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Covid-19 and Food Security

This editorial analysis is based on the article Fighting COVID-19 and food insecurity requires new ideas, robust political will, which was...

02 Sep 2020 News Editorials
Manufacturing Improved: PMI

Why in News As per the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data, India’s manufacturing sector activity has started to show signs of growth...

02 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Indra 2020 to be held in Andaman Sea

Why In News India and Russia are scheduled to hold Indra 2020 in the Andaman Sea, close to the Strait of Malacca instead of the Indian Ocean Region...

02 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Compatibility of the Contempt of Court with International Standards

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Eighth East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting

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02 Sep 2020 News Analysis
NPAs in SHG loans

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02 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Spot Robot

Why in News Recently, researchers from Boston Dynamics, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT - USA) have developed a robot, called...

02 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Adjusted Gross Revenue to be Paid in 10 Years

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02 Sep 2020 News Analysis
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02 Sep 2020 News Analysis
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01 Sep 2020 News Editorials
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020

Why in News Air Force Sports Control Board was conferred with ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020’ for the outstanding contribution...

01 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Onam Festival

Why in News Recently, the festival Onam was celebrated across Kerala. Key Points The Festival: Onam is a major harvest festival in Kerala and is...

01 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Core Sector Contracted by 9.6%

Why in News The output of eight core infrastructure sectors dropped by 9.6% in July 2020. It has been a continued contraction for the past five...

01 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Assam Firm on NRC Re-verification

Why in News The Assam government remains firm on its demand of 10-20% re-verification of the nationality claims made by some of the people included...

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Inscription from Renati Chola Era

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01 Sep 2020 News Analysis
GDP Contracted by 23.9% in First Quarter

Why in News According to the recent National Statistical Office (NSO) data, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth contracted by 23.9% in...

01 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Special Open Market Operations by RBI

Why in News Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced several measures to ensure orderly market conditions and smooth financial...

01 Sep 2020 News Analysis
African Baobab Tree

Why in News A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports has found that the tree 'African Baobab' has 168 chromosomes. Previous...

01 Sep 2020 News Analysis
Need For A Fiscal Council

This editorial analysis is based on the article India does need a Fiscal Council which was published in The Hindu on 25th of August 2020. It...

31 Aug 2020 News Editorials
Prelims 2020: Quick revision course

Download Drishti App to join the 60 hours Quick Revision Course for Prelims 2020 -...

31 Aug 2020 Prelims

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			'title' => 'Covid-19 and Food Security',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/two-pandemics-covid-19-food-security-hunger-economic-growth-6579348/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fighting COVID-19 and food insecurity requires new ideas</strong></a>, robust political will, which was published in the Indian Express on 2nd of September 2020. It analyses the impact of Covid-19 on food security of the world especially the poor of South Asia.</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic has severely derailed development across the world. It has compounded the pre-crisis levels of food insecurity and malnutrition with job losses, supply chain disruptions, and declines in revenue from key exports and remittances.</p>
<p>Globally, the World Food Programme predicts that the number of people facing acute food insecurity around the world will almost double to 270 million, including 121 million new food insecure due to Covid-19.</p>
<p>However, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South Asia</strong> </a>is particularly vulnerable, with the number of chronically underfed people projected to rise by to 330 million by 2030. It is also the only subregion in the world where more than half the children from the poorest fifth of society are stunted.</p>
<h3>Impact on Food Security</h3>
<p><strong>Extreme Hunger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Covid-19 has struck at a time when hunger or undernourishment keeps rising.</li>
<li>According to the latest <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN</strong></a> estimates, 83 to 132 million more people may suffer extreme hunger in 2020 as a result of the economic recession triggered by the pandemic.</li>
<li>This would be in addition to the 690 million people going hungry now.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Malnourishment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from extreme hunger people are also suffering from undernourishment.</li>
<li>It means that they are unable to consume enough healthy calories to lead a normal, active life.</li>
<li>Over a prolonged period this will have long-term implications for their future.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Extreme Poverty</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a>, the pandemic's economic impact could push about 100 million people into extreme poverty.</li>
<li>Soaring unemployment rates, income losses and rising food costs are jeopardizing food access in developed and developing countries alike and will have long-term effects on food security.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Recession</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Furthermore, the pandemic may plunge national economies into recession which will severely hamper their power to run welfare schemes for the poor and deprived.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sharpened Social Divides</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Covid-19 has exposed some of the world&rsquo;s deepest inequalities.</li>
<li>The rich have been able to keep enjoying even the luxury due to their wealth accumulation.</li>
<li>Millions of people on the other hand have been thrown out of work and don&rsquo;t have enough money to even feed their families.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Departure From Trickle Down Effect</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tackling these new problems will require new ideas and a more robust political will.</li>
<li>Past progress was sustained by the benign trickle-down effects of strong economies. The Government must take direct responsibility for the ones who are vulnerable and marginalised.</li>
<li>This is not the case anymore. The facts have changed, and so must our minds.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Increasing Resilience</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>We need to find ways to increase resilience across our food systems by identifying new marketing channels like e-commerce which will provide more avenues to the farmers to sell their product in case of low demand in the local market.</li>
<li>If feasible, relocate markets to larger premises, while ensuring the appropriate infrastructure is in place to maintain health, hygiene, quality and food safety.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Increase Efficiency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>We must increase our efficiency to reduce losses and improve the quality of products available.</li>
<li>It would be a good initiative to identify collection centres closer to producers, for example develop storage facilities like warehouse receipt system platforms where farmers can deliver their produce without the need to go to markets.</li>
<li>If possible, allow local markets to remain open, while putting in place strict physical distancing measures within and outside markets.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Inclusive Finance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inclusive access to finance to strengthen and expand rural supply chains is also crucial.</li>
<li>Banking products and financial services must be made available to poor populations on priority basis.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Comprehensive Recovery Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/search/Food%20and%20Agriculture%20Organization%20(FAO)" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organisation</strong></a> (FAO) of the United Nations has recently launched a new comprehensive Covid-19 Response and Recovery Programme to provide an agile and coordinated global response aimed at ensuring access to nutritious food for everyone.</li>
<li>It aims to mobilise all forms of resources and partnerships at the hands of every country.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Encouraging Innovation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>We must, as a priority, enable farmers to be more dynamic, entrepreneurial and competitive through continual innovation.</li>
<li>We need smallholder farmers to produce nutritious foods, without fear of crop failures, and we also need to get those foods to the mouths of the hungry across the region and beyond.</li>
<li>To do this, smallholders desperately need access to financial resources, technology and innovation.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Response to Covid-19</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To remedy the situation emerging out of the Covid-19 pandemic and to prevent any major devastation by way of loss of human lives and livelihood, the country has unitedly taken some quick decisions.</li>
<li>The government enhanced its social safety programs including direct benefit transfers such as cash transfers under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM Kisan scheme</strong></a>, more liberal financing under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGA</strong></a> like advance disbursement, direct cash grants to construction workers and release of free and subsidized food grains under <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/27-03-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</strong></a> to about 800 million people to ensure food for all.</li>
<li>The Government announced a special economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore (equivalent to 10% of India&rsquo;s GDP) under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme</strong> </a>with the aim of making the country independent against the tough competition in the global supply chain and to help in empowering the poor, labourers, migrants who have been adversely affected by Covid.</li>
<li>Rapid up-gradation of health infrastructure and manpower; and swift readjustment of policies and programs with active association and participation of all stakeholders, be that politicians, governments, NGOs, and private sectors, were other daunting tasks performed by the governments.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asia-Pacific region</strong></a> has some of the best agricultural scientists, institutions and innovative ideas. If we are able to cooperate and coordinate then we can also battle this pandemic.</li>
<li>There is no time to waste. Everyone needs to lend a hand. Governments, academia, the private sector, UN agencies, civil society organisations, international financial institutions and the people who bring us the food we eat, the smallholders should come together and help each other in every way possible.</li>
<li>We need to be working in unison to overcome pandemics that by definition affect and involve everyone.</li>
<li>The FAO has rolled out the Hand-in-Hand initiative to tackle these collective challenges, and the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, which will be virtually hosted by Bhutan, is the perfect opportunity for the countries to forge ways to expedite action and leverage resources.</li>
<li>By working together, learning and contributing together, we can overcome both pandemics and transform the agri-food system.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599048967_image6.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599048967_image6.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Covid-19 crisis has derailed the development process of the world and only a sustained innovative and coordinated effort can help the world overcome this crisis. Discuss the steps taken by India in this regard.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JxSQyKRX6P0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/for-the-weakest-the-hindu-editorial-on-sub-classification-among-scs/article32481807.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;For the weakest: On sub-classification among SCs&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on August 31<sup>st</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Manufacturing Improved: PMI',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>As per the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data, India&rsquo;s manufacturing sector activity has started to show signs of growth in August, driven mainly by pick-up in production along with improvement in customer demand.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Purchasing Managers' Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI) is an indicator of business activity - both in the <strong>manufacturing </strong>and<strong> services sectors.</strong></li>
<li>It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is also constructed.</li>
<li>The PMI summarizes whether market conditions as viewed by purchasing managers are expanding, neutral, or contracting.</li>
<li>The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PMI is a number from <strong>0 to 100.</strong></li>
<li>PMI<strong> above 50</strong> represents an expansion when compared to the previous month;</li>
<li>PMI <strong>under 50</strong> represents a contraction, and</li>
<li>A <strong>reading at 50</strong> indicates no change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The PMI is usually released at the start of every month. It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity.</li>
<li>The Index (PMI) is compiled by <strong>IHS Markit</strong> for more than 40 economies worldwide. IHS Markit is a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>PMI Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/purchasing-manager-s-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI)</strong></a> rose from<strong> 46 in July to 52 in August.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In PMI parlance, a value <strong>above 50 means expansion,</strong> while a score below that denotes contraction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In April,</strong> the index had slipped into contraction mode, after remaining in the growth territory for 32 consecutive months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Positive Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>New business</strong> received by Indian manufacturers <strong>expanded at the fastest pace since February.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Higher levels of production</strong> supported a <strong>modest rise in the number of purchases</strong> during August.</li>
<li><strong>Goods and Services Tax Collection:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-goods-and-services-tax-gst-collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST</strong></a> collections in August stood at&mdash; 88% of the august 2019-20 level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Collections in July were marginally higher but at 85.6% of the year earlier.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong> The contraction in India&rsquo;s infrastructure sector<strong> slowed to 9.6%</strong> in July compared with 12.9% shrinkage in June.</li>
<li><strong>Mobility: The Google Mobility index,</strong> which measures visits to different locations such as retail shops, workplaces, parks and transport hubs, <strong>showed a 2% rise in trends</strong> for places such as supermarkets, food warehouses, farmers&rsquo; markets, speciality food shops and pharmacies.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-way-bills-during-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>E-way bills</strong></a>, another widely followed indicator of business activity, reached <strong>99.8% of last year&rsquo;s level in August.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Petrol consumption:</strong> Petrol consumption <strong>rose by about 2%</strong> in the first fortnight of August from the corresponding period in July.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> The pick-up in demand from domestic markets gave rise to upturns in production and input buying.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gradually, unlocking after lockdown has increased the pace of mobilization of economic resources.</li>
<li>Exports are also on marginal improvement. When compared to imports, the rate of export demand is on the higher side due to strict slash on imports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Unemployment:</strong> Despite an expansion in new orders,<strong> job shedding</strong> continued in the Indian manufacturing sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The relocation of employees following Covid-19 pandemic is linked to the reduction in staffing numbers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inflation:</strong> Reports of higher raw material costs due to supplier shortages and transportation delays stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, resulted in rising input prices during August.</li>
<li><strong>Exports:</strong> The decline in foreign exports weighed slightly on overall new orders as firms cited subdued demand conditions from abroad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Focusing on Atmanirbhar Bharat:</strong> The government announced an economic stimulus package of Rs. 20 lakh crore and big-bang systemic reforms under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a> (self-reliant India). The intended objective of this plan is two-fold. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First,<strong> interim measures</strong> such as liquidity infusion and direct cash transfers for the poor will work as shock absorbers for those in acute stress.</li>
<li>The second, <strong>long-term reforms</strong> in growth-critical sectors to make them globally competitive and attractive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing the MGNREGA Funding and Expanding to Urban Areas:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA)</strong> </a>programme has proved to be a bedrock of support in the normal times and during times of difficulty (like Covid-19) and it will be a good idea to expand the scheme to urban areas.</li>
<li><strong>Transfer of Cash Benefits:</strong> Money in the hands of people can provide an immediate sense of security and confidence, which is the cornerstone to restoring economic normalcy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will raise the consumption and demand of the economy and can bring back the virtuous cycle of demand and supply in play.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues with the Banking System:</strong> Covid-19 assistance measures undertaken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government such as interest rate reductions, credit guarantee and liquidity enhancement schemes are welcome steps.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Although banks have largely failed to take initiatives as they are not confident of lending.</li>
<li>The RBI should consider a Single One Time Window for restructuring business loans, as required, by all banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax Incentivization:</strong> Big business houses and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MSME sector</strong> </a>should be supported by the government though tax incentivization to reopen their operations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will energize consumer demand and boost the functioning of the vendor or ancillary industry in the MSME sector (which has huge potential for job creation).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Calibrating Make in India</strong>: The ongoing distrust on Chinese manufacturing amid USA-China spat can be very well garnered by India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Making India a global trading hub &ndash; devise an incentive regime for companies setting up global trading operations from India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Sunrise Sectors:</strong> It should also encourage sunrise sectors as part of re-imagining Indian economy such as battery manufacturing (storage systems)/ solar panel manufacturing.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government can also consider giving impetus to &ldquo;Deep Tech&rdquo;-leveraged businesses - blockchain, robotics, AI, machine learning, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Auto-sector Reforms:</strong> The auto industry which contributes significantly to GDP (nearly 9%) deserves special treatment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In addition to reducing GST rate, old vehicle scrap policy with tax incentives for creating a demand for new vehicles may be formulated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Labour Law Reforms:</strong> Focus should be given to strictly enforce discipline within the factory premises and demand higher productivity. The moves by U.P., M.P. and Gujarat are welcome signals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>labour laws must be motivated by concerns of sustainability. Minimum wages, a written job contract that specifies terms and conditions of working, social security provisions etc. increase costs in the short run but augment economic optimisation in the long run by enhancing the productivity of the workforce.</li>
<li>The government has come out with<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/labour-laws-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> four labour codes</strong></a> as long term reforms.</li>
<li>The government should provide health insurance for migrant labourers as experimented by certain States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/manufacturing-sector-activity-returns-to-growth-in-august-as-demand-picks-up-pmi/article32495954.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source TH</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/manufacturing-improved-pmi'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Indra 2020 to be held in Andaman Sea',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p><strong>India and Russia</strong> are scheduled to hold <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-indra-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indra</strong> </a><strong>2020</strong> in the <strong>Andaman Sea, close to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/china-in-south-china-sea#:~:text=The%20Strait%20of%20Malacca%20connects,control%20such%20a%20strategic%20location." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Strait of Malacca</a></strong> instead of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-and-emerging-concerns-in-indian-ocean-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Region</strong></a> (IOR).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Strait of Malacca <strong>connects Indian Ocean to the South China Sea</strong> and is 900 km in length and is also a<strong> prominent trade route between East Asia and West Asia-Europe.</strong></li>
<li>IOR is under <strong>high operational alert by the Indian Navy</strong> due to the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict#:~:text=Key%20Points,on%205%2F6th%20May." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>standoff with China in Ladakh.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042917_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042917_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="534" height="398" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Indra series of exercises began in 2003</strong> and was conducted as a <strong>bilateral naval exercise</strong> alternately between the two countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the <strong>first joint Tri-Services Exercise was conducted in 2017.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indra 2020</strong> will be the<strong> first bilateral naval exercise</strong> since all such engagements were <strong>suspended due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its timing coincides with<strong> Indian Defence Minister&rsquo;s visit to Russia</strong> for the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-international-institutions-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shanghai Cooperation Organisation</a> (SCO) Defence Ministers Meet.</strong></li>
<li>Andaman Sea was also the location where frontline warships of the<strong> Indian Navy conducted a Passage Exercise (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/passex-with-the-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PASSEX</a>) with the USA Navy&rsquo;s USS Nimitz carrier strike group</strong> in July this year.</li>
<li><strong>China Factor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, <strong>India has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-pulls-out-of-kavkaz-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">withdrawn from the Kavkaz-2020</a></strong> <strong>multinational exercise in Russia</strong> due to the restrictions posed by the pandemic. However, the<strong> participation of Chinese troops in the same</strong> exercise is apparently the main reason.</li>
<li>Indian Navy is keeping a <strong>close watch on the movement of Chinese Naval ships in the IOR</strong> because their presence in the IOR has gone up considerably over the years in the name of Anti-Piracy patrols.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In<strong> 2017,</strong> China opened its first overseas <strong>military base in Djibouti</strong> in the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-pulls-out-of-kavkaz-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Horn of Africa.</a></strong></li>
<li>Given its strategic location, <strong>India has embarked on a major <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-to-be-maritime-and-startup-hub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">infrastructure expansion plan</a></strong> on the <strong>Andaman and Nicobar island chain.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-russia-to-hold-naval-drills-in-andaman-sea/article32496756.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/indra-2020-to-be-held-in-andaman-sea'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Compatibility of the Contempt of Court with International Standards',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)</strong> has urged for a review of criminal contempt laws in India, expressing its concerns over the Supreme Court's decision to convict <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/prashant-bhushan-judgement-the-law-of-contempt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Advocate Prashant Bhushan for criminal contempt.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Supreme Court's Decision:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court found Prashant Bhushan guilty of &lsquo;scandalizing the court&rsquo; on a suo-motu consideration of his two tweets. It has fined him with Rs. 1.</li>
<li>It held that tweets on its &ldquo;role&rdquo; in the &ldquo;last six years&rdquo; and a photograph of the Chief Justice of India on a motorbike undermines its dignity and the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the public eye.</li>
<li><strong>Contempt of Court:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions: Article 129 and 215 of the Constitution</strong> of India empowers the Supreme Court (SC) and High Court respectively to punish people for their respective contempt.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Article 142 of the Indian Constitution also empowers the SC to punish for its contempt. However, <strong>what is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contempt-of-court-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contempt of court</a> per se has not been defined</strong> by the Indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Statutory Provisions:</strong> The <strong>Contempt of Court Act, 1971</strong> elaborately deals with the concept of contempt of court.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Act divides contempt into civil and criminal contempt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Commission of Jurists&rsquo; Views:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For the ICJ, the conviction appears to be inconsistent with international standards on freedom of expression and the role of lawyers.</li>
<li><strong>The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:</strong> The judgement goes against the general protection of free speech and expression in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-human-rights-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Declaration of Human Rights.</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. For the first time, fundamental human rights were made universally applicable and protected.</li>
<li>It states that &lsquo;All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.&rsquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The International Covenant on Civil &amp; Political Rights:</strong> The judgement is inconsistent with the freedom of expression law guaranteed by the <strong>International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ICCPR is a key international human rights treaty, providing a range of protections for civil and political rights.</li>
<li>The Covenant compels governments to take administrative, judicial, and legislative measures in order to protect the rights enshrined in the treaty and to provide an effective remedy.</li>
<li>The Covenant was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966 and came into force in 1976. 173 countries including <strong>India have ratified</strong> the Covenant.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The United Nations&rsquo; Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers:</strong> The judgement goes against the principles enshrined under the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Principle 23:</strong> Lawyers &ldquo;shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights&rdquo;.</li>
<li>These Principles were adopted by the 8<sup>th</sup> United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Cuba in 1990.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Bar Association of India</strong> also highlighted that &ldquo;the exercise of contempt jurisdiction by the Court in this manner has potential for more self-harm than the avowed purpose of safeguarding the prestige of the institution&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Commission of Jurists</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since <strong>1952,</strong> the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has performed a unique and prominent role as a <strong>Non Governmental Organization (NGO)</strong> defending human rights and the rule of law worldwide.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The contempt of court should not be allowed to be used as a means to prevent criticisms and in the<strong> era of social media,</strong> besides the need to revisit the law on criminal contempt, even the test for contempt needs to be evaluated.</li>
<li>In contemporary times, it is more important that courts are seen to be concerned about <strong>accountability</strong> rather than threats of contempt action, and processes are <strong>transparent.</strong></li>
<li>On criminal contempt, India can learn from Britain which abolished the offence of scandalizing the judiciary as a form of contempt of court in 2013.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/law-commission-of-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Law Commission of India</strong> </a>held that there is a need to retain the provision regarding the contempt of courts. However, it also recommended the definition of contempt in the Contempt of Court Act should be restricted to civil contempt, i.e., <strong>willful disobedience of judgments of the court.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prashant-bhushans-conviction-seems-at-odds-with-international-free-speech-law-international-commission-of-jurists/article32496322.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/compatibility-of-the-contempt-of-court-with-international-standards'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Eighth East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>8<sup>th</sup> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Asia Summit</a> Economic Ministers&rsquo; Meeting</strong> (EAS-EMM) was held<strong> virtually</strong> and attended by <strong>10<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ASEAN</a> members and eight other nations,</strong> including India, the USA, and China.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting<strong> highlighted the importance of strengthening regional supply chains to make them resilient</strong> in times of heightened challenges posed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>and to <strong>spur economic growth.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, Japan has mooted the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative#:~:text=Supply%20Chain%20Resilience%20Initiative%20(SCRI)%3A,lead%20to%20the%20supply%20chain." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)</strong></a> as a trilateral approach to trade, with India and Australia as the key-partners.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features of the Joint Statement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any <strong>trade-restrictive emergency measures</strong> put in place to address the impact of Covid-19 must be <strong>targeted, proportionate, transparent, temporary, consistent with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative#:~:text=Supply%20Chain%20Resilience%20Initiative%20(SCRI)%3A,lead%20to%20the%20supply%20chain." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Trade Organisation</a> (WTO) rules and do not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption of global and regional supply chains.</strong></li>
<li>Support for the <strong>necessary reforms in the WTO</strong> and pledge to continue to work together to <strong>realise a free, fair, transparent, non-discriminatory, predictable, and stable trade environment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Facilitating the essential movement of people across borders,</strong> without undermining each country&rsquo;s efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and to stabilise the trade and investment.</li>
<li><strong>Commitment to facilitate supply chain connectivity,</strong> including for essential goods such as medical supplies, medicines, including vaccines, food, commodities and other essential supplies and services in the region.</li>
<li><strong>Harness the opportunities of the digital economy</strong> to overcome the challenges posed by restricted movement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India highlighted its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong> </a>which is about <strong>upscaling the growth of Indian industry,</strong> its<strong> skills and capabilities to make them resilient and less vulnerable to shocks </strong>and<strong> integrating Indian industries with the global supply chains.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The meeting comes at a <strong>critical juncture</strong> when the pandemic has not just <strong>posed an unprecedented health crisis</strong> but also caused a <strong>sharp contraction in economic activities,</strong> disrupting trade and investments.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong></a> (IMF) has predicted a 4.9% contraction for the 2020 global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low#:~:text=Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20(GDP)%3A,output%20from%20the%20consumers'%20side." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></a> (GDP), warning that the Covid-19 outbreak has plunged the global economy into its worst recession since the <strong>Great Depression in the 1930s.</strong></li>
<li>In April, the WTO also warned that <strong>global trade volume growth could crash</strong> by 13-32% in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>East Asia Summit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in <strong>2005,</strong> it is a<strong> forum of 18 regional leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation</strong> on the key political, security, and economic challenges facing the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Genesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concept of an East Asia Grouping was<strong> first promoted in 1991 by the then Malaysian Prime Minister,</strong> Mahathir bin Mohamad.</li>
<li><strong>India is one of the founding members</strong> of the East Asia Summit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Membership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It comprises the<strong> ten member states of the ASEAN</strong> which are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, <strong>along with 8 other countries namely</strong> Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the USA.</li>
<li>It is an <strong>ASEAN-centred forum</strong> so it can <strong>only be chaired by an ASEAN member.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042187_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042187_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/ensure-covid-related-trade-curbs-are-temporary/article32476185.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eighth-east-asia-summit-economic-ministers-meeting'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'NPAs in SHG loans',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has asked states to monitor the status of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Performing Assets (NPAs)</strong> </a>district-wise and take corrective measures to recover overdue/outstanding dues from <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Self-Help Groups</a> (SHGs).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The issue was raised in the review meeting of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-rural-economic-transformation-project-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission.</strong></a></li>
<li>A <strong>Non Performing Asset (NPA)</strong> is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Livelihoods Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD),</strong> Government of India in 2011.</li>
<li>NRLM set out with an agenda to cover 7 Crore rural poor households, across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through <strong>SHGs and federated institutions</strong> and support them for livelihoods collectives in a period of 8-10 years.</li>
<li>The Mission aims at creating <strong>efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor </strong>enabling them to<strong> increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SHG Loans as NPAs:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>About Rs. 91,130 crore have been given to about 54.57 lakh SHGs across the country by the end of March 2020 as loans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Around <strong>2.37%</strong> or <strong>Rs. 2,168 crore</strong> of this total outstanding bank loans turned out to be <strong>NPAs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The proportion of NPAs in bank loans given to SHGs has <strong>significantly increased</strong> over the last decade from <strong>2.90% in 2008 to 6.12% in 2018.</strong></li>
<li>There has been a rise of <strong>0.19%</strong> in overall NPAs in SHG loans in 2019-20 compared to financial year 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Wise Distribution:</strong> <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599038917_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599038917_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="550" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Uttar Pradesh,</strong> which has 71,907 SHGs, reported that 36.02% of the loans taken by the groups were NPAs at the end of March 2020, as compared to 22.16% in 2018-19.</li>
<li>In <strong>Arunachal Pradesh,</strong> the NPA proportion stood at an alarming 43%, though the number of SHGs there is just <strong>209.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Directions:</strong> The <strong>State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs)</strong> were directed by the MoRD to monitor the status of NPA district wise and take immediate corrective actions wherever instances of NPA or overdues were found.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A mechanism under which representatives drawn from SHGs monitored loans had proved critical in ensuring timely repayment and therefore, it should be <strong>institutionalised in all bank branches.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> In 2019, the <strong>National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR)</strong> has conducted a research<strong> study on NPAs by SHGs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It found that <strong>poor economic conditions, non-cooperation, lack-of training, expenses towards marriages and social ceremonies, and medical emergencies</strong> are the main reasons for non-payment of loans by SHGs.</li>
<li><strong>Expectations of loan waiver from the government</strong> was also found to be a major reason for the poor financial health of SHGs.</li>
<li>The<strong> role played by banks</strong> in handholding, timely opening accounts, monitoring and follow-up was not as per the expectation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Initiatives by Central Government to promote SHGs</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agriculture-infrastructure-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agriculture Infrastructure Fund</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-share-in-pmmsy-and-fme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ambedkar-hastshilp-vikas-yojana-ahvy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/north-east-rural-livelihood-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>North East Rural Livelihood Project</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-stimulus-iii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic Stimulus-III</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> autonomous</strong> organisation under the<strong> Union Ministry of Rural Development.</strong></li>
<li>It is a premier national centre of excellence in <strong>rural development and Panchayati Raj.</strong></li>
<li>It has been recognized internationally as one of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/survey-2019-ambitions-beyond-growth-escap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UN-ESCAP</strong> </a><strong>Centres of Excellence.</strong></li>
<li>It builds <strong>capacities of rural development functionaries,</strong> elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, bankers, Non-Governmental Organizations and other stakeholders through interrelated activities of training, research and consultancy.</li>
<li>The Institute is located in<strong> Hyderabad (Telangana).</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Training SHGs and providing them market linkages</strong> for the products/services so that they use the funds for income generating activity and have no problem in paying back the loan amount should be done by the government. In addition, providing group health and life insurance clubbed with loans at low cost will help as members spend a significant portion of the loan on events like ill-health, ceremonies etc.</li>
<li>It needs to be ensured that <strong>grading of SHGs</strong> needs to be done properly and loans should be issued only if it is found suitable for lending.<strong> Follow-ups and constant monitoring</strong> is a must.</li>
<li><strong>Quantum of loan should be high</strong> as it is a major limiting factor, one-time lending not only impedes the process of business expansion but also wastes the money lent so far. Banks need to be sensitized to<strong> lend multiple doses of credit, for well performing SHGs.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Though NPAs by SHGs are a major concern, it must <strong>not deter the government from supporting SHGs.</strong> Post <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lockdown-extended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong></a>, there is an imperative need for economic revival and reconstruction. Each SHG loan sanctioned or enhanced, will either facilitate spending or investment- the twin engines for driving an economy.</li>
<li>Women members of SHGs across the country from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/women-shgs-fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NRLM have also contributed</strong></a> to contain the spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/npas-in-shg-loans-see-jump-states-told-to-collect-dues-6579603/" 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/npas-in-shg-loans'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Spot Robot',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, researchers from Boston Dynamics, of <strong>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</strong> (MIT - USA) have developed a robot, called<strong> &lsquo;Spot&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They have planned to use it for patients with <a href="/admin/articles/edit/Why%20in News Recently, researchers from Boston Dynamics, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT - USA) have developed a robot, called &lsquo;Spot&rsquo;.  They have planned to use it for patients with Covid-19 symptoms. 	  Key Points Features:  The robot is controlled by a handheld device. It can walk on four legs, similarly to a dog, climbs stairs and can traverse rough terrain with ease and small enough to be used indoors. It can measure skin temperature, breathing rate, pulse rate, and blood oxygen saturation in healthy patients, from 2 metres away. It has four cameras &mdash; one infrared, three monochrome. Working: Body Temperature: The infrared camera measures skin temperature on the face.  An algorithm then correlates the facial skin temperature with core body temperature. Breathing Rate: When a patient wearing a mask breathes, their breath changes the temperature of the mask.  The infrared camera measures this temperature change, enabling researchers to calculate the breathing rate. Pulse Rate &amp; Oxygen Level: When haemoglobin binds to oxygen and flows through blood vessels, it results in slight changes in colour.  These changes are measured with the help of the three monochrome cameras, which filter lights of three different wavelengths.  Using these measurements, the algorithm calculates pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation. Benefit: The robot can be deployed in areas where suspected cases of Covid-19 assemble. Healthcare workers can avoid exposing themselves to risk, by manoeuvring the robot to wherever patients are sitting.  The robot can also carry a tablet that allows doctors to ask patients about their symptoms without being in the same room. Source: IE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> symptoms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599038203_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599038203_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The robot is controlled by a <strong>handheld device.</strong></li>
<li>It can<strong> walk</strong> on four legs, similarly to a dog,<strong> climbs stairs</strong> and can <strong>traverse rough terrain</strong> with ease and<strong> small enough to be used indoors.</strong></li>
<li>It can<strong> measure skin temperature, breathing rate, pulse rate, and blood oxygen saturation</strong> in healthy patients,<strong> from 2 metres away.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has <strong>four cameras</strong> &mdash; one infrared, three monochrome.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Working:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Body Temperature:</strong> The infrared camera measures skin temperature on the face. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An algorithm then correlates the facial skin temperature with core body temperature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Breathing Rate:</strong> When a patient wearing a mask breathes, their breath changes the temperature of the mask. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The infrared camera measures this temperature change, enabling researchers to calculate the breathing rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pulse Rate &amp; Oxygen Level:</strong> When haemoglobin binds to oxygen and flows through blood vessels, it results in slight changes in colour. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These changes are measured with the help of the three monochrome cameras, which filter lights of three different wavelengths.</li>
<li>Using these measurements, the algorithm calculates pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The robot can be deployed in areas where suspected cases of Covid-19 assemble. Healthcare workers can avoid exposing themselves to risk, by manoeuvring the robot to wherever patients are sitting.</li>
<li>The robot can also carry a tablet that allows doctors to ask patients about their symptoms without being in the same room.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-a-robot-to-measure-covid-patients-vital-signs-6579419/" 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/spot-robot'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Adjusted Gross Revenue to be Paid in 10 Years',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong></a> allowed <strong>telecom companies (telcos)</strong> 10 years&rsquo; time to pay their <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/challenges-in-telecom-sector-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)</strong></a> dues to the government.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Adjusted Gross Revenue</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AGR is a <strong>fee-sharing mechanism</strong> between the government and the telcos who shifted to the <strong>'revenue-sharing fee'</strong> model in 1999, from the <strong>'fixed license fee'</strong> model. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this course, telcos are supposed to<strong> share a percentage</strong> of AGR with the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The telecom sector was liberalised under the <strong>National Telecom Policy, 1994</strong> after which licenses were issued to companies in return for a fixed license fee.</li>
<li>To provide relief from the steep fixed license fee, the <strong>government in 1999</strong> gave an option to the licensees to migrate to the<strong> revenue sharing fee model.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this, mobile telephone operators were required to share a percentage of their AGR with the government as <strong>annual license fee</strong> (LF) and <strong>spectrum usage charges (SUC).</strong></li>
<li>License agreements between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the telecom companies define the gross revenues of the latter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The definition of AGR has been under litigation for 14 years. In 2005, <strong>Cellular Operators Association of India</strong> (COAI) challenged the government&rsquo;s definition for AGR calculation.</li>
<li>However, DoT argued that AGR includes<strong> all revenues from both telecom and non-telecom services.</strong></li>
<li>The companies claimed that <strong>AGR should comprise just the revenue accrued from core services</strong> and not dividend, interest income or profit on the sale of any investment or fixed assets.</li>
<li>In 2015, the <strong>Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)</strong> stayed the case in favour of telecom companies and held that AGR includes all receipts except capital receipts and revenue from non-core sources such as rent, profit on the sale of fixed assets, dividend, interest and miscellaneous income.</li>
<li>However, setting aside TDSAT&rsquo;s order, the Supreme Court upheld the definition of AGR as stipulated by the DoT in October 2019.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the government definition, AGR includes rental receipts, dividend income and income from any other-activity arising out of the telecom licence the company has.</li>
<li>Later on, the Court rejected a 20-year payment timeline proposed by the central government and supported by telecom companies. Instead it has given 10 years&rsquo; time to repay the AGR dues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Directions Issued by Court:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The telecom operators would<strong> make the payment of 10% of the total dues</strong> as demanded by the Department of Telecom by 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</li>
<li>The <strong>yearly instalments would commence from 1<sup>st</sup> April 2021 up to 31<sup>st</sup> March 2031.</strong> The instalments would be paid by <strong>31<sup>st</sup> March every year.</strong></li>
<li>In the event of any default in making payment of annual instalments,<strong> interest would be levied</strong> as per the agreement<strong> along with penalty and interest on penalty</strong> automatically without reference to court. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Besides, it would be <strong>punishable for contempt of court.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Compliance with the court order should be reported by the telcos and the telecom department every year on 7<sup>th</sup> April.</li>
<li>The sale of spectrum by telcos facing insolvency proceedings shall be decided by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The definition of AGR has been such a contentious issue because it has<strong> huge financial implications for both telcos and the government.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was estimated, after the SC&rsquo;s 2019 judgment, that the telecom operators owe the government about Rs. 92,000 crore in back charges, interest and penalties on license fee alone.</li>
<li>The October 2019 judgment had pushed many telcos on the verge of bankruptcy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While the <strong>government has been deprived of the extra revenue,</strong> the financial implications for telecom companies &mdash; who now have to pay overdue amounts piled up for years &mdash; are serious too. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Especially at the current juncture, when profits for telcos are under pressure from severe competition and the falling average revenue per user.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To enhance the growth of the telecom sector, improve the quality of service, and generate resources for the telcos, a <strong>new infrastructural policy</strong> is the need of the hour.</li>
<li>The government needs to provide an<strong> enabling environment</strong> for telecom operators. In order to achieve that, a long-term vision plan must be made accordingly.</li>
<li><strong>Enhanced accessibility of the broadband services</strong> will enable the digital empowerment of India, hence adequate steps must be taken by the government to strengthen the overall telecom sector.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-directs-telcos-to-pay-agr-dues-in-10-years/article32493787.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/adjusted-gross-revenue-to-be-paid-in-10-years'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Early Migration of Butterflies',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> annual migration of butterflies from</strong> the hill ranges of the <strong>Eastern Ghats towards </strong>the <strong>Western Ghats</strong> has been observed <strong>earlier</strong> in 2020, being witnessed in the months of July and August.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Usually, these butterflies <strong>breed during the southwest monsoon season on the eastern areas </strong>of South India and their<strong> progeny migrate back to the western ghats in October- November.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Early Migration:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The migration started early<strong> after a gap of eight years.</strong></li>
<li>The Eastern Ghats complex of the Yercaud hills (Shevaroy hills), Pachamalai, Kolli hills, Kalvarayan are <strong>major originating places</strong> for the migrating species.</li>
<li>The <strong>movement</strong> was observed<strong> towards</strong> the western ghats hill ranges, <strong>Nilgiris,</strong> the <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/butterflies-begin-migrating-early-south-india/article32474699.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anamalai Tiger Reserve</strong></a>, and <strong>Palani hills</strong> in <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> and <strong>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve </strong>in<strong> Kerala.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Four species of milkweed butterflies</strong> belonging to the <strong>Danainae subfamily</strong> are mainly involved in the migration &mdash; the Dark Blue Tiger, Blue Tiger, Common Crow and the Double-branded (commonly known as tigers and crows).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Reasons for Early Migration:</strong> Change in rainfall pattern, a considerable increase in the number of sunny days and a population outburst of butterflies.</li>
<li><strong>Project to Study Migration:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Ferns Nature Conservation Society (FNCS)</strong> initiated a <strong>citizen science project in 2018</strong> to study the migration ecology of milkweed butterflies in south India, with the support of the Forest and Wildlife Department.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Butterflies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Butterflies are <strong>insects from the order Lepidoptera of phylum Arthropoda</strong> which also includes moths.</li>
<li>Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rich Biodiversity:</strong> Abundance of butterflies in any area represents the rich biodiversity.</li>
<li><strong>Indicator Species:</strong> The butterfly acts as an indicator species.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An indicator species provides information on the overall condition of the ecosystem and of other species in that ecosystem. They reflect the quality and changes in environmental conditions as well as aspects of community composition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pollinator:</strong> It acts as a pollinator by helping in pollination and conserving several species of plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599034834_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599034834_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="358" height="501" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is a well protected ecological portion in the <strong>Nelliampathy - Anamalai landscape</strong> of the Southern Western Ghats in India.</li>
<li>It is located in the <strong>Palakkad District of Kerala.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>declared as Tiger Reserve during 2008-09.</strong></li>
<li>The reserve is <strong>credited with the first scientifically managed teak plantation in the world</strong> which was later merged with the forest land.</li>
<li>It has the <strong>world's largest and oldest teak tree.</strong> Named <strong>"Kannimara"</strong> (corrupt version of Irish name Connemara), the tree is believed to be 350 years old and has a height of 40m and girth of 6.4m.</li>
<li><strong>Fauna</strong> includes Tigers, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, the Peninsular Bay Owl, the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, the Black-capped Kingfisher, the Great Black Woodpecker and the Lesser Grey-headed Fish Eagle.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/butterflies-begin-migrating-early-south-india/article32474699.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/early-migration-of-butterflies'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Need For International Realism',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-china-border-dispute-modi-foreign-policy-c-raja-mohan-6577973/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A different view of the world&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 01/09//2020. It talks about the importance of realist international foregin policy for India.</p>
</div>
<p>The 21<sup>st</sup> Century has been heralded as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/multilateralism-and-asia#:~:text=The%20Asian%20Century%20refers%20to,burgeoning%20economy%20and%20demographic%20trends.&amp;text=After%20a%20gap%20of%20200,rest%20of%20the%20world%20combined." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Century</strong></a>, with China and India in the vanguard. However, serving national interests gets into conflict with adherence to internationalism by the two countries.</p>
<p>Further, China&rsquo;s aggressive posturing vis-a-vis India in the recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>galwan valley clash</strong></a> or under construction <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/viability-of-bri-and-cpec#:~:text=22%20members%20currently.-,China%20Pakistan%20Economic%20Corridor,and%20other%20infrastructure%20development%20projects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)</strong></a> (which violates India&rsquo;s territorial sovereignty) has been a major foriegn policy challenge of India.</p>
<p>Thus, as highlighted by India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister, the major challenge that India now faces is to manage a more powerful neighbour while ensuring its own rise.</p>
<p>Though Internationalism has always been a key pillar of India&rsquo;s foreign policy, there is a need for a more realistic foreign policy with respect to China.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598965042_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598965042_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Need for International Realism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Loop-sided Economic Trade:</strong> The advocacy in India of more trade with China has now given way to strong resentment at its one-sidedness. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to a huge trade deficit India has developed a dependence on Chinese goods.</li>
<li>Given this fact, India pulled out of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1#:~:text=The%20Regional%20Comprehensive%20Economic%20Partnership,Agreement%20(FTA)%20member%20partners." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a>, as there was a contradiction between India&rsquo;s national commercial interests and a China-led Asian economic regionalism</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expansionism of China:</strong> China is behaving like an <strong>&lsquo;irredentist power&rsquo; or &lsquo;expansionist power&rsquo;,</strong> seeking to expand its frontiers to the limits that existed in the Qing Dynasty.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has been inclined for long to nibble at territories in the western, middle and eastern segments of the Indian border.</li>
<li>Through the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/italy-joins-belt-road-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> BRI project</strong></a>, China&rsquo;s intent is to dominate the geostrategic space in its neighbourhood and across Asia &amp; Europe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Influence of China:</strong> After the Cold War, India re-embraced Asianism in the 1990s when it unveiled the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Look East Policy</strong></a> and joined the Asian regional institutions led by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean#:~:text=The%20Association%20of%20Southeast%20Asian,is%20observed%20as%20ASEAN%20Day." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of South-East Asian Nations.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This pursuit of economic regionalism in East Asia and emphasis on a multi-polar world had severely underestimated the economic and political consequences of China&rsquo;s rapid rise.</li>
<li>This can be depicted by China's policy of containment of India through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-maritime-security-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strings of pearls</strong></a> and CPEC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Undermining of Global Institutions:</strong> The liberal internationalist effort at constructing supra-national institutions that seek to maintain international order, now faces big setbacks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can be depicted by the growing ineffectiveness of the UN system and Brexit.</li>
<li>Also, today strategic coherence of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-non-alignment-movement#:~:text=The%20Non%2DAligned%20Movement%20was,to%20remain%20independent%20or%20neutral." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Aligned Movement has</strong></a> declined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: Realist International Policy of India</h3>
<p>Realist International Policy in context China would mean that<strong> India should make objective assessments of China&rsquo;s rise and of the gap in comprehensive national power.</strong> It should also envisage bandwagoning with like-minded countries, so to maintain an equilibrium in balance of power and regional peace.</p>
<p>In pursuance of this India can focus on following foreign policy initiatives:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Leveraging its Relationship With Western Countries:</strong> India is already a &ldquo;quasi-ally&rdquo; of the U.S. and has strategic relationships with many european countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As there is no scope for reversal, India should use every possible means to prevent China from reaching the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>Strategic convergence between India and countries like the U.S, Japan, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia is needed to frame a<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indo-Pacific Strategy</strong></a> and balance China&rsquo;s military and economic power.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quadrilateral Security Dialogue</strong></a> (Quad), can also be extended to include like-minded countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, proposals to expand international organisations such as the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/g-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G-7</strong></a> and include India will be helpful in balancing China&rsquo;s influence in international affairs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening Hard Power:</strong> There is an urgent need to strengthen<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-himvijay" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Mountain Strike Corps divisions</strong></a> and establish a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/theatre-command-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>theatre command.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is bound to deter China here far more than the stockpiling of state-of-the-art weapons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Adopting Diplomatic Offensive:</strong> India needs to highlight its peaceful intentions in stark contrast to China&rsquo;s aggressive policies and tactics.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s well-designed technical aid programmes not only provide an enduring link between India and other developing countries but are in contrast with Chinese aid whose aims are political and economic subjugation.</li>
<li>India can revive NAM to achieve this end.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Neighbourhood First Policy:</strong> India must pay particular attention to countries in its neighbourhood, such as Nepal and Bangladesh, and allies such as Iran and Vietnam, which seem to have frayed at the edges with India being more intent on strengthening relations with the West.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Smaller countries of Asia, which constantly face China&rsquo;s aggressive interference in their internal affairs, have not received much support from India, and this needs India&rsquo;s attention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leveraging Soft Power:</strong> India should take pole position in propagating<strong> &lsquo;Himalayan Buddhism&rsquo;</strong> which China has been seeking to subvert to achieve its ends. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s credentials here far outweigh that of China&rsquo;s and should produce excellent dividends.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Becoming Self-Reliant</strong>: India urgently needs to increase exports and investments to provide more well-paying jobs, technology, and know-how. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, in the long run India needs to decouple its economic dependence from Chinese imports and achieve self-reliance.</li>
<li>Bold reforms offer the best option to achieve this goal and achieve greater independence on the world stage. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma-Nirbhar Bharat scheme</strong></a> is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Today, the bottom line for the relationship is clear: peace and tranquillity must prevail on the border if the progress made so far is not to be jeopardized. The border and the future of ties cannot be separated.</p>
<p>Thus, India needs more internationalism, than less, in dealing with the Chinese power. But it must be an internationalism that is rooted in realism and tethered to India&rsquo;s economic and national security priorities.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598964905_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598964905_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" 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: #fff3e0;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>India&rsquo;s China policy must be rooted in international realism which should be tethered to India&rsquo;s economic and national security priorities. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/need-for-international-realism'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Air Force Sports Control Board</strong> was conferred with <strong>&lsquo;Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020&rsquo;</strong> for the outstanding contribution in helping sportspersons to excel in their respective disciplines and implement robust sports welfare measures.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar scheme was introduced by the government in <strong>2009</strong> to encourage involvement of corporates and sports promotion boards in the development of sports in the country.</li>
<li>The <strong>Union Ministry of Youth Affairs &amp; Sports</strong> has revised the Scheme of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar in the year <strong>2015.</strong></li>
<li>According to the revised plan, this award is given in the following four categories:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Identification and nurturing of budding/young talent.</li>
<li>Encouragement of sports through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).</li>
<li>Employment of sportspersons and sports welfare measures.</li>
<li>Sports for Development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sports Development in Armed Forces:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Air Force Sports Control Board</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Air Force Sports Control Board (AFSCB) is the <strong>apex body</strong> for the <strong>planning and conduct of sports activities within the Indian Air Force and at the Inter-Services level.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Army Sports Institute:</strong> Army Sports Institute, Pune was raised as part of the Indian Army&rsquo;s <strong>&ldquo;Mission Olympics&rdquo;</strong> programme in 2001.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To train the vast reservoir of talent in the Army with an ultimate aim of winning medals at the Olympics in selected seven disciplines including Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Diving, Fencing, Weightlifting and Wrestling.</li>
<li>The institute draws its sportsmen from the Army as well as from young raw and proven talent in<strong> &lsquo;Boys Sports Companies&rsquo;</strong> (8-14 years age).</li>
<li><strong>In the last three years,</strong> the sportsmen trained at ASI have won 450 International and 1118 National medals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Initiatives for Sports Development</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/khelo-india-youth-games-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khelo India Scheme</a></strong> aims to encourage sports all over the country, thus allowing the population to harness the power of sports through its cross-cutting influence, namely holistic development of children &amp; youth, community development, social integration, gender equality, healthy lifestyle, national pride and economic opportunities related to sports development.</li>
<li>The <a href="/admin/articles/edit/v" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Sports Development Fund</strong> </a>helps sportspersons excel by providing them opportunities to train under coaches of international repute with technical, scientific and psychological support and giving them exposure to international competitions.</li>
<li><strong>The National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme</strong> is being implemented to scout sports talent in the age group of 8-14 years from schools and nurture them into future medal hopes by providing scientific training.</li>
<li><strong>Sports Authority of India Training Centres Scheme (STC) - for Junior level trainees:</strong> The main objective was to make it possible for the Central Government and State Governments to work together for sports development efforts, through the integration of various Schemes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Sports Authority of India (SAI)</strong> is the apex national sports body of India, established in 1982 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs &amp; Sports of Government of India for the development of sport in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme:</strong> It aims at scouting natural talent for modern competitive sports and games from inaccessible tribal, rural and coastal areas of the country and nurturing them scientifically for achieving excellence in sports.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1650094" 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/rashtriya-khel-protsahan-puruskar-2020'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Onam Festival',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>festival Onam</strong> was celebrated across Kerala.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Festival</strong>: Onam is a <strong>major harvest festival in Kerala</strong> and is celebrated to <strong>honour the home-coming of <em>Asura</em> king Mahabali</strong> who brought about peace and prosperity in Kerala.</li>
<li><strong>Time:</strong> It is one of the<strong> three major festivals of Kerala,</strong> celebrated during the month of <strong>Chingam,</strong> the first month in the <strong>Malayalam calendar, Kollavarsham.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The other two major festivals of the state are <strong>Vishu</strong> and <strong>Thiruvathira.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> 10-day harvest festival</strong> begins on <strong>Atham (first day of Onam)</strong> and concludes on <strong>Thiruvonam (last day).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Celebration:</strong> Onam is celebrated by making <strong>Pookkalam</strong> (the flower rangolis). Other rituals are also performed which includes<strong>-Vallam Kali</strong> (the boat races), <strong>Pulikali</strong> (the tiger dances),<strong> Kummattikali</strong> (mask dances), <strong>Onathallu</strong> (martial arts), among others.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main attraction is the traditional <strong>Onam sadhya</strong> (grand feast).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>God vs Demon Story:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Battles between demons and gods are familiar to people everywhere. Gods emerging victorious over evil is an inseparable part of these battles.</li>
<li>In India, too, these victories are celebrated in different parts of the country over the years. E.g. <strong>Rama is good, Ravana is evil. Durga is good, Mahishasur is evil.</strong></li>
<li>However, an exception to this has been the battle <strong>between Mahabali (Asura or demon) and Vamana (avatar of Vishnu),</strong> where Mahabali is revered as the <strong>unchallenged King of Malayalis.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are a few isolated places in India where demons are worshiped. E.g. There are some areas in Bihar and Bengal where<strong> Mahishasur is king of Asur tribes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Historians see these fights between god and demon in the context of fights between brahmins and non-brahmins and tribals in the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asur Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Asur is among the 9 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/particularly-vulnerable-tribal-groups" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups</strong></a> found in <strong>Jharkhand</strong> and are<strong> Austro-Asiatic in origin.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Besides Jharkhand, members of the tribe live in pockets of <strong>Bihar, West Bengal</strong> and a few other states.</li>
<li>The 2011 Census put the <strong>number of Asur</strong> at 22,459 in Jharkhand and 4,129 in Bihar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Asurs<strong> claim to be descendants of Mahishasur,</strong> the buffalo-demon <strong>whom Goddess Durga</strong> kills after a spirited fight lasting nine nights. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It&rsquo;s this mythology in mainstream Hinduism that&rsquo;s celebrated in the form of the nine-day-long<strong> Durga Puja,</strong> but observed as <strong>&lsquo;Mahishasur Dasain&rsquo;</strong> among the Asurs, who hold a period of mourning during which they largely stay indoors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They celebrate festivals like <strong>Sarhul, Karma, Dhanbuni, Kadelta, Rajj karma, Dasahara Karam.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1649931" 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/onam-festival'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Core Sector Contracted by 9.6%',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The output of eight core infrastructure sectors dropped by 9.6% in July 2020. It has been a continued contraction for the past five months.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> The contraction is due to a decline mostly in the production of steel, refinery products, and cement.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In general, the weak demand and over-supply along with global and domestic disruptions due to Covid-19 are hampering the mobilization of economic resources.</li>
<li>In July, local demand growth has slowed because of high fuel prices, renewed lockdown in parts of the country, and as monsoon rains hit transport, industrial and construction activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The production of eight core sectors had expanded by 2.6% in July 2019.</li>
<li>Barring Fertiliser (grew by 6.9%), all seven sectors &mdash; coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement and electricity &mdash; recorded negative growth in July.</li>
<li>The output of steel saw the highest decline (16.5%). It was followed by refinery products (13.9%).</li>
<li>The minimum contraction in the output is in the electricity sector with 2.3%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598953474_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598953474_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="431" height="356" /></a></p>
<h3>Core Sector Industries</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>eight core sector industries</strong> include coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement, and electricity.</li>
<li>These comprise<strong> 40.27%</strong> of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</li>
<li>The 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; Fertilizers.</strong></li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #54f085;"><strong>Industry</strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #54f085;"><strong>Weight (In percentage)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Petroleum &amp; Refinery production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">28.04</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Electricity generation</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">19.85</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Steel production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">17.92</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Coal production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">10.33</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Crude Oil production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">8.98</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Natural Gas production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">6.88</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Cement production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">5.37</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Fertilizers production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">2.63</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an indicator that measures the changes in the volume of production of industrial products during a given period.</li>
<li>It is compiled and published monthly by the <strong>National Statistical Office (NSO),</strong> Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</li>
<li>IIP is a composite indicator 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><strong>Base Year</strong> for IIP is <strong>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 Reserve Bank of India, 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/eight-core-industries-output-contracts-9-6-per-cent-in-july-6577499/" 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/core-sector-contracted-by-9-6'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Assam Firm on NRC Re-verification',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Assam government remains firm on its demand of <strong>10-20% re-verification of the nationality claims</strong> made by some of the people included in the<strong> final<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> National Register of Citizens</a></strong> (NRC), published in 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The state government&rsquo;s plea for the re-verification is <strong>lying pending in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court</a></strong> (SC) for more than a year and the apex court is yet to stamp its approval on it.</li>
<li>The NRC 2019 is yet to be approved by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/data-related-to-birth-rate-and-death-rate#:~:text=Registrar%20General%20of%20India%20was,and%20Linguistic%20Survey%20of%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Registrar General of India.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Register of Citizens</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NRC is a<strong> register prepared</strong> in respect of each village, showing the houses or holdings in a serial order and indicating against each house or holding the number and names of persons staying therein.</li>
<li>The register was<strong> first prepared after the 1951 Census of India</strong> and since then it has <strong>not been updated until recently.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been <strong>updated in Assam only for now</strong> and the government <strong>plans to update it nationally</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose:</strong> To separate &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; immigrants from &ldquo;legitimate&rdquo; residents.</li>
<li><strong>Nodal Agency:</strong> Registrar General and Census Commissioner India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the SC<strong> mentioned the prospect of sample re-verification</strong> in an order, saying that it could consider re-verifying 10% of the names included in the NRC.</li>
<li>In <strong>July 2019,</strong> the state government gave an affidavit in the SC seeking a <strong>re-verification of 20% included names in the districts bordering Bangladesh and 10% in the rest of the districts.</strong></li>
<li>However, it was <strong>dismissed</strong> after the erstwhile coordinator of the NRC submitted that <strong>re-verification was already done.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The state government of Assam has <strong>provided the latest data regarding &lsquo;foreigner&rsquo; detection</strong> in the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>1,36,149 people have been declared &lsquo;foreigners&rsquo; by the state&rsquo;s 100 functioning <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/foreigners-tribunals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreigners&rsquo; Tribunals</strong></a>, whereas only 227 &lsquo;foreigners&rsquo; have been deported from 13<sup>th</sup> March 2013 to 31<sup>st</sup> July 2020.</li>
<li>A total of 425 people are currently lodged in the six detention centres in the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a <strong>need for re-verification because people of Assam want a correct NRC.</strong></li>
<li>Also, there has been a <strong>delay in issuing the rejection slips</strong> to the over 19 lakh excluded people so that they can move court to claim nationality.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Officials have cited the <strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> and the <strong>floods in the state</strong> as reasons for the delay.</li>
<li>The rejection slips would carry the<strong> reason of rejection,</strong> which <strong>would differ from person to person and based on the reason they would be able to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-rules-to-allow-appeals-on-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">challenge their exclusion</a></strong> in the Foreigners&rsquo; Tribunals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Every individual, whose name does not figure in the final NRC, can represent his/her case in front of the Foreigners Tribunals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/assam-govt-firm-on-nrc-re-verification-demand-6578037/#:~:text=Around%2019%20lakh%20applicants%20were%20left%20out%20of%20the%20NRC.&amp;text=The%20Assam%20government%20on%20Monday,former%20NRC%20coordinator%20Prateek%20Hajela." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assam-firm-on-nrc-re-verification'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Inscription from Renati Chola Era ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A rare inscription dating back to the Renati Chola era has been unearthed in a remote village of Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The inscription was found engraved on a dolomite slab and shale, which are part of a fragmentary pillar excavated from a farmer&rsquo;s field.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dolomite</strong> is a sedimentary carbonate rock composed mostly of calcium magnesium carbonate.</li>
<li><strong>Shale</strong> or mudstone is a fine-grained sedimentary rock that forms from the compaction of silt and clay-size mineral particles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The inscription was written in <strong>archaic Telugu.</strong> It was assigned to the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> Century AD,</strong> when the region was under the rule of <strong>Chola Maharaja of Renadu.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Text:</strong> The inscription seems to throw light on the <strong>record of a gift of six Marttus</strong> (a measuring unit) of land to a<em> Brahmin</em> Priest. Some lines are indicative of the <strong>priority given to morality in those days.</strong></li>
<li>In July 2020, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-circles-of-archaeological-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Archaeological Survey of India</strong></a> (ASI) had found the exact location of Renati Cholas&rsquo; capital in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ASI deciphered two inscriptions of Renati Cholas belonging to the 7<sup>th</sup> century. The first inscription speaks of their capital <strong>Erikal</strong> in <strong>Kamalapuram region in Kadapa,</strong> while the other speaks about the <strong>battle of Renati Cholas and Banas.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Renati Cholas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Telugu Cholas of Renadu (also called as Renati Cholas) ruled over Renadu region, the present day <strong>Kadapa district.</strong></li>
<li>The earliest of this family was<strong> Nandivarman (500 AD).</strong></li>
<li>Renandu Cholas were the <strong>feudatories of the Chola dynasty.</strong></li>
<li>These kings claimed that they belonged to Karikala <strong>Chola's dynasty.</strong></li>
<li>They are said to be the <strong>first kingdom to use Telugu in administration and inscriptions,</strong> instead of Sanskrit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Chola Dynasty</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cholas controlled the central and northern parts of Tamil Nadu from around the 8<sup>th</sup>-12<sup>th</sup> century AD.</li>
<li>Their core area of the rule was the Kaveri delta, later known as Cholamandalam. Their capital was <strong>Uraiyur</strong> (near Tiruchirapalli town) and Puhar or Kaviripattinam was an alternative royal residence and chief port town.</li>
<li><strong>Tiger</strong> was their<strong> emblem.</strong></li>
<li>The Cholas also maintained an <strong>efficient navy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>King Karikala</strong> was a famous king of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/sangam-age-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sangam</strong></a> Cholas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many <strong>Sangam</strong> poems mention the <strong>Battle of Venni where he defeated the confederacy of Cheras, Pandyas and eleven minor chieftains.</strong></li>
<li>Trade and commerce flourished during his reign.</li>
<li>He founded the <strong>port city of Puhar (identical with Kaveripattinam)</strong> and constructed 160 km of an embankment along the Kaveri River.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched <strong>&lsquo;Project Digital Poompuhar&rsquo;</strong> to recreate the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chola-dynasty-port-poompuhar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chola Dynasty port city (Poompuhar)</strong></a> in Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>Recently, the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) ceremony was held at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chola-dynasty-port-poompuhar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brihadisvara Temple</strong></a> after 23 years in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The temple was built by Chola emperor<strong> Raja Raja Chola I</strong> (985-1014 AD) between 1003 AD and 1010 AD.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/rare-inscription-unearthed/article32490807.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/inscription-from-renati-chola-era'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'GDP Contracted by 23.9% in First Quarter',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the recent <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Statistical Office</a> (NSO)</strong> data, India&rsquo;s <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gross Domestic Product</a> (GDP)</strong> growth <strong>contracted by 23.9%</strong> in the first (April-June) quarter of 2020 compared to the same period (April-June) in 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the sharpest contraction since India started reporting quarterly data in 1996.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA)</strong></a> growth rate also <strong>declined by 22.8%</strong> in the first quarter of this financial year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GDP is a <strong>measure of economic activity</strong> in a country. It is the <strong>total value</strong> of a country&rsquo;s annual output of goods and services. It gives the <strong>economic output from the consumers&rsquo; side.</strong></li>
<li><strong>GVA</strong> is the sum of a country&rsquo;s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sector Wise Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Construction, manufacturing, trade, hotels and other services</strong> and <strong>mining</strong> were the worst-hit sectors, recording contractions of 50.3%, 39.3%, 47.0% and 23% respectively. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This reflects the unprecedented suspension of economic activity in the first quarter of this fiscal due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong> </a>and the series of lockdowns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Only the <strong>agriculture sector</strong> showed a <strong>positive growth</strong> at 3.4%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598949306_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598949306_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="523" height="489" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Factors of GDP Contraction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In any economy, the<strong> GDP growth is generated from one of the four engines </strong>of growth. i.e.<strong> private consumption, demand generated by private sector businesses, demand generated by government and exports.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Private consumption</strong> has fallen by 27%. It is the biggest engine that drives the Indian economy.</li>
<li><strong>Investment by private sector businesses</strong> have fallen by 47%. It is the second biggest engine.</li>
<li><strong>The net export demand</strong> has turned positive in this first quarter because India&rsquo;s imports have crashed more than its exports. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While on paper, this provides a boost to overall GDP, it also points to an economy where economic activity has plummeted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>government&rsquo;s expenditure went up by 16%</strong> but this was nowhere near enough to compensate for the loss of demand in other sectors (engines) of the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598949381_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598949381_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="628" height="338" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Implications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>On Jobs:</strong> The sectors which have contracted (e.g. construction, manufacturing etc.) are the sectors that create the maximum new jobs in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Therefore, in a scenario where each of these sectors are contracting, would lead to more and more people either losing jobs (decline in employment) or failing to get one (rise in unemployment).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Informal Sector:</strong> The real extent of the economic crisis is expected to be deeper given that the <strong>small-scale sector and informal sector</strong> is more affected than the organised sector, but is <strong>not reflected in the quarterly GDP</strong> numbers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the informal sector, factory output figures are used to extrapolate the trends in the growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Banks:</strong> The looming defaults in the banking sector after the moratorium ends will add to the banking sector woes, impacting bank&rsquo;s lending. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, there are <strong>worries regarding household debt,</strong> with incomes stagnating, salary cuts and job losses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Economy:</strong> With GDP contracting by more than what most observers expected, it is now believed that the full-year GDP could also worsen. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A fairly conservative estimate would be a contraction of 7% for the full financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Possible Solution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the incomes of individuals fall sharply, they reduce consumption. When consumption falls sharply, businesses stop investing. Since both of these are voluntary decisions, there is no way to force people to spend more and/or coerce businesses to invest more. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The same logic holds for exports and imports as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore under these circumstances, there is <strong>only one engine that can boost GDP, that is the government.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Only when the government spends more &mdash; either by building roads and bridges and paying salaries or by directly handing out money &mdash; can the economy revive in the short to medium term.</li>
<li>If the government does not spend adequately enough then<strong> the economy will take a long time to recover.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Indian Government can also adopt the measures suggested by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-measures-suggested-by-mckinsey" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>McKinsey Global Institute</strong></a> in which an additional 3.5 % of the GDP can be raised by the government. This includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Shift:</strong> Global trends such as digitization and automation, shifting supply chains, urbanization, rising incomes and demographic shifts, and a greater focus on sustainability, health, and safety can become the hallmarks of the post pandemic economy.</li>
<li><strong>Higher Productivity through Privatisation:</strong> Privatisation of 30 or so of the largest state-owned enterprises to potentially double their productivity.</li>
<li>Government also had a focus on privatisation under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Package.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Improvement in Infrastructure:</strong> India needs to unlock supply in land markets to reduce land costs by 20-25%, enable efficient power distribution to reduce commercial and industrial tariffs by 20-25%; and improve the ease and reduce the cost of doing business.</li>
<li><strong>Efficient Financing:</strong> Streamlining fiscal resources can deliver USD 2.4 trillion in investment while boosting entrepreneurship by lowering the cost of capital for enterprises by about 3.5 percentage points.</li>
<li><strong>Bad Bank:</strong> Creation of a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/bad-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;bad bank&rsquo;</strong> </a>can take care of the inoperative assets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/gdp-contraction-23-9-the-economics-behind-the-math-6578046/" 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/gdp-contracted-by-23-9-in-first-quarter'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Special Open Market Operations by RBI',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India</a> (RBI)</strong> has announced several measures to ensure orderly market conditions and smooth financial conditions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These measures include two more tranches of <strong>special Open Market Operations</strong> (OMOs) in bonds and a <strong>hike in the Held-To-Maturity (HTM) limit </strong>under the <strong>Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)</strong> for banks.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move has been termed as <strong>&lsquo;Operation Twist&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Operation Twist is the name given to a <strong>USA Federal Reserve monetary policy</strong> operation, which involves the purchase and sale of government securities to boost the economy by bringing down long-term interest rates. It is now being used for <strong>similar measures taken by RBI</strong> in Indian context as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>OMOs:</strong> RBI will conduct <strong>additional special open market operations</strong> for an aggregate amount of Rs. 20,000 crore.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RBI conducted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/open-market-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>OMOs in March</strong></a> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Open Market Operations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Open Market Operations is the <strong>simultaneous sale and purchase of government securities and treasury bills by RBI.</strong></li>
<li>The objective of OMO is to <strong>regulate the money supply</strong> in the economy.</li>
<li>RBI carries out the OMO <strong>through commercial banks</strong> and does not directly deal with the public.</li>
<li>OMO is one of the <strong>quantitative tools</strong> that RBI uses to <strong>smoothen the liquidity</strong> conditions through the year and minimise its impact on the interest rate and inflation rate levels.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Quantitative tools control the extent of money supply by changing the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), or bank rate or open market operations. Qualitative tools include persuasion by the Central bank in order to make commercial banks discourage or encourage lending which is done through moral suasion, margin requirement, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Term Repo Operations:</strong> RBI will also conduct <strong>term repo operations</strong> for an aggregate amount of Rs. 1,00,000 crore at the <strong>prevailing</strong> repo rate in the middle of September <strong>to ease liquidity pressures on the market.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to reduce the cost of funds, banks that had availed of funds under<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/long-term-reverse-repo-operation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Long-Term Repo Operations</strong> </a>(LTROs) may exercise an option of reversing these transactions before maturity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>LTRO is a tool that lets banks borrow one to three-year funds from the RBI at the repo rate, by providing government securities with similar or higher tenure as collateral.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Thus, the banks may reduce their interest liability by returning funds taken at the repo rate prevailing at that time (5.15%) and <strong>availing funds at the current repo rate of 4%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in HTM limit</strong>: RBI raised the limit on bonds held-to-maturity (HTM) to 22% from 19.5% of Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL). This means banks will have room to buy more bonds without bothering about short-term fluctuations in yields.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>HTM</strong> securities are the debt securities acquired with the intent to keep it until <strong>maturity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Repo Rate:</strong> It is the rate at which RBI lends money to <strong>commercial banks. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Government Securities (G-Sec):</strong> It is a tradable instrument issued by the central government or state governments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Short term G-secs (with original maturities of less than one year) are called <strong>Treasury Bills.</strong> Long term G-secs (with original maturities of more than one year) or long term are called<strong> Government Bonds or Dated Securities.</strong> Treasury Bills are not issued by State Governments while Government Bonds or Dated securities are issues both by State and Central Governments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL):</strong> It is the difference between the sum of demand and time liabilities (deposits) of a bank (with the public or the other bank) and the deposits in the form of assets held by the other banks.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The steps by RBI will definitely ensure <strong>orderly functioning of the financial market,</strong> as the market is facing a setback due to the global financial crisis amidst <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>The six- month <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>moratorium on repayment of debt</strong></a> announced by RBI beginning 1<sup>st</sup> March, 2020 to help businesses and individuals tide over the financial problems on account of disruption in normal business activities ended on 31<sup>st</sup> August 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may adversely affect the small businesses that are facing financial issues due to Covid-19 pandemic and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lockdown.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently, RBI announced use of <strong>Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model</strong> to provide an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assessment-of-economic-impact-of-covid-19-dsge-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>assessment of the likely impact of Covid-19</strong></a> and the <strong>subsequent lockdown</strong> on the Indian economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Coupled with the <strong>recently announced GDP contraction by 23.9%,</strong> the end of six-month moratorium will adversely impact the market. Tackling the financial health of the country hit by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Performing Assets</strong></a> (NPAs), <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-anatomy-of-banking-frauds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bank frauds</a></strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stimulating-the-economy-post-covid-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>economic setbacks by Covid-19</strong></a>, as mentioned in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-annual-report-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Annual report of RBI</strong></a>, will need a whole set of monetary reforms. Conducting market operations as required through a variety of instruments is one of them.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-to-hold-special-omos-term-repo-ops-to-ensure-orderly-functioning-of-financial-mkts-6578017/" 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/special-open-market-operations-by-rbi'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'African Baobab Tree',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports has found that the <strong>tree 'African Baobab' has 168 chromosomes.</strong> Previous studies estimated that the tree has between 96 and 166 chromosomes.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study will be <strong>useful in genetic conservation efforts.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598946622_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598946622_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Type of Trees:</strong> Baobabs are <strong>deciduous trees</strong> ranging in <strong>height from 5 to 20 meters.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Deciduous forest is a vegetation composed primarily of broad-leaved trees that <strong>shed all their leaves during one season.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Found in:</strong> The <strong>African baobab <em>(Adansonia digitata)</em></strong> is one of the<strong> nine species of baobab</strong> and is<strong> native to mainland Africa.</strong> They are also found in <strong>African Savannah.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The African savanna ecosystem is a <strong>tropical grassland</strong> with <strong>warm temperatures year-round</strong> and with its highest seasonal rainfall in the summer.</li>
<li>It is characterized by grasses and small or dispersed trees that <strong>do not form a closed canopy,</strong> allowing sunlight to reach the ground.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oldest Known Angiosperm Tree: Carbon-14 dating</strong> places the age of a specimen of African baobab in Namibia at about <strong>1,275 years.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tree of Life:</strong> As African baobab is a succulent, which means that during the rainy season it absorbs and stores water in its vast trunk, enabling it to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season when all around is dry and arid.</li>
<li><strong>Uses:</strong> Baobab trees can live for more than a thousand years and provide food, livestock fodder, medicinal compounds, and raw materials.</li>
<li><strong>Threat:</strong> Since 2005, 9 of the 13 oldest African baobab specimens and 5 of the 6 largest trees have died or suffered the collapse and death of their largest or oldest stems, that may have been caused by the <strong>effects of climate change.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Angiosperms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Angiosperms are a taxonomic class of plants in which the <strong>mature seed is surrounded by the ovule (e.g. apple).</strong> This group is often referred to as <strong>hardwoods.</strong></li>
<li>Angiosperms are trees that have broad leaves that usually change color and die every autumn. Oaks, maples and dogwoods are examples of deciduous trees. Some angiosperms that hold their leaves include rhododendron, live oak, and sweetbay magnolia.</li>
<li><strong>Gymnosperms</strong> are a taxonomic class that includes plants whose seeds are not enclosed in an ovule (like a pine cone). Gymnosperm means <strong>&lsquo;naked seed&rsquo;.</strong> This group is often referred to as <strong>softwoods.</strong></li>
<li>Gymnosperms usually have needles that stay green throughout the year. Examples are pines, cedars, spruces and firs. Some gymnosperms do drop their leaves - ginkgo, dawn redwood, and bald cypress, etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Carbon-14 Dating</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also called<strong> radiocarbon dating,</strong> it is a <strong>method of age determination</strong> that depends upon the <strong>decay to nitrogen of radiocarbon</strong> (Carbon-14).</li>
<li>Carbon-14 is continually formed in nature by the interaction of neutrons with nitrogen-14 in the Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The neutrons required for this reaction are produced by cosmic rays interacting with the atmosphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/african-baobab-tree'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Need For A Fiscal Council',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/india-does-need-a-fiscal-council/article32432565.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India does need a Fiscal Council</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 25<sup>th</sup> of August 2020. It analyses the the need and benefit of an independent Fiscal Council in India</p>
</div>
<p>According to recent estimates of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), the fiscal deficit of the Centre government in 2019-20 will be near 4.6%, which is 0.8% higher than the revised estimate.</p>
<p>Further, fiscal deficit will tend to increase in this financial year, due to economic slowdown amid<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>. Given this deteriorating state of fiscal health, the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">N.K. Singh committee in 2017</a></strong>, has suggested establishing an independent fiscal council.</p>
<p>Similar recommendations were mooted by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>13<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> finance commissions</strong></a>, which also advocated the establishment of independent fiscal agencies to review the government&rsquo;s adherence to fiscal rules, and to provide independent assessments of budget proposals.</p>
<p>Therefore, in order to follow the path of fiscal consolidation &amp; prudence, there is a need to look into prospects and challenges owing to a Fiscal council.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fiscal Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Fiscal Council is an independent fiscal institution with a mandate to promote stable and sustainable public finances.</li>
<li>The institution assists in calibrating sustainable fiscal policy by making an objective and scientific analysis.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The important tasks of a Fiscal council include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Independent analysis, review and monitoring and evaluating of government&rsquo;s fiscal policies and programmes.</li>
<li>Developing or reviewing macroeconomic and/or budgetary projections.</li>
<li>Costing of budget and policy proposals and programmes.</li>
<li>Presenting policy makers with alternative policy options.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Need of Fiscal Council</h3>
<p><strong>Mismatched Budgets</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Historically, interim budgets in India have consistently overestimated revenue growth and underestimated expenditure growth.</li>
<li>An analysis of the projected, revised, and actual budget figures since 1991 by Economic and Political Weekly Research Foundation showed that deviations from budget estimates tend to be extraordinarily high for budget estimates presented in interim budgets.</li>
<li>Similarly the finance ministry&rsquo;s overall record in forecasting projections has been consistently poor under successive finance ministers in regular budgets too.</li>
<li>The finance ministry tends to overstate revenue projections and understate expenditures in regular budgets.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tax Maladministration</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The over-ambitious revenue targets combined with the lack of transparency in tax administration makes taxmen to exceed their authorities to fulfil unrealistic targets.</li>
<li>A 2017 CAG report found that the tax department had resorted to &lsquo;irregular&rsquo; and &lsquo;unwarranted&rsquo; methods to meet their tax targets.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Dressing Up of Fiscal Numbers</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When the Government fails its revenue or expenditure targets it resorts to different cover up strategies.</li>
<li>If oil bonds were the instrument of choice to dress up fiscal deficit numbers earlier, now the preferred mode of financing the deficit is the disinvestment of public sector enterprises to boost stake sales by the government.</li>
<li>The country&rsquo;s biggest insurer, Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) has been the biggest lifeline for the country&rsquo;s divestment programme in recent years.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Coordination between GST Council and Finance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The GST Council normally has no clue of what the Finance Commission is doing and Finance Commission has even lesser clue of what the GST Council is doing.</li>
<li>There is a need for coordination between the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> finance commission</strong></a> as well as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-meet-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST Council.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Limiting the borrowings by the Central Government</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Article 293 provides a constitutional check over the borrowings by the State government but there is no such restriction on the Central government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>More Transparency:</strong> An unbiased report to Parliament helps to raise the level of debate and brings in greater transparency in regard to public money.</li>
<li><strong>Discourage Populist Shift of Government Expenditure:</strong> An independent analysis of various policies and programmes can help to avoid the political culture of populist spending for political gains and would improve objectivity.</li>
<li><strong>Raising Public Awareness:</strong> Scientific estimates of the cost of programmes and assessment of forecasts could help in raising public awareness about their fiscal implications and make people understand the nature of budgetary constraint.</li>
<li><strong>Boost Accuracy:</strong> Presence of an independent fiscal council tends to boost accuracy of fiscal projections and helps countries stick to fiscal rules better. In this way, the fiscal council will work as a conscience keeper in monitoring rule-based policies.</li>
<li><strong>More Accountability:</strong> Fiscal councils in most countries are able to discipline lawmakers through &lsquo;comply or explain&rsquo; obligations which entail governments to at least explain why they diverge from the fiscal council&rsquo;s views and thus brings more accountability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<p><strong>Dilute Finance Ministry&rsquo;s authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Forcing the Finance Ministry to use someone else&rsquo;s estimates will dilute its accountability.</li>
<li>If the estimates go awry, it will simply shift the blame to the fiscal council.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Executive Control of Elected Government</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also believed that it will prevent the government from moulding fiscal rules depending upon the situation and need.</li>
<li>It may create rigid rules for fiscal prudence.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for systems and institutions to ensure checks and balances in the system for greater good.</li>
<li>The government borrows and spends more in order to support its welfare programmes or sometimes to further their political agendas.</li>
<li>This means a steep rise in debt which will jeopardise medium-term growth prospects, an issue prominently flagged by all the rating agencies in the recent evaluations.</li>
<li>Fiscal Council will help in improving comprehensiveness, transparency and accountability of Budgetary data and will fix this issue.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598879849_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598879849_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Fiscal council is a step towards fixing government&rsquo;s accountability and fiscal transparency. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Prelims 2020: Quick revision course',
			'catname' => 'Prelims',
			'desc' => '<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Download Drishti App to join the 60 hours Quick Revision Course for Prelims 2020 -</strong> <br /><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drishti.academy.app" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drishti.academy.app</a></p>
<p><strong>Dear Students</strong><br />IAS/UPPCS Quick Revision Course for Prelims 2020 is designed in such a way that all the most important topics of all the subjects for IAS/UPPCS prelims 2020 will be covered in 60 hours.</p>
<div class="border-bg" style="padding: 15px 20px 15px;">
<p><strong>Programme Details:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Online Course (through Android Mobile App)</li>
<li>Course begins: August 31, 6 pm</li>
<li>All classes will be made available till 10 September (about 2 classes per day)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Prelims 2020: Quick revision course</strong> <br />In this course, you will get 20 classes with a total duration of about 50-60 hours. By watching these classes, you will be able to quickly revise the important topics of General Studies for IAS Prelims -2020 (October 4) and UPPCS Prelims -2020 (October 11). We believe this course will prove to be a decisive help for your success in the prelims.</p>
<div class="border-bg" style="padding: 15px 20px 15px;">
<h3 style="text-align: left; font-family: 'roboto'; margin-bottom: 0;">Key features of the course</h3>
<div style="padding-top: 20px;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Equally useful for both IAS and UPPCS prelims exams.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Starting from 31st August, 2020. All classes to be made available by 10th September.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Total 20 classes (History &amp; Culture-4, Economy-4, Geography-3, Environment-3, Polity-3 and Science-3).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">The duration of each class is between 2-3 hours. Total batch duration approximately 50&ndash;60 hours.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">No printed notes will be given, but a PDF of 6 months current affairs will be provided.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Classes will remain in your account till the IAS and UPPCS Prelims examinations are over. Each class can be viewed 3 times.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Serious efforts to help you decisively for your success in the prelims exam.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b>For additional information related to this course, please call at</b>&nbsp;<a href="tel:8750187501">8750187501 </a>, <a href="tel:9319290700">9319290700 </a>, <a href="tel:9319290701">9319290701 </a> or <a href="tel:9319290702">9319290702 </a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span></p>
</div>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Covid-19 and Food Security',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/two-pandemics-covid-19-food-security-hunger-economic-growth-6579348/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fighting COVID-19 and food insecurity requires new ideas</strong></a>, robust political will, which was published in the Indian Express on 2nd of September 2020. It analyses the impact of Covid-19 on food security of the world especially the poor of South Asia.</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic has severely derailed development across the world. It has compounded the pre-crisis levels of food insecurity and malnutrition with job losses, supply chain disruptions, and declines in revenue from key exports and remittances.</p>
<p>Globally, the World Food Programme predicts that the number of people facing acute food insecurity around the world will almost double to 270 million, including 121 million new food insecure due to Covid-19.</p>
<p>However, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South Asia</strong> </a>is particularly vulnerable, with the number of chronically underfed people projected to rise by to 330 million by 2030. It is also the only subregion in the world where more than half the children from the poorest fifth of society are stunted.</p>
<h3>Impact on Food Security</h3>
<p><strong>Extreme Hunger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Covid-19 has struck at a time when hunger or undernourishment keeps rising.</li>
<li>According to the latest <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN</strong></a> estimates, 83 to 132 million more people may suffer extreme hunger in 2020 as a result of the economic recession triggered by the pandemic.</li>
<li>This would be in addition to the 690 million people going hungry now.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Malnourishment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from extreme hunger people are also suffering from undernourishment.</li>
<li>It means that they are unable to consume enough healthy calories to lead a normal, active life.</li>
<li>Over a prolonged period this will have long-term implications for their future.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Extreme Poverty</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a>, the pandemic's economic impact could push about 100 million people into extreme poverty.</li>
<li>Soaring unemployment rates, income losses and rising food costs are jeopardizing food access in developed and developing countries alike and will have long-term effects on food security.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Recession</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Furthermore, the pandemic may plunge national economies into recession which will severely hamper their power to run welfare schemes for the poor and deprived.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sharpened Social Divides</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Covid-19 has exposed some of the world&rsquo;s deepest inequalities.</li>
<li>The rich have been able to keep enjoying even the luxury due to their wealth accumulation.</li>
<li>Millions of people on the other hand have been thrown out of work and don&rsquo;t have enough money to even feed their families.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Departure From Trickle Down Effect</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tackling these new problems will require new ideas and a more robust political will.</li>
<li>Past progress was sustained by the benign trickle-down effects of strong economies. The Government must take direct responsibility for the ones who are vulnerable and marginalised.</li>
<li>This is not the case anymore. The facts have changed, and so must our minds.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Increasing Resilience</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>We need to find ways to increase resilience across our food systems by identifying new marketing channels like e-commerce which will provide more avenues to the farmers to sell their product in case of low demand in the local market.</li>
<li>If feasible, relocate markets to larger premises, while ensuring the appropriate infrastructure is in place to maintain health, hygiene, quality and food safety.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Increase Efficiency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>We must increase our efficiency to reduce losses and improve the quality of products available.</li>
<li>It would be a good initiative to identify collection centres closer to producers, for example develop storage facilities like warehouse receipt system platforms where farmers can deliver their produce without the need to go to markets.</li>
<li>If possible, allow local markets to remain open, while putting in place strict physical distancing measures within and outside markets.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Inclusive Finance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inclusive access to finance to strengthen and expand rural supply chains is also crucial.</li>
<li>Banking products and financial services must be made available to poor populations on priority basis.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Comprehensive Recovery Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/search/Food%20and%20Agriculture%20Organization%20(FAO)" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organisation</strong></a> (FAO) of the United Nations has recently launched a new comprehensive Covid-19 Response and Recovery Programme to provide an agile and coordinated global response aimed at ensuring access to nutritious food for everyone.</li>
<li>It aims to mobilise all forms of resources and partnerships at the hands of every country.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Encouraging Innovation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>We must, as a priority, enable farmers to be more dynamic, entrepreneurial and competitive through continual innovation.</li>
<li>We need smallholder farmers to produce nutritious foods, without fear of crop failures, and we also need to get those foods to the mouths of the hungry across the region and beyond.</li>
<li>To do this, smallholders desperately need access to financial resources, technology and innovation.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Response to Covid-19</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To remedy the situation emerging out of the Covid-19 pandemic and to prevent any major devastation by way of loss of human lives and livelihood, the country has unitedly taken some quick decisions.</li>
<li>The government enhanced its social safety programs including direct benefit transfers such as cash transfers under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM Kisan scheme</strong></a>, more liberal financing under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGA</strong></a> like advance disbursement, direct cash grants to construction workers and release of free and subsidized food grains under <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/27-03-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</strong></a> to about 800 million people to ensure food for all.</li>
<li>The Government announced a special economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore (equivalent to 10% of India&rsquo;s GDP) under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme</strong> </a>with the aim of making the country independent against the tough competition in the global supply chain and to help in empowering the poor, labourers, migrants who have been adversely affected by Covid.</li>
<li>Rapid up-gradation of health infrastructure and manpower; and swift readjustment of policies and programs with active association and participation of all stakeholders, be that politicians, governments, NGOs, and private sectors, were other daunting tasks performed by the governments.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asia-Pacific region</strong></a> has some of the best agricultural scientists, institutions and innovative ideas. If we are able to cooperate and coordinate then we can also battle this pandemic.</li>
<li>There is no time to waste. Everyone needs to lend a hand. Governments, academia, the private sector, UN agencies, civil society organisations, international financial institutions and the people who bring us the food we eat, the smallholders should come together and help each other in every way possible.</li>
<li>We need to be working in unison to overcome pandemics that by definition affect and involve everyone.</li>
<li>The FAO has rolled out the Hand-in-Hand initiative to tackle these collective challenges, and the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, which will be virtually hosted by Bhutan, is the perfect opportunity for the countries to forge ways to expedite action and leverage resources.</li>
<li>By working together, learning and contributing together, we can overcome both pandemics and transform the agri-food system.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599048967_image6.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599048967_image6.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" 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: #f7ffe6;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Covid-19 crisis has derailed the development process of the world and only a sustained innovative and coordinated effort can help the world overcome this crisis. Discuss the steps taken by India in this regard.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JxSQyKRX6P0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/for-the-weakest-the-hindu-editorial-on-sub-classification-among-scs/article32481807.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;For the weakest: On sub-classification among SCs&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on August 31<sup>st</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Manufacturing Improved: PMI',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>As per the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data, India&rsquo;s manufacturing sector activity has started to show signs of growth in August, driven mainly by pick-up in production along with improvement in customer demand.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Purchasing Managers' Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI) is an indicator of business activity - both in the <strong>manufacturing </strong>and<strong> services sectors.</strong></li>
<li>It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is also constructed.</li>
<li>The PMI summarizes whether market conditions as viewed by purchasing managers are expanding, neutral, or contracting.</li>
<li>The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PMI is a number from <strong>0 to 100.</strong></li>
<li>PMI<strong> above 50</strong> represents an expansion when compared to the previous month;</li>
<li>PMI <strong>under 50</strong> represents a contraction, and</li>
<li>A <strong>reading at 50</strong> indicates no change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The PMI is usually released at the start of every month. It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity.</li>
<li>The Index (PMI) is compiled by <strong>IHS Markit</strong> for more than 40 economies worldwide. IHS Markit is a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>PMI Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/purchasing-manager-s-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI)</strong></a> rose from<strong> 46 in July to 52 in August.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In PMI parlance, a value <strong>above 50 means expansion,</strong> while a score below that denotes contraction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In April,</strong> the index had slipped into contraction mode, after remaining in the growth territory for 32 consecutive months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Positive Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>New business</strong> received by Indian manufacturers <strong>expanded at the fastest pace since February.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Higher levels of production</strong> supported a <strong>modest rise in the number of purchases</strong> during August.</li>
<li><strong>Goods and Services Tax Collection:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-goods-and-services-tax-gst-collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST</strong></a> collections in August stood at&mdash; 88% of the august 2019-20 level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Collections in July were marginally higher but at 85.6% of the year earlier.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructure:</strong> The contraction in India&rsquo;s infrastructure sector<strong> slowed to 9.6%</strong> in July compared with 12.9% shrinkage in June.</li>
<li><strong>Mobility: The Google Mobility index,</strong> which measures visits to different locations such as retail shops, workplaces, parks and transport hubs, <strong>showed a 2% rise in trends</strong> for places such as supermarkets, food warehouses, farmers&rsquo; markets, speciality food shops and pharmacies.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-way-bills-during-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>E-way bills</strong></a>, another widely followed indicator of business activity, reached <strong>99.8% of last year&rsquo;s level in August.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Petrol consumption:</strong> Petrol consumption <strong>rose by about 2%</strong> in the first fortnight of August from the corresponding period in July.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> The pick-up in demand from domestic markets gave rise to upturns in production and input buying.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gradually, unlocking after lockdown has increased the pace of mobilization of economic resources.</li>
<li>Exports are also on marginal improvement. When compared to imports, the rate of export demand is on the higher side due to strict slash on imports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Unemployment:</strong> Despite an expansion in new orders,<strong> job shedding</strong> continued in the Indian manufacturing sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The relocation of employees following Covid-19 pandemic is linked to the reduction in staffing numbers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inflation:</strong> Reports of higher raw material costs due to supplier shortages and transportation delays stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, resulted in rising input prices during August.</li>
<li><strong>Exports:</strong> The decline in foreign exports weighed slightly on overall new orders as firms cited subdued demand conditions from abroad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Focusing on Atmanirbhar Bharat:</strong> The government announced an economic stimulus package of Rs. 20 lakh crore and big-bang systemic reforms under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a> (self-reliant India). The intended objective of this plan is two-fold. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First,<strong> interim measures</strong> such as liquidity infusion and direct cash transfers for the poor will work as shock absorbers for those in acute stress.</li>
<li>The second, <strong>long-term reforms</strong> in growth-critical sectors to make them globally competitive and attractive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing the MGNREGA Funding and Expanding to Urban Areas:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA)</strong> </a>programme has proved to be a bedrock of support in the normal times and during times of difficulty (like Covid-19) and it will be a good idea to expand the scheme to urban areas.</li>
<li><strong>Transfer of Cash Benefits:</strong> Money in the hands of people can provide an immediate sense of security and confidence, which is the cornerstone to restoring economic normalcy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will raise the consumption and demand of the economy and can bring back the virtuous cycle of demand and supply in play.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues with the Banking System:</strong> Covid-19 assistance measures undertaken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government such as interest rate reductions, credit guarantee and liquidity enhancement schemes are welcome steps.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Although banks have largely failed to take initiatives as they are not confident of lending.</li>
<li>The RBI should consider a Single One Time Window for restructuring business loans, as required, by all banks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax Incentivization:</strong> Big business houses and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MSME sector</strong> </a>should be supported by the government though tax incentivization to reopen their operations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will energize consumer demand and boost the functioning of the vendor or ancillary industry in the MSME sector (which has huge potential for job creation).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Calibrating Make in India</strong>: The ongoing distrust on Chinese manufacturing amid USA-China spat can be very well garnered by India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Making India a global trading hub &ndash; devise an incentive regime for companies setting up global trading operations from India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Sunrise Sectors:</strong> It should also encourage sunrise sectors as part of re-imagining Indian economy such as battery manufacturing (storage systems)/ solar panel manufacturing.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government can also consider giving impetus to &ldquo;Deep Tech&rdquo;-leveraged businesses - blockchain, robotics, AI, machine learning, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Auto-sector Reforms:</strong> The auto industry which contributes significantly to GDP (nearly 9%) deserves special treatment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In addition to reducing GST rate, old vehicle scrap policy with tax incentives for creating a demand for new vehicles may be formulated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Labour Law Reforms:</strong> Focus should be given to strictly enforce discipline within the factory premises and demand higher productivity. The moves by U.P., M.P. and Gujarat are welcome signals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>labour laws must be motivated by concerns of sustainability. Minimum wages, a written job contract that specifies terms and conditions of working, social security provisions etc. increase costs in the short run but augment economic optimisation in the long run by enhancing the productivity of the workforce.</li>
<li>The government has come out with<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/labour-laws-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> four labour codes</strong></a> as long term reforms.</li>
<li>The government should provide health insurance for migrant labourers as experimented by certain States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/manufacturing-sector-activity-returns-to-growth-in-august-as-demand-picks-up-pmi/article32495954.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/manufacturing-improved-pmi'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Indra 2020 to be held in Andaman Sea',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p><strong>India and Russia</strong> are scheduled to hold <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-indra-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indra</strong> </a><strong>2020</strong> in the <strong>Andaman Sea, close to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/china-in-south-china-sea#:~:text=The%20Strait%20of%20Malacca%20connects,control%20such%20a%20strategic%20location." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Strait of Malacca</a></strong> instead of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-and-emerging-concerns-in-indian-ocean-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Region</strong></a> (IOR).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Strait of Malacca <strong>connects Indian Ocean to the South China Sea</strong> and is 900 km in length and is also a<strong> prominent trade route between East Asia and West Asia-Europe.</strong></li>
<li>IOR is under <strong>high operational alert by the Indian Navy</strong> due to the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict#:~:text=Key%20Points,on%205%2F6th%20May." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>standoff with China in Ladakh.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042917_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042917_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="534" height="398" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Indra series of exercises began in 2003</strong> and was conducted as a <strong>bilateral naval exercise</strong> alternately between the two countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the <strong>first joint Tri-Services Exercise was conducted in 2017.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indra 2020</strong> will be the<strong> first bilateral naval exercise</strong> since all such engagements were <strong>suspended due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its timing coincides with<strong> Indian Defence Minister&rsquo;s visit to Russia</strong> for the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-international-institutions-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shanghai Cooperation Organisation</a> (SCO) Defence Ministers Meet.</strong></li>
<li>Andaman Sea was also the location where frontline warships of the<strong> Indian Navy conducted a Passage Exercise (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/passex-with-the-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PASSEX</a>) with the USA Navy&rsquo;s USS Nimitz carrier strike group</strong> in July this year.</li>
<li><strong>China Factor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, <strong>India has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-pulls-out-of-kavkaz-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">withdrawn from the Kavkaz-2020</a></strong> <strong>multinational exercise in Russia</strong> due to the restrictions posed by the pandemic. However, the<strong> participation of Chinese troops in the same</strong> exercise is apparently the main reason.</li>
<li>Indian Navy is keeping a <strong>close watch on the movement of Chinese Naval ships in the IOR</strong> because their presence in the IOR has gone up considerably over the years in the name of Anti-Piracy patrols.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In<strong> 2017,</strong> China opened its first overseas <strong>military base in Djibouti</strong> in the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-pulls-out-of-kavkaz-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Horn of Africa.</a></strong></li>
<li>Given its strategic location, <strong>India has embarked on a major <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-to-be-maritime-and-startup-hub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">infrastructure expansion plan</a></strong> on the <strong>Andaman and Nicobar island chain.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-russia-to-hold-naval-drills-in-andaman-sea/article32496756.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/indra-2020-to-be-held-in-andaman-sea'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Compatibility of the Contempt of Court with International Standards',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)</strong> has urged for a review of criminal contempt laws in India, expressing its concerns over the Supreme Court's decision to convict <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/prashant-bhushan-judgement-the-law-of-contempt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Advocate Prashant Bhushan for criminal contempt.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Supreme Court's Decision:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court found Prashant Bhushan guilty of &lsquo;scandalizing the court&rsquo; on a suo-motu consideration of his two tweets. It has fined him with Rs. 1.</li>
<li>It held that tweets on its &ldquo;role&rdquo; in the &ldquo;last six years&rdquo; and a photograph of the Chief Justice of India on a motorbike undermines its dignity and the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the public eye.</li>
<li><strong>Contempt of Court:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions: Article 129 and 215 of the Constitution</strong> of India empowers the Supreme Court (SC) and High Court respectively to punish people for their respective contempt.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Article 142 of the Indian Constitution also empowers the SC to punish for its contempt. However, <strong>what is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contempt-of-court-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contempt of court</a> per se has not been defined</strong> by the Indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Statutory Provisions:</strong> The <strong>Contempt of Court Act, 1971</strong> elaborately deals with the concept of contempt of court.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Act divides contempt into civil and criminal contempt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Commission of Jurists&rsquo; Views:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For the ICJ, the conviction appears to be inconsistent with international standards on freedom of expression and the role of lawyers.</li>
<li><strong>The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:</strong> The judgement goes against the general protection of free speech and expression in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-human-rights-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Declaration of Human Rights.</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. For the first time, fundamental human rights were made universally applicable and protected.</li>
<li>It states that &lsquo;All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.&rsquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The International Covenant on Civil &amp; Political Rights:</strong> The judgement is inconsistent with the freedom of expression law guaranteed by the <strong>International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ICCPR is a key international human rights treaty, providing a range of protections for civil and political rights.</li>
<li>The Covenant compels governments to take administrative, judicial, and legislative measures in order to protect the rights enshrined in the treaty and to provide an effective remedy.</li>
<li>The Covenant was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966 and came into force in 1976. 173 countries including <strong>India have ratified</strong> the Covenant.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The United Nations&rsquo; Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers:</strong> The judgement goes against the principles enshrined under the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Principle 23:</strong> Lawyers &ldquo;shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights&rdquo;.</li>
<li>These Principles were adopted by the 8<sup>th</sup> United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Cuba in 1990.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Bar Association of India</strong> also highlighted that &ldquo;the exercise of contempt jurisdiction by the Court in this manner has potential for more self-harm than the avowed purpose of safeguarding the prestige of the institution&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Commission of Jurists</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since <strong>1952,</strong> the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has performed a unique and prominent role as a <strong>Non Governmental Organization (NGO)</strong> defending human rights and the rule of law worldwide.</li>
<li>It is headquartered in <strong>Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The contempt of court should not be allowed to be used as a means to prevent criticisms and in the<strong> era of social media,</strong> besides the need to revisit the law on criminal contempt, even the test for contempt needs to be evaluated.</li>
<li>In contemporary times, it is more important that courts are seen to be concerned about <strong>accountability</strong> rather than threats of contempt action, and processes are <strong>transparent.</strong></li>
<li>On criminal contempt, India can learn from Britain which abolished the offence of scandalizing the judiciary as a form of contempt of court in 2013.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/law-commission-of-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Law Commission of India</strong> </a>held that there is a need to retain the provision regarding the contempt of courts. However, it also recommended the definition of contempt in the Contempt of Court Act should be restricted to civil contempt, i.e., <strong>willful disobedience of judgments of the court.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prashant-bhushans-conviction-seems-at-odds-with-international-free-speech-law-international-commission-of-jurists/article32496322.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/compatibility-of-the-contempt-of-court-with-international-standards'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Eighth East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>8<sup>th</sup> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Asia Summit</a> Economic Ministers&rsquo; Meeting</strong> (EAS-EMM) was held<strong> virtually</strong> and attended by <strong>10<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ASEAN</a> members and eight other nations,</strong> including India, the USA, and China.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting<strong> highlighted the importance of strengthening regional supply chains to make them resilient</strong> in times of heightened challenges posed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>and to <strong>spur economic growth.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, Japan has mooted the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative#:~:text=Supply%20Chain%20Resilience%20Initiative%20(SCRI)%3A,lead%20to%20the%20supply%20chain." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)</strong></a> as a trilateral approach to trade, with India and Australia as the key-partners.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features of the Joint Statement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any <strong>trade-restrictive emergency measures</strong> put in place to address the impact of Covid-19 must be <strong>targeted, proportionate, transparent, temporary, consistent with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative#:~:text=Supply%20Chain%20Resilience%20Initiative%20(SCRI)%3A,lead%20to%20the%20supply%20chain." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Trade Organisation</a> (WTO) rules and do not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption of global and regional supply chains.</strong></li>
<li>Support for the <strong>necessary reforms in the WTO</strong> and pledge to continue to work together to <strong>realise a free, fair, transparent, non-discriminatory, predictable, and stable trade environment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Facilitating the essential movement of people across borders,</strong> without undermining each country&rsquo;s efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and to stabilise the trade and investment.</li>
<li><strong>Commitment to facilitate supply chain connectivity,</strong> including for essential goods such as medical supplies, medicines, including vaccines, food, commodities and other essential supplies and services in the region.</li>
<li><strong>Harness the opportunities of the digital economy</strong> to overcome the challenges posed by restricted movement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India highlighted its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong> </a>which is about <strong>upscaling the growth of Indian industry,</strong> its<strong> skills and capabilities to make them resilient and less vulnerable to shocks </strong>and<strong> integrating Indian industries with the global supply chains.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The meeting comes at a <strong>critical juncture</strong> when the pandemic has not just <strong>posed an unprecedented health crisis</strong> but also caused a <strong>sharp contraction in economic activities,</strong> disrupting trade and investments.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong></a> (IMF) has predicted a 4.9% contraction for the 2020 global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low#:~:text=Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20(GDP)%3A,output%20from%20the%20consumers'%20side." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></a> (GDP), warning that the Covid-19 outbreak has plunged the global economy into its worst recession since the <strong>Great Depression in the 1930s.</strong></li>
<li>In April, the WTO also warned that <strong>global trade volume growth could crash</strong> by 13-32% in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>East Asia Summit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in <strong>2005,</strong> it is a<strong> forum of 18 regional leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation</strong> on the key political, security, and economic challenges facing the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Genesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concept of an East Asia Grouping was<strong> first promoted in 1991 by the then Malaysian Prime Minister,</strong> Mahathir bin Mohamad.</li>
<li><strong>India is one of the founding members</strong> of the East Asia Summit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Membership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It comprises the<strong> ten member states of the ASEAN</strong> which are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, <strong>along with 8 other countries namely</strong> Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the USA.</li>
<li>It is an <strong>ASEAN-centred forum</strong> so it can <strong>only be chaired by an ASEAN member.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042187_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042187_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/ensure-covid-related-trade-curbs-are-temporary/article32476185.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eighth-east-asia-summit-economic-ministers-meeting'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'NPAs in SHG loans',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has asked states to monitor the status of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/solving-the-npa-crisis-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Performing Assets (NPAs)</strong> </a>district-wise and take corrective measures to recover overdue/outstanding dues from <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Self-Help Groups</a> (SHGs).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The issue was raised in the review meeting of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-rural-economic-transformation-project-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission.</strong></a></li>
<li>A <strong>Non Performing Asset (NPA)</strong> is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Livelihoods Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD),</strong> Government of India in 2011.</li>
<li>NRLM set out with an agenda to cover 7 Crore rural poor households, across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through <strong>SHGs and federated institutions</strong> and support them for livelihoods collectives in a period of 8-10 years.</li>
<li>The Mission aims at creating <strong>efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor </strong>enabling them to<strong> increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SHG Loans as NPAs:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>About Rs. 91,130 crore have been given to about 54.57 lakh SHGs across the country by the end of March 2020 as loans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Around <strong>2.37%</strong> or <strong>Rs. 2,168 crore</strong> of this total outstanding bank loans turned out to be <strong>NPAs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The proportion of NPAs in bank loans given to SHGs has <strong>significantly increased</strong> over the last decade from <strong>2.90% in 2008 to 6.12% in 2018.</strong></li>
<li>There has been a rise of <strong>0.19%</strong> in overall NPAs in SHG loans in 2019-20 compared to financial year 2018-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Wise Distribution:</strong> <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599038917_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599038917_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="550" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Uttar Pradesh,</strong> which has 71,907 SHGs, reported that 36.02% of the loans taken by the groups were NPAs at the end of March 2020, as compared to 22.16% in 2018-19.</li>
<li>In <strong>Arunachal Pradesh,</strong> the NPA proportion stood at an alarming 43%, though the number of SHGs there is just <strong>209.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Directions:</strong> The <strong>State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs)</strong> were directed by the MoRD to monitor the status of NPA district wise and take immediate corrective actions wherever instances of NPA or overdues were found.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A mechanism under which representatives drawn from SHGs monitored loans had proved critical in ensuring timely repayment and therefore, it should be <strong>institutionalised in all bank branches.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> In 2019, the <strong>National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR)</strong> has conducted a research<strong> study on NPAs by SHGs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It found that <strong>poor economic conditions, non-cooperation, lack-of training, expenses towards marriages and social ceremonies, and medical emergencies</strong> are the main reasons for non-payment of loans by SHGs.</li>
<li><strong>Expectations of loan waiver from the government</strong> was also found to be a major reason for the poor financial health of SHGs.</li>
<li>The<strong> role played by banks</strong> in handholding, timely opening accounts, monitoring and follow-up was not as per the expectation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Initiatives by Central Government to promote SHGs</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agriculture-infrastructure-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agriculture Infrastructure Fund</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-share-in-pmmsy-and-fme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ambedkar-hastshilp-vikas-yojana-ahvy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/north-east-rural-livelihood-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>North East Rural Livelihood Project</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-stimulus-iii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic Stimulus-III</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> autonomous</strong> organisation under the<strong> Union Ministry of Rural Development.</strong></li>
<li>It is a premier national centre of excellence in <strong>rural development and Panchayati Raj.</strong></li>
<li>It has been recognized internationally as one of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/survey-2019-ambitions-beyond-growth-escap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UN-ESCAP</strong> </a><strong>Centres of Excellence.</strong></li>
<li>It builds <strong>capacities of rural development functionaries,</strong> elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, bankers, Non-Governmental Organizations and other stakeholders through interrelated activities of training, research and consultancy.</li>
<li>The Institute is located in<strong> Hyderabad (Telangana).</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Training SHGs and providing them market linkages</strong> for the products/services so that they use the funds for income generating activity and have no problem in paying back the loan amount should be done by the government. In addition, providing group health and life insurance clubbed with loans at low cost will help as members spend a significant portion of the loan on events like ill-health, ceremonies etc.</li>
<li>It needs to be ensured that <strong>grading of SHGs</strong> needs to be done properly and loans should be issued only if it is found suitable for lending.<strong> Follow-ups and constant monitoring</strong> is a must.</li>
<li><strong>Quantum of loan should be high</strong> as it is a major limiting factor, one-time lending not only impedes the process of business expansion but also wastes the money lent so far. Banks need to be sensitized to<strong> lend multiple doses of credit, for well performing SHGs.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Though NPAs by SHGs are a major concern, it must <strong>not deter the government from supporting SHGs.</strong> Post <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lockdown-extended" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong></a>, there is an imperative need for economic revival and reconstruction. Each SHG loan sanctioned or enhanced, will either facilitate spending or investment- the twin engines for driving an economy.</li>
<li>Women members of SHGs across the country from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/women-shgs-fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NRLM have also contributed</strong></a> to contain the spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/npas-in-shg-loans-see-jump-states-told-to-collect-dues-6579603/" 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/npas-in-shg-loans'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Spot Robot',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, researchers from Boston Dynamics, of <strong>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</strong> (MIT - USA) have developed a robot, called<strong> &lsquo;Spot&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They have planned to use it for patients with <a href="/admin/articles/edit/Why%20in News Recently, researchers from Boston Dynamics, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT - USA) have developed a robot, called &lsquo;Spot&rsquo;.  They have planned to use it for patients with Covid-19 symptoms. 	  Key Points Features:  The robot is controlled by a handheld device. It can walk on four legs, similarly to a dog, climbs stairs and can traverse rough terrain with ease and small enough to be used indoors. It can measure skin temperature, breathing rate, pulse rate, and blood oxygen saturation in healthy patients, from 2 metres away. It has four cameras &mdash; one infrared, three monochrome. Working: Body Temperature: The infrared camera measures skin temperature on the face.  An algorithm then correlates the facial skin temperature with core body temperature. Breathing Rate: When a patient wearing a mask breathes, their breath changes the temperature of the mask.  The infrared camera measures this temperature change, enabling researchers to calculate the breathing rate. Pulse Rate &amp; Oxygen Level: When haemoglobin binds to oxygen and flows through blood vessels, it results in slight changes in colour.  These changes are measured with the help of the three monochrome cameras, which filter lights of three different wavelengths.  Using these measurements, the algorithm calculates pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation. Benefit: The robot can be deployed in areas where suspected cases of Covid-19 assemble. Healthcare workers can avoid exposing themselves to risk, by manoeuvring the robot to wherever patients are sitting.  The robot can also carry a tablet that allows doctors to ask patients about their symptoms without being in the same room. Source: IE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> symptoms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599038203_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599038203_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The robot is controlled by a <strong>handheld device.</strong></li>
<li>It can<strong> walk</strong> on four legs, similarly to a dog,<strong> climbs stairs</strong> and can <strong>traverse rough terrain</strong> with ease and<strong> small enough to be used indoors.</strong></li>
<li>It can<strong> measure skin temperature, breathing rate, pulse rate, and blood oxygen saturation</strong> in healthy patients,<strong> from 2 metres away.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has <strong>four cameras</strong> &mdash; one infrared, three monochrome.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Working:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Body Temperature:</strong> The infrared camera measures skin temperature on the face. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An algorithm then correlates the facial skin temperature with core body temperature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Breathing Rate:</strong> When a patient wearing a mask breathes, their breath changes the temperature of the mask. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The infrared camera measures this temperature change, enabling researchers to calculate the breathing rate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pulse Rate &amp; Oxygen Level:</strong> When haemoglobin binds to oxygen and flows through blood vessels, it results in slight changes in colour. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These changes are measured with the help of the three monochrome cameras, which filter lights of three different wavelengths.</li>
<li>Using these measurements, the algorithm calculates pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The robot can be deployed in areas where suspected cases of Covid-19 assemble. Healthcare workers can avoid exposing themselves to risk, by manoeuvring the robot to wherever patients are sitting.</li>
<li>The robot can also carry a tablet that allows doctors to ask patients about their symptoms without being in the same room.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-a-robot-to-measure-covid-patients-vital-signs-6579419/" 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/spot-robot'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Adjusted Gross Revenue to be Paid in 10 Years',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong></a> allowed <strong>telecom companies (telcos)</strong> 10 years&rsquo; time to pay their <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/challenges-in-telecom-sector-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)</strong></a> dues to the government.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Adjusted Gross Revenue</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AGR is a <strong>fee-sharing mechanism</strong> between the government and the telcos who shifted to the <strong>'revenue-sharing fee'</strong> model in 1999, from the <strong>'fixed license fee'</strong> model. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this course, telcos are supposed to<strong> share a percentage</strong> of AGR with the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The telecom sector was liberalised under the <strong>National Telecom Policy, 1994</strong> after which licenses were issued to companies in return for a fixed license fee.</li>
<li>To provide relief from the steep fixed license fee, the <strong>government in 1999</strong> gave an option to the licensees to migrate to the<strong> revenue sharing fee model.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this, mobile telephone operators were required to share a percentage of their AGR with the government as <strong>annual license fee</strong> (LF) and <strong>spectrum usage charges (SUC).</strong></li>
<li>License agreements between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the telecom companies define the gross revenues of the latter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The definition of AGR has been under litigation for 14 years. In 2005, <strong>Cellular Operators Association of India</strong> (COAI) challenged the government&rsquo;s definition for AGR calculation.</li>
<li>However, DoT argued that AGR includes<strong> all revenues from both telecom and non-telecom services.</strong></li>
<li>The companies claimed that <strong>AGR should comprise just the revenue accrued from core services</strong> and not dividend, interest income or profit on the sale of any investment or fixed assets.</li>
<li>In 2015, the <strong>Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)</strong> stayed the case in favour of telecom companies and held that AGR includes all receipts except capital receipts and revenue from non-core sources such as rent, profit on the sale of fixed assets, dividend, interest and miscellaneous income.</li>
<li>However, setting aside TDSAT&rsquo;s order, the Supreme Court upheld the definition of AGR as stipulated by the DoT in October 2019.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the government definition, AGR includes rental receipts, dividend income and income from any other-activity arising out of the telecom licence the company has.</li>
<li>Later on, the Court rejected a 20-year payment timeline proposed by the central government and supported by telecom companies. Instead it has given 10 years&rsquo; time to repay the AGR dues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Directions Issued by Court:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The telecom operators would<strong> make the payment of 10% of the total dues</strong> as demanded by the Department of Telecom by 31<sup>st</sup> March 2021.</li>
<li>The <strong>yearly instalments would commence from 1<sup>st</sup> April 2021 up to 31<sup>st</sup> March 2031.</strong> The instalments would be paid by <strong>31<sup>st</sup> March every year.</strong></li>
<li>In the event of any default in making payment of annual instalments,<strong> interest would be levied</strong> as per the agreement<strong> along with penalty and interest on penalty</strong> automatically without reference to court. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Besides, it would be <strong>punishable for contempt of court.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Compliance with the court order should be reported by the telcos and the telecom department every year on 7<sup>th</sup> April.</li>
<li>The sale of spectrum by telcos facing insolvency proceedings shall be decided by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The definition of AGR has been such a contentious issue because it has<strong> huge financial implications for both telcos and the government.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was estimated, after the SC&rsquo;s 2019 judgment, that the telecom operators owe the government about Rs. 92,000 crore in back charges, interest and penalties on license fee alone.</li>
<li>The October 2019 judgment had pushed many telcos on the verge of bankruptcy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While the <strong>government has been deprived of the extra revenue,</strong> the financial implications for telecom companies &mdash; who now have to pay overdue amounts piled up for years &mdash; are serious too. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Especially at the current juncture, when profits for telcos are under pressure from severe competition and the falling average revenue per user.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To enhance the growth of the telecom sector, improve the quality of service, and generate resources for the telcos, a <strong>new infrastructural policy</strong> is the need of the hour.</li>
<li>The government needs to provide an<strong> enabling environment</strong> for telecom operators. In order to achieve that, a long-term vision plan must be made accordingly.</li>
<li><strong>Enhanced accessibility of the broadband services</strong> will enable the digital empowerment of India, hence adequate steps must be taken by the government to strengthen the overall telecom sector.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-directs-telcos-to-pay-agr-dues-in-10-years/article32493787.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/adjusted-gross-revenue-to-be-paid-in-10-years'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Early Migration of Butterflies',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> annual migration of butterflies from</strong> the hill ranges of the <strong>Eastern Ghats towards </strong>the <strong>Western Ghats</strong> has been observed <strong>earlier</strong> in 2020, being witnessed in the months of July and August.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Usually, these butterflies <strong>breed during the southwest monsoon season on the eastern areas </strong>of South India and their<strong> progeny migrate back to the western ghats in October- November.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Early Migration:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The migration started early<strong> after a gap of eight years.</strong></li>
<li>The Eastern Ghats complex of the Yercaud hills (Shevaroy hills), Pachamalai, Kolli hills, Kalvarayan are <strong>major originating places</strong> for the migrating species.</li>
<li>The <strong>movement</strong> was observed<strong> towards</strong> the western ghats hill ranges, <strong>Nilgiris,</strong> the <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/butterflies-begin-migrating-early-south-india/article32474699.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anamalai Tiger Reserve</strong></a>, and <strong>Palani hills</strong> in <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> and <strong>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve </strong>in<strong> Kerala.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Four species of milkweed butterflies</strong> belonging to the <strong>Danainae subfamily</strong> are mainly involved in the migration &mdash; the Dark Blue Tiger, Blue Tiger, Common Crow and the Double-branded (commonly known as tigers and crows).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Reasons for Early Migration:</strong> Change in rainfall pattern, a considerable increase in the number of sunny days and a population outburst of butterflies.</li>
<li><strong>Project to Study Migration:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Ferns Nature Conservation Society (FNCS)</strong> initiated a <strong>citizen science project in 2018</strong> to study the migration ecology of milkweed butterflies in south India, with the support of the Forest and Wildlife Department.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Butterflies</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Butterflies are <strong>insects from the order Lepidoptera of phylum Arthropoda</strong> which also includes moths.</li>
<li>Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Rich Biodiversity:</strong> Abundance of butterflies in any area represents the rich biodiversity.</li>
<li><strong>Indicator Species:</strong> The butterfly acts as an indicator species.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An indicator species provides information on the overall condition of the ecosystem and of other species in that ecosystem. They reflect the quality and changes in environmental conditions as well as aspects of community composition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pollinator:</strong> It acts as a pollinator by helping in pollination and conserving several species of plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599034834_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599034834_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="358" height="501" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is a well protected ecological portion in the <strong>Nelliampathy - Anamalai landscape</strong> of the Southern Western Ghats in India.</li>
<li>It is located in the <strong>Palakkad District of Kerala.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>declared as Tiger Reserve during 2008-09.</strong></li>
<li>The reserve is <strong>credited with the first scientifically managed teak plantation in the world</strong> which was later merged with the forest land.</li>
<li>It has the <strong>world's largest and oldest teak tree.</strong> Named <strong>"Kannimara"</strong> (corrupt version of Irish name Connemara), the tree is believed to be 350 years old and has a height of 40m and girth of 6.4m.</li>
<li><strong>Fauna</strong> includes Tigers, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, the Peninsular Bay Owl, the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, the Black-capped Kingfisher, the Great Black Woodpecker and the Lesser Grey-headed Fish Eagle.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/butterflies-begin-migrating-early-south-india/article32474699.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/early-migration-of-butterflies'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Need For International Realism',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-china-border-dispute-modi-foreign-policy-c-raja-mohan-6577973/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A different view of the world&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 01/09//2020. It talks about the importance of realist international foregin policy for India.</p>
</div>
<p>The 21<sup>st</sup> Century has been heralded as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/multilateralism-and-asia#:~:text=The%20Asian%20Century%20refers%20to,burgeoning%20economy%20and%20demographic%20trends.&amp;text=After%20a%20gap%20of%20200,rest%20of%20the%20world%20combined." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Century</strong></a>, with China and India in the vanguard. However, serving national interests gets into conflict with adherence to internationalism by the two countries.</p>
<p>Further, China&rsquo;s aggressive posturing vis-a-vis India in the recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>galwan valley clash</strong></a> or under construction <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/viability-of-bri-and-cpec#:~:text=22%20members%20currently.-,China%20Pakistan%20Economic%20Corridor,and%20other%20infrastructure%20development%20projects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)</strong></a> (which violates India&rsquo;s territorial sovereignty) has been a major foriegn policy challenge of India.</p>
<p>Thus, as highlighted by India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister, the major challenge that India now faces is to manage a more powerful neighbour while ensuring its own rise.</p>
<p>Though Internationalism has always been a key pillar of India&rsquo;s foreign policy, there is a need for a more realistic foreign policy with respect to China.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598965042_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598965042_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Need for International Realism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Loop-sided Economic Trade:</strong> The advocacy in India of more trade with China has now given way to strong resentment at its one-sidedness. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to a huge trade deficit India has developed a dependence on Chinese goods.</li>
<li>Given this fact, India pulled out of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1#:~:text=The%20Regional%20Comprehensive%20Economic%20Partnership,Agreement%20(FTA)%20member%20partners." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a>, as there was a contradiction between India&rsquo;s national commercial interests and a China-led Asian economic regionalism</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expansionism of China:</strong> China is behaving like an <strong>&lsquo;irredentist power&rsquo; or &lsquo;expansionist power&rsquo;,</strong> seeking to expand its frontiers to the limits that existed in the Qing Dynasty.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has been inclined for long to nibble at territories in the western, middle and eastern segments of the Indian border.</li>
<li>Through the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/italy-joins-belt-road-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> BRI project</strong></a>, China&rsquo;s intent is to dominate the geostrategic space in its neighbourhood and across Asia &amp; Europe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Influence of China:</strong> After the Cold War, India re-embraced Asianism in the 1990s when it unveiled the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Look East Policy</strong></a> and joined the Asian regional institutions led by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean#:~:text=The%20Association%20of%20Southeast%20Asian,is%20observed%20as%20ASEAN%20Day." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of South-East Asian Nations.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This pursuit of economic regionalism in East Asia and emphasis on a multi-polar world had severely underestimated the economic and political consequences of China&rsquo;s rapid rise.</li>
<li>This can be depicted by China's policy of containment of India through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-maritime-security-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strings of pearls</strong></a> and CPEC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Undermining of Global Institutions:</strong> The liberal internationalist effort at constructing supra-national institutions that seek to maintain international order, now faces big setbacks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can be depicted by the growing ineffectiveness of the UN system and Brexit.</li>
<li>Also, today strategic coherence of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-non-alignment-movement#:~:text=The%20Non%2DAligned%20Movement%20was,to%20remain%20independent%20or%20neutral." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Aligned Movement has</strong></a> declined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: Realist International Policy of India</h3>
<p>Realist International Policy in context China would mean that<strong> India should make objective assessments of China&rsquo;s rise and of the gap in comprehensive national power.</strong> It should also envisage bandwagoning with like-minded countries, so to maintain an equilibrium in balance of power and regional peace.</p>
<p>In pursuance of this India can focus on following foreign policy initiatives:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Leveraging its Relationship With Western Countries:</strong> India is already a &ldquo;quasi-ally&rdquo; of the U.S. and has strategic relationships with many european countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As there is no scope for reversal, India should use every possible means to prevent China from reaching the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>Strategic convergence between India and countries like the U.S, Japan, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia is needed to frame a<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indo-Pacific Strategy</strong></a> and balance China&rsquo;s military and economic power.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quadrilateral Security Dialogue</strong></a> (Quad), can also be extended to include like-minded countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, proposals to expand international organisations such as the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/g-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G-7</strong></a> and include India will be helpful in balancing China&rsquo;s influence in international affairs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening Hard Power:</strong> There is an urgent need to strengthen<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-himvijay" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Mountain Strike Corps divisions</strong></a> and establish a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/theatre-command-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>theatre command.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is bound to deter China here far more than the stockpiling of state-of-the-art weapons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Adopting Diplomatic Offensive:</strong> India needs to highlight its peaceful intentions in stark contrast to China&rsquo;s aggressive policies and tactics.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s well-designed technical aid programmes not only provide an enduring link between India and other developing countries but are in contrast with Chinese aid whose aims are political and economic subjugation.</li>
<li>India can revive NAM to achieve this end.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Neighbourhood First Policy:</strong> India must pay particular attention to countries in its neighbourhood, such as Nepal and Bangladesh, and allies such as Iran and Vietnam, which seem to have frayed at the edges with India being more intent on strengthening relations with the West.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Smaller countries of Asia, which constantly face China&rsquo;s aggressive interference in their internal affairs, have not received much support from India, and this needs India&rsquo;s attention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leveraging Soft Power:</strong> India should take pole position in propagating<strong> &lsquo;Himalayan Buddhism&rsquo;</strong> which China has been seeking to subvert to achieve its ends. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s credentials here far outweigh that of China&rsquo;s and should produce excellent dividends.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Becoming Self-Reliant</strong>: India urgently needs to increase exports and investments to provide more well-paying jobs, technology, and know-how. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, in the long run India needs to decouple its economic dependence from Chinese imports and achieve self-reliance.</li>
<li>Bold reforms offer the best option to achieve this goal and achieve greater independence on the world stage. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma-Nirbhar Bharat scheme</strong></a> is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Today, the bottom line for the relationship is clear: peace and tranquillity must prevail on the border if the progress made so far is not to be jeopardized. The border and the future of ties cannot be separated.</p>
<p>Thus, India needs more internationalism, than less, in dealing with the Chinese power. But it must be an internationalism that is rooted in realism and tethered to India&rsquo;s economic and national security priorities.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598964905_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598964905_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" 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: #fff3e0;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>India&rsquo;s China policy must be rooted in international realism which should be tethered to India&rsquo;s economic and national security priorities. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/need-for-international-realism'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Air Force Sports Control Board</strong> was conferred with <strong>&lsquo;Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020&rsquo;</strong> for the outstanding contribution in helping sportspersons to excel in their respective disciplines and implement robust sports welfare measures.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar scheme was introduced by the government in <strong>2009</strong> to encourage involvement of corporates and sports promotion boards in the development of sports in the country.</li>
<li>The <strong>Union Ministry of Youth Affairs &amp; Sports</strong> has revised the Scheme of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar in the year <strong>2015.</strong></li>
<li>According to the revised plan, this award is given in the following four categories:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Identification and nurturing of budding/young talent.</li>
<li>Encouragement of sports through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).</li>
<li>Employment of sportspersons and sports welfare measures.</li>
<li>Sports for Development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sports Development in Armed Forces:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Air Force Sports Control Board</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Air Force Sports Control Board (AFSCB) is the <strong>apex body</strong> for the <strong>planning and conduct of sports activities within the Indian Air Force and at the Inter-Services level.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Army Sports Institute:</strong> Army Sports Institute, Pune was raised as part of the Indian Army&rsquo;s <strong>&ldquo;Mission Olympics&rdquo;</strong> programme in 2001.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To train the vast reservoir of talent in the Army with an ultimate aim of winning medals at the Olympics in selected seven disciplines including Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Diving, Fencing, Weightlifting and Wrestling.</li>
<li>The institute draws its sportsmen from the Army as well as from young raw and proven talent in<strong> &lsquo;Boys Sports Companies&rsquo;</strong> (8-14 years age).</li>
<li><strong>In the last three years,</strong> the sportsmen trained at ASI have won 450 International and 1118 National medals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Initiatives for Sports Development</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/khelo-india-youth-games-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khelo India Scheme</a></strong> aims to encourage sports all over the country, thus allowing the population to harness the power of sports through its cross-cutting influence, namely holistic development of children &amp; youth, community development, social integration, gender equality, healthy lifestyle, national pride and economic opportunities related to sports development.</li>
<li>The <a href="/admin/articles/edit/v" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Sports Development Fund</strong> </a>helps sportspersons excel by providing them opportunities to train under coaches of international repute with technical, scientific and psychological support and giving them exposure to international competitions.</li>
<li><strong>The National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme</strong> is being implemented to scout sports talent in the age group of 8-14 years from schools and nurture them into future medal hopes by providing scientific training.</li>
<li><strong>Sports Authority of India Training Centres Scheme (STC) - for Junior level trainees:</strong> The main objective was to make it possible for the Central Government and State Governments to work together for sports development efforts, through the integration of various Schemes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Sports Authority of India (SAI)</strong> is the apex national sports body of India, established in 1982 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs &amp; Sports of Government of India for the development of sport in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme:</strong> It aims at scouting natural talent for modern competitive sports and games from inaccessible tribal, rural and coastal areas of the country and nurturing them scientifically for achieving excellence in sports.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1650094" 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/rashtriya-khel-protsahan-puruskar-2020'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Onam Festival',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>festival Onam</strong> was celebrated across Kerala.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Festival</strong>: Onam is a <strong>major harvest festival in Kerala</strong> and is celebrated to <strong>honour the home-coming of <em>Asura</em> king Mahabali</strong> who brought about peace and prosperity in Kerala.</li>
<li><strong>Time:</strong> It is one of the<strong> three major festivals of Kerala,</strong> celebrated during the month of <strong>Chingam,</strong> the first month in the <strong>Malayalam calendar, Kollavarsham.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The other two major festivals of the state are <strong>Vishu</strong> and <strong>Thiruvathira.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> 10-day harvest festival</strong> begins on <strong>Atham (first day of Onam)</strong> and concludes on <strong>Thiruvonam (last day).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Celebration:</strong> Onam is celebrated by making <strong>Pookkalam</strong> (the flower rangolis). Other rituals are also performed which includes<strong>-Vallam Kali</strong> (the boat races), <strong>Pulikali</strong> (the tiger dances),<strong> Kummattikali</strong> (mask dances), <strong>Onathallu</strong> (martial arts), among others.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main attraction is the traditional <strong>Onam sadhya</strong> (grand feast).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>God vs Demon Story:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Battles between demons and gods are familiar to people everywhere. Gods emerging victorious over evil is an inseparable part of these battles.</li>
<li>In India, too, these victories are celebrated in different parts of the country over the years. E.g. <strong>Rama is good, Ravana is evil. Durga is good, Mahishasur is evil.</strong></li>
<li>However, an exception to this has been the battle <strong>between Mahabali (Asura or demon) and Vamana (avatar of Vishnu),</strong> where Mahabali is revered as the <strong>unchallenged King of Malayalis.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are a few isolated places in India where demons are worshiped. E.g. There are some areas in Bihar and Bengal where<strong> Mahishasur is king of Asur tribes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Historians see these fights between god and demon in the context of fights between brahmins and non-brahmins and tribals in the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asur Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Asur is among the 9 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/particularly-vulnerable-tribal-groups" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups</strong></a> found in <strong>Jharkhand</strong> and are<strong> Austro-Asiatic in origin.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Besides Jharkhand, members of the tribe live in pockets of <strong>Bihar, West Bengal</strong> and a few other states.</li>
<li>The 2011 Census put the <strong>number of Asur</strong> at 22,459 in Jharkhand and 4,129 in Bihar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Asurs<strong> claim to be descendants of Mahishasur,</strong> the buffalo-demon <strong>whom Goddess Durga</strong> kills after a spirited fight lasting nine nights. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It&rsquo;s this mythology in mainstream Hinduism that&rsquo;s celebrated in the form of the nine-day-long<strong> Durga Puja,</strong> but observed as <strong>&lsquo;Mahishasur Dasain&rsquo;</strong> among the Asurs, who hold a period of mourning during which they largely stay indoors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They celebrate festivals like <strong>Sarhul, Karma, Dhanbuni, Kadelta, Rajj karma, Dasahara Karam.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1649931" 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/onam-festival'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Core Sector Contracted by 9.6%',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The output of eight core infrastructure sectors dropped by 9.6% in July 2020. It has been a continued contraction for the past five months.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> The contraction is due to a decline mostly in the production of steel, refinery products, and cement.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In general, the weak demand and over-supply along with global and domestic disruptions due to Covid-19 are hampering the mobilization of economic resources.</li>
<li>In July, local demand growth has slowed because of high fuel prices, renewed lockdown in parts of the country, and as monsoon rains hit transport, industrial and construction activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The production of eight core sectors had expanded by 2.6% in July 2019.</li>
<li>Barring Fertiliser (grew by 6.9%), all seven sectors &mdash; coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement and electricity &mdash; recorded negative growth in July.</li>
<li>The output of steel saw the highest decline (16.5%). It was followed by refinery products (13.9%).</li>
<li>The minimum contraction in the output is in the electricity sector with 2.3%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598953474_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598953474_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="431" height="356" /></a></p>
<h3>Core Sector Industries</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>eight core sector industries</strong> include coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement, and electricity.</li>
<li>These comprise<strong> 40.27%</strong> of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</li>
<li>The 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; Fertilizers.</strong></li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #54f085;"><strong>Industry</strong></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #54f085;"><strong>Weight (In percentage)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Petroleum &amp; Refinery production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">28.04</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Electricity generation</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">19.85</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Steel production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">17.92</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Coal production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">10.33</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Crude Oil production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">8.98</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Natural Gas production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">6.88</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Cement production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">5.37</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">Fertilizers production</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 19px; background-color: #eaffd1;">2.63</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an indicator that measures the changes in the volume of production of industrial products during a given period.</li>
<li>It is compiled and published monthly by the <strong>National Statistical Office (NSO),</strong> Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</li>
<li>IIP is a composite indicator 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><strong>Base Year</strong> for IIP is <strong>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 Reserve Bank of India, 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/eight-core-industries-output-contracts-9-6-per-cent-in-july-6577499/" 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/core-sector-contracted-by-9-6'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Assam Firm on NRC Re-verification',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Assam government remains firm on its demand of <strong>10-20% re-verification of the nationality claims</strong> made by some of the people included in the<strong> final<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> National Register of Citizens</a></strong> (NRC), published in 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The state government&rsquo;s plea for the re-verification is <strong>lying pending in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court</a></strong> (SC) for more than a year and the apex court is yet to stamp its approval on it.</li>
<li>The NRC 2019 is yet to be approved by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/data-related-to-birth-rate-and-death-rate#:~:text=Registrar%20General%20of%20India%20was,and%20Linguistic%20Survey%20of%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Registrar General of India.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Register of Citizens</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NRC is a<strong> register prepared</strong> in respect of each village, showing the houses or holdings in a serial order and indicating against each house or holding the number and names of persons staying therein.</li>
<li>The register was<strong> first prepared after the 1951 Census of India</strong> and since then it has <strong>not been updated until recently.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been <strong>updated in Assam only for now</strong> and the government <strong>plans to update it nationally</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose:</strong> To separate &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; immigrants from &ldquo;legitimate&rdquo; residents.</li>
<li><strong>Nodal Agency:</strong> Registrar General and Census Commissioner India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the SC<strong> mentioned the prospect of sample re-verification</strong> in an order, saying that it could consider re-verifying 10% of the names included in the NRC.</li>
<li>In <strong>July 2019,</strong> the state government gave an affidavit in the SC seeking a <strong>re-verification of 20% included names in the districts bordering Bangladesh and 10% in the rest of the districts.</strong></li>
<li>However, it was <strong>dismissed</strong> after the erstwhile coordinator of the NRC submitted that <strong>re-verification was already done.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The state government of Assam has <strong>provided the latest data regarding &lsquo;foreigner&rsquo; detection</strong> in the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>1,36,149 people have been declared &lsquo;foreigners&rsquo; by the state&rsquo;s 100 functioning <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/foreigners-tribunals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreigners&rsquo; Tribunals</strong></a>, whereas only 227 &lsquo;foreigners&rsquo; have been deported from 13<sup>th</sup> March 2013 to 31<sup>st</sup> July 2020.</li>
<li>A total of 425 people are currently lodged in the six detention centres in the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a <strong>need for re-verification because people of Assam want a correct NRC.</strong></li>
<li>Also, there has been a <strong>delay in issuing the rejection slips</strong> to the over 19 lakh excluded people so that they can move court to claim nationality.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Officials have cited the <strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> and the <strong>floods in the state</strong> as reasons for the delay.</li>
<li>The rejection slips would carry the<strong> reason of rejection,</strong> which <strong>would differ from person to person and based on the reason they would be able to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-rules-to-allow-appeals-on-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">challenge their exclusion</a></strong> in the Foreigners&rsquo; Tribunals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Every individual, whose name does not figure in the final NRC, can represent his/her case in front of the Foreigners Tribunals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/assam-govt-firm-on-nrc-re-verification-demand-6578037/#:~:text=Around%2019%20lakh%20applicants%20were%20left%20out%20of%20the%20NRC.&amp;text=The%20Assam%20government%20on%20Monday,former%20NRC%20coordinator%20Prateek%20Hajela." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assam-firm-on-nrc-re-verification'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Inscription from Renati Chola Era ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A rare inscription dating back to the Renati Chola era has been unearthed in a remote village of Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The inscription was found engraved on a dolomite slab and shale, which are part of a fragmentary pillar excavated from a farmer&rsquo;s field.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dolomite</strong> is a sedimentary carbonate rock composed mostly of calcium magnesium carbonate.</li>
<li><strong>Shale</strong> or mudstone is a fine-grained sedimentary rock that forms from the compaction of silt and clay-size mineral particles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The inscription was written in <strong>archaic Telugu.</strong> It was assigned to the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> Century AD,</strong> when the region was under the rule of <strong>Chola Maharaja of Renadu.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Text:</strong> The inscription seems to throw light on the <strong>record of a gift of six Marttus</strong> (a measuring unit) of land to a<em> Brahmin</em> Priest. Some lines are indicative of the <strong>priority given to morality in those days.</strong></li>
<li>In July 2020, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-circles-of-archaeological-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Archaeological Survey of India</strong></a> (ASI) had found the exact location of Renati Cholas&rsquo; capital in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ASI deciphered two inscriptions of Renati Cholas belonging to the 7<sup>th</sup> century. The first inscription speaks of their capital <strong>Erikal</strong> in <strong>Kamalapuram region in Kadapa,</strong> while the other speaks about the <strong>battle of Renati Cholas and Banas.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Renati Cholas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Telugu Cholas of Renadu (also called as Renati Cholas) ruled over Renadu region, the present day <strong>Kadapa district.</strong></li>
<li>The earliest of this family was<strong> Nandivarman (500 AD).</strong></li>
<li>Renandu Cholas were the <strong>feudatories of the Chola dynasty.</strong></li>
<li>These kings claimed that they belonged to Karikala <strong>Chola's dynasty.</strong></li>
<li>They are said to be the <strong>first kingdom to use Telugu in administration and inscriptions,</strong> instead of Sanskrit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Chola Dynasty</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cholas controlled the central and northern parts of Tamil Nadu from around the 8<sup>th</sup>-12<sup>th</sup> century AD.</li>
<li>Their core area of the rule was the Kaveri delta, later known as Cholamandalam. Their capital was <strong>Uraiyur</strong> (near Tiruchirapalli town) and Puhar or Kaviripattinam was an alternative royal residence and chief port town.</li>
<li><strong>Tiger</strong> was their<strong> emblem.</strong></li>
<li>The Cholas also maintained an <strong>efficient navy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>King Karikala</strong> was a famous king of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/sangam-age-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sangam</strong></a> Cholas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many <strong>Sangam</strong> poems mention the <strong>Battle of Venni where he defeated the confederacy of Cheras, Pandyas and eleven minor chieftains.</strong></li>
<li>Trade and commerce flourished during his reign.</li>
<li>He founded the <strong>port city of Puhar (identical with Kaveripattinam)</strong> and constructed 160 km of an embankment along the Kaveri River.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched <strong>&lsquo;Project Digital Poompuhar&rsquo;</strong> to recreate the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chola-dynasty-port-poompuhar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chola Dynasty port city (Poompuhar)</strong></a> in Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>Recently, the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) ceremony was held at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chola-dynasty-port-poompuhar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brihadisvara Temple</strong></a> after 23 years in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The temple was built by Chola emperor<strong> Raja Raja Chola I</strong> (985-1014 AD) between 1003 AD and 1010 AD.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/rare-inscription-unearthed/article32490807.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/inscription-from-renati-chola-era'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'GDP Contracted by 23.9% in First Quarter',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the recent <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Statistical Office</a> (NSO)</strong> data, India&rsquo;s <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gross Domestic Product</a> (GDP)</strong> growth <strong>contracted by 23.9%</strong> in the first (April-June) quarter of 2020 compared to the same period (April-June) in 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the sharpest contraction since India started reporting quarterly data in 1996.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA)</strong></a> growth rate also <strong>declined by 22.8%</strong> in the first quarter of this financial year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GDP is a <strong>measure of economic activity</strong> in a country. It is the <strong>total value</strong> of a country&rsquo;s annual output of goods and services. It gives the <strong>economic output from the consumers&rsquo; side.</strong></li>
<li><strong>GVA</strong> is the sum of a country&rsquo;s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sector Wise Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Construction, manufacturing, trade, hotels and other services</strong> and <strong>mining</strong> were the worst-hit sectors, recording contractions of 50.3%, 39.3%, 47.0% and 23% respectively. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This reflects the unprecedented suspension of economic activity in the first quarter of this fiscal due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong> </a>and the series of lockdowns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Only the <strong>agriculture sector</strong> showed a <strong>positive growth</strong> at 3.4%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598949306_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598949306_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="523" height="489" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Factors of GDP Contraction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In any economy, the<strong> GDP growth is generated from one of the four engines </strong>of growth. i.e.<strong> private consumption, demand generated by private sector businesses, demand generated by government and exports.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Private consumption</strong> has fallen by 27%. It is the biggest engine that drives the Indian economy.</li>
<li><strong>Investment by private sector businesses</strong> have fallen by 47%. It is the second biggest engine.</li>
<li><strong>The net export demand</strong> has turned positive in this first quarter because India&rsquo;s imports have crashed more than its exports. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While on paper, this provides a boost to overall GDP, it also points to an economy where economic activity has plummeted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>government&rsquo;s expenditure went up by 16%</strong> but this was nowhere near enough to compensate for the loss of demand in other sectors (engines) of the economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598949381_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598949381_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="628" height="338" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Implications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>On Jobs:</strong> The sectors which have contracted (e.g. construction, manufacturing etc.) are the sectors that create the maximum new jobs in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Therefore, in a scenario where each of these sectors are contracting, would lead to more and more people either losing jobs (decline in employment) or failing to get one (rise in unemployment).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Informal Sector:</strong> The real extent of the economic crisis is expected to be deeper given that the <strong>small-scale sector and informal sector</strong> is more affected than the organised sector, but is <strong>not reflected in the quarterly GDP</strong> numbers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the informal sector, factory output figures are used to extrapolate the trends in the growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Banks:</strong> The looming defaults in the banking sector after the moratorium ends will add to the banking sector woes, impacting bank&rsquo;s lending. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, there are <strong>worries regarding household debt,</strong> with incomes stagnating, salary cuts and job losses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Economy:</strong> With GDP contracting by more than what most observers expected, it is now believed that the full-year GDP could also worsen. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A fairly conservative estimate would be a contraction of 7% for the full financial year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Possible Solution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the incomes of individuals fall sharply, they reduce consumption. When consumption falls sharply, businesses stop investing. Since both of these are voluntary decisions, there is no way to force people to spend more and/or coerce businesses to invest more. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The same logic holds for exports and imports as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore under these circumstances, there is <strong>only one engine that can boost GDP, that is the government.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Only when the government spends more &mdash; either by building roads and bridges and paying salaries or by directly handing out money &mdash; can the economy revive in the short to medium term.</li>
<li>If the government does not spend adequately enough then<strong> the economy will take a long time to recover.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Indian Government can also adopt the measures suggested by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-measures-suggested-by-mckinsey" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>McKinsey Global Institute</strong></a> in which an additional 3.5 % of the GDP can be raised by the government. This includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Shift:</strong> Global trends such as digitization and automation, shifting supply chains, urbanization, rising incomes and demographic shifts, and a greater focus on sustainability, health, and safety can become the hallmarks of the post pandemic economy.</li>
<li><strong>Higher Productivity through Privatisation:</strong> Privatisation of 30 or so of the largest state-owned enterprises to potentially double their productivity.</li>
<li>Government also had a focus on privatisation under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Package.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Improvement in Infrastructure:</strong> India needs to unlock supply in land markets to reduce land costs by 20-25%, enable efficient power distribution to reduce commercial and industrial tariffs by 20-25%; and improve the ease and reduce the cost of doing business.</li>
<li><strong>Efficient Financing:</strong> Streamlining fiscal resources can deliver USD 2.4 trillion in investment while boosting entrepreneurship by lowering the cost of capital for enterprises by about 3.5 percentage points.</li>
<li><strong>Bad Bank:</strong> Creation of a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/bad-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;bad bank&rsquo;</strong> </a>can take care of the inoperative assets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/gdp-contraction-23-9-the-economics-behind-the-math-6578046/" 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/gdp-contracted-by-23-9-in-first-quarter'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Special Open Market Operations by RBI',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India</a> (RBI)</strong> has announced several measures to ensure orderly market conditions and smooth financial conditions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These measures include two more tranches of <strong>special Open Market Operations</strong> (OMOs) in bonds and a <strong>hike in the Held-To-Maturity (HTM) limit </strong>under the <strong>Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)</strong> for banks.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move has been termed as <strong>&lsquo;Operation Twist&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Operation Twist is the name given to a <strong>USA Federal Reserve monetary policy</strong> operation, which involves the purchase and sale of government securities to boost the economy by bringing down long-term interest rates. It is now being used for <strong>similar measures taken by RBI</strong> in Indian context as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>OMOs:</strong> RBI will conduct <strong>additional special open market operations</strong> for an aggregate amount of Rs. 20,000 crore.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RBI conducted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/open-market-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>OMOs in March</strong></a> as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Open Market Operations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Open Market Operations is the <strong>simultaneous sale and purchase of government securities and treasury bills by RBI.</strong></li>
<li>The objective of OMO is to <strong>regulate the money supply</strong> in the economy.</li>
<li>RBI carries out the OMO <strong>through commercial banks</strong> and does not directly deal with the public.</li>
<li>OMO is one of the <strong>quantitative tools</strong> that RBI uses to <strong>smoothen the liquidity</strong> conditions through the year and minimise its impact on the interest rate and inflation rate levels.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Quantitative tools control the extent of money supply by changing the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), or bank rate or open market operations. Qualitative tools include persuasion by the Central bank in order to make commercial banks discourage or encourage lending which is done through moral suasion, margin requirement, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Term Repo Operations:</strong> RBI will also conduct <strong>term repo operations</strong> for an aggregate amount of Rs. 1,00,000 crore at the <strong>prevailing</strong> repo rate in the middle of September <strong>to ease liquidity pressures on the market.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to reduce the cost of funds, banks that had availed of funds under<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/long-term-reverse-repo-operation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Long-Term Repo Operations</strong> </a>(LTROs) may exercise an option of reversing these transactions before maturity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>LTRO is a tool that lets banks borrow one to three-year funds from the RBI at the repo rate, by providing government securities with similar or higher tenure as collateral.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Thus, the banks may reduce their interest liability by returning funds taken at the repo rate prevailing at that time (5.15%) and <strong>availing funds at the current repo rate of 4%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in HTM limit</strong>: RBI raised the limit on bonds held-to-maturity (HTM) to 22% from 19.5% of Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL). This means banks will have room to buy more bonds without bothering about short-term fluctuations in yields.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>HTM</strong> securities are the debt securities acquired with the intent to keep it until <strong>maturity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Repo Rate:</strong> It is the rate at which RBI lends money to <strong>commercial banks. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Government Securities (G-Sec):</strong> It is a tradable instrument issued by the central government or state governments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Short term G-secs (with original maturities of less than one year) are called <strong>Treasury Bills.</strong> Long term G-secs (with original maturities of more than one year) or long term are called<strong> Government Bonds or Dated Securities.</strong> Treasury Bills are not issued by State Governments while Government Bonds or Dated securities are issues both by State and Central Governments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL):</strong> It is the difference between the sum of demand and time liabilities (deposits) of a bank (with the public or the other bank) and the deposits in the form of assets held by the other banks.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The steps by RBI will definitely ensure <strong>orderly functioning of the financial market,</strong> as the market is facing a setback due to the global financial crisis amidst <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>The six- month <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>moratorium on repayment of debt</strong></a> announced by RBI beginning 1<sup>st</sup> March, 2020 to help businesses and individuals tide over the financial problems on account of disruption in normal business activities ended on 31<sup>st</sup> August 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may adversely affect the small businesses that are facing financial issues due to Covid-19 pandemic and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lockdown.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently, RBI announced use of <strong>Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model</strong> to provide an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assessment-of-economic-impact-of-covid-19-dsge-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>assessment of the likely impact of Covid-19</strong></a> and the <strong>subsequent lockdown</strong> on the Indian economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Coupled with the <strong>recently announced GDP contraction by 23.9%,</strong> the end of six-month moratorium will adversely impact the market. Tackling the financial health of the country hit by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/lessons-from-npa-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Performing Assets</strong></a> (NPAs), <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-anatomy-of-banking-frauds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bank frauds</a></strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stimulating-the-economy-post-covid-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>economic setbacks by Covid-19</strong></a>, as mentioned in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-annual-report-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Annual report of RBI</strong></a>, will need a whole set of monetary reforms. Conducting market operations as required through a variety of instruments is one of them.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-to-hold-special-omos-term-repo-ops-to-ensure-orderly-functioning-of-financial-mkts-6578017/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-open-market-operations-by-rbi'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'African Baobab Tree',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports has found that the <strong>tree 'African Baobab' has 168 chromosomes.</strong> Previous studies estimated that the tree has between 96 and 166 chromosomes.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study will be <strong>useful in genetic conservation efforts.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598946622_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598946622_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Type of Trees:</strong> Baobabs are <strong>deciduous trees</strong> ranging in <strong>height from 5 to 20 meters.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Deciduous forest is a vegetation composed primarily of broad-leaved trees that <strong>shed all their leaves during one season.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Found in:</strong> The <strong>African baobab <em>(Adansonia digitata)</em></strong> is one of the<strong> nine species of baobab</strong> and is<strong> native to mainland Africa.</strong> They are also found in <strong>African Savannah.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The African savanna ecosystem is a <strong>tropical grassland</strong> with <strong>warm temperatures year-round</strong> and with its highest seasonal rainfall in the summer.</li>
<li>It is characterized by grasses and small or dispersed trees that <strong>do not form a closed canopy,</strong> allowing sunlight to reach the ground.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oldest Known Angiosperm Tree: Carbon-14 dating</strong> places the age of a specimen of African baobab in Namibia at about <strong>1,275 years.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tree of Life:</strong> As African baobab is a succulent, which means that during the rainy season it absorbs and stores water in its vast trunk, enabling it to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season when all around is dry and arid.</li>
<li><strong>Uses:</strong> Baobab trees can live for more than a thousand years and provide food, livestock fodder, medicinal compounds, and raw materials.</li>
<li><strong>Threat:</strong> Since 2005, 9 of the 13 oldest African baobab specimens and 5 of the 6 largest trees have died or suffered the collapse and death of their largest or oldest stems, that may have been caused by the <strong>effects of climate change.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Angiosperms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Angiosperms are a taxonomic class of plants in which the <strong>mature seed is surrounded by the ovule (e.g. apple).</strong> This group is often referred to as <strong>hardwoods.</strong></li>
<li>Angiosperms are trees that have broad leaves that usually change color and die every autumn. Oaks, maples and dogwoods are examples of deciduous trees. Some angiosperms that hold their leaves include rhododendron, live oak, and sweetbay magnolia.</li>
<li><strong>Gymnosperms</strong> are a taxonomic class that includes plants whose seeds are not enclosed in an ovule (like a pine cone). Gymnosperm means <strong>&lsquo;naked seed&rsquo;.</strong> This group is often referred to as <strong>softwoods.</strong></li>
<li>Gymnosperms usually have needles that stay green throughout the year. Examples are pines, cedars, spruces and firs. Some gymnosperms do drop their leaves - ginkgo, dawn redwood, and bald cypress, etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Carbon-14 Dating</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also called<strong> radiocarbon dating,</strong> it is a <strong>method of age determination</strong> that depends upon the <strong>decay to nitrogen of radiocarbon</strong> (Carbon-14).</li>
<li>Carbon-14 is continually formed in nature by the interaction of neutrons with nitrogen-14 in the Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The neutrons required for this reaction are produced by cosmic rays interacting with the atmosphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Need For A Fiscal Council',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/india-does-need-a-fiscal-council/article32432565.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India does need a Fiscal Council</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 25<sup>th</sup> of August 2020. It analyses the the need and benefit of an independent Fiscal Council in India</p>
</div>
<p>According to recent estimates of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), the fiscal deficit of the Centre government in 2019-20 will be near 4.6%, which is 0.8% higher than the revised estimate.</p>
<p>Further, fiscal deficit will tend to increase in this financial year, due to economic slowdown amid<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>. Given this deteriorating state of fiscal health, the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">N.K. Singh committee in 2017</a></strong>, has suggested establishing an independent fiscal council.</p>
<p>Similar recommendations were mooted by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>13<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> finance commissions</strong></a>, which also advocated the establishment of independent fiscal agencies to review the government&rsquo;s adherence to fiscal rules, and to provide independent assessments of budget proposals.</p>
<p>Therefore, in order to follow the path of fiscal consolidation &amp; prudence, there is a need to look into prospects and challenges owing to a Fiscal council.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fiscal Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A Fiscal Council is an independent fiscal institution with a mandate to promote stable and sustainable public finances.</li>
<li>The institution assists in calibrating sustainable fiscal policy by making an objective and scientific analysis.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The important tasks of a Fiscal council include:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Independent analysis, review and monitoring and evaluating of government&rsquo;s fiscal policies and programmes.</li>
<li>Developing or reviewing macroeconomic and/or budgetary projections.</li>
<li>Costing of budget and policy proposals and programmes.</li>
<li>Presenting policy makers with alternative policy options.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Need of Fiscal Council</h3>
<p><strong>Mismatched Budgets</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Historically, interim budgets in India have consistently overestimated revenue growth and underestimated expenditure growth.</li>
<li>An analysis of the projected, revised, and actual budget figures since 1991 by Economic and Political Weekly Research Foundation showed that deviations from budget estimates tend to be extraordinarily high for budget estimates presented in interim budgets.</li>
<li>Similarly the finance ministry&rsquo;s overall record in forecasting projections has been consistently poor under successive finance ministers in regular budgets too.</li>
<li>The finance ministry tends to overstate revenue projections and understate expenditures in regular budgets.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tax Maladministration</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The over-ambitious revenue targets combined with the lack of transparency in tax administration makes taxmen to exceed their authorities to fulfil unrealistic targets.</li>
<li>A 2017 CAG report found that the tax department had resorted to &lsquo;irregular&rsquo; and &lsquo;unwarranted&rsquo; methods to meet their tax targets.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Dressing Up of Fiscal Numbers</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>When the Government fails its revenue or expenditure targets it resorts to different cover up strategies.</li>
<li>If oil bonds were the instrument of choice to dress up fiscal deficit numbers earlier, now the preferred mode of financing the deficit is the disinvestment of public sector enterprises to boost stake sales by the government.</li>
<li>The country&rsquo;s biggest insurer, Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) has been the biggest lifeline for the country&rsquo;s divestment programme in recent years.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Coordination between GST Council and Finance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The GST Council normally has no clue of what the Finance Commission is doing and Finance Commission has even lesser clue of what the GST Council is doing.</li>
<li>There is a need for coordination between the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> finance commission</strong></a> as well as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-meet-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST Council.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Limiting the borrowings by the Central Government</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Article 293 provides a constitutional check over the borrowings by the State government but there is no such restriction on the Central government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>More Transparency:</strong> An unbiased report to Parliament helps to raise the level of debate and brings in greater transparency in regard to public money.</li>
<li><strong>Discourage Populist Shift of Government Expenditure:</strong> An independent analysis of various policies and programmes can help to avoid the political culture of populist spending for political gains and would improve objectivity.</li>
<li><strong>Raising Public Awareness:</strong> Scientific estimates of the cost of programmes and assessment of forecasts could help in raising public awareness about their fiscal implications and make people understand the nature of budgetary constraint.</li>
<li><strong>Boost Accuracy:</strong> Presence of an independent fiscal council tends to boost accuracy of fiscal projections and helps countries stick to fiscal rules better. In this way, the fiscal council will work as a conscience keeper in monitoring rule-based policies.</li>
<li><strong>More Accountability:</strong> Fiscal councils in most countries are able to discipline lawmakers through &lsquo;comply or explain&rsquo; obligations which entail governments to at least explain why they diverge from the fiscal council&rsquo;s views and thus brings more accountability.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<p><strong>Dilute Finance Ministry&rsquo;s authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Forcing the Finance Ministry to use someone else&rsquo;s estimates will dilute its accountability.</li>
<li>If the estimates go awry, it will simply shift the blame to the fiscal council.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Executive Control of Elected Government</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also believed that it will prevent the government from moulding fiscal rules depending upon the situation and need.</li>
<li>It may create rigid rules for fiscal prudence.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for systems and institutions to ensure checks and balances in the system for greater good.</li>
<li>The government borrows and spends more in order to support its welfare programmes or sometimes to further their political agendas.</li>
<li>This means a steep rise in debt which will jeopardise medium-term growth prospects, an issue prominently flagged by all the rating agencies in the recent evaluations.</li>
<li>Fiscal Council will help in improving comprehensiveness, transparency and accountability of Budgetary data and will fix this issue.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598879849_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598879849_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Fiscal council is a step towards fixing government&rsquo;s accountability and fiscal transparency. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
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		'title' => 'Prelims 2020: Quick revision course',
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<h3 style="text-align: left; font-family: 'roboto'; margin-bottom: 0;">Key features of the course</h3>
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