be used on <strong>non-arable lands</strong> such as deserts, degraded soil or salty, sandy islands.</li>
<li>While the creation of an aquaponics system may require a large initial investment, once it has been built it only <strong>incurs low recurring costs.</strong></li>
<li>In addition, aquaponics can offer <strong>quality-of-life improvements</strong> because the food is produced locally using comparatively simple harvest methods and culturally appropriate crops can be grown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Centre for Development of Advanced Computing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>C-DAC is the premier <strong>Research &amp; Development organization</strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</strong> (Meity) for carrying out R&amp;D in IT, Electronics and associated areas.</li>
<li>India's first supercomputer <strong>PARAM 8000</strong> was indigenously built (in 1991) by the C-DAC.</li>
<li><strong>Various activities of C-DAC in the area of agriculture: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Electronic Nose and Vision (ENOVISION) system</strong> for measuring quality parameters of <strong>tea and rice.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This work is being <strong>extended to other products</strong> such as chilli, turmeric and to environmental engineering.</li>
<li>C-DAC has also developed <strong>Wireless Data Logger</strong> used for determining the fitness of perishable agricultural items.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ubiquitous Agriculture (u-Agri):</strong> An <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-must-get-on-the-iot-highway-fast#:~:text=Internet%20Of%20Things%20(IoT)%20is%20a%20computing%20concept%20that%20describes,than%20the%20object%20by%20itself." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Internet of Things</strong></a> (IoT) based system for acquiring micro-climate information from agricultural fields and providing personalized and localized advisories on Pest and Disease Forewarning and Irrigation Scheduling, to farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1664061" 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/aquaponics-facility'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Mars Opposition',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to the<strong> &lsquo;opposition&rsquo; effect, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mars</a></strong> will look much <strong>brighter and bigger than usual</strong> in October 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Opposition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Opposition, in astronomy, is the <strong>circumstance</strong> in which <strong>two celestial bodies appear in opposite directions in the sky.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Examples:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Moon,</strong> when <strong>full,</strong> is said to be in opposition to the Sun; the Earth is then approximately between them.</li>
<li>A <strong>superior planet</strong> (one with an <strong>orbit farther from the Sun than Earth&rsquo;s</strong>) is in opposition when Earth passes between it and the Sun. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>opposition of a planet is a good time to observe it,</strong> because the <strong>planet is then typically at its nearest point to the Earth</strong> for a given year and because it is close, the planet appears brighter in the sky.</li>
<li>The planets <strong>Venus and Mercury,</strong> whose orbits are smaller than Earth&rsquo;s, <strong>can never be in opposition to the Sun.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Mars Opposition: Mars</strong> and the<strong> Sun </strong>are on<strong> directly opposite sides of Earth. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Timing:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>About<strong> every 26 months</strong>, the Earth passes between the Sun and Mars, this is when the three are arranged in a straight line.</li>
<li>In <strong>2020,</strong> while <strong>Mars&rsquo; closest approach to Earth</strong> was on <strong>6<sup>th</sup> October,</strong> the <strong>opposition</strong> happened on <strong>13<sup>th</sup> October.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Mars&rsquo;s next close approach</strong> will happen on<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> December, 2022,</strong> when the planet will be 62.07 km away from the Earth.</li>
<li>Significantly, the <strong>closest distance is relative</strong> and hence can <strong>vary.</strong></li>
<li>As per NASA, <strong>Mars</strong> made its<strong> closest approach to Earth</strong> in <strong>2003</strong> in nearly 60,000 years and it <strong>won&rsquo;t be that close to the planet until 2287.</strong></li>
<li>This is because the<strong> orbits of Earth and Mars are not perfectly circular</strong> and their shapes can change slightly because of <strong>gravitational tugging</strong> (pulling)<strong> by other planets.</strong> For instance, Jupiter influences the orbit of Mars.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mars will outshine Jupiter,</strong> becoming the <strong>third brightest object</strong> (moon and Venus are first and second, respectively) in the night sky during the month of October.</li>
<li>During Opposition, Mars <strong>appears as a bright star to the unaided eye</strong> and when viewed from a telescope, it grows dramatically in size. Using a telescope <strong>shows more of the planet&rsquo;s details</strong> such as dark and light regions, the solar ice caps and Mars&rsquo; surface.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602661045_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602661045_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="265" height="262" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-mars-is-the-brightest-this-month-6723839/" 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/mars-opposition'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'World Mental Health Day 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>World Mental Health Day is observed on <strong>10<sup>th</sup> October every year,</strong> with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>2020 Theme:</strong> Mental Health for All, Greater Investment &ndash; Greater Access</li>
<li><strong>The Big Event for Mental Health:</strong> It is the <strong>first ever global online advocacy event on mental health,</strong> hosted by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> on the day.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impact of Covid-19 on Mental Health:</strong> Surveys have indicated that the <strong>pandemic is increasing</strong> mental health problems.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Half the respondents from seven countries in a survey by non-profit <strong>International Society for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement</strong> reported negative effects on mental health.</li>
<li><strong>Practo,</strong> an integrated health care company, reported a <strong>665% jump</strong> in the number of mental health consultations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>More than two-thirds</strong> of the queries were from those <strong>aged 21-40.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Anxiety, stress</strong> and <strong>panic attacks</strong> were the most commonly discussed topics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the <strong>United States, more than 90% of respondents</strong> to a survey of Harvard Medical School reported <strong>increased worry, frustration, boredom or anxiety.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> global economic cost of mental illness</strong> is expected to be<strong> more than USD 16 trillion</strong> over the next 20 years, which is more than the cost of any other non-communicable disease.</li>
<li><strong>More Vulnerable:</strong> People in<strong> younger</strong> age,<strong> female</strong> gender and those <strong>with comorbidities</strong> reported more psychological impact.</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Related to Pandemic:</strong> The pandemic has <strong>increased isolation</strong> and <strong>loss of income</strong> which are well known triggers of mental health conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The disease itself has been reported to lead to neurological and mental complications such as delirium, agitation and stroke.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> has <strong>disrupted or halted mental health services</strong> in 93% of the countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding and aid:</strong> Lack of funding for huge challenges posed by pandemic and mental health issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> World Health Organisation</strong> (WHO) pointed out that c<strong>ountries are spending less than 2% of their health budget</strong> on mental health.</li>
<li>Only around <strong>1% of the international aid</strong> available for health is earmarked for mental health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A report published in The Lancet Psychiatry in February 2020 indicates that in 2017, there were<strong> 197.3 million people</strong> with mental disorders in India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The top mental illnesses were <strong>depressive disorder</strong> (45.7 million) and <strong>anxiety</strong> disorder (44.9 million).</li>
<li>The contribution of mental disorders to the total DALYs in India increased from 2.5% in 1990 to <strong>4.7%</strong> in 2017.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Depressive disorder and anxiety disorder contributed the most to the total mental disorders DALYs.</li>
<li><strong>Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs):</strong> The burden of disability associated with a disease or disorder can be measured in units called disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>DALYs represent the total number of years lost to illness, disability, or premature death within a given population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Budgetary Spending:</strong> The year 2020 began with a reduction of budget allocation for<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/mental-healthcare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> mental health in India.</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s healthcare budget in 2018 was Rs. 52,800 crore, of which Rs. 50 crore was for mental health and that was reduced to Rs 40 crore the following year.</li>
<li>India is<strong> barely spending 0.5% of the health budget</strong> on this sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives:</strong> The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/mental-healthcare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mental Health Care Act (MHCA) 2017</strong> </a>came into force in 2018 to meet the requirements of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-principles-for-people-with-disabilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</strong></a> which India ratified in 2007.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>KIRAN:</strong> The <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</strong> has launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kiran-mental-health-rehabilitation-helpline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>24/7 toll-free helpline</strong></a> to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health concerns.</li>
<li><strong>Manodarpan Initiative:</strong> It is an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/manodarpan-mental-health-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>initiative</strong></a> of the <strong>Ministry of Education</strong> under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is aimed to provide psychosocial support to students, family members and teachers for their mental health and well-being during the times of Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mental Health Care Act, 2017</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Right to make an Advance Directive,</strong> wherein patients can state on how to be treated or not to be treated for the illness during a mental health situation.</li>
<li><strong>Right to appoint a Nominated Representative:</strong> A person shall have the right to appoint a nominated representative to take on his/her behalf, all health related decisions like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Right to access mental health care,</li>
<li>Right to free &amp; quality services,</li>
<li>Right to get free medicines,</li>
<li>Right to community living,</li>
<li>Right to protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,</li>
<li>Right to live in an environment, safe and hygienic, having basic amenities,</li>
<li>Right to legal aid, and</li>
<li>No Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) without anesthesia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This act brought changes in <strong>Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code</strong> (which criminalized attempted suicide). The attempt to commit suicide is punishable only as an exception.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Increasing the number of psychologists and psychiatrists alone won&rsquo;t help. Stigma and awareness are two separate issues although interlinked. They need to be addressed in parallel in order to tackle the burden of mental illness.</li>
<li><strong>Community Partnership:</strong> By forming <strong>self-help groups</strong> of carers families along with <strong>NGO&rsquo;s</strong> which brings community participation and helps reduce the social stigma associated with mental illness.</li>
<li><strong>Increase Resources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing mental healthcare facilities and related infrastructure through more resource allocation in the budget.</li>
<li>Adequate Mental healthcare professional availability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Empathetic Service delivery:</strong> Delivery of services should be sensitive, compassionate and free from stigma and discrimination in public healthcare institutions.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-mental-health-day-2020'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Increase in Human-Leopard Conflict: Study',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A study conducted across Karnataka indicates that the <strong>human-leopard policy guidelines</strong> have had little impact on the ground and it has not led to decrease in human-leopard conflict.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>guidelines for human-leopard conflict management</strong> were brought out by the Government of India in April 2011<strong> to reduce conflict with leopards, discourage their translocation, and suggest improved ways of handling emergency conflict situations. </strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of The Study:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The number of leopards captured per month <strong>increased more than threefold</strong> (from 1.5 to 4.6) since 2011.</li>
<li>Similarly, there was a <strong>threefold increase in the number of leopards translocated</strong> per month (from 1 to 3.5).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Translocation</strong> is the managed movement of live indigenous plants or animals (taonga) from one location to another.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for capture and translocation of leopards (in order of prominence)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Livestock depredation (38.1%)</li>
<li>Leopards rescued from snares and wells (15.7%),</li>
<li>Anxiety caused owing to leopard sightings in human habitations (13.7%),</li>
<li>Leopards entering human dwellings (10.9%).</li>
<li>Human injuries (4.5%)</li>
<li>Human deaths (2%)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related News</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A recent study by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/traffic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>TRAFFIC</strong></a> India on the seizure and mortality of <strong>&lsquo;common leopards&rsquo; <em>(Panthera pardus fusca)</em></strong> revealed that of the total of 747 leopard deaths between 2015-2019 in India, 596 were linked to illegal wildlife trade and activities related to poaching.</li>
<li>The Government of India launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-snow-leopard-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>First National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment</strong></a> in <strong>2019,</strong> to mark the occasion of <strong>International Snow Leopard Day (23<sup>rd</sup> October).</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> a <strong>national census of leopards around tiger habitats</strong> was carried out in India except for the northeast. 7,910 individuals were estimated in surveyed areas and a national total of <strong>12,000-14,000 estimated.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Common Leopard</strong> <em>(Panthera pardus)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602657580_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602657580_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in small parts of Western and Central Asia, on the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian leopard <em>(Panthera pardus fusca)</em> is a leopard widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong> Habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts, and persecution due to conflict situations</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: Vulnerable</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a>: Appendix I</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a>: Schedule I</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/human-leopard-conflict-has-increased-threefold-in-karnataka-finds-study/article32754945.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/increase-in-human-leopard-conflict-study'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict & India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-india-6722267/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Nagorno-Karabakh and India&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Indian Express on 13/10/2020. It talks about the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and its impact on India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, a three decades-old unresolved ethno territorial <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan</strong></a> over Nagorno-Karabakh flared up once again. The conflict is between two relatively small countries and is territorial in nature.</p>
<p>However, several regional and global players particularly Russia, Europe, Turkey and Iran are also involved to secure their strategic, security and economic interests in the region.</p>
<p>As the strategic importance of the region is derived from energy exports, the stability of the region is very important for regional growth and oil importing countries like India.</p>
<p>Further, the conflict may cause geopolitical unrest in the region which is already suffering from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>.Therefore, regional powers must strive to find a diplomatic solution to the problem and prevent the clash turning into a full blown regional conflict.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602588263_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602588263_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Genesis of the Conflict</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Centre of Conflict:</strong> Nagorno-Karabakh, the centre of the conflict, is located within Azerbaijan but is populated, mostly, by those of Armenian ethnicity (and mostly Christian compared to the Shia Muslim majority Azerbaijan).</li>
<li><strong>Background of the Conflict:</strong> The conflict can be traced back to the pre-Soviet era when the region was at the meeting point of Ottoman, Russian and the Persian empires.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Once Azerbaijan and Armenia became Soviet Republics in 1921, Russia (erstwhile Sovient Union) gave Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan but offered autonomy to the contested region.</li>
<li>In the 1980s, when the Soviet power was receding, separatist currents picked up in Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1988, the national assembly voted to dissolve the region&rsquo;s autonomous status and join Armenia.</li>
<li>However, Azerbaijan suppressed such calls, which led to a military conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flash Point of Conflict:</strong> The self-declaration of independence by Nagorno-Karabakh in September 1991 in the backdrop of an imminent collapse of the USSR resulted in a war between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh &mdash; supported by Armenia.</li>
<li><strong>Ceasefire:</strong> This clash lasted till a ceasefire agreement was reached in 1994, mediated largely by Russia. Since then, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe <strong>(OSCE) Minsk Group</strong> co-chaired by the USA, Russia and France have engaged Azerbaijan and Armenia extensively to resolve the conflict.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By that time, Armenia had taken control of Nagorno-Karabakh and handed it to Armenian rebels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Present Day Condition:</strong> The rebels have declared independence, but have not won recognition from any country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The region is still treated as a part of Azerbaijan by the international community, and Azerbaijan wants to take it back.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Strategic Significance of The Region</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The energy-rich Azerbaijan has built several gas and oil pipelines across the Caucasus (the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea) to Turkey and Europe.</li>
<li>Some of these pipelines pass close to the conflict zone (within 16 km of the border).</li>
<li>In an open war between the two countries, the pipelines could be targeted, which would impact energy supplies and may even lead to higher oil prices globally.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of Regional Players</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Turkey:</strong> The conflict between the two former Soviet republics has wider geopolitical implications as Turkey, which shares a border with Armenia, is backing Azerbaijan.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the deep cultural ties between the two countries, Turkey is staunchly backing Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>Further, this fits well into<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/turkey-greece-stand-off" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Turkey&rsquo;s aggressive foreign policy</strong></a>, which seeks to expand Turkish interests to the former Ottoman territories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Russia:</strong> Russia enjoys good ties with both Azerbaijan and Armenia and supplies weapons to both.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Armenia is more dependent on Russia than the energy-rich Azerbaijan and Russia also has a military base in Armenia.</li>
<li>Therefore, Russia is trying to strike a balance between the two, by mediating a ceasefire between the warring sides, but it has yet to convene a meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani political or military leaderships.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Israel:</strong> The conflict marks a strange coupling of Turkey and Israel, which are hostile to one another both diplomatically and in terms of security.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Yet both states, dominated by their Sunni and Jewish communities respectively, support and arm Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>Also, Israel&rsquo;s major military and security firms seek to benefit from Azerbaijan&rsquo;s eagerness to be armed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Role of India: Interests &amp; Challenges</h3>
<p><strong>Asymmetry in Relations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With Armenia, India has a friendship and cooperation treaty (signed in 1995), which, incidentally, would prohibit India from providing military or any other assistance to Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>In the case of Azerbaijan, ONGC/OVL has made investments in an oilfield project in Azerbaijan and GAIL is exploring the possibilities of cooperation in LNG.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Azerbaijan also falls on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-firm-takes-over-chabahar-port-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC)</strong> </a>route, connecting India with Russia through Central Asia.</li>
<li>It can also connect India with Turkey and beyond through the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars passenger and freight rail link.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Armenia extends its unequivocal support to India on Kashmir issue whereas Azerbaijan not only opposess but also promotes Pakistan&rsquo;s narrative on this issue.</li>
<li>India does not have a publicly articulated policy for the South Caucasus &mdash; unlike &ldquo;Neighbourhood First&rdquo;, &ldquo;Act East&rdquo; or &ldquo;Central Asia Connect&rdquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The region has remained on the periphery of its foreign policy radar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Balancing Between The Two Extremes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The conflict is essentially a conflict between two international principles viz. the principle of territorial integrity advocated by Azerbaijan and the principle of the right to self-determination invoked by Nagorno-Karabakh and supported by Armenia.</li>
<li>India has every reason not to support Azerbaijan&rsquo;s territorial integrity as Azerbaijan has shown scant regard for India&rsquo;s territorial integrity violated by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li>At the same time it is difficult for India to publicly endorse Nagorno-Karabakh is right for self-determination in view of the possible repercussions it can have repercussions for India as its adversaries like Pakistan may misuse it not only by making erroneous connections with Kashmir but also re-ignite secessionist movement in certain parts of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Armenia-Azerbaijan conflicts reflect the failure of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In the absence of a peacekeeping force and the political will for peace, low-level frictions have persisted over the years.</p>
<p>Under these circumstances, India has done the right thing to adopt a balanced and neutral stance and pitching for a political solution as outlined in the Madrid Principles.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Madrid Principles</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Co-chaired by Russia, France and the U.S., the Minsk Group put forward in 2007 the Madrid Principles as the basis for the formulation of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>In concrete terms, the Madrid Principles envisaged the demilitarisation of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian majority region that seceded from Azerbaijan towards the end of the Soviet Union, and the gradual liberation of Azerbaijani territory that Armenia had occupied in the 1991-94 war.</li>
<li>These steps are also consistent with the UN Security Council&rsquo;s 1993 resolutions, calling for the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces from Azerbaijan.</li>
<li>Besides, the Madrid Principles mentioned that international peacekeeping operations were to be deployed immediately after the Peace Agreement came into force, to monitor the Armenian redeployment</li>
<li>Also, internally displaced persons and refugees were to be provided the right to return to their original place of residence.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fff3e6;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the impact of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict on India&rsquo;s Connect Central Asia policy.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tpb6ozjbB3k" 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://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/india-afghanistan-peace-delhi-abdullah-6721203/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Talking peace&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on October 12<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/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-india'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Measures to Boost Consumption Demand and Capex',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government has announced a <strong>twin set of measures to boost consumption demand and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-expenditure-as-a-part-of-gdp#:~:text=Capital%20expenditure%20is%20the%20money,well%20as%20investment%20in%20shares." target="_blank" rel="noopener">capital expenditure</a></strong> (Capex), which are estimated to result in quick spending of more than Rs. 1 lakh crore by March 2021.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These measures are the <strong>Leave Travel Concession (LTC) voucher scheme</strong> and a <strong>festival advance scheme.</strong> Also, <strong>measures have been announced to step up Capex by the Centre and the states.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Supply constraints in the economy have eased</strong> over recent months, but <strong>consumer demand remained affected</strong> and these measures <strong>aim at advancing consumer spending</strong> and Capex.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Capex steps are<strong> &ldquo;directly linked to an increase in economic output</strong> given their <strong>high multiplier effect&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The earlier announced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat</strong> </a>package<strong> addressed the requirement of essential goods for needy sections</strong> of the society and now these measures <strong>aim at promoting consumption of high-value items by those</strong> employees whose salaries and jobs have <strong>not been affected by </strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pandemic</a>.</strong></li>
<li>With the <strong>participation of the private sector,</strong> these will stimulate growth in the economy by <strong>advancing the consumption of non-essential, relatively high-value goods and services</strong> in the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leave Travel Concession Voucher Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Leave Travel Concession:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Central government employees</strong> get LTC in a <strong>block of four years,</strong> one each to a destination of choice and home town or two for home town.</li>
<li>Under this, the <strong>air or rail fare is reimbursed</strong> as per pay scale/entitlement. Also, a <strong>leave encashment of ten days</strong> (pay+dearness allowance) <strong>is paid.</strong></li>
<li>However, employees <strong>will not be able to avail the LTC in the 2018-21 year block due to the ongoing pandemic</strong> and this is where the LTC will benefit government employees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In lieu of one LTC during 2018-21, employees will<strong> receive cash payment.</strong> There will be <strong>full payment on leave encashment</strong> and <strong>fare will be paid as per three slabs depending upon the class of entitlement.</strong> Further, there will be <strong>no tax on fare payment.</strong></li>
<li>An employee opting for this scheme will have to <strong>buy goods and services worth three times the fare and one time leave encashment,</strong> and do so <strong>before 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</strong></li>
<li>The money is to be spent on goods attracting<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Goods and Services Tax</strong> </a>(GST) of <strong>12% or more and only digital payments</strong> will be allowed. Also, employees will have to <strong>provide the GST invoice.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the amount is <strong>not spent</strong> then the employee will have to<strong> pay tax as per the marginal tax rate</strong> on the LTC component.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The same benefits will be available to<strong> private-sector employees if the employers decide to offer the scheme</strong> to their employees and they decide to avail it.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits to Economy:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government <strong>expects a demand generation of Rs. 28,000 crore</strong> (Rs. 19,000 crore from central government employees and the rest from states) in the economy.</li>
<li>While <strong>GST collections have been<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-goods-and-services-tax-gst-collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> severely impacted</a></strong> in the first half of the fiscal due to Covid-19 pandemic, a <strong>consumption boost will lift GST collections in the second half</strong> of the year as the scheme calls for expenditure to be done till 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</li>
<li><strong>If private-sector employees also participate, i</strong>t may lead to a <strong>significant jump in overall consumption and rise in GST collections.</strong></li>
<li>Since most employees have not been able to travel after the pandemic, the shifting of the LTC benefit is <strong>expected to generate demand</strong> elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Festival Advance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Festival advance, which was <strong>abolished in line with recommendations of the 7<sup>th</sup> Pay Commission,</strong> has been <strong>restored for one time</strong> till 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</li>
<li>All central government employees will <strong>get an interest-free advance of Rs. 10,000 that will be recovered in 10 instalments.</strong> It will be given in the form of a <strong>pre-loaded RuPay card</strong> of the advance value.</li>
<li>The government<strong> expects to disburse Rs. 4,000 crore</strong> under the scheme by 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021 and<strong> if all states provide</strong> similar advances, <strong>another Rs. 8,000 crore</strong> is likely to be disbursed.</li>
<li>This is expected to <strong>generate consumer demand ahead of festivals</strong> like Diwali.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Measures to Boost Capital Expenditure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>An additional budget of Rs 25,000 crore</strong> for Capex on roads, defence infrastructure, water supply, urban development, and domestically produced capital equipment. This is<strong> expected to come through re-allocation</strong> of resources.</li>
<li><strong>Special assistance will be provided to states in the form of interest-free 50-year loans of Rs. 12,000 crore,</strong> which can be used only for Capex purposes, with certain conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Too Many Restrictions:</strong> Provisions like buying goods and services worth three times the fare, only in goods attracting GST of 12% or more through digital mode before 31<sup>st</sup> March etc. <strong>end the freedom of the consumer</strong> in decision making.</li>
<li><strong>Smaller Size:</strong> Capex amounts are <strong>too small to have any meaningful impact</strong> on economic growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With the previous rounds of budgetary fiscal support of around 1% of GDP, current measures take total fiscal support to <strong>about 1.2% of GDP,</strong> which is <strong>small compared with the size of the growth hit</strong> and reflects India&rsquo;s weak fiscal starting position.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limited Impact:</strong> As the measures are aimed at encouraging spending for government employees <strong>rather than private/vulnerable section</strong> (where <strong>job losses/income losses have been significant</strong>), the<strong> overall impact will be limited.</strong></li>
<li><strong>On Tourism:</strong> LTC Voucher Scheme may impact the travel and tourism industry negatively if consumers choose to spend through the scheme. <strong>Demand in travel and tourism has already fallen significantly</strong> after the Covid-19 induced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lockdown-extended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdowns</strong></a> and closed borders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602583941_image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602583941_image8.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government seeks to coincide the schemes with the upcoming festive period to spur overall consumption and is also spending less to not to put additional burden on the exchequer, in the midst of a notable shortfall in tax and divestment revenues.</li>
<li>The strategic intent behind the schemes is to direct spending towards items for which demand had slumped during the period of lockdowns but this may defeat the larger purpose of reviving demand. Consumption-led growth can arguably lead to a slackening of future growth if it entails growing imbalances due to limits to capacity creation, and rising debt burdens, particularly for households.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/govt-spending-finance-ministry-ltc-festival-advance-6722667/" 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/measures-to-boost-consumption-demand-and-capex'
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019: UNDRR',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In a new report<strong> &ldquo;The Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019&rdquo;,</strong> the United Nations pointed out that climate change is largely to blame for a near doubling of natural disasters in the past 20 years.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report is published by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/undrr-global-assessment-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction</strong></a> <strong>(UNDRR).</strong> The report <strong>did not touch on biological hazards and disease-related disasters</strong> like the coronavirus pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction</strong> is observed on<strong> 13<sup>th</sup> October</strong> every year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>7,348 major disaster</strong> events had occurred between 2000 and 2019, <strong>affecting 4.2 billion people</strong> and <strong>costing</strong> the global economy some <strong>USD 2.97 trillion.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The figure is<strong> far more than the 4,212</strong> major natural disasters recorded between <strong>1980 and 1999.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>6,681 climate-linked disasters</strong> had been recorded in the period 2000-19, up from 3,656 during the previous 20-year-period.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Climate-related disasters include disasters categorized as meteorological, climatological, or hydrological.</li>
<li>There had also been an <strong>increase in geophysical events</strong> like earthquakes and tsunamis that are <strong>not related to climate</strong> but are particularly deadly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major floods</strong> had more than doubled to 3,254, there had been 2,034 major storms up from 1,457 in 20 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India</strong> is the <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> most affected country by floods</strong> after China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Extreme heat is proving especially deadly. <strong>Heatwaves of 2015 in India</strong> resulted in 2,248 deaths.</li>
<li>The <strong>deadliest single disaster</strong> in the past 20 years was the<strong> 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami,</strong> with 2,26,400 deaths, followed by the <strong>Haiti earthquake</strong> in 2010, which claimed some 2,22,000 lives.</li>
<li>The data showed that <strong>Asia</strong> has suffered the <strong>highest number of disasters</strong> in the past 20 years with 3,068 such events, followed by the Americas with 1,756 and Africa with 1,192.</li>
<li>In terms of affected countries, <strong>China</strong> topped the list with 577 events followed by the <strong>United States</strong> with 467 and<strong> India</strong> (321 events).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Governments are not doing enough to prevent climate hazards.</li>
<li>A<strong> temperature increase of 3&deg;C</strong> of the global climate is estimated to <strong>increase the frequency of potentially high impact natural hazard events</strong> across the world. This could render <strong>current national and local strategies</strong> for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation <strong>obsolete</strong> in many countries.</li>
<li><strong>Shifting rainfall patterns and greater variability</strong> in precipitation poses a <strong>risk to the 70% of global agriculture</strong> that is rain-fed and the 1.3 billion people dependent on degrading agricultural land.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concentrated impact due to a single disaster in some countries provides an opportunity for a more focused approach on disaster risk reduction. However, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> demonstrates the need for a systemic, multi hazard approach in an increasingly globalized and interconnected world.</li>
<li>There is a requirement for<strong> strengthening disaster risk governance</strong> to manage disaster risk with clear vision, competence, plans, guidelines, funding and coordination across sectors and in a manner, which takes account of the increasingly systemic nature of disaster risk.</li>
<li><strong>Public and private investment</strong> in disaster risk prevention and reduction through <strong>structural</strong> and <strong>non-structural measures</strong> needs to be stepped up to create disaster resilient societies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UNDRR was <strong>established in 1999</strong> as a dedicated secretariat to facilitate the implementation of the <strong>International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).</strong></li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
<li>It is mandated to serve as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities.</li>
<li>It is an <strong>organisational unit of the UN Secretariat</strong> and is led by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG).</li>
<li><strong>UNDRR&rsquo;s Strategic Framework 2016-2021</strong> has a vision to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses for a sustainable future with the <strong>mandate to act as the custodian of <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/sendai-framework-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Sendai Framework</a> (India is a signatory).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Scenario</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-disaster-management-authority-ndma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Disaster Management Authority</strong></a> (NDMA) is the apex statutory body for disaster management in India.</li>
<li>The NDMA was formally constituted in 2006, in accordance with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invocation-of-disaster-management-act-2005-to-deal-with-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Disaster Management Act, 2005</strong></a> with the Prime Minister as its Chairperson.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/disaster-management-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Disaster Management Plan</strong></a> (NDMP) defines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders including Central Ministries/ Departments, State Governments, UT Administrations, District Authorities and local self Governments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Primary responsibility of disaster management rests with the <strong>States.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Central Government</strong> conducts regular mock drill, community training and awareness programmes to prepare the civilian populations for disasters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/climate-change-to-blame-for-doubling-of-disasters/article32837772.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-cost-of-disasters-2000-2019-undrr'
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