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Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force

Why in News The Uttar Pradesh government is going to constitute a Special Security Force (SSF) in the state. Key Points On the lines of the...

14 Sep 2020 News Analysis
India’s Position Shift on Taliban

Why in News Recently, India has signaled a shift in its position on engaging with the Taliban by participating in the commencement ceremony of...

14 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Masking The Question

This editorial analysis is based on the article “Democracy in question: If questions are disallowed in Parliament, more will be asked outside...

12 Sep 2020 News Editorials
Virtual Courts

Why in News Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice has presented its report...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Limits on Multi-Cap Fund Investments

Why in News Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed some limits on multi-cap funds. Multi-Cap Fund Multi-cap...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Five Point Plan to De-escalate LAC Stand-off

Why in News Recently, India and China have agreed on a five points plan to disengage troops and reduce tensions along the Line of Actual Control...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Contraction in July Factory Output: IIP

Why in News Recently, the National Statistical Office (NSO) has released data, highlighting the decline in the factory output (also called...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework

Why in News The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0, along with the...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems: DPIIT

Why in News The Results of the 2nd edition of Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems were released by the Department for Promotion of...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Net Present Value of Forests

Why in News The Ministry of Mines has requested the Forest Advisory Committee (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) to exempt digging...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Bradykinin Storm: Covid-19

Why in News A recent analysis of samples of patients with the Covid-19 infection has shown a phenomenon called a ‘bradykinin...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Sonamura-Daudkandi Inland Waterway Route

Why in News Recently, Sonamura-Daudkandi inland waterway route between India and Bangladesh was operationalised. Daudkandi is in Bangladesh,...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Financing the Fiscal Deficit

Why in News India, being one the hardest hit major economy due to Covid-19, faces the challenge of managing its fiscal deficit. Borrowing more...

12 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Autonomous Bodies

This editorial analysis is based on the article Autonomous bodies are crucial to the government’s functioning. Streamline them, which was...

11 Sep 2020 News Editorials
Global Innovation Index 2020

Why in News Recently, the Global Innovation Index 2020 was released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). India is at the 48th...

11 Sep 2020 News Analysis
SAROD-Ports: Dispute Resolution Mechanism

Why in News The Union Ministry of Shipping launched ‘SAROD-Ports’ (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes - Ports) through virtual...

11 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Panel to Assess Impact of Waiving Loan Interest

Why in News Recently, the Union government has constituted an expert committee to measure the economic impact of waiving of interest and interest on...

11 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Disposal of Cigarette Butts

Why in News Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to lay down guidelines pertaining to...

11 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Paddy Stubble Use by PEDA

Why in News The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) in association with the Govt. of Punjab, is creating alternatives for paddy stubble...

11 Sep 2020 News Analysis
India-Japan Logistics Agreement

Why in News Recently, India and Japan signed a logistics agreement that will allow armed forces of both sides to coordinate closely in services and...

11 Sep 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Uttar Pradesh government is going to constitute a Special Security Force (SSF) in the state.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On the lines of the <strong>Central Industrial Security Force,</strong> SSF will be responsible for security of vital government and private buildings, and industrial establishments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can also be hired by private establishments by paying a fixed cost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will be headed by an Additional Director General (ADG)-ranked officer and will be headquartered in <strong>Lucknow.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Powers:</strong> It will <strong>not require magistrate&rsquo;s order or warrants to make an arrest or conduct searches.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its powers will be governed by a set of rules made by the state government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background :</strong> The UPSSF will <strong>set up on the basis of orders of the Allahabad High Court,</strong> which had expressed its displeasure over the security at civil courts in December 2019 over shootout incidents at Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar courts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The court had directed the state government to form an exclusive force for security on court premises.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Industrial Security Force</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a central armed force the Union raised under an Act of Parliament namely <strong>Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968.</strong></li>
<li>It is directly under the <strong>Union Ministry of Home Affairs.</strong></li>
<li>The CISF provides <strong>security cover to industrial units, government infrastructure projects and facilities and establishments located all over India.</strong></li>
<li>Other <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-armed-police-force-capf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>central armed forces</strong></a> in India include <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-reserve-police-force" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Reserve Police Force</a> (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG) and Assam Rifles (AR).</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dgp-asked-to-draw-up-plan-in-3-days-for-new-up-special-force-6595009/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'India’s Position Shift on Taliban',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has signaled a<strong> shift in its position on engaging with the Taliban</strong> by participating in the commencement ceremony of <strong>Intra-Afghan talks</strong> between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Position Shift:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian presence at the Intra-Afghan peace talks indicates that it has changed its position given the ground reality in Afghanistan and the <strong>changing power structure in Afghanistan.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>USA's withdrawal has given <strong>Pakistan a major role to play in Afghanistan</strong> directly or indirectly through its proxies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, some experts were of the opinion that India chose to attend the ceremony <strong>because the Afghan government was also at the table.</strong></li>
<li>India still <strong>does not recognise</strong> the Taliban.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India believes any peace process must be <strong>Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. i.e.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has to respect the <strong>national sovereignty and territorial integrity</strong> of Afghanistan and promote human rights and democracy.</li>
<li>It also needs to <strong>preserve the progress</strong> made in the establishment of a democratic Islamic Republic in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections of society</strong> must be preserved and the issue of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed.</li>
<li><strong>Indian interests,</strong> which include the Indian Embassy and Indian companies and workers in Afghanistan, <strong>should also be protected.</strong></li>
<li>India supports an <strong>"independent and sovereign"</strong> Afghanistan.The use of words &ldquo;independent and sovereign&rdquo; make it clear that <strong>Pakistan and the&nbsp;Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) should not control the levers in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-taliban-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA signed a deal with the Taliban</strong> </a>that paved the way towards a full withdrawal of USA troops from Afghanistan and also represent a step towards ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The peace deal was expected to<strong> kick-off two processes- a phased withdrawal of US troops </strong>and an<strong> &lsquo;intra-Afghan&rsquo; dialogue.</strong></li>
<li>The deal is a fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for the Afghanistan peace process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Interests in Afghanistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indias-role-in-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>major stake</strong></a> in the stability of Afghanistan. India has invested considerable resources in Afghanistan's development.<strong> E.g.</strong> the <strong>Afghan Parliament, the Zaranj-Delaram Highway,</strong> Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam <strong>(Salma Dam)</strong> among others.</li>
<li>Afghanistan is the <strong>gateway to Central Asia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600072101_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600072101_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="395" height="297" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is concerned about the <strong>Taliban&rsquo;s links with Pakistan&rsquo;s ISI</strong> and efforts by the latter to use the <strong>Haqqani network</strong> to target India&rsquo;s interests in Afghanistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s Afghanistan policy continues to be assessed vis-a-vis Pakistan, which opposes any security role for India in Afghanistan and sees India&rsquo;s presence there as detrimental to its interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Taliban also has link with <strong>Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Laskar-e-Toiba (LeT)</strong> who are behind various terrorist activities against India.</li>
<li>India still<strong> does not recognise</strong> the Taliban. However, if it considers the option of entering into direct talks with the Taliban,<strong> it would constitute a major departure</strong> from its consistent policy of dealing only with recognised governments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to re-evaluate its decisions and be more omnidirectional in its approach to deal with all forces that are central to the future of Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The changing political and security situation requires India to be more open to adapting its maximalist position and starting a dialogue with the Taliban.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/taliban-afghan-deal-s-jaishankar-doha-meeting-6593833/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Masking The Question',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/democracy-in-question-parliament-question-hour-6591172/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Democracy in question: If questions are disallowed in Parliament, more will be asked outside it&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 12<sup>th</sup> of September 2020. It analyses the issues of scrapping Questions Hour and limiting Zero Hour in the monsoon session of the Parliament.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats have notified that there will be <strong>no Question Hour</strong> during the monsoon session of the Parliament which has already been truncated to September 14-October, in view of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid 19 pandemic</strong></a>, and that <strong>Zero Hour</strong> will be restricted in both Houses. The move has come under heavy criticism as the opposition believe they will lose the right to question the government which can be termed as undemocratic.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Question Hour</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/question-hour-and-zero-hour#:~:text=Definition%3A%20The%20first%20hour%20of,slotted%20for%20the%20Question%20Hour.&amp;text=During%20this%20one%20hour%2C%20Members,MPs%20who%20are%20not%20ministers)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Question Hour</strong></a> is the first hour of a sitting session of India's Parliament devoted to questions that Members of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/parliamentary-reforms-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parliament</strong></a> raise about any aspect of administrative activity.</li>
<li>The concerned Minister is obliged to answer to the Parliament, either orally or in writing, depending on the type of question raised.</li>
<li>Question Hour is the liveliest hour in Parliament when members of parliament hold the Government accountable for the functioning of their ministries.</li>
<li>Over the last 70 years, MPs have successfully used this parliamentary device to shine a light on government functioning.</li>
<li>Their questions have exposed financial irregularities and brought data and information regarding government functioning to the public domain.</li>
<li>With the broadcasting of Question Hour since 1991, Question Hour has become one the most visible aspects of parliamentary functioning.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Zero Hour</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/question-hour-and-zero-hour#:~:text=Definition%3A%20The%20first%20hour%20of,slotted%20for%20the%20Question%20Hour.&amp;text=During%20this%20one%20hour%2C%20Members,MPs%20who%20are%20not%20ministers)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zero Hour</strong></a> is an Indian parliamentary innovation.</li>
<li>The phrase does not find mention in the rules of procedure.</li>
<li>The concept of Zero Hour started organically in the first decade of Indian Parliament, when MPs felt the need for raising important constituencies and national issues.</li>
<li>During the initial days, Parliament used to break for lunch at 1 pm.</li>
<li>Therefore, the opportunity for MPs to raise national issues without an advance notice became available at 12 pm and could last for an hour until the House adjourned for lunch.</li>
<li>This led to the hour being popularly referred to as Zero Hour and the issues being raised during this time as Zero Hour submissions.</li>
<li>Over the years, presiding officers of both Houses have given directions to streamline the working of Zero Hour to make it even more effective.</li>
<li>Its importance can be gauged from the support it receives from citizens, media, MPs and presiding officers despite not being part of the rulebook.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Rules Regarding Question Hour</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Authority of Presiding Officer</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-speaker-roles-and-responsibility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> presiding officers</strong></a> of the two houses are the final authority with respect to the conduct of Question Hour.</li>
<li>For example, usually Question Hour is the first hour of a parliamentary sitting but In 2014, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari shifted Question Hour in the House from 11 am to 12 noon.</li>
<li>The move was to prevent the disruption of Question Hour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kind of Questions</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Questions have to be limited to 150 words.</li>
<li>They have to be precise and not too general.</li>
<li>The question should also be related to an area of responsibility of the Government of India.</li>
<li>Questions should not seek information about matters that are secret or are under adjudication before courts.</li>
<li>It is the presiding officers of the two Houses who finally decide whether a question raised by an MP will be admitted for answering by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Timing of Question Hour</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The process of asking and answering questions starts with identifying the days on which Question Hour will be held.</li>
<li>At the beginning of Parliament in 1952, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/code-of-conduct-for-lok-sabha-mps" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lok Sabha rules</strong></a> provided for Question Hour to be held every day. Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, had a provision for Question Hour for two days a week.</li>
<li>A few months later, this was changed to four days a week.</li>
<li>Then from 1964, Question Hour was taking place in Rajya Sabha on every day of the session.</li>
<li>Now, Question Hour in both Houses is held on all days of the session.</li>
<li>But there are two days when an exception is made. One, on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall. Second on the day the Finance Minister presents the Budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Starred And Unstarred Questions</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MPs can specify whether they want an oral or written response to their questions.</li>
<li>They can put an asterisk against their question signifying that they want the minister to answer that question on the floor.</li>
<li>These are referred to as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/starred-questions-in-parliamentary-proceedings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>starred questions.</strong></a></li>
<li>After the minister&rsquo;s response, the MP who asked the question and other MPs can also ask a follow-up question.</li>
<li>This is the visible part of Question Hour, where you see MPs trying to corner ministers on the functioning of their ministries on live television.</li>
<li>Seasoned parliamentarians choose to ask an oral question when the answer to the question will put the government in an uncomfortable position.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>15 Days Notice</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ministries receive the questions 15 days in advance so that they can prepare their ministers for Question Hour.</li>
<li>They also have to prepare for sharp follow-up questions they can expect to be asked in the House.</li>
<li>Government officers are close at hand in a gallery so that they can pass notes or relevant documents to support the minister in answering a question.</li>
<li>MPs usually ask questions to hold ministers accountable but the rules also provide them with a mechanism for asking their colleagues a question.</li>
<li>Such a question should be limited to the role of an MP relating to a Bill or a resolution being piloted by them or any other matter connected with the functioning of the House for which they are responsible.</li>
<li>Should the presiding officer so allow, MPs can also ask a question to a minister at a notice period shorter than 15 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<p><strong>Infringement of Constitutional Right</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The right to ask questions flows from Article 75 of Indian constitution which says that the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the people.</li>
<li>Collective responsibility also implies that the government shall be accountable to the house which represents the people of this country.</li>
<li>Thus, the curtailment of question hour and zero hour undermines the principle of parliamentary oversight over executive.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>A Hindrance To Representative Democracy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Question Hour is a manifestation of a representative kind of democracy in operation, in the sense that representation of the people directly questions the government on matters of governance.</li>
<li>The government is duty bound to answer the questions in the House.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Questions Government&rsquo;s Intention</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Questions Hour concerns serious and urgent matters and is live telecasted on the national TV.</li>
<li>It keeps the masses informed about the Government&rsquo;s response and vision on all important matters of governance. This becomes more important in the current situation when India is battling the pandemic and economic downfall.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, by doing away with question hour in this parliamentary session, the government may sidestep on accountability on the above matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Disruptions do not justify the scrapping of questions altogether.</li>
<li>Various options for social distancing can be attempted like reserving each day for select ministries to prevent crowding by officials seeking to help their ministers.</li>
<li>At the same time an orderly conduct can also ensure that the questions are raised with discipline and they don&rsquo;t affect the safety protocol too.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Democracy is judged by the debate it encourages and sustains. Also asking questions is the essence of democracy. The questions that are asked from civil society platforms, the mass media, community gatherings are ultimately within the highest temple of democracy, the legislature itself.</p>
<p>Thus, the Question hour &amp; Zero hour acts as important tools for enabling the doctrine of checks and balance. Therefore, Parliaments should not dispense with these even at the time of war.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599911286_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599911286_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: #f7ffe3;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Parliament&rsquo;s relevance stems from asking tough questions from the government&rdquo;. In the light of the statement critically analyse the decision of the government to scrap the Question Hour in the monsoon session and the possible solutions.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A4QyIGJdqIM" 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/op-ed/the-twisted-trajectory-of-bt-cotton/article32566091.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The twisted trajectory of Bt cotton&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on September 10<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/masking-the-question'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Virtual Courts',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice</strong> has presented its report <strong>&ldquo;Functioning of the Virtual Courts/Courts Proceedings through VideoConferencing&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first report</strong> to be presented <strong>by any parliamentary panel</strong> on the<strong> impact of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pandemic.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pre-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> period,</strong> the <strong>video-conference</strong> (VC) set up was primarily used<strong> for conducting remand matters to prevent movement of prisoners between courts and jails.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such VC facilities have been operationalised between 3,240 court complexes and corresponding 1,272 prisons.</li>
<li>In August 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-courts-3#:~:text=The%20e%2DCourts%20project%20was,by%20ICT%20enablement%20of%20Courts." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>High Court of Punjab and Haryana launched its first virtual court</strong></a> at Faridabad to deal with traffic challan cases from across the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report suggests that a <strong>full-fledged <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-virtual-courts-and-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener">virtual court</a> should be piloted</strong> in the first instance and recommends the <strong>continuation of virtual courts in a post-Covid-19 scenario.</strong></li>
<li>It argued that <strong>transfer of certain categories of cases,</strong> like cases pertaining to traffic challans or other petty offences, from regular court establishments to virtual courts <strong>will reduce the pendency of cases.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, there are 30 million pending cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Virtual/digital justice is <strong>cheaper and faster</strong> besides <strong>addressing locational and economic handicaps.</strong></li>
<li>Virtual courts are an improvement over traditional courts as they are <strong>more citizen-friendly and offer greater access to justice.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>productivity of lawyers will increase substantially</strong> as there will be no regular visits to courts and long waiting hours. If this practice is extended to other civil cases, <strong>efficiency will double,</strong> even treble,<strong> in judicial functioning.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Various stakeholders have noted that the <strong>present infrastructure does not support virtual court proceedings.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>3,477 courtrooms are supported with facilities for virtual proceedings while 14,443 are still to be provided with them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Almost 50% of <strong>lawyers,</strong> particularly in district courts, <strong>do not have any laptop or computer facility</strong> so their participation in the virtual courts will be either very less or not at all.</li>
<li><strong>All judges are not able to undertake virtual hearings</strong> due to lack of experience and also due to lack of sufficient infrastructure to enable all of them to undertake virtual hearings.</li>
<li>Virtual court hearings, especially during peak hours when many people log into the video-conferencing system, are <strong>subject to frequent crashes of the system </strong>and one <strong>glitch can spoil the entire proceeding.</strong></li>
<li>There are concerns that virtual courts will<strong> compromise the privacy of data as well as the confidentiality of discussions and court proceedings,</strong> due to the usage of third-party software applications, which are <strong>prone to hacking and manipulation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Infrastructure needs to be updated</strong> with sufficient machinery and data connectivity to provide with the virtual proceeding.</li>
<li><strong>Virtual proceedings can be extended permanently to various Appellate</strong> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/tribunals-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tribunals</strong></a> like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/interoperable-set-top-boxes-trai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-company-law-appellate-tribunal-nclat-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Appellate Tribunal</strong></a>, etc. located across the country which do not require personal appearances of the parties/advocates.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been recommended to <strong>address data privacy and data security concerns</strong> while developing a new platform for India&rsquo;s judicial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>e-Courts Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was conceptualized on the basis of the<strong> &ldquo;National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary-2005&rdquo;</strong> submitted by<strong> e-Committee, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court of India</a></strong> with a vision to transform the Indian Judiciary by ICT enablement of Courts.</li>
<li>The e-Courts Mission Mode Project, is a <strong>pan-India Project,</strong> monitored and funded by the <strong>Department of Justice,</strong> Ministry of Law and Justice, for the District Courts across the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While India grapples with a crisis on the health and economic front, there is a need to think out of the box and a change in mindset regarding the work-culture is needed.</li>
<li>It is time that the courtroom, which is often regarded as the last bastion of antiquated working practices, opens its doors to the latest technology.</li>
<li>If vested interests are kept aside and collective will to initiate what is for the common good takes precedence, a virtual judiciary can become a part of Indian judiciary.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-courts-1'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Limits on Multi-Cap Fund Investments',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India</strong></a> <strong>(SEBI)</strong> has<strong> imposed some limits</strong> on <strong>multi-cap funds.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Multi-Cap Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Multi-cap funds are those that <strong>diversify their investments</strong> into all three categories (small, medium, and large-cap).</li>
<li>These funds invest by <strong>market capitalization of shares. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Market capitalization</strong> is the aggregate valuation of the company based on its current share price and the total number of outstanding stocks.</li>
<li>It is calculated by multiplying the current market price of the company's share with the total outstanding shares of the company.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Large cap stocks:</strong> Stocks of top 100 listed companies in terms of full market capitalisation.</li>
<li><strong>Mid-cap stocks:</strong> Stocks of top 101 to 250 companies in terms of full market capitalisation.</li>
<li><strong>Small-cap stocks:</strong> Stocks of companies above 251 in terms of full market capitalisation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Changes Made:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A multi cap fund will be required to<strong> invest a minimum of 75%</strong> of its total assets in equities and equity-related instruments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At present, the rule is to invest a minimum of 65% in equities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Minimum investment of <strong>75% has to be allocated in between</strong> large cap companies, mid cap companies and small cap companies, with a <strong>minimum share of 25% in each.</strong> The rest 25% can be invested as per the investor&rsquo;s choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Till now, fund managers of multi cap mutual funds were investing across market capitalisation as per their choice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The changes have been done <strong>to diversify the underlying investments</strong> of multi-cap funds across the large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap companies and be true to the label.</li>
<li>Currently, the portfolio of most multi cap funds is <strong>biased towards large caps</strong> with 65% to 90% of their portfolio in large cap stocks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fund houses will have to cut their exposure to big cap stocks and invest in mid- and small-cap stocks.</li>
<li>This will result in up to Rs. 40,000 crore moving from largecap to broader market (mid-cap and small-cap fund).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/sebi-imposes-limits-on-multi-cap-fund-investments-churn-in-mutual-fund-schemes-worth-rs-40k-cr-likely-6592542/" 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/limits-on-multi-cap-fund-investments'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Five Point Plan to De-escalate LAC Stand-off',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India and China have agreed on a <strong>five points plan</strong> to <strong>disengage troops</strong> and <strong>reduce tensions</strong> along the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Line of Actual Control</strong> </a><strong>(LAC),</strong> where<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a four and a half month long stand-off.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move came after the <strong>talks between India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister and his Chinese counterpart,</strong> on the margins of a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-sco-summit-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</strong></a> meeting in Russia.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599905289_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599905289_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Five Point Plan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both sides should<strong> take guidance</strong> from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-2nd-informal-summit-mamallapuram-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wuhan and Mahabalipuram summits</strong> </a>on developing India-China relations, that includes <strong>not allowing differences to become disputes.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Border troops</strong> should continue their <strong>dialogue,</strong> quickly <strong>disengage,</strong> maintain proper distance and ease tensions.</li>
<li>The two sides shall <strong>abide by all the existing agreements and protocols on China-India boundary affairs</strong> and avoid any action that could escalate matters.</li>
<li>Continuing communications through the <strong>Special Representatives mechanism,</strong> and meetings of the <strong>Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Special Representatives</strong> (SRs) on the <strong>Boundary Question</strong> was established in 2003. It provided important guidance for ensuring peace and tranquility in border areas in a challenging situation.</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">WMCC was established in 2012.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Working to conclude new confidence-building measures.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Talk:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Initially, China appeared to have convinced itself that India had no option but to accept its new claims at LAC. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This confidence was reflected in China&rsquo;s refusal to pull back its forces from LAC and its dismissive diplomatic tone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s repeated demand for restoration of the status quo ante on the frontier was <strong>not heeded,</strong> until the <strong>Indian army ramped up its mobilisation</strong> and boldly seized some high ground to challenge Chinese military positions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These moves on the frontier also came along with a <strong>series of economic measures against China,</strong> such as<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/banning-of-chinese-mobile-apps#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20Indian%20government%20announced,most%20linked%20to%20Chinese%20companies.&amp;text=Given%20that%20India's%20digital%20economy,the%20valuations%20of%20Chinese%20companies." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> banning 100s of Chinese applications</strong></a> and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/display-of-country-of-origin-must-for-e-commerce-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">specifying country of origin</a> on imports.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s demonstration of the political resolve</strong> to <strong>escalate the conflict</strong> and the military capability to back it may have probably convinced China that it needs to rethink its approach to the current crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The joint statement of India and China tries to <strong>reduce the tension at LAC,</strong> however the <strong>separate explanatory comments from both the countries reveal the challenges ahead.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India insists that the <strong>objective of the talks is to &ldquo;restore&rdquo; the status quo ante,</strong> however there is <strong>no explicit Chinese commitment</strong> to that goal.</li>
<li>China wants to <strong>separate the border conflict from the rest of the relationship,</strong> however India says the<strong> two are inextricably interlinked.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These <strong>deep differences</strong> continue to complicate the path towards comprehensive military disengagement and de-escalation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>The five point plan between both the countries is a welcome step, however India must not blindly trust China amidst the surprise aggression during April-May by the People's Liberation Army. This is not the first time in the last few months that China has promised to stand down. However, it raised the expectations only to dash them quickly.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lac-standoff-india-china-agree-on-5-point-plan-for-resolving-border-tension/article32577886.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/five-point-plan-to-de-escalate-lac-stand-off'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Contraction in July Factory Output: IIP',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Statistical Office</strong></a> (NSO) has released data, highlighting the <strong>decline in the factory output</strong> (also called<strong> Industrial Production</strong>) for the fifth consecutive month, with July 2020 posting a contraction of 10.4% compared to July 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data, however, <strong>recorded a sequential improvement from 15.8% contraction seen in June,</strong> reflecting some<strong> resumption in industrial activity</strong> with the <strong>lifting of lockdown</strong> restrictions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cumulatively, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/core-sector-shrinks-by-23-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></a> (IIP) contracted by 29.2% for April-July against a growth of 3.5% in the same period last year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IIP had grown by 4.9% in July 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> The decline is <strong>mainly due to degrowth</strong> in manufacturing, mining, capital goods, and consumer durables output.</li>
<li><strong>Contraction Data:</strong> Barring consumer non-durables, all other sectors including manufacturing, mining, primary goods, capital goods contracted in July.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Consumer Non-durables:</strong> A proxy for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fmcg-sector-growth-to-slow-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fast Moving Consumer Goods</strong> </a>(FMCG), it posted a positive growth of 6.7%.</li>
<li><strong>Manufacturing Sector:</strong> Weight of 77.6% in IIP, contracted by 11.1% in July from a contraction of 16.0% in June.</li>
<li><strong>Electricity Output:</strong> It contracted by 2.5% as against a double-digit contraction of 10.0% in June.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It recorded the best sequential improvement and may turn out to be the first sector, apart from consumer non-durables, to find its way in positive territory going ahead.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Similar Trends:</strong> The decline in industrial growth <strong>mirrors the trend in other high-frequency indicators</strong> for July.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s Manufacturing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contraction-in-manufacturing-pmi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index</strong> </a>(PMI) had stood at 46 in July compared with 47.2 in June. A print below 50 signifies a contraction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> The negative IIP for July, which is the first month of the second quarter, will reflect in the expected contraction in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></a> (GDP) growth numbers for the July-September quarter.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-contracted-by-23-9-in-first-quarter#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20recent%20National,reporting%20quarterly%20data%20in%201996." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GDP growth contracted by 23.9%</strong></a> in the April-June quarter, the worst among G20 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an indicator that<strong> measures the changes in the volume of production of industrial products</strong> during a given period.</li>
<li>It is <strong>compiled and published monthly by the National Statistical Office</strong> (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NSO is the <strong>central statistical agency</strong> of the government, set up by an<strong> Act of the Parliament, Statistical Services Act (Chapter 386) 1980.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IIP is a<strong> composite indicator</strong> that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified under:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Broad sectors,</strong> namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.</li>
<li><strong>Use-based sectors,</strong> namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/core-sector-contracted-by-9-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Core Sector Industries</strong></a> comprise <strong>40.27%</strong> of the weight of items included in IIP.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>eight core Industries in decreasing order of their weightage:</strong> Refinery Products&gt; Electricity&gt; Steel&gt; Coal&gt; Crude Oil&gt; Natural Gas&gt; Cement&gt; Fertilisers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Base Year for IIP is 2011-2012.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Significance of IIP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India</strong></a>, etc. for policy-making purposes.</li>
<li>IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/factory-output-decline-industrial-growth-covid-lockdown-6592625/" 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/contraction-in-july-factory-output-iip'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs</strong> has launched <strong>the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0,</strong> along with the<strong> &lsquo;Streets for People Challenge&rsquo;</strong> under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Smart Cities Mission.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CSCAF 2.0:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To provide a clear <strong>roadmap for cities</strong> towards <strong>combating Climate Change</strong> while planning and implementing their actions, including investments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>CSCAF initiative intends to inculcate a<strong> climate-sensitive approach</strong> to urban planning and development in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Framework:</strong> It has <strong>28 indicators across five categories</strong> namely;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Energy and Green Buildings,</li>
<li>Urban Planning, Green Cover &amp; Biodiversity,</li>
<li>Mobility and Air Quality,</li>
<li>Water Management and</li>
<li>Waste Management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementing Agency:</strong> The Climate Centre for Cities under<strong> National Institute of Urban Affairs</strong> (NIUA) is supporting MoHUA in implementation of CSCAF.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Streets for People Challenge:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> It aims to inspire cities to create <strong>walking-friendly and vibrant streets.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> All cities with a population of over 5 lakh, and capital cities, can apply.</li>
<li>It includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Creating <strong>pedestrian-friendly streets in high footfall areas,</strong></li>
<li>Re-imagining under-flyover spaces,</li>
<li>Re-vitalizing dead neighbourhood spaces, and</li>
<li>Creating walking links through parks and institutional areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supporting Partners:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fit-india-movement#:~:text=The%20Prime%20Minister%20on%20the,player%20Major%20Dhyan%20Chand%20Singh." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fit India Mission</strong></a>, under <strong>Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>India program</strong> of the Institute for Transport Development and Policy (ITDP).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ITDP works around the world to design and implement high quality transport systems and policy solutions that make cities more livable, equitable, and sustainable. It was set up in 1985 and is headquartered in New York, USA</li>
<li><strong>The India Program</strong> works with cities to design and implement sustainable transport projects, and provide policy solutions to enhance social inclusion, reduce dependency on limited resources, improve road safety, and reduce carbon emissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> Cities around the world, such as Bogota, Berlin, and Milan have responded by transforming streets for walking and cycling, to ensure safe mobility during Covid-19. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Smart Cities Mission is also associated with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-cycles4change-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India 4 cycles challenge method</strong></a>, that aims to inspire Indian cities to implement quick cycling-friendly interventions in the wake of Covid-19 with the support of their citizens and assistance from experts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Smart Cities Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an innovative initiative under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to drive <strong>economic growth and improve the quality of life</strong> of people by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens.</li>
<li>It was launched in the <strong>year 2015</strong> as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of Smart Solutions.</li>
<li><strong>Strategy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pan-city initiative in which at least one Smart Solution is applied city-wide.</li>
<li>Develop areas step-by-step with the help of these three models:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Retrofitting.</li>
<li>Redevelopment.</li>
<li>Greenfield.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1653293" 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/climate-smart-cities-assessment-framework'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems: DPIIT',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Results of the 2<sup>nd</sup> edition of <strong>Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems</strong> were released by the <strong>Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (Ministry of Commerce &amp; Industry).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DPIIT has recently released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-of-doing-business-rankings-of-the-states-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business Rankings of the States-2019</strong> </a>based on the State Business Reform Action Plan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> The rankings were started with an objective of fostering <strong>competitiveness, mutual learning</strong> and propel States and Union Territories (UTs) to work proactively towards uplifting the startup ecosystem.</li>
<li><strong>Framework:</strong> The 2019 Ranking Framework has <strong>seven broad reform areas consisting of 30 action points</strong> ranging from institutional support, easing compliances, relaxation in public procurement norms, incubation support, seed funding support, venture funding support, and awareness and outreach.</li>
<li><strong>Participation:</strong> 22 States and 3 Union Territories.</li>
<li><strong>2 Categories:</strong> To establish uniformity and ensure standardization in the ranking process, States and UTs have been divided into two groups.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Category Y: All UTs except Delhi and all States in North East India except Assam.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Category X: All other States and UT of Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Results:</strong> The States and UTs were classified as: Best Performers, Top Performers, Leaders, Aspiring Leaders and Emerging Startup Ecosystems.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gujarat</strong> was the Best performer in <strong>Category X</strong> followed by Karnata and Kerala. Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu occupied the lowest positions.</li>
<li><strong>Andaman and Nicobar Islands</strong> was the Best performer in <strong>Category Y.</strong> Sikkim secured the bottom place.</li>
<li>Gujarat had secured the Best Performer position previous year as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599902676_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599902676_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Startup Landscape in India</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599902722_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599902722_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Government Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-start-up-india-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start Up India Fund</a>:</strong> Under the Startup India program, the Government created the 'Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) with a corpus of INR 10,000 crore.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/policy-reforms-for-startups" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Policy Reforms for Startups</strong></a>: These include requirement of distributable profits for three years for a company to be eligible to issue shares with differential voting rights.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/start-up-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Start-up Cells</strong></a>: The Cell will work towards redressal of grievances &amp; tax-related issues of Startups with respect to the administration of the Income-tax Act, 1961.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-startup-advisory-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Startup Advisory Council</strong></a>: To advise the Centre on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and start-ups in the country.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aatmanirbhar-bharat-arise-atal-new-india-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-Atal New India Challenge</strong></a>: It is a national initiative to promote research &amp; innovation and increase competitiveness of Indian startups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aim-icrest-niti-aayog" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AIM-iCREST</strong></a>: It is an Incubator Capabilities Enhancement program launched by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a> for a Robust Ecosystem focused on creating high performing Startups.</li>
<li>More than <strong>1300 Startups</strong> have been supported by <strong>seed funding</strong> from State Governments. In addition to seed funding, 10 States have created <strong>Venture Funds</strong> or a Fund of funds and 218 startups have been provided with venture funding support.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Seed funding :</strong> It is the initial capital used when starting a business.</li>
<li><strong>Venture Funds:</strong> This generally comes after the seed funding round. It is a means of equity financing for rapidly-growing private companies for expansion or purchase of a company. It is provided by venture capitalists after carefully scrutinizing the projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The initiative will help in<strong> capacity-building of States</strong> and building a robust Start-up ecosystem in the country for<strong> nurturing innovation and providing opportunities to budding entrepreneurs,</strong> as envisaged by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-start-up-india-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Start-up India Initiative</strong></a> launched in 2016. This is necessary for the country to realize the dream of becoming a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024.</li>
<li>There is a need to ease the access to funding to Start-ups, especially those from small cities and the need for simplification of regulations. The central and state governments would have to invest heavily in Research &amp; Development and upcoming technologies, to build further on their competitive value addition to this exercise.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1653368" 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/ranking-of-states-on-support-to-startup-ecosystems-dpiit'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Net Present Value of Forests',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Mines has requested the Forest Advisory Committee (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) to <strong>exempt digging exploratory boreholes </strong>from<strong> Net Present Value (NPV).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2018, the Ministry of Coal, the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had sought to be exempted from forest clearances for exploratory boreholes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exploratory Boreholes:</strong> An exploratory borehole is drilled for the purpose of identifying the characteristics, location, quantity and quality of a resource (coal, metal or petroleum). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a part of <strong>prospecting a site</strong> for future use for mining and extraction activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Net Present Value (NPV):</strong> It is a mandatory one-time payment that a user has to make for diverting forestland for non-forest use, under the <strong>Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Calculation:</strong> This is calculated on the basis of the services and ecological value of the forests. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It depends on the<strong> location and nature of the forest and the type of industrial enterprise</strong> that will replace a particular parcel of forest.</li>
<li>These payments go to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/compensatory-afforestation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF)</strong></a> and are <strong>used for afforestation and reforestation.</strong></li>
<li>The CAF is managed by the<strong> Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decided by</strong>: The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panel-approves-scheme-to-trade-in-forests" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Advisory Committee</strong> </a>constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC) decides on whether forests can be diverted for projects and the NPV to be charged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a<strong> statutory body</strong> constituted by the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exemptions:</strong> Some projects have been provided exemption from paying NPV like construction of <strong>Schools, Hospitals, village tanks, laying down of optical fibre</strong> etc. Projects like underground mining and wind energy plants have been given a 50% exemption from NPV.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> In the <em><strong>N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India case,</strong></em> <strong>2008,</strong> the <strong>Supreme Court mandated</strong> the payment of NPV.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Kanchan Gupta Committee</strong> developed the concept of NPV after this case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Argument by Ministry of Mines:</strong> All areas of exploration are not converted into mining. Only about 1% of cases are converted to mining.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Payment of NPV at a present rate of 2% or 5% NPV of the total forest area in the lease area is one of the major challenges which leads to <strong>delay in the exploration/ prospecting activities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Response from the Forest Advisory Committee :</strong> While it was not possible to do away with NPV, it recommended that the MoEF&amp;CC may consider charging NPV on a per borehole basis instead of the present practice of charging 2 or 5%.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Forest Conservation Act, 1980</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 stipulated that the central permission is necessary to practice sustainable agro-forestry in forest areas. Violation or lack of permit was treated as a<strong> criminal offence.</strong></li>
<li>It puts a restriction on the <strong>use of forest-land for non-forest purposes.</strong></li>
<li>It targeted to <strong>limit deforestation, conserve biodiversity and save wildlife. </strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/environment-ministry-rejects-plea-for-exemption-from-forest-penalty/article32584230.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/net-present-value-of-forests'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Bradykinin Storm: Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent analysis of samples of patients with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> infection has shown a phenomenon called a <strong>&lsquo;bradykinin storm&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Doctors treating Covid-19 patients often <strong>cannot identify the severity with which the SARS-CoV-2 virus seems to affect some people</strong> and &lsquo;bradykinin storm&rsquo; might explain the working of the virus in the body.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the <strong>cytokine storm</strong> is able to explain certain causes for the rapid deterioration in some patients with Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The bradykinin hypothesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SARS-CoV-2 uses a human enzyme called <strong>ACE2</strong> to enter into the cells of its host.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ACE2 lowers <strong>blood pressure</strong> in the human body and works against another enzyme known as ACE (which has the opposite effect).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The virus causes the levels of ACE to fall in the lungs, and consequently pushes up the levels of ACE2.</li>
<li>This happens as a chain reaction and increases the levels of the <strong>molecule bradykinin</strong> in the cells, causing a<strong> bradykinin storm.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bradykinin</strong> is a compound that is <strong>related to pain sensation and lowering blood pressure</strong> in the human body.</li>
<li>Bradykinin storm causes the blood vessels to expand and become leaky, leading to swelling of the surrounding tissue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in hyaluronic acid:</strong> The levels of a substance called hyaluronic acid also increases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin, and it helps to bind water to collagen (a protein). It can absorb more than 1,000 times its own weight in water to form a hydrogel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> The bradykinin storm-induced <strong>leakage of fluid into the lungs combined with the excess hyaluronic acid</strong> would likely result in a <strong>Jello-like substance</strong> that prevents oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide in the lungs of severely affected Covid-19 patients.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This rapid accumulation of fluid in the lungs of patients sometimes makes even the most sophisticated intensive care, including ventilators, futile.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> Knowing the mechanism, doctors can target the bradykinin pathway to evolve more <strong>therapeutic interventions</strong> to offset the severe effects of Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cytokine Storm Syndrome</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-cytokine-storms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cytokine Storm Syndrome</strong></a> is characterised by the overproduction of immune cells and the cytokines themselves because of a dysregulation in the process.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cytokines</strong> are a large group of proteins that are secreted by specific cells of the immune system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> A cytokine storm can occur due to an infection, auto-immune condition (when the body's immune system attacks healthy cells as in case of coeliac disease- an immune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine), or other diseases.</li>
<li><strong>Signs and symptoms</strong> include high fever, inflammation (redness and swelling), severe fatigue, and nausea.</li>
<li>In the case of any flu infection, a cytokine storm is associated with a surge of activated immune cells into the lungs, which, instead of fighting off the antigen, leads to lung inflammation and fluid build-up, and respiratory distress.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/is-covid-19-setting-off-a-bradykinin-storm-in-the-body/article32531836.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/bradykinin-storm-covid-19'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Sonamura-Daudkandi Inland Waterway Route',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Sonamura-Daudkandi</strong> inland waterway route between India and Bangladesh was operationalised.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Daudkandi is in Bangladesh, while Sonamura is in Tripura, India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sonamura-Daudkandi Route:</strong> The inland waterway route <strong>over river Gumati</strong> was included in the list of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protocol-on-inland-water-transit-and-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Bangla Protocol (IBP) routes</strong></a> in May 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It connects <strong>Tripura with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-waterway-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Waterways</a> of India</strong> through Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit of the Route:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will improve the connectivity of Tripura and the adjoining States with Indian and Bangladesh&rsquo;s economic centers and will help the hinterland of both the countries.</li>
<li>It will open up new avenues for economic development in both the countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protocol on Transit and Trade:</strong> Bangladesh and India have a long standing and time-tested Protocol on Transit and Trade through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/use-of-waterways-for-reducing-transportation-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inland waterways.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provides inland waterways connectivity between the two countries, particularly with the North Eastern Region of India and also enhances bilateral trade.</li>
<li>This Protocol was first signed in 1972.</li>
<li>It was last renewed in for five years with a provision for its automatic renewal for a further period of five years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Routes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As per the <strong>IBP on Inland Water Transit &amp; Trade,</strong> inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country.</li>
<li>The existing protocol routes are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kolkata-Pandu-Kolkata</li>
<li>Kolkata-Karimganj - Kolkata</li>
<li>Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi</li>
<li>Pandu-Karimganj-Pandu</li>
<li>Sonamura-Daudkandi</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the Protocol, <strong>50:50 cargo sharing</strong> by Indian and Bangladeshi vessels is permitted both for transit and inter country trade.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ladis-least-available-depth-information-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)</strong> </a>is the Competent Authority on Indian side.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>River Gumati</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>largest and longest river of Tripura</strong> with a cumulative length of 180 km.</li>
<li><strong>Dumbur dam</strong> is built over the river.</li>
<li>The river meets with river <strong>Meghna</strong> in Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-the-opening-of-waterway-with-bangladesh-means-for-tripura-6584061/" 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/sonamura-daudkandi-inland-waterway-route'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Financing the Fiscal Deficit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India, being one the hardest hit major economy due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, faces the challenge of managing its fiscal deficit.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Borrowing more and monetizing the deficit</strong> are the options being considered by the government and <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> to finance the fiscal deficit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>State of Indian Economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the official data, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increased-fiscal-deficit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Centre&rsquo;s fiscal deficit</strong> </a>for the first three months of fiscal 2020-21 (April-June) was Rs. 6.62 lakh crore, which is 83% of the budgeted target for the whole year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the economists, the fiscal deficit may end up as high as 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), far exceeding the budget&rsquo;s goal of 3.5%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-contracted-by-23-9-in-first-quarter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GDP contracted by 23.9% in the first</strong></a> (April-June) quarter of 2020 compared to the same period (April-June) in 2019.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contraction-in-manufacturing-pmi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>manufacturing sector is also contracting,</strong></a> as per the recent IHS Markit India Manufacturing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/purchasing-manager-s-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI).</strong></a></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contraction-in-core-sector-industries" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>output of eight core industries</strong> </a>contracted for the <strong>fourth consecutive month - shrinking by 15%</strong> in June 2020.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-stability-report-rbi-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Stability Report</strong></a> from RBI also shows an increase in bad loans and Non-Performing Assets (NPA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Methods of Bridging the Fiscal Deficit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Borrowing from the market:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has already raised its gross market borrowing target for the current financial year by<strong> more than 50%,</strong> owing to the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Disadvantage: </strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>High Debt:</strong> An increased <strong>borrowing</strong> programme means that the public <strong>debt</strong> will go up.</li>
<li><strong>Higher Interest Rates:</strong> Higher borrowing can <strong>push up interest rates</strong> because markets are nervous about the government's ability to repay.</li>
<li><strong>Increase in Taxes:</strong> It may also necessitate an increase in taxes. This may burden the common people and also lead to less spending and saving by the public, leading to a stalled market.</li>
<li><strong>Crowding out:</strong> When the government borrows from the private sector by selling bonds, the private sector is left with less money to spend and invest. Therefore, although government spending increases, private sector spending falls.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Monetisation of the Deficit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Monetising deficit means RBI purchases government bonds in the primary market and <strong>prints more money to finance the debt.</strong></li>
<li>This is resorted to only when the government <strong>cannot borrow from the market</strong> (Banks and other Financial Institutions like LIC).</li>
<li>The money printed by the RBI is called <strong>high powered money or reserve money or monetary base.</strong></li>
<li>RBI also conducts <strong>indirect monetization of deficit</strong> through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-twist" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Open Market Operations (OMOs).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>OMOs are market operations conducted by RBI by way of <strong>sale/purchase of government securities to/from the market</strong> with an objective to <strong>adjust the rupee liquidity conditions</strong> in the market on a durable basis.</li>
<li>Recently, RBI <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/open-market-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>decided to infuse Rs. 10,000 crore liquidity in the banking system</strong></a> by buying government securities through OMOs.</li>
<li>Purchase of Government securities by the RBI helps in increasing the supply of the money in the market and with banks. It helps to stabilize the market economy and generates credibility in the investors.</li>
<li>It is different from monetization as it is controlled by RBI instead of the government as it is not as inflationary as deficit monetization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has <strong>helped in the economic development</strong> of India as our domestic savings were less than 9% of GDP and the capacity to raise loans was also limited during the early 1950s, constraining the welfare activities of the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disadvantages:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Deficit financing is <strong>inflationary</strong> and is bad for the health of the central bank.</li>
<li>It may<strong> push up interest rates</strong> and thus make it even more difficult for the government to service the loan.</li>
<li>It also poses threat to the<strong> financial stability</strong> of the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>FRBM and Monetizing Deficits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Monetisation of deficit was in practice in India till 1997, whereby the central bank automatically monetised government deficit through the issuance of ad-hoc<strong> treasury bills.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Two agreements were signed between the government and RBI in 1994 and 1997</strong> to completely phase out funding through ad-hoc treasury bills.</li>
<li>With the enactment of <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management</a> (FRBM) Act, 2003,</strong> it was totally barred.</li>
<li>However, the FRBM Act Amendment, 2018 contains an escape clause which permits monetisation of the deficit under special circumstances. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Escape clause</strong> generally refers to a contract provision that specifies the conditions under which a party can be freed from an obligation.</li>
<li>Escape clauses provide <strong>flexibility to governments to overshoot fiscal deficit targets</strong> in times of need, enabling them to respond to economic shocks.</li>
<li>The escape clause under the FRBM Act details a set of events in which the Central government can deviate from fiscal deficit targets. These include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Overriding considerations of national security, acts of war, and calamities of national proportion and collapse of agriculture severely affecting farm output and incomes.</li>
<li>Far-reaching structural reforms in the economy with unanticipated fiscal implications.</li>
<li>A sharp decline in real output growth of at least 3% points below the average for the previous four quarters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since the RBI has already taken up Open Market Operations and adopted a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/monetary-policy-report-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>monetary policy framework</strong></a> to insert liquidity into the market, monetizing the deficit will only cost the government the credibility of the market and put inflationary pressure.</li>
<li>Given the inflation-prone nature of Indian economy, monetization of deficit should only be considered as a last resort. Even if it is adopted, the primary challenge will be to communicate and ensure that this is a one-off pandemic-induced arrangement and not a recurrent financing line.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/pandemic-may-force-govt-to-borrow-more/article32575961.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/financing-the-fiscal-deficit'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Autonomous Bodies',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/autonomous-bodies-are-crucial-to-the-government-s-functioning-streamline-them/story-dvMYKe37JaXNrlnPJW8NzH.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Autonomous bodies are crucial to the government&rsquo;s functioning. Streamline them</strong></a>, which was published in Hindustan Times on 11<sup>th</sup> of September 2020. It analyses the issues of Autonomous Bodies and their utilities.</p>
</div>
<p>The Union Government has recently abolished the All India Handicrafts Board, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-handloom-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Handloom</strong></a> Board and the Power Loom Board in consonance with the government&rsquo;s vision of <strong>minimum government, maximum governance.</strong> The Ministry of Textiles also changed the status of the eight Textile Research Associations to &ldquo;approved bodies&rdquo;, instead of the earlier &ldquo;affiliated bodies&rdquo;.</p>
<p>Thereafter, the government withdrew the officials of the ministry of textiles from the governing bodies of these textile associations. These are bold steps in achieving leaner government machinery and to introduce systematic rationalisation of government bodies.</p>
<p>Further, it was evident for quite some time now that despite a laid out administrative structure in <strong>Autonomous Bodies (ABs),</strong> there are a number of governance issues that need review.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What are Autonomous Bodies (ABs)?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Autonomous Bodies are set up whenever it is felt that certain functions need to be discharged outside the governmental set up with some amount of independence and flexibility without day-to-day interference of the Governmental machinery.</li>
<li>These are set up by the Ministries/Departments concerned with the subject matter and are funded through grants-in-aid, either fully or partially, depending on the extent which such institutes generate internal resources of their own.</li>
<li>These grants are regulated by the Ministry of Finance through their instructions as well as the instructions relating to powers for creation of posts and etc.</li>
<li>They are mostly registered as societies under the Societies Registration Act and in certain cases they have been set up as statutory institutions under the provisions contained in various Acts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Functionality of Autonomous Bodies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Autonomous bodies are a major stakeholder in the government&rsquo;s functioning as they are engaged in diverse activities, ranging from formulating frameworks for policies, conducting research, and preserving the cultural heritage, etc.</li>
<li>The apex administrative body of ABs is called governing council or governing body and is chaired by the minister or the secretary of the respective ministry.</li>
<li>These Autonomous Bodies have specialised committees such as the purchase committee, works committee, finance committee, with nominated ministry officials.</li>
<li>These Autonomous Bodies are audited by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</strong></a>, and the annual report is presented in the Parliament every year.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues With ABs</h3>
<p><strong>Accountability</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These bodies are funded by taxpayer&rsquo;s money. However, there have been complaints that they don&rsquo;t follow the policies of the government and are accountable the way the government departments are.</li>
<li>Even though the senior ministry officials are required to attend ABs&rsquo; committee meetings, they mostly don&rsquo;t due to their busy schedules.</li>
<li>They nominate junior officials who often lack the jurisdiction to take meaningful decisions during the meetings.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Opaque Recruitment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The exact count of these bodies is not known, with estimates ranging from 400 to 650.</li>
<li>Autonomous Bodies employ a considerable number of people. For example, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research</strong></a>, an Autonomous Body under the ministry of agriculture, has almost 17,000 employees.</li>
<li>However, unlike the government and the public sector undertakings, in which the recruitment rules are uniform and the recruitment is done by a centralised body such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/legal-status-for-ssc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Staff Selection Committee (SSC)</strong></a>, the<strong> Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)</strong> there is no such body for such recruitments.</li>
<li>As a result, the mode of recruitment and recruitment rules differs for each of these bodies, sometimes even across ABs within the same ministry.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Non-Adherence to Envisaged Goal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The boards have fallen into disuse and did not serve the purpose for which they were envisioned.</li>
<li>The boards were merely advisory in nature and failed to impact on influencing policy-making while they became vehicles of &ldquo;political patronage&rdquo; with the emergence of a &lsquo;middleman culture&rsquo; that did not help the interests of weavers.</li>
<li>The structure of these boards made room for a large number of non-official members to advise the government.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Non Uniform Auditing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is no uniform audit procedure.</li>
<li>Some ABs are audited by CAG whereas many are done by chartered accountants.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Legal Framework</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A legal framework should be devised which defines the boundaries of its working, its autonomy, and the various policies that it must follow.</li>
<li>This will simultaneously help identify the numbers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Comprehensive Review</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Each ministry will need to undertake a comprehensive review of ABs under their jurisdiction.</li>
<li>ABs that have outlived the cause for which they were established may need to be closed or merged with a similar organisation or their memorandum altered as per the new charter.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>A Pan India Recruitment Agency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To bring about uniformity in the policies, a task force needs to be set up under a pan-Indian agency such as SSC or UPSC.</li>
<li>It will streamline the recruitment rules, salary structure, allowance and perks paid to employees, and mode of recruitment.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Collaborated Approach</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To ensure the participation of ministry officials, committee meetings of similar ABs should be held together so that the appropriate authorities could provide meaningful suggestions.</li>
<li>It is also alleged that most of the agenda items raised by ABs are routine in nature. This should be discouraged, and only the important policy issues that need the ministry&rsquo;s intervention should be taken up in such meetings.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Uniform Independent Auditing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Audits of ABs should be undertaken by an independent agency.</li>
<li>CAG had done an exhaustive performance audit of autonomous scientific bodies in 2016, highlighting the gaps in their performance.</li>
<li>Such a theme-based audit should be done for other ABs as well.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All these years on, these ABs have remained the one official forum however watered down, where the voices and views of different stakeholders could be expressed directly. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They bring diversity and can shape the government policies in a more inclusive way.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is an urgent need to define them properly, bring uniformity in their policies, facilitate senior officials&rsquo; attendance in their meetings, and seek independent audits.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #faffd6;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Autonomous bodies are very crucial to the government&rsquo;s functioning. Thus, there is an urgent need to streamline them&rdquo;. In the light of the statement critically discuss the role of Autonomous Bodies and their governance issues.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Global Innovation Index 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Global Innovation Index 2020</strong> was released by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institutions-international-world-intellectual-property-organisation-wipo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Intellectual Property Organisation</strong></a> (WIPO).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India <strong>is at the 48<sup>th</sup> position</strong> in the list of top 50 innovative countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India occupied the 52<sup>nd</sup> position in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-innovation-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2019 rankings.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Switzerland, Sweden, the USA, the UK and Netherlands</strong> are the top five countries.</li>
<li>With a group of <strong>Asian economies advancing up</strong> the rankings, the index indicates that <strong>"a gradual eastward shift in the locus of innovation"</strong> is underway.</li>
<li>In Asian economies, <strong>China, India, the Philippines and Vietnam</strong> have made the most progress on the index in recent years, with all four now among the top 50.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is one of the leading innovation achievers</strong> in the central and southern Asian region, as it has <strong>shown a consistent improvement</strong> in its innovation ranking for the last 5 years.</li>
<li><strong>China,</strong> which is the <strong>only middle-income economy among the top 30,</strong> now holds the <strong>14<sup>th</sup> position.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has become the <strong>third most innovative lower-middle-income economy</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>India ranks in the <strong>top 15</strong> in indicators such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-technology-in-governance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information and Communication Technology</strong></a><strong> (ICT) services exports, <a href="/admin/articles/edit/oronavirus%20live update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government online services</a>, graduates in science and engineering, </strong>and<strong> Research and Development-intensive global companies.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>improved the most in three pillars:</strong> Institutions (61<sup>st</sup>), business sophistication (55<sup>th</sup>), and creative outputs (64<sup>th</sup>).</li>
<li>The<strong> consistent improvement</strong> in the index rankings is owing to the immense knowledge capital, the vibrant startup ecosystem, and the amazing work done by the public and private research organisations.</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-innovation-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India Innovation Index 2019</strong> </a>which was released by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a>, has been widely <strong>accepted as the major step in the direction of decentralisation of innovation</strong> across all the states of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Innovation Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It provides <strong>detailed metrics about the innovation performance of 131 countries and economies</strong> around the world.</li>
<li>Its<strong> 80 indicators</strong> explore a broad vision of innovation, including political environment, education, infrastructure and business sophistication.</li>
<li>It is published annually by <strong>Cornell University, INSEAD </strong>and the<strong> WIPO.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2020 Theme: Who will Finance Innovation?</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The GII 2020 sheds light on the state of innovation financing by investigating the evolution of existing mechanisms and by pointing to progress and remaining challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599819009_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599819009_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/india-jumps-4-places-to-rank-48-on-global-innovation-index-2020/articleshow/77890704.cms#:~:text=NEW%20DELHI%3A%20The%202020%20edition,at%2048th%20position%20since%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TOI</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-innovation-index-2020'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'SAROD-Ports: Dispute Resolution Mechanism',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union <strong>Ministry of Shipping</strong> launched <strong>&lsquo;SAROD-Ports&rsquo; (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes - Ports)</strong> through virtual ceremony in New Delhi.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About SAROD-Ports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is established under <strong>Societies Registration Act, 1860.</strong></li>
<li>&lsquo;SAROD-Ports&rsquo; is similar to provision available in Highway Sector in the form of <strong>SAROD-Roads</strong> constituted by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-highways-authority-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Highways Authority of India</a> (NHAI).</strong></li>
<li>It consists of members from <strong>Indian Ports Association (IPA) </strong>and<strong> Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPTTA).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SAROD-Ports will <strong>advise and assist</strong> in settlement of disputes <strong>through arbitrations</strong> in the maritime sector, including ports and shipping sector in Major Port Trusts, Non-major Ports, including private ports, jetties, terminals and harbours.</li>
<li>It will also cover disputes between:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Granting authority and Licensee/Concessionaire /Contractor.</li>
<li>Also, disputes between Licensee/Concessionaire and their contractors arising out of and during the course of execution of various contracts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SAROD-Ports will become the pivotal mechanism of <strong><em>ummeed</em> (hope), <em>vishwas</em> (trust) and <em>nyaya</em> (justice)</strong> in the Port sector of India. It will lead to <strong>saving huge amounts of legal expenditure and time.</strong></li>
<li>Enforcement of <strong>concession agreements</strong> in the letter and spirit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>concession agreement</strong> is a<strong> contract</strong> that gives a company the right to operate a specific business within a government's jurisdiction or on another firm's property, subject to particular terms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will promote <strong>ease of doing business</strong> in the maritime sector because of the <strong>fast, timely, cost effective and robust dispute resolution mechanism.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will inspire confidence in the private players.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>All major Ports will shift towards the <strong>&lsquo;Landlord Model&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Model Concession Agreement</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Model Concession Agreement is the <strong>core of public private partnership projects</strong> in India. It sets regulatory framework to implement PPP (Public Private Projects) in India. There are MCAs for national highways, urban rail transit systems, state highways and ports.</li>
<li><strong>Amendments to the Model Concession Agreement (MCA):</strong> In January 2018, the government approved amendments in the Model Concession Agreement (MCA) to make the Port Projects more investor-friendly.</li>
<li><strong>Key features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Constitution of the<strong> Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes &ndash;</strong> Ports (SAROD-Ports) as dispute resolution mechanism.</li>
<li>Providing <strong>an exit route to developers</strong> by way of divesting their equity upto 100% after completion of 2 years from the Commercial Operation Date (COD).</li>
<li>Under provision of additional land to the Concessionaire, <strong>land rent has been reduced</strong> from 200% to 120% of the applicable scale of rates for the proposed additional land.</li>
<li>Introduction of <strong>Complaint Portal</strong> for the use of port users.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Landlord Port Model</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the landlord port model, the <strong>publicly governed port authority acts as a regulatory body</strong> and as landlord <strong>while private companies carry out port operations&mdash;</strong>mainly cargo-handling activities.</li>
<li>The port authority maintains ownership of the port while the infrastructure is leased to private firms that provide and maintain their own superstructure and install their own equipment to handle cargo.</li>
<li>In return, the landlord port gets a share of the revenue from the private entity.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, most major port trusts in India carry out terminal operations as well, resulting in a hybrid model of port governance. The involvement of the port authorities in terminal operations leads to a<strong> conflict of interest.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> neutrality</strong> of the landlord port authority is a<strong> basic requirement</strong> for fair competition between port service providers, particularly the terminal operators.</li>
<li>The role of the landlord port authority would be to carry out all public sector services and operations such as the award of bids for cargo terminals and dredging.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1652979" 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/sarod-ports-dispute-resolution-mechanism'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Panel to Assess Impact of Waiving Loan Interest',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union government has constituted an expert committee to measure the economic impact of waiving of interest and interest on interest on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> related <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>loan moratorium.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Chairmanship:</strong> The expert panel will be <strong>chaired by Rajiv Mehrishi,</strong> former <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</strong></a> of India, and will<strong> submit its report within one week.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Task:</strong> It will measure the impact on the national economy and financial stability of waiving of interest and Covid-19 related moratorium. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also give suggestions to mitigate financial constraints of various sections of society in this respect and measures to be adopted in this regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The move came as<strong> various concerns</strong> have been raised during the ongoing hearing in the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court</strong></a> in the matter regarding relief sought in terms of waiver of interest and waiver of interest on interest and other related issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court has extended its interim order that no account is to be declared <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Performing Assets (NPA)</strong> </a>till further orders.</li>
<li>The Court granted two weeks to the Centre and 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> to file the affidavit and place before it the decisions taken in this regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Moratorium on Repayments of Loans</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>moratorium</strong> provides stressed customers extra time to repay without their accounts being labelled NPA or their credit score being affected.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>not a loan waiver</strong> and does not offer any discount on interest payout.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>RBI had allowed banks to<strong> defer payment of Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs)</strong> on home, car, personal loans as well as <strong>credit card dues till 31<sup>st</sup> August 2020.</strong></li>
<li>The RBI had also allowed lending institutions, banks to <strong>defer interest on working capital repayments&mdash;</strong> a move aimed at addressing the distress among firms as production is down.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A working capital loan is a loan that is taken to finance a company&rsquo;s everyday operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As the six-month moratorium on loan repayments ended on <strong>31<sup>st</sup></strong> August, the RBI has released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/resolution-plan-by-rbi-for-covid-19-stressed-assets" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>final loan restructuring guidelines</strong></a> suggested by<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/k-v-kamath-committee-on-restructuring-of-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> K.V. Kamath Committee.</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Restructuring for corporate loans will be based on financial parameters set out in RBI rules, while for retail borrowers, lenders will put in place board-approved policies for recasting loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/govt-forms-panel-to-measure-economic-impact-of-waiving-interest-on-loans-under-covid-moratorium-6591189/" 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/panel-to-assess-impact-of-waiving-loan-interest'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Disposal of Cigarette Butts',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> (NGT) has directed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong> </a>(CPCB) to lay down guidelines pertaining to <strong>disposal of cigarette and beedi butts</strong> within three months.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NGT held that tobacco is undoubtedly harmful and it is mainly concerned with the manner of disposal of cigarette and beedi butts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An NGO <strong>&lsquo;Doctors for You&rsquo;</strong> sought instructions to <strong>regulate the disposal</strong> of cigarette and beedi butts apart from <strong>prohibiting the consumption of tobacco in public places.</strong></li>
<li>The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighted that cigarette and beedi butts are not biodegradable but the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change noted that these are <strong>not listed as hazardous.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>CPCB Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A report by CPCB highlighted that the analysis of the cigarette and beedi butts reflects that their <strong>concentrations detected will not be toxic to humans and the environment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cellulose acetate</strong> is a major component (95%) of the cigarette butts <strong>along with the wrapping paper and rayon</strong> and its degradation studies show that it will persist for a longer duration.</li>
<li>However, the <strong>toxicity data for cellulose acetate is not available</strong> yet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings of a Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A study conducted by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ganga-aamantran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Institute of Toxicology Research</strong></a> (IITR) <strong>approves the CPCB report</strong> and holds that the concentration of various parameters analysed is lower than the prescribed limits and will not be toxic.</li>
<li>It added that <strong>natural environmental conditions and laboratory stimulating conditions would be required</strong> to conclude the safety or toxicity of cigarette butts to further correlate with human and environmental health risk assessment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An<strong> inter-ministerial or departmental committee should be constituted</strong> to consult at the national level for conducting an impact study of discarded cigarette and beedi butts and spitting of tobacco products in public places.</li>
<li><strong>Recycling of cellulose acetate</strong> after recovery from cigarette butts may be an immediate solution to the problem.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>need for more studies and research</strong> so that degradation and safety data can be generated which would be helpful in forming guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Steps Taken by the Indian Government to Control Tobacco Consumption</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/who-report-on-global-tobacco-epidemic-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first international treaty</strong> </a>negotiated under the auspices of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation.</strong></a></li>
<li>It was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health.</li>
<li><strong>India ratified it in 2004.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>mCessation Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an initiative<strong> using mobile technology for tobacco cessation.</strong></li>
<li>India launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mobile-scheme-to-quit-tobacco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mCessation</strong> </a>using text messages in 2016 as part of the government&rsquo;s <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital India</a> initiative.</strong></li>
<li>It uses two-way messaging between the individual seeking to quit tobacco use and programme specialists providing them with dynamic support.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <a href="/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-april-2020#9" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>rules</strong> </a>have been notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to amend the 2008 rules which were notified under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Tobacco Control Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare <strong>launched the programme in 2007-08.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to <strong>facilitate the effective implementation of the Tobacco Control Law,</strong> to bring about greater awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco as well as to fulfil the obligations under the WHO-FCTC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>World No Tobacco Day:</strong> Every year, 31<sup>st</sup> May is observed as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-no-tobacco-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World No Tobacco Day</strong> </a>by WHO and global partners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since 2007, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been pushing to introduce <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(05th%20October%202018)" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>stronger graphic health warnings on tobacco packets,</strong></a> with mixed success.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/frame-rules-for-disposal-of-cigarette-butts-ngt/article32576373.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Paddy Stubble Use by PEDA',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Punjab Energy Development Agency</strong> (PEDA) in association with the Govt. of Punjab, is creating alternatives for paddy stubble utilisation.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This includes setting up <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biomass power plants</strong></a> and <strong>producing Bio CNG</strong> from the paddy stubble biomass.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Punjab Energy Development Agency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was formed in Sept. 1991 as a<strong> state nodal agency for promotion and development of renewable energy programmes/projects</strong> and energy conservation programme in the state of Punjab. PEDA is registered as a Society under the Societies Act of 1860.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biomass Power Plants:</strong> PEDA has set up <strong>11 biomass power plants</strong> where 97.50 mega watts (MW) of power is generated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In these plants, 8.80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble is used annually to generate power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bio CNG: Eight projects of Bio CNG are under execution in the state.</strong> These will need around 3-lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s largest Bio CNG project,</strong> which will produce 8,000 m cube biogas per day (equivalent to 33.23 tonnes of Bio CNG per day) is under execution at <strong>Lehragaga tehsil in Sangrur district.</strong> The project is expected to be commissioned by March 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bioethanol Project:</strong> A Bioethanol project of 100 kilolitre is being set up at Talwandi Sabo in <strong>Bathinda.</strong> This will require 2 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bioethanol-blending-of-petrol" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bioethanol</strong></a> can be used to run vehicles after blending with diesel and petrol.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages of these Projects:</strong> After commissioning of all these projects, Punjab will be able to utilise 1.5 million tonnes (7% of the total) paddy stubble.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Farmers&rsquo; income:</strong> Farmers can benefit hugely if they can <strong>sell paddy stubble to the industry</strong> instead of burning it.</li>
<li><strong>Environment benefits:</strong> It will reduce the<strong> pollution</strong> caused by stubble burning and also preserve the<strong> fertility</strong> of the soil which is lost due to burning paddy stubble.</li>
<li><strong>Entrepreneurship:</strong> The youth, particularly engineers, graduates in science and technology can start such projects under the<strong> &lsquo;start-up&rsquo; concept,</strong> which will create entrepreneurship among them.</li>
<li><strong>Employment:</strong> Educated unemployed youth in rural Punjab where such projects will be set up can get big <strong>job opportunities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitations:</strong> Current usage of stubble in these plants is very small compared to the generation of stubble. Punjab needs <strong>varieties of stubble-based industry</strong> where more and more stubble is consumed.</li>
<li><strong>Issues involved with Paddy Stubble:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aboutl 20 million tonnes of paddy stubble or paddy crop residue is generated in Punjab annually. <strong>Less than 5% is being utilized</strong> in Bio-gas, Biomass power generation or other environment-friendly uses. The main mode of getting rid of this stubble is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stubble-burning-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>stubble burning.</strong></a></li>
<li>Stubble Burning is a major cause of concern because of environmental and health reasons. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Stubble burning is considered to be one of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stubble-burning-and-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>factors responsible for smog in Delhi.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The burning of stubble <strong>reduces the soil fertility,</strong> besides polluting the environment.</li>
<li>Additionally, the <strong>heat generated</strong> by stubble burning penetrates into the soil, leading to the loss of moisture and useful microbes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other alternatives to utilize paddy stubble:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Torrefaction: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swedish-technology-to-reduce-stubble-burning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Torrefaction</a></strong> is a thermal process to convert biomass into a coal-like material, which has better fuel characteristics than the original biomass.</li>
<li><strong>Fertilizer:</strong> The stubble can be used for preparation of the <strong>high-grade organic fertilizers</strong> by mixing with cow dung and few natural enzymes.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanized Management:</strong> Stubble can be managed in three ways &mdash; by <strong>pressing the left over stubble under the earth; sowing wheat directly in the standing stubble in the fields and thirdly, by collecting it in bundles.</strong> This can be aided by use of machines like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Super SMS (Straw Management System):</strong> It cuts and spreads the straw in uniform manner in the field at the time of harvesting of paddy.</li>
<li><strong>Happy Seeder</strong>: It can sow wheat directly in such fields in standing paddy stubble (the height of which remains around 18 inches after cutting with Super SMS).</li>
<li><strong>Super Seeder:</strong> It is more advanced and it ploughs standing paddy stubble in soil and sows wheat seed simultaneously in a single operation after harvesting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reduction-in-stubble-burning-incidents" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue</strong> </a>- It is a Central Sector Scheme that was launched by the Government of India to tackle air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/satat-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SATAT Scheme:</strong></a><strong> Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme</strong> was launched by the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Its objectives include reducing pollution from burning of agricultural / organic waste and utilising more than 62 million metric tonnes of waste generated every year in India.</li>
<li>The<strong> Punjab government</strong> has provided <strong>74,000 subsidised machines</strong> called Super SMS, Happy Seeder and Super Seeders to the farmers for stubble management after harvesting.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government must help the youth in setting start-ups for stubble utilization by <strong>getting sanctioned loans and providing a market.</strong></li>
<li>Joint efforts are required on the part of the state, Centre and industries, including public and private participation, to convert all of Punjab&rsquo;s stubble into farmers&rsquo; income. <strong>Stubble-based projects</strong> can be set up at the block-level to manage stubble of that bloc.</li>
<li>An expansion of schemes like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fund-crunch-in-mgnrega" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act</strong></a> (MGNREGA) for harvesting and composting of stubble will help to resolve the dual problem of unemployment and stubble burning.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/biomass-power-plants-bio-cng-bioethanol-how-peda-plans-to-spin-paddy-stubble-into-gold-6590158/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'India-Japan Logistics Agreement',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India and Japan signed a <strong>logistics agreement</strong> that will allow armed forces of both sides to coordinate closely in services and supplies. The agreement is known as <strong>Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement</strong> (ACSA).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has similar agreements with the <strong>USA, Australia, France, Oman and Singapore.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599810825_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599810825_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Agreement:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>aimed</strong> at greater maritime cooperation and can <strong>upgrade India-Japan naval exercises</strong> as both countries are expected to share maritime facilities for mutual benefit.</li>
<li>It <strong>establishes the enabling framework</strong> for closer cooperation between the armed forces of both countries in <strong>reciprocal provision of supplies and services</strong> while engaged in bilateral training activities, United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian International Relief and other mutually agreed activities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The supplies and services include food, water, transportation, airlift, petroleum, clothing, communications and medical services etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will also<strong> enhance the interoperability, assist in maintaining regional security</strong> and further<strong> increase the bilateral defence engagements</strong> between the two countries.</li>
<li>It will <strong>remain in force for 10 years</strong> and will be automatically extended for periods of 10 years unless one of the parties decides to end it.</li>
<li>The agreement is being interpreted as a coming together of Japan and India when India is having a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>border standoff with China at Line of Actual Control (LAC)</strong> </a>in eastern Ladakh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-Japan Defence Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, India and Japan held the first-ever ministerial-level <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-japan-2-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2+2 dialogue.</strong></a> This dialogue involves the Defence and Foreign Ministers on both sides and is seen as an endorsement of the special strategic partnership between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Japan.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both nations share a common vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a> in which the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity are ensured.</li>
<li>India and Japan defence forces organize a series of bilateral exercises namely, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-08th-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JIMEX</a> (naval exercise), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-4th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SHINYUU Maitri</a> (air force exercise),</strong> and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-dharma-guardian-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dharma Guardian</a> (military exercise).</strong> Both countries also participate in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-malabar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malabar exercise</strong></a> with the USA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both the countries are also part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs sophisticated weapons and technology from Japan, so more collaboration and cooperation can prove beneficial to both nations.</li>
<li>There is huge potential as far as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> and defence deals are concerned. Joint ventures could be created by merging Japanese technology with Indian raw materials and labour.</li>
<li>Closer cooperation is the best measure to combat China&rsquo;s growing role in Asia and Indo-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/modi-abe-speak-on-phone-after-india-and-japan-sign-logistics-agreement/article32575638.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Uttar Pradesh government is going to constitute a Special Security Force (SSF) in the state.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>On the lines of the <strong>Central Industrial Security Force,</strong> SSF will be responsible for security of vital government and private buildings, and industrial establishments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can also be hired by private establishments by paying a fixed cost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will be headed by an Additional Director General (ADG)-ranked officer and will be headquartered in <strong>Lucknow.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Powers:</strong> It will <strong>not require magistrate&rsquo;s order or warrants to make an arrest or conduct searches.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its powers will be governed by a set of rules made by the state government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background :</strong> The UPSSF will <strong>set up on the basis of orders of the Allahabad High Court,</strong> which had expressed its displeasure over the security at civil courts in December 2019 over shootout incidents at Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar courts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The court had directed the state government to form an exclusive force for security on court premises.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Industrial Security Force</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a central armed force the Union raised under an Act of Parliament namely <strong>Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968.</strong></li>
<li>It is directly under the <strong>Union Ministry of Home Affairs.</strong></li>
<li>The CISF provides <strong>security cover to industrial units, government infrastructure projects and facilities and establishments located all over India.</strong></li>
<li>Other <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-armed-police-force-capf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>central armed forces</strong></a> in India include <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-reserve-police-force" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Reserve Police Force</a> (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG) and Assam Rifles (AR).</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dgp-asked-to-draw-up-plan-in-3-days-for-new-up-special-force-6595009/" 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/uttar-pradesh-special-security-force'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'India’s Position Shift on Taliban',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has signaled a<strong> shift in its position on engaging with the Taliban</strong> by participating in the commencement ceremony of <strong>Intra-Afghan talks</strong> between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Position Shift:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian presence at the Intra-Afghan peace talks indicates that it has changed its position given the ground reality in Afghanistan and the <strong>changing power structure in Afghanistan.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>USA's withdrawal has given <strong>Pakistan a major role to play in Afghanistan</strong> directly or indirectly through its proxies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, some experts were of the opinion that India chose to attend the ceremony <strong>because the Afghan government was also at the table.</strong></li>
<li>India still <strong>does not recognise</strong> the Taliban.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India believes any peace process must be <strong>Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. i.e.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has to respect the <strong>national sovereignty and territorial integrity</strong> of Afghanistan and promote human rights and democracy.</li>
<li>It also needs to <strong>preserve the progress</strong> made in the establishment of a democratic Islamic Republic in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections of society</strong> must be preserved and the issue of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed.</li>
<li><strong>Indian interests,</strong> which include the Indian Embassy and Indian companies and workers in Afghanistan, <strong>should also be protected.</strong></li>
<li>India supports an <strong>"independent and sovereign"</strong> Afghanistan.The use of words &ldquo;independent and sovereign&rdquo; make it clear that <strong>Pakistan and the&nbsp;Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) should not control the levers in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-taliban-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA signed a deal with the Taliban</strong> </a>that paved the way towards a full withdrawal of USA troops from Afghanistan and also represent a step towards ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The peace deal was expected to<strong> kick-off two processes- a phased withdrawal of US troops </strong>and an<strong> &lsquo;intra-Afghan&rsquo; dialogue.</strong></li>
<li>The deal is a fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for the Afghanistan peace process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Interests in Afghanistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indias-role-in-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>major stake</strong></a> in the stability of Afghanistan. India has invested considerable resources in Afghanistan's development.<strong> E.g.</strong> the <strong>Afghan Parliament, the Zaranj-Delaram Highway,</strong> Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam <strong>(Salma Dam)</strong> among others.</li>
<li>Afghanistan is the <strong>gateway to Central Asia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600072101_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600072101_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="395" height="297" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is concerned about the <strong>Taliban&rsquo;s links with Pakistan&rsquo;s ISI</strong> and efforts by the latter to use the <strong>Haqqani network</strong> to target India&rsquo;s interests in Afghanistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s Afghanistan policy continues to be assessed vis-a-vis Pakistan, which opposes any security role for India in Afghanistan and sees India&rsquo;s presence there as detrimental to its interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Taliban also has link with <strong>Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Laskar-e-Toiba (LeT)</strong> who are behind various terrorist activities against India.</li>
<li>India still<strong> does not recognise</strong> the Taliban. However, if it considers the option of entering into direct talks with the Taliban,<strong> it would constitute a major departure</strong> from its consistent policy of dealing only with recognised governments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to re-evaluate its decisions and be more omnidirectional in its approach to deal with all forces that are central to the future of Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The changing political and security situation requires India to be more open to adapting its maximalist position and starting a dialogue with the Taliban.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/taliban-afghan-deal-s-jaishankar-doha-meeting-6593833/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-position-shift-on-taliban'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Masking The Question',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/democracy-in-question-parliament-question-hour-6591172/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Democracy in question: If questions are disallowed in Parliament, more will be asked outside it&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 12<sup>th</sup> of September 2020. It analyses the issues of scrapping Questions Hour and limiting Zero Hour in the monsoon session of the Parliament.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats have notified that there will be <strong>no Question Hour</strong> during the monsoon session of the Parliament which has already been truncated to September 14-October, in view of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid 19 pandemic</strong></a>, and that <strong>Zero Hour</strong> will be restricted in both Houses. The move has come under heavy criticism as the opposition believe they will lose the right to question the government which can be termed as undemocratic.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Question Hour</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/question-hour-and-zero-hour#:~:text=Definition%3A%20The%20first%20hour%20of,slotted%20for%20the%20Question%20Hour.&amp;text=During%20this%20one%20hour%2C%20Members,MPs%20who%20are%20not%20ministers)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Question Hour</strong></a> is the first hour of a sitting session of India's Parliament devoted to questions that Members of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/parliamentary-reforms-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parliament</strong></a> raise about any aspect of administrative activity.</li>
<li>The concerned Minister is obliged to answer to the Parliament, either orally or in writing, depending on the type of question raised.</li>
<li>Question Hour is the liveliest hour in Parliament when members of parliament hold the Government accountable for the functioning of their ministries.</li>
<li>Over the last 70 years, MPs have successfully used this parliamentary device to shine a light on government functioning.</li>
<li>Their questions have exposed financial irregularities and brought data and information regarding government functioning to the public domain.</li>
<li>With the broadcasting of Question Hour since 1991, Question Hour has become one the most visible aspects of parliamentary functioning.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Zero Hour</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/question-hour-and-zero-hour#:~:text=Definition%3A%20The%20first%20hour%20of,slotted%20for%20the%20Question%20Hour.&amp;text=During%20this%20one%20hour%2C%20Members,MPs%20who%20are%20not%20ministers)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zero Hour</strong></a> is an Indian parliamentary innovation.</li>
<li>The phrase does not find mention in the rules of procedure.</li>
<li>The concept of Zero Hour started organically in the first decade of Indian Parliament, when MPs felt the need for raising important constituencies and national issues.</li>
<li>During the initial days, Parliament used to break for lunch at 1 pm.</li>
<li>Therefore, the opportunity for MPs to raise national issues without an advance notice became available at 12 pm and could last for an hour until the House adjourned for lunch.</li>
<li>This led to the hour being popularly referred to as Zero Hour and the issues being raised during this time as Zero Hour submissions.</li>
<li>Over the years, presiding officers of both Houses have given directions to streamline the working of Zero Hour to make it even more effective.</li>
<li>Its importance can be gauged from the support it receives from citizens, media, MPs and presiding officers despite not being part of the rulebook.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Rules Regarding Question Hour</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Authority of Presiding Officer</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-speaker-roles-and-responsibility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> presiding officers</strong></a> of the two houses are the final authority with respect to the conduct of Question Hour.</li>
<li>For example, usually Question Hour is the first hour of a parliamentary sitting but In 2014, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari shifted Question Hour in the House from 11 am to 12 noon.</li>
<li>The move was to prevent the disruption of Question Hour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kind of Questions</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Questions have to be limited to 150 words.</li>
<li>They have to be precise and not too general.</li>
<li>The question should also be related to an area of responsibility of the Government of India.</li>
<li>Questions should not seek information about matters that are secret or are under adjudication before courts.</li>
<li>It is the presiding officers of the two Houses who finally decide whether a question raised by an MP will be admitted for answering by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Timing of Question Hour</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The process of asking and answering questions starts with identifying the days on which Question Hour will be held.</li>
<li>At the beginning of Parliament in 1952, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/code-of-conduct-for-lok-sabha-mps" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lok Sabha rules</strong></a> provided for Question Hour to be held every day. Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, had a provision for Question Hour for two days a week.</li>
<li>A few months later, this was changed to four days a week.</li>
<li>Then from 1964, Question Hour was taking place in Rajya Sabha on every day of the session.</li>
<li>Now, Question Hour in both Houses is held on all days of the session.</li>
<li>But there are two days when an exception is made. One, on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall. Second on the day the Finance Minister presents the Budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Starred And Unstarred Questions</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MPs can specify whether they want an oral or written response to their questions.</li>
<li>They can put an asterisk against their question signifying that they want the minister to answer that question on the floor.</li>
<li>These are referred to as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/starred-questions-in-parliamentary-proceedings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>starred questions.</strong></a></li>
<li>After the minister&rsquo;s response, the MP who asked the question and other MPs can also ask a follow-up question.</li>
<li>This is the visible part of Question Hour, where you see MPs trying to corner ministers on the functioning of their ministries on live television.</li>
<li>Seasoned parliamentarians choose to ask an oral question when the answer to the question will put the government in an uncomfortable position.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>15 Days Notice</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ministries receive the questions 15 days in advance so that they can prepare their ministers for Question Hour.</li>
<li>They also have to prepare for sharp follow-up questions they can expect to be asked in the House.</li>
<li>Government officers are close at hand in a gallery so that they can pass notes or relevant documents to support the minister in answering a question.</li>
<li>MPs usually ask questions to hold ministers accountable but the rules also provide them with a mechanism for asking their colleagues a question.</li>
<li>Such a question should be limited to the role of an MP relating to a Bill or a resolution being piloted by them or any other matter connected with the functioning of the House for which they are responsible.</li>
<li>Should the presiding officer so allow, MPs can also ask a question to a minister at a notice period shorter than 15 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<p><strong>Infringement of Constitutional Right</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The right to ask questions flows from Article 75 of Indian constitution which says that the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the people.</li>
<li>Collective responsibility also implies that the government shall be accountable to the house which represents the people of this country.</li>
<li>Thus, the curtailment of question hour and zero hour undermines the principle of parliamentary oversight over executive.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>A Hindrance To Representative Democracy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Question Hour is a manifestation of a representative kind of democracy in operation, in the sense that representation of the people directly questions the government on matters of governance.</li>
<li>The government is duty bound to answer the questions in the House.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Questions Government&rsquo;s Intention</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Questions Hour concerns serious and urgent matters and is live telecasted on the national TV.</li>
<li>It keeps the masses informed about the Government&rsquo;s response and vision on all important matters of governance. This becomes more important in the current situation when India is battling the pandemic and economic downfall.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, by doing away with question hour in this parliamentary session, the government may sidestep on accountability on the above matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Disruptions do not justify the scrapping of questions altogether.</li>
<li>Various options for social distancing can be attempted like reserving each day for select ministries to prevent crowding by officials seeking to help their ministers.</li>
<li>At the same time an orderly conduct can also ensure that the questions are raised with discipline and they don&rsquo;t affect the safety protocol too.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Democracy is judged by the debate it encourages and sustains. Also asking questions is the essence of democracy. The questions that are asked from civil society platforms, the mass media, community gatherings are ultimately within the highest temple of democracy, the legislature itself.</p>
<p>Thus, the Question hour &amp; Zero hour acts as important tools for enabling the doctrine of checks and balance. Therefore, Parliaments should not dispense with these even at the time of war.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599911286_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599911286_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: #f7ffe3;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Parliament&rsquo;s relevance stems from asking tough questions from the government&rdquo;. In the light of the statement critically analyse the decision of the government to scrap the Question Hour in the monsoon session and the possible solutions.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A4QyIGJdqIM" 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/op-ed/the-twisted-trajectory-of-bt-cotton/article32566091.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The twisted trajectory of Bt cotton&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on September 10<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/masking-the-question'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Virtual Courts',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice</strong> has presented its report <strong>&ldquo;Functioning of the Virtual Courts/Courts Proceedings through VideoConferencing&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is the <strong>first report</strong> to be presented <strong>by any parliamentary panel</strong> on the<strong> impact of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> pandemic.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pre-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> period,</strong> the <strong>video-conference</strong> (VC) set up was primarily used<strong> for conducting remand matters to prevent movement of prisoners between courts and jails.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such VC facilities have been operationalised between 3,240 court complexes and corresponding 1,272 prisons.</li>
<li>In August 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-courts-3#:~:text=The%20e%2DCourts%20project%20was,by%20ICT%20enablement%20of%20Courts." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>High Court of Punjab and Haryana launched its first virtual court</strong></a> at Faridabad to deal with traffic challan cases from across the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The report suggests that a <strong>full-fledged <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-virtual-courts-and-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener">virtual court</a> should be piloted</strong> in the first instance and recommends the <strong>continuation of virtual courts in a post-Covid-19 scenario.</strong></li>
<li>It argued that <strong>transfer of certain categories of cases,</strong> like cases pertaining to traffic challans or other petty offences, from regular court establishments to virtual courts <strong>will reduce the pendency of cases.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, there are 30 million pending cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Virtual/digital justice is <strong>cheaper and faster</strong> besides <strong>addressing locational and economic handicaps.</strong></li>
<li>Virtual courts are an improvement over traditional courts as they are <strong>more citizen-friendly and offer greater access to justice.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>productivity of lawyers will increase substantially</strong> as there will be no regular visits to courts and long waiting hours. If this practice is extended to other civil cases, <strong>efficiency will double,</strong> even treble,<strong> in judicial functioning.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Various stakeholders have noted that the <strong>present infrastructure does not support virtual court proceedings.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>3,477 courtrooms are supported with facilities for virtual proceedings while 14,443 are still to be provided with them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Almost 50% of <strong>lawyers,</strong> particularly in district courts, <strong>do not have any laptop or computer facility</strong> so their participation in the virtual courts will be either very less or not at all.</li>
<li><strong>All judges are not able to undertake virtual hearings</strong> due to lack of experience and also due to lack of sufficient infrastructure to enable all of them to undertake virtual hearings.</li>
<li>Virtual court hearings, especially during peak hours when many people log into the video-conferencing system, are <strong>subject to frequent crashes of the system </strong>and one <strong>glitch can spoil the entire proceeding.</strong></li>
<li>There are concerns that virtual courts will<strong> compromise the privacy of data as well as the confidentiality of discussions and court proceedings,</strong> due to the usage of third-party software applications, which are <strong>prone to hacking and manipulation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Infrastructure needs to be updated</strong> with sufficient machinery and data connectivity to provide with the virtual proceeding.</li>
<li><strong>Virtual proceedings can be extended permanently to various Appellate</strong> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/tribunals-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tribunals</strong></a> like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/interoperable-set-top-boxes-trai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-company-law-appellate-tribunal-nclat-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Appellate Tribunal</strong></a>, etc. located across the country which do not require personal appearances of the parties/advocates.</li>
<li>The Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been recommended to <strong>address data privacy and data security concerns</strong> while developing a new platform for India&rsquo;s judicial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>e-Courts Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was conceptualized on the basis of the<strong> &ldquo;National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary-2005&rdquo;</strong> submitted by<strong> e-Committee, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court of India</a></strong> with a vision to transform the Indian Judiciary by ICT enablement of Courts.</li>
<li>The e-Courts Mission Mode Project, is a <strong>pan-India Project,</strong> monitored and funded by the <strong>Department of Justice,</strong> Ministry of Law and Justice, for the District Courts across the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While India grapples with a crisis on the health and economic front, there is a need to think out of the box and a change in mindset regarding the work-culture is needed.</li>
<li>It is time that the courtroom, which is often regarded as the last bastion of antiquated working practices, opens its doors to the latest technology.</li>
<li>If vested interests are kept aside and collective will to initiate what is for the common good takes precedence, a virtual judiciary can become a part of Indian judiciary.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-courts-1'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Limits on Multi-Cap Fund Investments',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India</strong></a> <strong>(SEBI)</strong> has<strong> imposed some limits</strong> on <strong>multi-cap funds.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Multi-Cap Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Multi-cap funds are those that <strong>diversify their investments</strong> into all three categories (small, medium, and large-cap).</li>
<li>These funds invest by <strong>market capitalization of shares. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Market capitalization</strong> is the aggregate valuation of the company based on its current share price and the total number of outstanding stocks.</li>
<li>It is calculated by multiplying the current market price of the company's share with the total outstanding shares of the company.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Large cap stocks:</strong> Stocks of top 100 listed companies in terms of full market capitalisation.</li>
<li><strong>Mid-cap stocks:</strong> Stocks of top 101 to 250 companies in terms of full market capitalisation.</li>
<li><strong>Small-cap stocks:</strong> Stocks of companies above 251 in terms of full market capitalisation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Changes Made:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A multi cap fund will be required to<strong> invest a minimum of 75%</strong> of its total assets in equities and equity-related instruments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At present, the rule is to invest a minimum of 65% in equities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Minimum investment of <strong>75% has to be allocated in between</strong> large cap companies, mid cap companies and small cap companies, with a <strong>minimum share of 25% in each.</strong> The rest 25% can be invested as per the investor&rsquo;s choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Till now, fund managers of multi cap mutual funds were investing across market capitalisation as per their choice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The changes have been done <strong>to diversify the underlying investments</strong> of multi-cap funds across the large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap companies and be true to the label.</li>
<li>Currently, the portfolio of most multi cap funds is <strong>biased towards large caps</strong> with 65% to 90% of their portfolio in large cap stocks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fund houses will have to cut their exposure to big cap stocks and invest in mid- and small-cap stocks.</li>
<li>This will result in up to Rs. 40,000 crore moving from largecap to broader market (mid-cap and small-cap fund).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/sebi-imposes-limits-on-multi-cap-fund-investments-churn-in-mutual-fund-schemes-worth-rs-40k-cr-likely-6592542/" 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/limits-on-multi-cap-fund-investments'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Five Point Plan to De-escalate LAC Stand-off',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India and China have agreed on a <strong>five points plan</strong> to <strong>disengage troops</strong> and <strong>reduce tensions</strong> along the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Line of Actual Control</strong> </a><strong>(LAC),</strong> where<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a four and a half month long stand-off.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move came after the <strong>talks between India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister and his Chinese counterpart,</strong> on the margins of a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-sco-summit-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</strong></a> meeting in Russia.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599905289_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599905289_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Five Point Plan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both sides should<strong> take guidance</strong> from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-2nd-informal-summit-mamallapuram-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wuhan and Mahabalipuram summits</strong> </a>on developing India-China relations, that includes <strong>not allowing differences to become disputes.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Border troops</strong> should continue their <strong>dialogue,</strong> quickly <strong>disengage,</strong> maintain proper distance and ease tensions.</li>
<li>The two sides shall <strong>abide by all the existing agreements and protocols on China-India boundary affairs</strong> and avoid any action that could escalate matters.</li>
<li>Continuing communications through the <strong>Special Representatives mechanism,</strong> and meetings of the <strong>Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Special Representatives</strong> (SRs) on the <strong>Boundary Question</strong> was established in 2003. It provided important guidance for ensuring peace and tranquility in border areas in a challenging situation.</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">WMCC was established in 2012.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Working to conclude new confidence-building measures.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Talk:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Initially, China appeared to have convinced itself that India had no option but to accept its new claims at LAC. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This confidence was reflected in China&rsquo;s refusal to pull back its forces from LAC and its dismissive diplomatic tone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s repeated demand for restoration of the status quo ante on the frontier was <strong>not heeded,</strong> until the <strong>Indian army ramped up its mobilisation</strong> and boldly seized some high ground to challenge Chinese military positions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These moves on the frontier also came along with a <strong>series of economic measures against China,</strong> such as<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/banning-of-chinese-mobile-apps#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20Indian%20government%20announced,most%20linked%20to%20Chinese%20companies.&amp;text=Given%20that%20India's%20digital%20economy,the%20valuations%20of%20Chinese%20companies." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> banning 100s of Chinese applications</strong></a> and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/display-of-country-of-origin-must-for-e-commerce-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">specifying country of origin</a> on imports.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s demonstration of the political resolve</strong> to <strong>escalate the conflict</strong> and the military capability to back it may have probably convinced China that it needs to rethink its approach to the current crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The joint statement of India and China tries to <strong>reduce the tension at LAC,</strong> however the <strong>separate explanatory comments from both the countries reveal the challenges ahead.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India insists that the <strong>objective of the talks is to &ldquo;restore&rdquo; the status quo ante,</strong> however there is <strong>no explicit Chinese commitment</strong> to that goal.</li>
<li>China wants to <strong>separate the border conflict from the rest of the relationship,</strong> however India says the<strong> two are inextricably interlinked.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These <strong>deep differences</strong> continue to complicate the path towards comprehensive military disengagement and de-escalation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>The five point plan between both the countries is a welcome step, however India must not blindly trust China amidst the surprise aggression during April-May by the People's Liberation Army. This is not the first time in the last few months that China has promised to stand down. However, it raised the expectations only to dash them quickly.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lac-standoff-india-china-agree-on-5-point-plan-for-resolving-border-tension/article32577886.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/five-point-plan-to-de-escalate-lac-stand-off'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Contraction in July Factory Output: IIP',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Statistical Office</strong></a> (NSO) has released data, highlighting the <strong>decline in the factory output</strong> (also called<strong> Industrial Production</strong>) for the fifth consecutive month, with July 2020 posting a contraction of 10.4% compared to July 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data, however, <strong>recorded a sequential improvement from 15.8% contraction seen in June,</strong> reflecting some<strong> resumption in industrial activity</strong> with the <strong>lifting of lockdown</strong> restrictions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cumulatively, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/core-sector-shrinks-by-23-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></a> (IIP) contracted by 29.2% for April-July against a growth of 3.5% in the same period last year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IIP had grown by 4.9% in July 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> The decline is <strong>mainly due to degrowth</strong> in manufacturing, mining, capital goods, and consumer durables output.</li>
<li><strong>Contraction Data:</strong> Barring consumer non-durables, all other sectors including manufacturing, mining, primary goods, capital goods contracted in July.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Consumer Non-durables:</strong> A proxy for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fmcg-sector-growth-to-slow-down" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fast Moving Consumer Goods</strong> </a>(FMCG), it posted a positive growth of 6.7%.</li>
<li><strong>Manufacturing Sector:</strong> Weight of 77.6% in IIP, contracted by 11.1% in July from a contraction of 16.0% in June.</li>
<li><strong>Electricity Output:</strong> It contracted by 2.5% as against a double-digit contraction of 10.0% in June.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It recorded the best sequential improvement and may turn out to be the first sector, apart from consumer non-durables, to find its way in positive territory going ahead.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Similar Trends:</strong> The decline in industrial growth <strong>mirrors the trend in other high-frequency indicators</strong> for July.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s Manufacturing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contraction-in-manufacturing-pmi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index</strong> </a>(PMI) had stood at 46 in July compared with 47.2 in June. A print below 50 signifies a contraction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> The negative IIP for July, which is the first month of the second quarter, will reflect in the expected contraction in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></a> (GDP) growth numbers for the July-September quarter.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-contracted-by-23-9-in-first-quarter#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20recent%20National,reporting%20quarterly%20data%20in%201996." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GDP growth contracted by 23.9%</strong></a> in the April-June quarter, the worst among G20 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an indicator that<strong> measures the changes in the volume of production of industrial products</strong> during a given period.</li>
<li>It is <strong>compiled and published monthly by the National Statistical Office</strong> (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NSO is the <strong>central statistical agency</strong> of the government, set up by an<strong> Act of the Parliament, Statistical Services Act (Chapter 386) 1980.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IIP is a<strong> composite indicator</strong> that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified under:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Broad sectors,</strong> namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.</li>
<li><strong>Use-based sectors,</strong> namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/core-sector-contracted-by-9-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Core Sector Industries</strong></a> comprise <strong>40.27%</strong> of the weight of items included in IIP.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>eight core Industries in decreasing order of their weightage:</strong> Refinery Products&gt; Electricity&gt; Steel&gt; Coal&gt; Crude Oil&gt; Natural Gas&gt; Cement&gt; Fertilisers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Base Year for IIP is 2011-2012.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Significance of IIP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India</strong></a>, etc. for policy-making purposes.</li>
<li>IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/factory-output-decline-industrial-growth-covid-lockdown-6592625/" 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/contraction-in-july-factory-output-iip'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs</strong> has launched <strong>the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0,</strong> along with the<strong> &lsquo;Streets for People Challenge&rsquo;</strong> under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Smart Cities Mission.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CSCAF 2.0:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To provide a clear <strong>roadmap for cities</strong> towards <strong>combating Climate Change</strong> while planning and implementing their actions, including investments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>CSCAF initiative intends to inculcate a<strong> climate-sensitive approach</strong> to urban planning and development in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Framework:</strong> It has <strong>28 indicators across five categories</strong> namely;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Energy and Green Buildings,</li>
<li>Urban Planning, Green Cover &amp; Biodiversity,</li>
<li>Mobility and Air Quality,</li>
<li>Water Management and</li>
<li>Waste Management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementing Agency:</strong> The Climate Centre for Cities under<strong> National Institute of Urban Affairs</strong> (NIUA) is supporting MoHUA in implementation of CSCAF.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Streets for People Challenge:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> It aims to inspire cities to create <strong>walking-friendly and vibrant streets.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> All cities with a population of over 5 lakh, and capital cities, can apply.</li>
<li>It includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Creating <strong>pedestrian-friendly streets in high footfall areas,</strong></li>
<li>Re-imagining under-flyover spaces,</li>
<li>Re-vitalizing dead neighbourhood spaces, and</li>
<li>Creating walking links through parks and institutional areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supporting Partners:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fit-india-movement#:~:text=The%20Prime%20Minister%20on%20the,player%20Major%20Dhyan%20Chand%20Singh." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fit India Mission</strong></a>, under <strong>Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>India program</strong> of the Institute for Transport Development and Policy (ITDP).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ITDP works around the world to design and implement high quality transport systems and policy solutions that make cities more livable, equitable, and sustainable. It was set up in 1985 and is headquartered in New York, USA</li>
<li><strong>The India Program</strong> works with cities to design and implement sustainable transport projects, and provide policy solutions to enhance social inclusion, reduce dependency on limited resources, improve road safety, and reduce carbon emissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> Cities around the world, such as Bogota, Berlin, and Milan have responded by transforming streets for walking and cycling, to ensure safe mobility during Covid-19. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Smart Cities Mission is also associated with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-cycles4change-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India 4 cycles challenge method</strong></a>, that aims to inspire Indian cities to implement quick cycling-friendly interventions in the wake of Covid-19 with the support of their citizens and assistance from experts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Smart Cities Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an innovative initiative under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to drive <strong>economic growth and improve the quality of life</strong> of people by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens.</li>
<li>It was launched in the <strong>year 2015</strong> as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of Smart Solutions.</li>
<li><strong>Strategy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pan-city initiative in which at least one Smart Solution is applied city-wide.</li>
<li>Develop areas step-by-step with the help of these three models:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Retrofitting.</li>
<li>Redevelopment.</li>
<li>Greenfield.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1653293" 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/climate-smart-cities-assessment-framework'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems: DPIIT',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Results of the 2<sup>nd</sup> edition of <strong>Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems</strong> were released by the <strong>Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (Ministry of Commerce &amp; Industry).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DPIIT has recently released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-of-doing-business-rankings-of-the-states-dpiit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business Rankings of the States-2019</strong> </a>based on the State Business Reform Action Plan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> The rankings were started with an objective of fostering <strong>competitiveness, mutual learning</strong> and propel States and Union Territories (UTs) to work proactively towards uplifting the startup ecosystem.</li>
<li><strong>Framework:</strong> The 2019 Ranking Framework has <strong>seven broad reform areas consisting of 30 action points</strong> ranging from institutional support, easing compliances, relaxation in public procurement norms, incubation support, seed funding support, venture funding support, and awareness and outreach.</li>
<li><strong>Participation:</strong> 22 States and 3 Union Territories.</li>
<li><strong>2 Categories:</strong> To establish uniformity and ensure standardization in the ranking process, States and UTs have been divided into two groups.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Category Y: All UTs except Delhi and all States in North East India except Assam.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Category X: All other States and UT of Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Results:</strong> The States and UTs were classified as: Best Performers, Top Performers, Leaders, Aspiring Leaders and Emerging Startup Ecosystems.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gujarat</strong> was the Best performer in <strong>Category X</strong> followed by Karnata and Kerala. Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu occupied the lowest positions.</li>
<li><strong>Andaman and Nicobar Islands</strong> was the Best performer in <strong>Category Y.</strong> Sikkim secured the bottom place.</li>
<li>Gujarat had secured the Best Performer position previous year as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599902676_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599902676_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Startup Landscape in India</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599902722_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599902722_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Government Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-start-up-india-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start Up India Fund</a>:</strong> Under the Startup India program, the Government created the 'Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) with a corpus of INR 10,000 crore.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/policy-reforms-for-startups" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Policy Reforms for Startups</strong></a>: These include requirement of distributable profits for three years for a company to be eligible to issue shares with differential voting rights.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/start-up-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Start-up Cells</strong></a>: The Cell will work towards redressal of grievances &amp; tax-related issues of Startups with respect to the administration of the Income-tax Act, 1961.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-startup-advisory-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Startup Advisory Council</strong></a>: To advise the Centre on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and start-ups in the country.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aatmanirbhar-bharat-arise-atal-new-india-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-Atal New India Challenge</strong></a>: It is a national initiative to promote research &amp; innovation and increase competitiveness of Indian startups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aim-icrest-niti-aayog" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AIM-iCREST</strong></a>: It is an Incubator Capabilities Enhancement program launched by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a> for a Robust Ecosystem focused on creating high performing Startups.</li>
<li>More than <strong>1300 Startups</strong> have been supported by <strong>seed funding</strong> from State Governments. In addition to seed funding, 10 States have created <strong>Venture Funds</strong> or a Fund of funds and 218 startups have been provided with venture funding support.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Seed funding :</strong> It is the initial capital used when starting a business.</li>
<li><strong>Venture Funds:</strong> This generally comes after the seed funding round. It is a means of equity financing for rapidly-growing private companies for expansion or purchase of a company. It is provided by venture capitalists after carefully scrutinizing the projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The initiative will help in<strong> capacity-building of States</strong> and building a robust Start-up ecosystem in the country for<strong> nurturing innovation and providing opportunities to budding entrepreneurs,</strong> as envisaged by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-start-up-india-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Start-up India Initiative</strong></a> launched in 2016. This is necessary for the country to realize the dream of becoming a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024.</li>
<li>There is a need to ease the access to funding to Start-ups, especially those from small cities and the need for simplification of regulations. The central and state governments would have to invest heavily in Research &amp; Development and upcoming technologies, to build further on their competitive value addition to this exercise.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1653368" 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/ranking-of-states-on-support-to-startup-ecosystems-dpiit'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Net Present Value of Forests',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Mines has requested the Forest Advisory Committee (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) to <strong>exempt digging exploratory boreholes </strong>from<strong> Net Present Value (NPV).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2018, the Ministry of Coal, the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had sought to be exempted from forest clearances for exploratory boreholes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exploratory Boreholes:</strong> An exploratory borehole is drilled for the purpose of identifying the characteristics, location, quantity and quality of a resource (coal, metal or petroleum). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a part of <strong>prospecting a site</strong> for future use for mining and extraction activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Net Present Value (NPV):</strong> It is a mandatory one-time payment that a user has to make for diverting forestland for non-forest use, under the <strong>Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Calculation:</strong> This is calculated on the basis of the services and ecological value of the forests. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It depends on the<strong> location and nature of the forest and the type of industrial enterprise</strong> that will replace a particular parcel of forest.</li>
<li>These payments go to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/compensatory-afforestation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF)</strong></a> and are <strong>used for afforestation and reforestation.</strong></li>
<li>The CAF is managed by the<strong> Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decided by</strong>: The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panel-approves-scheme-to-trade-in-forests" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Advisory Committee</strong> </a>constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC) decides on whether forests can be diverted for projects and the NPV to be charged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a<strong> statutory body</strong> constituted by the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exemptions:</strong> Some projects have been provided exemption from paying NPV like construction of <strong>Schools, Hospitals, village tanks, laying down of optical fibre</strong> etc. Projects like underground mining and wind energy plants have been given a 50% exemption from NPV.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> In the <em><strong>N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India case,</strong></em> <strong>2008,</strong> the <strong>Supreme Court mandated</strong> the payment of NPV.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Kanchan Gupta Committee</strong> developed the concept of NPV after this case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Argument by Ministry of Mines:</strong> All areas of exploration are not converted into mining. Only about 1% of cases are converted to mining.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Payment of NPV at a present rate of 2% or 5% NPV of the total forest area in the lease area is one of the major challenges which leads to <strong>delay in the exploration/ prospecting activities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Response from the Forest Advisory Committee :</strong> While it was not possible to do away with NPV, it recommended that the MoEF&amp;CC may consider charging NPV on a per borehole basis instead of the present practice of charging 2 or 5%.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Forest Conservation Act, 1980</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Forest Conservation Act, 1980 stipulated that the central permission is necessary to practice sustainable agro-forestry in forest areas. Violation or lack of permit was treated as a<strong> criminal offence.</strong></li>
<li>It puts a restriction on the <strong>use of forest-land for non-forest purposes.</strong></li>
<li>It targeted to <strong>limit deforestation, conserve biodiversity and save wildlife. </strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/environment-ministry-rejects-plea-for-exemption-from-forest-penalty/article32584230.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/net-present-value-of-forests'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Bradykinin Storm: Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent analysis of samples of patients with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> infection has shown a phenomenon called a <strong>&lsquo;bradykinin storm&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Doctors treating Covid-19 patients often <strong>cannot identify the severity with which the SARS-CoV-2 virus seems to affect some people</strong> and &lsquo;bradykinin storm&rsquo; might explain the working of the virus in the body.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the <strong>cytokine storm</strong> is able to explain certain causes for the rapid deterioration in some patients with Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The bradykinin hypothesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SARS-CoV-2 uses a human enzyme called <strong>ACE2</strong> to enter into the cells of its host.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ACE2 lowers <strong>blood pressure</strong> in the human body and works against another enzyme known as ACE (which has the opposite effect).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The virus causes the levels of ACE to fall in the lungs, and consequently pushes up the levels of ACE2.</li>
<li>This happens as a chain reaction and increases the levels of the <strong>molecule bradykinin</strong> in the cells, causing a<strong> bradykinin storm.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bradykinin</strong> is a compound that is <strong>related to pain sensation and lowering blood pressure</strong> in the human body.</li>
<li>Bradykinin storm causes the blood vessels to expand and become leaky, leading to swelling of the surrounding tissue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in hyaluronic acid:</strong> The levels of a substance called hyaluronic acid also increases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin, and it helps to bind water to collagen (a protein). It can absorb more than 1,000 times its own weight in water to form a hydrogel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> The bradykinin storm-induced <strong>leakage of fluid into the lungs combined with the excess hyaluronic acid</strong> would likely result in a <strong>Jello-like substance</strong> that prevents oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide in the lungs of severely affected Covid-19 patients.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This rapid accumulation of fluid in the lungs of patients sometimes makes even the most sophisticated intensive care, including ventilators, futile.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> Knowing the mechanism, doctors can target the bradykinin pathway to evolve more <strong>therapeutic interventions</strong> to offset the severe effects of Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Cytokine Storm Syndrome</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-cytokine-storms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cytokine Storm Syndrome</strong></a> is characterised by the overproduction of immune cells and the cytokines themselves because of a dysregulation in the process.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cytokines</strong> are a large group of proteins that are secreted by specific cells of the immune system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> A cytokine storm can occur due to an infection, auto-immune condition (when the body's immune system attacks healthy cells as in case of coeliac disease- an immune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine), or other diseases.</li>
<li><strong>Signs and symptoms</strong> include high fever, inflammation (redness and swelling), severe fatigue, and nausea.</li>
<li>In the case of any flu infection, a cytokine storm is associated with a surge of activated immune cells into the lungs, which, instead of fighting off the antigen, leads to lung inflammation and fluid build-up, and respiratory distress.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/is-covid-19-setting-off-a-bradykinin-storm-in-the-body/article32531836.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/bradykinin-storm-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Sonamura-Daudkandi Inland Waterway Route',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Sonamura-Daudkandi</strong> inland waterway route between India and Bangladesh was operationalised.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Daudkandi is in Bangladesh, while Sonamura is in Tripura, India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sonamura-Daudkandi Route:</strong> The inland waterway route <strong>over river Gumati</strong> was included in the list of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protocol-on-inland-water-transit-and-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Bangla Protocol (IBP) routes</strong></a> in May 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It connects <strong>Tripura with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-waterway-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Waterways</a> of India</strong> through Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit of the Route:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will improve the connectivity of Tripura and the adjoining States with Indian and Bangladesh&rsquo;s economic centers and will help the hinterland of both the countries.</li>
<li>It will open up new avenues for economic development in both the countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protocol on Transit and Trade:</strong> Bangladesh and India have a long standing and time-tested Protocol on Transit and Trade through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/use-of-waterways-for-reducing-transportation-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inland waterways.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provides inland waterways connectivity between the two countries, particularly with the North Eastern Region of India and also enhances bilateral trade.</li>
<li>This Protocol was first signed in 1972.</li>
<li>It was last renewed in for five years with a provision for its automatic renewal for a further period of five years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Routes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As per the <strong>IBP on Inland Water Transit &amp; Trade,</strong> inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country.</li>
<li>The existing protocol routes are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kolkata-Pandu-Kolkata</li>
<li>Kolkata-Karimganj - Kolkata</li>
<li>Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi</li>
<li>Pandu-Karimganj-Pandu</li>
<li>Sonamura-Daudkandi</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the Protocol, <strong>50:50 cargo sharing</strong> by Indian and Bangladeshi vessels is permitted both for transit and inter country trade.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ladis-least-available-depth-information-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)</strong> </a>is the Competent Authority on Indian side.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>River Gumati</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>largest and longest river of Tripura</strong> with a cumulative length of 180 km.</li>
<li><strong>Dumbur dam</strong> is built over the river.</li>
<li>The river meets with river <strong>Meghna</strong> in Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-the-opening-of-waterway-with-bangladesh-means-for-tripura-6584061/" 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/sonamura-daudkandi-inland-waterway-route'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Financing the Fiscal Deficit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India, being one the hardest hit major economy due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, faces the challenge of managing its fiscal deficit.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Borrowing more and monetizing the deficit</strong> are the options being considered by the government and <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> to finance the fiscal deficit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>State of Indian Economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the official data, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increased-fiscal-deficit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Centre&rsquo;s fiscal deficit</strong> </a>for the first three months of fiscal 2020-21 (April-June) was Rs. 6.62 lakh crore, which is 83% of the budgeted target for the whole year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the economists, the fiscal deficit may end up as high as 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), far exceeding the budget&rsquo;s goal of 3.5%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-contracted-by-23-9-in-first-quarter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GDP contracted by 23.9% in the first</strong></a> (April-June) quarter of 2020 compared to the same period (April-June) in 2019.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contraction-in-manufacturing-pmi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>manufacturing sector is also contracting,</strong></a> as per the recent IHS Markit India Manufacturing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/purchasing-manager-s-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI).</strong></a></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contraction-in-core-sector-industries" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>output of eight core industries</strong> </a>contracted for the <strong>fourth consecutive month - shrinking by 15%</strong> in June 2020.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/financial-stability-report-rbi-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Stability Report</strong></a> from RBI also shows an increase in bad loans and Non-Performing Assets (NPA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Methods of Bridging the Fiscal Deficit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Borrowing from the market:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has already raised its gross market borrowing target for the current financial year by<strong> more than 50%,</strong> owing to the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Disadvantage: </strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>High Debt:</strong> An increased <strong>borrowing</strong> programme means that the public <strong>debt</strong> will go up.</li>
<li><strong>Higher Interest Rates:</strong> Higher borrowing can <strong>push up interest rates</strong> because markets are nervous about the government's ability to repay.</li>
<li><strong>Increase in Taxes:</strong> It may also necessitate an increase in taxes. This may burden the common people and also lead to less spending and saving by the public, leading to a stalled market.</li>
<li><strong>Crowding out:</strong> When the government borrows from the private sector by selling bonds, the private sector is left with less money to spend and invest. Therefore, although government spending increases, private sector spending falls.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Monetisation of the Deficit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Monetising deficit means RBI purchases government bonds in the primary market and <strong>prints more money to finance the debt.</strong></li>
<li>This is resorted to only when the government <strong>cannot borrow from the market</strong> (Banks and other Financial Institutions like LIC).</li>
<li>The money printed by the RBI is called <strong>high powered money or reserve money or monetary base.</strong></li>
<li>RBI also conducts <strong>indirect monetization of deficit</strong> through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-twist" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Open Market Operations (OMOs).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>OMOs are market operations conducted by RBI by way of <strong>sale/purchase of government securities to/from the market</strong> with an objective to <strong>adjust the rupee liquidity conditions</strong> in the market on a durable basis.</li>
<li>Recently, RBI <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/open-market-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>decided to infuse Rs. 10,000 crore liquidity in the banking system</strong></a> by buying government securities through OMOs.</li>
<li>Purchase of Government securities by the RBI helps in increasing the supply of the money in the market and with banks. It helps to stabilize the market economy and generates credibility in the investors.</li>
<li>It is different from monetization as it is controlled by RBI instead of the government as it is not as inflationary as deficit monetization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has <strong>helped in the economic development</strong> of India as our domestic savings were less than 9% of GDP and the capacity to raise loans was also limited during the early 1950s, constraining the welfare activities of the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disadvantages:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Deficit financing is <strong>inflationary</strong> and is bad for the health of the central bank.</li>
<li>It may<strong> push up interest rates</strong> and thus make it even more difficult for the government to service the loan.</li>
<li>It also poses threat to the<strong> financial stability</strong> of the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>FRBM and Monetizing Deficits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Monetisation of deficit was in practice in India till 1997, whereby the central bank automatically monetised government deficit through the issuance of ad-hoc<strong> treasury bills.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Two agreements were signed between the government and RBI in 1994 and 1997</strong> to completely phase out funding through ad-hoc treasury bills.</li>
<li>With the enactment of <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management</a> (FRBM) Act, 2003,</strong> it was totally barred.</li>
<li>However, the FRBM Act Amendment, 2018 contains an escape clause which permits monetisation of the deficit under special circumstances. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Escape clause</strong> generally refers to a contract provision that specifies the conditions under which a party can be freed from an obligation.</li>
<li>Escape clauses provide <strong>flexibility to governments to overshoot fiscal deficit targets</strong> in times of need, enabling them to respond to economic shocks.</li>
<li>The escape clause under the FRBM Act details a set of events in which the Central government can deviate from fiscal deficit targets. These include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Overriding considerations of national security, acts of war, and calamities of national proportion and collapse of agriculture severely affecting farm output and incomes.</li>
<li>Far-reaching structural reforms in the economy with unanticipated fiscal implications.</li>
<li>A sharp decline in real output growth of at least 3% points below the average for the previous four quarters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since the RBI has already taken up Open Market Operations and adopted a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/monetary-policy-report-rbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>monetary policy framework</strong></a> to insert liquidity into the market, monetizing the deficit will only cost the government the credibility of the market and put inflationary pressure.</li>
<li>Given the inflation-prone nature of Indian economy, monetization of deficit should only be considered as a last resort. Even if it is adopted, the primary challenge will be to communicate and ensure that this is a one-off pandemic-induced arrangement and not a recurrent financing line.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/pandemic-may-force-govt-to-borrow-more/article32575961.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/financing-the-fiscal-deficit'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Autonomous Bodies',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/autonomous-bodies-are-crucial-to-the-government-s-functioning-streamline-them/story-dvMYKe37JaXNrlnPJW8NzH.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Autonomous bodies are crucial to the government&rsquo;s functioning. Streamline them</strong></a>, which was published in Hindustan Times on 11<sup>th</sup> of September 2020. It analyses the issues of Autonomous Bodies and their utilities.</p>
</div>
<p>The Union Government has recently abolished the All India Handicrafts Board, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-handloom-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Handloom</strong></a> Board and the Power Loom Board in consonance with the government&rsquo;s vision of <strong>minimum government, maximum governance.</strong> The Ministry of Textiles also changed the status of the eight Textile Research Associations to &ldquo;approved bodies&rdquo;, instead of the earlier &ldquo;affiliated bodies&rdquo;.</p>
<p>Thereafter, the government withdrew the officials of the ministry of textiles from the governing bodies of these textile associations. These are bold steps in achieving leaner government machinery and to introduce systematic rationalisation of government bodies.</p>
<p>Further, it was evident for quite some time now that despite a laid out administrative structure in <strong>Autonomous Bodies (ABs),</strong> there are a number of governance issues that need review.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>What are Autonomous Bodies (ABs)?</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Autonomous Bodies are set up whenever it is felt that certain functions need to be discharged outside the governmental set up with some amount of independence and flexibility without day-to-day interference of the Governmental machinery.</li>
<li>These are set up by the Ministries/Departments concerned with the subject matter and are funded through grants-in-aid, either fully or partially, depending on the extent which such institutes generate internal resources of their own.</li>
<li>These grants are regulated by the Ministry of Finance through their instructions as well as the instructions relating to powers for creation of posts and etc.</li>
<li>They are mostly registered as societies under the Societies Registration Act and in certain cases they have been set up as statutory institutions under the provisions contained in various Acts.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Functionality of Autonomous Bodies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Autonomous bodies are a major stakeholder in the government&rsquo;s functioning as they are engaged in diverse activities, ranging from formulating frameworks for policies, conducting research, and preserving the cultural heritage, etc.</li>
<li>The apex administrative body of ABs is called governing council or governing body and is chaired by the minister or the secretary of the respective ministry.</li>
<li>These Autonomous Bodies have specialised committees such as the purchase committee, works committee, finance committee, with nominated ministry officials.</li>
<li>These Autonomous Bodies are audited by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</strong></a>, and the annual report is presented in the Parliament every year.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues With ABs</h3>
<p><strong>Accountability</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These bodies are funded by taxpayer&rsquo;s money. However, there have been complaints that they don&rsquo;t follow the policies of the government and are accountable the way the government departments are.</li>
<li>Even though the senior ministry officials are required to attend ABs&rsquo; committee meetings, they mostly don&rsquo;t due to their busy schedules.</li>
<li>They nominate junior officials who often lack the jurisdiction to take meaningful decisions during the meetings.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Opaque Recruitment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The exact count of these bodies is not known, with estimates ranging from 400 to 650.</li>
<li>Autonomous Bodies employ a considerable number of people. For example, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research</strong></a>, an Autonomous Body under the ministry of agriculture, has almost 17,000 employees.</li>
<li>However, unlike the government and the public sector undertakings, in which the recruitment rules are uniform and the recruitment is done by a centralised body such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/legal-status-for-ssc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Staff Selection Committee (SSC)</strong></a>, the<strong> Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)</strong> there is no such body for such recruitments.</li>
<li>As a result, the mode of recruitment and recruitment rules differs for each of these bodies, sometimes even across ABs within the same ministry.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Non-Adherence to Envisaged Goal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The boards have fallen into disuse and did not serve the purpose for which they were envisioned.</li>
<li>The boards were merely advisory in nature and failed to impact on influencing policy-making while they became vehicles of &ldquo;political patronage&rdquo; with the emergence of a &lsquo;middleman culture&rsquo; that did not help the interests of weavers.</li>
<li>The structure of these boards made room for a large number of non-official members to advise the government.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Non Uniform Auditing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is no uniform audit procedure.</li>
<li>Some ABs are audited by CAG whereas many are done by chartered accountants.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Legal Framework</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A legal framework should be devised which defines the boundaries of its working, its autonomy, and the various policies that it must follow.</li>
<li>This will simultaneously help identify the numbers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Comprehensive Review</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Each ministry will need to undertake a comprehensive review of ABs under their jurisdiction.</li>
<li>ABs that have outlived the cause for which they were established may need to be closed or merged with a similar organisation or their memorandum altered as per the new charter.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>A Pan India Recruitment Agency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To bring about uniformity in the policies, a task force needs to be set up under a pan-Indian agency such as SSC or UPSC.</li>
<li>It will streamline the recruitment rules, salary structure, allowance and perks paid to employees, and mode of recruitment.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Collaborated Approach</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To ensure the participation of ministry officials, committee meetings of similar ABs should be held together so that the appropriate authorities could provide meaningful suggestions.</li>
<li>It is also alleged that most of the agenda items raised by ABs are routine in nature. This should be discouraged, and only the important policy issues that need the ministry&rsquo;s intervention should be taken up in such meetings.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Uniform Independent Auditing</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Audits of ABs should be undertaken by an independent agency.</li>
<li>CAG had done an exhaustive performance audit of autonomous scientific bodies in 2016, highlighting the gaps in their performance.</li>
<li>Such a theme-based audit should be done for other ABs as well.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>All these years on, these ABs have remained the one official forum however watered down, where the voices and views of different stakeholders could be expressed directly. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They bring diversity and can shape the government policies in a more inclusive way.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is an urgent need to define them properly, bring uniformity in their policies, facilitate senior officials&rsquo; attendance in their meetings, and seek independent audits.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #faffd6;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Autonomous bodies are very crucial to the government&rsquo;s functioning. Thus, there is an urgent need to streamline them&rdquo;. In the light of the statement critically discuss the role of Autonomous Bodies and their governance issues.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/autonomous-bodies'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Global Innovation Index 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Global Innovation Index 2020</strong> was released by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institutions-international-world-intellectual-property-organisation-wipo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Intellectual Property Organisation</strong></a> (WIPO).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India <strong>is at the 48<sup>th</sup> position</strong> in the list of top 50 innovative countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India occupied the 52<sup>nd</sup> position in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-innovation-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2019 rankings.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Switzerland, Sweden, the USA, the UK and Netherlands</strong> are the top five countries.</li>
<li>With a group of <strong>Asian economies advancing up</strong> the rankings, the index indicates that <strong>"a gradual eastward shift in the locus of innovation"</strong> is underway.</li>
<li>In Asian economies, <strong>China, India, the Philippines and Vietnam</strong> have made the most progress on the index in recent years, with all four now among the top 50.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is one of the leading innovation achievers</strong> in the central and southern Asian region, as it has <strong>shown a consistent improvement</strong> in its innovation ranking for the last 5 years.</li>
<li><strong>China,</strong> which is the <strong>only middle-income economy among the top 30,</strong> now holds the <strong>14<sup>th</sup> position.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has become the <strong>third most innovative lower-middle-income economy</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>India ranks in the <strong>top 15</strong> in indicators such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-technology-in-governance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information and Communication Technology</strong></a><strong> (ICT) services exports, <a href="/admin/articles/edit/oronavirus%20live update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government online services</a>, graduates in science and engineering, </strong>and<strong> Research and Development-intensive global companies.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>improved the most in three pillars:</strong> Institutions (61<sup>st</sup>), business sophistication (55<sup>th</sup>), and creative outputs (64<sup>th</sup>).</li>
<li>The<strong> consistent improvement</strong> in the index rankings is owing to the immense knowledge capital, the vibrant startup ecosystem, and the amazing work done by the public and private research organisations.</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-innovation-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India Innovation Index 2019</strong> </a>which was released by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a>, has been widely <strong>accepted as the major step in the direction of decentralisation of innovation</strong> across all the states of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Innovation Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It provides <strong>detailed metrics about the innovation performance of 131 countries and economies</strong> around the world.</li>
<li>Its<strong> 80 indicators</strong> explore a broad vision of innovation, including political environment, education, infrastructure and business sophistication.</li>
<li>It is published annually by <strong>Cornell University, INSEAD </strong>and the<strong> WIPO.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2020 Theme: Who will Finance Innovation?</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The GII 2020 sheds light on the state of innovation financing by investigating the evolution of existing mechanisms and by pointing to progress and remaining challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599819009_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599819009_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/india-jumps-4-places-to-rank-48-on-global-innovation-index-2020/articleshow/77890704.cms#:~:text=NEW%20DELHI%3A%20The%202020%20edition,at%2048th%20position%20since%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TOI</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-innovation-index-2020'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'SAROD-Ports: Dispute Resolution Mechanism',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union <strong>Ministry of Shipping</strong> launched <strong>&lsquo;SAROD-Ports&rsquo; (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes - Ports)</strong> through virtual ceremony in New Delhi.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About SAROD-Ports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is established under <strong>Societies Registration Act, 1860.</strong></li>
<li>&lsquo;SAROD-Ports&rsquo; is similar to provision available in Highway Sector in the form of <strong>SAROD-Roads</strong> constituted by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-highways-authority-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Highways Authority of India</a> (NHAI).</strong></li>
<li>It consists of members from <strong>Indian Ports Association (IPA) </strong>and<strong> Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPTTA).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SAROD-Ports will <strong>advise and assist</strong> in settlement of disputes <strong>through arbitrations</strong> in the maritime sector, including ports and shipping sector in Major Port Trusts, Non-major Ports, including private ports, jetties, terminals and harbours.</li>
<li>It will also cover disputes between:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Granting authority and Licensee/Concessionaire /Contractor.</li>
<li>Also, disputes between Licensee/Concessionaire and their contractors arising out of and during the course of execution of various contracts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SAROD-Ports will become the pivotal mechanism of <strong><em>ummeed</em> (hope), <em>vishwas</em> (trust) and <em>nyaya</em> (justice)</strong> in the Port sector of India. It will lead to <strong>saving huge amounts of legal expenditure and time.</strong></li>
<li>Enforcement of <strong>concession agreements</strong> in the letter and spirit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>concession agreement</strong> is a<strong> contract</strong> that gives a company the right to operate a specific business within a government's jurisdiction or on another firm's property, subject to particular terms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will promote <strong>ease of doing business</strong> in the maritime sector because of the <strong>fast, timely, cost effective and robust dispute resolution mechanism.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will inspire confidence in the private players.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>All major Ports will shift towards the <strong>&lsquo;Landlord Model&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Model Concession Agreement</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Model Concession Agreement is the <strong>core of public private partnership projects</strong> in India. It sets regulatory framework to implement PPP (Public Private Projects) in India. There are MCAs for national highways, urban rail transit systems, state highways and ports.</li>
<li><strong>Amendments to the Model Concession Agreement (MCA):</strong> In January 2018, the government approved amendments in the Model Concession Agreement (MCA) to make the Port Projects more investor-friendly.</li>
<li><strong>Key features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Constitution of the<strong> Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes &ndash;</strong> Ports (SAROD-Ports) as dispute resolution mechanism.</li>
<li>Providing <strong>an exit route to developers</strong> by way of divesting their equity upto 100% after completion of 2 years from the Commercial Operation Date (COD).</li>
<li>Under provision of additional land to the Concessionaire, <strong>land rent has been reduced</strong> from 200% to 120% of the applicable scale of rates for the proposed additional land.</li>
<li>Introduction of <strong>Complaint Portal</strong> for the use of port users.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Landlord Port Model</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the landlord port model, the <strong>publicly governed port authority acts as a regulatory body</strong> and as landlord <strong>while private companies carry out port operations&mdash;</strong>mainly cargo-handling activities.</li>
<li>The port authority maintains ownership of the port while the infrastructure is leased to private firms that provide and maintain their own superstructure and install their own equipment to handle cargo.</li>
<li>In return, the landlord port gets a share of the revenue from the private entity.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, most major port trusts in India carry out terminal operations as well, resulting in a hybrid model of port governance. The involvement of the port authorities in terminal operations leads to a<strong> conflict of interest.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> neutrality</strong> of the landlord port authority is a<strong> basic requirement</strong> for fair competition between port service providers, particularly the terminal operators.</li>
<li>The role of the landlord port authority would be to carry out all public sector services and operations such as the award of bids for cargo terminals and dredging.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1652979" 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/sarod-ports-dispute-resolution-mechanism'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Panel to Assess Impact of Waiving Loan Interest',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union government has constituted an expert committee to measure the economic impact of waiving of interest and interest on interest on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> related <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>loan moratorium.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Chairmanship:</strong> The expert panel will be <strong>chaired by Rajiv Mehrishi,</strong> former <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comptroller-and-auditor-general-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</strong></a> of India, and will<strong> submit its report within one week.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Task:</strong> It will measure the impact on the national economy and financial stability of waiving of interest and Covid-19 related moratorium. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also give suggestions to mitigate financial constraints of various sections of society in this respect and measures to be adopted in this regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The move came as<strong> various concerns</strong> have been raised during the ongoing hearing in the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court</strong></a> in the matter regarding relief sought in terms of waiver of interest and waiver of interest on interest and other related issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court has extended its interim order that no account is to be declared <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Performing Assets (NPA)</strong> </a>till further orders.</li>
<li>The Court granted two weeks to the Centre and 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> to file the affidavit and place before it the decisions taken in this regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Moratorium on Repayments of Loans</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>moratorium</strong> provides stressed customers extra time to repay without their accounts being labelled NPA or their credit score being affected.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>not a loan waiver</strong> and does not offer any discount on interest payout.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>RBI had allowed banks to<strong> defer payment of Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs)</strong> on home, car, personal loans as well as <strong>credit card dues till 31<sup>st</sup> August 2020.</strong></li>
<li>The RBI had also allowed lending institutions, banks to <strong>defer interest on working capital repayments&mdash;</strong> a move aimed at addressing the distress among firms as production is down.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A working capital loan is a loan that is taken to finance a company&rsquo;s everyday operations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As the six-month moratorium on loan repayments ended on <strong>31<sup>st</sup></strong> August, the RBI has released the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/resolution-plan-by-rbi-for-covid-19-stressed-assets" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>final loan restructuring guidelines</strong></a> suggested by<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/k-v-kamath-committee-on-restructuring-of-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> K.V. Kamath Committee.</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Restructuring for corporate loans will be based on financial parameters set out in RBI rules, while for retail borrowers, lenders will put in place board-approved policies for recasting loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/govt-forms-panel-to-measure-economic-impact-of-waiving-interest-on-loans-under-covid-moratorium-6591189/" 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/panel-to-assess-impact-of-waiving-loan-interest'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Disposal of Cigarette Butts',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> (NGT) has directed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong> </a>(CPCB) to lay down guidelines pertaining to <strong>disposal of cigarette and beedi butts</strong> within three months.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NGT held that tobacco is undoubtedly harmful and it is mainly concerned with the manner of disposal of cigarette and beedi butts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An NGO <strong>&lsquo;Doctors for You&rsquo;</strong> sought instructions to <strong>regulate the disposal</strong> of cigarette and beedi butts apart from <strong>prohibiting the consumption of tobacco in public places.</strong></li>
<li>The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighted that cigarette and beedi butts are not biodegradable but the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change noted that these are <strong>not listed as hazardous.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>CPCB Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A report by CPCB highlighted that the analysis of the cigarette and beedi butts reflects that their <strong>concentrations detected will not be toxic to humans and the environment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cellulose acetate</strong> is a major component (95%) of the cigarette butts <strong>along with the wrapping paper and rayon</strong> and its degradation studies show that it will persist for a longer duration.</li>
<li>However, the <strong>toxicity data for cellulose acetate is not available</strong> yet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings of a Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A study conducted by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ganga-aamantran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Institute of Toxicology Research</strong></a> (IITR) <strong>approves the CPCB report</strong> and holds that the concentration of various parameters analysed is lower than the prescribed limits and will not be toxic.</li>
<li>It added that <strong>natural environmental conditions and laboratory stimulating conditions would be required</strong> to conclude the safety or toxicity of cigarette butts to further correlate with human and environmental health risk assessment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An<strong> inter-ministerial or departmental committee should be constituted</strong> to consult at the national level for conducting an impact study of discarded cigarette and beedi butts and spitting of tobacco products in public places.</li>
<li><strong>Recycling of cellulose acetate</strong> after recovery from cigarette butts may be an immediate solution to the problem.</li>
<li>There is a <strong>need for more studies and research</strong> so that degradation and safety data can be generated which would be helpful in forming guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Steps Taken by the Indian Government to Control Tobacco Consumption</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/who-report-on-global-tobacco-epidemic-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first international treaty</strong> </a>negotiated under the auspices of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation.</strong></a></li>
<li>It was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health.</li>
<li><strong>India ratified it in 2004.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>mCessation Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an initiative<strong> using mobile technology for tobacco cessation.</strong></li>
<li>India launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mobile-scheme-to-quit-tobacco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mCessation</strong> </a>using text messages in 2016 as part of the government&rsquo;s <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital India</a> initiative.</strong></li>
<li>It uses two-way messaging between the individual seeking to quit tobacco use and programme specialists providing them with dynamic support.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <a href="/prs-capsule/prs-capsule-april-2020#9" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>rules</strong> </a>have been notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to amend the 2008 rules which were notified under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Tobacco Control Programme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare <strong>launched the programme in 2007-08.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to <strong>facilitate the effective implementation of the Tobacco Control Law,</strong> to bring about greater awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco as well as to fulfil the obligations under the WHO-FCTC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>World No Tobacco Day:</strong> Every year, 31<sup>st</sup> May is observed as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-no-tobacco-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World No Tobacco Day</strong> </a>by WHO and global partners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since 2007, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been pushing to introduce <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Important%20Facts%20for%20Prelims%20(05th%20October%202018)" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>stronger graphic health warnings on tobacco packets,</strong></a> with mixed success.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/frame-rules-for-disposal-of-cigarette-butts-ngt/article32576373.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/disposal-of-cigarette-butts'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Paddy Stubble Use by PEDA',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Punjab Energy Development Agency</strong> (PEDA) in association with the Govt. of Punjab, is creating alternatives for paddy stubble utilisation.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This includes setting up <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biomass power plants</strong></a> and <strong>producing Bio CNG</strong> from the paddy stubble biomass.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Punjab Energy Development Agency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was formed in Sept. 1991 as a<strong> state nodal agency for promotion and development of renewable energy programmes/projects</strong> and energy conservation programme in the state of Punjab. PEDA is registered as a Society under the Societies Act of 1860.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biomass Power Plants:</strong> PEDA has set up <strong>11 biomass power plants</strong> where 97.50 mega watts (MW) of power is generated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In these plants, 8.80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble is used annually to generate power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bio CNG: Eight projects of Bio CNG are under execution in the state.</strong> These will need around 3-lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s largest Bio CNG project,</strong> which will produce 8,000 m cube biogas per day (equivalent to 33.23 tonnes of Bio CNG per day) is under execution at <strong>Lehragaga tehsil in Sangrur district.</strong> The project is expected to be commissioned by March 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bioethanol Project:</strong> A Bioethanol project of 100 kilolitre is being set up at Talwandi Sabo in <strong>Bathinda.</strong> This will require 2 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble annually.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bioethanol-blending-of-petrol" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bioethanol</strong></a> can be used to run vehicles after blending with diesel and petrol.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages of these Projects:</strong> After commissioning of all these projects, Punjab will be able to utilise 1.5 million tonnes (7% of the total) paddy stubble.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Farmers&rsquo; income:</strong> Farmers can benefit hugely if they can <strong>sell paddy stubble to the industry</strong> instead of burning it.</li>
<li><strong>Environment benefits:</strong> It will reduce the<strong> pollution</strong> caused by stubble burning and also preserve the<strong> fertility</strong> of the soil which is lost due to burning paddy stubble.</li>
<li><strong>Entrepreneurship:</strong> The youth, particularly engineers, graduates in science and technology can start such projects under the<strong> &lsquo;start-up&rsquo; concept,</strong> which will create entrepreneurship among them.</li>
<li><strong>Employment:</strong> Educated unemployed youth in rural Punjab where such projects will be set up can get big <strong>job opportunities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitations:</strong> Current usage of stubble in these plants is very small compared to the generation of stubble. Punjab needs <strong>varieties of stubble-based industry</strong> where more and more stubble is consumed.</li>
<li><strong>Issues involved with Paddy Stubble:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aboutl 20 million tonnes of paddy stubble or paddy crop residue is generated in Punjab annually. <strong>Less than 5% is being utilized</strong> in Bio-gas, Biomass power generation or other environment-friendly uses. The main mode of getting rid of this stubble is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stubble-burning-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>stubble burning.</strong></a></li>
<li>Stubble Burning is a major cause of concern because of environmental and health reasons. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Stubble burning is considered to be one of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stubble-burning-and-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>factors responsible for smog in Delhi.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The burning of stubble <strong>reduces the soil fertility,</strong> besides polluting the environment.</li>
<li>Additionally, the <strong>heat generated</strong> by stubble burning penetrates into the soil, leading to the loss of moisture and useful microbes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other alternatives to utilize paddy stubble:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Torrefaction: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swedish-technology-to-reduce-stubble-burning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Torrefaction</a></strong> is a thermal process to convert biomass into a coal-like material, which has better fuel characteristics than the original biomass.</li>
<li><strong>Fertilizer:</strong> The stubble can be used for preparation of the <strong>high-grade organic fertilizers</strong> by mixing with cow dung and few natural enzymes.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanized Management:</strong> Stubble can be managed in three ways &mdash; by <strong>pressing the left over stubble under the earth; sowing wheat directly in the standing stubble in the fields and thirdly, by collecting it in bundles.</strong> This can be aided by use of machines like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Super SMS (Straw Management System):</strong> It cuts and spreads the straw in uniform manner in the field at the time of harvesting of paddy.</li>
<li><strong>Happy Seeder</strong>: It can sow wheat directly in such fields in standing paddy stubble (the height of which remains around 18 inches after cutting with Super SMS).</li>
<li><strong>Super Seeder:</strong> It is more advanced and it ploughs standing paddy stubble in soil and sows wheat seed simultaneously in a single operation after harvesting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reduction-in-stubble-burning-incidents" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue</strong> </a>- It is a Central Sector Scheme that was launched by the Government of India to tackle air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/satat-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SATAT Scheme:</strong></a><strong> Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme</strong> was launched by the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Its objectives include reducing pollution from burning of agricultural / organic waste and utilising more than 62 million metric tonnes of waste generated every year in India.</li>
<li>The<strong> Punjab government</strong> has provided <strong>74,000 subsidised machines</strong> called Super SMS, Happy Seeder and Super Seeders to the farmers for stubble management after harvesting.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government must help the youth in setting start-ups for stubble utilization by <strong>getting sanctioned loans and providing a market.</strong></li>
<li>Joint efforts are required on the part of the state, Centre and industries, including public and private participation, to convert all of Punjab&rsquo;s stubble into farmers&rsquo; income. <strong>Stubble-based projects</strong> can be set up at the block-level to manage stubble of that bloc.</li>
<li>An expansion of schemes like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fund-crunch-in-mgnrega" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act</strong></a> (MGNREGA) for harvesting and composting of stubble will help to resolve the dual problem of unemployment and stubble burning.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/biomass-power-plants-bio-cng-bioethanol-how-peda-plans-to-spin-paddy-stubble-into-gold-6590158/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'India-Japan Logistics Agreement',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India and Japan signed a <strong>logistics agreement</strong> that will allow armed forces of both sides to coordinate closely in services and supplies. The agreement is known as <strong>Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement</strong> (ACSA).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has similar agreements with the <strong>USA, Australia, France, Oman and Singapore.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599810825_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599810825_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Agreement:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>aimed</strong> at greater maritime cooperation and can <strong>upgrade India-Japan naval exercises</strong> as both countries are expected to share maritime facilities for mutual benefit.</li>
<li>It <strong>establishes the enabling framework</strong> for closer cooperation between the armed forces of both countries in <strong>reciprocal provision of supplies and services</strong> while engaged in bilateral training activities, United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian International Relief and other mutually agreed activities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The supplies and services include food, water, transportation, airlift, petroleum, clothing, communications and medical services etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will also<strong> enhance the interoperability, assist in maintaining regional security</strong> and further<strong> increase the bilateral defence engagements</strong> between the two countries.</li>
<li>It will <strong>remain in force for 10 years</strong> and will be automatically extended for periods of 10 years unless one of the parties decides to end it.</li>
<li>The agreement is being interpreted as a coming together of Japan and India when India is having a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>border standoff with China at Line of Actual Control (LAC)</strong> </a>in eastern Ladakh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-Japan Defence Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, India and Japan held the first-ever ministerial-level <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-japan-2-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2+2 dialogue.</strong></a> This dialogue involves the Defence and Foreign Ministers on both sides and is seen as an endorsement of the special strategic partnership between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Japan.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both nations share a common vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a> in which the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity are ensured.</li>
<li>India and Japan defence forces organize a series of bilateral exercises namely, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-08th-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JIMEX</a> (naval exercise), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-4th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SHINYUU Maitri</a> (air force exercise),</strong> and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-dharma-guardian-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dharma Guardian</a> (military exercise).</strong> Both countries also participate in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-malabar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malabar exercise</strong></a> with the USA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both the countries are also part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs sophisticated weapons and technology from Japan, so more collaboration and cooperation can prove beneficial to both nations.</li>
<li>There is huge potential as far as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> and defence deals are concerned. Joint ventures could be created by merging Japanese technology with Indian raw materials and labour.</li>
<li>Closer cooperation is the best measure to combat China&rsquo;s growing role in Asia and Indo-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/modi-abe-speak-on-phone-after-india-and-japan-sign-logistics-agreement/article32575638.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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