Search

Search list matched with tags “class”

Fertiliser Self-Sufficiency

Why in News Recently, the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers has reviewed the initiatives of the Department of Fertilisers for making India...

14 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Few-Electron Bubbles in Superfluid Helium Gas

Why in News Recently, Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Banglore for the first time discovered two species of Few-Electron...

14 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Suborbital Flight

Why in News Recently, a six person crew on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spaceship undertook a brief trip to the “edge of space”...

14 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute

Why in News Recently, several IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blasts were carried out inside Cachar district of Assam allegedly by miscreants from...

14 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Why in News The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has demanded an additional $200 billion fund flow to developing countries...

14 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Stringent Nature of UAPA

Why in News Recently, the death of Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, while in judicial custody, has brought the...

14 Jul 2021 News Analysis
US Withdrawal And Regional Dynamics

This article is based on Regional powers and the Afghanistan question which was published in The Indian Express on 13/07/2021. It talks about the...

13 Jul 2021 News Editorials
Incidents of Lightning

Why in News Recently, thirty people were killed in separate incidents of lightning in various parts of the country. Lightning is the biggest...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Section 66A of the IT Act

Why in News The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre on the use of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 that was scrapped...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Tiger Corridor in Rajasthan

Why in News The Rajasthan government will develop a tiger corridor connecting the newly proposed ‘Ramgarh Tiger Reserve’, Ranthambore...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Right to Repair Movement

Why in News In recent years, countries around the world have been attempting to pass effective 'right to repair' laws. The movement traces its...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Vietnam’s First Honorary Consul General in India

Why in News Vietnam has appointed Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in Bangalore to promote trade, economics, investment, tourism, educational and...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme

Why in News Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the ‘RBI Retail Direct’ Scheme. In February 2021 RBI proposed to...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
SC Upheld Authority of Delhi’s Peace and Harmony Committee

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the authority of Delhi Assembly’s Peace and Harmony Committee to summon Facebook...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
India’s First Cryptogamic Garden

Why in News Recently, India’s first cryptogamic garden was inaugurated in the Chakrata town of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The garden will be...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
India's Tibet Policy

Why in News Recently, some Chinese nationals protested against the celebration of the birthday of the Dalai Lama in India. The Dalai Lama and...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
SOP for Environmental Violations: MoEFCC

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with...

13 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Conservation Plans for Cities along Rivers

Why in News A policy document from National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has proposed that cities situated on river banks should incorporate river...

12 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Lemru Elephant Reserve: Chhattisgarh

Why in News Recently, the Chhattisgarh government has proposed to reduce the area of Lemru Elephant Reserve from 1,995 sq km to 450 sq km. The...

12 Jul 2021 News Analysis
Kesaria Buddha Stupa: Bihar

Why in News The world-famous Kesaria Buddha stupa in east Champaran district of Bihar is waterlogged following floods in some parts of the...

12 Jul 2021 News Analysis

Warning (2): count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable [ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100]

Code Context


<?php if(count($updates)>0){?>
  <div class="updates">

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'searchlist' => [
		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Fertiliser Self-Sufficiency',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers</strong> has reviewed the <strong>initiatives of the Department of Fertilisers</strong> for making India <strong>Atmanirbhar in Fertilisers.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Government</strong> is planning to liberalise <strong>Market Development Assistance (MDA) policy</strong> to promote the use of <strong>alternative fertilisers.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MDA Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MDA policy was earlier limited to <strong>city compost only.</strong></li>
<li>There were <strong>demands to expand this policy</strong> by incorporating <strong>organic waste</strong> like <strong>Biogas, Green Manure, organic compost of rural areas, solid/liquid slurry, etc.</strong></li>
<li>This expansion will fully complement the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives and Schemes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Neem Coating of Urea:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) has made it mandatory for all the domestic producers to produce <strong>100% urea as Neem Coated Urea (NCU).</strong></li>
<li>The benefits of use of NCU are as under:-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Improvement in soil health.</li>
<li>Reduction in usage of plant protection chemicals.</li>
<li>Reduction in pest and disease attack.</li>
<li>An increase in yield of paddy, sugarcane, maize, soybean, Tur/Red Gram.</li>
<li>Negligible diversion towards non-agricultural purposes.</li>
<li>Due to slow release of Nitrogen, Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) of Neem Coated Urea increases resulting in reduced consumption of NCU as compared to normal urea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-april-2019#3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Urea Policy (NUP) 2015</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Objectives of the policy are-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To maximize <strong>indigenous urea production.</strong></li>
<li>To promote energy efficiency in the urea units.</li>
<li>To rationalize the subsidy burden on the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Investment Policy- 2012:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Government announced <strong>New Investment Policy (NIP)-2012</strong> in January, 2013 and made amendments in 2014 to facilitate fresh investment in the <strong>urea sector</strong> and to make <strong>India self-sufficient in the urea sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy on Promotion of City Compost:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Government of India approved a <strong>policy on promotion of City Compost</strong>, notified by the DoF in 2016 granting Market Development Assistance of Rs. 1500/- for scaling up production and consumption of city compost.</li>
<li>To increase sales volumes, compost manufacturers willing to market city compost were allowed to sell city compost in bulk directly to farmers.</li>
<li>Fertilizer companies marketing city compost are covered under the <a href="/printpdf/rbi-advisory-on-direct-benefit-transfer" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)</strong></a> for Fertilizers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Space Technology in Fertilizer Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>DoF commissioned a three year Pilot Study on <strong>&ldquo;Resource Mapping of Rock Phosphate using Reflectance Spectroscopy and Earth Observations Data&rdquo;</strong> by National Remote Sensing Centre under ISRO, in collaboration with Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Atomic Mineral Directorate (AMD).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been implemented from <strong>April 2010 by the DoF.</strong></li>
<li>Under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-nutrient-based-subsidy-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NBS</strong></a>, a <strong>fixed amount of subsidy decided on an annual basis</strong>, is provided on each grade of subsidized Phosphatic &amp; Potassic (P&amp;K) fertilizers depending on its nutrient content.</li>
<li>It aims at ensuring the balanced use of <strong>fertilizers, improving agricultural productivity, promoting the growth of the indigenous fertilizers industry</strong> and also reducing the burden of Subsidy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fertilizer Consumption in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s fertiliser consumption in FY20</strong> was about 61 million tonnes &mdash; of which 55% <strong>was urea</strong>&mdash;and is estimated to have increased by 5 million tonnes in FY21.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since <strong>non-urea (MoP, DAP, complex) varieties</strong> cost higher, many <strong>farmers prefer to use more urea</strong> than actually needed.</li>
<li>The government has taken a number of <strong>measures to reduce urea consumption.</strong> It introduced <strong>neem-coated urea</strong> to reduce illegal diversion of urea for non-agricultural uses. It also stepped up the <strong>promotion of organic and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/zero-budget-natural-farming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zero-budget farming</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Currently, the fertiliser production of the country is 42-45 million tonnes, and <strong>imports are at around 18 million tonnes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subsidy on Urea:</strong> The Centre <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fertiliser-subsidy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pays subsidy</a> on urea to fertiliser manufacturers on the basis of cost of production</strong> at each plant and the units are required to sell the fertiliser at the government-set Maximum Retail Price (MRP).</li>
<li><strong>Subsidy on Non-Urea Fertilisers:</strong> The MRPs of non-urea fertilisers are <strong>decontrolled or fixed by the companies.</strong> The Centre, however, pays a flat per-tonne subsidy on these nutrients to ensure they are priced at &ldquo;reasonable levels&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Examples of non-urea fertilisers: <strong>Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP).</strong></li>
<li>All <strong>Non-Urea based fertilisers are regulated under Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1735096" 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/fertiliser-self-sufficiency'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Few-Electron Bubbles in Superfluid Helium Gas',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Scientists at the<strong> Indian Institute of Science (IISc),</strong> Banglore for the first time discovered<strong> two species of Few-Electron Bubbles (FEBs) in Superfluid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/helium-crisis-for-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Helium Gas.</a></strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Helium</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a chemical element with the <strong>symbol He and atomic number 2.</strong> The British chemist <strong>Sir William Ramsay</strong> discovered the <strong>existence of helium on Earth in 1895.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas,</strong> the first in the noble gas group in the periodic table.</li>
<li>Its<strong> boiling point is the lowest among all the elements.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Electrons</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Matter is made up of atoms,</strong> which are the basic units of chemical elements such as hydrogen, helium or oxygen.</li>
<li>Atoms are<strong> made up of three particles:</strong> Protons, Neutrons and Electrons.</li>
<li>Hence, <strong>electrons are the subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom.</strong> They are generally <strong>negative in charge</strong> and are much<strong> smaller than the nucleus of the atom.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626250047_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626250047_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Electron Bubble:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An electron bubble is the <strong>empty space created around a free electron in a cryogenic gas or liquid,</strong> such as neon or helium. They are typically very small, about<strong> 2 nm in diameter</strong> at atmospheric pressure.</li>
<li>An electron injected into a <strong>superfluid</strong> form of helium creates a <strong>Single Electron Bubble (SEB) &mdash;</strong> a cavity that is free of helium atoms and contains only the electron. The shape of the bubble depends on the energy state of the electron.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For instance, the bubble is spherical when the electron is in the ground state (i.e. state of lowest energy). There are also <strong>multiple electron bubbles </strong>that contain <strong>thousands of electrons.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Superfluidity</strong> is the<strong> frictionless flow and other exotic behaviour observed in liquid helium at temperatures near absolute zero</strong> (&minus;273.15 &deg;C), and similar frictionless behaviour of electrons in a superconducting solid. In each case the <strong>unusual behaviour arises from quantum mechanical effects.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Few-Electron Bubbles:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FEBs, on the other hand, are <strong>nanometre-sized cavities in liquid helium containing just a handful of free electrons.</strong> The number, state, and interactions between free electrons dictate the physical and chemical properties of materials.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FEBs form an interesting system that has both<strong> electron-electron interaction and electron-surface interaction.</strong></li>
<li>FEBs were found to be <strong>stable for at least 15 milliseconds</strong> (quantum changes typically happen at much shorter time scales) which would enable researchers to trap and study them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Study Properties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FEBs can serve as a useful model to study how the energy states of electrons and interactions between them in a material influence its properties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decipher Phenomenons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are several phenomena that FEBs can help scientists decipher, such as: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Turbulent flows in superfluids and viscous fluids, or the flow of heat in superfluid helium.</li>
<li>Just like how<strong> current flows without resistance in superconducting materials</strong> at very low temperatures, <strong>superfluid helium also conducts heat efficiently at very low temperatures.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/energy/scientists-discover-two-species-of-few-electron-bubbles-in-superfluid-helium-77930#:~:text=The%20researchers%20first%20applied%20a,eight%20and%20six%20electrons%20respectively." 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/few-electron-bubbles-in-superfluid-helium-gas'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Suborbital Flight',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a six person crew on <strong>Virgin Galactic&rsquo;s VSS Unity spaceship</strong> undertook a brief trip to the <strong>&ldquo;edge of space&rdquo;</strong> which is known as <strong>Suborbital Flight.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sirisha Bandla, an astronaut born in India</strong>, was a part of the crew. She was the<strong> third woman of Indian origin</strong> to go to space after <strong>Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Virgin Galactic</strong> is a British-American <strong>spaceflight company</strong>, operating in the United States.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Suborbital Flight/Trajectory:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247399_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247399_pasted image 0 (1).png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When an <strong>object travels at a horizontal speed of about 28,000 km/hr or more</strong>, it <strong>goes into orbit</strong> once it is above the atmosphere. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>satellites need to reach that threshold speed (orbital velocity)</strong> in order to orbit Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Such a satellite would be <strong>accelerating towards the Earth due to gravity</strong>, but its <strong>horizontal movement is fast enough to offset the downward motion</strong> so that it moves along a circular path.</li>
<li>Any object travelling <strong>slower than 28,000 km/hr must eventually return to Earth.</strong></li>
<li>Any object that launches to space but <strong>does reach sufficient horizontal velocity to stay in space falls back to Earth.</strong> Hence they <strong>fly in a suborbital trajectory.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It means that while these <strong>vehicles will cross the ill-defined boundary of space</strong>, they will <strong>not be going fast enough to stay in space</strong> once they get there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Suborbital Flights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increased Access:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It would provide <strong>increased flight access for design innovation</strong> and experimental manipulation due to high projected flight rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Suborbital flights will be helpful <strong>for microgravity research.</strong> Microgravity is the <strong>condition in which people or objects appear to be weightless.</strong></li>
<li>Suborbital flights <strong>could also be an alternative to parabolic flights</strong> in aeroplanes that space agencies currently use to simulate <strong>zero gravity.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Zero Gravity</strong> or Zero-G can simply be defined as the <strong>state or condition of weightlessness.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cost Effective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They would be <strong>far less expensive</strong> than carrying experiments and people to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-27-february-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Space Station</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Edge of Space/Karman Line:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247566_pasted%20image 0 (2).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247566_pasted image 0 (2).png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The most widely accepted boundary of space is known as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-shephard-taking-tourists-to-space" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karman line</strong></a>. The <strong>F&eacute;d&eacute;ration A&eacute;ronautique Internationale (FAI)</strong> defines Karman Line as the altitude of 100 kilometres above Earth&rsquo;s mean sea level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FAI is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The K&aacute;rm&aacute;n line has been compared to international waters, as there are no national boundaries and human laws in force beyond the line.</li>
<li>It is named after <strong>Theodore von Karman (1881&ndash;1963)</strong>, a Hungarian American engineer and physicist, who was active primarily in aeronautics and astronautics.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>He was the <strong>first person to calculate the altitude at which the atmosphere becomes too thin to support aeronautical flight</strong> and arrived at 83.6 km himself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, other organizations do not use this definition. <strong>There is no international law defining the edge of space</strong>, and therefore the limit of national airspace.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-whats-a-suborbital-flight-an-aerospace-engineer-explains-7398891/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1626251150354000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Jid_JhEnnkJO4Z8-7smB7" 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/suborbital-flight'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, several IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blasts were carried out inside Cachar district of Assam allegedly by miscreants from Mizoram. These blasts signal the <strong>re-emergence of long-unresolved Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assam-mizoram-border-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>boundary issue between Assam and Mizoram</strong></a> has existed since the formation of Mizoram &mdash; first as a union territory in 1972, and then as a full-fledged state in 1987.</li>
<li>In India, Inter-state disputes are multifaceted, besides disputes over boundaries, there are <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disputes over sharing of water (rivers)</strong> </a>and migration also impacts the federal polity of India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>During colonial times, <strong>Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills,</strong> a district of Assam.</li>
<li>Mizoram was granted<strong> statehood in 1987</strong> by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986.</li>
<li><strong>Assam became a constituent state of India in 1950</strong> and lost much of its territory to new states that emerged from within its borders between the early 1960s and the early 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The boundary issue between present-day Assam and Mizoram<strong> dates back to the colonial era</strong> when inner lines were demarcated according to the administrative needs of British Raj.</li>
<li>The Assam-Mizoram dispute<strong> stems from two notifications passed under British era.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First, <strong>notification of 1875,</strong> that differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar.</li>
<li>Second, <strong>notification of 1933,</strong> that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Mizoram believes the<strong> boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification,</strong> which is derived from the <strong>Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizo leaders are against the demarcation notified in 1933, according to them, the <strong>Mizo society was not consulted.</strong></li>
<li>On the other hand, the <strong>Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation.</strong></li>
<li>As a result both states continue to have a<strong> differing perception of the border</strong> and that is the point of conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is<strong> a 164.6-km inter-state border that separates Assam and Mizoram,</strong> with the three Assam districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj sharing a border with Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl districts of Mizoram.</li>
<li>Further, the boundary between Mizoram and Assam <strong>follows naturally occurring barriers of hills, valleys, rivers and forests,</strong> and both sides have attributed border skirmishes to perceptional differences over an imaginary line.</li>
<li>In the <strong>Northeast&rsquo;s complex boundary equations,</strong> clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents are less frequent than they are between other neighbouring states of Assam, like with Nagaland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247143_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247143_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overall Condition of Inter-State Disputes in India:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Issue of Boundary:</strong> Boundary disputes between the states are one of major reasons for Inter-state disputes in India. For example, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belagavi-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karnataka and Maharashtra both lay claim to Belgaum</strong></a>, and every now and then the matter comes up.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-manipur-meghalaya-and-tripura" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971,</strong></a> changed the political map of northeast India, by establishment of the states like Manipur and Tripura and the formation of Meghalaya. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, this reorganisation has resulted in many boundary disputes in the northeastern region, like Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Migration:</strong> There have been violent agitations in some states over migrants and job seekers from other states. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is because the existing resources and the employment opportunities are not enough to meet the needs of the growing population.</li>
<li>The<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/regionalism-in-india-upsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;sons of the soil&rsquo; concept</strong></a> for preference in employment in the states concerned tends to destroy the roots of a healthy federalism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disputes over Sharing Water Resources:</strong> The most long standing and contentious inter-state issue has been the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sharing of river waters.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most of the Indian rivers are inter-state, i.e., they flow through more than one state.</li>
<li>Due to an increase in demand for water, a number of inter state disputes over sharing river waters have surfaced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Boundary disputes between the states<strong> can be settled by using satellite mapping of the actual border locations.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reviving the Inter-state council</strong> can be an option for resolution of an Inter-state dispute.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under <strong>Article 263 of the Constitution</strong>, the Inter-state council is expected to inquire and advise on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Similarly, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/25th-western-zonal-council-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zonal councils</strong> </a>need to be revived to discuss the matters of common concern to states in each zone&mdash;matters relating to social and economic planning, border disputes, inter-state transport, etc.</li>
<li>India is the epitome of unity in diversity. However, in order to strengthen this unity furthermore, both the centre and state governments, need to imbibe the ethos of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cooperative federalism.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/assam-mizoram-border-row-flares-again/article35271389.ece&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1626250936611000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1qcY1_vfb1XsuNe4EZWEIS" 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/assam-mizoram-border-dispute-1'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity#:~:text=The%20Convention%20on%20Biological%20Diversity%20(CBD)%2C%20a%20legally%20binding,It%20has%203%20main%20objectives%3A&amp;text=The%20sustainable%20use%20of%20the,the%20utilization%20of%20genetic%20resources." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)</strong></a> has demanded an additional $200 billion fund flow to developing countries from various sources to manage nature through 2030.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is one of many demands and targets that have been set through 2030 in the official draft of a new <strong>Global Biodiversity Framework.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),</strong> a <strong>legally binding treaty</strong> to conserve biodiversity has been in force since 1993. It has <strong>3 main objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The conservation of biological diversity.</li>
<li>The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.</li>
<li>The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Nearly all countries have ratified it (notably, the<strong> US has signed but not ratified).</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada</strong> and it <strong>operates under the United Nations Environment Programme.</strong></li>
<li>The Parties (Countries) under Convention of Biodiversity (CBD), meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called <strong>Conference of Parties (COP).</strong></li>
<li>In 2000, a supplementary agreement to the Convention known as the <strong>Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety</strong> was adopted. It came into force on 11<sup>th</sup> September 2003.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS)</strong> was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan at COP10. It entered into force on 12<sup>th</sup> October 2014.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It not only applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD, and to the benefits arising from their utilization but also covers traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and the benefits arising from its utilization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Along with the Nagoya Protocol on Genetic Resources, the COP-10 also adopted a ten-year framework for action by all countries to save biodiversity.</li>
<li>Officially known as <strong>&ldquo;Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020&rdquo;,</strong> it provided a set of 20 ambitious yet achievable targets collectively known as the <strong>Aichi Targets for biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>enacted Biological Diversity Act in 2002</strong> for giving effect to the provisions of the CBD.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Biodiversity, and the benefits it provides, is fundamental to human well-being and a healthy planet. Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to continue or worsen under business-as-usual scenarios.</li>
<li>The post-2020 global biodiversity framework builds on the <strong>Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-biological-diversity-1#:~:text=The%20UNGA%20also%20declared%20the,living%20in%20harmony%20with%20nature." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020</strong></a> comes to an end, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN</strong></a> actively supports the development of what needs to be an ambitious new global biodiversity framework.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Guiding Force:</strong> It is a new framework that will be the <strong>global guiding force to protect nature</strong> and to retain its essential services for humans from 2020 to 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Setting Targets:</strong> This is a global, outcome-oriented framework for the<strong> Convention&rsquo;s 196 Parties</strong> to develop<strong> national and regional goals and targets,</strong> to update national strategies and action plans as needed, and to facilitate regular monitoring and review of progress at the global level.</li>
<li><strong>Urgent and Transformative Action:</strong> The framework <strong>aims to spur urgent and transformative action</strong> by Governments and all of society to contribute to the objectives of the <strong>Convention on Biological Diversity,</strong> its <strong>Protocols,</strong> and other biodiversity related multilateral agreements, processes and instruments.</li>
<li><strong>Capacity Building:</strong> It aims to ensure the right capacity building of the communities/governments to take up conservation measures to meet the goals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These include the contentious technology transfer to countries that don&rsquo;t have it currently and also a wide scientific cooperation among countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Goals and Targets:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new frameworks have <strong>four goals to achieve by 2050.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To <strong>halt the extinction and decline of biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>To <strong>enhance and retain nature&rsquo;s services</strong> to humans by conserving.</li>
<li>To <strong>ensure fair and equitable benefits to all</strong> from use of genetic resources.</li>
<li>To<strong> close the gap between available financial and other means</strong> of implementation and those necessary to achieve the 2050 Vision.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2030 Action Targets:</strong> The framework has<strong> 21 action-oriented targets</strong> for urgent action over the decade to 2030, which includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To bring at least 30% of land and sea under the world&rsquo;s protected areas.</li>
<li>A <strong>50% greater reduction in the rate of introduction of invasive alien species,</strong> and controls or eradication of such species to eliminate or reduce their impacts.</li>
<li><strong>Reducing nutrients lost to the environment by at least half,</strong> and pesticides by at least two thirds, and <strong>eliminating the discharge of plastic waste.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Nature-based contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts</strong> of at least 10 GtCO<sub>2</sub>e (gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide) per year, and that all mitigation and adaptation efforts avoid negative impacts on biodiversity.</li>
<li>Redirecting, repurposing, reforming or eliminating incentives harmful for biodiversity, in a just and equitable way, reducing them by at least $US 500 billion per year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relationship with SDGs:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework is <strong>a fundamental contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</strong></li>
<li>At the same time, progress towards the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong></a> will help to create the conditions necessary <strong>to implement the framework.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need of Financial Support:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework&rsquo;s demand for more financial support to developing countries, also the worst victims of biodiversity losses, is the most difficult one to negotiate and achieve.</li>
<li>Adequate financial resources to implement the framework are available and deployed, progressively closing the financing gap up to at least $700 billion per year by 2030.</li>
<li>The financial commitment has to increase to at least $ 200 billion per year. This includes an additional $10 billion per year international financial flow to developing countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Theory of Change of the Framework:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework is built around a theory of change which recognizes that urgent policy action globally, regionally and nationally is required to transform economic, social and financial models.</li>
<li>The trends that have exacerbated biodiversity loss will stabilize in the next 10 years (by 2030) and allow for the recovery of natural ecosystems in the following 20 years, with net improvements by 2050 to achieve the Convention&rsquo;s vision of &ldquo;living in harmony with nature by 2050&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626242970_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626242970_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/wildlife-biodiversity/un-200-billion-increase-in-fund-flow-to-developing-countries-for-managing-nature-77912" 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/post-2020-global-biodiversity-framework'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Stringent Nature of UAPA',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the death of <strong>Father Stan Swamy</strong>, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, while in judicial custody, has brought the stringent provisions of <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act</strong> (UAPA) into the focus.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/demand-for-repeal-of-uapa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UAPA</strong></a> is the <strong>India&rsquo;s main anti-terrorism legislation</strong>, but the law makes it more difficult to obtain bail.</li>
<li>This difficulty in obtaining bail is being seen as one of the principal reasons for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/demand-for-repeal-of-uapa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fr. Swamy&rsquo;s death</strong></a> as a prisoner in a hospital and <strong>compromises constitutional liberties.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background of UAPA:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the mid-1960s, in order to <strong>curb the various secession movements</strong>, the Government of India considered enacting a stringent law.</li>
<li>In March 1967, a <strong>peasant uprising in Naxalbari</strong> imparted a sense of urgency.</li>
<li>On 17<sup>th</sup> June, 1966, the President had promulgated the <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Ordinance.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ordinance intended to <strong>&ldquo;provide for the more effective prevention of unlawful activities of individuals and associations&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After initial resistance from the Parliament (owing to its stringent nature), the <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was passed in 1967.</strong></li>
<li>The Act provided for declaring an association or a body of individuals &ldquo;unlawful&rdquo; if they indulged in any activity that <strong>envisages secession or questions or disclaims the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity.</strong></li>
<li>Prior to the UAPA&rsquo;s enactment, associations were being declared unlawful under the <strong>Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1952.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the Supreme Court held that the provision on bans was unlawful because there was <strong>no judicial mechanism</strong> to scrutinise the validity of any ban.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore, the UAPA included <strong>provisions for a Tribunal</strong> which has to confirm within six months the notification declaring an outfit unlawful.</li>
<li>After the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cross-border-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002</strong></a>, was repealed, the UAPA was expanded to include what would have been terrorist acts in earlier laws.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Status of the Act:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In its present form, the UAPA has been <strong>amended in 2004 and 2013</strong>, to expand its scope.</li>
<li><strong>Expanded Scope of Law:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Punishment for terrorist acts and activities,</li>
<li>Acts threatening the country&rsquo;s security, including its economic security (a term that covers fiscal and monetary security, food, livelihood, energy ecological and environmental security),</li>
<li>Provisions to prevent the use of funds for terrorist purposes, including money.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ban on organisations was initially for two years, but from 2013, the period of proscription has been extended to five years.</li>
<li>Further, the amendments aim to give effect to various anti-terrorism resolutions of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council</strong></a> and requirements of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-action-task-force-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Financial Action Task Force</a>.</strong></li>
<li>In 2019, the Act was amended to empower the <strong>government to designate individuals as terrorists.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Modus Operandi of UAPA:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Just like other special laws dealing with narcotic drugs and the now-defunct laws on terrorism, the UAPA also modifies the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/re-imagining-cognizable-offences" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Code of Criminal Procedure</strong></a> (CrPC) to give it more teeth. For example,
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A remand order can be for 30 days instead of the usual 15,</li>
<li>Maximum period of judicial custody before the filing of a chargesheet is extendable from the usual 90 days to 180 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Controversy Regarding UAPA:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Vague Definition of Terrorist Act:</strong> The definition of a<strong> &ldquo;terrorist act&rdquo; under the UAPA</strong> substantially <strong>differs</strong> from the definition promoted by the <strong>United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>UAPA, on the other hand, offers an overbroad and ambiguous definition of a &ldquo;terrorist act&rdquo; which includes the death of, or injuries to, any person, damage to any property, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Denial of Bail:</strong> The major problem with the UAPA lies in its <strong>Section 43(D)(5)</strong>, which makes it difficult for any accused person to obtain bail.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In case, if police have filed the chargesheet that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accusation against such person is prima facie true, bail cannot be granted.</li>
<li>Further, a Supreme Court judgment on this has clarified that the court considering bail should not examine the evidence too deeply, but must go by the prosecution version based on broad probabilities.</li>
<li>Thus, UAPA <strong>virtually denies bail</strong>, which is a safeguard and guarantee of the <strong>constitutional right to liberty.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pendency of Trails:</strong> Given the state of justice delivery system in India, the rate of pendency at the level of trial is at an average of 95.5%.</li>
<li><strong>State Overreach:</strong> It also includes any act that is <strong>&ldquo;likely to threaten&rdquo; or &ldquo;likely to strike terror in people&rdquo;</strong>, giving unbridled power to the government to brand any ordinary citizen or activist a terrorist without the actual commission of these acts.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It gives the state authority vague powers to detain and arrest individuals who it believes to be indulged in terrorist activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Undermining Federalism:</strong> Some experts feel that it is against the federal structure since it neglects the authority of state police in terrorism cases, given that <strong>&lsquo;Police&rsquo; is a state subject </strong>under<strong> 7<sup>th</sup> schedule of Indian Constitution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Drawing the line between individual freedom and state obligation to provide security is a case of classical dilemma.</li>
<li>It is up to the state, judiciary, civil society, to strike a balance between constitutional freedom and the imperative of anti-terror activities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explained-what-makes-the-uapa-so-stringent/article35257856.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/stringent-nature-of-uapa'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'US Withdrawal And Regional Dynamics ',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/us-troops-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-pakistan-taliban-7401581/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional powers and the Afghanistan question</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 13/07/2021. It talks about the scenarios emerging in Afghanistan and the region after withdrawal of American troops.</p>
</div>
<p>The speedy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/american-exit-from-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>withdrawal of US troops</strong></a> from Afghanistan has been matched by the swift advance of the Taliban across the nation. While the US has confirmed that 90% of the withdrawal is done, the Taliban has claimed that it is in control of 85% of Afghanistan territory.</p>
<p>These developments have moved <strong>Afghanistan into the court of regional powers</strong> that now have the burden of managing the military vacuum created by the US retreat.</p>
<p>The idea of a regional solution to Afghanistan has always had much political appeal. But <strong>divergent regional strategic perspectives</strong> limit the prospects for a sustainable consensus on Afghanistan.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626174258_pasted%20image 0 (10).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626174258_pasted image 0 (10).png" width="300" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>US Withdrawal and Regional Powers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Taliban:</strong> Taliban itself remains a major variable. If the Taliban does not accommodate the interests of all Afghans, it simply sets the stage for the next round of the civil war in Afghanistan. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Taliban is also signalling that it will not be a proxy for anyone else and that it will pursue independent policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China:</strong> The US withdrawal from Afghanistan today reinforces the strongly held conviction in China that the US is in terminal decline.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The withdrawal, at a time when China is offering an alternative to the Western model of international governance, is seen in China as a great ideological victory.</li>
<li>However, for China, potential Taliban support to the Xinjiang separatist groups is a major concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India:</strong> India will have three critical areas in dealing with the Taliban.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Protecting its investments, which run into billions of rupees, in Afghanistan;</li>
<li>Preventing a future Taliban regime from being a pawn of Pakistan;</li>
<li>Making sure that the <strong>Pakistan-backed anti-India terrorist groups do not get support</strong> from the Taliban.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other:</strong> None of the regional countries want to see Afghanistan becoming the nursery of international terror again under the Taliban. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Iran can&rsquo;t ignore the Sunni extremism of the Taliban and its oppressive record in dealing with the Shia, and Persian-speaking minorities.</li>
<li>Pakistan worries about the danger of the conflict spilling over to the east of the <a href="/printpdf/withdrawal-of-us-troops-from-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Durand Line</strong></a>, and hostile groups like the <strong>Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)</strong> gaining sanctuaries in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India&rsquo;s Approach</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The era of prolonged peace in Afghanistan secured by the US military presence has come to its end. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would mean new constraints on India&rsquo;s ability to operate inside Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Three structural conditions</strong> will continue to shape India&rsquo;s Afghan policy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One is India&rsquo;s <strong>lack of direct physical access to Afghanistan.</strong> This underlines the importance of India having effective regional partners.</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan</strong> has the <strong>capability to destabilise any government</strong> in Afghanistan. But it does not have the power to construct a stable and legitimate order in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The contradiction between the interests of Afghanistan and Pakistan is an enduring one. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan likes to turn Afghanistan into a protectorate, but Afghans deeply value their independence. All Afghan sovereigns, including the Taliban, will look for partners to balance Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India should focus on <strong>intensifying its engagement with various Afghan groups</strong>, including the Taliban and <strong>finding effective regional partners</strong> to secure its interests in a changing Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Use of Multilateral Organisations:</strong> Such as <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-international-institutions-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO)</strong> </a>should be used in dealing with the Afghan questions and achieve stability. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Geography, membership and capabilities make the SCO an important forum to address the post-American challenges in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An <strong>independent, sovereign, democratic, pluralistic and inclusive Afghanistan</strong> is crucial for peace and stability in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to ensure the same, the Afghan peace process, as stated by India&rsquo;s Afghan policy, should be <strong>Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, there is a need for the global community to <strong>fight against the global concern of terrorism.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, it high time to adopt the <a href="/printpdf/at-unga-india-call-for-early-adoption-of-ccit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism</strong></a> (proposed by India at UN in 1996).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Admin and Military Reforms:</strong> More militancy is witnessed in the region where the state fails to deliver. Thus, Administrative and military reforms within Afghanistan are the need of the hour to tackle the menace of emerging Taliban 2.0.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The US's exit from Afghanistan has triggered Taliban emergence, geopolitical flux and thus, instability in the region.</li>
<li>As these factors will increasingly push India into a geopolitical tough spot in the region, smart statecraft, therefore, is required to deal with changing dynamics in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>If India remains active and patient too, many opportunities could open up in the new Afghan phase.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfcf0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has led to emergence of new challenges for the regional powers. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-withdrawal-and-regional-dynamics'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Incidents of Lightning',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, thirty people were killed in separate<strong> incidents of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cities-are-turning-into-lightening-magnets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lightning</a></strong> in various parts of the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lightning is the <strong>biggest contributor to accidental deaths due to natural causes.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a very <strong>rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere.</strong> It is the process of <strong>occurrence of a natural &lsquo;electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage</strong> between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud&rsquo;, accompanied by a bright flash and sound, and sometimes thunderstorms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Inter cloud or intra cloud (IC)</strong> lightning are <strong>visible and harmless.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cloud to ground (CG)</strong> lightning is <strong>harmful as the &lsquo;high electric voltage</strong> and electric current&rsquo; leads to electrocution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Process:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a result of the <strong>difference in electrical charge between the top and bottom of a cloud.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The lightning-generating clouds are typically about <strong>10-12 km in height, with their base about 1-2 km from the Earth&rsquo;s surface.</strong> The temperatures at the top range from -35&deg;C to -45&deg;C.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As <strong>water vapour moves upwards in the cloud</strong>, it condenses into water due to decreasing temperatures. A huge amount of <strong>heat is generated</strong> in the process, <strong>pushing the water molecules further up.</strong></li>
<li>As they move to <strong>temperatures below zero</strong>, droplets change into small ice crystals. As they continue upwards, they gather mass, until they <strong>become so heavy that they start descending.</strong></li>
<li>It leads to a system where smaller ice crystals move upwards while larger ones come down. The <strong>resulting collisions trigger release of electrons</strong>, in a process very <strong>similar to the generation of electric sparks.</strong> The moving free electrons cause more collisions and more electrons leading to a chain reaction.</li>
<li>The process results in a situation in which the <strong>top layer of the cloud gets positively charged</strong> while the <strong>middle layer is negatively charged.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626169119_pasted%20image 0 (9).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626169119_pasted image 0 (9).png" width="450" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In little time, a huge current, of the order of lakhs to millions of amperes, starts to flow between the layers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>produces heat</strong>, leading to the heating of the air column between the two layers of cloud.</li>
<li>It is because of this heat that the <strong>air column looks red during lightning.</strong></li>
<li>The heated air column expands and produces shock waves that result in<strong> thunder sounds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Strikes Earth&rsquo;s Surface:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Earth is a good conductor of electricity.</strong> While electrically neutral, it is relatively positively charged compared to the middle layer of the cloud. As a result, an estimated <strong>20-25% of the current flow is directed towards the Earth.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is this current flow that results in damage to life and property.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Lightning has a <strong>greater probability of striking raised objects on the ground</strong>, such as trees or buildings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Lightning Conductor</strong> is a device used to protect buildings from the effect of lightning. A metallic rod, taller than the building, is installed in the walls of the building during its construction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The most lightning activity on Earth is seen on the shore of <strong>Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At the place where the Catatumbo river falls into Lake Maracaibo, an average 260 storm days occur <strong>every year, and October sees 28 lightning flashes every minute</strong> - a phenomenon referred to as the <strong>Beacon of Maracaibo or the Everlasting Storm.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Change &amp; Lightning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An<strong> increase of one degree Celsius would increase the frequency of lightning strikes by 12%</strong> , warned California University in a study published 2015.</li>
<li>A study published in Geophysical Research Letters in March 2021, too, has <strong>established links between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> and rising incidences of lightning in the Arctic region.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The number of lightning strikes recorded during the summer months between 2010 and 2020 shot up from around 18,000 at the start of the decade to more than 1,50,000 by 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore even the <strong>Indian Institute of Tropical Management (IITM)</strong> concludes that the <strong>increase in lightning incidents may be directly related to the climate crisis</strong>, and the <strong>availability of more moisture over land</strong> due to global warming.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>IITM</strong> in Pune is the only institution in India that works full-time on thunderstorms and lightning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Lightning Strikes in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As many as <strong>18.5 million lightning strikes were recorded in India between April 2020 and March 2021</strong>, according to India&rsquo;s second annual report on lightning released by <strong>Lightning Resilient India Campaign (LRIC)</strong> recently.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>LRIC</strong> is a joint initiative of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-lightning-strikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Resilient Observing-Systems Promotion Council ( CROPC)</a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-disaster-management-authority-ndma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Disaster Management Authority</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statement-on-climate-of-india-during-2019-imd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Meteorological Department (IMD)</a></strong>, Union Ministry of Earth Science, World Vision India, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNICEF</strong></a> among others.</li>
<li>The campaign aims to reduce the number of deaths to less than 1,200 a year by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This is an <strong>increase of 34% compared to previous year</strong>; at least <strong>13.8 million strikes were recorded between April 2019 and March 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-lightning-strikes-and-why-it-kills-7401198/" 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/incidents-of-lightning'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Section 66A of the IT Act',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> has issued a <strong>notice to the Centre</strong> on the use of <strong>Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000</strong> that was scrapped several years ago.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The court struck down the provision as <strong>unconstitutional</strong> and <strong>a violation of free speech</strong> in 2015 in the <strong>Shreya Singhal Case.</strong></li>
<li>The IT Act, 2000 provides for legal recognition for transactions through electronic communication, also known as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-commerce</strong></a>. The Act also penalizes various forms of cyber crime.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626167411_pasted%20image 0 (8).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626167411_pasted image 0 (8).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Section 66A:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>empowered police</strong> to make arrests over what policemen, in terms of their subjective discretion, could construe as <strong>&ldquo;offensive&rdquo; or &ldquo;menacing&rdquo; or for the purposes of causing annoyance, inconvenience, etc.</strong></li>
<li>It prescribed the <strong>punishment for sending messages through a computer</strong> or <strong>any other communication device</strong> like a mobile phone or a tablet, and a conviction could fetch a <strong>maximum of three years in jail.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues with Section 66A:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Based on Undefined Actions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The court observed that the <strong>weakness of Section 66A lay in the fact</strong> that it had created an <strong>offence on the basis of undefined actions:</strong> such as causing <strong>&ldquo;inconvenience, danger, obstruction and insult&rdquo;</strong>, which do not fall among the exceptions granted under <strong>Article 19 of the Constitution</strong>, which <strong>guarantees the freedom of speech.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subjective Nature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The court also <strong>observed that the challenge was to identify</strong> where to draw the line. Traditionally, it has been drawn at incitement while terms like <strong>obstruction and insult remain subjective.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Procedural Safeguards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In addition, the court had noted that <strong>Section 66A did not have procedural safeguards like other sections of the law</strong> with similar aims, such as the need to obtain the concurrence of the Centre before action can be taken.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Local authorities could proceed autonomously, literally on the whim of their political masters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Court did not strike down</strong> two other provisions- <strong>sections 69A and 79 of the IT Act &ndash;</strong> and said that they can remain enforced with certain restrictions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Section 69A provides power</strong> to issue directions to<strong> block public access of any information</strong> through any computer resource and <strong>Sec 79 provides for exemption from liability of intermediar</strong>y in certain cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against the Fundamental Rights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section 66A was <strong>contrary to both Articles 19 (free speech) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Right to know</strong> is the species of the <strong>right to speech and expression</strong> provided by the <strong>Article 19(1) (a) of the constitution of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a pressing <strong>need to move from a system where communication about judicial decisions</strong> is at the mercy of initiatives by scrupulous officers, to a method not <strong>contingent on human error to the greatest possible extent.</strong> The urgency cannot be overstated.</li>
<li><strong>Enforcing unconstitutional laws</strong> is sheer wastage of public money.</li>
<li>But more importantly, <strong>until this basic flaw is addressed</strong>, certain persons will remain exposed to denial of their right to life and personal liberty in the worst possible way imaginable.</li>
<li>They will s<strong>uffer the indignity of lawless arrest and detention</strong>, for no reason other than their poverty and ignorance, and inability to demand their rights.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/distressing-and-shocking-that-people-are-still-tried-under-section-66a-of-it-act-says-sc/article35142975.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/section-66a-of-the-it-act'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Tiger Corridor in Rajasthan',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Rajasthan government will develop a <strong>tiger corridor connecting</strong> the newly proposed <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/4th-tiger-reserve-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Ramgarh Tiger Reserve&rsquo;</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ranthambore-tiger-sanctuary-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranthambore Tiger Reserve</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mukundara-hills-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sariska-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sariska Tiger Reserve</strong></a> is another Tiger reserve in Rajasthan.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626166938_pasted%20image 0 (7).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626166938_pasted image 0 (7).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Animal Corridor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Wildlife or animal corridors</strong> are meant to ensure safe passage for animals between two isolated habitats.</li>
<li>In wildlife parlance, corridors are mainly of two types: <strong>functional and structural.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Functional corridors</strong> are defined in terms of functionality from the perspective of the animal (basically areas where there has been recorded movement of wildlife).</li>
<li><strong>Structural corridors</strong> are contiguous strips of forested areas and structurally connect the otherwise fragmented blocks of the landscape.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When structural corridors are affected by human anthropogenic activities, functional corridors automatically widen because of animal use.</li>
<li>In 2019, the <strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority</strong> in collaboration with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-leopard-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> published a document, mapping out <strong>32 major corridors across the country</strong>, management interventions for which are operationalised through a Tiger Conservation Plan.</li>
<li>The states are required to <strong>submit a Tiger Conservation Plan</strong> under section <strong>38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Protected Areas in Rajasthan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Desert National Park</strong></a>, Jaisalmer</li>
<li>Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/campaign-to-remove-lantana-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary</strong></a>, Udaipur</li>
<li>National Chambal Sanctuary (on tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status of Tiger:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</a>:</strong> Schedule I</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> Red List: Endangered.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)</a>:</strong> Appendix I.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Project Tiger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Project Tiger is <strong>a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforming-centrally-sponsored-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centrally Sponsored Scheme</a></strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change</strong> launched in 1973 to provide central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves in India.</li>
<li>The project is administered by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a statutory body under the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.</li>
<li>It was constituted under enabling provisions of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a>, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-to-develop-corridor-connecting-3-tiger-reserves-7392478/" 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/tiger-corridor-in-rajasthan'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Right to Repair Movement',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In recent years, <strong>countries around the world</strong> have been <strong>attempting to pass effective 'right to repair' laws.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>movement traces its roots back</strong> to the very dawn of the <strong>computer era in the 1950s.</strong></li>
<li>The goal of the movement is to <strong>get companies to make spare parts, tools and information on how to repair devices</strong> available to <strong>customers and repair shops</strong> to increase the lifespan of products and to keep them from ending up in landfills.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Right to Repair:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Right to Repair electronics</strong> refers to <strong>government legislation</strong> that is<strong> intended to allow consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer electronic devices</strong>, where otherwise the manufacturer of such devices require the consumer to use only their offered services.</li>
<li>The <strong>idea originally originated from the USA</strong> where the <strong>Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act 2012</strong>, required the manufacturers to provide the necessary documents and information to allow anyone to repair their vehicles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will <strong>help boost business for small repair shops</strong>, which are an<strong> important part of local economies.</strong></li>
<li>It will <strong>help reduce the vast mountain of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electronic-waste-management#:~:text=E%2DWaste%20is%20short%20for,Information%20technology%20and%20communication%20equipment." target="_blank" rel="noopener">electrical waste (e-waste)</a></strong> that piles up each year on the continent.</li>
<li>It will <strong>save consumers&rsquo; money.</strong></li>
<li>It will contribute to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-circular-economy-hackathon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>circular economy</strong></a> objectives by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use, upgrade, recyclability and waste handling of appliances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Encouraging the Movement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Electronic manufacturers</strong> are encouraging a culture of<strong> &lsquo;planned obsolescence&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Planned obsolescence&rsquo;</strong> means that <strong>devices are designed specifically</strong> to last a <strong>limited amount of time and to be replaced.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This can lead to <strong>immense pressure on the environment and wasted natural resources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Manufacturing an electronic device</strong> is a highly polluting process. It makes use of polluting sources of energy, such as fossil fuel, which has an adverse impact on the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Opposing:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Large tech companies</strong>, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Tesla have argued that <strong>opening up their intellectual property</strong> to <strong>third party repair services or amateur repairers</strong> could lead to <strong>exploitation and impact the safety and security of their devices.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Repair Movement around the World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>United States President</strong> has signed an executive order calling on the Federal Trade Commission <strong>to curb restrictions imposed by manufacturers that limit consumers&rsquo; ability to repair</strong> their gadgets on their own terms.</li>
<li>The <strong>UK</strong>, <strong>too</strong>, introduced <strong>right-to-repair rules</strong> that should make it much easier to buy and repair daily-use gadgets such as TVs and washing machines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>E-waste in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Official Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong></a>, India generated more than <strong>10 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2019-20</strong>, an increase from 7 lakh tonnes in 2017-18.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electronic-waste-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E-Waste Management Rules, 2016</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The rules <strong>aim to enable the recovery and/or reuse of useful material</strong> from e-waste, thereby reducing the hazardous wastes destined for disposal and to ensure the environmentally sound management of all types of waste of electrical and electronic equipment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-first-e-waste-clinic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E-Waste Clinic</a>:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Aimed at <strong>segregating, processing and disposal of waste.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Right to Repair law could be <strong>especially valuable in a country like India</strong>, where service networks are often spotty and authorised workshops are few and far between in the hinterland.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s informal repair sector</strong> does a good job with jugaad. But the <strong>quality of repair and maintenance services</strong> could improve substantially if such legislation was adopted.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-right-to-repair-movement-7400287/" 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/right-to-repair-movement-1'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Vietnam’s First Honorary Consul General in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Vietnam has <strong>appointed Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in Bangalore</strong> to promote trade, economics, investment, tourism, educational and cultural cooperation between Vietnam and the State of Karnataka.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Industrialist <strong>N.S. Srinivasa Murthy</strong> based in Bengaluru has been appointed as Honorary Consul General of Vietnam for Karnataka.</li>
<li>He is the <strong>first honorary consul general of Vietnam from India.</strong> The appointment is for a <strong>period of three years.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626165218_pasted%20image 0 (6).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626165218_pasted image 0 (6).png" width="350" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India-Vietnam Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>History of Cultural Ties: <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-vietnam-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cultural</a></strong> and economic links between India and Vietnam date back to the 2<sup>nd</sup> century. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both the countries have agreed to have various commemorative activities in the <strong>year 2022, to mark the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations</strong> between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Anti-Imperialist Struggle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Even before official diplomatic ties were established in 1972, India <strong>supported <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-vietnam-relations-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vietnam's</a> anti-colonial struggle</strong> during its independence movement.</li>
<li>During the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War</strong></a> period, India supported Hanoi&rsquo;s &ldquo;Four Points&rdquo; for resolving the <strong>Vietnam conflict</strong> (American war in Vietnam).</li>
<li>India also supported Vietnam during the <strong>Kampuchea crisis (Cambodian&ndash;Vietnamese War) i</strong>n the late 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Look East Policy:</strong> The relationship was further strengthened when India, in the early 1990s, initiated its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Look East Policy&rdquo;</strong></a> with the specific objective of <strong>economic integration and political cooperation</strong> with Southeast Asia and East Asia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, the 'Look East Policy' was <strong>graduated into an 'Act East Policy'.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP):</strong> The strategic partnership was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, given the new security challenges of the 21<sup>st</sup> century.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Sale of military equipment to Vietnam:</strong> Negotiations for four large patrol vessels and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BrahMos</a> short-range cruise missiles</strong> are going on.</li>
<li><strong>Training Vietnam's armed forces in military equipment:</strong> Kilo-class submarines &amp; Sukhoi aircraft.</li>
<li><strong>Military exercises:</strong> VINBAX, IN-VPN BILAT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geostrategic Convergence:</strong> India and Vietnam have their <strong>shared apprehension of an aggressive China.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China's virtually claiming the whole <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong> </a>as its territory and its assertiveness in the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>China <strong>complained about Indian cooperation for the exploration for oil in Vietnamese waters, especially in light of the disputed political status of the Spratly Islands.</strong></li>
<li>India and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership &ldquo;in line with India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-vietnam-relations-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)</strong></a> and the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-summit-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN&rsquo;s</a> Outlook on Indo-Pacific</strong> to achieve shared security, prosperity and growth for all in the region.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various regional forums such as <strong>ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation</strong>, besides UN and WTO.</li>
<li>Vietnam has supported India's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council and join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Trade and economic relations for mutual benefit, which have significantly improved over the years particularly after the <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/a-note-on-free-trade-agreements-and-their-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN- India Free Trade Agreement</strong> </a>was signed.</li>
<li>India is now among the top ten trading partners of Vietnam.</li>
<li>India is <strong>investing in development and capacity assistance</strong> for Vietnam through quick impact projects (QIP), proposals in the area of water resource management in Vietnam&rsquo;s Mekong Delta region, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and digital connectivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Science and Technology Cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Vietnam have signed the <strong>Framework Agreement</strong> on cooperation in:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes, IT cooperation, <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cyber Security</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Uses of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Vietnam has been a large recipient of training programs under <strong>Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC)</strong> programs.</li>
<li>A proposal to set up a <strong>Centre for Satellite Tracking and Data Reception</strong> and an <strong>Imaging facility in Vietnam </strong>under<strong> ASEAN-India Cooperation mechanism</strong> is under consideration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Coordination:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Level:</strong> Keeping in mind the strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, primarily those posed by China, India and Vietnam should work in close coordination at multilateral institutions such as the UN Security Council, where both India and Vietnam are elected to be <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-permanent members</strong></a> in 2021.</li>
<li><strong>Regional Level:</strong> Vietnam&rsquo;s role in ASEAN may make it easier for India and ASEAN to cooperate more on regional security issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of the big powers within ASEAN like Indonesia are also likely to take stronger positions against China given its aggressive posture in the South China sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Front:</strong> Both Countries need to leverage the economic opportunities available because of anti-China sentiments and several manufacturing firms deciding to shift from China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India should figure out a strategy, so that India&rsquo;s stance of not joining <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rcep-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RCEP</strong></a> should not become a barrier in the growth of trade between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expedite Defence Deals:</strong> Both Countries should expedite the process of negotiations for finalisation of defence deals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This assumes more importance for India after the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Galwan valley Clash</strong></a> &amp; China&rsquo;s disrespecting international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/vietnam-appoints-first-honorary-counsel-general-in-india/article35252706.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/vietnam-s-first-honorary-consul-general-in-india'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, 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>announced the <strong>&lsquo;RBI Retail Direct&rsquo; Scheme.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In February 2021 RBI <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/direct-access-to-g-sec-market-for-retail-investors-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>proposed to allow retail investors to open gilt accounts</strong></a> with the central bank to invest in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-to-buy-g-secs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Government securities (G-secs)</strong></a> directly.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the scheme, <strong>retail investors (individuals) will have the facility to open and maintain the &lsquo;Retail Direct Gilt Account&rsquo;</strong> (RDG Account) with the RBI.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Retail Investor</strong> is a non-professional investor who buys and sells securities or funds that contain a basket of securities such as mutual funds and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bharat-bond-exchange-traded-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>A Gilt Account</strong> can be compared with a bank account, except that the <strong>account is debited or credited with treasury bills or government securities instead of money.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>RDG accounts can be opened through an <strong>online portal</strong> provided for the purpose of the scheme.</li>
<li>The online portal will give registered users access to primary <strong>issuance of G-secs and access to Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching system (NDS-OM).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The RBI introduced the <strong>NDS-OM in August 2005.</strong> It is an <strong>electronic, screen based, anonymous, order driven trading system</strong> for dealing in G-secs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <strong>one-stop solution to facilitate investment in G-secs</strong> by individual investors. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>RBI seeks to <strong>democratize the ownership of government debt securities</strong> beyond banks and managers of pooled resources such as mutual funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current G-Sec Market:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G-sec market is <strong>dominated by institutional investors</strong> which are large market actors such as banks, mutual funds and insurance companies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These <strong>entities trade in lot sizes of Rs 5 crore or more.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>So, there is <strong>no liquidity in the secondary market for small investors</strong> who would want to trade in smaller lot sizes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>primary market</strong> is where securities are created, while the <strong>secondary market</strong> is where those securities are traded by investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is <strong>no easy way for them to exit their investments.</strong> Thus, currently, direct G-secs trading is not popular among retail investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Improved Ease of Access:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will make the process of G-sec <strong>trading smoother for small investors</strong> therefore it will <strong>raise retail participation in G-secs</strong> and will <strong>improve ease of access.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Facilitate Government Borrowings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This measure together with relaxation in mandatory Hold To Maturity (securities that are purchased to be owned until maturity) provisions <strong>will facilitate smooth completion of the government borrowing programme in 2021-22.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Financialise Domestic Savings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Allowing direct retail participation in the G-Sec market will <strong>promote financialisation of a vast pool of domestic savings</strong> and could be a game-changer in India&rsquo;s investment market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Measures Taken to Increase Retail Investment in Government Securities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Introduction of non-competitive bidding</strong> in primary auctions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Non-competitive bidding</strong> means the bidder would be able to participate in the auctions of dated government securities without having to quote the yield or price in the bid.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stock exchanges to act as aggregators</strong> and facilitators of retail bids.</li>
<li><strong>Allowing a specific retail segment</strong> in the secondary market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Security</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A G-Sec is a <strong>tradable instrument</strong> issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.</li>
<li>It <strong>acknowledges the Government&rsquo;s debt obligation.</strong> Such securities are <strong>short term</strong> (usually called treasury bills, <strong>with original maturities of less than one year- presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 364 day)</strong> or <strong>long term</strong> (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with <strong>original maturity of one year or more).</strong></li>
<li>In India, the <strong>Central Government issues both treasury bills and bonds or dated securities</strong> while the<strong> State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities</strong>, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).</li>
<li>G-Secs <strong>carry practically no risk of default</strong> and, hence, are <strong>called risk-free gilt-edged instruments.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gilt-edged securities</strong> are high-grade investment bonds offered by governments and large corporations as a means of borrowing funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-retail-direct-scheme-to-woo-individual-investors-for-g-secs-7401627/" 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/rbi-s-retail-direct-scheme'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'SC Upheld Authority of Delhi’s Peace and Harmony Committee',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court (SC)</strong></a> upheld the authority of <strong>Delhi Assembly&rsquo;s Peace and Harmony Committee to summon Facebook India&rsquo;s senior official</strong> in connection with the February 2020 communal violence.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Central Governments and Facebook's Claim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The formation of the Peace and Harmony committee was not within the authority of the Delhi Assembly as<strong> law and order and police of Delhi is a central subject.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delhi Government's Justification:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Delhi Assembly had <strong>relied on various entries in the state list and concurrent list</strong>, by which the Delhi Assembly derived its power to discuss and debate on the issue in question. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It cited <strong>entry 1 in the state list dealing with public order</strong>, which is distinct from <strong>law and order and entry 1 in concurrent list</strong> which gives sweeping <strong>power to state assemblies to legislate on the subject &lsquo;criminal law&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Entry <strong>39 in the state list that gave assemblies power to enforce the attendance of witnesses for the purpose of recording statements</strong> was also relied upon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SC&rsquo;s Ruling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rejected Facebook's abstention:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rejected the simplistic approach adopted by Facebook &mdash; that it is merely a platform posting third-party information and has <strong>no role in generating, controlling or modulating that information.</strong></li>
<li>Facebook<strong> cannot claim any &ldquo;exceptional privilege&rdquo; to abstain</strong> from appearing before the Peace Harmony Committee constituted by the Delhi Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Committee&rsquo;s Competence/Powers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An <strong>&ldquo;informed deliberation&rdquo; by the Assembly&rsquo;s elected representatives on the best measures to combat online mass hate and violence</strong> in their geographical jurisdiction was very much <strong>within the Committee&rsquo;s competence.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However Facebook representatives appearing before the Committee <strong>need not answer any query from the Committee directly regarding law, order and the police</strong>, which are subjects on which the Delhi Assembly cannot legislate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legislative Assembly&rsquo;s Power:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Dismissed Facebook&rsquo;s argument that the <strong>Assembly ought to confine itself to making laws</strong> rather than enquire into the circumstances of the riots.</li>
<li>The Assembly does not only perform the function of legislating; <strong>there are many other aspects of governance</strong> which can form part of the essential functions of the Legislative Assembly and consequently the Committee.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Legislative Privileges</strong> are the rights belonging to the Legislature for effective discharge of their legislative functions.</li>
<li><strong>Article 105 and Article 194</strong> of the Indian Constitution lay down the powers, privileges and immunities of Members of Parliament (MPs) and State Assemblies respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the larger context, <strong>the concept of peace and harmony goes much beyond law and order and police</strong>, more so in view of on-the-ground governance being in the hands of the Delhi Government</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hybrid Governance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Centre and Delhi government must work together on governance issues in the Capital. And need to show maturity at their ends.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The social media company(Facebook) sought to take advantage of <strong>"divergence of view&rdquo;</strong> and the <strong>inability of both the Centre and State government</strong> to &ldquo;see eye to eye on governance issues in Delhi&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The SC Noted that <strong>Delhi&rsquo;s hybrid administration &ndash; in which the Union government holds the prerogative for several key areas of governance</strong> &ndash;has worked well for many years with different political dispensations in power both at the Centre and State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Lists to Differentiate Legislative Powers:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are <strong>three Lists</strong> which provide for distribution of legislative powers <strong>(under 7<sup>th</sup> Schedule to the Constitution):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Union List (List I)</strong> - It contains <strong>98 subjects (originally 97)</strong> and comprises the <strong>subjects which are of national importance and admit of uniform laws for the whole of the country.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Only the <strong>Union Parliament can legislate with respect to these matters</strong> e.g. Defence, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Currency, Union Taxes, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State List (List II)</strong> - It contains <strong>59 subjects (originally 66)</strong> and comprises subjects of local or State interest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>lies within the legislative competence of the State Legislatures</strong>, viz. Public Order and Police, Health, Agriculture, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concurrent List (List III)</strong> - It contains <strong>52 (Originally 47)</strong> with respect to which; <strong>both Union Parliament and the State Legislature have concurrent power of legislation.</strong> The Concurrent List (not found in any federal Constitution) was to <strong>serve as a device to avoid excessive rigidity to a two-fold distribution.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a 'twilight zone', as for not so important matters, the <strong>States can take initiative, while for the important matters, the Parliament can do so.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Misinformation on social media has had a <strong>direct impact on vast areas of subject matter which ultimately affect the governance of States.</strong></li>
<li>As the court found that the Peace and Harmony Committee still could summon the Facebook official without encroaching upon the turf of the Centre <strong>now opens the gates for scrutiny of social media platforms by other States</strong>, which however have significantly more powers with respect to law and order than the Delhi government.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-backs-summons-to-fb-from-delhi-govt-riots-panel/article35222556.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/sc-upheld-authority-of-delhi-s-peace-and-harmony-committee'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'India’s First Cryptogamic Garden',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>India&rsquo;s first cryptogamic garden</strong> was<strong> inaugurated in the Chakrata town of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The garden will be housing nearly 50 species of lichens, ferns and fungi (<em>collectively known as Cryptogamae</em>).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Plant kingdom</strong> can be divided into two sub-kingdoms viz. <strong>Cryptogams and phanerogams.</strong></li>
<li>Cryptogams consist of seedless plants and plant-like organisms whereas phanerogams consist of seed-bearing plants.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Phanerogams are further divided into two classes i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/african-baobab-tree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gymnosperms and angiosperms</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Factors Responsible for Location of this Garden:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This garden is at Deoban in Chakrata at a height of 9,000 ft.</li>
<li>This site is chosen <strong>because of its low pollution levels and moist conditions</strong> which are conducive for the growth of these species.</li>
<li>Further, Deoban <strong>has pristine majestic forests of Deodar and Oak</strong> which create a natural habitat for cryptogamic species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cryptogams:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A cryptogam is a <strong>plant that reproduces with the help of spores.</strong></li>
<li>The word <strong>"Cryptogamae" implies &lsquo;hidden reproduction'</strong>, referring to the fact that they do not produce any reproductive structure, seed, or flower.</li>
<li>Due to this, they are called <strong>"flowerless"</strong> or <strong>"seedless plants"</strong> or <strong>&lsquo;lower plants'.</strong></li>
<li>They <strong>need a moist environment</strong> to survive.</li>
<li>These are <strong>present in aquatic and terrestrial places.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Algae, bryophytes, lichens, ferns and fungi are the best-known groups</strong> of cryptogams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Classification of Cryptogams:</strong> Cryptogams are classified into 3 groups based on the various structural and functional criteria of the plant.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Thallophyta:</strong> Thallophyta is a division of the plant kingdom including primitive forms of plant life showing a simple plant body. They <strong>lack roots, stems, or leaves.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>includes algae-</strong>like Spirogyra, Sargassum, etc.</li>
<li>They are predominantly aquatic and found both in marine as well as freshwater habitats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bryophyta:</strong> Bryophytes comprise a limited variety of <strong>non-vascular land plants.</strong> They prefer moist habitats but they can survive in dry environments too. Example- hornworts, liverworts, mosses, etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They occupy an intermediate position between algae and pteridophytes.</li>
<li>Since bryophytes can survive in both water and land, they are considered as the <strong>'amphibians of the plant kingdom'.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pteridophyta:</strong> A pteridophyte is a vascular plant that disperses spores. It is the first plant to <strong>have xylem and phloem.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ferns are the largest living group of primitive vascular plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Types of Cryptogams:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Liches:</strong> Lichens are a complex life form that is a <strong>symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an algae.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Fungi:</strong> It is a kingdom of usually <strong>multicellular eukaryotic organisms</strong> that are <strong>heterotrophs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626157621_pasted%20image 0 (5).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626157621_pasted image 0 (5).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dehradun-cryptogamic-garden-uttarakhand-indias-first-7399416/" 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/india-s-first-cryptogamic-garden'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'India's Tibet Policy',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, some Chinese nationals protested against the celebration of the birthday of the Dalai Lama in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Dalai Lama and Tibet is one of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-china-disengagement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">major irritants between India and China relations</a>.</strong></li>
<li>China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist, who has great influence over Tibetans. India seeks to use Tibetan card in order to counter China&rsquo;s continuing aggression at the Line of Actual Control.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626156812_pasted%20image 0 (4).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626156812_pasted image 0 (4).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background of India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For centuries, <strong>Tibet was India&rsquo;s actual neighbour</strong>, as most of India&rsquo;s boundaries and the 3500km LAC is with the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and not the rest of China.</li>
<li>In 1914, it was Tibetan representatives, along with the Chinese that <strong>signed the Simla convention with British India that delineated boundaries.</strong></li>
<li>However, after <strong>China&rsquo;s full accession of Tibet in 1950, </strong>that<strong> China repudiated the convention and the McMahon line</strong> that divided the two countries.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>in 1954, India signed an agreement with China</strong>, agreeing to<strong> recognize Tibet as &ldquo;Tibet region of China&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>In 1959, following the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/60-years-of-1959-tibetan-uprising" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tibetan uprising</strong></a>, the Dalai Lama (spiritual leader of Tibetan people) and many of his followers fled to India.</li>
<li><strong>Former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru</strong> gave him and Tibetan refugees shelter, and<strong> helped in setting up the Tibetan government in exile.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> official Indian policy</strong> is that the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader, and the Tibetan community in India, with more than a lakh exiles, is not allowed to undertake any political activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the event of increasing tensions between India and China, there has been a shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy. This shift in the policy, earmarks the Indian government actively managing with the Dalai Lama in public forums. For Example, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, Prime Minister of India (PM) had invited the head of the Tibetan government in exile in India, Lobsang Sangay, to his swearing in ceremony.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, he did not invite him in 2019 after being re-elected for a second five-year term, to ensure a smooth passage for a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-2nd-informal-summit-mamallapuram-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>second informal summit</strong></a> between him and Chinese president Xi Jinping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Prime Minister of India (PM) wished the Dalai Lama in the first such public acknowledgement since 2013, the first time as PM.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet policy is <strong>majorly focused on symbolic aspects</strong>, but there are <strong>many challenges</strong> pertaining to India&rsquo;s Approach to Tibet Policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Associated with India&rsquo;s Approach to Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Changes in Tibetan Demography:</strong> Over the past few decades, China is promoting people from mainland China to migrate into Tibet.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China is increasing suppression of the Tibetan populations&rsquo; links to the Dalai Lama and pouring in investment, infrastructure projects in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tibetans Against Each Other:</strong> As India-China tensions grow and turn violent after the Galwan valley clash, China has begun to raise Tibetan Militia groups.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the Indian Army trains the Tibetan Special Frontier Force, which could lead to Tibetans fighting each other in the future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Tibetan Citizenship:</strong> The Indian government doesn&rsquo;t give citizenship to Tibetans born in India after the cut-off year of 1987.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has created a sense of dissatisfaction amongst the youth of the Tibetan community.</li>
<li>Further, in the past few years, the US has also increased its role, by accepting more Tibetan refugees. This will impact India&rsquo;s role as a sole entity arguing about the future of Tibetian refugee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Question of Dalai Lama&rsquo;s Succession:</strong> The 86 years old Dalai Lama is not only the spiritual leader, but the political leader of the community worldwide. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Dalai Lama asserts that his successor could be a living incarnation, in a specific area in India or even in another country like Taiwan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India currently has an executive policy (not a law) on Tibetans in India.</li>
<li>While the current policy was a significant development for Tibetans' welfare in India, it is devoid of legal backing on core issues of Tibet. For example, destructive Tibetans' demand for freedom in Tibet.</li>
<li>Therefore, it is high time now that India should also adopt a more assertive stand on the Tibet issue in dealing with China.</li>
<li>Further, India should avoid a situation where it has a young and restive Tibetan population that resides in India, but looks outside of India for its leadership and command structure after the Dalai Lama has passed.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/worldview-with-suhasini-haidar-indias-tibet-policy/article35237198.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-tibet-policy'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'SOP for Environmental Violations: MoEFCC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)</strong> issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with environmental violations.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SOP is a result of orders from the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a>, which earlier in 2021 directed the ministry to<strong> put in place penalties and an SOP for green violations.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Categories of Green Violation as per the SOP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Projects Without Clearance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Violations&rsquo; involving cases where construction work, including expansion of an existing project, has begun <strong>without the project proponent having acquired environmental clearance.</strong></li>
<li>Projects that are not permissible for environmental clearance.</li>
<li>The permissibility of the project shall be examined from the perspective of whether such activity/project was at all eligible for grant of prior environment clearance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>For Example:</strong> If a Red Industry(Industrial Sectors having <strong>Pollution Index (PI)</strong> score of 60 and above) is functioning in a <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coastal-regulation-zone-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-I area</strong></a>, which means it was not permitted at the time of commencement of the project. Therefore, the activity shall be closed.</li>
<li>PI of any industrial sector is a <strong>number from 0 to 100 and the increasing value of PI denotes the increasing degree of pollution</strong> load from the industrial sector. It is developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and used for categorization of industrial sectors in <strong>red, orange, green and white categories.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-Compliant Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Projects in which <strong>prior environmental clearance has been accorded, but it is in violation of norms</strong> prescribed in the approval.</li>
<li>Projects which are permissible according to environmental law but which have not acquired the requisite clearance.</li>
<li>In cases of expansion of a project, including increase in volume of production, if environmental clearance has not been received, then the <strong>government agency can force the project proponent to revert to the level of construction/manufacturing before the expansion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In cases where operations have commenced <strong>without the required environmental clearance, 1% of the total project cost</strong> and in addition <strong>0.25 % of the total turnover</strong> during the period of violation will be levied.</li>
<li>In <strong>violation cases</strong>, where operations have not commenced, <strong>1% of the total project cost incurred up to the date</strong> of filing of the application (for instance a fine of Rs 1 lakh for a project worth Rs 1 crore) will be levied.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns Raised by Environmentalists:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SOP normalises <strong>post facto regularisation of violations</strong> in which violations are first committed and then the project proponent files for clearance by which they &ldquo;are let off by paying a penalty&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>institutionalising of violations on the basis of the polluter pays norm.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives of MOEFCC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier MoEFCC has published the draft <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-eia-draft-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020</strong></a>, with the intention of replacing the existing EIA Notification, 2006 under the <strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.</strong></li>
<li>In 2017, the ministry had initiated a <strong>six-month amnesty scheme on penalising green violations</strong>, which was later extended.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Environmental Impact Assessment</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/making-peace-with-nature-unep-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)</strong> </a>defines EIA as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making.</li>
<li>It aims to <strong>predict environmental impacts</strong> at an early stage in project planning and design,<strong> find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts</strong>, shape projects to suit the local environment and<strong> present the predictions and options to decision-makers.</strong></li>
<li>The Environment Impact Assessment in India is <strong>statutorily backed by the Environment Protection Act, 1986.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Provides a <strong>cost effective method to eliminate or minimize the adverse impact of developmental projects.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Enables the decision makers to analyse the effect of developmental activities on the environment</strong> well before the developmental project is implemented.</li>
<li>Encourages the adaptation of mitigation strategies in the developmental plan.</li>
<li>Makes sure that the <strong>developmental plan is environmentally sound and within the limits of the capacity of assimilation and regeneration</strong> of the ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010)</strong> for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.</li>
<li>With the establishment of the NGT,<strong> India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal</strong>, only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so.</li>
<li>NGT is <strong>mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing the same.</strong></li>
<li>The NGT has <strong>five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place</strong> of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/moefcc-issues-sop-violations-may-lead-to-closing-demolition-of-projects-7398763/" 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/sop-for-environmental-violations-moefcc'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Conservation Plans for Cities along Rivers',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A policy document from<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/namami-gange-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> National Mission for Clean Ganga</a> (NMCG)</strong> has proposed that cities situated on river banks should incorporate river conservation plans when they prepare their Master Plans.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>recommendations</strong> are currently for towns that are on the <strong>main stem of the river Ganga</strong> which are in five States &mdash; <strong>Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal.</strong></li>
<li>NMCG is the implementation wing of <strong>National Ganga Council</strong> (set in 2016; which replaced the <strong>National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)).</strong> Along with its state counterpart organizations, NMCG implements the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/namami-gange-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Namami Gange Programme.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626089348_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626089348_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Emphasis of the Policy Document:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the need for <strong>river-sensitive plans that must be practical</strong> (as envisaged in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-national-water-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Water Policy</strong></a>).</li>
<li>There should be a <strong>systematic rehabilitation plan</strong> to remove encroachment that emphasizes on <strong>alternative livelihood options</strong> along with a<strong> proper relocation strategy.</strong></li>
<li>Planners should make every attempt to engage stakeholders (encroacher, land owners) in order to <strong>develop empathetic and humane solutions.</strong></li>
<li>The plan must also <strong>clarify on land ownership.</strong> Ascertaining the land ownership in these areas is important to avoid legal complications while the Plan is being implemented.</li>
<li>A key aspect of conserving and protecting river and riverine resources involves<strong> increasing green cover</strong> in the vicinity of the river by <strong>creating green buffers, removing concrete structures and employing &ldquo;green infrastructure.&rdquo;</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Master Plan can <strong>&ldquo;create an environment&rdquo;</strong> for facilitating the use of<strong> state-of-the-art technologies</strong> for river management. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These include <strong>satellite-based monitoring of water quality; <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artificial intelligence</a></strong> for riverine biodiversity mapping; <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>big data</strong></a> and <strong>citizen science for river-health monitoring; <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-unmanned-aircraft-system-uas-rules-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)</a></strong> for floodplain mapping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In coming years the nature and type of technologies are expected to become more <strong>sophisticated and effective.</strong> Thus, the cities will be ready to embrace these seamlessly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Features of National Water Policy, 2012</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integrated Water Resources Management:</strong> It laid down the concept of an Integrated Water Resources Management approach that took the river basin/sub-basin as a unit for planning, development, and management of water resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a process that <strong>promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources</strong> in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimum Water Flow:</strong> To maintain the minimum flow of a portion of a river to meet ecological needs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, such an approach led the government to require minimum water levels to be maintained in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ganga</strong></a> throughout the year by refraining from hoarding water beyond a point.</li>
<li>Emphasis was also made to make a minimum quantity of potable water available to citizens for maintaining essential health and hygiene.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inter-basin Transfers:</strong> To meet basic human needs and achieve equity and social justice, inter-basin transfers of water need to be considered <strong>on the basis of the merits of each case</strong> after evaluating the environmental, economic and social impacts of such transfers.</li>
<li>Other reasons such as decreasing spring sets in Himalayas, budgeting and restructuring of water subsidies, irrigation, etc. demanded the prioritization of water usage.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cities-along-rivers-urged-to-include-conservation-plans/article35149029.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/conservation-plans-for-cities-along-rivers'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Lemru Elephant Reserve: Chhattisgarh',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Chhattisgarh government has<strong> proposed to reduce the area of Lemru Elephant Reserve</strong> from 1,995 sq km to 450 sq km.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Centre gave its approval in 2007 for the creation of the 450 sq km Lemru Elephant Reserve and in 2019, the state government decided to increase the area to 1,995 sq km.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reserve is located in the <strong>Korba&nbsp;district</strong> of Chhattisgarh.</li>
<li>The reserve is<strong> aiming at reducing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/man-animal-conflict-mac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human-animal conflict</a></strong> and destruction of property in addition to providing a permanent habitat to the elephants.</li>
<li>Earlier, the state government notified the reserve (Conservation Reserve) in October 2020 under Section <strong>36A of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wildlife-protection-act-wpa-1972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972</a></strong> (WLPA).
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section 36A has a special provision that gives the Union government a say in the process of notification in case the land to be notified as <strong>conservation reserve</strong> has areas belonging to the Centre.</li>
<li>Elephant reserves are not recognised under the WLPA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Reducing Size:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The area proposed under the reserve is<strong> part of the Hasdeo Aranya forests,</strong> a very diverse biozone that is also rich in coal deposits.</li>
<li>Of 22 coal blocks in the area, 7 have already been allotted with mines running in three, and in the process of being established in the other four.</li>
<li>The biggest challenge in increasing the reserve area was that <strong>several coal mines would become unusable.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Reserve:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>North Chhattisgarh alone is home to over 240 elephants. <strong>More than 150 elephants have died in the state over the last 20 years,</strong> including 16 between June and October 2020.</li>
<li>Elephants in Chhattisgarh are relatively new; they started moving into undivided Madhya Pradesh (MP) in 1990.</li>
<li>While MP had a policy of pushing back the animals coming from Jharkhand, after Chhattisgarh was formed, the lack of a formal policy allowed elephants to use as a corridor a route in the north and central parts of the state.</li>
<li>Since these animals were relatively new, human-animal conflict started once elephants started straying into inhabited areas, looking for food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Protected Areas in Chhattisgarh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biosphere-reserves-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Achanakmar Tiger Reserve.</strong></a></li>
<li>Indravati Tiger Reserve.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sitanadi-udanti-tiger-reserve-chhattisgarh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sitanadi-Udanti Tiger Reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ophiocordyceps-nutans-fungi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kanger Valley National Park</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Badalkhol Tamor Pingla Elephant Reserve.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626091368_image.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626091368_image.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="640" height="468" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Elephants</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Elephants are<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/preservation-of-sundarban#:~:text=A%20keystone%20species%20is%20an,species%20have%20low%20functional%20redundancy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> keystone species.</strong></a></li>
<li>There are three <strong>subspecies of Asian elephant &ndash;</strong> the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan.</li>
<li>The Indian elephant has the <strong>widest range and accounts</strong> for the majority of the remaining elephants on the continent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Status of Indian Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</a>:</strong> Schedule I</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list#:~:text=The%20IUCN%20Red%20List%20of,of%20plant%20and%20animal%20species.&amp;text=Critically%20Endangered%20(CR)%2C%20Endangered,to%20be%20threatened%20with%20extinction." target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a>:</strong> Endangered</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>:</strong> Appendix I</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives for Conservation of Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/printpdf/electrocution-of-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gaj Yatra</strong></a>: A nationwide campaign to protect elephants, was launched on the occasion of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Elephant Day</strong></a> in 2017.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Elephant</strong></a>: It is a centrally sponsored scheme which was launched in 1992.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seed-bombs-solution-to-man-animal-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Seed Bombs</strong></a>: Recently Odisha&rsquo;s Athagarh Forest Division has started casting seed balls (or bombs) inside different reserve forest areas to enrich food stock for wild elephants to prevent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-the-high-cost-of-man-animal-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>man-elephant conflict.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/right-of-passage-of-the-animals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right of Passage of the Animals</strong></a>: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the 2011 order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of the animals and the closure of resorts in the area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International initiatives to conserve Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electrocution-of-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme</strong></a>, launched in 2003, is an international collaboration that tracks trends in information related to the illegal killing of elephants from across Africa and Asia, to monitor effectiveness of field conservation efforts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-a-proposed-elephant-reserve-in-chhattisgarh-and-its-reduced-area-7400025/" 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/lemru-elephant-reserve-chhattisgarh'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Kesaria Buddha Stupa: Bihar',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The world-famous <strong>Kesaria Buddha stupa in east Champaran district of Bihar</strong> is waterlogged following floods in some parts of the district.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASI (Archaeological Survey of India)</strong></a> has declared it a protected monument of national importance.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626088444_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626088444_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="576" height="330" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The stupa is said to be the <strong>tallest and the largest Buddhist stupa</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>It is located in Kesariya, at a distance of <strong>110 kilometers from Patna,</strong> in the East Champaran district of Bihar.</li>
<li>It has a circumference of almost 400 feet and stands at a height of about 104 feet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> first construction of the Stupa is dated to the 3<sup>rd</sup> century BCE.</strong> The original Kesaria stupa probably dates to the time of <strong>Ashoka (circa 250 BCE),</strong> as the remains of a capital of a <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mauryan-art-and-architecture-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pillar of Ashoka</strong> </a>were discovered there.</li>
<li>The current stupa dates to the <strong>Gupta Dynasty between 200 AD and 750 AD</strong> and may have been associated with the 4<sup>th</sup> century ruler <strong>Raja Chakravarti.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>stupa mound may even have been inaugurated during the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india#:~:text=Origin,born%20in%20circa%20563%20BCE." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buddha's</a> time,</strong> as it corresponds in many respects to the description of the stupa erected by the Licchavis of Vaishali to house the alms bowl the Buddha has given them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In ancient times, <strong>Kesaria was under the rule of the Mauryas and the Licchavis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Two great foreign travelers, Faxian (Fahien) and Xuan Zang (Hsuan Tsang),</strong> had visited this place in ancient times and have left interesting and informative accounts of their travels.</li>
<li>The <strong>discovery of gold coins bearing the seal of the famous emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty (AD 30 to AD 375)</strong> goes on to further establish the ancient heritage of Kesaria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exploration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The stupa&rsquo;s exploration<strong> had started in the early 19<sup>th</sup> century</strong> after its discovery led by Colonel Mackenzie in 1814.</li>
<li>Later, it was <strong>excavated by General Cunningham in 1861-62 and in 1998 an ASI team led by archaeologist K.K. Muhammad</strong> had excavated the site properly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Popular in Bihar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maha-bodhi-temple-complex" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maha Bodhi Temple</strong></a></li>
<li>Nalanda Mahavihara<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both are<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UNESCO World Heritage Sites.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Rohtasgarh Fort</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kesaria-buddha-stupa-waterlogged-in-bihars-east-champaran-district/article35262011.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/kesaria-buddha-stupa-bihar'
		]
	],
	'updates' => object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

		'(help)' => 'This is a Query object, to get the results execute or iterate it.',
		'sql' => 'SELECT articles.article_id AS `articles__article_id`, articles.category_id AS `articles__category_id`, articles.title AS `articles__title`, articles.description AS `articles__description`, articles.shortdescription AS `articles__shortdescription`, articles.featuredimage AS `articles__featuredimage`, articles.tag_id AS `articles__tag_id`, articles.secondary_tag AS `articles__secondary_tag`, articles.type AS `articles__type`, articles.publishon AS `articles__publishon`, articles.posturl AS `articles__posturl`, articles.metatitle AS `articles__metatitle`, articles.metadescription AS `articles__metadescription`, articles.metakeyword AS `articles__metakeyword`, articles.status AS `articles__status`, articles.sort_order AS `articles__sort_order`, articles.addedby AS `articles__addedby`, articles.updatedby AS `articles__updatedby`, articles.added AS `articles__added`, articles.modified AS `articles__modified`, articles.whatsnewid AS `articles__whatsnewid`, articles.display_printpdf AS `articles__display_printpdf`, articles.display_comments AS `articles__display_comments`, articles.pdf_name AS `articles__pdf_name`, articles.display_archive AS `articles__display_archive`, articles.star_rating AS `articles__star_rating` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
		'params' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'defaultTypes' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'decorators' => (int) 0,
		'executed' => false,
		'hydrate' => true,
		'buffered' => true,
		'formatters' => (int) 0,
		'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
		'contain' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'matching' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'extraOptions' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}
	
	},
	'page' => (int) 6,
	'search' => 'class',
	'totalPages' => (float) 334,
	'title' => 'Search'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/careers',
		'title' => 'We are hiring Full Time Content Developers, to know more, please click here.',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$searchlist = [
	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Fertiliser Self-Sufficiency',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers</strong> has reviewed the <strong>initiatives of the Department of Fertilisers</strong> for making India <strong>Atmanirbhar in Fertilisers.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Government</strong> is planning to liberalise <strong>Market Development Assistance (MDA) policy</strong> to promote the use of <strong>alternative fertilisers.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MDA Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MDA policy was earlier limited to <strong>city compost only.</strong></li>
<li>There were <strong>demands to expand this policy</strong> by incorporating <strong>organic waste</strong> like <strong>Biogas, Green Manure, organic compost of rural areas, solid/liquid slurry, etc.</strong></li>
<li>This expansion will fully complement the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives and Schemes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Neem Coating of Urea:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) has made it mandatory for all the domestic producers to produce <strong>100% urea as Neem Coated Urea (NCU).</strong></li>
<li>The benefits of use of NCU are as under:-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Improvement in soil health.</li>
<li>Reduction in usage of plant protection chemicals.</li>
<li>Reduction in pest and disease attack.</li>
<li>An increase in yield of paddy, sugarcane, maize, soybean, Tur/Red Gram.</li>
<li>Negligible diversion towards non-agricultural purposes.</li>
<li>Due to slow release of Nitrogen, Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) of Neem Coated Urea increases resulting in reduced consumption of NCU as compared to normal urea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-april-2019#3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Urea Policy (NUP) 2015</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Objectives of the policy are-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To maximize <strong>indigenous urea production.</strong></li>
<li>To promote energy efficiency in the urea units.</li>
<li>To rationalize the subsidy burden on the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Investment Policy- 2012:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Government announced <strong>New Investment Policy (NIP)-2012</strong> in January, 2013 and made amendments in 2014 to facilitate fresh investment in the <strong>urea sector</strong> and to make <strong>India self-sufficient in the urea sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy on Promotion of City Compost:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Government of India approved a <strong>policy on promotion of City Compost</strong>, notified by the DoF in 2016 granting Market Development Assistance of Rs. 1500/- for scaling up production and consumption of city compost.</li>
<li>To increase sales volumes, compost manufacturers willing to market city compost were allowed to sell city compost in bulk directly to farmers.</li>
<li>Fertilizer companies marketing city compost are covered under the <a href="/printpdf/rbi-advisory-on-direct-benefit-transfer" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)</strong></a> for Fertilizers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Space Technology in Fertilizer Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>DoF commissioned a three year Pilot Study on <strong>&ldquo;Resource Mapping of Rock Phosphate using Reflectance Spectroscopy and Earth Observations Data&rdquo;</strong> by National Remote Sensing Centre under ISRO, in collaboration with Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Atomic Mineral Directorate (AMD).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been implemented from <strong>April 2010 by the DoF.</strong></li>
<li>Under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-nutrient-based-subsidy-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NBS</strong></a>, a <strong>fixed amount of subsidy decided on an annual basis</strong>, is provided on each grade of subsidized Phosphatic &amp; Potassic (P&amp;K) fertilizers depending on its nutrient content.</li>
<li>It aims at ensuring the balanced use of <strong>fertilizers, improving agricultural productivity, promoting the growth of the indigenous fertilizers industry</strong> and also reducing the burden of Subsidy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fertilizer Consumption in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s fertiliser consumption in FY20</strong> was about 61 million tonnes &mdash; of which 55% <strong>was urea</strong>&mdash;and is estimated to have increased by 5 million tonnes in FY21.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since <strong>non-urea (MoP, DAP, complex) varieties</strong> cost higher, many <strong>farmers prefer to use more urea</strong> than actually needed.</li>
<li>The government has taken a number of <strong>measures to reduce urea consumption.</strong> It introduced <strong>neem-coated urea</strong> to reduce illegal diversion of urea for non-agricultural uses. It also stepped up the <strong>promotion of organic and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/zero-budget-natural-farming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zero-budget farming</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Currently, the fertiliser production of the country is 42-45 million tonnes, and <strong>imports are at around 18 million tonnes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subsidy on Urea:</strong> The Centre <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fertiliser-subsidy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pays subsidy</a> on urea to fertiliser manufacturers on the basis of cost of production</strong> at each plant and the units are required to sell the fertiliser at the government-set Maximum Retail Price (MRP).</li>
<li><strong>Subsidy on Non-Urea Fertilisers:</strong> The MRPs of non-urea fertilisers are <strong>decontrolled or fixed by the companies.</strong> The Centre, however, pays a flat per-tonne subsidy on these nutrients to ensure they are priced at &ldquo;reasonable levels&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Examples of non-urea fertilisers: <strong>Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP).</strong></li>
<li>All <strong>Non-Urea based fertilisers are regulated under Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1735096" 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/fertiliser-self-sufficiency'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Few-Electron Bubbles in Superfluid Helium Gas',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Scientists at the<strong> Indian Institute of Science (IISc),</strong> Banglore for the first time discovered<strong> two species of Few-Electron Bubbles (FEBs) in Superfluid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/helium-crisis-for-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Helium Gas.</a></strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Helium</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a chemical element with the <strong>symbol He and atomic number 2.</strong> The British chemist <strong>Sir William Ramsay</strong> discovered the <strong>existence of helium on Earth in 1895.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas,</strong> the first in the noble gas group in the periodic table.</li>
<li>Its<strong> boiling point is the lowest among all the elements.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Electrons</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Matter is made up of atoms,</strong> which are the basic units of chemical elements such as hydrogen, helium or oxygen.</li>
<li>Atoms are<strong> made up of three particles:</strong> Protons, Neutrons and Electrons.</li>
<li>Hence, <strong>electrons are the subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom.</strong> They are generally <strong>negative in charge</strong> and are much<strong> smaller than the nucleus of the atom.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626250047_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626250047_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Electron Bubble:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An electron bubble is the <strong>empty space created around a free electron in a cryogenic gas or liquid,</strong> such as neon or helium. They are typically very small, about<strong> 2 nm in diameter</strong> at atmospheric pressure.</li>
<li>An electron injected into a <strong>superfluid</strong> form of helium creates a <strong>Single Electron Bubble (SEB) &mdash;</strong> a cavity that is free of helium atoms and contains only the electron. The shape of the bubble depends on the energy state of the electron.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For instance, the bubble is spherical when the electron is in the ground state (i.e. state of lowest energy). There are also <strong>multiple electron bubbles </strong>that contain <strong>thousands of electrons.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Superfluidity</strong> is the<strong> frictionless flow and other exotic behaviour observed in liquid helium at temperatures near absolute zero</strong> (&minus;273.15 &deg;C), and similar frictionless behaviour of electrons in a superconducting solid. In each case the <strong>unusual behaviour arises from quantum mechanical effects.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Few-Electron Bubbles:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FEBs, on the other hand, are <strong>nanometre-sized cavities in liquid helium containing just a handful of free electrons.</strong> The number, state, and interactions between free electrons dictate the physical and chemical properties of materials.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FEBs form an interesting system that has both<strong> electron-electron interaction and electron-surface interaction.</strong></li>
<li>FEBs were found to be <strong>stable for at least 15 milliseconds</strong> (quantum changes typically happen at much shorter time scales) which would enable researchers to trap and study them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Study Properties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FEBs can serve as a useful model to study how the energy states of electrons and interactions between them in a material influence its properties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decipher Phenomenons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are several phenomena that FEBs can help scientists decipher, such as: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Turbulent flows in superfluids and viscous fluids, or the flow of heat in superfluid helium.</li>
<li>Just like how<strong> current flows without resistance in superconducting materials</strong> at very low temperatures, <strong>superfluid helium also conducts heat efficiently at very low temperatures.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/energy/scientists-discover-two-species-of-few-electron-bubbles-in-superfluid-helium-77930#:~:text=The%20researchers%20first%20applied%20a,eight%20and%20six%20electrons%20respectively." 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/few-electron-bubbles-in-superfluid-helium-gas'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Suborbital Flight',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a six person crew on <strong>Virgin Galactic&rsquo;s VSS Unity spaceship</strong> undertook a brief trip to the <strong>&ldquo;edge of space&rdquo;</strong> which is known as <strong>Suborbital Flight.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sirisha Bandla, an astronaut born in India</strong>, was a part of the crew. She was the<strong> third woman of Indian origin</strong> to go to space after <strong>Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Virgin Galactic</strong> is a British-American <strong>spaceflight company</strong>, operating in the United States.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Suborbital Flight/Trajectory:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247399_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247399_pasted image 0 (1).png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When an <strong>object travels at a horizontal speed of about 28,000 km/hr or more</strong>, it <strong>goes into orbit</strong> once it is above the atmosphere. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>satellites need to reach that threshold speed (orbital velocity)</strong> in order to orbit Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Such a satellite would be <strong>accelerating towards the Earth due to gravity</strong>, but its <strong>horizontal movement is fast enough to offset the downward motion</strong> so that it moves along a circular path.</li>
<li>Any object travelling <strong>slower than 28,000 km/hr must eventually return to Earth.</strong></li>
<li>Any object that launches to space but <strong>does reach sufficient horizontal velocity to stay in space falls back to Earth.</strong> Hence they <strong>fly in a suborbital trajectory.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It means that while these <strong>vehicles will cross the ill-defined boundary of space</strong>, they will <strong>not be going fast enough to stay in space</strong> once they get there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Suborbital Flights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increased Access:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It would provide <strong>increased flight access for design innovation</strong> and experimental manipulation due to high projected flight rates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Suborbital flights will be helpful <strong>for microgravity research.</strong> Microgravity is the <strong>condition in which people or objects appear to be weightless.</strong></li>
<li>Suborbital flights <strong>could also be an alternative to parabolic flights</strong> in aeroplanes that space agencies currently use to simulate <strong>zero gravity.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Zero Gravity</strong> or Zero-G can simply be defined as the <strong>state or condition of weightlessness.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cost Effective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They would be <strong>far less expensive</strong> than carrying experiments and people to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-27-february-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Space Station</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Edge of Space/Karman Line:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247566_pasted%20image 0 (2).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247566_pasted image 0 (2).png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The most widely accepted boundary of space is known as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-shephard-taking-tourists-to-space" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karman line</strong></a>. The <strong>F&eacute;d&eacute;ration A&eacute;ronautique Internationale (FAI)</strong> defines Karman Line as the altitude of 100 kilometres above Earth&rsquo;s mean sea level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FAI is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The K&aacute;rm&aacute;n line has been compared to international waters, as there are no national boundaries and human laws in force beyond the line.</li>
<li>It is named after <strong>Theodore von Karman (1881&ndash;1963)</strong>, a Hungarian American engineer and physicist, who was active primarily in aeronautics and astronautics.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>He was the <strong>first person to calculate the altitude at which the atmosphere becomes too thin to support aeronautical flight</strong> and arrived at 83.6 km himself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, other organizations do not use this definition. <strong>There is no international law defining the edge of space</strong>, and therefore the limit of national airspace.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-whats-a-suborbital-flight-an-aerospace-engineer-explains-7398891/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1626251150354000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Jid_JhEnnkJO4Z8-7smB7" 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/suborbital-flight'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, several IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blasts were carried out inside Cachar district of Assam allegedly by miscreants from Mizoram. These blasts signal the <strong>re-emergence of long-unresolved Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assam-mizoram-border-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>boundary issue between Assam and Mizoram</strong></a> has existed since the formation of Mizoram &mdash; first as a union territory in 1972, and then as a full-fledged state in 1987.</li>
<li>In India, Inter-state disputes are multifaceted, besides disputes over boundaries, there are <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disputes over sharing of water (rivers)</strong> </a>and migration also impacts the federal polity of India.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>During colonial times, <strong>Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills,</strong> a district of Assam.</li>
<li>Mizoram was granted<strong> statehood in 1987</strong> by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986.</li>
<li><strong>Assam became a constituent state of India in 1950</strong> and lost much of its territory to new states that emerged from within its borders between the early 1960s and the early 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The boundary issue between present-day Assam and Mizoram<strong> dates back to the colonial era</strong> when inner lines were demarcated according to the administrative needs of British Raj.</li>
<li>The Assam-Mizoram dispute<strong> stems from two notifications passed under British era.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First, <strong>notification of 1875,</strong> that differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar.</li>
<li>Second, <strong>notification of 1933,</strong> that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Mizoram believes the<strong> boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification,</strong> which is derived from the <strong>Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mizo leaders are against the demarcation notified in 1933, according to them, the <strong>Mizo society was not consulted.</strong></li>
<li>On the other hand, the <strong>Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation.</strong></li>
<li>As a result both states continue to have a<strong> differing perception of the border</strong> and that is the point of conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is<strong> a 164.6-km inter-state border that separates Assam and Mizoram,</strong> with the three Assam districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj sharing a border with Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl districts of Mizoram.</li>
<li>Further, the boundary between Mizoram and Assam <strong>follows naturally occurring barriers of hills, valleys, rivers and forests,</strong> and both sides have attributed border skirmishes to perceptional differences over an imaginary line.</li>
<li>In the <strong>Northeast&rsquo;s complex boundary equations,</strong> clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents are less frequent than they are between other neighbouring states of Assam, like with Nagaland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247143_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626247143_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overall Condition of Inter-State Disputes in India:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Issue of Boundary:</strong> Boundary disputes between the states are one of major reasons for Inter-state disputes in India. For example, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belagavi-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karnataka and Maharashtra both lay claim to Belgaum</strong></a>, and every now and then the matter comes up.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statehood-day-of-manipur-meghalaya-and-tripura" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971,</strong></a> changed the political map of northeast India, by establishment of the states like Manipur and Tripura and the formation of Meghalaya. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, this reorganisation has resulted in many boundary disputes in the northeastern region, like Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Migration:</strong> There have been violent agitations in some states over migrants and job seekers from other states. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is because the existing resources and the employment opportunities are not enough to meet the needs of the growing population.</li>
<li>The<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/regionalism-in-india-upsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;sons of the soil&rsquo; concept</strong></a> for preference in employment in the states concerned tends to destroy the roots of a healthy federalism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disputes over Sharing Water Resources:</strong> The most long standing and contentious inter-state issue has been the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sharing of river waters.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most of the Indian rivers are inter-state, i.e., they flow through more than one state.</li>
<li>Due to an increase in demand for water, a number of inter state disputes over sharing river waters have surfaced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Boundary disputes between the states<strong> can be settled by using satellite mapping of the actual border locations.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reviving the Inter-state council</strong> can be an option for resolution of an Inter-state dispute.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under <strong>Article 263 of the Constitution</strong>, the Inter-state council is expected to inquire and advise on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Similarly, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/25th-western-zonal-council-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zonal councils</strong> </a>need to be revived to discuss the matters of common concern to states in each zone&mdash;matters relating to social and economic planning, border disputes, inter-state transport, etc.</li>
<li>India is the epitome of unity in diversity. However, in order to strengthen this unity furthermore, both the centre and state governments, need to imbibe the ethos of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cooperative federalism.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/assam-mizoram-border-row-flares-again/article35271389.ece&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1626250936611000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1qcY1_vfb1XsuNe4EZWEIS" 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/assam-mizoram-border-dispute-1'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity#:~:text=The%20Convention%20on%20Biological%20Diversity%20(CBD)%2C%20a%20legally%20binding,It%20has%203%20main%20objectives%3A&amp;text=The%20sustainable%20use%20of%20the,the%20utilization%20of%20genetic%20resources." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)</strong></a> has demanded an additional $200 billion fund flow to developing countries from various sources to manage nature through 2030.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is one of many demands and targets that have been set through 2030 in the official draft of a new <strong>Global Biodiversity Framework.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),</strong> a <strong>legally binding treaty</strong> to conserve biodiversity has been in force since 1993. It has <strong>3 main objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The conservation of biological diversity.</li>
<li>The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.</li>
<li>The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Nearly all countries have ratified it (notably, the<strong> US has signed but not ratified).</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada</strong> and it <strong>operates under the United Nations Environment Programme.</strong></li>
<li>The Parties (Countries) under Convention of Biodiversity (CBD), meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called <strong>Conference of Parties (COP).</strong></li>
<li>In 2000, a supplementary agreement to the Convention known as the <strong>Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety</strong> was adopted. It came into force on 11<sup>th</sup> September 2003.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS)</strong> was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan at COP10. It entered into force on 12<sup>th</sup> October 2014.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It not only applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD, and to the benefits arising from their utilization but also covers traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and the benefits arising from its utilization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Along with the Nagoya Protocol on Genetic Resources, the COP-10 also adopted a ten-year framework for action by all countries to save biodiversity.</li>
<li>Officially known as <strong>&ldquo;Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020&rdquo;,</strong> it provided a set of 20 ambitious yet achievable targets collectively known as the <strong>Aichi Targets for biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>enacted Biological Diversity Act in 2002</strong> for giving effect to the provisions of the CBD.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Biodiversity, and the benefits it provides, is fundamental to human well-being and a healthy planet. Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to continue or worsen under business-as-usual scenarios.</li>
<li>The post-2020 global biodiversity framework builds on the <strong>Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-biological-diversity-1#:~:text=The%20UNGA%20also%20declared%20the,living%20in%20harmony%20with%20nature." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020</strong></a> comes to an end, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN</strong></a> actively supports the development of what needs to be an ambitious new global biodiversity framework.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Guiding Force:</strong> It is a new framework that will be the <strong>global guiding force to protect nature</strong> and to retain its essential services for humans from 2020 to 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Setting Targets:</strong> This is a global, outcome-oriented framework for the<strong> Convention&rsquo;s 196 Parties</strong> to develop<strong> national and regional goals and targets,</strong> to update national strategies and action plans as needed, and to facilitate regular monitoring and review of progress at the global level.</li>
<li><strong>Urgent and Transformative Action:</strong> The framework <strong>aims to spur urgent and transformative action</strong> by Governments and all of society to contribute to the objectives of the <strong>Convention on Biological Diversity,</strong> its <strong>Protocols,</strong> and other biodiversity related multilateral agreements, processes and instruments.</li>
<li><strong>Capacity Building:</strong> It aims to ensure the right capacity building of the communities/governments to take up conservation measures to meet the goals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These include the contentious technology transfer to countries that don&rsquo;t have it currently and also a wide scientific cooperation among countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Goals and Targets:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new frameworks have <strong>four goals to achieve by 2050.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To <strong>halt the extinction and decline of biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>To <strong>enhance and retain nature&rsquo;s services</strong> to humans by conserving.</li>
<li>To <strong>ensure fair and equitable benefits to all</strong> from use of genetic resources.</li>
<li>To<strong> close the gap between available financial and other means</strong> of implementation and those necessary to achieve the 2050 Vision.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2030 Action Targets:</strong> The framework has<strong> 21 action-oriented targets</strong> for urgent action over the decade to 2030, which includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To bring at least 30% of land and sea under the world&rsquo;s protected areas.</li>
<li>A <strong>50% greater reduction in the rate of introduction of invasive alien species,</strong> and controls or eradication of such species to eliminate or reduce their impacts.</li>
<li><strong>Reducing nutrients lost to the environment by at least half,</strong> and pesticides by at least two thirds, and <strong>eliminating the discharge of plastic waste.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Nature-based contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts</strong> of at least 10 GtCO<sub>2</sub>e (gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide) per year, and that all mitigation and adaptation efforts avoid negative impacts on biodiversity.</li>
<li>Redirecting, repurposing, reforming or eliminating incentives harmful for biodiversity, in a just and equitable way, reducing them by at least $US 500 billion per year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relationship with SDGs:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework is <strong>a fundamental contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</strong></li>
<li>At the same time, progress towards the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong></a> will help to create the conditions necessary <strong>to implement the framework.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need of Financial Support:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework&rsquo;s demand for more financial support to developing countries, also the worst victims of biodiversity losses, is the most difficult one to negotiate and achieve.</li>
<li>Adequate financial resources to implement the framework are available and deployed, progressively closing the financing gap up to at least $700 billion per year by 2030.</li>
<li>The financial commitment has to increase to at least $ 200 billion per year. This includes an additional $10 billion per year international financial flow to developing countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Theory of Change of the Framework:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework is built around a theory of change which recognizes that urgent policy action globally, regionally and nationally is required to transform economic, social and financial models.</li>
<li>The trends that have exacerbated biodiversity loss will stabilize in the next 10 years (by 2030) and allow for the recovery of natural ecosystems in the following 20 years, with net improvements by 2050 to achieve the Convention&rsquo;s vision of &ldquo;living in harmony with nature by 2050&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626242970_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626242970_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/wildlife-biodiversity/un-200-billion-increase-in-fund-flow-to-developing-countries-for-managing-nature-77912" 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/post-2020-global-biodiversity-framework'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Stringent Nature of UAPA',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the death of <strong>Father Stan Swamy</strong>, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, while in judicial custody, has brought the stringent provisions of <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act</strong> (UAPA) into the focus.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/demand-for-repeal-of-uapa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UAPA</strong></a> is the <strong>India&rsquo;s main anti-terrorism legislation</strong>, but the law makes it more difficult to obtain bail.</li>
<li>This difficulty in obtaining bail is being seen as one of the principal reasons for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/demand-for-repeal-of-uapa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fr. Swamy&rsquo;s death</strong></a> as a prisoner in a hospital and <strong>compromises constitutional liberties.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background of UAPA:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the mid-1960s, in order to <strong>curb the various secession movements</strong>, the Government of India considered enacting a stringent law.</li>
<li>In March 1967, a <strong>peasant uprising in Naxalbari</strong> imparted a sense of urgency.</li>
<li>On 17<sup>th</sup> June, 1966, the President had promulgated the <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Ordinance.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ordinance intended to <strong>&ldquo;provide for the more effective prevention of unlawful activities of individuals and associations&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After initial resistance from the Parliament (owing to its stringent nature), the <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was passed in 1967.</strong></li>
<li>The Act provided for declaring an association or a body of individuals &ldquo;unlawful&rdquo; if they indulged in any activity that <strong>envisages secession or questions or disclaims the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity.</strong></li>
<li>Prior to the UAPA&rsquo;s enactment, associations were being declared unlawful under the <strong>Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1952.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the Supreme Court held that the provision on bans was unlawful because there was <strong>no judicial mechanism</strong> to scrutinise the validity of any ban.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore, the UAPA included <strong>provisions for a Tribunal</strong> which has to confirm within six months the notification declaring an outfit unlawful.</li>
<li>After the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cross-border-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002</strong></a>, was repealed, the UAPA was expanded to include what would have been terrorist acts in earlier laws.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Status of the Act:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In its present form, the UAPA has been <strong>amended in 2004 and 2013</strong>, to expand its scope.</li>
<li><strong>Expanded Scope of Law:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Punishment for terrorist acts and activities,</li>
<li>Acts threatening the country&rsquo;s security, including its economic security (a term that covers fiscal and monetary security, food, livelihood, energy ecological and environmental security),</li>
<li>Provisions to prevent the use of funds for terrorist purposes, including money.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ban on organisations was initially for two years, but from 2013, the period of proscription has been extended to five years.</li>
<li>Further, the amendments aim to give effect to various anti-terrorism resolutions of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council</strong></a> and requirements of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-action-task-force-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Financial Action Task Force</a>.</strong></li>
<li>In 2019, the Act was amended to empower the <strong>government to designate individuals as terrorists.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Modus Operandi of UAPA:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Just like other special laws dealing with narcotic drugs and the now-defunct laws on terrorism, the UAPA also modifies the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/re-imagining-cognizable-offences" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Code of Criminal Procedure</strong></a> (CrPC) to give it more teeth. For example,
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A remand order can be for 30 days instead of the usual 15,</li>
<li>Maximum period of judicial custody before the filing of a chargesheet is extendable from the usual 90 days to 180 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Controversy Regarding UAPA:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Vague Definition of Terrorist Act:</strong> The definition of a<strong> &ldquo;terrorist act&rdquo; under the UAPA</strong> substantially <strong>differs</strong> from the definition promoted by the <strong>United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>UAPA, on the other hand, offers an overbroad and ambiguous definition of a &ldquo;terrorist act&rdquo; which includes the death of, or injuries to, any person, damage to any property, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Denial of Bail:</strong> The major problem with the UAPA lies in its <strong>Section 43(D)(5)</strong>, which makes it difficult for any accused person to obtain bail.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In case, if police have filed the chargesheet that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accusation against such person is prima facie true, bail cannot be granted.</li>
<li>Further, a Supreme Court judgment on this has clarified that the court considering bail should not examine the evidence too deeply, but must go by the prosecution version based on broad probabilities.</li>
<li>Thus, UAPA <strong>virtually denies bail</strong>, which is a safeguard and guarantee of the <strong>constitutional right to liberty.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pendency of Trails:</strong> Given the state of justice delivery system in India, the rate of pendency at the level of trial is at an average of 95.5%.</li>
<li><strong>State Overreach:</strong> It also includes any act that is <strong>&ldquo;likely to threaten&rdquo; or &ldquo;likely to strike terror in people&rdquo;</strong>, giving unbridled power to the government to brand any ordinary citizen or activist a terrorist without the actual commission of these acts.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It gives the state authority vague powers to detain and arrest individuals who it believes to be indulged in terrorist activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Undermining Federalism:</strong> Some experts feel that it is against the federal structure since it neglects the authority of state police in terrorism cases, given that <strong>&lsquo;Police&rsquo; is a state subject </strong>under<strong> 7<sup>th</sup> schedule of Indian Constitution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Drawing the line between individual freedom and state obligation to provide security is a case of classical dilemma.</li>
<li>It is up to the state, judiciary, civil society, to strike a balance between constitutional freedom and the imperative of anti-terror activities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explained-what-makes-the-uapa-so-stringent/article35257856.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/stringent-nature-of-uapa'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'US Withdrawal And Regional Dynamics ',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/us-troops-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-pakistan-taliban-7401581/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional powers and the Afghanistan question</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 13/07/2021. It talks about the scenarios emerging in Afghanistan and the region after withdrawal of American troops.</p>
</div>
<p>The speedy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/american-exit-from-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>withdrawal of US troops</strong></a> from Afghanistan has been matched by the swift advance of the Taliban across the nation. While the US has confirmed that 90% of the withdrawal is done, the Taliban has claimed that it is in control of 85% of Afghanistan territory.</p>
<p>These developments have moved <strong>Afghanistan into the court of regional powers</strong> that now have the burden of managing the military vacuum created by the US retreat.</p>
<p>The idea of a regional solution to Afghanistan has always had much political appeal. But <strong>divergent regional strategic perspectives</strong> limit the prospects for a sustainable consensus on Afghanistan.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626174258_pasted%20image 0 (10).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626174258_pasted image 0 (10).png" width="300" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>US Withdrawal and Regional Powers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Taliban:</strong> Taliban itself remains a major variable. If the Taliban does not accommodate the interests of all Afghans, it simply sets the stage for the next round of the civil war in Afghanistan. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Taliban is also signalling that it will not be a proxy for anyone else and that it will pursue independent policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China:</strong> The US withdrawal from Afghanistan today reinforces the strongly held conviction in China that the US is in terminal decline.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The withdrawal, at a time when China is offering an alternative to the Western model of international governance, is seen in China as a great ideological victory.</li>
<li>However, for China, potential Taliban support to the Xinjiang separatist groups is a major concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India:</strong> India will have three critical areas in dealing with the Taliban.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Protecting its investments, which run into billions of rupees, in Afghanistan;</li>
<li>Preventing a future Taliban regime from being a pawn of Pakistan;</li>
<li>Making sure that the <strong>Pakistan-backed anti-India terrorist groups do not get support</strong> from the Taliban.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other:</strong> None of the regional countries want to see Afghanistan becoming the nursery of international terror again under the Taliban. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Iran can&rsquo;t ignore the Sunni extremism of the Taliban and its oppressive record in dealing with the Shia, and Persian-speaking minorities.</li>
<li>Pakistan worries about the danger of the conflict spilling over to the east of the <a href="/printpdf/withdrawal-of-us-troops-from-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Durand Line</strong></a>, and hostile groups like the <strong>Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)</strong> gaining sanctuaries in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India&rsquo;s Approach</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The era of prolonged peace in Afghanistan secured by the US military presence has come to its end. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would mean new constraints on India&rsquo;s ability to operate inside Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Three structural conditions</strong> will continue to shape India&rsquo;s Afghan policy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One is India&rsquo;s <strong>lack of direct physical access to Afghanistan.</strong> This underlines the importance of India having effective regional partners.</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan</strong> has the <strong>capability to destabilise any government</strong> in Afghanistan. But it does not have the power to construct a stable and legitimate order in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The contradiction between the interests of Afghanistan and Pakistan is an enduring one. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan likes to turn Afghanistan into a protectorate, but Afghans deeply value their independence. All Afghan sovereigns, including the Taliban, will look for partners to balance Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India should focus on <strong>intensifying its engagement with various Afghan groups</strong>, including the Taliban and <strong>finding effective regional partners</strong> to secure its interests in a changing Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Use of Multilateral Organisations:</strong> Such as <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-international-institutions-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO)</strong> </a>should be used in dealing with the Afghan questions and achieve stability. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Geography, membership and capabilities make the SCO an important forum to address the post-American challenges in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An <strong>independent, sovereign, democratic, pluralistic and inclusive Afghanistan</strong> is crucial for peace and stability in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to ensure the same, the Afghan peace process, as stated by India&rsquo;s Afghan policy, should be <strong>Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, there is a need for the global community to <strong>fight against the global concern of terrorism.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, it high time to adopt the <a href="/printpdf/at-unga-india-call-for-early-adoption-of-ccit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism</strong></a> (proposed by India at UN in 1996).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Admin and Military Reforms:</strong> More militancy is witnessed in the region where the state fails to deliver. Thus, Administrative and military reforms within Afghanistan are the need of the hour to tackle the menace of emerging Taliban 2.0.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The US's exit from Afghanistan has triggered Taliban emergence, geopolitical flux and thus, instability in the region.</li>
<li>As these factors will increasingly push India into a geopolitical tough spot in the region, smart statecraft, therefore, is required to deal with changing dynamics in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>If India remains active and patient too, many opportunities could open up in the new Afghan phase.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfcf0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has led to emergence of new challenges for the regional powers. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-withdrawal-and-regional-dynamics'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Incidents of Lightning',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, thirty people were killed in separate<strong> incidents of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cities-are-turning-into-lightening-magnets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lightning</a></strong> in various parts of the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lightning is the <strong>biggest contributor to accidental deaths due to natural causes.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a very <strong>rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere.</strong> It is the process of <strong>occurrence of a natural &lsquo;electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage</strong> between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud&rsquo;, accompanied by a bright flash and sound, and sometimes thunderstorms.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Inter cloud or intra cloud (IC)</strong> lightning are <strong>visible and harmless.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cloud to ground (CG)</strong> lightning is <strong>harmful as the &lsquo;high electric voltage</strong> and electric current&rsquo; leads to electrocution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Process:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a result of the <strong>difference in electrical charge between the top and bottom of a cloud.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The lightning-generating clouds are typically about <strong>10-12 km in height, with their base about 1-2 km from the Earth&rsquo;s surface.</strong> The temperatures at the top range from -35&deg;C to -45&deg;C.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As <strong>water vapour moves upwards in the cloud</strong>, it condenses into water due to decreasing temperatures. A huge amount of <strong>heat is generated</strong> in the process, <strong>pushing the water molecules further up.</strong></li>
<li>As they move to <strong>temperatures below zero</strong>, droplets change into small ice crystals. As they continue upwards, they gather mass, until they <strong>become so heavy that they start descending.</strong></li>
<li>It leads to a system where smaller ice crystals move upwards while larger ones come down. The <strong>resulting collisions trigger release of electrons</strong>, in a process very <strong>similar to the generation of electric sparks.</strong> The moving free electrons cause more collisions and more electrons leading to a chain reaction.</li>
<li>The process results in a situation in which the <strong>top layer of the cloud gets positively charged</strong> while the <strong>middle layer is negatively charged.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626169119_pasted%20image 0 (9).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626169119_pasted image 0 (9).png" width="450" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In little time, a huge current, of the order of lakhs to millions of amperes, starts to flow between the layers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>produces heat</strong>, leading to the heating of the air column between the two layers of cloud.</li>
<li>It is because of this heat that the <strong>air column looks red during lightning.</strong></li>
<li>The heated air column expands and produces shock waves that result in<strong> thunder sounds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Strikes Earth&rsquo;s Surface:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Earth is a good conductor of electricity.</strong> While electrically neutral, it is relatively positively charged compared to the middle layer of the cloud. As a result, an estimated <strong>20-25% of the current flow is directed towards the Earth.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is this current flow that results in damage to life and property.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Lightning has a <strong>greater probability of striking raised objects on the ground</strong>, such as trees or buildings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Lightning Conductor</strong> is a device used to protect buildings from the effect of lightning. A metallic rod, taller than the building, is installed in the walls of the building during its construction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The most lightning activity on Earth is seen on the shore of <strong>Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At the place where the Catatumbo river falls into Lake Maracaibo, an average 260 storm days occur <strong>every year, and October sees 28 lightning flashes every minute</strong> - a phenomenon referred to as the <strong>Beacon of Maracaibo or the Everlasting Storm.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Change &amp; Lightning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An<strong> increase of one degree Celsius would increase the frequency of lightning strikes by 12%</strong> , warned California University in a study published 2015.</li>
<li>A study published in Geophysical Research Letters in March 2021, too, has <strong>established links between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> and rising incidences of lightning in the Arctic region.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The number of lightning strikes recorded during the summer months between 2010 and 2020 shot up from around 18,000 at the start of the decade to more than 1,50,000 by 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore even the <strong>Indian Institute of Tropical Management (IITM)</strong> concludes that the <strong>increase in lightning incidents may be directly related to the climate crisis</strong>, and the <strong>availability of more moisture over land</strong> due to global warming.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>IITM</strong> in Pune is the only institution in India that works full-time on thunderstorms and lightning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Lightning Strikes in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As many as <strong>18.5 million lightning strikes were recorded in India between April 2020 and March 2021</strong>, according to India&rsquo;s second annual report on lightning released by <strong>Lightning Resilient India Campaign (LRIC)</strong> recently.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>LRIC</strong> is a joint initiative of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-lightning-strikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Resilient Observing-Systems Promotion Council ( CROPC)</a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-disaster-management-authority-ndma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Disaster Management Authority</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statement-on-climate-of-india-during-2019-imd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Meteorological Department (IMD)</a></strong>, Union Ministry of Earth Science, World Vision India, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNICEF</strong></a> among others.</li>
<li>The campaign aims to reduce the number of deaths to less than 1,200 a year by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This is an <strong>increase of 34% compared to previous year</strong>; at least <strong>13.8 million strikes were recorded between April 2019 and March 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-lightning-strikes-and-why-it-kills-7401198/" 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/incidents-of-lightning'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Section 66A of the IT Act',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> has issued a <strong>notice to the Centre</strong> on the use of <strong>Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000</strong> that was scrapped several years ago.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The court struck down the provision as <strong>unconstitutional</strong> and <strong>a violation of free speech</strong> in 2015 in the <strong>Shreya Singhal Case.</strong></li>
<li>The IT Act, 2000 provides for legal recognition for transactions through electronic communication, also known as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-commerce</strong></a>. The Act also penalizes various forms of cyber crime.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626167411_pasted%20image 0 (8).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626167411_pasted image 0 (8).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Section 66A:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>empowered police</strong> to make arrests over what policemen, in terms of their subjective discretion, could construe as <strong>&ldquo;offensive&rdquo; or &ldquo;menacing&rdquo; or for the purposes of causing annoyance, inconvenience, etc.</strong></li>
<li>It prescribed the <strong>punishment for sending messages through a computer</strong> or <strong>any other communication device</strong> like a mobile phone or a tablet, and a conviction could fetch a <strong>maximum of three years in jail.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues with Section 66A:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Based on Undefined Actions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The court observed that the <strong>weakness of Section 66A lay in the fact</strong> that it had created an <strong>offence on the basis of undefined actions:</strong> such as causing <strong>&ldquo;inconvenience, danger, obstruction and insult&rdquo;</strong>, which do not fall among the exceptions granted under <strong>Article 19 of the Constitution</strong>, which <strong>guarantees the freedom of speech.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subjective Nature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The court also <strong>observed that the challenge was to identify</strong> where to draw the line. Traditionally, it has been drawn at incitement while terms like <strong>obstruction and insult remain subjective.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Procedural Safeguards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In addition, the court had noted that <strong>Section 66A did not have procedural safeguards like other sections of the law</strong> with similar aims, such as the need to obtain the concurrence of the Centre before action can be taken.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Local authorities could proceed autonomously, literally on the whim of their political masters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Court did not strike down</strong> two other provisions- <strong>sections 69A and 79 of the IT Act &ndash;</strong> and said that they can remain enforced with certain restrictions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Section 69A provides power</strong> to issue directions to<strong> block public access of any information</strong> through any computer resource and <strong>Sec 79 provides for exemption from liability of intermediar</strong>y in certain cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against the Fundamental Rights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section 66A was <strong>contrary to both Articles 19 (free speech) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Right to know</strong> is the species of the <strong>right to speech and expression</strong> provided by the <strong>Article 19(1) (a) of the constitution of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a pressing <strong>need to move from a system where communication about judicial decisions</strong> is at the mercy of initiatives by scrupulous officers, to a method not <strong>contingent on human error to the greatest possible extent.</strong> The urgency cannot be overstated.</li>
<li><strong>Enforcing unconstitutional laws</strong> is sheer wastage of public money.</li>
<li>But more importantly, <strong>until this basic flaw is addressed</strong>, certain persons will remain exposed to denial of their right to life and personal liberty in the worst possible way imaginable.</li>
<li>They will s<strong>uffer the indignity of lawless arrest and detention</strong>, for no reason other than their poverty and ignorance, and inability to demand their rights.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/distressing-and-shocking-that-people-are-still-tried-under-section-66a-of-it-act-says-sc/article35142975.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/section-66a-of-the-it-act'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Tiger Corridor in Rajasthan',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Rajasthan government will develop a <strong>tiger corridor connecting</strong> the newly proposed <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/4th-tiger-reserve-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Ramgarh Tiger Reserve&rsquo;</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ranthambore-tiger-sanctuary-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranthambore Tiger Reserve</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mukundara-hills-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sariska-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sariska Tiger Reserve</strong></a> is another Tiger reserve in Rajasthan.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626166938_pasted%20image 0 (7).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626166938_pasted image 0 (7).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Animal Corridor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Wildlife or animal corridors</strong> are meant to ensure safe passage for animals between two isolated habitats.</li>
<li>In wildlife parlance, corridors are mainly of two types: <strong>functional and structural.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Functional corridors</strong> are defined in terms of functionality from the perspective of the animal (basically areas where there has been recorded movement of wildlife).</li>
<li><strong>Structural corridors</strong> are contiguous strips of forested areas and structurally connect the otherwise fragmented blocks of the landscape.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When structural corridors are affected by human anthropogenic activities, functional corridors automatically widen because of animal use.</li>
<li>In 2019, the <strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority</strong> in collaboration with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-leopard-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> published a document, mapping out <strong>32 major corridors across the country</strong>, management interventions for which are operationalised through a Tiger Conservation Plan.</li>
<li>The states are required to <strong>submit a Tiger Conservation Plan</strong> under section <strong>38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Protected Areas in Rajasthan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Desert National Park</strong></a>, Jaisalmer</li>
<li>Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/campaign-to-remove-lantana-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary</strong></a>, Udaipur</li>
<li>National Chambal Sanctuary (on tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status of Tiger:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</a>:</strong> Schedule I</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> Red List: Endangered.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)</a>:</strong> Appendix I.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Project Tiger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Project Tiger is <strong>a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforming-centrally-sponsored-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centrally Sponsored Scheme</a></strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change</strong> launched in 1973 to provide central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves in India.</li>
<li>The project is administered by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a statutory body under the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.</li>
<li>It was constituted under enabling provisions of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a>, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-to-develop-corridor-connecting-3-tiger-reserves-7392478/" 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/tiger-corridor-in-rajasthan'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Right to Repair Movement',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In recent years, <strong>countries around the world</strong> have been <strong>attempting to pass effective 'right to repair' laws.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>movement traces its roots back</strong> to the very dawn of the <strong>computer era in the 1950s.</strong></li>
<li>The goal of the movement is to <strong>get companies to make spare parts, tools and information on how to repair devices</strong> available to <strong>customers and repair shops</strong> to increase the lifespan of products and to keep them from ending up in landfills.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Right to Repair:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Right to Repair electronics</strong> refers to <strong>government legislation</strong> that is<strong> intended to allow consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer electronic devices</strong>, where otherwise the manufacturer of such devices require the consumer to use only their offered services.</li>
<li>The <strong>idea originally originated from the USA</strong> where the <strong>Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act 2012</strong>, required the manufacturers to provide the necessary documents and information to allow anyone to repair their vehicles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will <strong>help boost business for small repair shops</strong>, which are an<strong> important part of local economies.</strong></li>
<li>It will <strong>help reduce the vast mountain of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electronic-waste-management#:~:text=E%2DWaste%20is%20short%20for,Information%20technology%20and%20communication%20equipment." target="_blank" rel="noopener">electrical waste (e-waste)</a></strong> that piles up each year on the continent.</li>
<li>It will <strong>save consumers&rsquo; money.</strong></li>
<li>It will contribute to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-circular-economy-hackathon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>circular economy</strong></a> objectives by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use, upgrade, recyclability and waste handling of appliances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Encouraging the Movement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Electronic manufacturers</strong> are encouraging a culture of<strong> &lsquo;planned obsolescence&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Planned obsolescence&rsquo;</strong> means that <strong>devices are designed specifically</strong> to last a <strong>limited amount of time and to be replaced.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This can lead to <strong>immense pressure on the environment and wasted natural resources.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Manufacturing an electronic device</strong> is a highly polluting process. It makes use of polluting sources of energy, such as fossil fuel, which has an adverse impact on the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Opposing:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Large tech companies</strong>, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Tesla have argued that <strong>opening up their intellectual property</strong> to <strong>third party repair services or amateur repairers</strong> could lead to <strong>exploitation and impact the safety and security of their devices.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Repair Movement around the World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>United States President</strong> has signed an executive order calling on the Federal Trade Commission <strong>to curb restrictions imposed by manufacturers that limit consumers&rsquo; ability to repair</strong> their gadgets on their own terms.</li>
<li>The <strong>UK</strong>, <strong>too</strong>, introduced <strong>right-to-repair rules</strong> that should make it much easier to buy and repair daily-use gadgets such as TVs and washing machines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>E-waste in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Official Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong></a>, India generated more than <strong>10 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2019-20</strong>, an increase from 7 lakh tonnes in 2017-18.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electronic-waste-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E-Waste Management Rules, 2016</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The rules <strong>aim to enable the recovery and/or reuse of useful material</strong> from e-waste, thereby reducing the hazardous wastes destined for disposal and to ensure the environmentally sound management of all types of waste of electrical and electronic equipment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-first-e-waste-clinic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E-Waste Clinic</a>:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Aimed at <strong>segregating, processing and disposal of waste.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Right to Repair law could be <strong>especially valuable in a country like India</strong>, where service networks are often spotty and authorised workshops are few and far between in the hinterland.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s informal repair sector</strong> does a good job with jugaad. But the <strong>quality of repair and maintenance services</strong> could improve substantially if such legislation was adopted.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-right-to-repair-movement-7400287/" 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/right-to-repair-movement-1'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Vietnam’s First Honorary Consul General in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Vietnam has <strong>appointed Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in Bangalore</strong> to promote trade, economics, investment, tourism, educational and cultural cooperation between Vietnam and the State of Karnataka.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Industrialist <strong>N.S. Srinivasa Murthy</strong> based in Bengaluru has been appointed as Honorary Consul General of Vietnam for Karnataka.</li>
<li>He is the <strong>first honorary consul general of Vietnam from India.</strong> The appointment is for a <strong>period of three years.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626165218_pasted%20image 0 (6).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626165218_pasted image 0 (6).png" width="350" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India-Vietnam Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>History of Cultural Ties: <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-vietnam-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cultural</a></strong> and economic links between India and Vietnam date back to the 2<sup>nd</sup> century. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both the countries have agreed to have various commemorative activities in the <strong>year 2022, to mark the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations</strong> between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Anti-Imperialist Struggle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Even before official diplomatic ties were established in 1972, India <strong>supported <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-vietnam-relations-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vietnam's</a> anti-colonial struggle</strong> during its independence movement.</li>
<li>During the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War</strong></a> period, India supported Hanoi&rsquo;s &ldquo;Four Points&rdquo; for resolving the <strong>Vietnam conflict</strong> (American war in Vietnam).</li>
<li>India also supported Vietnam during the <strong>Kampuchea crisis (Cambodian&ndash;Vietnamese War) i</strong>n the late 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Look East Policy:</strong> The relationship was further strengthened when India, in the early 1990s, initiated its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Look East Policy&rdquo;</strong></a> with the specific objective of <strong>economic integration and political cooperation</strong> with Southeast Asia and East Asia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, the 'Look East Policy' was <strong>graduated into an 'Act East Policy'.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP):</strong> The strategic partnership was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, given the new security challenges of the 21<sup>st</sup> century.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Sale of military equipment to Vietnam:</strong> Negotiations for four large patrol vessels and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brahmos-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BrahMos</a> short-range cruise missiles</strong> are going on.</li>
<li><strong>Training Vietnam's armed forces in military equipment:</strong> Kilo-class submarines &amp; Sukhoi aircraft.</li>
<li><strong>Military exercises:</strong> VINBAX, IN-VPN BILAT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geostrategic Convergence:</strong> India and Vietnam have their <strong>shared apprehension of an aggressive China.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China's virtually claiming the whole <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong> </a>as its territory and its assertiveness in the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>China <strong>complained about Indian cooperation for the exploration for oil in Vietnamese waters, especially in light of the disputed political status of the Spratly Islands.</strong></li>
<li>India and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership &ldquo;in line with India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-vietnam-relations-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)</strong></a> and the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-summit-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN&rsquo;s</a> Outlook on Indo-Pacific</strong> to achieve shared security, prosperity and growth for all in the region.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various regional forums such as <strong>ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation</strong>, besides UN and WTO.</li>
<li>Vietnam has supported India's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council and join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Trade and economic relations for mutual benefit, which have significantly improved over the years particularly after the <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/a-note-on-free-trade-agreements-and-their-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN- India Free Trade Agreement</strong> </a>was signed.</li>
<li>India is now among the top ten trading partners of Vietnam.</li>
<li>India is <strong>investing in development and capacity assistance</strong> for Vietnam through quick impact projects (QIP), proposals in the area of water resource management in Vietnam&rsquo;s Mekong Delta region, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and digital connectivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Science and Technology Cooperation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Vietnam have signed the <strong>Framework Agreement</strong> on cooperation in:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes, IT cooperation, <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cyber Security</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Uses of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Vietnam has been a large recipient of training programs under <strong>Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC)</strong> programs.</li>
<li>A proposal to set up a <strong>Centre for Satellite Tracking and Data Reception</strong> and an <strong>Imaging facility in Vietnam </strong>under<strong> ASEAN-India Cooperation mechanism</strong> is under consideration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Coordination:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Level:</strong> Keeping in mind the strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, primarily those posed by China, India and Vietnam should work in close coordination at multilateral institutions such as the UN Security Council, where both India and Vietnam are elected to be <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>non-permanent members</strong></a> in 2021.</li>
<li><strong>Regional Level:</strong> Vietnam&rsquo;s role in ASEAN may make it easier for India and ASEAN to cooperate more on regional security issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of the big powers within ASEAN like Indonesia are also likely to take stronger positions against China given its aggressive posture in the South China sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Front:</strong> Both Countries need to leverage the economic opportunities available because of anti-China sentiments and several manufacturing firms deciding to shift from China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India should figure out a strategy, so that India&rsquo;s stance of not joining <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rcep-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RCEP</strong></a> should not become a barrier in the growth of trade between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expedite Defence Deals:</strong> Both Countries should expedite the process of negotiations for finalisation of defence deals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This assumes more importance for India after the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Galwan valley Clash</strong></a> &amp; China&rsquo;s disrespecting international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/vietnam-appoints-first-honorary-counsel-general-in-india/article35252706.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/vietnam-s-first-honorary-consul-general-in-india'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, 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>announced the <strong>&lsquo;RBI Retail Direct&rsquo; Scheme.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In February 2021 RBI <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/direct-access-to-g-sec-market-for-retail-investors-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>proposed to allow retail investors to open gilt accounts</strong></a> with the central bank to invest in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-to-buy-g-secs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Government securities (G-secs)</strong></a> directly.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the scheme, <strong>retail investors (individuals) will have the facility to open and maintain the &lsquo;Retail Direct Gilt Account&rsquo;</strong> (RDG Account) with the RBI.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Retail Investor</strong> is a non-professional investor who buys and sells securities or funds that contain a basket of securities such as mutual funds and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bharat-bond-exchange-traded-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>A Gilt Account</strong> can be compared with a bank account, except that the <strong>account is debited or credited with treasury bills or government securities instead of money.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>RDG accounts can be opened through an <strong>online portal</strong> provided for the purpose of the scheme.</li>
<li>The online portal will give registered users access to primary <strong>issuance of G-secs and access to Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching system (NDS-OM).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The RBI introduced the <strong>NDS-OM in August 2005.</strong> It is an <strong>electronic, screen based, anonymous, order driven trading system</strong> for dealing in G-secs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a <strong>one-stop solution to facilitate investment in G-secs</strong> by individual investors. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>RBI seeks to <strong>democratize the ownership of government debt securities</strong> beyond banks and managers of pooled resources such as mutual funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current G-Sec Market:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G-sec market is <strong>dominated by institutional investors</strong> which are large market actors such as banks, mutual funds and insurance companies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These <strong>entities trade in lot sizes of Rs 5 crore or more.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>So, there is <strong>no liquidity in the secondary market for small investors</strong> who would want to trade in smaller lot sizes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>primary market</strong> is where securities are created, while the <strong>secondary market</strong> is where those securities are traded by investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is <strong>no easy way for them to exit their investments.</strong> Thus, currently, direct G-secs trading is not popular among retail investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Improved Ease of Access:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will make the process of G-sec <strong>trading smoother for small investors</strong> therefore it will <strong>raise retail participation in G-secs</strong> and will <strong>improve ease of access.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Facilitate Government Borrowings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This measure together with relaxation in mandatory Hold To Maturity (securities that are purchased to be owned until maturity) provisions <strong>will facilitate smooth completion of the government borrowing programme in 2021-22.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Financialise Domestic Savings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Allowing direct retail participation in the G-Sec market will <strong>promote financialisation of a vast pool of domestic savings</strong> and could be a game-changer in India&rsquo;s investment market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Measures Taken to Increase Retail Investment in Government Securities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Introduction of non-competitive bidding</strong> in primary auctions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Non-competitive bidding</strong> means the bidder would be able to participate in the auctions of dated government securities without having to quote the yield or price in the bid.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stock exchanges to act as aggregators</strong> and facilitators of retail bids.</li>
<li><strong>Allowing a specific retail segment</strong> in the secondary market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Security</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A G-Sec is a <strong>tradable instrument</strong> issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.</li>
<li>It <strong>acknowledges the Government&rsquo;s debt obligation.</strong> Such securities are <strong>short term</strong> (usually called treasury bills, <strong>with original maturities of less than one year- presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 364 day)</strong> or <strong>long term</strong> (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with <strong>original maturity of one year or more).</strong></li>
<li>In India, the <strong>Central Government issues both treasury bills and bonds or dated securities</strong> while the<strong> State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities</strong>, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).</li>
<li>G-Secs <strong>carry practically no risk of default</strong> and, hence, are <strong>called risk-free gilt-edged instruments.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gilt-edged securities</strong> are high-grade investment bonds offered by governments and large corporations as a means of borrowing funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-retail-direct-scheme-to-woo-individual-investors-for-g-secs-7401627/" 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/rbi-s-retail-direct-scheme'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'SC Upheld Authority of Delhi’s Peace and Harmony Committee',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court (SC)</strong></a> upheld the authority of <strong>Delhi Assembly&rsquo;s Peace and Harmony Committee to summon Facebook India&rsquo;s senior official</strong> in connection with the February 2020 communal violence.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Central Governments and Facebook's Claim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The formation of the Peace and Harmony committee was not within the authority of the Delhi Assembly as<strong> law and order and police of Delhi is a central subject.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delhi Government's Justification:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Delhi Assembly had <strong>relied on various entries in the state list and concurrent list</strong>, by which the Delhi Assembly derived its power to discuss and debate on the issue in question. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It cited <strong>entry 1 in the state list dealing with public order</strong>, which is distinct from <strong>law and order and entry 1 in concurrent list</strong> which gives sweeping <strong>power to state assemblies to legislate on the subject &lsquo;criminal law&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Entry <strong>39 in the state list that gave assemblies power to enforce the attendance of witnesses for the purpose of recording statements</strong> was also relied upon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SC&rsquo;s Ruling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rejected Facebook's abstention:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rejected the simplistic approach adopted by Facebook &mdash; that it is merely a platform posting third-party information and has <strong>no role in generating, controlling or modulating that information.</strong></li>
<li>Facebook<strong> cannot claim any &ldquo;exceptional privilege&rdquo; to abstain</strong> from appearing before the Peace Harmony Committee constituted by the Delhi Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Committee&rsquo;s Competence/Powers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An <strong>&ldquo;informed deliberation&rdquo; by the Assembly&rsquo;s elected representatives on the best measures to combat online mass hate and violence</strong> in their geographical jurisdiction was very much <strong>within the Committee&rsquo;s competence.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However Facebook representatives appearing before the Committee <strong>need not answer any query from the Committee directly regarding law, order and the police</strong>, which are subjects on which the Delhi Assembly cannot legislate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legislative Assembly&rsquo;s Power:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Dismissed Facebook&rsquo;s argument that the <strong>Assembly ought to confine itself to making laws</strong> rather than enquire into the circumstances of the riots.</li>
<li>The Assembly does not only perform the function of legislating; <strong>there are many other aspects of governance</strong> which can form part of the essential functions of the Legislative Assembly and consequently the Committee.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Legislative Privileges</strong> are the rights belonging to the Legislature for effective discharge of their legislative functions.</li>
<li><strong>Article 105 and Article 194</strong> of the Indian Constitution lay down the powers, privileges and immunities of Members of Parliament (MPs) and State Assemblies respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the larger context, <strong>the concept of peace and harmony goes much beyond law and order and police</strong>, more so in view of on-the-ground governance being in the hands of the Delhi Government</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hybrid Governance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Centre and Delhi government must work together on governance issues in the Capital. And need to show maturity at their ends.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The social media company(Facebook) sought to take advantage of <strong>"divergence of view&rdquo;</strong> and the <strong>inability of both the Centre and State government</strong> to &ldquo;see eye to eye on governance issues in Delhi&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The SC Noted that <strong>Delhi&rsquo;s hybrid administration &ndash; in which the Union government holds the prerogative for several key areas of governance</strong> &ndash;has worked well for many years with different political dispensations in power both at the Centre and State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Lists to Differentiate Legislative Powers:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are <strong>three Lists</strong> which provide for distribution of legislative powers <strong>(under 7<sup>th</sup> Schedule to the Constitution):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Union List (List I)</strong> - It contains <strong>98 subjects (originally 97)</strong> and comprises the <strong>subjects which are of national importance and admit of uniform laws for the whole of the country.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Only the <strong>Union Parliament can legislate with respect to these matters</strong> e.g. Defence, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Currency, Union Taxes, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State List (List II)</strong> - It contains <strong>59 subjects (originally 66)</strong> and comprises subjects of local or State interest.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>lies within the legislative competence of the State Legislatures</strong>, viz. Public Order and Police, Health, Agriculture, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concurrent List (List III)</strong> - It contains <strong>52 (Originally 47)</strong> with respect to which; <strong>both Union Parliament and the State Legislature have concurrent power of legislation.</strong> The Concurrent List (not found in any federal Constitution) was to <strong>serve as a device to avoid excessive rigidity to a two-fold distribution.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a 'twilight zone', as for not so important matters, the <strong>States can take initiative, while for the important matters, the Parliament can do so.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Misinformation on social media has had a <strong>direct impact on vast areas of subject matter which ultimately affect the governance of States.</strong></li>
<li>As the court found that the Peace and Harmony Committee still could summon the Facebook official without encroaching upon the turf of the Centre <strong>now opens the gates for scrutiny of social media platforms by other States</strong>, which however have significantly more powers with respect to law and order than the Delhi government.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-backs-summons-to-fb-from-delhi-govt-riots-panel/article35222556.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/sc-upheld-authority-of-delhi-s-peace-and-harmony-committee'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'India’s First Cryptogamic Garden',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>India&rsquo;s first cryptogamic garden</strong> was<strong> inaugurated in the Chakrata town of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The garden will be housing nearly 50 species of lichens, ferns and fungi (<em>collectively known as Cryptogamae</em>).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Plant kingdom</strong> can be divided into two sub-kingdoms viz. <strong>Cryptogams and phanerogams.</strong></li>
<li>Cryptogams consist of seedless plants and plant-like organisms whereas phanerogams consist of seed-bearing plants.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Phanerogams are further divided into two classes i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/african-baobab-tree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gymnosperms and angiosperms</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Factors Responsible for Location of this Garden:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This garden is at Deoban in Chakrata at a height of 9,000 ft.</li>
<li>This site is chosen <strong>because of its low pollution levels and moist conditions</strong> which are conducive for the growth of these species.</li>
<li>Further, Deoban <strong>has pristine majestic forests of Deodar and Oak</strong> which create a natural habitat for cryptogamic species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cryptogams:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A cryptogam is a <strong>plant that reproduces with the help of spores.</strong></li>
<li>The word <strong>"Cryptogamae" implies &lsquo;hidden reproduction'</strong>, referring to the fact that they do not produce any reproductive structure, seed, or flower.</li>
<li>Due to this, they are called <strong>"flowerless"</strong> or <strong>"seedless plants"</strong> or <strong>&lsquo;lower plants'.</strong></li>
<li>They <strong>need a moist environment</strong> to survive.</li>
<li>These are <strong>present in aquatic and terrestrial places.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Algae, bryophytes, lichens, ferns and fungi are the best-known groups</strong> of cryptogams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Classification of Cryptogams:</strong> Cryptogams are classified into 3 groups based on the various structural and functional criteria of the plant.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Thallophyta:</strong> Thallophyta is a division of the plant kingdom including primitive forms of plant life showing a simple plant body. They <strong>lack roots, stems, or leaves.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>includes algae-</strong>like Spirogyra, Sargassum, etc.</li>
<li>They are predominantly aquatic and found both in marine as well as freshwater habitats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bryophyta:</strong> Bryophytes comprise a limited variety of <strong>non-vascular land plants.</strong> They prefer moist habitats but they can survive in dry environments too. Example- hornworts, liverworts, mosses, etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They occupy an intermediate position between algae and pteridophytes.</li>
<li>Since bryophytes can survive in both water and land, they are considered as the <strong>'amphibians of the plant kingdom'.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pteridophyta:</strong> A pteridophyte is a vascular plant that disperses spores. It is the first plant to <strong>have xylem and phloem.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ferns are the largest living group of primitive vascular plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Types of Cryptogams:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Liches:</strong> Lichens are a complex life form that is a <strong>symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an algae.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Fungi:</strong> It is a kingdom of usually <strong>multicellular eukaryotic organisms</strong> that are <strong>heterotrophs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626157621_pasted%20image 0 (5).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626157621_pasted image 0 (5).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dehradun-cryptogamic-garden-uttarakhand-indias-first-7399416/" 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/india-s-first-cryptogamic-garden'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'India's Tibet Policy',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, some Chinese nationals protested against the celebration of the birthday of the Dalai Lama in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Dalai Lama and Tibet is one of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-china-disengagement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">major irritants between India and China relations</a>.</strong></li>
<li>China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist, who has great influence over Tibetans. India seeks to use Tibetan card in order to counter China&rsquo;s continuing aggression at the Line of Actual Control.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626156812_pasted%20image 0 (4).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626156812_pasted image 0 (4).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background of India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For centuries, <strong>Tibet was India&rsquo;s actual neighbour</strong>, as most of India&rsquo;s boundaries and the 3500km LAC is with the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and not the rest of China.</li>
<li>In 1914, it was Tibetan representatives, along with the Chinese that <strong>signed the Simla convention with British India that delineated boundaries.</strong></li>
<li>However, after <strong>China&rsquo;s full accession of Tibet in 1950, </strong>that<strong> China repudiated the convention and the McMahon line</strong> that divided the two countries.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>in 1954, India signed an agreement with China</strong>, agreeing to<strong> recognize Tibet as &ldquo;Tibet region of China&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>In 1959, following the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/60-years-of-1959-tibetan-uprising" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tibetan uprising</strong></a>, the Dalai Lama (spiritual leader of Tibetan people) and many of his followers fled to India.</li>
<li><strong>Former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru</strong> gave him and Tibetan refugees shelter, and<strong> helped in setting up the Tibetan government in exile.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> official Indian policy</strong> is that the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader, and the Tibetan community in India, with more than a lakh exiles, is not allowed to undertake any political activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the event of increasing tensions between India and China, there has been a shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy. This shift in the policy, earmarks the Indian government actively managing with the Dalai Lama in public forums. For Example, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, Prime Minister of India (PM) had invited the head of the Tibetan government in exile in India, Lobsang Sangay, to his swearing in ceremony.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, he did not invite him in 2019 after being re-elected for a second five-year term, to ensure a smooth passage for a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-2nd-informal-summit-mamallapuram-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>second informal summit</strong></a> between him and Chinese president Xi Jinping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Prime Minister of India (PM) wished the Dalai Lama in the first such public acknowledgement since 2013, the first time as PM.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet policy is <strong>majorly focused on symbolic aspects</strong>, but there are <strong>many challenges</strong> pertaining to India&rsquo;s Approach to Tibet Policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Associated with India&rsquo;s Approach to Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Changes in Tibetan Demography:</strong> Over the past few decades, China is promoting people from mainland China to migrate into Tibet.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China is increasing suppression of the Tibetan populations&rsquo; links to the Dalai Lama and pouring in investment, infrastructure projects in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tibetans Against Each Other:</strong> As India-China tensions grow and turn violent after the Galwan valley clash, China has begun to raise Tibetan Militia groups.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the Indian Army trains the Tibetan Special Frontier Force, which could lead to Tibetans fighting each other in the future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Tibetan Citizenship:</strong> The Indian government doesn&rsquo;t give citizenship to Tibetans born in India after the cut-off year of 1987.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has created a sense of dissatisfaction amongst the youth of the Tibetan community.</li>
<li>Further, in the past few years, the US has also increased its role, by accepting more Tibetan refugees. This will impact India&rsquo;s role as a sole entity arguing about the future of Tibetian refugee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Question of Dalai Lama&rsquo;s Succession:</strong> The 86 years old Dalai Lama is not only the spiritual leader, but the political leader of the community worldwide. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Dalai Lama asserts that his successor could be a living incarnation, in a specific area in India or even in another country like Taiwan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India currently has an executive policy (not a law) on Tibetans in India.</li>
<li>While the current policy was a significant development for Tibetans' welfare in India, it is devoid of legal backing on core issues of Tibet. For example, destructive Tibetans' demand for freedom in Tibet.</li>
<li>Therefore, it is high time now that India should also adopt a more assertive stand on the Tibet issue in dealing with China.</li>
<li>Further, India should avoid a situation where it has a young and restive Tibetan population that resides in India, but looks outside of India for its leadership and command structure after the Dalai Lama has passed.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/worldview-with-suhasini-haidar-indias-tibet-policy/article35237198.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-tibet-policy'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'SOP for Environmental Violations: MoEFCC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)</strong> issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with environmental violations.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SOP is a result of orders from the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a>, which earlier in 2021 directed the ministry to<strong> put in place penalties and an SOP for green violations.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Categories of Green Violation as per the SOP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Projects Without Clearance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Violations&rsquo; involving cases where construction work, including expansion of an existing project, has begun <strong>without the project proponent having acquired environmental clearance.</strong></li>
<li>Projects that are not permissible for environmental clearance.</li>
<li>The permissibility of the project shall be examined from the perspective of whether such activity/project was at all eligible for grant of prior environment clearance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>For Example:</strong> If a Red Industry(Industrial Sectors having <strong>Pollution Index (PI)</strong> score of 60 and above) is functioning in a <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coastal-regulation-zone-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-I area</strong></a>, which means it was not permitted at the time of commencement of the project. Therefore, the activity shall be closed.</li>
<li>PI of any industrial sector is a <strong>number from 0 to 100 and the increasing value of PI denotes the increasing degree of pollution</strong> load from the industrial sector. It is developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and used for categorization of industrial sectors in <strong>red, orange, green and white categories.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-Compliant Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Projects in which <strong>prior environmental clearance has been accorded, but it is in violation of norms</strong> prescribed in the approval.</li>
<li>Projects which are permissible according to environmental law but which have not acquired the requisite clearance.</li>
<li>In cases of expansion of a project, including increase in volume of production, if environmental clearance has not been received, then the <strong>government agency can force the project proponent to revert to the level of construction/manufacturing before the expansion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In cases where operations have commenced <strong>without the required environmental clearance, 1% of the total project cost</strong> and in addition <strong>0.25 % of the total turnover</strong> during the period of violation will be levied.</li>
<li>In <strong>violation cases</strong>, where operations have not commenced, <strong>1% of the total project cost incurred up to the date</strong> of filing of the application (for instance a fine of Rs 1 lakh for a project worth Rs 1 crore) will be levied.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns Raised by Environmentalists:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SOP normalises <strong>post facto regularisation of violations</strong> in which violations are first committed and then the project proponent files for clearance by which they &ldquo;are let off by paying a penalty&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>institutionalising of violations on the basis of the polluter pays norm.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives of MOEFCC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier MoEFCC has published the draft <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-eia-draft-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020</strong></a>, with the intention of replacing the existing EIA Notification, 2006 under the <strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.</strong></li>
<li>In 2017, the ministry had initiated a <strong>six-month amnesty scheme on penalising green violations</strong>, which was later extended.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Environmental Impact Assessment</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/making-peace-with-nature-unep-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)</strong> </a>defines EIA as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making.</li>
<li>It aims to <strong>predict environmental impacts</strong> at an early stage in project planning and design,<strong> find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts</strong>, shape projects to suit the local environment and<strong> present the predictions and options to decision-makers.</strong></li>
<li>The Environment Impact Assessment in India is <strong>statutorily backed by the Environment Protection Act, 1986.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Provides a <strong>cost effective method to eliminate or minimize the adverse impact of developmental projects.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Enables the decision makers to analyse the effect of developmental activities on the environment</strong> well before the developmental project is implemented.</li>
<li>Encourages the adaptation of mitigation strategies in the developmental plan.</li>
<li>Makes sure that the <strong>developmental plan is environmentally sound and within the limits of the capacity of assimilation and regeneration</strong> of the ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010)</strong> for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.</li>
<li>With the establishment of the NGT,<strong> India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal</strong>, only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so.</li>
<li>NGT is <strong>mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing the same.</strong></li>
<li>The NGT has <strong>five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place</strong> of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/moefcc-issues-sop-violations-may-lead-to-closing-demolition-of-projects-7398763/" 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/sop-for-environmental-violations-moefcc'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Conservation Plans for Cities along Rivers',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A policy document from<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/namami-gange-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> National Mission for Clean Ganga</a> (NMCG)</strong> has proposed that cities situated on river banks should incorporate river conservation plans when they prepare their Master Plans.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>recommendations</strong> are currently for towns that are on the <strong>main stem of the river Ganga</strong> which are in five States &mdash; <strong>Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal.</strong></li>
<li>NMCG is the implementation wing of <strong>National Ganga Council</strong> (set in 2016; which replaced the <strong>National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)).</strong> Along with its state counterpart organizations, NMCG implements the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/namami-gange-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Namami Gange Programme.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626089348_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626089348_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Emphasis of the Policy Document:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the need for <strong>river-sensitive plans that must be practical</strong> (as envisaged in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-national-water-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Water Policy</strong></a>).</li>
<li>There should be a <strong>systematic rehabilitation plan</strong> to remove encroachment that emphasizes on <strong>alternative livelihood options</strong> along with a<strong> proper relocation strategy.</strong></li>
<li>Planners should make every attempt to engage stakeholders (encroacher, land owners) in order to <strong>develop empathetic and humane solutions.</strong></li>
<li>The plan must also <strong>clarify on land ownership.</strong> Ascertaining the land ownership in these areas is important to avoid legal complications while the Plan is being implemented.</li>
<li>A key aspect of conserving and protecting river and riverine resources involves<strong> increasing green cover</strong> in the vicinity of the river by <strong>creating green buffers, removing concrete structures and employing &ldquo;green infrastructure.&rdquo;</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Master Plan can <strong>&ldquo;create an environment&rdquo;</strong> for facilitating the use of<strong> state-of-the-art technologies</strong> for river management. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These include <strong>satellite-based monitoring of water quality; <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artificial intelligence</a></strong> for riverine biodiversity mapping; <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/big-data-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>big data</strong></a> and <strong>citizen science for river-health monitoring; <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-unmanned-aircraft-system-uas-rules-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)</a></strong> for floodplain mapping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In coming years the nature and type of technologies are expected to become more <strong>sophisticated and effective.</strong> Thus, the cities will be ready to embrace these seamlessly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Features of National Water Policy, 2012</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integrated Water Resources Management:</strong> It laid down the concept of an Integrated Water Resources Management approach that took the river basin/sub-basin as a unit for planning, development, and management of water resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a process that <strong>promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources</strong> in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimum Water Flow:</strong> To maintain the minimum flow of a portion of a river to meet ecological needs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, such an approach led the government to require minimum water levels to be maintained in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ganga</strong></a> throughout the year by refraining from hoarding water beyond a point.</li>
<li>Emphasis was also made to make a minimum quantity of potable water available to citizens for maintaining essential health and hygiene.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inter-basin Transfers:</strong> To meet basic human needs and achieve equity and social justice, inter-basin transfers of water need to be considered <strong>on the basis of the merits of each case</strong> after evaluating the environmental, economic and social impacts of such transfers.</li>
<li>Other reasons such as decreasing spring sets in Himalayas, budgeting and restructuring of water subsidies, irrigation, etc. demanded the prioritization of water usage.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cities-along-rivers-urged-to-include-conservation-plans/article35149029.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/conservation-plans-for-cities-along-rivers'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Lemru Elephant Reserve: Chhattisgarh',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Chhattisgarh government has<strong> proposed to reduce the area of Lemru Elephant Reserve</strong> from 1,995 sq km to 450 sq km.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Centre gave its approval in 2007 for the creation of the 450 sq km Lemru Elephant Reserve and in 2019, the state government decided to increase the area to 1,995 sq km.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reserve is located in the <strong>Korba&nbsp;district</strong> of Chhattisgarh.</li>
<li>The reserve is<strong> aiming at reducing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/man-animal-conflict-mac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human-animal conflict</a></strong> and destruction of property in addition to providing a permanent habitat to the elephants.</li>
<li>Earlier, the state government notified the reserve (Conservation Reserve) in October 2020 under Section <strong>36A of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wildlife-protection-act-wpa-1972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972</a></strong> (WLPA).
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section 36A has a special provision that gives the Union government a say in the process of notification in case the land to be notified as <strong>conservation reserve</strong> has areas belonging to the Centre.</li>
<li>Elephant reserves are not recognised under the WLPA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Reducing Size:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The area proposed under the reserve is<strong> part of the Hasdeo Aranya forests,</strong> a very diverse biozone that is also rich in coal deposits.</li>
<li>Of 22 coal blocks in the area, 7 have already been allotted with mines running in three, and in the process of being established in the other four.</li>
<li>The biggest challenge in increasing the reserve area was that <strong>several coal mines would become unusable.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Reserve:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>North Chhattisgarh alone is home to over 240 elephants. <strong>More than 150 elephants have died in the state over the last 20 years,</strong> including 16 between June and October 2020.</li>
<li>Elephants in Chhattisgarh are relatively new; they started moving into undivided Madhya Pradesh (MP) in 1990.</li>
<li>While MP had a policy of pushing back the animals coming from Jharkhand, after Chhattisgarh was formed, the lack of a formal policy allowed elephants to use as a corridor a route in the north and central parts of the state.</li>
<li>Since these animals were relatively new, human-animal conflict started once elephants started straying into inhabited areas, looking for food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Protected Areas in Chhattisgarh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biosphere-reserves-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Achanakmar Tiger Reserve.</strong></a></li>
<li>Indravati Tiger Reserve.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sitanadi-udanti-tiger-reserve-chhattisgarh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sitanadi-Udanti Tiger Reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ophiocordyceps-nutans-fungi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kanger Valley National Park</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Badalkhol Tamor Pingla Elephant Reserve.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626091368_image.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626091368_image.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="640" height="468" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Elephants</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Elephants are<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/preservation-of-sundarban#:~:text=A%20keystone%20species%20is%20an,species%20have%20low%20functional%20redundancy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> keystone species.</strong></a></li>
<li>There are three <strong>subspecies of Asian elephant &ndash;</strong> the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan.</li>
<li>The Indian elephant has the <strong>widest range and accounts</strong> for the majority of the remaining elephants on the continent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Status of Indian Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</a>:</strong> Schedule I</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list#:~:text=The%20IUCN%20Red%20List%20of,of%20plant%20and%20animal%20species.&amp;text=Critically%20Endangered%20(CR)%2C%20Endangered,to%20be%20threatened%20with%20extinction." target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a>:</strong> Endangered</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>:</strong> Appendix I</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives for Conservation of Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/printpdf/electrocution-of-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gaj Yatra</strong></a>: A nationwide campaign to protect elephants, was launched on the occasion of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Elephant Day</strong></a> in 2017.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Elephant</strong></a>: It is a centrally sponsored scheme which was launched in 1992.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seed-bombs-solution-to-man-animal-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Seed Bombs</strong></a>: Recently Odisha&rsquo;s Athagarh Forest Division has started casting seed balls (or bombs) inside different reserve forest areas to enrich food stock for wild elephants to prevent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-the-high-cost-of-man-animal-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>man-elephant conflict.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/right-of-passage-of-the-animals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right of Passage of the Animals</strong></a>: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the 2011 order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of the animals and the closure of resorts in the area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International initiatives to conserve Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electrocution-of-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme</strong></a>, launched in 2003, is an international collaboration that tracks trends in information related to the illegal killing of elephants from across Africa and Asia, to monitor effectiveness of field conservation efforts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-a-proposed-elephant-reserve-in-chhattisgarh-and-its-reduced-area-7400025/" 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/lemru-elephant-reserve-chhattisgarh'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Kesaria Buddha Stupa: Bihar',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The world-famous <strong>Kesaria Buddha stupa in east Champaran district of Bihar</strong> is waterlogged following floods in some parts of the district.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASI (Archaeological Survey of India)</strong></a> has declared it a protected monument of national importance.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626088444_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626088444_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="576" height="330" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The stupa is said to be the <strong>tallest and the largest Buddhist stupa</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>It is located in Kesariya, at a distance of <strong>110 kilometers from Patna,</strong> in the East Champaran district of Bihar.</li>
<li>It has a circumference of almost 400 feet and stands at a height of about 104 feet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> first construction of the Stupa is dated to the 3<sup>rd</sup> century BCE.</strong> The original Kesaria stupa probably dates to the time of <strong>Ashoka (circa 250 BCE),</strong> as the remains of a capital of a <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mauryan-art-and-architecture-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pillar of Ashoka</strong> </a>were discovered there.</li>
<li>The current stupa dates to the <strong>Gupta Dynasty between 200 AD and 750 AD</strong> and may have been associated with the 4<sup>th</sup> century ruler <strong>Raja Chakravarti.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>stupa mound may even have been inaugurated during the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india#:~:text=Origin,born%20in%20circa%20563%20BCE." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buddha's</a> time,</strong> as it corresponds in many respects to the description of the stupa erected by the Licchavis of Vaishali to house the alms bowl the Buddha has given them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In ancient times, <strong>Kesaria was under the rule of the Mauryas and the Licchavis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Two great foreign travelers, Faxian (Fahien) and Xuan Zang (Hsuan Tsang),</strong> had visited this place in ancient times and have left interesting and informative accounts of their travels.</li>
<li>The <strong>discovery of gold coins bearing the seal of the famous emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty (AD 30 to AD 375)</strong> goes on to further establish the ancient heritage of Kesaria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exploration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The stupa&rsquo;s exploration<strong> had started in the early 19<sup>th</sup> century</strong> after its discovery led by Colonel Mackenzie in 1814.</li>
<li>Later, it was <strong>excavated by General Cunningham in 1861-62 and in 1998 an ASI team led by archaeologist K.K. Muhammad</strong> had excavated the site properly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Popular in Bihar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maha-bodhi-temple-complex" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maha Bodhi Temple</strong></a></li>
<li>Nalanda Mahavihara<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both are<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UNESCO World Heritage Sites.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Rohtasgarh Fort</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kesaria-buddha-stupa-waterlogged-in-bihars-east-champaran-district/article35262011.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/kesaria-buddha-stupa-bihar'
	]
]
$updates = object(Cake\ORM\Query) {

	'(help)' => 'This is a Query object, to get the results execute or iterate it.',
	'sql' => 'SELECT articles.article_id AS `articles__article_id`, articles.category_id AS `articles__category_id`, articles.title AS `articles__title`, articles.description AS `articles__description`, articles.shortdescription AS `articles__shortdescription`, articles.featuredimage AS `articles__featuredimage`, articles.tag_id AS `articles__tag_id`, articles.secondary_tag AS `articles__secondary_tag`, articles.type AS `articles__type`, articles.publishon AS `articles__publishon`, articles.posturl AS `articles__posturl`, articles.metatitle AS `articles__metatitle`, articles.metadescription AS `articles__metadescription`, articles.metakeyword AS `articles__metakeyword`, articles.status AS `articles__status`, articles.sort_order AS `articles__sort_order`, articles.addedby AS `articles__addedby`, articles.updatedby AS `articles__updatedby`, articles.added AS `articles__added`, articles.modified AS `articles__modified`, articles.whatsnewid AS `articles__whatsnewid`, articles.display_printpdf AS `articles__display_printpdf`, articles.display_comments AS `articles__display_comments`, articles.pdf_name AS `articles__pdf_name`, articles.display_archive AS `articles__display_archive`, articles.star_rating AS `articles__star_rating` FROM articles articles WHERE status = :c0 ORDER BY publishon desc LIMIT 10',
	'params' => [
		':c0' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		]
	],
	'defaultTypes' => [
		'articles__article_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.article_id' => 'integer',
		'article_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__category_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.category_id' => 'integer',
		'category_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__title' => 'string',
		'articles.title' => 'string',
		'title' => 'string',
		'articles__description' => 'text',
		'articles.description' => 'text',
		'description' => 'text',
		'articles__shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles.shortdescription' => 'string',
		'shortdescription' => 'string',
		'articles__featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles.featuredimage' => 'string',
		'featuredimage' => 'string',
		'articles__tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles.tag_id' => 'integer',
		'tag_id' => 'integer',
		'articles__secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles.secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'secondary_tag' => 'text',
		'articles__type' => 'integer',
		'articles.type' => 'integer',
		'type' => 'integer',
		'articles__publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles.publishon' => 'datetime',
		'publishon' => 'datetime',
		'articles__posturl' => 'string',
		'articles.posturl' => 'string',
		'posturl' => 'string',
		'articles__metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles.metatitle' => 'string',
		'metatitle' => 'string',
		'articles__metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles.metadescription' => 'string',
		'metadescription' => 'string',
		'articles__metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles.metakeyword' => 'text',
		'metakeyword' => 'text',
		'articles__status' => 'integer',
		'articles.status' => 'integer',
		'status' => 'integer',
		'articles__sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles.sort_order' => 'integer',
		'sort_order' => 'integer',
		'articles__addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.addedby' => 'integer',
		'addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles__star_rating' => 'integer',
		'articles.star_rating' => 'integer',
		'star_rating' => 'integer'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 6
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 334
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

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

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Search

Search list matched with tags “class”