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One Sun One World One Grid

This article is based on “Global solar grid could cause sun burns” which was published in The Financial Express on 25/06/2020. It talks...

26 Jun 2020 News Editorials
Increased Funding for Panchayats

Why in News Recently, in a meeting with the 15th Finance Commission, the Panchayati Raj Ministry has pitched for a fivefold increase in funding for...

26 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Kala- azar Disease

Why in News Recently, a team of researchers from the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune have found new biomolecules to fight drug...

26 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Coccolithophores

Why in News Recently, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) has carried out the study of Coccolithophores (microscopic ancient...

26 Jun 2020 News Analysis
70 Years of Korean War

Why in News Recently North and South Korea separately marked the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Key Points The root of the...

26 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Navigating the New Normal: NITI Aayog

Why in News The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, in partnership with several other stakeholders has launched a behaviour...

26 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Pollinator Week

Why in News Pollinator Week is celebrated from 22nd June to 28th June every year. It was initiated by the non-profit Pollinator Partnership and...

26 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Cyber Security Framework In India

This article is based on “Why India needs an updated cybersecurity strategy” which was published in The financial Express on...

25 Jun 2020 News Editorials
Private Sector Participation in Space

Why in News Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the creation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to...

25 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Global Education Monitoring Report 2020: UNESCO

Why in News Recently, the Global Education Monitoring Report, 2020 was released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural...

25 Jun 2020 News Analysis
India TB Report 2020

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the annual Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2020. Eliminating TB by 2025:...

25 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Ocean Mapping: Seabed 2030 Project

Why in News Recently, it was announced that mapping of nearly one-fifth of the world’s ocean floor had been finished under the Seabed 2030...

25 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Extension to OBC Sub-Categorisation Commission

Why in News Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a six-month extension to the commission appointed to examine sub-categorisation of Other...

25 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Co-operative Banks Under RBI Supervision

Why In News Recently, the Central government approved an Ordinance to bring all urban and multi-state co-operative banks under the direct...

25 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Fishing Cats

Why in News The Odisha Government has started a two-year conservation project for Fishing Cats in Bhitarkanika National Park. Like several other...

25 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Interest Subvention Scheme for Shishu Loan Accounts

Why in News The government has approved a 2% interest subsidy scheme for Shishu loan account holders under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana...

25 Jun 2020 News Analysis
The Big Picture: Strategic Oil Reserves and Energy Security

India, in the times of volatility of crude oil prices, has decided to take advantage of the low oil prices in major producing centres in Saudi...

24 Jun 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Comprehensive Action Plan For Covid-19

This article is based on “More than Medical Help” which was published in the Indian Express on 22/06/2020. It talks about the need for...

24 Jun 2020 News Editorials
New Purchasing Power Parities: ICP 2017

Why in News Recently, the World Bank has released new Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) for reference year 2017, under International Comparison...

24 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Increase in Money Supply

According to recent Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a surge in money supply. Key...

24 Jun 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'One Sun One World One Grid',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
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<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/global-solar-grid-could-cause-sun-burns/2002977/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Global solar grid could cause sun burns&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Financial Express on 25/06/2020. It talks about the challenges associated with the concept of One Sun One World One Grid.</p>
</div>
<p>In recent years, India has leveraged forums like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNFCCC</strong></a> to collaborate with major powers in new areas of growth and in bringing about global reforms. One such initiative is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-sun-one-world-one-grid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>One Sun One World One Grid&rsquo; (OSOWOG).</strong></a></p>
<p>Under OSOWOG vision, India seeks to replicate its global solar leadership <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(International Solar Alliance)</strong></a> by encouraging the phased development of a single globally connected solar electricity grid to leverage the multiple benefits (Low cost, Zero pollution) of solar energy.</p>
<p>The underlying logic behind OSOWOG is that a grid spread across multiple time zones could balance intermittent renewables with other renewables: the setting sun in one part of the grid is made up for by solar, wind or hydropower produced in a distant place.</p>
<p>OSOWOG seems to be a brilliant idea in pursuit of sustainable development.However, it faces certain challenges in its implementation.</p>
<h3>Prospects For India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Parity with Great Powers:</strong> This ambition puts India alongside other major powers and their super-grid projects such as China&rsquo;s Global Energy Interconnection project, Europe&rsquo;s gold-standard power pools.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, OSOWOG will provide an opportunity for India to move onto the centre stage globally, accelerating the energy system decarbonisation to help solve the global climate crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Mitigation:</strong> OSOWOG assumes more importance in backdrop of the USA&rsquo;s withdrawal from the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris climate deal</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, OSOWOG will help to mitigate ill effects on climate by providing clean and renewable energy sources.</li>
<li>Further, enabling member countries to fulfill their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) towards reducing global warming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing China:</strong> OSOWOG will provide a strategic rebalance in favour of India and will control the increasing Chinese dominance in Asian subcontinent, providing a better alternative to developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>Bridging Current Account Deficit:</strong> India is currently importing around $250 billion of fossil fuel annually (oil, diesel, LNG, coking and thermal coal).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>OSOWOG can help India meet its needs and subsequently promote sustainable renewable energy exports and may improve the current account deficit and reduce imported inflation pressures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with the Idea</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development in Battery Technology:</strong> With development in electricity storage technologies, reduces the viability of the need to follow the sun along any latitude, nor worry about day and night.</li>
<li><strong>Easy Installation of Microgrids:</strong> Large capital expenditures are no longer necessary, as anyone can install rooftop solar or set up a microgrid (&ldquo;distributed generation&rdquo;).</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerability of Grids:</strong> Electricity Grid is vulnerable to accidents, weather, and cyber-attacks that are prone to increase and disrupt the electricity supply on mass scale.</li>
<li><strong>Transmission Losses:</strong> Solar generation is at less than 20% efficiency, in addition there will be major transmission losses on such scale.</li>
<li><strong>Dependency on China:</strong> India is dependent on Chinese imports for solar equipment, such as solar cells, panels, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Problem with Interconnectedness:</strong> This project&rsquo;s success hinges on trust, not just transmission lines, between grid participants.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Interconnected grids give countries the power to bring other economies to a grinding halt; this is the single biggest hurdle to integration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Creation of Supranational Rule-Based Organisation:</strong> Institution building is key to fulfilling the ambitions of a multi-country grid project.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, ISA can act as an independent supranational institution to take decisions about how the grid should be run and conflicts settled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting MicroGrids:</strong> Along with prioritizing designing microgrids, public policy attention is needed for developing battery technologies at scale for local applications.</li>
<li><strong>Constructively Engaging with China:</strong> Given India&rsquo;s dependence on Chinese imports, OSOWOG will have to find ways of engaging with Chinese ambitions in a constructive manner rather than in a zero-sum way.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, there is a pressing need to build its domestic capacity in solar equipment under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> program.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Establishing a global solar grid is a novel idea, especially in context of climate change. However, underlying issues in its implementation needs to be addressed first. Apart from it, India can explore the possibility of establishing a federation of regional grids like SAARC grid.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593172051_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593172051_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2f5ff;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Answer</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;One Sun One World One Grid seems to be a brilliant idea in pursuit of sustainable development, but faces certain challenges in its implementation.&rdquo; Discuss the feasibility of this idea.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsSS6lggzJ8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/bad-to-worse-the-hindu-editorial-on-india-pakistan-ties/article31909332.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Bad to Worse&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published on The Hindu on June 25<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Increased Funding for Panchayats',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, in a meeting with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/need-to-set-up-state-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong></a>, the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-panchayati-raj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj Ministry</strong></a> has pitched for a <strong>fivefold increase in funding</strong> for rural local bodies.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry asked for Rs 10 lakh crore to be allocated for the 2020-21 to 2025-26 period, in comparison to the Rs 2 lakh crore allocated under the 14<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Allocations had tripled</strong> between the 13<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> Commissions and the<strong> utilisation rate</strong> for FC grants between 2015 and 2019 stands at<strong> 78%.</strong></li>
<li>The 2.63 lakh panchayats across the country have <strong>29 functions under their ambit,</strong> according to the<strong> 11<sup>th</sup> Schedule of the Constitution.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Road construction, its maintenance and drinking water supply</strong> are the major projects carried out by panchayats using FC grants.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Seventy-Third Amendment Act, 1992</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Granted constitutional status and protection to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj</strong></a> institutions.</li>
<li>For this purpose, the Amendment added a new <strong>Part-IX</strong> entitled as &lsquo;the panchayats&rsquo; and a new 11<sup>th</sup> Schedule containing 29 functional items of the panchayats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, panchayats gained importance as crucial nodal points as they <strong>ran isolation centres, medical camps and contact tracing.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, a major challenge during the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> pandemic</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong> </a>was that most panchayats could not provide cooked food at short notice.</li>
<li>The Ministry has proposed to set up <strong>community kitchens</strong> in each panchayat, operated by local <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>self-help groups</strong></a> (SHGs).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The role of panchayats also becomes important because now the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan</strong></a> will also depend on them to generate employment for newly returned migrant workers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Finance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> constitutional body,</strong> that <strong>determines the method and formula for distributing the tax proceeds between the Centre and states</strong> and <strong>among the states</strong> as per the constitutional arrangement and present requirements.</li>
<li>Under <strong>Article 280 of the Constitution,</strong> the <strong>President of India</strong> is required to constitute a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Finance Commission</strong></a> at an interval of <strong>five years or earlier.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>1<sup>st</sup> Finance Commission</strong> was set up in <strong>1951</strong> and there have been fifteen so far.</li>
<li>The <strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong> was constituted by the President of India on<strong> 27<sup>th</sup> November 2017,</strong> against the backdrop of the <strong>abolition of the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/planning-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Planning Commission</strong></a> and the <strong>introduction of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-goods-and-services-tax-gst-collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Goods and Services Tax</a></strong> (GST).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission is <strong>headed by N.K. Singh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>November 2019,</strong> the Union Cabinet <strong>approved</strong> the 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission to <strong>submit its first report for the first fiscal year 2020-21</strong> and to<strong> extend its tenure</strong> to provide for the presentation of the <strong>final report covering Financial Years 2021-22 to 2025-26 </strong>by <strong>30<sup>th</sup> October, 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panchayats-to-get-10-lakh-cr-till-2026/article31918244.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Kala- azar Disease',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a team of researchers from the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune have found <strong>new biomolecules to fight drug resistance </strong>in<strong> Kala- azar (visceral leishmaniasis).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCCS is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.</li>
<li>It was established to facilitate cell biology research in the country.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Leishmaniasis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>neglected tropical disease</strong> affecting almost 100 countries including India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>caused by a parasite called Leishmania,</strong> which is transmitted through the bite of sand flies.</li>
<li>There are <strong>three types of leishmaniasis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease.</li>
<li><strong>Cutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin sores and is the most common form.</li>
<li><strong>Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin and mucosal lesions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Visceral leishmaniasis, which is commonly known as Kala-azar in India, is fatal in over 95% of the cases, if left untreated.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Resistance to Drug:</strong> The only drug available against leishmaniasis, <strong>miltefosine,</strong> is rapidly losing its effectiveness because of <strong>emerging resistance to this drug</strong> due to a decrease in its accumulation inside the parasite.</li>
<li><strong>Responsible Proteins:</strong> A protein called &lsquo;P4ATPase-CDC50&rsquo;, is responsible for intake of the drug by the parasite, and another protein, called &lsquo;P-glycoprotein&rsquo;, is responsible for throwing this drug out from within the parasite&rsquo;s body.</li>
<li>A decrease in the activity of the former protein, and an increase in the activity of the latter <strong>results in less accumulation of miltefosine inside the parasite&rsquo;s body,</strong> thus causing it to become resistant to the drug.</li>
<li>While exploring ways to tackle miltefosine resistance, the researchers worked with one of the species of Leishmania that causes infection, called Leishmania major.</li>
<li>They <strong>tried to manipulate these transporter proteins</strong> in the species in a manner that would result in <strong>increased uptake of the drug and decrease in its being thrown out</strong> of the parasite&rsquo;s body.</li>
<li>They used computational methods to design small molecules, called<strong> peptides,</strong> that could very specifically interact with the transporter proteins of Leishmania major alone, and not interfere with human proteins in any way. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>peptide</strong> is a short chain of <strong>amino acids.</strong></li>
<li>Amino acids are organic compounds that combine to form proteins.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1633851" 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/kala-azar-disease'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Coccolithophores',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-polar-and-ocean-research-ncpor-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research</strong></a> (NCPOR) has carried out the study of <em><strong>Coccolithophores</strong></em> (microscopic ancient marine algae) and found that there is a <strong>decrease in the concentration of oceanic calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>)</strong> in the southern Indian ocean.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593164054_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593164054_image4.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><em><strong>Coccolithophores</strong></em> are <strong>single-celled algae </strong>living in the<strong> upper layers of the world&rsquo;s oceans.</strong></li>
<li>They<strong> calcify marine phytoplankton</strong> that produce up to 40% of <strong>open ocean calcium carbonate</strong> and are responsible <strong>for 20% of the global net marine primary productivity.</strong></li>
<li>They <strong>build exoskeletons from individual CaCO<sub>3</sub> plates</strong> consisting of chalk and seashells.</li>
<li>Though <strong>carbon dioxide</strong> (CO<sub>2</sub>) <strong>is produced</strong> during the formation of these plates, coccolithophores help in removing it from the atmosphere and ocean by<strong> consuming it during photosynthesis.</strong></li>
<li>At<strong> equilibrium,</strong> they<strong> absorb more CO<sub>2</sub> than they produce,</strong> which is <strong>beneficial</strong> for the ocean ecosystem.</li>
<li><strong>Abundance and diversity enrichment</strong> of coccolithophores in the southern Indian Ocean is <strong>highly dependent on time </strong>and <strong>influenced by</strong> various environmental factors such as <strong>silicate concentrations, calcium carbonate concentration, diatom abundance, light intensity and availability of macro and possibly micronutrient concentrations (<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/marine-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marine pollution</a>).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Diatoms</strong> are<strong> single-celled algae</strong> which occur after <strong>sea ice breakdown with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> and ocean acidification.</strong></li>
<li>Diatoms <strong>increase the silicate concentration</strong> in the waters and which in turn <strong>decreases CaCO<sub>3</sub></strong> and <strong>reduces coccolithophores diversity</strong>.</li>
<li>It will affect the growth and skeleton structure of coccolithophores, with potential significance for the world ocean ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study points to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a> as a <strong>major reason for the altered coccolithophore calcification rate</strong> which is important for bringing positive changes in the marine ecosystem and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mountain-streams-emits-carbon-dioxide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global carbon cycle.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mainpage.aspx#:~:text=Coccolithophores%20are%20single%2Dcelled%20algae,cycle%20for%20millions%20of%20years.&amp;text=At%20equilibrium%2C%20coccolithophores%20absorb%20more,beneficial%20for%20the%20ocean%20ecosystem." 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/coccolithophores'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => '70 Years of Korean War',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently North and South Korea separately marked the<strong> 70<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of the start of the Korean War.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The root of the conflict lies in the <strong>Japanese occupation of Korea between 1910- 1945.</strong></li>
<li>When Japan was defeated in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/victory-day-parade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Second World War</strong></a>, the Allied forces agreed to establish a <strong>&ldquo;four-power trusteeship over Korea&rdquo;</strong> at the <strong>Yalta Conference (1945).</strong></li>
<li>However, the USSR invaded Korea and took control of the north while the south remained under the rest of the allies, mainly the USA. The division of the two regions was along the <strong>38<sup>th</sup> parallel north,</strong> which still continues to be the official border dividing the two Koreas.</li>
<li>In 1948 the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea (North Korea) was established.</li>
<li>Efforts were made to resolve the conflict and unite the Korean peninsula, but with the advent of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War</strong></a> chances of reunification were lost.</li>
<li>As both tried to enhance their reach, territorially and ideologically, the <strong>Korean Conflict emerged between the two nations.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Korean War</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On 25<sup>th</sup> June 1950, North Korea, backed by the USSR, launched an attack on South Korea and occupied most of the country.</li>
<li>In response, the United Nations force led by the US retaliated.</li>
<li>In <strong>1951 the US forces led by Douglas MacArthur crossed the 38<sup>th</sup> parallel</strong> and triggered the <strong>entry of China in support of North Korea.</strong></li>
<li>To prevent further escalation peace talks began later in 1951.</li>
<li>On 27<sup>th</sup> July 1953, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/violation-of-armistice-agreement-unc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Korean Armistice Agreement</strong></a> was signed between the <strong>United Nations Command, the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It led to an official ceasefire <strong>without a Peace treaty.</strong> Thus, the war officially never ended.</li>
<li>Exchange of Prisoners of war (PoWs).</li>
<li>Establishment of <strong>Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) &ndash;</strong> a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula to serve as a buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Korean DMZ intersects but does not follow the 38<sup>th</sup> parallel north.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>South Korea did not sign the armistice as it refused to accept it.</li>
<li>However, in December 1991, North and South Korea signed a pact agreeing to refrain from aggression.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Current Dynamics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In recent years North Korea has accelerated its nuclear programme by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increasing-nuclear-stockpiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>increasing its nuclear stockpile</strong></a>, withdrawn from the <strong>Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)</strong> and has tested nuclear explosives multiple times.</li>
<li>USA has deployed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-opposition-to-thaad" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence)</strong> </a>in <strong>South Korea</strong> to counter increasing missile adventurism of North Korea.</li>
<li>North Korea recently <strong>demolished the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in Kaesong,</strong> which was established in 2018. In the absence of formal diplomatic relations, the building functioned as a de facto embassy and provided a direct communication channel for the two nations.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/north-south-koreas-mark-70-years-of-war/article31919029.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/70-years-of-korean-war'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Navigating the New Normal: NITI Aayog',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog</strong></a>, in partnership with several other stakeholders has launched a <strong>behaviour change campaign</strong> called <strong>&lsquo;Navigating the New Normal&rsquo;,</strong> and<strong> its website.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593158503_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593158503_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The campaign has two parts:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Covid-safe behavioural norms:</strong> The first is a web portal, containing resources informed by<strong> behavioural science and the use of nudge and social norms theory,</strong> related to Covid-safe behavioural norms during the ongoing Unlock phase, and</li>
<li><strong>Wearing of Masks:</strong> The second is a media campaign focused on the<strong> wearing of masks.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The portal focuses on easy implementation of<strong> four key behaviours</strong> in the unlock phase: mask-wearing (essential focus), social distancing, Hand hygiene, and not spitting in public.</li>
<li><strong>Citizens Role:</strong> It aims at desired social behaviour in which the <strong>enforcement burden shifts from the Government to the citizens.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sector Specific:</strong> The website will have sector-specific collaterals and guidelines for health, nutrition, and public transport (in metro cities).</li>
<li><strong>International Examples:</strong> Japan and South Korea have made &lsquo;mask-wearing&rsquo; a socially accepted norm.</li>
<li><strong>Recent Examples/Initiatives in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, <strong>Meghalaya</strong> has issued a new health protocol which also lays emphasis on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/behaviour-change-model-for-living-with-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Behaviour Change Model for living with Covid-19.</strong></a></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic Survey 2019</strong></a> too lays out an ambitious agenda for behavioural change by applying the principles of behavioural economics to several issues, including gender equality, a healthy and beautiful India, savings, tax compliance and credit quality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Behavioural Science</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Behavioural science is a method of analysis that applies psychological insights into human behaviour to explain their decision-making</li>
<li>In reality, decisions made by people often deviate from the classical principles. Drawing on the psychology of human behaviour, science provides insights to &lsquo;nudge&rsquo; people towards desirable behaviour.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Nudge Theory</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to Nudge theory, people, rather than being forced, can be <strong>encouraged and influenced</strong> to pursue or desist from certain actions through nudges.</li>
<li>It does not talk about penalizing people if they do not behave in a particular manner, rather it encourages them to make desirable decisions.</li>
<li>It believes that <strong>Humans are not-so-rational and often need encouragement or intervention &mdash;</strong> a nudge &mdash; to get going and do what&rsquo;s best for the country or society at large.</li>
<li>American economist<strong> Richard Thaler has won the 2017 Nobel Prize</strong> in economics for his contributions to behavioural economics.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Limitations of Behavioural Science</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Continuous Efforts vs One-time Action -</strong> Give It Up campaign for LPG subsidy was a comparatively easy policy as it requires only a one-time action of affluent households, whereas task is very difficult in case of living with Covid-19, Beti Bachao, Beti Padao and SBM, as <strong>it requires continuous effort</strong> to dislodge mind-sets that prevailed for decades.</li>
<li><strong>Specific Targeting is Required:</strong> In order to make this campaign a success, focus must be on special areas of concern such as small factories and poor labourers, who comprise a large part of the vulnerable population.<strong> Example:</strong> Advertising campaigns such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme did not target specific states where child sex ratios were already skewed (although it was effective in Haryana, which also has a very poor sex ratio).</li>
<li><strong>Case of Confirmation Bias:</strong> The applications of behavioural insights appeared to be a result of <strong>confirmation bias</strong> (to the extent that past policies were viewed with a behavioural lens).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the lockdown is lifted, people will resume their normal activities. This raises a challenge of minimising the spread od Covid-19 without impacting the movement of people. This signals a need for change and creation of a &ldquo;New Normal&rdquo; &ndash; where we adapt our routine activities to enable consistent compliance to the COVID-19 protective behaviours.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=209742" 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/navigating-the-new-normal-niti-aayog'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Pollinator Week',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Pollinator Week</strong> is celebrated from <strong>22<sup>nd</sup> June to 28<sup>th</sup> June every year.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was initiated by the <strong>non-profit Pollinator Partnership</strong> and the<strong> USA&rsquo; Senate in 2007.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593158020_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593158020_image2.jpg" 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>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Food and Agriculture Organization</strong></a> (FAO), <strong>bees being the dominant pollinators,</strong> have around 25,000-30,000 species.</li>
<li><strong>More than 180,000 plant species,</strong> including 1,200 crop varieties, across the world, <strong>depend on pollinators</strong> to reproduce.</li>
<li><strong>Declining Numbers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Around <strong>40% of invertebrate pollinator species,</strong> particularly bees and butterflies, <strong>face extinction</strong> across the world.</li>
<li>In <strong>India,</strong> wild honeybees of the genus <strong><em>Apis,</em></strong> including the <strong>Asian bee</strong> and the <strong>little bee,</strong> have declined steadily for the past 30 years.</li>
<li>Around <strong>16.5% of vertebrate pollinators are threatened</strong> with extinction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Of these, 45 species of bats, 36 species of non-flying mammals, 26 species of hummingbirds, seven species of sunbirds and 70 species of passerine birds face extinction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Decline:</strong> Most of them are the <strong>result of an increase in human activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Land-use change and fragmentation.</li>
<li>Changes in agricultural practices including the use of chemical <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pesticide-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pesticides</strong></a>, fungicides and insecticides.</li>
<li>Change in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cropping pattern</strong></a> and crops like the cultivation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-seeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetically Modified Organisms</strong></a> (GMOs) and mono-cropping.</li>
<li>High environmental <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uk-to-support-nitrogen-research-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pollution from nitrogen</strong> </a>and heavy metals.</li>
<li>Growth of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invasive-plant-species-introduced-by-kerala-floods" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>invasive alien species.</strong></a></li>
<li>Higher temperatures associated with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pollination<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593157997_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593157997_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="235" height="260" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When a<strong> pollen grain</strong> moves from the <strong>anther</strong> (male part) of a flower to the <strong>stigma</strong> (female part), pollination happens and it is the <strong>first step in a process that produces seeds,</strong> fruits, and the next generation of plants.</li>
<li>This can happen through <strong>self-pollination, wind and water pollination or through pollinators.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pollinators</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vectors that move pollen within the flower and from flower to flower</strong> are called pollinators.</li>
<li>They visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off of pollen and transport pollen grains as they move from spot to spot.</li>
<li>There are <strong>two categories</strong> of pollinators:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Invertebrate pollinators:</strong> Include bees, moths, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.</li>
<li><strong>Vertebrate pollinators:</strong> Include monkeys, rodents, lemurs, tree squirrels and birds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pollination contributes to one-third of the world&rsquo;s agricultural crop production and pollinators can increase crop yield by 24% in small diverse farms and its reduction can pose an immediate threat to mankind&rsquo;s food and nutrition.</li>
<li>People should leave some areas under natural habitation, promote hedgerows, flower trees and shrub plant diversity, intercropping and try to be less dependent on toxic chemicals and pesticides.</li>
<li>Governments should take proactive steps for bee conservation, recognise apiculture (bee-keeping) as a subject for advanced research and promote it among farmer communities as an additional source of livelihood, which will be a win-win situation for both the bees and humans.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/pollinator-week-why-we-need-to-protect-the-bees-and-the-butterflies-71948" 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/pollinator-week'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Cyber Security Framework In India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/why-india-needs-an-updated-cybersecurity-strategy/2001658/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Why India needs an updated cybersecurity strategy&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The financial Express on 24/06/2020. It talks about the need for India to develop a comprehensive cybersecurity framework.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the cyber security attack on Australia&rsquo;s communication system has brought the governance to a stand still. In India, too, cyber attacks have been occurring with increasing frequency. For example, leak of personal information of 3.2 million debit cards in 2016 and the Data Theft At Zomato (2017), Wannacry Ransomware (2017), PETYA Ransomware (2017) etc.</p>
<p>Further, Cyber security has become an integral aspect of national security. Moreover, its area of influence extends far beyond military domains to cover all aspects of a nation&rsquo;s governance, economy and welfare.</p>
<p>Although India was one of the few countries to launch a cybersecurity policy in 2013, not much has transpired in terms of a coordinated cyber approach. Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive cyber security policy in India.</p>
<h3>Need For Cyber Security Framework</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Security Imperative:</strong> The change in military doctrines favouring the need to raise cyber commands reflects a shift in strategies, which include building deterrence in cyberspace.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The need for a competent cyber security infrastructure as part of national security was first emphasized by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-vote-on-national-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kargil Review Committee 1999.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Importance of Digital Economy:</strong> The digital economy today comprises 14-15% of India&rsquo;s total economy, and is targeted to reach 20% by 2024.</li>
<li><strong>Added Complexity:</strong> With more inclusion of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-industrial-revolution-4-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data analytics, cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT)</strong></a>, cyberspace will become a complex domain, giving rise to issues of a techno-legal nature.</li>
<li><strong>Securing Data:</strong> Data is referred to as the currency of the 21st century and due to its bulk creation owing to India&rsquo;s population, several international companies (Google, Amazon etc.) are trying to have access to it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given this there are issues related to data sovereignty, data localisation, internet governance, etc.</li>
<li>Thus, there is a need to build strong cyber security architecture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in India's Cyber Security Approach</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Cybersecurity WorkForce:</strong> The Indian military, central police organizations, law enforcement agencies and others are deficient in manpower, for software and hardware aspects integral to this field.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, there is a growing demand for professionals in Artificial Intelligence (AI), BlockChain Technology (BCT), Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning (ML).</li>
<li>According to several estimates there is a need for at least three million cybersecurity professionals today.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Active Cyber Defence:</strong> India doesn&rsquo;t have the &lsquo;active cyber defence&rsquo; like the EU's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-be-forgotten-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)</strong></a> or US&rsquo; Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Active Cyber Defence:</strong> It is far more than just the enhancement of defensive cybersecurity capabilities for the Government and the Intelligence Community. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Active Cyber Defence-defined capabilities and processes are employed to support federal, state, and local government agencies and organizations, critical infrastructure segments, and industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overlapping Regulatory Bodies:</strong> Unlike the US, Singapore, and the UK where there is a single umbrella organisation dealing in cybersecurity, India has several central bodies that deal with cyber issues, and each has a different reporting structure.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, each state government has its own <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/35-percent-of-cyber-attacks-on-indian-sites-from-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyber emergency Response Team (CERT).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dependency on Foreign Players For Cyber Security Tools:</strong> India lacks indigenisation in hardware as well as software cybersecurity tools.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This makes India&rsquo;s cyberspace vulnerable to cyberattacks motivated by state and non-state actors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>External Challenges:</strong> Challenges such as growing Chinese influence in Indian telecom space, social media is becoming a powerful tool for dissemination of &ldquo;information&rdquo; making it difficult to differentiate fact from fake news.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Creating Awareness:</strong> With countries resorting to digital warfare and hackers targeting business organisations and government processes, India has to create awareness that not a single person or institution is immune to it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the government and the corporate world are better placed perhaps to create their own programs, it is the civil society who needs to bring into this ambit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening of Existing Cyber Security Framework:</strong> National cybersecurity projects such as the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC)</strong></a> and the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) need to be strengthened manifold and reviewed.</li>
<li><strong>Bringing Cyber Security in Education:</strong> Educational institutions including central universities, private universities, industry associations, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) must incorporate courses on cybersecurity.</li>
<li><strong>Integrated Approach:</strong> Given increasing dominance of mobile and telecommunication, both National cyber security policy and National Telecom Policy will have to effectively coalesce to make a comprehensive policy for 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Indigenisation:</strong> There is a need to create opportunities for developing software to safeguard cyber security and digital communications. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Government of India may consider including cybersecurity architecture in its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make In India programme.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, there is a need to create suitable hardware on a unique Indian pattern that can serve localised needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Given the future of technology under Industrial Revolution 4.0, India requires a strong cybersecurity framework based on the 4D principles i.e. Deter, Detect, Destroy and Document so that it can subverse all attempts towards any cyber challenges.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593085085_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593085085_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffee0;">
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Given the criticality of Cybersecurity in India's economy, governance and national security, there is a need for comprehensive cybersecurity policy. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IbAT-A6iRAA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/undesirable-acquittal-the-hindu-editorial-on-tamil-nadu-dalit-youth-udumalpet-shankar-murder-case/article31901154.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Undesirable acquittal&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on June 24<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/cyber-security-framework-in-india'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Private Sector Participation in Space',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the creation of the <strong>Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)</strong> to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is part of reforms aimed at giving a <strong>boost to private sector participation</strong> in the entire range of space activities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>IN-SPACe:</strong> It will act as a <strong>single-point interface</strong> between<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)</strong></a>, and everyone who wants to participate in space-related activities, or use India&rsquo;s space resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries in space activities through encouraging policies and a friendly regulatory environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian National Space Promotion Board:</strong> It would be set up to strengthen the Department of Space and for the promotion of the private space entrepreneurs or non-government space entrepreneurs,</li>
<li><strong>Role of ISRO:</strong> The overall idea is to let ISRO concentrate on essential activities like research and development, planetary exploration, and strategic use of space, while freeing itself from ancillary or routine work which could easily be done by private industry.</li>
<li><strong>Demand Driven Model:</strong> By the support of<strong> New Space India Limited (NSIL),</strong> It would endeavour to reorient space activities from a<strong> &lsquo;supply driven&rsquo; model to a &lsquo;demand driven&rsquo;</strong> one, thereby ensuring <strong>optimum utilisation</strong> of the nation&rsquo;s space assets.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main objective of NSIL is to scale up industry participation in Indian space programmes in comparison to<strong> IN-SPACe</strong> which gives emphasis on the participation of the private sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Level Playing Field for Private Companies:</strong> IN-SPACe will provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Research and Development Activities:</strong> These reforms will allow ISRO to focus more on new technologies, exploration missions and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper3-mission-gaganyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>human spaceflight programme</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some of the planetary exploration missions will also be opened up to the private sector through an <strong>&lsquo;announcement of opportunity&rsquo;</strong> mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fruitful Dissemination of Space Technologies:</strong> Allowing industries and others like students, researchers or academic bodies greater access to space assets would lead to a much better utilisation of India space resources.</li>
<li><strong>Socio-economic use of Space Assets:</strong> The proposed body would attempt to enhance the activities, including access to space assets data and activities</li>
<li><strong>Global Technology Powerhouse:</strong> It will enable Indian Industry to be an important player in the global space economy. With this, there is an opportunity for <strong>large-scale employment in the technology sector</strong> and India becoming a Global technology powerhouse.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>New Space India Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NSIL is a <strong>Central Public Sector Enterprise</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It was established in 2019 under the administrative control of<strong> the Department of Space.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Headquarter: Bengaluru</strong></li>
<li>NSIL is the <strong>commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)</strong> with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high technology space related activities and is also responsible for promotion and commercial exploitation of the products and services emanating from the space industry.</li>
<li>NSIL is incorporated to carry forward the industry production of space systems and the ISRO&rsquo;s efforts in realising <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-pslv-launch#:~:text=Polar%20Satellite%20Launch%20Vehicle%20(PSLV)%20is%20the%20third%20generation%20launch,be%20equipped%20with%20liquid%20stages." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV)</strong></a> from industry.</li>
<li>NSIL differs from ISRO&rsquo;s existing commercial arm <strong>Antrix Corporation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Antrix will handle<strong> ISRO&rsquo;s commercial deals for satellites</strong> and launch vehicles with foreign customers.</li>
<li>NSIL will deal with capacity building of<strong> local industry for space manufacturing.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Space sector can<strong> play a major catalytic role</strong> in the technological advancement and expansion of our Industrial base.</li>
<li>Therefore, the creation of <strong>IN-SPACe</strong> will work towards a greater involvement of private industry, academic institutions and research organisations in India&rsquo;s space sector.</li>
<li>India is among a handful of countries with advanced capabilities in the space sector. With these reforms, the sector will receive new energy and dynamism, to help the country leapfrog to the next stages of space activities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cabinet-gives-nod-to-private-participation-in-space-sector-6474881/" 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/private-sector-participation-in-space'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Global Education Monitoring Report 2020: UNESCO',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Global Education Monitoring Report, 2020</strong> was released by the <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization</strong></a> (UNESCO).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It highlighted that <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> had worsened the inequalities in education systems worldwide.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the height of school closures in April 2020, almost 91% of students around the world were out of school.</li>
<li>About 40% of low and lower middle income countries have not supported learners at risk of exclusion during this crisis, such as the poor, linguistic minorities and learners with disabilities.</li>
<li>Education systems responded with distance learning solutions, all of which offered less or more imperfect substitutes for classroom instruction.</li>
<li>Poorer countries opted for radio and television (TV) lessons, 55% of low-income, 73% of lower-middle-income and 93% of upper-middle-income countries adopted for online learning platforms for primary and secondary education.</li>
<li>17% of low and middle-income countries are planning to recruit more teachers, 22% to increase class time and 68% to introduce remedial classes when schools reopen to combat the situation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has used a mix of all three systems (radio, TV and online platforms) for educational continuity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Governments increasingly rely on technology</strong> but the<strong> digital divide limits</strong> the approach because not all students and teachers have access to an adequate internet connection, equipment, skills and working conditions to take advantage of available platforms.</li>
<li><strong>School closures interrupt support mechanisms for various disadvantaged students.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Resources for<strong> blind and deaf students</strong> may not be available outside schools.</li>
<li><strong>Children with learning disabilities</strong> or those who are on the <strong>autism</strong> spectrum may struggle with independent work in front of a computer or the disruption of daily school routines.</li>
<li><strong>Poor students</strong> who depend on school for free meals or even free sanitary napkins have suffered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cancellation of examinations</strong> in many countries, including India, may result in <strong>scoring dependent on teachers&rsquo; judgements</strong> of students instead, which could be <strong>affected by stereotypes</strong> of certain types of students.</li>
<li><strong>Higher drop-out rates</strong> are also a concern because, during an earlier <strong><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-global-health-emergency">Ebola </a>epidemic in Africa,</strong> many older girls never returned to school once the crisis was over.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Teachers who are intimidated by technology now have to take the bull by its horns. For many who are proficient at planning and teaching in the traditional classroom, planning for an online setting requires some re-learning.</li>
<li>Online classrooms have brought up issues of classroom management and it is needed to learn methods of managing remote classes and students online. Schools also have to give serious thought to planning and conducting online assessments and evaluations.</li>
<li>School readiness for online teaching is critical and schools are at varying levels in this journey. While parents are worried about having the right hardware and set-up at home, school management and teachers are sorting out more significant and vital issues.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.thehindu.com/education/coronavirus-lockdown-covid-19-widened-educational-divide-unesco-report/article31907857.ece"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-education-monitoring-report-2020-unesco'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'India TB Report 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</strong> has launched the <strong>annual <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-tuberculosis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuberculosis</a> (TB) Report 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Eliminating TB by 2025:</strong> India is committed to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lancet-building-a-tuberculosis-free-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eliminating tuberculosis from the country by 2025</strong></a>, five years ahead of the global target by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> i.e. 2030.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme:</strong> To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from the&nbsp;<strong>Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>State TB Index:</strong> On the basis of the score in State <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-with-the-world-bank-to-eliminate-tb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>TB</strong></a> Index, <strong>Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh</strong> were the top three best-performing states for tuberculosis control under the category of states with 50 lakh population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tripura and Nagaland</strong> were best-performing in the category of states having less than 50 lakh population.</li>
<li><strong>Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu</strong> were selected as the best performing Union Territories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rising Tobacco Consumption:</strong> It also revealed that Tobacco consumption is rising among Indian TB patients.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>8% of TB cases</strong> can be attributable to tobacco usage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>HIV Patients and TB:</strong> People <strong>living with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hiv-aids-outreach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIV</a> are the most vulnerable</strong> among all those TB patient groups which have other comorbidities (rate of death). Hence, the World Health Organization lays social emphasis (through awareness programmes) on them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>HIV-associated TB:</strong> India accounts for<strong> 9% of all HIV-associated TB deaths</strong> in the world, the <strong>second-highest number</strong> globally. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A total of 92,000 HIV-associated TB patients were recorded on an annual basis.</li>
<li>Awareness among TB patients about their HIV status has gone up to 81% from 67%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Diabetes Associated TB:</strong> The other such group is patients suffering from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-diabetes-day-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>diabetes</strong></a>. According to the report, 20% of all TB cases in India also suffer from diabetes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, among the notified TB patients under the Revised National TB Control Programme, 64 % were screened for Diabetes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Missing Patients:</strong> The report highlighted that the notification of TB is a major hurdle in surveillance of the disease in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nearly <strong>0.54 million TB cases</strong> are still missing across India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lower Reporting than WHO:</strong> According to the report, India notified the highest number of<strong> 24.04 lakh tuberculosis cases</strong> last year (2018) as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-tuberculosis-report-2019-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>against an estimated 26.9 lakh cases by WHO</strong></a>, indicating that around three lakh patients missed out from the national TB programme.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low Fatality:</strong> It stated that 79,144 deaths due to tuberculosis were reported in 2019, which is much lower than the WHO estimate of 4.4 lakh fatalities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment Success Rate:</strong> It is around 70-73% in the last two years. From 2014-2016, it was between 76 and 77%.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Initiatives by India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Nikshay Ecosystem:</strong> It is the National TB information system which is a one-stop solution to manage information of patients and monitor program activity and performance throughout the country.</li>
<li><strong>Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY):</strong> This scheme is aimed at providing financial support to TB patients for their nutrition.</li>
<li><strong>TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tb-harega-desh-jeetega-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Launched In September 2019</strong></a> it is showcasing the highest level of commitment for the elimination of TB.</li>
<li><strong>The Saksham Project:</strong> It is a project of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) that has been providing psycho-social counselling to DR-TB patients.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Tuberculosis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>TB is caused by <strong>bacteria <em>(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)</em></strong> that most often affect the lungs.</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong> TB is a treatable and curable disease. It is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer.</li>
<li><strong>Anti-TB medicines</strong> have been used for decades and strains that are resistant to 1 or more of the medicines have been documented in every country surveyed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)</strong> is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs.</li>
<li><strong>Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB)</strong> is a more serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment options.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the notable successes achieved by the different programmes, robust efforts are needed to improve the early and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenous-tb-diagnostic-tool" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>accurate diagnosis</strong></a> followed by a prompt appropriate treatment which is vital for <strong>ending TB.</strong></li>
<li>India must collaborate with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-tuberculosis-report-2019-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global efforts which are being done to eliminate</strong> </a>the TB along with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/paradigm-shift-for-tb-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>paradigm shift in the control measure.</strong></a></li>
<li>There is a need for expanding both the laboratory network as well as diagnostic facilities to cover the entire country under the National TB Elimination Programme. There is a requirement of the crucial contribution from the private sector in terms of providing mandatory tuberculosis notification and quality care.</li>
<li>There is a need to fight the stigma surrounding it so that every TB patient can seek care with dignity and without discrimination. Hence, <strong>advocacy, communication &amp; social mobilization</strong> is vital.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/tobacco-consumption-rising-among-indian-tb-patients-india-tb-2020-report-71946" 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/india-tb-report-2020'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Ocean Mapping: Seabed 2030 Project',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, it was announced that mapping of nearly one-fifth of the world&rsquo;s ocean floor had been finished under the <strong>Seabed 2030 Project.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Seabed 2030 Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between the <strong>Nippon Foundation of Japan</strong> and the<strong> General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO).</strong></li>
<li>It was launched at the <strong>United Nations Ocean Conference</strong> in June 2017 and is aligned with the UN's <strong><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3">Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)</a> 14</strong> to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The United Nations Ocean Conference intended to be a game-changer in reversing the decline in the health of the ocean for people, planet and prosperity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The project aims to bring together all available <strong>bathymetric data</strong> to produce the definitive map of the world ocean floor by 2030 and make it available to all.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bathymetry is the measurement of the shape and depth of the ocean floor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the past, <strong>satellites and planes carrying altimeter instruments</strong> have been able to provide large swathes of data about the ocean floor.</li>
<li>However, the Seabed 2030 Project<strong> aims to obtain higher quality information</strong> that has a minimum resolution of 100 metres at all spots, using equipment such as deepwater <strong>hull-mounted sonar systems,</strong> and <strong>Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of the Study of the Ocean Floor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Helps in understanding several natural phenomena,</strong> including ocean circulation, tides and biological hotspots.</li>
<li>Provides <strong>key inputs</strong> for navigation, forecasting disasters, exploration for oil and gas projects, building offshore wind turbines, fishing resources, and for laying cables and pipelines.</li>
<li>Ensure a <strong>better understanding of climate change.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Climate change has impacted the flow of ocean currents and has led to sea-level rise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GEBCO is the <strong>only</strong> intergovernmental organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.</li>
<li>It traces its origins to the GEBCO chart series initiated in 1903 by Prince Albert I of Monaco.</li>
<li>It aims to <strong>provide the most authoritative publicly-available bathymetry</strong> of the world's oceans.</li>
<li>It operates under the joint auspices of the <strong>International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)</strong> and the<strong> Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)</strong> (of <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5"><strong>UNESCO</strong></a>).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IHO is an <strong>intergovernmental organization</strong> that works to ensure all the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted. It was established in 1921.</li>
<li><strong>India is its member.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>IHO Secretariat</strong> is hosted by the Principality of <strong>Monaco.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mapping-the-ocean-floor-6473482/#:~:text=Importantly%2C%20the%20maps%20would%20also,thus%20influencing%20the%20weather%20and"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ocean-mapping-seabed-2030-project'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Extension to OBC Sub-Categorisation Commission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a six-month extension to the commission appointed to examine <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panel-to-examine-obc-sub-categorisation-seeks-third-extension" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes</strong></a> (OBCs), up to 31<sup>st</sup> January 2021.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Commission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Headed by Justice (Retd.) G Rohini,</strong> the commission was constituted under <strong>Article 340 of the Constitution</strong> with the approval of the President on <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> October 2017.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Article 340 deals with the <strong>appointment of a commission</strong> to investigate the conditions of backward classes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It had been constituted to <strong>complete the task of sub-categorising 5000-odd castes in the central OBC list</strong> so as to <strong>ensure more equitable distribution of opportunities</strong> in central government jobs and educational institutions.</li>
<li>In 2015, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Backward Classes</strong></a> (NCBC) had recommended that OBCs should be <strong>categorised into extremely backward classes, more backward classes and backward classes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The benefits of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reservation</strong></a> in OBCs are being cornered mostly by the dominant OBC groups over the years so there is a need to recognise sub-quotas for the extremely backward classes within the OBCs.</li>
<li>NCBC has the authority to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mandate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Examine the uneven distribution of reservation benefits</strong> among different castes in the central OBC list. For example, certain castes were left out of the ambit because of a difference in spelling in a State.</li>
<li><strong>Work out mechanism and parameters for sub-categorisation of OBCs,</strong> to identify castes, sub-castes and communities and classify them into sub-categories.</li>
<li><strong>Submit a comprehensive report</strong> after consultation with various stakeholders so that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census 2021</strong></a> can include comprehensive data on OBCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Work Done:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has met representatives of state governments, state backward classes commissions, community associations etc. apart from obtaining caste-wise data of OBCs in higher educational institutions and recruits in central departments, public sector banks and financial institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expenditure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The expenditure related to the administration costs will be continued to be borne by the <strong>Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Extension:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Commission would <strong>require more time to submit its report</strong> since the repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription etc. appearing in the existing Central List of OBCs need to be cleared.</li>
<li>Apart from that, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nationwide lockdown</strong> </a>and restrictions on travel imposed in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pandemic</a> slowed down the commission&rsquo;s performance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Outcomes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The commission may <strong>make recommendations which will benefit the communities in the existing list of OBCs</strong> which have not been able to get any major benefit of the OBCs reservation scheme for appointment in central government posts and for admission in central government educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 340 of the Indian Constitution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The President may by order appoint a Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any State to remove such difficulties and to improve their condition and as to the grants that should be made for the purpose by the Union or any State and the conditions subject to which such grants should be made, and the order appointing such Commission shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission.</li>
<li>A Commission so appointed shall investigate the matters referred to them and present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper.</li>
<li>The President shall cause a copy of the report so presented together with a memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>OBC Reservation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Kalelkar Commission,</strong> set up in <strong>1953,</strong> was the <strong>first to identify backward classes</strong> other than the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at the national level.</li>
<li>The <strong>Mandal Commission Report, 1980</strong> estimated the OBC population at 52% and classified 1,257 communities as backward.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>recommended increasing the existing quotas,</strong> which were only for SC/ST, from 22.5% to 49.5% to include the OBCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The central government reserved<strong> 27% of seats in union civil posts and services</strong> for OBCs<strong> [Article 16(4)].</strong> The quotas were <strong>subsequently enforced in central government educational institutions [Article 15 (4)].</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2008, the Supreme Court directed the central government to exclude the creamy layer (advanced sections) among the OBCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>102<sup>nd</sup> Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 </strong>provided <strong>constitutional status</strong> to the<strong> National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), </strong>which was previously a <strong>statutory body </strong>under the<strong> Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=209699#:~:text=The%20Union%20Cabinet%20chaired%20by,6%20months%20i.e.%20upto%2031.1." 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/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Co-operative Banks Under RBI Supervision',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central government approved an<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ordinance-to-protect-health-workers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ordinance</strong></a> to bring <strong>all urban and multi-state co-operative banks</strong> under the direct supervision of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI).</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decision comes after several instances of<strong> fraud and serious financial irregularities,</strong> including the major scam at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/co-operative-banking-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank</strong> </a>in 2019.</li>
<li>Till now, all the co-operative banks <strong>came under dual regulation of the RBI and the Registrar of Co-operative Societies,</strong> resulting in regulatory and supervisory lapses at many of these banks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The RBI had no powers to draw up an enforceable scheme of reconstruction of a co-operative bank.</li>
<li>However, from now onwards the urban and multi-state co-operative will come under the direct supervision of RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The move will <strong>empower the RBI to regulate</strong> all urban and multi-state co-operative banks <strong>on the lines of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/urban-co-operative-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commercial banks</a></strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Earlier, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/co-operative-banks-under-sarfaesi-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court pronounced</strong></a> that co-operative banks come within the definition of &lsquo;Banks&rsquo; under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 for the purposes of the Sarfaesi Act, 2002.</li>
<li>The Sarfaesi Act is an effective tool for bad loans <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Non-Performing Assets)</strong> </a>recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will also provide<strong> more security to depositors.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, there are 1482 urban co-operatives banks and 58 multi-state co-operative banks.</li>
<li>These banks have a depositor base of 8.6 crores, who have saved a huge amount of Rs. 4.84 lakh crore with these banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> rural co-operative banks will continue to remain under the dual regulation</strong> of RBI and Registrar of Co-operative Societies.</li>
<li>The rural co-operative banks face the same issue of misgovernance and fraud, like urban co-operatives banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Co-operative Banking</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/co-operative-banking-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Co-operative bank</strong> </a>is a financial entity which belongs to its members, who are at the same time the owners and the customers of their bank. It is <strong>distinct from commercial banks.</strong></li>
<li>They are broadly <strong>classified into Urban and Rural co-operative banks</strong> based on their region of operation.</li>
<li>They are registered under the<strong> Co-operative Societies Act of the State concerned</strong> or under the <strong>Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.</strong></li>
<li>The Co-operative banks are also <strong>governed by the</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Banking Regulations Act, 1949.</li>
<li>Banking Laws (Co-operative Societies) Act, 1955.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features of Co-operative Banks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Customer Owned Entities</strong>: Co-operative bank members are both customer and owner of the bank.</li>
<li><strong>Democratic Member Control:</strong> These banks are owned and controlled by the members, who democratically elect a board of directors. Members usually have equal voting rights, according to the cooperative principle of &ldquo;one person, one vote&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Profit Allocation:</strong> A significant part of the yearly profit, benefits or surplus is usually allocated to constitute reserves and a part of this profit can also be distributed to the co-operative members, with legal and statutory limitations.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Inclusion:</strong> They have played a significant role in the financial inclusion of unbanked rural masses. They provide cheap credit to masses in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/govt-brings-co-op-banks-under-rbi-supervision-for-better-regulation-6474904/" 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/co-operative-banks-under-rbi-supervision'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Fishing Cats',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Odisha Government has started a two-year conservation project for <strong>Fishing Cats</strong> in <strong>Bhitarkanika National Park.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Like several other rare species, little is known about <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fishing-cat-and-otters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fishing cats</strong> </a>in the wild.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593069655_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593069655_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Prionailurus viverrinus.</em></li>
<li><strong>Description:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is twice the size of a house cat.</li>
<li>The fishing cat is <strong>nocturnal (active at night)</strong> and apart from fish also preys on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenges on carcasses of larger animals.</li>
<li>The species breed all year round.</li>
<li>They spend most of their lives in areas of dense vegetation close to water bodies and are excellent swimmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys and in the Western Ghats.</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Habitat Destruction:</strong> A major threat for fishing cats is the destruction of wetlands, their preferred habitat.</li>
<li><strong>Shrimp Farming:</strong> Shrimp farming is another growing threat to <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mangrove habitats</strong></a> of the Fishing Cat.</li>
<li><strong>Hunting:</strong> This unique cat also faces threats from hunting for meat and skin.</li>
<li><strong>Ritual Practices:</strong> Tribal hunters indulge in ritual hunting practices throughout the year.</li>
<li><strong>Poaching:</strong> It is also occasionally poached for its skin.</li>
<li><strong>Poisoning:</strong> Indiscriminate trapping, snaring and poisoning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: <strong>Vulnerable.</strong> Despite multiple threats, the Fishing Cat was recently downlisted to &ldquo;Vulnerable&rdquo; from &ldquo;Endangered&rdquo; in the IUCN Red List species assessment.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>: Appendix II</strong></li>
<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>: Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Fishing Cat Project, launched in 2010 started raising awareness about the Cat in West Bengal.</li>
<li>In 2012, the <strong>West Bengal</strong> government officially declared the<strong> Fishing Cat</strong> as the <strong>State Animal</strong> and the Calcutta Zoo has two big enclosures dedicated to them.</li>
<li>In Odisha, many NGOs and wildlife conservation Societies are involved in Fishing Cat research and conservation work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/odisha-starts-project-to-conserve-bhitarkanika-fishing-cats-71928#:~:text=The%20Odisha%20forest%20department%20has,of%20extinction%20in%20the%20wild." 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/fishing-cats'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Interest Subvention Scheme for Shishu Loan Accounts',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The government has approved a <strong>2% interest subsidy scheme for Shishu loan account holders </strong>under the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Scheme will help small businesses tide over difficulties created by the lockdown following <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 outbreak</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PMMY is a scheme launched by the government in <strong>2015</strong> for providing <strong>loans up to Rs. 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises.</strong></li>
<li><strong>MUDRA,</strong> which stands for <strong>Micro Units Development &amp; Refinance Agency Ltd.,</strong> is a financial institution set up by the Government to provide funding to the non-corporate small business sector through various last-mile financial institutions like Banks, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</strong></a> and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MUDRA does not lend directly to micro-entrepreneurs/individuals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the aegis of PMMY, <strong>MUDRA has created three products</strong> i.e. 'Shishu', 'Kishore' and &lsquo;Tarun&rsquo; as per the stage of growth and funding needs of the beneficiary micro unit. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shishu:</strong> Covering loans up to Rs. 50,000.</li>
<li><strong>Kishore:</strong> Covering loans above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh</li>
<li><strong>Tarun:</strong> Covering loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Loans under this scheme are <strong>collateral-free loans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In-Line with Atmanirbhar Abhiyan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> 2% Interest Subsidy Scheme</strong> is in line with the measures announced relating to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scheme will be extended to loans which meet the following criteria:<strong> outstanding as on 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020;</strong> and<strong> not in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Performing Asset (NPA)</a> category,</strong> as per 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>guidelines on 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020 and during the period of operation of the Scheme.</li>
<li>The interest subsidy would be payable for the months in which the accounts are not in NPA category including for the months that the account becomes a performing asset again, after turning NPA.</li>
<li>The scheme will incentivize people who will make regular repayments of loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Scheme will be implemented through the <strong>Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)</strong> and will be in <strong>operation for 12 months.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SIDBI was set up on 2<sup>nd</sup> April 1990 under an Act of the Parliament.</li>
<li>It acts as the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector as well as for coordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For borrowers, who have been allowed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-cuts-repo-rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>moratorium</strong></a> by their respective lenders, as permitted by RBI under the <strong>&lsquo;Covid-19 Regulatory Package&rsquo;,</strong> the Scheme would commence post completion of the moratorium period till a period of 12 months i.e. from 1<sup>st</sup> September 2020 till 31<sup>st</sup> August 2021. For other borrowers, the scheme would commence w.e.f. 1<sup>st</sup> June 2020 and will last till 31<sup>st</sup> May 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cost to the Government:</strong> The estimated cost of the Scheme would be approximately <strong>Rs. 1,542 crore.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ongoing Covid-19 crisis and the consequent lockdown has led to severe disruption of business for micro and small enterprises which are funded through Shishu Mudra loans.</li>
<li>Small businesses typically function on thin operating margins, and the current lockdown has had a severe impact on their cash flows, jeopardizing their ability to service their loans.</li>
<li>This could lead to default in repayment and have a resultant impact on access to institutional credit in future.</li>
<li>As on 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020, about 9.37 crore loan accounts under the Shishu category of PMMY with a total loan amount of about Rs 1.62 Lakh crore, were outstanding.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Scheme is expected to provide much-needed relief to the MSME sector, thereby enabling small businesses to continue functioning without laying off employees due to lack of funds.</li>
<li>By supporting small businesses to continue functioning during these times of crisis, the Scheme is expected to have a positive impact on the economy and support its revival, which is necessary for employment generation in future.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1633891" 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/interest-subvention-scheme-for-shishu-loan-accounts'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Strategic Oil Reserves and Energy Security',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fBgW4e6rQis" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>India, in the times of volatility of crude oil prices, has decided to take advantage of the low oil prices in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saudi-investment-in-strategic-oil-storage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>major producing centres in Saudi Arabia</strong> </a>and the UAE to top up its strategic oil reserves created to meet the emergency in times of exigencies. India is the world&rsquo;s third largest crude oil importer having an existing storage capacity of 5.3 million tons (MT) at:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Visakhapatnam (1.3 million tons)</li>
<li>Mangalore (1.5 million tons)</li>
<li>Padur (2.5 million tons).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Strategic Petroleum Reserves (GSPRs)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global strategic petroleum reserves (GSPR)</strong> refer to crude oil inventories (or stockpiles) held by the government of a particular country, as well as private industry, to safeguard the economy and help maintain national security during an energy crisis.</li>
<li>Several countries have agreements to share their stockpiles with other countries in the event of an emergency. For example-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United States and Israel agreement</li>
<li>The France, Germany and Italy agreement</li>
<li>The Japan, New Zealand and South Korea agreement</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Biggest Global Strategic Petroleum Reserves in the world:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United States- 714 million barrels</li>
<li>China- 475 million barrels</li>
<li>Japan- 324 million barrels</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Strategic Petroleum Reserves In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-strategic-petroleum-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strategic petroleum reserves</strong></a> are huge stockpiles of crude oil to deal with any crude oil-related crisis like the risk of supply disruption from natural disasters, war or other calamities.</li>
<li>Strategic petroleum reserves in India are in a position to meet 9.5 days of its oil needs to which 11.57 more days will be added with the addition of two new reserves.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, a total of 22 days (10+12) of oil consumption will be made available by ISPR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian refiners also maintain crude oil storage (industrial stock) of 65 days. Thus, a total of 87 days (22 by ISPL + 65 by Indian refiners) of oil consumption will be made available in India after completion of Phase II by ISPR. This will be very close to 90 days mandate by the IEA.</li>
<li>The construction of the other two reserves is projected at Chandikhole (Odisha) (4 MT) and Padur (2.5 MT).</li>
<li>The construction of these<strong> Strategic Crude Oil Storage facilities</strong> in India is being managed by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategic-petroleum-reserves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL)</strong></a> under the <strong>Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.</strong></li>
<li>The concept of dedicated strategic reserves was first mooted in 1973 in the US, after the first oil crisis.</li>
<li>The concept of massive caverns deep below the surface of the earth has been traditionally marketed as an energy security measure that can be a defence against shortage of oil supply in future due to an attack or invasion.</li>
<li>Underground storage is, by far the most economic method of storing petroleum products because the underground facility rules out the requirement of large swathes of land, ensures less evaporation and, since the caverns are built much below the sea level, it is easy to discharge crude into them from ships.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need of Strategic Petroleum Reserves in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India still needs to import 83% crude oil of its requirement which increases the import bill of India which further widens the <strong>Current Account Deficit (CAD)</strong> of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>86% energy of the country is dependent on oil with nearly 5 million barrels of oil consumption in a day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The fluctuation in the price of crude oil in the international market</strong> leads to a dire need for India to make petroleum reserves to ensure the country's energy security and avoid monetary loss.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IEA predicts that by 2020, India could well be the largest oil importer, increasing the country&rsquo;s vulnerability to threats of physical supply disruptions leading to sharp price fluctuations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The current capacity of this is not sufficient</strong> to tackle any unpredicted event that occurs in the international crude market.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Current Account Deficit</strong></p>
<p>It is a measurement of a country&rsquo;s trade where the value of the goods and services it imports exceeds the value of the products it exports. The current account includes net income, such as interest and dividends, and transfers, such as foreign aid.</p>
</div>
<h3>Government Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government of India has approved fiscal incentives to attract investments and technology to improve recovery from oil fields which is expected to lead to hydrocarbon production worth Rs 50 lakh crore in the next twenty years.</li>
<li>India is working to establish a natural gas trading exchange as part of a shift away from a reliance on crude oil based products which are blamed for much of the country&rsquo;s pollution problem.</li>
<li>India wants to develop a transparent market for natural gas where the price is determined on an exchange. The aim is to increase the use of natural gas in India&rsquo;s total energy mix from 6.5 percent to 15 percent between 2028 and 2030.</li>
<li>The Oil Ministry plans to set up bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) plants and allied infrastructure to promote the use of clean fuel.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The demand is to look for assets of energy sources present abroad;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India should buy and store the oil in the host countries as Indian assets and retrieve when required; like China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India should distribute its oil contracts in several countries so as to avoid the monopoly of any one region. For example, currently India is importing most of the oil from the Gulf region.</li>
<li>The oil is the central source of energy but is limited, therefore alternative sources need to be looked upon.</li>
<li>Indian oil imported in the ships consisting of 90% foreign ships; is also an issue to be looked upon. India needs to acquire its own ships to transport oil.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-strategic-oil-reserves-and-energy-security'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Comprehensive Action Plan For Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-covid-19-coronavirus-6471143/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;More than Medical Help&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in the Indian Express on 22/06/2020. It talks about the need for a comprehensive action plan to deal with Covid-19 pandemic India.</p>
</div>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>is a far greater social, economic, and political phenomenon than merely a biomedical one. Due to its ill-effects on lives and livelihood, the pandemic is turning into one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent human history.</p>
<p>Further, the mismanagement of the disease has made India on the verge of Covid-19 entering into the community transmission stage. Given the condition of public health infrastructure, the current pandemic is a great challenge for the government as well as citizens.</p>
<p>In this context, there is a need for a comprehensive strategy to combat the pandemic.</p>
<h3>Hidden Issues Related to Covid-19 Management</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hidden Hunger:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/dimensions-of-food-security#:~:text=Hidden%20hunger%20occurs%20when%20the,for%20their%20growth%20and%20development." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hidden hunger</strong></a> needs more attention in times of record unemployment and a slowing economy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, in the absence of proven technological medical tools against the virus, the body&rsquo;s innate immunity is the most reliable defence against the disease.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s chances of staving off large-scale Covid-19 deaths will depend on how effectively the menace of hidden hunger is addressed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor Preparedness:</strong> The lockdown was supposed to provide time for strengthening the healthcare facilities. However, still there is a long way to go for making adequate medical infrastructure like beds, testing kits, PPE kits.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This compromises the treatment of patients suffering Covid-19 and further aid in spreading the disease.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Untreated Morbidity due to Non-Covid Disease:</strong> Due to increased burden on public hospitals for treatment of Covid-19, patients suffering from other diseases have been largely neglected. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the large number of cases relating to Tuberculosis, upper respiratory diseases and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-communicable-diseases-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-communicable diseases</strong> </a>in India, millions of patients are at risk.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Obscurity:</strong> The importance of comprehensive data for an evidence-based and epidemiologically sound strategy can never be overemphasized. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there is still no unanimity between the different health related organisations, regarding the actual number of Covid-19 infections in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Epidemiological Research:</strong> Historically, there has been a near-absence of &ldquo;managerial physicians&rdquo; equipped with the social, political and technical understanding of health problems in the Indian public health system. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consequently, the epidemiologists and social scientists have been marginalised in Covid-19 policy formulation.</li>
<li>While sound clinical knowledge is indispensable for clinical management of patients, a grounded understanding of epidemiology and socioeconomic dynamics of the disease is also very important.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Managerial Physicians are doctors with management positions who possess important skills and values such as observation, problem-solving, analysis and ethical judgement.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Relating to Medical Personnels:</strong> The fulfillment of the elementary needs of health workers has been a major issue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many doctors have reportedly been served show cause notices, suspensions and even termination of services for simply demanding PPEs (personal protective equipment).</li>
<li>Reasonable demands like shorter durations of duty in Covid affected areas and regular rotation between Covid and non-Covid areas seem to have been ignored.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issue Effective Guidelines To Private Hospitals:</strong> The central and the state governments may issue necessary guidelines seeking cooperation from the private sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will ease the burden of public hospitals and help in availing treatment to all the patients suffering from Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Public Funding in Healthcare:</strong> Public expenditure on health should be immediately increased.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will ensure a well functioning of tertiary and secondary care in government hospitals.</li>
<li>Also, there is a need for improving sanitation and hygiene, provisioning of equipment, toning up of laboratory facilities, and recruiting the additional staff to meet the workload.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Outreach Clinics:</strong> To reduce crowding at hospitals, outreach clinics (for example Mohalla clinics in delhi) should be organised in communities to treat minor illnesses.</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Safety of Health Workers:</strong> All necessary equipment such as PPEs should be provided to the healthcare staff in accordance with the requirements of their station of work. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Shorter duty hours with rotation and periodic duty offs to relieve stress should be instituted for minimising the attrition of the workforce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effective Data Gathering:</strong> Primary and secondary level health facilities ought to be made fully functional and frontline health workers need to be trained and fully geared up for disease surveillance work.</li>
<li><strong>Enabling Research:</strong> Rigorous research on the epidemiological, clinical, social, economic, and political aspects of the pandemic should be undertaken to ensure real time decisions to a rapidly evolving pandemic situation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Along with reliance on medical measures, it is imperative to alleviate the socio-economic conditions of individuals to resist Covid-19 infection and prevent transmission.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593002540_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593002540_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 632px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Rather than exclusive reliance on medical measures, it is imperative to alleviate the socio-economic conditions of individuals to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WI5EkD1iTC4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/decoupling-from-china-industrial-policy-that-targets-strategic-industries-is-needed-to-distance-the-economy-from-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Decoupling from China&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Times of India on June 23<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'New Purchasing Power Parities: ICP 2017',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> has released new <strong>Purchasing Power Parities</strong> (PPPs) for <strong>reference year 2017</strong>, under <strong>International Comparison Program</strong> (ICP) that adjusts for differences in the cost of living across economies of the world.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Comparison Program</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>largest worldwide data-collection initiative,</strong> under the guidance of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>Statistical Commission</strong> (UNSC).</li>
<li>The <strong>main objectives</strong> of the ICP are to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Produce PPPs and comparable <strong>Price Level Indices</strong> (PLIs) for participating economies.</li>
<li>Convert volume and per capita measures of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></a> (GDP) and its expenditure components into a common currency using PPPs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Purchasing Power Parities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the rate at which the currency of one country would have to be converted into that of another country to buy the same amount of goods and services in each country.</li>
<li>The PPP exchange rates are constructed to ensure that the same quantity of goods and services are priced equivalently across countries.</li>
<li>PPP exchange rates are used to convert the national <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9#:~:text=Poverty%20is%20measured%20based%20on,the%20National%20Sample%20Survey%20Organisation.&amp;text=As%20per%20the%20Rangarajan%20committee,972%20in%20rural%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>poverty</strong></a> lines from some of the poorest countries in the world to determine the <strong>Global Poverty Line.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/poverty-estimation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>poverty estimation in India,</strong></a> the <strong>Tendulkar committee</strong> computed <strong>poverty lines</strong> for 2004-05 at a level that was equivalent, in PPP terms, to Rs 33 per day.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Poverty Line:</strong> The conventional approach to measuring poverty is to specify a minimum expenditure (or income) required to purchase a basket of goods and services necessary to satisfy basic human needs and this minimum expenditure is called the poverty line.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Price Level Indices</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the ratio of a PPP to its corresponding market exchange rate.</li>
<li>It is used to compare the price levels of economies.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the single standard indicator used across the globe to indicate the health of a nation's economy.</li>
<li>It is the sum of private consumption, gross investment in the economy, government investment, government spending and net foreign trade (difference between exports and imports).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India is a co-chair of the ICP Governing Board</strong> along with Statistics Austria<strong> for the ICP 2017 cycle.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has participated in almost all ICP rounds<strong> since its inception in 1970.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation</strong> is the<strong> National Implementing Agency</strong> (NIA) for India, which has the <strong>responsibility of planning, coordinating and implementing</strong> national ICP activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ICP 2017 results, revised results for 2011 and estimates of annual PPPs for the period 2012-2016 are <strong>available on the ICP website and the World Bank&rsquo;s Databank and Data Catalog.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>next ICP comparison</strong> will be conducted for r<strong>eference year 2021.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Global Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Values:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Globally, <strong>176 economies participated</strong> in the 2017 cycle of ICP.</li>
<li>The PPPs of Indian Rupee per USD at GDP level is now 20.65 in 2017 from 15.55 in 2011.</li>
<li>The Exchange Rate of USD to Indian Rupee is 65.12 from 46.67 during the same period.</li>
<li>The PLI of India is 47.55 in 2017 from 42.99 in 2011.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rankings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2017, India retained and consolidated its global position, as the third largest economy and accounted for 6.7% of global GDP in terms of PPPs.</li>
<li>China was at first position with 16.4% and the USA at the second position with 16.3%.</li>
<li>India is also the third largest economy in terms of its PPP-based share in Global Actual Individual Consumption (AIC) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/economic-slowdown-cyclical-or-structural#:~:text=Gross%20fixed%20capital%20formation%20(GFCF)%20refers%20to%20the%20net%20increase,Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20(GDP)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Gross Fixed Capital Formation</strong> </a>(GCF).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Status (Asia-Pacific):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Regionally, <strong>22 economies participated</strong> from the Asia-Pacific.</li>
<li>In 2017, India retained its regional position as the second largest economy and accounted for 20.83% of Regional GDP in terms of PPPs.</li>
<li>China stands first with 50.76% and Indonesia is at third position with 7.49%.</li>
<li>India is also the second largest economy in terms of its PPP-based share in Regional AIC and Regional GFCF.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Actual Individual Consumption</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It consists of goods and services actually consumed by individuals, irrespective of whether these goods and services are purchased and paid for by households, by government or by non-profit organisations.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Gross Fixed Capital Formation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to the net increase in physical assets (investment minus disposals). It does not account for the consumption (depreciation) of fixed capital.</li>
<li>GFCF is not a measure of total investment because only the value of net additions to fixed assets is measured and all kinds of financial assets as well as stocks of inventories and other operating costs are excluded.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1633594#:~:text=The%20Purchasing%20Power%20Parities%20(PPPs,from%2046.67%20during%20same%20period." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Increase in Money Supply',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>According to recent <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> data, the uncertainty caused by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has led to a surge in money supply.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>RBI Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since the end of March, 2020<strong> currency held by the public</strong> increased by 8.2%.</li>
<li><strong>M3 money supply (refer explanation below)</strong> increased by 6.7% in the first five months of 2020 compared with the same period last year. This is the highest growth in seven years.</li>
<li><strong>Currency in circulation,</strong> which measures money with the public and in banks, has also surged.</li>
<li>However, the <strong>savings and current account deposits decreased</strong> by 8%. Gross capital formation also fell by 7% in the March, 2020 quarter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recent increase reflects <strong>higher cash withdrawals</strong> by depositors to meet needs during the lockdown period and also to safeguard themselves against salary cuts or job losses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A rise in money supply usually is seen as a leading indicator of growth in consumption and business investments, but due to Covid-19 pandemic, the rise this time is unlikely to bolster either.</li>
<li>People have curtailed their discretionary spending as they&rsquo;re not sure of their permanent income.</li>
<li>Lenders too are unwilling to take risks as slowing discretionary spending slows demand for manufactured and industrial goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Money Supply:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>total stock of money in circulation among the public</strong> at a particular point of time is called <strong>money supply.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It needs to be noted that total stock of money is different from total supply of money.</li>
<li>Supply of money is only that part of total stock of money which is held by the public at a particular point of time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The circulating money involves the <strong>currency, printed notes, money in the deposit accounts</strong> and in the <strong>form of other liquid assets.</strong></li>
<li>RBI publishes figures for four alternative measures of money supply, viz. M1, M2, M3 and M4. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>M1</strong> = CU + DD</li>
<li><strong>M2</strong> = M1 + Savings deposits with Post Office savings banks</li>
<li><strong>M3</strong> = M1 + Net time deposits of commercial banks</li>
<li><strong>M4</strong> = M3 + Total deposits with Post Office savings organisations (excluding National Savings Certificates)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>CU is <strong>currency (notes plus coins)</strong> held by the public and<strong> DD is net demand deposits held by commercial banks.</strong></li>
<li>The word &lsquo;net&rsquo; implies that only deposits of the public held by the banks are to be included in money supply. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The interbank deposits, which a commercial bank holds in other commercial banks, are not to be regarded as part of money supply.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>M1 and M2 are known as <strong>narrow money.</strong> M3 and M4 are known as <strong>broad money.</strong></li>
<li>These gradations are in <strong>decreasing order of liquidity.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>M1 is <strong>most liquid and easiest for transactions</strong> whereas M4 is least liquid of all.</li>
<li>M3 is the most commonly used measure of money supply. It is also known as <strong>aggregate monetary resources.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gross capital formation</strong> refers to the &lsquo;aggregate of gross additions to fixed assets (that is fixed capital formation) plus change in stocks during the counting period.&rsquo; <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fixed asset refers to the construction, machinery and equipment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Currency in circulation</strong> includes notes in circulation, rupee coins and small coins.</li>
<li><strong>Currency with the public</strong> is arrived at after deducting cash with banks from total currency in circulation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/money-supply-surge-signals-uncertainty-amid-pandemic/article31901104.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'One Sun One World One Grid',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/global-solar-grid-could-cause-sun-burns/2002977/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Global solar grid could cause sun burns&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Financial Express on 25/06/2020. It talks about the challenges associated with the concept of One Sun One World One Grid.</p>
</div>
<p>In recent years, India has leveraged forums like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNFCCC</strong></a> to collaborate with major powers in new areas of growth and in bringing about global reforms. One such initiative is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-sun-one-world-one-grid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>One Sun One World One Grid&rsquo; (OSOWOG).</strong></a></p>
<p>Under OSOWOG vision, India seeks to replicate its global solar leadership <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(International Solar Alliance)</strong></a> by encouraging the phased development of a single globally connected solar electricity grid to leverage the multiple benefits (Low cost, Zero pollution) of solar energy.</p>
<p>The underlying logic behind OSOWOG is that a grid spread across multiple time zones could balance intermittent renewables with other renewables: the setting sun in one part of the grid is made up for by solar, wind or hydropower produced in a distant place.</p>
<p>OSOWOG seems to be a brilliant idea in pursuit of sustainable development.However, it faces certain challenges in its implementation.</p>
<h3>Prospects For India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Parity with Great Powers:</strong> This ambition puts India alongside other major powers and their super-grid projects such as China&rsquo;s Global Energy Interconnection project, Europe&rsquo;s gold-standard power pools.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, OSOWOG will provide an opportunity for India to move onto the centre stage globally, accelerating the energy system decarbonisation to help solve the global climate crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Mitigation:</strong> OSOWOG assumes more importance in backdrop of the USA&rsquo;s withdrawal from the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cop24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris climate deal</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, OSOWOG will help to mitigate ill effects on climate by providing clean and renewable energy sources.</li>
<li>Further, enabling member countries to fulfill their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) towards reducing global warming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing China:</strong> OSOWOG will provide a strategic rebalance in favour of India and will control the increasing Chinese dominance in Asian subcontinent, providing a better alternative to developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>Bridging Current Account Deficit:</strong> India is currently importing around $250 billion of fossil fuel annually (oil, diesel, LNG, coking and thermal coal).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>OSOWOG can help India meet its needs and subsequently promote sustainable renewable energy exports and may improve the current account deficit and reduce imported inflation pressures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with the Idea</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development in Battery Technology:</strong> With development in electricity storage technologies, reduces the viability of the need to follow the sun along any latitude, nor worry about day and night.</li>
<li><strong>Easy Installation of Microgrids:</strong> Large capital expenditures are no longer necessary, as anyone can install rooftop solar or set up a microgrid (&ldquo;distributed generation&rdquo;).</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerability of Grids:</strong> Electricity Grid is vulnerable to accidents, weather, and cyber-attacks that are prone to increase and disrupt the electricity supply on mass scale.</li>
<li><strong>Transmission Losses:</strong> Solar generation is at less than 20% efficiency, in addition there will be major transmission losses on such scale.</li>
<li><strong>Dependency on China:</strong> India is dependent on Chinese imports for solar equipment, such as solar cells, panels, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Problem with Interconnectedness:</strong> This project&rsquo;s success hinges on trust, not just transmission lines, between grid participants.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Interconnected grids give countries the power to bring other economies to a grinding halt; this is the single biggest hurdle to integration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Creation of Supranational Rule-Based Organisation:</strong> Institution building is key to fulfilling the ambitions of a multi-country grid project.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, ISA can act as an independent supranational institution to take decisions about how the grid should be run and conflicts settled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting MicroGrids:</strong> Along with prioritizing designing microgrids, public policy attention is needed for developing battery technologies at scale for local applications.</li>
<li><strong>Constructively Engaging with China:</strong> Given India&rsquo;s dependence on Chinese imports, OSOWOG will have to find ways of engaging with Chinese ambitions in a constructive manner rather than in a zero-sum way.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, there is a pressing need to build its domestic capacity in solar equipment under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> program.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Establishing a global solar grid is a novel idea, especially in context of climate change. However, underlying issues in its implementation needs to be addressed first. Apart from it, India can explore the possibility of establishing a federation of regional grids like SAARC grid.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593172051_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593172051_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2f5ff;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Answer</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;One Sun One World One Grid seems to be a brilliant idea in pursuit of sustainable development, but faces certain challenges in its implementation.&rdquo; Discuss the feasibility of this idea.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsSS6lggzJ8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/bad-to-worse-the-hindu-editorial-on-india-pakistan-ties/article31909332.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Bad to Worse&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published on The Hindu on June 25<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Increased Funding for Panchayats',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, in a meeting with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/need-to-set-up-state-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong></a>, the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-panchayati-raj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj Ministry</strong></a> has pitched for a <strong>fivefold increase in funding</strong> for rural local bodies.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ministry asked for Rs 10 lakh crore to be allocated for the 2020-21 to 2025-26 period, in comparison to the Rs 2 lakh crore allocated under the 14<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Allocations had tripled</strong> between the 13<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> Commissions and the<strong> utilisation rate</strong> for FC grants between 2015 and 2019 stands at<strong> 78%.</strong></li>
<li>The 2.63 lakh panchayats across the country have <strong>29 functions under their ambit,</strong> according to the<strong> 11<sup>th</sup> Schedule of the Constitution.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Road construction, its maintenance and drinking water supply</strong> are the major projects carried out by panchayats using FC grants.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Seventy-Third Amendment Act, 1992</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Granted constitutional status and protection to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj</strong></a> institutions.</li>
<li>For this purpose, the Amendment added a new <strong>Part-IX</strong> entitled as &lsquo;the panchayats&rsquo; and a new 11<sup>th</sup> Schedule containing 29 functional items of the panchayats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, panchayats gained importance as crucial nodal points as they <strong>ran isolation centres, medical camps and contact tracing.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, a major challenge during the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> pandemic</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong> </a>was that most panchayats could not provide cooked food at short notice.</li>
<li>The Ministry has proposed to set up <strong>community kitchens</strong> in each panchayat, operated by local <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>self-help groups</strong></a> (SHGs).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The role of panchayats also becomes important because now the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan</strong></a> will also depend on them to generate employment for newly returned migrant workers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Finance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> constitutional body,</strong> that <strong>determines the method and formula for distributing the tax proceeds between the Centre and states</strong> and <strong>among the states</strong> as per the constitutional arrangement and present requirements.</li>
<li>Under <strong>Article 280 of the Constitution,</strong> the <strong>President of India</strong> is required to constitute a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Finance Commission</strong></a> at an interval of <strong>five years or earlier.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>1<sup>st</sup> Finance Commission</strong> was set up in <strong>1951</strong> and there have been fifteen so far.</li>
<li>The <strong>15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</strong> was constituted by the President of India on<strong> 27<sup>th</sup> November 2017,</strong> against the backdrop of the <strong>abolition of the</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/planning-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Planning Commission</strong></a> and the <strong>introduction of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-goods-and-services-tax-gst-collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Goods and Services Tax</a></strong> (GST).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission is <strong>headed by N.K. Singh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>November 2019,</strong> the Union Cabinet <strong>approved</strong> the 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission to <strong>submit its first report for the first fiscal year 2020-21</strong> and to<strong> extend its tenure</strong> to provide for the presentation of the <strong>final report covering Financial Years 2021-22 to 2025-26 </strong>by <strong>30<sup>th</sup> October, 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panchayats-to-get-10-lakh-cr-till-2026/article31918244.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/increased-funding-for-panchayats'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Kala- azar Disease',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a team of researchers from the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune have found <strong>new biomolecules to fight drug resistance </strong>in<strong> Kala- azar (visceral leishmaniasis).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCCS is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.</li>
<li>It was established to facilitate cell biology research in the country.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Leishmaniasis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>neglected tropical disease</strong> affecting almost 100 countries including India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>caused by a parasite called Leishmania,</strong> which is transmitted through the bite of sand flies.</li>
<li>There are <strong>three types of leishmaniasis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease.</li>
<li><strong>Cutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin sores and is the most common form.</li>
<li><strong>Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin and mucosal lesions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Visceral leishmaniasis, which is commonly known as Kala-azar in India, is fatal in over 95% of the cases, if left untreated.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Resistance to Drug:</strong> The only drug available against leishmaniasis, <strong>miltefosine,</strong> is rapidly losing its effectiveness because of <strong>emerging resistance to this drug</strong> due to a decrease in its accumulation inside the parasite.</li>
<li><strong>Responsible Proteins:</strong> A protein called &lsquo;P4ATPase-CDC50&rsquo;, is responsible for intake of the drug by the parasite, and another protein, called &lsquo;P-glycoprotein&rsquo;, is responsible for throwing this drug out from within the parasite&rsquo;s body.</li>
<li>A decrease in the activity of the former protein, and an increase in the activity of the latter <strong>results in less accumulation of miltefosine inside the parasite&rsquo;s body,</strong> thus causing it to become resistant to the drug.</li>
<li>While exploring ways to tackle miltefosine resistance, the researchers worked with one of the species of Leishmania that causes infection, called Leishmania major.</li>
<li>They <strong>tried to manipulate these transporter proteins</strong> in the species in a manner that would result in <strong>increased uptake of the drug and decrease in its being thrown out</strong> of the parasite&rsquo;s body.</li>
<li>They used computational methods to design small molecules, called<strong> peptides,</strong> that could very specifically interact with the transporter proteins of Leishmania major alone, and not interfere with human proteins in any way. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>peptide</strong> is a short chain of <strong>amino acids.</strong></li>
<li>Amino acids are organic compounds that combine to form proteins.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1633851" 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/kala-azar-disease'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Coccolithophores',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-polar-and-ocean-research-ncpor-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research</strong></a> (NCPOR) has carried out the study of <em><strong>Coccolithophores</strong></em> (microscopic ancient marine algae) and found that there is a <strong>decrease in the concentration of oceanic calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>)</strong> in the southern Indian ocean.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593164054_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593164054_image4.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><em><strong>Coccolithophores</strong></em> are <strong>single-celled algae </strong>living in the<strong> upper layers of the world&rsquo;s oceans.</strong></li>
<li>They<strong> calcify marine phytoplankton</strong> that produce up to 40% of <strong>open ocean calcium carbonate</strong> and are responsible <strong>for 20% of the global net marine primary productivity.</strong></li>
<li>They <strong>build exoskeletons from individual CaCO<sub>3</sub> plates</strong> consisting of chalk and seashells.</li>
<li>Though <strong>carbon dioxide</strong> (CO<sub>2</sub>) <strong>is produced</strong> during the formation of these plates, coccolithophores help in removing it from the atmosphere and ocean by<strong> consuming it during photosynthesis.</strong></li>
<li>At<strong> equilibrium,</strong> they<strong> absorb more CO<sub>2</sub> than they produce,</strong> which is <strong>beneficial</strong> for the ocean ecosystem.</li>
<li><strong>Abundance and diversity enrichment</strong> of coccolithophores in the southern Indian Ocean is <strong>highly dependent on time </strong>and <strong>influenced by</strong> various environmental factors such as <strong>silicate concentrations, calcium carbonate concentration, diatom abundance, light intensity and availability of macro and possibly micronutrient concentrations (<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/marine-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marine pollution</a>).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Diatoms</strong> are<strong> single-celled algae</strong> which occur after <strong>sea ice breakdown with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> and ocean acidification.</strong></li>
<li>Diatoms <strong>increase the silicate concentration</strong> in the waters and which in turn <strong>decreases CaCO<sub>3</sub></strong> and <strong>reduces coccolithophores diversity</strong>.</li>
<li>It will affect the growth and skeleton structure of coccolithophores, with potential significance for the world ocean ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study points to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a> as a <strong>major reason for the altered coccolithophore calcification rate</strong> which is important for bringing positive changes in the marine ecosystem and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mountain-streams-emits-carbon-dioxide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global carbon cycle.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mainpage.aspx#:~:text=Coccolithophores%20are%20single%2Dcelled%20algae,cycle%20for%20millions%20of%20years.&amp;text=At%20equilibrium%2C%20coccolithophores%20absorb%20more,beneficial%20for%20the%20ocean%20ecosystem." 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/coccolithophores'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => '70 Years of Korean War',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently North and South Korea separately marked the<strong> 70<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> of the start of the Korean War.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The root of the conflict lies in the <strong>Japanese occupation of Korea between 1910- 1945.</strong></li>
<li>When Japan was defeated in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/victory-day-parade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Second World War</strong></a>, the Allied forces agreed to establish a <strong>&ldquo;four-power trusteeship over Korea&rdquo;</strong> at the <strong>Yalta Conference (1945).</strong></li>
<li>However, the USSR invaded Korea and took control of the north while the south remained under the rest of the allies, mainly the USA. The division of the two regions was along the <strong>38<sup>th</sup> parallel north,</strong> which still continues to be the official border dividing the two Koreas.</li>
<li>In 1948 the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea (North Korea) was established.</li>
<li>Efforts were made to resolve the conflict and unite the Korean peninsula, but with the advent of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War</strong></a> chances of reunification were lost.</li>
<li>As both tried to enhance their reach, territorially and ideologically, the <strong>Korean Conflict emerged between the two nations.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Korean War</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On 25<sup>th</sup> June 1950, North Korea, backed by the USSR, launched an attack on South Korea and occupied most of the country.</li>
<li>In response, the United Nations force led by the US retaliated.</li>
<li>In <strong>1951 the US forces led by Douglas MacArthur crossed the 38<sup>th</sup> parallel</strong> and triggered the <strong>entry of China in support of North Korea.</strong></li>
<li>To prevent further escalation peace talks began later in 1951.</li>
<li>On 27<sup>th</sup> July 1953, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/violation-of-armistice-agreement-unc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Korean Armistice Agreement</strong></a> was signed between the <strong>United Nations Command, the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It led to an official ceasefire <strong>without a Peace treaty.</strong> Thus, the war officially never ended.</li>
<li>Exchange of Prisoners of war (PoWs).</li>
<li>Establishment of <strong>Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) &ndash;</strong> a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula to serve as a buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Korean DMZ intersects but does not follow the 38<sup>th</sup> parallel north.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>South Korea did not sign the armistice as it refused to accept it.</li>
<li>However, in December 1991, North and South Korea signed a pact agreeing to refrain from aggression.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Current Dynamics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In recent years North Korea has accelerated its nuclear programme by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increasing-nuclear-stockpiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>increasing its nuclear stockpile</strong></a>, withdrawn from the <strong>Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)</strong> and has tested nuclear explosives multiple times.</li>
<li>USA has deployed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-opposition-to-thaad" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence)</strong> </a>in <strong>South Korea</strong> to counter increasing missile adventurism of North Korea.</li>
<li>North Korea recently <strong>demolished the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in Kaesong,</strong> which was established in 2018. In the absence of formal diplomatic relations, the building functioned as a de facto embassy and provided a direct communication channel for the two nations.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/north-south-koreas-mark-70-years-of-war/article31919029.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/70-years-of-korean-war'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Navigating the New Normal: NITI Aayog',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog</strong></a>, in partnership with several other stakeholders has launched a <strong>behaviour change campaign</strong> called <strong>&lsquo;Navigating the New Normal&rsquo;,</strong> and<strong> its website.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593158503_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593158503_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The campaign has two parts:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Covid-safe behavioural norms:</strong> The first is a web portal, containing resources informed by<strong> behavioural science and the use of nudge and social norms theory,</strong> related to Covid-safe behavioural norms during the ongoing Unlock phase, and</li>
<li><strong>Wearing of Masks:</strong> The second is a media campaign focused on the<strong> wearing of masks.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The portal focuses on easy implementation of<strong> four key behaviours</strong> in the unlock phase: mask-wearing (essential focus), social distancing, Hand hygiene, and not spitting in public.</li>
<li><strong>Citizens Role:</strong> It aims at desired social behaviour in which the <strong>enforcement burden shifts from the Government to the citizens.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sector Specific:</strong> The website will have sector-specific collaterals and guidelines for health, nutrition, and public transport (in metro cities).</li>
<li><strong>International Examples:</strong> Japan and South Korea have made &lsquo;mask-wearing&rsquo; a socially accepted norm.</li>
<li><strong>Recent Examples/Initiatives in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, <strong>Meghalaya</strong> has issued a new health protocol which also lays emphasis on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/behaviour-change-model-for-living-with-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Behaviour Change Model for living with Covid-19.</strong></a></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic Survey 2019</strong></a> too lays out an ambitious agenda for behavioural change by applying the principles of behavioural economics to several issues, including gender equality, a healthy and beautiful India, savings, tax compliance and credit quality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Behavioural Science</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Behavioural science is a method of analysis that applies psychological insights into human behaviour to explain their decision-making</li>
<li>In reality, decisions made by people often deviate from the classical principles. Drawing on the psychology of human behaviour, science provides insights to &lsquo;nudge&rsquo; people towards desirable behaviour.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Nudge Theory</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to Nudge theory, people, rather than being forced, can be <strong>encouraged and influenced</strong> to pursue or desist from certain actions through nudges.</li>
<li>It does not talk about penalizing people if they do not behave in a particular manner, rather it encourages them to make desirable decisions.</li>
<li>It believes that <strong>Humans are not-so-rational and often need encouragement or intervention &mdash;</strong> a nudge &mdash; to get going and do what&rsquo;s best for the country or society at large.</li>
<li>American economist<strong> Richard Thaler has won the 2017 Nobel Prize</strong> in economics for his contributions to behavioural economics.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Limitations of Behavioural Science</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Continuous Efforts vs One-time Action -</strong> Give It Up campaign for LPG subsidy was a comparatively easy policy as it requires only a one-time action of affluent households, whereas task is very difficult in case of living with Covid-19, Beti Bachao, Beti Padao and SBM, as <strong>it requires continuous effort</strong> to dislodge mind-sets that prevailed for decades.</li>
<li><strong>Specific Targeting is Required:</strong> In order to make this campaign a success, focus must be on special areas of concern such as small factories and poor labourers, who comprise a large part of the vulnerable population.<strong> Example:</strong> Advertising campaigns such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme did not target specific states where child sex ratios were already skewed (although it was effective in Haryana, which also has a very poor sex ratio).</li>
<li><strong>Case of Confirmation Bias:</strong> The applications of behavioural insights appeared to be a result of <strong>confirmation bias</strong> (to the extent that past policies were viewed with a behavioural lens).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the lockdown is lifted, people will resume their normal activities. This raises a challenge of minimising the spread od Covid-19 without impacting the movement of people. This signals a need for change and creation of a &ldquo;New Normal&rdquo; &ndash; where we adapt our routine activities to enable consistent compliance to the COVID-19 protective behaviours.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=209742" 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/navigating-the-new-normal-niti-aayog'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Pollinator Week',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Pollinator Week</strong> is celebrated from <strong>22<sup>nd</sup> June to 28<sup>th</sup> June every year.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was initiated by the <strong>non-profit Pollinator Partnership</strong> and the<strong> USA&rsquo; Senate in 2007.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593158020_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593158020_image2.jpg" 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>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Food and Agriculture Organization</strong></a> (FAO), <strong>bees being the dominant pollinators,</strong> have around 25,000-30,000 species.</li>
<li><strong>More than 180,000 plant species,</strong> including 1,200 crop varieties, across the world, <strong>depend on pollinators</strong> to reproduce.</li>
<li><strong>Declining Numbers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Around <strong>40% of invertebrate pollinator species,</strong> particularly bees and butterflies, <strong>face extinction</strong> across the world.</li>
<li>In <strong>India,</strong> wild honeybees of the genus <strong><em>Apis,</em></strong> including the <strong>Asian bee</strong> and the <strong>little bee,</strong> have declined steadily for the past 30 years.</li>
<li>Around <strong>16.5% of vertebrate pollinators are threatened</strong> with extinction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Of these, 45 species of bats, 36 species of non-flying mammals, 26 species of hummingbirds, seven species of sunbirds and 70 species of passerine birds face extinction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Decline:</strong> Most of them are the <strong>result of an increase in human activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Land-use change and fragmentation.</li>
<li>Changes in agricultural practices including the use of chemical <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pesticide-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pesticides</strong></a>, fungicides and insecticides.</li>
<li>Change in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cropping pattern</strong></a> and crops like the cultivation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-seeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetically Modified Organisms</strong></a> (GMOs) and mono-cropping.</li>
<li>High environmental <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uk-to-support-nitrogen-research-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pollution from nitrogen</strong> </a>and heavy metals.</li>
<li>Growth of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invasive-plant-species-introduced-by-kerala-floods" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>invasive alien species.</strong></a></li>
<li>Higher temperatures associated with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pollination<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593157997_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593157997_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="235" height="260" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When a<strong> pollen grain</strong> moves from the <strong>anther</strong> (male part) of a flower to the <strong>stigma</strong> (female part), pollination happens and it is the <strong>first step in a process that produces seeds,</strong> fruits, and the next generation of plants.</li>
<li>This can happen through <strong>self-pollination, wind and water pollination or through pollinators.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pollinators</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vectors that move pollen within the flower and from flower to flower</strong> are called pollinators.</li>
<li>They visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off of pollen and transport pollen grains as they move from spot to spot.</li>
<li>There are <strong>two categories</strong> of pollinators:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Invertebrate pollinators:</strong> Include bees, moths, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.</li>
<li><strong>Vertebrate pollinators:</strong> Include monkeys, rodents, lemurs, tree squirrels and birds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pollination contributes to one-third of the world&rsquo;s agricultural crop production and pollinators can increase crop yield by 24% in small diverse farms and its reduction can pose an immediate threat to mankind&rsquo;s food and nutrition.</li>
<li>People should leave some areas under natural habitation, promote hedgerows, flower trees and shrub plant diversity, intercropping and try to be less dependent on toxic chemicals and pesticides.</li>
<li>Governments should take proactive steps for bee conservation, recognise apiculture (bee-keeping) as a subject for advanced research and promote it among farmer communities as an additional source of livelihood, which will be a win-win situation for both the bees and humans.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/pollinator-week-why-we-need-to-protect-the-bees-and-the-butterflies-71948" 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/pollinator-week'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Cyber Security Framework In India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/why-india-needs-an-updated-cybersecurity-strategy/2001658/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Why India needs an updated cybersecurity strategy&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The financial Express on 24/06/2020. It talks about the need for India to develop a comprehensive cybersecurity framework.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the cyber security attack on Australia&rsquo;s communication system has brought the governance to a stand still. In India, too, cyber attacks have been occurring with increasing frequency. For example, leak of personal information of 3.2 million debit cards in 2016 and the Data Theft At Zomato (2017), Wannacry Ransomware (2017), PETYA Ransomware (2017) etc.</p>
<p>Further, Cyber security has become an integral aspect of national security. Moreover, its area of influence extends far beyond military domains to cover all aspects of a nation&rsquo;s governance, economy and welfare.</p>
<p>Although India was one of the few countries to launch a cybersecurity policy in 2013, not much has transpired in terms of a coordinated cyber approach. Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive cyber security policy in India.</p>
<h3>Need For Cyber Security Framework</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Security Imperative:</strong> The change in military doctrines favouring the need to raise cyber commands reflects a shift in strategies, which include building deterrence in cyberspace.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The need for a competent cyber security infrastructure as part of national security was first emphasized by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-vote-on-national-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kargil Review Committee 1999.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Importance of Digital Economy:</strong> The digital economy today comprises 14-15% of India&rsquo;s total economy, and is targeted to reach 20% by 2024.</li>
<li><strong>Added Complexity:</strong> With more inclusion of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-industrial-revolution-4-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data analytics, cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT)</strong></a>, cyberspace will become a complex domain, giving rise to issues of a techno-legal nature.</li>
<li><strong>Securing Data:</strong> Data is referred to as the currency of the 21st century and due to its bulk creation owing to India&rsquo;s population, several international companies (Google, Amazon etc.) are trying to have access to it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given this there are issues related to data sovereignty, data localisation, internet governance, etc.</li>
<li>Thus, there is a need to build strong cyber security architecture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges in India's Cyber Security Approach</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Cybersecurity WorkForce:</strong> The Indian military, central police organizations, law enforcement agencies and others are deficient in manpower, for software and hardware aspects integral to this field.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, there is a growing demand for professionals in Artificial Intelligence (AI), BlockChain Technology (BCT), Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning (ML).</li>
<li>According to several estimates there is a need for at least three million cybersecurity professionals today.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Active Cyber Defence:</strong> India doesn&rsquo;t have the &lsquo;active cyber defence&rsquo; like the EU's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-be-forgotten-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)</strong></a> or US&rsquo; Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Active Cyber Defence:</strong> It is far more than just the enhancement of defensive cybersecurity capabilities for the Government and the Intelligence Community. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Active Cyber Defence-defined capabilities and processes are employed to support federal, state, and local government agencies and organizations, critical infrastructure segments, and industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Overlapping Regulatory Bodies:</strong> Unlike the US, Singapore, and the UK where there is a single umbrella organisation dealing in cybersecurity, India has several central bodies that deal with cyber issues, and each has a different reporting structure.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, each state government has its own <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/35-percent-of-cyber-attacks-on-indian-sites-from-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyber emergency Response Team (CERT).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dependency on Foreign Players For Cyber Security Tools:</strong> India lacks indigenisation in hardware as well as software cybersecurity tools.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This makes India&rsquo;s cyberspace vulnerable to cyberattacks motivated by state and non-state actors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>External Challenges:</strong> Challenges such as growing Chinese influence in Indian telecom space, social media is becoming a powerful tool for dissemination of &ldquo;information&rdquo; making it difficult to differentiate fact from fake news.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Creating Awareness:</strong> With countries resorting to digital warfare and hackers targeting business organisations and government processes, India has to create awareness that not a single person or institution is immune to it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the government and the corporate world are better placed perhaps to create their own programs, it is the civil society who needs to bring into this ambit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening of Existing Cyber Security Framework:</strong> National cybersecurity projects such as the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC)</strong></a> and the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) need to be strengthened manifold and reviewed.</li>
<li><strong>Bringing Cyber Security in Education:</strong> Educational institutions including central universities, private universities, industry associations, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) must incorporate courses on cybersecurity.</li>
<li><strong>Integrated Approach:</strong> Given increasing dominance of mobile and telecommunication, both National cyber security policy and National Telecom Policy will have to effectively coalesce to make a comprehensive policy for 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Indigenisation:</strong> There is a need to create opportunities for developing software to safeguard cyber security and digital communications. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Government of India may consider including cybersecurity architecture in its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make In India programme.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, there is a need to create suitable hardware on a unique Indian pattern that can serve localised needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Given the future of technology under Industrial Revolution 4.0, India requires a strong cybersecurity framework based on the 4D principles i.e. Deter, Detect, Destroy and Document so that it can subverse all attempts towards any cyber challenges.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593085085_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593085085_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffee0;">
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Given the criticality of Cybersecurity in India's economy, governance and national security, there is a need for comprehensive cybersecurity policy. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IbAT-A6iRAA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/undesirable-acquittal-the-hindu-editorial-on-tamil-nadu-dalit-youth-udumalpet-shankar-murder-case/article31901154.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Undesirable acquittal&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on June 24<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/cyber-security-framework-in-india'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Private Sector Participation in Space',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the creation of the <strong>Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)</strong> to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is part of reforms aimed at giving a <strong>boost to private sector participation</strong> in the entire range of space activities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>IN-SPACe:</strong> It will act as a <strong>single-point interface</strong> between<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)</strong></a>, and everyone who wants to participate in space-related activities, or use India&rsquo;s space resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also hand-hold, promote and guide the private industries in space activities through encouraging policies and a friendly regulatory environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian National Space Promotion Board:</strong> It would be set up to strengthen the Department of Space and for the promotion of the private space entrepreneurs or non-government space entrepreneurs,</li>
<li><strong>Role of ISRO:</strong> The overall idea is to let ISRO concentrate on essential activities like research and development, planetary exploration, and strategic use of space, while freeing itself from ancillary or routine work which could easily be done by private industry.</li>
<li><strong>Demand Driven Model:</strong> By the support of<strong> New Space India Limited (NSIL),</strong> It would endeavour to reorient space activities from a<strong> &lsquo;supply driven&rsquo; model to a &lsquo;demand driven&rsquo;</strong> one, thereby ensuring <strong>optimum utilisation</strong> of the nation&rsquo;s space assets.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main objective of NSIL is to scale up industry participation in Indian space programmes in comparison to<strong> IN-SPACe</strong> which gives emphasis on the participation of the private sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Level Playing Field for Private Companies:</strong> IN-SPACe will provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Research and Development Activities:</strong> These reforms will allow ISRO to focus more on new technologies, exploration missions and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper3-mission-gaganyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>human spaceflight programme</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some of the planetary exploration missions will also be opened up to the private sector through an <strong>&lsquo;announcement of opportunity&rsquo;</strong> mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fruitful Dissemination of Space Technologies:</strong> Allowing industries and others like students, researchers or academic bodies greater access to space assets would lead to a much better utilisation of India space resources.</li>
<li><strong>Socio-economic use of Space Assets:</strong> The proposed body would attempt to enhance the activities, including access to space assets data and activities</li>
<li><strong>Global Technology Powerhouse:</strong> It will enable Indian Industry to be an important player in the global space economy. With this, there is an opportunity for <strong>large-scale employment in the technology sector</strong> and India becoming a Global technology powerhouse.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>New Space India Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NSIL is a <strong>Central Public Sector Enterprise</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It was established in 2019 under the administrative control of<strong> the Department of Space.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Headquarter: Bengaluru</strong></li>
<li>NSIL is the <strong>commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)</strong> with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high technology space related activities and is also responsible for promotion and commercial exploitation of the products and services emanating from the space industry.</li>
<li>NSIL is incorporated to carry forward the industry production of space systems and the ISRO&rsquo;s efforts in realising <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-pslv-launch#:~:text=Polar%20Satellite%20Launch%20Vehicle%20(PSLV)%20is%20the%20third%20generation%20launch,be%20equipped%20with%20liquid%20stages." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV)</strong></a> from industry.</li>
<li>NSIL differs from ISRO&rsquo;s existing commercial arm <strong>Antrix Corporation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Antrix will handle<strong> ISRO&rsquo;s commercial deals for satellites</strong> and launch vehicles with foreign customers.</li>
<li>NSIL will deal with capacity building of<strong> local industry for space manufacturing.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Space sector can<strong> play a major catalytic role</strong> in the technological advancement and expansion of our Industrial base.</li>
<li>Therefore, the creation of <strong>IN-SPACe</strong> will work towards a greater involvement of private industry, academic institutions and research organisations in India&rsquo;s space sector.</li>
<li>India is among a handful of countries with advanced capabilities in the space sector. With these reforms, the sector will receive new energy and dynamism, to help the country leapfrog to the next stages of space activities.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cabinet-gives-nod-to-private-participation-in-space-sector-6474881/" 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/private-sector-participation-in-space'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Global Education Monitoring Report 2020: UNESCO',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Global Education Monitoring Report, 2020</strong> was released by the <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization</strong></a> (UNESCO).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It highlighted that <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> had worsened the inequalities in education systems worldwide.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the height of school closures in April 2020, almost 91% of students around the world were out of school.</li>
<li>About 40% of low and lower middle income countries have not supported learners at risk of exclusion during this crisis, such as the poor, linguistic minorities and learners with disabilities.</li>
<li>Education systems responded with distance learning solutions, all of which offered less or more imperfect substitutes for classroom instruction.</li>
<li>Poorer countries opted for radio and television (TV) lessons, 55% of low-income, 73% of lower-middle-income and 93% of upper-middle-income countries adopted for online learning platforms for primary and secondary education.</li>
<li>17% of low and middle-income countries are planning to recruit more teachers, 22% to increase class time and 68% to introduce remedial classes when schools reopen to combat the situation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has used a mix of all three systems (radio, TV and online platforms) for educational continuity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Governments increasingly rely on technology</strong> but the<strong> digital divide limits</strong> the approach because not all students and teachers have access to an adequate internet connection, equipment, skills and working conditions to take advantage of available platforms.</li>
<li><strong>School closures interrupt support mechanisms for various disadvantaged students.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Resources for<strong> blind and deaf students</strong> may not be available outside schools.</li>
<li><strong>Children with learning disabilities</strong> or those who are on the <strong>autism</strong> spectrum may struggle with independent work in front of a computer or the disruption of daily school routines.</li>
<li><strong>Poor students</strong> who depend on school for free meals or even free sanitary napkins have suffered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cancellation of examinations</strong> in many countries, including India, may result in <strong>scoring dependent on teachers&rsquo; judgements</strong> of students instead, which could be <strong>affected by stereotypes</strong> of certain types of students.</li>
<li><strong>Higher drop-out rates</strong> are also a concern because, during an earlier <strong><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-global-health-emergency">Ebola </a>epidemic in Africa,</strong> many older girls never returned to school once the crisis was over.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Teachers who are intimidated by technology now have to take the bull by its horns. For many who are proficient at planning and teaching in the traditional classroom, planning for an online setting requires some re-learning.</li>
<li>Online classrooms have brought up issues of classroom management and it is needed to learn methods of managing remote classes and students online. Schools also have to give serious thought to planning and conducting online assessments and evaluations.</li>
<li>School readiness for online teaching is critical and schools are at varying levels in this journey. While parents are worried about having the right hardware and set-up at home, school management and teachers are sorting out more significant and vital issues.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.thehindu.com/education/coronavirus-lockdown-covid-19-widened-educational-divide-unesco-report/article31907857.ece"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-education-monitoring-report-2020-unesco'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'India TB Report 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</strong> has launched the <strong>annual <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-tuberculosis-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuberculosis</a> (TB) Report 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Eliminating TB by 2025:</strong> India is committed to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lancet-building-a-tuberculosis-free-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eliminating tuberculosis from the country by 2025</strong></a>, five years ahead of the global target by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> i.e. 2030.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme:</strong> To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from the&nbsp;<strong>Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>State TB Index:</strong> On the basis of the score in State <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-with-the-world-bank-to-eliminate-tb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>TB</strong></a> Index, <strong>Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh</strong> were the top three best-performing states for tuberculosis control under the category of states with 50 lakh population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tripura and Nagaland</strong> were best-performing in the category of states having less than 50 lakh population.</li>
<li><strong>Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu</strong> were selected as the best performing Union Territories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rising Tobacco Consumption:</strong> It also revealed that Tobacco consumption is rising among Indian TB patients.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>8% of TB cases</strong> can be attributable to tobacco usage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>HIV Patients and TB:</strong> People <strong>living with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hiv-aids-outreach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIV</a> are the most vulnerable</strong> among all those TB patient groups which have other comorbidities (rate of death). Hence, the World Health Organization lays social emphasis (through awareness programmes) on them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>HIV-associated TB:</strong> India accounts for<strong> 9% of all HIV-associated TB deaths</strong> in the world, the <strong>second-highest number</strong> globally. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A total of 92,000 HIV-associated TB patients were recorded on an annual basis.</li>
<li>Awareness among TB patients about their HIV status has gone up to 81% from 67%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Diabetes Associated TB:</strong> The other such group is patients suffering from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-diabetes-day-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>diabetes</strong></a>. According to the report, 20% of all TB cases in India also suffer from diabetes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, among the notified TB patients under the Revised National TB Control Programme, 64 % were screened for Diabetes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Missing Patients:</strong> The report highlighted that the notification of TB is a major hurdle in surveillance of the disease in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nearly <strong>0.54 million TB cases</strong> are still missing across India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lower Reporting than WHO:</strong> According to the report, India notified the highest number of<strong> 24.04 lakh tuberculosis cases</strong> last year (2018) as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-tuberculosis-report-2019-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>against an estimated 26.9 lakh cases by WHO</strong></a>, indicating that around three lakh patients missed out from the national TB programme.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low Fatality:</strong> It stated that 79,144 deaths due to tuberculosis were reported in 2019, which is much lower than the WHO estimate of 4.4 lakh fatalities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment Success Rate:</strong> It is around 70-73% in the last two years. From 2014-2016, it was between 76 and 77%.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Initiatives by India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Nikshay Ecosystem:</strong> It is the National TB information system which is a one-stop solution to manage information of patients and monitor program activity and performance throughout the country.</li>
<li><strong>Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY):</strong> This scheme is aimed at providing financial support to TB patients for their nutrition.</li>
<li><strong>TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tb-harega-desh-jeetega-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Launched In September 2019</strong></a> it is showcasing the highest level of commitment for the elimination of TB.</li>
<li><strong>The Saksham Project:</strong> It is a project of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) that has been providing psycho-social counselling to DR-TB patients.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Tuberculosis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>TB is caused by <strong>bacteria <em>(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)</em></strong> that most often affect the lungs.</li>
<li><strong>Transmission:</strong> TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong> TB is a treatable and curable disease. It is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer.</li>
<li><strong>Anti-TB medicines</strong> have been used for decades and strains that are resistant to 1 or more of the medicines have been documented in every country surveyed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)</strong> is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs.</li>
<li><strong>Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB)</strong> is a more serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment options.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the notable successes achieved by the different programmes, robust efforts are needed to improve the early and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenous-tb-diagnostic-tool" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>accurate diagnosis</strong></a> followed by a prompt appropriate treatment which is vital for <strong>ending TB.</strong></li>
<li>India must collaborate with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-tuberculosis-report-2019-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global efforts which are being done to eliminate</strong> </a>the TB along with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/paradigm-shift-for-tb-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>paradigm shift in the control measure.</strong></a></li>
<li>There is a need for expanding both the laboratory network as well as diagnostic facilities to cover the entire country under the National TB Elimination Programme. There is a requirement of the crucial contribution from the private sector in terms of providing mandatory tuberculosis notification and quality care.</li>
<li>There is a need to fight the stigma surrounding it so that every TB patient can seek care with dignity and without discrimination. Hence, <strong>advocacy, communication &amp; social mobilization</strong> is vital.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/tobacco-consumption-rising-among-indian-tb-patients-india-tb-2020-report-71946" 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/india-tb-report-2020'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Ocean Mapping: Seabed 2030 Project',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, it was announced that mapping of nearly one-fifth of the world&rsquo;s ocean floor had been finished under the <strong>Seabed 2030 Project.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Seabed 2030 Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between the <strong>Nippon Foundation of Japan</strong> and the<strong> General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO).</strong></li>
<li>It was launched at the <strong>United Nations Ocean Conference</strong> in June 2017 and is aligned with the UN's <strong><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3">Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)</a> 14</strong> to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The United Nations Ocean Conference intended to be a game-changer in reversing the decline in the health of the ocean for people, planet and prosperity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The project aims to bring together all available <strong>bathymetric data</strong> to produce the definitive map of the world ocean floor by 2030 and make it available to all.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bathymetry is the measurement of the shape and depth of the ocean floor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the past, <strong>satellites and planes carrying altimeter instruments</strong> have been able to provide large swathes of data about the ocean floor.</li>
<li>However, the Seabed 2030 Project<strong> aims to obtain higher quality information</strong> that has a minimum resolution of 100 metres at all spots, using equipment such as deepwater <strong>hull-mounted sonar systems,</strong> and <strong>Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of the Study of the Ocean Floor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Helps in understanding several natural phenomena,</strong> including ocean circulation, tides and biological hotspots.</li>
<li>Provides <strong>key inputs</strong> for navigation, forecasting disasters, exploration for oil and gas projects, building offshore wind turbines, fishing resources, and for laying cables and pipelines.</li>
<li>Ensure a <strong>better understanding of climate change.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Climate change has impacted the flow of ocean currents and has led to sea-level rise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GEBCO is the <strong>only</strong> intergovernmental organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.</li>
<li>It traces its origins to the GEBCO chart series initiated in 1903 by Prince Albert I of Monaco.</li>
<li>It aims to <strong>provide the most authoritative publicly-available bathymetry</strong> of the world's oceans.</li>
<li>It operates under the joint auspices of the <strong>International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)</strong> and the<strong> Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)</strong> (of <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5"><strong>UNESCO</strong></a>).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IHO is an <strong>intergovernmental organization</strong> that works to ensure all the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted. It was established in 1921.</li>
<li><strong>India is its member.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>IHO Secretariat</strong> is hosted by the Principality of <strong>Monaco.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mapping-the-ocean-floor-6473482/#:~:text=Importantly%2C%20the%20maps%20would%20also,thus%20influencing%20the%20weather%20and"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ocean-mapping-seabed-2030-project'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Extension to OBC Sub-Categorisation Commission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved a six-month extension to the commission appointed to examine <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panel-to-examine-obc-sub-categorisation-seeks-third-extension" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes</strong></a> (OBCs), up to 31<sup>st</sup> January 2021.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Commission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Headed by Justice (Retd.) G Rohini,</strong> the commission was constituted under <strong>Article 340 of the Constitution</strong> with the approval of the President on <strong>2<sup>nd</sup> October 2017.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Article 340 deals with the <strong>appointment of a commission</strong> to investigate the conditions of backward classes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It had been constituted to <strong>complete the task of sub-categorising 5000-odd castes in the central OBC list</strong> so as to <strong>ensure more equitable distribution of opportunities</strong> in central government jobs and educational institutions.</li>
<li>In 2015, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Backward Classes</strong></a> (NCBC) had recommended that OBCs should be <strong>categorised into extremely backward classes, more backward classes and backward classes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The benefits of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reservation</strong></a> in OBCs are being cornered mostly by the dominant OBC groups over the years so there is a need to recognise sub-quotas for the extremely backward classes within the OBCs.</li>
<li>NCBC has the authority to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mandate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Examine the uneven distribution of reservation benefits</strong> among different castes in the central OBC list. For example, certain castes were left out of the ambit because of a difference in spelling in a State.</li>
<li><strong>Work out mechanism and parameters for sub-categorisation of OBCs,</strong> to identify castes, sub-castes and communities and classify them into sub-categories.</li>
<li><strong>Submit a comprehensive report</strong> after consultation with various stakeholders so that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census 2021</strong></a> can include comprehensive data on OBCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Work Done:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has met representatives of state governments, state backward classes commissions, community associations etc. apart from obtaining caste-wise data of OBCs in higher educational institutions and recruits in central departments, public sector banks and financial institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expenditure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The expenditure related to the administration costs will be continued to be borne by the <strong>Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Extension:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Commission would <strong>require more time to submit its report</strong> since the repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription etc. appearing in the existing Central List of OBCs need to be cleared.</li>
<li>Apart from that, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nationwide lockdown</strong> </a>and restrictions on travel imposed in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pandemic</a> slowed down the commission&rsquo;s performance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Outcomes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The commission may <strong>make recommendations which will benefit the communities in the existing list of OBCs</strong> which have not been able to get any major benefit of the OBCs reservation scheme for appointment in central government posts and for admission in central government educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 340 of the Indian Constitution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The President may by order appoint a Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any State to remove such difficulties and to improve their condition and as to the grants that should be made for the purpose by the Union or any State and the conditions subject to which such grants should be made, and the order appointing such Commission shall define the procedure to be followed by the Commission.</li>
<li>A Commission so appointed shall investigate the matters referred to them and present to the President a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper.</li>
<li>The President shall cause a copy of the report so presented together with a memorandum explaining the action taken thereon to be laid before each House of Parliament.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>OBC Reservation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Kalelkar Commission,</strong> set up in <strong>1953,</strong> was the <strong>first to identify backward classes</strong> other than the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at the national level.</li>
<li>The <strong>Mandal Commission Report, 1980</strong> estimated the OBC population at 52% and classified 1,257 communities as backward.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>recommended increasing the existing quotas,</strong> which were only for SC/ST, from 22.5% to 49.5% to include the OBCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The central government reserved<strong> 27% of seats in union civil posts and services</strong> for OBCs<strong> [Article 16(4)].</strong> The quotas were <strong>subsequently enforced in central government educational institutions [Article 15 (4)].</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2008, the Supreme Court directed the central government to exclude the creamy layer (advanced sections) among the OBCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>102<sup>nd</sup> Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 </strong>provided <strong>constitutional status</strong> to the<strong> National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), </strong>which was previously a <strong>statutory body </strong>under the<strong> Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=209699#:~:text=The%20Union%20Cabinet%20chaired%20by,6%20months%20i.e.%20upto%2031.1." 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/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Co-operative Banks Under RBI Supervision',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central government approved an<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ordinance-to-protect-health-workers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ordinance</strong></a> to bring <strong>all urban and multi-state co-operative banks</strong> under the direct supervision of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI).</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decision comes after several instances of<strong> fraud and serious financial irregularities,</strong> including the major scam at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/co-operative-banking-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank</strong> </a>in 2019.</li>
<li>Till now, all the co-operative banks <strong>came under dual regulation of the RBI and the Registrar of Co-operative Societies,</strong> resulting in regulatory and supervisory lapses at many of these banks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The RBI had no powers to draw up an enforceable scheme of reconstruction of a co-operative bank.</li>
<li>However, from now onwards the urban and multi-state co-operative will come under the direct supervision of RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The move will <strong>empower the RBI to regulate</strong> all urban and multi-state co-operative banks <strong>on the lines of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/urban-co-operative-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commercial banks</a></strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Earlier, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/co-operative-banks-under-sarfaesi-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court pronounced</strong></a> that co-operative banks come within the definition of &lsquo;Banks&rsquo; under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 for the purposes of the Sarfaesi Act, 2002.</li>
<li>The Sarfaesi Act is an effective tool for bad loans <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Non-Performing Assets)</strong> </a>recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will also provide<strong> more security to depositors.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, there are 1482 urban co-operatives banks and 58 multi-state co-operative banks.</li>
<li>These banks have a depositor base of 8.6 crores, who have saved a huge amount of Rs. 4.84 lakh crore with these banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> rural co-operative banks will continue to remain under the dual regulation</strong> of RBI and Registrar of Co-operative Societies.</li>
<li>The rural co-operative banks face the same issue of misgovernance and fraud, like urban co-operatives banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Co-operative Banking</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/co-operative-banking-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Co-operative bank</strong> </a>is a financial entity which belongs to its members, who are at the same time the owners and the customers of their bank. It is <strong>distinct from commercial banks.</strong></li>
<li>They are broadly <strong>classified into Urban and Rural co-operative banks</strong> based on their region of operation.</li>
<li>They are registered under the<strong> Co-operative Societies Act of the State concerned</strong> or under the <strong>Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.</strong></li>
<li>The Co-operative banks are also <strong>governed by the</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Banking Regulations Act, 1949.</li>
<li>Banking Laws (Co-operative Societies) Act, 1955.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features of Co-operative Banks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Customer Owned Entities</strong>: Co-operative bank members are both customer and owner of the bank.</li>
<li><strong>Democratic Member Control:</strong> These banks are owned and controlled by the members, who democratically elect a board of directors. Members usually have equal voting rights, according to the cooperative principle of &ldquo;one person, one vote&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Profit Allocation:</strong> A significant part of the yearly profit, benefits or surplus is usually allocated to constitute reserves and a part of this profit can also be distributed to the co-operative members, with legal and statutory limitations.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Inclusion:</strong> They have played a significant role in the financial inclusion of unbanked rural masses. They provide cheap credit to masses in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/govt-brings-co-op-banks-under-rbi-supervision-for-better-regulation-6474904/" 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/co-operative-banks-under-rbi-supervision'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Fishing Cats',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Odisha Government has started a two-year conservation project for <strong>Fishing Cats</strong> in <strong>Bhitarkanika National Park.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Like several other rare species, little is known about <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fishing-cat-and-otters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fishing cats</strong> </a>in the wild.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593069655_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593069655_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Prionailurus viverrinus.</em></li>
<li><strong>Description:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is twice the size of a house cat.</li>
<li>The fishing cat is <strong>nocturnal (active at night)</strong> and apart from fish also preys on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenges on carcasses of larger animals.</li>
<li>The species breed all year round.</li>
<li>They spend most of their lives in areas of dense vegetation close to water bodies and are excellent swimmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys and in the Western Ghats.</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Habitat Destruction:</strong> A major threat for fishing cats is the destruction of wetlands, their preferred habitat.</li>
<li><strong>Shrimp Farming:</strong> Shrimp farming is another growing threat to <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/india-state-of-forest-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mangrove habitats</strong></a> of the Fishing Cat.</li>
<li><strong>Hunting:</strong> This unique cat also faces threats from hunting for meat and skin.</li>
<li><strong>Ritual Practices:</strong> Tribal hunters indulge in ritual hunting practices throughout the year.</li>
<li><strong>Poaching:</strong> It is also occasionally poached for its skin.</li>
<li><strong>Poisoning:</strong> Indiscriminate trapping, snaring and poisoning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: <strong>Vulnerable.</strong> Despite multiple threats, the Fishing Cat was recently downlisted to &ldquo;Vulnerable&rdquo; from &ldquo;Endangered&rdquo; in the IUCN Red List species assessment.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>: Appendix II</strong></li>
<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>: Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Fishing Cat Project, launched in 2010 started raising awareness about the Cat in West Bengal.</li>
<li>In 2012, the <strong>West Bengal</strong> government officially declared the<strong> Fishing Cat</strong> as the <strong>State Animal</strong> and the Calcutta Zoo has two big enclosures dedicated to them.</li>
<li>In Odisha, many NGOs and wildlife conservation Societies are involved in Fishing Cat research and conservation work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/odisha-starts-project-to-conserve-bhitarkanika-fishing-cats-71928#:~:text=The%20Odisha%20forest%20department%20has,of%20extinction%20in%20the%20wild." 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/fishing-cats'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Interest Subvention Scheme for Shishu Loan Accounts',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The government has approved a <strong>2% interest subsidy scheme for Shishu loan account holders </strong>under the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Scheme will help small businesses tide over difficulties created by the lockdown following <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 outbreak</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PMMY is a scheme launched by the government in <strong>2015</strong> for providing <strong>loans up to Rs. 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises.</strong></li>
<li><strong>MUDRA,</strong> which stands for <strong>Micro Units Development &amp; Refinance Agency Ltd.,</strong> is a financial institution set up by the Government to provide funding to the non-corporate small business sector through various last-mile financial institutions like Banks, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</strong></a> and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MUDRA does not lend directly to micro-entrepreneurs/individuals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the aegis of PMMY, <strong>MUDRA has created three products</strong> i.e. 'Shishu', 'Kishore' and &lsquo;Tarun&rsquo; as per the stage of growth and funding needs of the beneficiary micro unit. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shishu:</strong> Covering loans up to Rs. 50,000.</li>
<li><strong>Kishore:</strong> Covering loans above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh</li>
<li><strong>Tarun:</strong> Covering loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Loans under this scheme are <strong>collateral-free loans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In-Line with Atmanirbhar Abhiyan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> 2% Interest Subsidy Scheme</strong> is in line with the measures announced relating to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scheme will be extended to loans which meet the following criteria:<strong> outstanding as on 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020;</strong> and<strong> not in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Performing Asset (NPA)</a> category,</strong> as per 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>guidelines on 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020 and during the period of operation of the Scheme.</li>
<li>The interest subsidy would be payable for the months in which the accounts are not in NPA category including for the months that the account becomes a performing asset again, after turning NPA.</li>
<li>The scheme will incentivize people who will make regular repayments of loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Scheme will be implemented through the <strong>Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)</strong> and will be in <strong>operation for 12 months.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SIDBI was set up on 2<sup>nd</sup> April 1990 under an Act of the Parliament.</li>
<li>It acts as the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector as well as for coordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For borrowers, who have been allowed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-cuts-repo-rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>moratorium</strong></a> by their respective lenders, as permitted by RBI under the <strong>&lsquo;Covid-19 Regulatory Package&rsquo;,</strong> the Scheme would commence post completion of the moratorium period till a period of 12 months i.e. from 1<sup>st</sup> September 2020 till 31<sup>st</sup> August 2021. For other borrowers, the scheme would commence w.e.f. 1<sup>st</sup> June 2020 and will last till 31<sup>st</sup> May 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cost to the Government:</strong> The estimated cost of the Scheme would be approximately <strong>Rs. 1,542 crore.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ongoing Covid-19 crisis and the consequent lockdown has led to severe disruption of business for micro and small enterprises which are funded through Shishu Mudra loans.</li>
<li>Small businesses typically function on thin operating margins, and the current lockdown has had a severe impact on their cash flows, jeopardizing their ability to service their loans.</li>
<li>This could lead to default in repayment and have a resultant impact on access to institutional credit in future.</li>
<li>As on 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020, about 9.37 crore loan accounts under the Shishu category of PMMY with a total loan amount of about Rs 1.62 Lakh crore, were outstanding.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Scheme is expected to provide much-needed relief to the MSME sector, thereby enabling small businesses to continue functioning without laying off employees due to lack of funds.</li>
<li>By supporting small businesses to continue functioning during these times of crisis, the Scheme is expected to have a positive impact on the economy and support its revival, which is necessary for employment generation in future.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1633891" 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/interest-subvention-scheme-for-shishu-loan-accounts'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Strategic Oil Reserves and Energy Security',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fBgW4e6rQis" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>India, in the times of volatility of crude oil prices, has decided to take advantage of the low oil prices in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saudi-investment-in-strategic-oil-storage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>major producing centres in Saudi Arabia</strong> </a>and the UAE to top up its strategic oil reserves created to meet the emergency in times of exigencies. India is the world&rsquo;s third largest crude oil importer having an existing storage capacity of 5.3 million tons (MT) at:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Visakhapatnam (1.3 million tons)</li>
<li>Mangalore (1.5 million tons)</li>
<li>Padur (2.5 million tons).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Strategic Petroleum Reserves (GSPRs)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global strategic petroleum reserves (GSPR)</strong> refer to crude oil inventories (or stockpiles) held by the government of a particular country, as well as private industry, to safeguard the economy and help maintain national security during an energy crisis.</li>
<li>Several countries have agreements to share their stockpiles with other countries in the event of an emergency. For example-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United States and Israel agreement</li>
<li>The France, Germany and Italy agreement</li>
<li>The Japan, New Zealand and South Korea agreement</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Biggest Global Strategic Petroleum Reserves in the world:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United States- 714 million barrels</li>
<li>China- 475 million barrels</li>
<li>Japan- 324 million barrels</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Strategic Petroleum Reserves In India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-strategic-petroleum-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strategic petroleum reserves</strong></a> are huge stockpiles of crude oil to deal with any crude oil-related crisis like the risk of supply disruption from natural disasters, war or other calamities.</li>
<li>Strategic petroleum reserves in India are in a position to meet 9.5 days of its oil needs to which 11.57 more days will be added with the addition of two new reserves.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, a total of 22 days (10+12) of oil consumption will be made available by ISPR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian refiners also maintain crude oil storage (industrial stock) of 65 days. Thus, a total of 87 days (22 by ISPL + 65 by Indian refiners) of oil consumption will be made available in India after completion of Phase II by ISPR. This will be very close to 90 days mandate by the IEA.</li>
<li>The construction of the other two reserves is projected at Chandikhole (Odisha) (4 MT) and Padur (2.5 MT).</li>
<li>The construction of these<strong> Strategic Crude Oil Storage facilities</strong> in India is being managed by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategic-petroleum-reserves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL)</strong></a> under the <strong>Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.</strong></li>
<li>The concept of dedicated strategic reserves was first mooted in 1973 in the US, after the first oil crisis.</li>
<li>The concept of massive caverns deep below the surface of the earth has been traditionally marketed as an energy security measure that can be a defence against shortage of oil supply in future due to an attack or invasion.</li>
<li>Underground storage is, by far the most economic method of storing petroleum products because the underground facility rules out the requirement of large swathes of land, ensures less evaporation and, since the caverns are built much below the sea level, it is easy to discharge crude into them from ships.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need of Strategic Petroleum Reserves in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India still needs to import 83% crude oil of its requirement which increases the import bill of India which further widens the <strong>Current Account Deficit (CAD)</strong> of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>86% energy of the country is dependent on oil with nearly 5 million barrels of oil consumption in a day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The fluctuation in the price of crude oil in the international market</strong> leads to a dire need for India to make petroleum reserves to ensure the country's energy security and avoid monetary loss.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IEA predicts that by 2020, India could well be the largest oil importer, increasing the country&rsquo;s vulnerability to threats of physical supply disruptions leading to sharp price fluctuations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The current capacity of this is not sufficient</strong> to tackle any unpredicted event that occurs in the international crude market.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Current Account Deficit</strong></p>
<p>It is a measurement of a country&rsquo;s trade where the value of the goods and services it imports exceeds the value of the products it exports. The current account includes net income, such as interest and dividends, and transfers, such as foreign aid.</p>
</div>
<h3>Government Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government of India has approved fiscal incentives to attract investments and technology to improve recovery from oil fields which is expected to lead to hydrocarbon production worth Rs 50 lakh crore in the next twenty years.</li>
<li>India is working to establish a natural gas trading exchange as part of a shift away from a reliance on crude oil based products which are blamed for much of the country&rsquo;s pollution problem.</li>
<li>India wants to develop a transparent market for natural gas where the price is determined on an exchange. The aim is to increase the use of natural gas in India&rsquo;s total energy mix from 6.5 percent to 15 percent between 2028 and 2030.</li>
<li>The Oil Ministry plans to set up bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) plants and allied infrastructure to promote the use of clean fuel.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The demand is to look for assets of energy sources present abroad;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India should buy and store the oil in the host countries as Indian assets and retrieve when required; like China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India should distribute its oil contracts in several countries so as to avoid the monopoly of any one region. For example, currently India is importing most of the oil from the Gulf region.</li>
<li>The oil is the central source of energy but is limited, therefore alternative sources need to be looked upon.</li>
<li>Indian oil imported in the ships consisting of 90% foreign ships; is also an issue to be looked upon. India needs to acquire its own ships to transport oil.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-strategic-oil-reserves-and-energy-security'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Comprehensive Action Plan For Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-covid-19-coronavirus-6471143/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;More than Medical Help&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in the Indian Express on 22/06/2020. It talks about the need for a comprehensive action plan to deal with Covid-19 pandemic India.</p>
</div>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>is a far greater social, economic, and political phenomenon than merely a biomedical one. Due to its ill-effects on lives and livelihood, the pandemic is turning into one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent human history.</p>
<p>Further, the mismanagement of the disease has made India on the verge of Covid-19 entering into the community transmission stage. Given the condition of public health infrastructure, the current pandemic is a great challenge for the government as well as citizens.</p>
<p>In this context, there is a need for a comprehensive strategy to combat the pandemic.</p>
<h3>Hidden Issues Related to Covid-19 Management</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hidden Hunger:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/dimensions-of-food-security#:~:text=Hidden%20hunger%20occurs%20when%20the,for%20their%20growth%20and%20development." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hidden hunger</strong></a> needs more attention in times of record unemployment and a slowing economy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, in the absence of proven technological medical tools against the virus, the body&rsquo;s innate immunity is the most reliable defence against the disease.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s chances of staving off large-scale Covid-19 deaths will depend on how effectively the menace of hidden hunger is addressed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor Preparedness:</strong> The lockdown was supposed to provide time for strengthening the healthcare facilities. However, still there is a long way to go for making adequate medical infrastructure like beds, testing kits, PPE kits.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This compromises the treatment of patients suffering Covid-19 and further aid in spreading the disease.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Untreated Morbidity due to Non-Covid Disease:</strong> Due to increased burden on public hospitals for treatment of Covid-19, patients suffering from other diseases have been largely neglected. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the large number of cases relating to Tuberculosis, upper respiratory diseases and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-communicable-diseases-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-communicable diseases</strong> </a>in India, millions of patients are at risk.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Obscurity:</strong> The importance of comprehensive data for an evidence-based and epidemiologically sound strategy can never be overemphasized. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there is still no unanimity between the different health related organisations, regarding the actual number of Covid-19 infections in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Epidemiological Research:</strong> Historically, there has been a near-absence of &ldquo;managerial physicians&rdquo; equipped with the social, political and technical understanding of health problems in the Indian public health system. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consequently, the epidemiologists and social scientists have been marginalised in Covid-19 policy formulation.</li>
<li>While sound clinical knowledge is indispensable for clinical management of patients, a grounded understanding of epidemiology and socioeconomic dynamics of the disease is also very important.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Managerial Physicians are doctors with management positions who possess important skills and values such as observation, problem-solving, analysis and ethical judgement.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Relating to Medical Personnels:</strong> The fulfillment of the elementary needs of health workers has been a major issue. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many doctors have reportedly been served show cause notices, suspensions and even termination of services for simply demanding PPEs (personal protective equipment).</li>
<li>Reasonable demands like shorter durations of duty in Covid affected areas and regular rotation between Covid and non-Covid areas seem to have been ignored.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issue Effective Guidelines To Private Hospitals:</strong> The central and the state governments may issue necessary guidelines seeking cooperation from the private sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will ease the burden of public hospitals and help in availing treatment to all the patients suffering from Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Public Funding in Healthcare:</strong> Public expenditure on health should be immediately increased.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will ensure a well functioning of tertiary and secondary care in government hospitals.</li>
<li>Also, there is a need for improving sanitation and hygiene, provisioning of equipment, toning up of laboratory facilities, and recruiting the additional staff to meet the workload.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Outreach Clinics:</strong> To reduce crowding at hospitals, outreach clinics (for example Mohalla clinics in delhi) should be organised in communities to treat minor illnesses.</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Safety of Health Workers:</strong> All necessary equipment such as PPEs should be provided to the healthcare staff in accordance with the requirements of their station of work. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Shorter duty hours with rotation and periodic duty offs to relieve stress should be instituted for minimising the attrition of the workforce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effective Data Gathering:</strong> Primary and secondary level health facilities ought to be made fully functional and frontline health workers need to be trained and fully geared up for disease surveillance work.</li>
<li><strong>Enabling Research:</strong> Rigorous research on the epidemiological, clinical, social, economic, and political aspects of the pandemic should be undertaken to ensure real time decisions to a rapidly evolving pandemic situation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Along with reliance on medical measures, it is imperative to alleviate the socio-economic conditions of individuals to resist Covid-19 infection and prevent transmission.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593002540_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1593002540_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 632px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Rather than exclusive reliance on medical measures, it is imperative to alleviate the socio-economic conditions of individuals to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WI5EkD1iTC4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/decoupling-from-china-industrial-policy-that-targets-strategic-industries-is-needed-to-distance-the-economy-from-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Decoupling from China&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Times of India on June 23<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'New Purchasing Power Parities: ICP 2017',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> has released new <strong>Purchasing Power Parities</strong> (PPPs) for <strong>reference year 2017</strong>, under <strong>International Comparison Program</strong> (ICP) that adjusts for differences in the cost of living across economies of the world.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Comparison Program</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>largest worldwide data-collection initiative,</strong> under the guidance of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>Statistical Commission</strong> (UNSC).</li>
<li>The <strong>main objectives</strong> of the ICP are to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Produce PPPs and comparable <strong>Price Level Indices</strong> (PLIs) for participating economies.</li>
<li>Convert volume and per capita measures of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></a> (GDP) and its expenditure components into a common currency using PPPs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Purchasing Power Parities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the rate at which the currency of one country would have to be converted into that of another country to buy the same amount of goods and services in each country.</li>
<li>The PPP exchange rates are constructed to ensure that the same quantity of goods and services are priced equivalently across countries.</li>
<li>PPP exchange rates are used to convert the national <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9#:~:text=Poverty%20is%20measured%20based%20on,the%20National%20Sample%20Survey%20Organisation.&amp;text=As%20per%20the%20Rangarajan%20committee,972%20in%20rural%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>poverty</strong></a> lines from some of the poorest countries in the world to determine the <strong>Global Poverty Line.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/poverty-estimation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>poverty estimation in India,</strong></a> the <strong>Tendulkar committee</strong> computed <strong>poverty lines</strong> for 2004-05 at a level that was equivalent, in PPP terms, to Rs 33 per day.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Poverty Line:</strong> The conventional approach to measuring poverty is to specify a minimum expenditure (or income) required to purchase a basket of goods and services necessary to satisfy basic human needs and this minimum expenditure is called the poverty line.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Price Level Indices</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the ratio of a PPP to its corresponding market exchange rate.</li>
<li>It is used to compare the price levels of economies.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the single standard indicator used across the globe to indicate the health of a nation's economy.</li>
<li>It is the sum of private consumption, gross investment in the economy, government investment, government spending and net foreign trade (difference between exports and imports).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India is a co-chair of the ICP Governing Board</strong> along with Statistics Austria<strong> for the ICP 2017 cycle.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has participated in almost all ICP rounds<strong> since its inception in 1970.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation</strong> is the<strong> National Implementing Agency</strong> (NIA) for India, which has the <strong>responsibility of planning, coordinating and implementing</strong> national ICP activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ICP 2017 results, revised results for 2011 and estimates of annual PPPs for the period 2012-2016 are <strong>available on the ICP website and the World Bank&rsquo;s Databank and Data Catalog.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>next ICP comparison</strong> will be conducted for r<strong>eference year 2021.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Global Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Values:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Globally, <strong>176 economies participated</strong> in the 2017 cycle of ICP.</li>
<li>The PPPs of Indian Rupee per USD at GDP level is now 20.65 in 2017 from 15.55 in 2011.</li>
<li>The Exchange Rate of USD to Indian Rupee is 65.12 from 46.67 during the same period.</li>
<li>The PLI of India is 47.55 in 2017 from 42.99 in 2011.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rankings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2017, India retained and consolidated its global position, as the third largest economy and accounted for 6.7% of global GDP in terms of PPPs.</li>
<li>China was at first position with 16.4% and the USA at the second position with 16.3%.</li>
<li>India is also the third largest economy in terms of its PPP-based share in Global Actual Individual Consumption (AIC) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/economic-slowdown-cyclical-or-structural#:~:text=Gross%20fixed%20capital%20formation%20(GFCF)%20refers%20to%20the%20net%20increase,Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20(GDP)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Gross Fixed Capital Formation</strong> </a>(GCF).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Status (Asia-Pacific):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Regionally, <strong>22 economies participated</strong> from the Asia-Pacific.</li>
<li>In 2017, India retained its regional position as the second largest economy and accounted for 20.83% of Regional GDP in terms of PPPs.</li>
<li>China stands first with 50.76% and Indonesia is at third position with 7.49%.</li>
<li>India is also the second largest economy in terms of its PPP-based share in Regional AIC and Regional GFCF.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Actual Individual Consumption</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It consists of goods and services actually consumed by individuals, irrespective of whether these goods and services are purchased and paid for by households, by government or by non-profit organisations.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Gross Fixed Capital Formation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to the net increase in physical assets (investment minus disposals). It does not account for the consumption (depreciation) of fixed capital.</li>
<li>GFCF is not a measure of total investment because only the value of net additions to fixed assets is measured and all kinds of financial assets as well as stocks of inventories and other operating costs are excluded.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1633594#:~:text=The%20Purchasing%20Power%20Parities%20(PPPs,from%2046.67%20during%20same%20period." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-purchasing-power-parities-icp-2017'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Increase in Money Supply',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>According to recent <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> data, the uncertainty caused by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> has led to a surge in money supply.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>RBI Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since the end of March, 2020<strong> currency held by the public</strong> increased by 8.2%.</li>
<li><strong>M3 money supply (refer explanation below)</strong> increased by 6.7% in the first five months of 2020 compared with the same period last year. This is the highest growth in seven years.</li>
<li><strong>Currency in circulation,</strong> which measures money with the public and in banks, has also surged.</li>
<li>However, the <strong>savings and current account deposits decreased</strong> by 8%. Gross capital formation also fell by 7% in the March, 2020 quarter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recent increase reflects <strong>higher cash withdrawals</strong> by depositors to meet needs during the lockdown period and also to safeguard themselves against salary cuts or job losses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A rise in money supply usually is seen as a leading indicator of growth in consumption and business investments, but due to Covid-19 pandemic, the rise this time is unlikely to bolster either.</li>
<li>People have curtailed their discretionary spending as they&rsquo;re not sure of their permanent income.</li>
<li>Lenders too are unwilling to take risks as slowing discretionary spending slows demand for manufactured and industrial goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Money Supply:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>total stock of money in circulation among the public</strong> at a particular point of time is called <strong>money supply.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It needs to be noted that total stock of money is different from total supply of money.</li>
<li>Supply of money is only that part of total stock of money which is held by the public at a particular point of time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The circulating money involves the <strong>currency, printed notes, money in the deposit accounts</strong> and in the <strong>form of other liquid assets.</strong></li>
<li>RBI publishes figures for four alternative measures of money supply, viz. M1, M2, M3 and M4. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>M1</strong> = CU + DD</li>
<li><strong>M2</strong> = M1 + Savings deposits with Post Office savings banks</li>
<li><strong>M3</strong> = M1 + Net time deposits of commercial banks</li>
<li><strong>M4</strong> = M3 + Total deposits with Post Office savings organisations (excluding National Savings Certificates)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>CU is <strong>currency (notes plus coins)</strong> held by the public and<strong> DD is net demand deposits held by commercial banks.</strong></li>
<li>The word &lsquo;net&rsquo; implies that only deposits of the public held by the banks are to be included in money supply. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The interbank deposits, which a commercial bank holds in other commercial banks, are not to be regarded as part of money supply.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>M1 and M2 are known as <strong>narrow money.</strong> M3 and M4 are known as <strong>broad money.</strong></li>
<li>These gradations are in <strong>decreasing order of liquidity.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>M1 is <strong>most liquid and easiest for transactions</strong> whereas M4 is least liquid of all.</li>
<li>M3 is the most commonly used measure of money supply. It is also known as <strong>aggregate monetary resources.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gross capital formation</strong> refers to the &lsquo;aggregate of gross additions to fixed assets (that is fixed capital formation) plus change in stocks during the counting period.&rsquo; <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fixed asset refers to the construction, machinery and equipment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Currency in circulation</strong> includes notes in circulation, rupee coins and small coins.</li>
<li><strong>Currency with the public</strong> is arrived at after deducting cash with banks from total currency in circulation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/money-supply-surge-signals-uncertainty-amid-pandemic/article31901104.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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