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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
UN Principles for People with Disabilities

Why in News The United Nations (UN) has released its first-ever guidelines on access to social justice for People with Disabilities (PwD) to make it...

31 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Day 42

Polity: Hot Topics (Big Picture, In-depth, EPW, Yojana) There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the events which have been in the...

31 Aug 2020 60 days refresher
India Pulls Out of Kavkaz 2020

Why in News Recently, India has withdrawn its participation from Kavkaz 2020, a multinational tri-services exercise in Russia, citing Covid-19 as...

31 Aug 2020 News Analysis
ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Consultations

Why in News Recently, the 17th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultations was held virtually, co-chaired by India and Vietnam. The meeting was...

31 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Scholarship Schemes in India

Why in News Recently, a multi-crore scam has been reported in the post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes (SC) in Punjab. The Central...

31 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Shetrunji and Bhadar Dams of Gujarat

Why in News Due to heavy rains, Shetrunji and Bhadar dams, the two largest reservoirs in the Saurashtra region (Gujarat), have overflowed...

31 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Sub Categorisation of Backward Classes

This editorial analysis is based on the article A Case For Equality which was published in The Indian Express on 29th of August 2020. It analyses...

29 Aug 2020 News Editorials
Identification of Minorities

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court has sought the Central government's response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging provisions of...

29 Aug 2020 News Analysis
National Mission for Financial Inclusion

Why in News Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) - National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completed its six years of successful...

29 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Temperature Inversion

Meaning Under normal conditions, temperature usually decreases with increase in altitude in the troposphere at a rate of 1 degree for every 165...

29 Aug 2020 Paper 1
Mahatma Ayyankali

Why in News The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to social reformer Mahatma Ayyankali on his 157th birth anniversary. Key Points Ayyankali...

29 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Protests Against Farm Ordinances

Why in News Recently, the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution and rejected the Centre’s recent farm ordinances and the proposed Electricity...

29 Aug 2020 News Analysis
SC Decision on UGC Guidelines on Conduct of Examinations

Why in News The Supreme Court ruled that the states are empowered under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act) to override University Grants...

29 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Notification of Rules for J&K

Why in News The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified Rules of Transaction of Business for the Government of Union territory of Jammu and...

29 Aug 2020 News Analysis
Taliban Delegation in Pakistan

Why in News Recently, a Taliban delegation visited Pakistan to discuss the way forward in the Afghan peace process. The Taliban delegation was...

29 Aug 2020 News Analysis
UAE-Israel Peace Treaty & India

This editorial analysis is based on the article “India’s geopolitical interests are in close alignment with moderate Arab centre”...

28 Aug 2020 News Editorials

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		(int) 0 => [
			'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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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'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) 2 => [
			'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>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f0f3ff;">
<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) 3 => [
			'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>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prelims/prelims-quick-revision-course-english'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'UN Principles for People with Disabilities',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations (UN)</strong> </a>has released its <strong>first-ever guidelines</strong> on <strong>access to social justice for <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/issues-related-to-persons-with-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People with Disabilities (PwD)</a></strong> to make it easier for them to access justice systems around the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The guidelines outline a set of 10 principles and detail the steps for implementation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>10 Principles:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Principle 1:</strong> PwD shall not be denied access to justice on the basis of disability.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 2:</strong> Facilities and services must be <strong>universally accessible</strong> without discrimination of PwD.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 3:</strong> PwD, including children with disabilities, have the <strong>right to appropriate procedural accommodations.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Principle 4:</strong> PwD have the <strong>right to access legal notices and information in a timely and accessible manner</strong> on an equal basis with others.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 5:</strong> PwD are <strong>entitled to all substantive and procedural safeguards recognized in international law</strong> on an equal basis with others, and <strong>States must provide</strong> the necessary accommodations to guarantee due process.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 6:</strong> PwD have the<strong> right to free or affordable legal assistance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Principle 7:</strong> PwD have the <strong>right to participate in the administration of justice</strong> on an equal basis with others.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 8:</strong> PwD have the <strong>right to report complaints and initiate legal proceedings</strong> concerning human rights violations and crimes.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 9: Effective and robust monitoring mechanisms</strong> play a critical role in supporting access to justice for PwD.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 10:</strong> All those working in the justice system must be provided with <strong>awareness-raising and training programmes</strong> addressing the rights of PwD.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Definition of Person with Disability:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UN Convention on the Rights of PwD</strong>, which was adopted <strong>in 2006,</strong> defines persons with disabilities as those &ldquo;who have<strong> long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments</strong> which in interaction with various barriers may <strong>hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis</strong> with others&rdquo;.</li>
<li>India ratified the Convention in October 2007.</li>
<li>The Parliament enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 with a view to fulfilling the obligations under the UNCRPD.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Statistics:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per statistics maintained by the UN:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Around 15% of the world&rsquo;s population, or estimated 1 billion people, live with disabilities. They are the world&rsquo;s largest minority.</li>
<li><strong>In India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>2.4 % of males are disabled and</li>
<li>2% of females from all age groups are disabled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Efforts for Persons with Disability</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 41</strong> of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) states that the State shall make effective provision for securing right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, within the limits of its economic capacity and development.</li>
<li>The<strong> subject</strong> of &lsquo;relief of the disabled and unemployable&rsquo; is specified in the state list of the <strong>Seventh Schedule</strong> of the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legislation for Disabled - Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016</strong> </a>replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.</li>
<li>"Person with disability" means a person with<strong> long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with barriers, hinders his full and effective participation in society equally with others.</strong></li>
<li><strong>"Person with benchmark disability"</strong> means a person with not less than 40% of a specified disability where specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and includes a person with a disability where specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority.</li>
<li>The <strong>types of disabilities</strong> have been<strong> increased from 7 to 21.</strong> The Act added mental illness, autism, spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions, speech and language disability,<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/issues-related-to-persons-with-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities including deaf blindness</strong></a>, acid attack victims and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/z-scan-method-for-parkinson-s-disease#:~:text=Parkinson's%20disease%20is%20a%20chronic,dropping%20the%20levels%20of%20dopamine.&amp;text=Medication%20can%20help%20control%20the,from%206%20to%2060%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parkinson&rsquo;s disease</strong></a> which were largely ignored in earlier Act. In addition, the Government has been authorized to notify any other category of specified disability.</li>
<li>It increases the quantum of reservation for people suffering from disabilities from <strong>3% to 4%</strong> in <strong>government jobs</strong> and from <strong>3% to 5%</strong> in <strong>higher education institutes.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Every child</strong> with benchmark disability between the age group of <strong>6 and 18 years</strong> shall have the<strong> right to free education.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accessible India Campaign (Creation of Accessible Environment for PwDs):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A nation-wide <strong>flagship campaign</strong> for achieving<strong> universal accessibility</strong> that will enable persons with disabilities to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.</li>
<li>The campaign targets at enhancing the accessibility of the built<strong> environment, transport system and Information &amp; communication ecosystem.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/united-nations-guidelines-people-with-disabilities-social-justice-6575766/#:~:text=Principle%201%20All%20persons%20with,on%20the%20basis%20of%20disability.&amp;text=Principle%202%20Facilities%20and%20services,discrimination%20of%20persons%20with%20disabilities." 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/un-principles-for-people-with-disabilities'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Day 42',
			'catname' => '60 days refresher',
			'desc' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">Polity: Hot Topics (Big Picture, In-depth, EPW, Yojana)</h2>
<p>There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the events which have been in the news. One can any time expect several questions on the current hot topics. Moreover, questions from this topic can be asked from static portions. Thus, in this context, this section becomes very important from a prelims point of view.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-verdict-on-hindu-women-s-inheritance-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hindu Succession Law &amp; Daughters' Rights</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>J&amp;K: One Year Since Revocation of Special Status</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-virtual-courts-and-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virtual Courts and Way forward</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-tackling-rumours" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Section 505 - Tackling Rumours</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census &ndash; Challenges &amp; Importance</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-army-women-in-commanding-role" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Army: Women in Commanding Role</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-protest-in-a-free-society" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right To Free Speech</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-article-131-special-powers-of-supreme-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 131 - Special Powers of Supreme Court</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Police Commissioner System</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-electoral-politics-need-for-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electoral Politics - Need for Reform</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-population-register" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NPR - National Population Register</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-rajya-sabha-250th-session-takeaways" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rajya Sabha 250<sup>th</sup> Session &ndash; Takeaways</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-election-commission-collegium-system-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission: Collegium System &amp; Appointments</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-to-regulate-the-digital-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regulating News on Digital Platforms</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/violence-against-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Violence Against Women</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/child-s-right-to-affection-of-both-parents" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Family Laws &amp; Custodial Rights</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cji-under-the-rti-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CJI under RTI</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-strengthening-parliamentary-institutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-legislative-impact-assessment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Legislative Impact Assessment</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/jurisdictional-conflict-in-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jurisdictional Conflict in Delhi</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sub-categorisation-of-backward-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sub Categorisation of Backward Classes</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/30-years-of-mandal-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>30 Years of Mandal Commission</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/three-language-formula-and-autonomy-in-language-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Three Language Formula and Autonomy in Language Policy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/efficacy-of-anti-defection-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anti-Defection Law</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/contempt-of-court-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Contempt of Court</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/presidential-form-of-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Presidential Form of Government</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/22nd-law-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Law Commission of India</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reimagining-the-national-commission-for-scheduled-castes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Scheduled Castes</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/police-reforms-in-indian-criminal-justice-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Police Reforms</strong></a></li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/60-days-refresher-programme/day-42'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'India Pulls Out of Kavkaz 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has withdrawn its participation from <strong>Kavkaz 2020,</strong> a multinational tri-services exercise in Russia, citing <strong>Covid-19</strong> as the official reason.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598867577_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598867577_image3.png" 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>Other Possible Reasons for Withdrawal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Participation of Chinese, Turkish and Pakistani troops.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/galwan-valley-clash" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>standoff</strong></a> at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-crossed-its-1960-s-lac-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong></a> (LAC) with China has been ongoing since May 2020 and several rounds of talks for disengagement have failed to end the impasse.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, in June 2020, Indian and Chinese military contingents marched at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/victory-day-parade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Victory Day Parade</strong></a> at Red Square in Moscow to mark the 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/victory-day-parade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World War II.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Turkey has been critical of India&rsquo;s policies on Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Participation of Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the exercise which have<strong>&nbsp;been recognised only by Russia and few other countries.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India<strong> does not recognize</strong> these breakaway regions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kavkaz-2020 Exercise:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a strategic<strong> command-post exercise,</strong> and also known as <strong>Caucasus-2020.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> tri-service exercise</strong> is part of a<strong> four-year exercise cycle</strong> of the Russian army. Previous editions of the exercise were held in 2012 and 2016.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2020 it will be conducted in the Astrakhan province of Southern Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Member countries of<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) and Central Asian countries</strong> would be participating.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-Russia Military Diplomacy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s military diplomacy with Russia started in 2003 with the first edition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-indra-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ex Indra</strong></a>, a bilateral Naval exercise. India also participated in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-russia-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exercise TSENTR 2019.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exercise<strong> TSENTR 2019 </strong>is a<strong> part of the Russian Armed Forces' annual training cycle.</strong></li>
<li>It aims at evolving drills of the participating armies and practising them in the fight against the scourge of international terrorism thereby ensuring military security in the strategic Central Asian region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s withdrawal from Kavkaz assumes significance because the Kavkaz was essentially a Russian military exercise and not a Chinese one. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has always viewed its relations with Russia independent of China-Russia ties.</li>
<li>Russia has also responded in a similar fashion. It maintained its commitment of supplying arms to India even during the standoff.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to <strong>deepen its ties with Russia</strong> because Russia is an important balancer for India vis-&agrave;-vis China.</li>
<li>Also, India should seek to reset its relationship with Russia, especially as the defence element is starting to fade as India has started diversifying its defence procurements. Energy and strategic minerals can be other areas of cooperation.</li>
<li><strong>Promoting mutually beneficial trilateral cooperation between Russia, China and India</strong> could contribute towards the reduction of mistrust and suspicion between India and China. In this context, the <strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ric-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RIC trilateral forum</strong></a> must be leveraged.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-decides-to-pull-out-of-kavkaz-2020-military-exercise-on-russia-due-to-chinese-participation/article32475212.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-pulls-out-of-kavkaz-2020'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Consultations',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the 17<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/16th-india-asean-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN-India</strong> </a>Economic Ministers Consultations was held virtually, co-chaired by India and Vietnam.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting was attended by the Trade Ministers of all the 10 <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)</strong></a> countries viz. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598863845_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598863845_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>Related to Covid-19:</strong> The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to take<strong> collective actions in mitigating the economic impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> pandemic.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They also resolved to<strong> ensure macroeconomic and financial stability</strong> and <strong>resilient supply chain connectivity,</strong> particularly the unimpeded flow of essential goods and medicines in the region, in compliance with the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> WTO</strong></a> rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>AIBC&rsquo;s Report:</strong> The report of the <strong>ASEAN India Business Council (AIBC)</strong> was placed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has recommended that the <strong>ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) be reviewed</strong> for mutual benefit.</li>
<li>The review will make the Agreement <strong>modern with contemporary trade facilitative practices, </strong>and<strong> streamline customs and regulatory procedures.</strong></li>
<li><strong>ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC)</strong> was set up in March 2003 as a forum to bring key <strong>private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries on a single platform</strong> for business networking and sharing of ideas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>AITIGA:</strong> Discussions on review of the <strong>ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)</strong> took place.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The AITIGA is a<a href="/summary-of-important-reports/a-note-on-free-trade-agreements-and-their-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Free Trade Agreement (FTA)</strong> </a>among the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India which came into force in January, 2010.</li>
<li>India emphasized on review on AITIGA at the earliest and the need to<strong> strengthen the Rules of Origin</strong> provisions, work towards<strong> removal of non-tariff barriers</strong> and provide <strong>better market access.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rules of Origins provisions of AITIGA specify that the preferential treatment under the agreement will be applicable <strong>only to goods which have wholly or partially originated</strong> in the exporting country.</li>
<li><strong>India </strong>wants strict <strong>rules of origin </strong>to<strong> prevent Chinese goods from flooding the country through ASEAN member countries</strong> that may have lower or no duty levels.</li>
<li>A <strong>nontariff barrier</strong> is a way to restrict <strong>trade</strong> using<strong> trade barriers</strong> in a form other than a <strong>tariff. Nontariff barriers</strong> include quotas, embargoes, sanctions, and levies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has concerns regarding the FTA, given that its FTA with ASEAN is <strong>leading to increased trade deficits</strong> with several ASEAN partners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s trade deficit with the ASEAN rose from around 5 billion USD in 2011 to 21.8 USD billion in 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2003, India and ASEAN signed a<strong> Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation</strong> to establish an ASEAN-India Regional Trade and Investment Area, which would provide a basis for subsequent FTAs covering goods, services and investment.</li>
<li>India dropped out of the <strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong> in November 2019 at<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> ASEAN+3</strong></a> summit, because of increasing trade deficits with partner nations and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> increasing China-India tensions.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently, India participated in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-india-network-of-think-tanks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 6<sup>th</sup> roundtable meeting of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India <strong>highlighted the difficulties</strong> that were hindering strong response to deal with the <strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An immediate review of the agreement and the effective utilisation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement will contribute to the realisation of the<strong> 2020 trade target of 200 billion USD set by India and ASEAN.</strong></li>
<li>Over dependence of India and other countries on China can be decreased by developing a common forum/platform with ASEAN countries. Moreover, better collaboration and partnership with ASEAN is in line with <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Act East Policy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1649703" 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/asean-india-economic-ministers-consultations'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Scholarship Schemes in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a multi-crore scam has been reported in the <strong>post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes (SC)</strong> in Punjab.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central government is planning to bring a <strong>single national scholarship scheme</strong> by merging all the current scholarship schemes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Post Matric Scholarship for SCs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme</strong></a> launched in 2006. It is <strong>implemented</strong> through State government and Union Territory administration.</li>
<li>The Scheme provides<strong> financial assistance to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-classification-of-reserved-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduled Caste</a> (SC) students</strong> studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.</li>
<li>The scholarship is <strong>available for studies in India only</strong> and is paid to the students whose guardians&rsquo; income is below Rs. 2,50,000 per annum .</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Single National Scholarship Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Central government is <strong>contemplating</strong> setting up a <strong>single national scholarship scheme</strong> called <strong>PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI)</strong> for meritorious students which will absorb all the existing scholarship schemes.</li>
<li><strong>Beneficiary:</strong> Students in the Other Backward Class (OBC), SC, Denotified, Nomadic and semi-Nomadic Tribe (DNT) and Economically Backward Caste (EBC) categories will be able to avail the national scholarship.</li>
<li><strong>Implementing Agency:</strong> The <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</strong> has been tasked to implement the Scheme<strong> by conducting a merit test.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Benefits of Single National Scholarship Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will <strong>increase the reach of information</strong> about the govt scholarships.</li>
<li><strong>Boost</strong> the importance of maintaining a <strong>basic curriculum and teaching standards</strong> across the country.</li>
<li>Help improve the <strong>quality and implementation of scholarships.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In case a student misses the deadline of scholarship, he will<strong> not get a second chance</strong> to apply for other scholarships.</li>
<li>The national-level scholarship exam would become an <strong>added burden on students.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Having a separate exam for identifying merit is redundant as already students are appearing for board examinations and entrance examinations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If the existing pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes are done away with, it could end up <strong>hampering the education of students.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The single national scholarship scheme under PM-YASASVI can be beneficial only if it is implemented properly. Without correct implementation, it can become a hindrance rather than a help for students in India.</li>
<li>The government should leverage the experience of scholarship provider platforms while developing this new scholarship scheme as they have a first-hand experience of supporting students.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-bajwa-demands-time-bound-probe-by-high-court-judge-6574223/" 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/scholarship-schemes-in-india'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Shetrunji and Bhadar Dams of Gujarat',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to heavy rains, Shetrunji and Bhadar dams, the<strong> two largest reservoirs</strong> in the Saurashtra<strong> region (Gujarat),</strong> have overflowed simultaneously.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This monsoon, rain is centred over south Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch regions while north and central Gujarat regions are highly rain-deficient.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Saurashtra region</strong> has received <strong>more than 100% of its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/imd-forecasts-surplus-rains" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average rainfall</a></strong> this year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, in this peninsular region, almost <strong>every fourth monsoon remains a deficient monsoon.</strong></li>
<li>Even within 11 districts of Saurashtra, <strong>spatial distribution of rainfall remains skewed,</strong> as evidenced by 12 different years in which either only Bhadar or Shetrunji dam overflowed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shetrunji and Bhadar Dam:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shetrunji </strong>is located in <strong>Bhavnagar</strong> district and has a designed gross storage capacity of 308.68 million cubic metre (mcm), the <strong>largest</strong> in Saurashtra region.</li>
<li><strong>Bhadar</strong> is located in <strong>Rajkot district</strong> and has a gross storage capacity of 188.14 mcm, the<strong> second largest</strong> in the Saurashtra region.</li>
<li>The<strong> two dams are across Shetrunji and Bhadar rivers.</strong> These rivers flow in opposite directions and the two dams have different catchment areas. Geographical location of these dams in Saurashtra makes them a good indicator of rainfall distribution in the region.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gujarat-madhya-pradesh-tussle-over-the-narmada" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sardar Sarovar Dam</strong></a>, also called Narmada Dam, is the largest reservoir in Gujarat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shetrunji River:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It originates from the <strong>Amreli district.</strong> It is an <strong>east flowing river</strong> and outfalls into the Gulf of Khambhat.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Safara, Shel, Khari, Talaji, Stali, Thebu, Gagadia, Rajwal and Kharo.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bhadar River:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It originates from <strong>Jasdan taluka of Rajkot.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Gondali, Chapparwadi, Phopal, Utawali, Moj, Venu, Vasavadi, Surwa and Galolia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598861848_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598861848_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="494" height="387" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/first-time-in-5-years-shetrunji-bhadar-dams-overflow-simultaneously-6576799/#:~:text=08%2F1x1.png-,Following%20good%20rainfall%20in%20their%20catchment%20areas%2C%20Sehtrunji%20dam%20overflowed,across%20Shetrunji%20and%20Bhadar%20rivers." 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/shetrunji-and-bhadar-dams-of-gujarat'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Sub Categorisation of Backward Classes',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/sc-st-sub-category-reservation-supreme-court-6574052/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A Case For Equality</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 29<sup>th</sup> of August 2020. It analyses the Supreme Court Judgement on sub categorisation of the SCs/STs and different dimensions related to it.</p>
</div>
<p>A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has recently ruled that states can sub-classify the list of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs)</strong></a>, to provide preferential treatment to the especially deprived among them &ldquo;to achieve the real purpose of reservation&rdquo;.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court of India has thus reopened the legal debate on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-classification-of-reserved-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservations</strong></a>, or what is commonly referred to as &ldquo;quota within quota&rdquo; for SCs and STs. However, the court has referred the issue to a larger Bench to decide.</p>
<h3>What was the case?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The present case before The Supreme Court of India <strong>was an appeal against the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had struck down a state law empowering the government to sub-classify SC/STs for grant of quotas.</strong></li>
<li>The High Court judgment had struck down a circular of the Punjab government, which provided that out of the seats reserved for SCs, 50 percent would be offered to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs.</li>
<li>The High Court in this judgement had relied on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-classification-of-reserved-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chinnaiah judgment</strong></a> for concluding so.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Meaning of Sub-Categorisation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes are made up of several castes which are <strong>not homogenous.</strong></li>
<li>It is argued that <strong>some of the castes among the category remain grossly under-represented</strong> despite reservation in comparison to other Scheduled Castes.</li>
<li>This inequality within the Scheduled Castes is underlined in several reports, and special quotas have been framed to address it.</li>
<li>The <strong>&ldquo;creamy layer&rdquo;</strong> concept puts an income ceiling on those eligible for reservation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While this concept applies to Other Backward Castes (OBCs), it was applied to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/creamy-layer-for-sc-s-st-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>promotions of Scheduled Castes</strong></a> for the first time in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The central government has sought a review of the 2018 verdict and the case is currently pending.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why was the issue referred to a larger bench?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was because in 2004 another five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India in <strong>EV Chinnaiah judgement</strong> had ruled that state governments had no power to create sub-categories of SCs for the purpose of reservation.</li>
<li>Since <strong>a Bench of equal strength cannot overrule a previous decision, the court referred it to a larger Bench to settle the law.</strong></li>
<li>The larger Bench, whenever it is set up by the Chief Justice of India, will reconsider the two judgements.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Arguments For Sub-categorisation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As India is a welfare state, its obligation is to undertake the emancipation of the deprived section of the community and<strong> eradicate inequalities.</strong></li>
<li>When the reservation creates inequalities within the reserved castes itself, it is required to be taken care of by the State making sub-classification and adopting a <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-512#:~:text=The%20basic%20principle%20of%20distributive,share%20of%20the%20rewards%2Fcosts." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>distributive justice</strong> </a>method so that State resources do not concentrate in few hands and equal justice to all is provided.</li>
<li><strong>Justice involves redistribution and reallocation of resources and opportunities and equitable access to all public and social goods</strong> to fulfil the very purpose of the constitutional mandate of equal justice to all.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reservation was <strong>not contemplated for all the time by the framers of the Constitution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If sub-classification is denied, it <strong>would defeat the right to equality by treating unequal as equal.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are unequals within the list of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and socially and educationally backward classes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Various reports indicate that <strong>Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes do not constitute a homogenous group.</strong></li>
<li>The Supreme Court has also stated that States can sub-classify SC and ST in the Central List <strong>to provide preferential treatment to the &ldquo;weakest out of the weak&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Arguments Against Sub-categorisation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The argument is that the test or requirement of social and educational backwardness cannot be applied to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The special treatment is given to the SCs <strong>due to untouchability with which they suffer since ages.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the N M Thomas V/S State Of Kerala case in 1976, the Supreme Court itself has admitted that <strong>Scheduled Castes are not castes but they are a class</strong> and hence should be treated as a class.</li>
<li>Sub categorisation will be <strong>used to appease one vote-bank or the other among the SC/ST and thus a cause of social justice would end being politicised.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Identification of SC/ST</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Constitution, while providing for special treatment of SCs and STs to achieve equality, <strong>does not specify the castes and tribes that are to be called Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.</strong></li>
<li>This power is left to the central executive, <strong>The President, under Article 341.</strong></li>
<li>As per Article 341, those castes notified by the President are called SCs and STs.</li>
<li>A caste notified as SC in one state may not be a SC in another state.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court of India in the landmark <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mandal case</strong></a> had held that there was no constitutional bar on a state classifying SEBCs as backward and more backward. The constitutional goal of social transformation cannot be achieved without taking into account changing social realities.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598702065_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598702065_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="444" height="347" /></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: #f0ffe8;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Reservation in India is a system of affirmative action that provides representation for historically and currently disadvantaged groups in Indian society.&rdquo; Discuss the statement in the light of the recent judgement of the Supreme Court on sub categorisation of SC and ST.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mYBNPbLrv9w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/jee-neet-exam-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Testing Times&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on August 28<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sub-categorisation-of-backward-classes'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Identification of Minorities',
			'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</strong> </a>has sought the Central government's response on a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/public-interest-litigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Interest Litigation (PIL)</strong> </a>challenging provisions of the <strong>National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Petitioner&rsquo;s Argument:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NCMEI Act<strong> identifies minorities at the national level</strong> and not at the State level, thereby <strong>depriving deserving minorities</strong> in the states of<strong> their Constitutional rights.</strong></li>
<li>The Centre&rsquo;s notification (under section 2(f) of NCMEI Act) which identifies Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains as minorities at the national level is against the judgement of <strong><em>TMA Pai Foundation case, 2002.</em></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These minorities at national level have a significant population in many states. E.g. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Muslims are in majority</strong> in Lakshadweep (96.58%) &amp; Kashmir (96%).</li>
<li><strong>Christians are in majority</strong> in Nagaland (88.10%), Mizoram (87.16%) and Meghalaya (74.59%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court in the <strong>TMA Pai Foundation case</strong>&nbsp;held that the unit of determining religious and linguistic minority would be 'State'. It also authorised the state government to regulate minority educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Rational basis of declaring certain religions as minority by the Central government as they have less population in the States is contravened when benefits of schemes for minorities are acquired by those religious minorities in states where they are in majority and those religious communities who are actually minorities are not given equal status.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Those who follow<strong> Hinduism, Judaism and Bahaism</strong> are minorities in regions like Ladakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur.</li>
<li>However, they cannot establish &amp; administer educational institutions of their choice because of non-identification of 'minority' at the State level, thus jeopardising their basic rights guaranteed under <strong>Article 29 and 30.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changes Demanded:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Direct and declare that Section 2(f) of the NCMEI Act 2004 is arbitrary, irrational and violative of the Constitution and hence void.</li>
<li>Direct the Centre to lay down guidelines for identification of minority at State level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional and Legal Provisions Related to Minorities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term<strong> "Minority"</strong> is <strong>not defined in the Indian Constitution.</strong> However, the Constitution recognises <strong>religious and linguistic minorities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 29:</strong> It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the same.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It grants protection to <strong>both religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities.</strong></li>
<li>However, the Supreme Court held that the scope of this article is not necessarily restricted to minorities only, as use of the word <strong>&lsquo;section of citizens&rsquo;</strong> in the Article includes <strong>minorities as well as the majority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 30:</strong> All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The protection under <strong>Article 30 is confined only to minorities</strong> (religious or linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as under Article 29).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 350-B:</strong> Originally, the Constitution of India did not make any provision with respect to the <strong>Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.</strong> However, the <strong>7<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956</strong> inserted Article 350-B in the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President of India.</li>
<li>It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gives the <strong>minority status to the educational institutions on the basis of six religious communities notified</strong> by the government under the NCMEI Act, 2004-- Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-issues-notice-to-govt-on-plea-to-identify-minorities-at-state-level-6574171/" 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/identification-of-minorities'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'National Mission for Financial Inclusion',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) - National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completed its six years of successful implementation.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While launching the programme on 28<sup>th</sup> August 2014, the Prime Minister had described the occasion as a festival to celebrate the liberation of the poor from a vicious cycle of poverty.</li>
<li>A key initiative towards commitment of financial inclusion is the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/financial-inclusion-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial inclusion</strong></a> may be defined as the process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low-income groups at an affordable cost.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Financial Inclusion is a national priority of the Government as it is an enabler for inclusive growth.</li>
<li>It is important as it provides an avenue to the poor for bringing their savings into the formal financial system, an avenue to remit money to their families in villages besides taking them out of the clutches of the usurious money lenders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Achievements under PMJDY:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>PMJDY Accounts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total Number of PMJDY Accounts (as on 19<sup>th</sup> August 2020): 40.35 Crore; Rural PMJDY accounts: 63.6%, Women PMJDY accounts: 55.2%</li>
<li>During the first year of the scheme 17.90 crore PMJDY accounts were opened.</li>
<li>Continuous increase in no of accounts under PMJDY.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Operative PMJDY Accounts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per extant RBI guidelines, a PMJDY account is treated as inoperative if there are no customer induced transactions in the account for <strong>over a period of two years.</strong></li>
<li>Out of total 40.35 crore PMJDY accounts, 34.81 crore (86.3%) are operative.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deposits under PMJDY accounts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total deposit balances under PMJDY Accounts stand at Rs. 1.31 lakh crore.</li>
<li>Deposits have increased about 5.7 times with increase in accounts 2.3 times between 2015 to 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rupay Card issued to PMJDY account holders:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total RuPay cards issued to PMJDY account holders: 29.75 Crore</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jan Dhan Darshak App:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A mobile application was launched to provide a citizen centric platform for locating banking touchpoints such as bank branches, ATMs, Bank Mitras, Post Offices, etc.</li>
<li>This app is also being used for identifying villages which are not served by banking touchpoints within 5 km. The efforts have resulted in a significant decrease in the number of such villages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) for PMJDY women beneficiaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An amount of Rs. 500/- per month for three months (April&rsquo; 20 to June&rsquo; 20), was credited to the accounts of women account holders under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Towards ensuring smooth DBT transactions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As informed by banks, about 8 crore PMJDY account holders receive <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-advisory-on-direct-benefit-transfer#:~:text=Acknowledging%20the%20problems%20in%20the,to%20DBT%20based%20cash%20transfers." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)</strong></a> from the Government under various schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important approach adopted in PMJDY based on past experience:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Extension of PMJDY with New features:</strong> From 28<sup>th</sup> August 2018, the Government extended PMJDY with some modifications:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Focus shifted from &lsquo;Every Household&rsquo; to Every Unbanked Adult&rsquo;</strong></li>
<li><strong>RuPay Card Insurance:</strong> Free accidental insurance cover on RuPay cards increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh for PMJDY accounts opened after 28.8.2018.</li>
<li><strong>Enhancement in overdraft facilities:</strong> OD limit doubled from Rs 5,000/- to Rs 10,000/-; OD upto Rs 2,000/- (without conditions). Increase in upper age limit for OD from 60 to 65 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is <strong>National Mission for Financial Inclusion</strong> to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/Savings &amp; Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ensure access of financial products &amp; services at an affordable cost.</li>
<li>Use of technology to lower cost &amp; widen reach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Basic tenets of the scheme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Banking the unbanked</strong> - Opening of basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) account with minimal paperwork, relaxed KYC, e-KYC, account opening in camp mode, zero balance &amp; zero charges</li>
<li><strong>Securing the unsecured -</strong> Issuance of Indigenous Debit cards for cash withdrawals &amp; payments at merchant locations, with free accident insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakh</li>
<li><strong>Funding the unfunded -</strong> Other financial products like micro-insurance, overdraft for consumption, micro-pension &amp; micro-credit</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598696311_PMJDY1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598696311_PMJDY1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scheme was launched based upon the following 6 pillars: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Universal access to banking services &ndash;</strong> Branch and Banking Correspondents</li>
<li><strong>Basic savings bank accounts with overdraft facility</strong> of Rs. 10,000/- to every household.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Literacy Program&ndash;</strong> Promoting savings, use of ATMs, getting ready for credit, availing insurance and pensions, using basic mobile phones for banking.</li>
<li><strong>Creation of Credit Guarantee Fund &ndash;</strong> To provide banks some guarantee against defaults.</li>
<li><strong>Insurance &ndash;</strong> Accident cover up to Rs. 1,00,000 and life cover of Rs. 30,000 on account opened between 15 Aug 2014 to 31 January 2015.</li>
<li><strong>Pension Scheme for Unorganized sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There must be an endeavour to ensure coverage of PMJDY account holders under micro insurance schemes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Eligible PMJDY accountholders will be sought to be covered under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana <strong>(PMJJBY)</strong> and <strong>Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Promotion of digital payments including RuPay debit card usage amongst PMJDY account holders through creation of acceptance infrastructure across India can be taken into account.</li>
<li>Improving the access of PMJDY account holders to Micro-credit and micro-investment such as Flexi-<strong>recurring deposit etc.</strong></li>
<li>Adding more focus on financial literacy and digital literacy for the common man.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1649091#:~:text=Pradhan%20Mantri%20Jan%2DDhan%20Yojana,six%20years%20of%20successful%20implementation&amp;text=Ministry%20of%20Finance%20is%20committed,hitherto%20socio%2Deconomically%20neglected%20classes." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source PIB</a></strong></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-financial-inclusion'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Temperature Inversion',
			'catname' => 'Paper 1',
			'desc' => '<h3>Meaning</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under normal conditions, temperature usually decreases with increase in altitude in the troposphere at a rate of 1 degree for every 165 metres. This is called <strong>normal lapse rate.&nbsp;</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But on some occasions, the situations get reversed and temperature starts increasing with height rather than decreasing. This is called <strong>temperature inversion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Temperature inversion:</strong> It is a reversal of the normal behavior of temperature in the troposphere. Under this meteorological phenomenon a layer of warm air lies over the cold air layer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is caused in stac atmospheric conditions while some times, it occurs due to <strong>horizontal or vertical movement of air.</strong></li>
<li>Temperature inversion is usually of short duration but quite common nonetheless.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694790_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694790_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="326" /></a></p>
<h3>Favourable Conditions for Temperature Inversion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Long winter nights:</strong> Loss of heat by terrestrial radiation from the ground surface during night may exceed the amount of incoming solar radiation.</li>
<li><strong>Cloudless and clear sky</strong>: Loss of heat through terrestrial radiation proceeds more rapidly without any obstruction.</li>
<li><strong>Dry air near the ground surface:</strong> It limits the absorption of the radiated heat from the Earth&rsquo;s surface.</li>
<li><strong>Slow movement of air:</strong> It results in no transfer or mixing of heat in the lower layers of the atmosphere.</li>
<li><strong>Snow covered ground surface:</strong> It results in maximum loss of heat through reflection of incoming solar radiation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Types of Temperature Inversion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Temperature inversion occurs in several conditions ranging from ground surface to great heights. Thus there are several kinds of temperature inversions. </li>
<li>The following are classified on the basis of relative heights from the earth&rsquo;s surface at which it occurs and the type of air circulation:</li>
<li><strong>Non-Advectional</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Radiation Inversion (Surface Temperature Inversion)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Surface temperature inversion develops when air is cooled by contact with a colder surface until it becomes cooler than the overlying atmosphere; this occurs most often on clear nights, when the ground cools off rapidly by radiation. If the temperature of surface air drops below its dew point, fog may result. </li>
<li>It is very common in the higher latitudes. In lower and middle latitudes, it occurs during cold nights and gets destroyed during day time.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694827_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694827_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="402" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subsidence Inversion (Upper Surface Temperature Inversion)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When a widespread layer of air descends, it is compressed and heated by the resulting increase in atmospheric pressure, and as a result the lapse rate of temperature is reduced.</li>
<li>The air at higher altitudes becomes warmer than at lower altitudes, producing a temperature inversion. This type of temperature inversion is called subsidence inversion.</li>
<li>It is very common over the northern continents in winter (dry atmosphere) and over the subtropical oceans; these regions generally have subsiding air because they are located under large high-pressure centers.</li>
<li>It is also called upper surface temperature inversion because it takes place in the upper parts of the atmosphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694848_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694848_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="450" height="343" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Advectional</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Valley inversion in intermontane valley</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In high mountains or deep valleys, sometimes, the temperature of the lower layers of air increases instead of decreasing with elevation along a sloping surface.</li>
<li>Here, the surface radiates heat back to space rapidly and cools down at a faster rate than the upper layers. As a result the lower cold layers get condensed and become heavy.</li>
<li>The sloping surface underneath makes them move towards the bottom where the cold layer settles down as a zone of low temperature while the upper layers are relatively warmer.</li>
<li>This condition, opposite to normal vertical distribution of temperature, is known as Temperature Inversion.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694867_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694867_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="400" height="200" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Frontal or Cyclonic inversion</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When the warm and cold fronts meet, then the warm front rises up and being heavier the cold front sinks down. It results in formation of Frontal Inversion.</li>
<li>It has considerable slope, whereas other inversions are nearly horizontal. It often takes place in the temperate zone and causes cyclonic conditions which result in the precipitation in different forms.</li>
<li>A frontal inversion is unstable and is destroyed as the weather changes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694888_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694888_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="432" /></a></p>
<h3>Effect</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Temperature inversion determines the precipitation, forms of clouds, and also causes frost due to condensation of warm air due to its cooling.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dust particles hanging in the air:</strong> Due to inversion of temperature, air pollutants such as dust particles and smoke do not disperse on the surface.</li>
<li><strong>Stops the movement of air:</strong> It causes the stability of the atmosphere that stops the downward and upward movement of air.</li>
<li><strong>Less rainfall:</strong> Convection clouds can not move high upwards so there is less rainfall and no showers. So, it causes a problem for agricultural productivity.</li>
<li><strong>Lower visibility:</strong> Fog is formed due to the situation of warm air above and cold air below, and hence visibility is reduced which causes disturbance in transportation.</li>
<li><strong>Thunderstorms and tornadoes:</strong> Intense thunderstorms and tornadoes are also associated with inversion of temperature because of the intense energy that is released after an inversion blocks an area&rsquo;s normal convention patterns.</li>
<li>Diurnal variations in temperature tend to be very <strong>small.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/temperature-inversion'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Mahatma Ayyankali',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to<strong> social reformer Mahatma Ayyankali</strong> on his 157<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598689834_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598689834_image2.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="287" height="175" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ayyankali (1863-1914),</strong> born in <strong>Kerala,</strong> was a<strong> leader of the lower castes and Dalits.</strong> With his efforts, Dalits got the freedom to walk on public roads, and Dalit children were allowed to join schools.</li>
<li>He formed <strong>Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS)</strong> to work for low castes.</li>
<li><strong>Efforts to organise the &ldquo;depressed classes&rdquo;</strong> and particularly the untouchable castes predated the nationalist movement, having begun in the<strong> second half of the nineteenth century.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This was an initiative taken from both ends of the caste spectrum &ndash; by upper caste progressive reformers as well as by members of the lower castes such as <strong>Mahatma Jotiba Phule </strong>and<strong> Babasaheb <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-political-thinker-br-ambedkar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ambedkar</a></strong> in<strong> western India, Ayyankali, Sri Narayana Guru, Iyothee Das </strong>and<strong> Periyar (E.V. Ramaswamy Naickar) </strong>in the<strong> South.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional and Legal Provisions Against Discrimination of Dalits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Social Safeguards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 17</strong> of the constitution abolishes the practice of<strong> &ldquo;untouchability&rdquo;</strong> and punishes the enforcement of any disability arising out of the practice.</li>
<li><strong>Article 21</strong> guarantees the <strong>right to life and liberty.</strong> The Supreme Court has interpreted this right to include the right to be free from degrading and inhuman treatment, the right to integrity and dignity of the person, and the right to speedy justice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When read with <strong>Article 39A</strong> on equal justice and free legal aid, Article 21 also encompasses the right to legal aid for those faced with imprisonment and those too poor to afford counsel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 23</strong> prohibits <strong>traffic in human beings</strong> and other similar forms of forced labor.</li>
<li><strong>Article 24</strong> provides that <strong>no child under the age of fourteen</strong> shall work in any factory or mine or engage in any<strong> hazardous employment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Safeguards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 15(4)</strong> empowers the state to make any special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, or for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.</li>
<li><strong>Through Article 16(4),</strong> the state is empowered to make &ldquo;any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political Safeguards: Article 330</strong> provides reservations for seats for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the Lok Sabha (the House of the People), while <strong>Article 332</strong> provides for reservations in the state legislative assemblies.</li>
<li><strong>Article 338</strong> establishes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reimagining-the-national-commission-for-scheduled-castes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Scheduled Castes.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Related Directive Principles of State Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 43</strong> calls on the state to secure to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, a living wage and conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life.</li>
<li><strong>Article 45</strong> charges that the state shall endeavor to provide free and compulsory education for all children until they reach the age of six.</li>
<li><strong>Article 46</strong> states that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and forms of exploitation</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-upholds-changes-to-sc-st-atrocities-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) amendment Act, 2018.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1649195" 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/mahatma-ayyankali'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Protests Against Farm Ordinances',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Punjab Assembly passed a resolution</strong> and rejected the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agricultural-sector-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centre&rsquo;s recent farm ordinances</strong> </a>and the <strong>proposed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electricity-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020.</a></strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reforms Brought by Centre:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ordinances include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Farmers&rsquo; Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020</li>
<li>Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020</li>
<li>Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These ordinances were a part of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-stimulus-iii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> third tranche of the economic package</strong> </a>announced under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong> </a>to counter <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>They are expected to <strong>allow free movement of agricultural produce between states</strong> and let the <strong>farmers decide to whom they want to sell their crops.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 centralizes the power sector</strong> through establishment of <strong>Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recognition of franchisees and sub- licensees under the Bill might open the <strong>sector to private players.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Source of Income for State Governments:</strong> One of the Ordinance prohibits state governments from levying any market fee, cess or levy on farmers, traders, and electronic trading platforms for any trade under the Ordinance. State governments would lose incomes from Agricultural Produce Market Committee-controlled trading.</li>
<li><strong>Usurping State Powers:</strong> These ordinances are targeted at usurping state powers, and overriding state laws and market committees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Punjab&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Entry 14 of List II of the Constitution comprises <strong>agriculture as the subject of the states.</strong> Therefore the three ordinances passed by the Centre are against the Constitution of India.</li>
<li>These ordinances are a direct encroachment upon the functions of the states and against the spirit of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cooperative federalism</strong></a> enshrined in the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cooperative federalism</strong> is defined as administrative cooperation between the Centre &amp; states and among states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Distribution of Legislative Subjects</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 246</strong> adopts a <strong>threefold distribution of legislative power</strong> between the Union and the states.</li>
<li>The subject-wise distribution of this power is given in the three lists of the <strong>Seventh Schedule</strong> of the constitution: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>List-I- the <strong>Union List</strong></li>
<li>List-II- the <strong>State List</strong></li>
<li>List-III- the <strong>Concurrent List</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Union List: Parliament has exclusive powers</strong> to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Union List. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the <strong>matters of national importance</strong> and the matters which require uniformity of legislation nationwide.</li>
<li>This list includes <strong>98 subjects</strong> like defence, banking, foreign affairs, currency, atomic energy, insurance, communication, inter-state trade and commerce, census, audit and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State List:</strong> The<strong> state legislature</strong> has<strong> exclusive powers</strong> (not during emergency) to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the <strong>matters of regional and local importance</strong> and the matters which permit diversity of interest.</li>
<li>This list includes<strong> 59 subjects</strong> like public order, police, public health and sanitation, agriculture, prisons, local government, fisheries, markets, theaters, gambling and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concurrent List:</strong> Both, the <strong>Parliament and state legislature</strong> can make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the <strong>matters on which uniformity of legislation</strong> throughout the country is <strong>desirable but not essential.</strong></li>
<li>This list has at present 52 subjects like criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, marriage and divorce, population control and family planning, electricity, labour welfare,economic and social planning, drugs, newspapers, books and printing press, and others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Features:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The power to make laws with respect to<strong> residuary subjects</strong> i.e. the matters which are not enumerated in any of the three lists, is vested in the Parliament.</li>
<li>Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any part of the territory of India not included in a state even though that matter is one which is enumerated in the State List. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This provision is related to the Union Territories or the Acquired Territories (if any).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/punjab-house-passes-resolution-against-centres-agri-ordinances/article32469442.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/protests-against-farm-ordinances'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'SC Decision on UGC Guidelines on Conduct of Examinations',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court ruled that the <strong>states are empowered</strong> under the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-disaster-management-authority-ndma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Disaster </strong><strong>Management Act, 2005</strong></a> <strong>(DM Act)</strong> to override <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ugc-on-university-exams" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>University Grants Commission (UGC) exam guidelines</strong> </a>in order to protect human lives amid the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, it held that universities and other institutions of higher education <strong>will have to conduct the final-year exams </strong>and<strong> cannot promote students</strong> on the basis of internal assessment or other criteria.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The UGC had directed that final year examinations of Universities must be conducted by September-end in online or offline mode. However, the <strong>Maharashtra and Delhi governments employed the DM Act, 2005</strong> to cancel the examinations due to Covid-19 to which<strong> the UGC objected.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of a disaster, the priority of all authorities under the <strong>DM Act</strong> is to immediately combat the disaster and contain it to<strong> save human life.</strong> Saving the life of human beings is given paramount importance.</li>
<li>However, the powers of the States under the DM Act<strong> do not extend to promoting students</strong> on the sole basis of their internal assessment without taking exams.</li>
<li>In future, if any State found it impossible to conduct the exams by the deadline given by UGC and wanted to postpone them, it could<strong> apply to the UGC,</strong> which would <strong>consider the request and decide</strong> at the earliest.</li>
<li>Also, the States and universities<strong> cannot dismiss UGC guidelines</strong> as being merely advisory. They were necessary for the determination of standards in institutions of higher education and were<strong> obligatory for universities.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> UGC (Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of the Master&rsquo;s Degree through Formal Education) Regulations, 2003,</strong> categorically requires universities to adopt the guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The court also rejected the argument that compelling attendance by holding physical examination is a<strong> violation of the &lsquo;Right to Life&rsquo; under Article 21.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It pointed out that the revised guidelines take into consideration the fact that the number of Covid cases are rising.</li>
<li>They were based on the recommendations of the <strong>R.C. Kuhad Expert Committee.</strong> They provided three modes of examination - pen and paper, online and blended (both physical and online). A &ldquo;special chance&rdquo; was also given to students unable to take the exams.</li>
<li>The R.C. Kuhad Expert Committee recommended that <strong>exams should be held for Terminal Semester Students</strong> while the <strong>Intermediate Semester Students should be graded based on internal assessment</strong> of the present and previous semester. It also suggested the <strong>constitution of a Covid-19 cell in every university.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>University Grants Commission (UGC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It came into existence on 28<sup>th</sup> December, 1953 but became a <strong>statutory organization</strong> of the Government of India by the <strong>UGC Act, 1956,</strong> under the<strong> Ministry of Education.</strong></li>
<li>The UGC`s mandate includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Promoting and<strong> coordinating</strong> university education.</li>
<li>Determining and maintaining <strong>standards of teaching, examination and research</strong> in universities.</li>
<li>Framing <strong>regulations</strong> on minimum standards of education.</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring</strong> developments in the field of collegiate and university education; <strong>disbursing grants</strong> to the universities and colleges.</li>
<li>Serving as a <strong>vital link</strong> between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.</li>
<li><strong>Advising</strong> the Central and State governments on the measures necessary for improvement of university.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The performance in examinations contributes to <strong>merit, lifelong credibility, wider global acceptability and better future prospects</strong> to the student. However, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-internet-access-and-digital-literacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital divide</strong></a> that exists in the country must be taken into account while going for online conduct of examinations.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Education must proactively intervene</strong> in the appointments of final year students who have not been able to appear for the examination and come out with <strong>policies to defer the requirement of degree certificates for job appointments.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/states-and-universities-cannot-promote-students-without-holding-final-year-exams-by-sept-30-supreme-court/article32462969.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Notification of Rules for J&K',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified<strong> Rules of Transaction of Business for the Government of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The rules have been notified under the <strong>Section 55</strong> of the <a href="/blog/implications-of-j&amp;k-reorganisation-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to Section 55 of the act &ldquo;the <strong>Lieutenant Governor (LG)</strong> shall make rules on the advice of the Council of Ministers<strong> for the allocation of business to the Ministers;</strong> and for the more convenient <strong>transaction of business with the Ministers</strong> including the procedure to be adopted in case of a<strong> difference of opinion</strong> between the LG and the Council of Ministers or a Minister.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The rules provide details of<strong> work allocation, distribution of the business among the departments,</strong> their powers, executive powers of LG etc. in J&amp;K.</li>
<li>As per the rules, there will be <strong>39 departments</strong> in the J&amp;K such as school education, agriculture, higher education, horticulture, election, general administration, home, mining, power, Public Works Department, tribal affairs and transport.</li>
<li><strong>Police, Public order, All India Services and Anti-corruption</strong> will fall under the executive functions of the <strong>LG.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This implies that the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers will have no say in their functioning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Proposals or matters which affect or are likely to affect the<strong> peace and tranquility of the UT</strong> or the <strong>interest of any minority community, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes</strong> shall essentially be submitted to the LG through the Chief Secretary, under intimation to the Chief Minister,<strong> before issuing any orders.</strong></li>
<li>Any matter, which is likely to bring the government of the Union Territory into a <strong>controversy with the Centre or a State government,</strong> shall, as soon as possible, be brought to the notice of the LG and the Chief Minister through the Chief Secretary.</li>
<li>All important <strong>communications received from the Centre</strong> shall, as soon as possible, be submitted to the Chief Secretary, the Minister in charge, the Chief Minister and the LG for information.</li>
<li>In case of <strong>difference of opinion between the LG and a Minister</strong> when no agreement could be reached even after a<strong> month,</strong> the <strong>decision of the LG</strong> shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Council of Ministers.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre on 5<sup>th</sup> August 2019<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> scrapped provisions of Article 370</strong> </a>through the <strong>Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019.</strong></li>
<li>A separate Bill - the <strong>Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 -</strong> was introduced to <strong>bifurcate the State into two separate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uts-j-k-and-ladakh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">union territories of Jammu and Kashmir</a> (with legislature), and Ladakh (without legislature).</strong></li>
<li>The move created a controversy with many civil groups demanding restoration of the special status of J&amp;K. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the abrogation.</li>
<li>Following the move, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-s-new-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pakistan released a new political map</strong></a> that includes all of Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Ladakh, Sir Creek and Junagadh.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-issue-raised-at-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China called India&rsquo;s step &ldquo;illegal and invalid&rdquo;</strong> </a>and raised the issue at the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1#:~:text=Its%20primary%20responsibility%20is%20to,China%20and%20the%20United%20Kingdom." target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Security Council</a> (UNSC)</strong> in New York (USA).</li>
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-refuses-to-restore-4g-services-in-j-k" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>special committee</strong> </a><strong>set up by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court of India</a></strong> recommended <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restoration-of-4g-internet-in-j-k" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>restoration of 4G internet services</strong> </a>on a trial basis in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, which was suspended to avoid violence in the state after the abrogation of Article 370.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ministry-of-home-affairs-notifies-new-rules-for-administration-in-jk/article32466936.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Taliban Delegation in Pakistan',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a<strong> Taliban delegation visited Pakistan</strong> to discuss the way forward in the Afghan peace process.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Taliban delegation was led by their political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pakistan Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It had played a facilitating role on the Afghan issue, which led to a peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban.</li>
<li>The next step it seeks is intra-Afghan peace dialogue, to which Afghanistan has also agreed.</li>
<li>It has reiterated its commitment to further deepen the ties with Afghanistan and enhance cooperation in all fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Taliban visited Pakistan in the backdrop of stalled intra-Afghan peace dialogue over the issue of <strong>prisoners release.</strong></li>
<li>The Taliban also want to speed up the intra-Afghan peace dialogue.</li>
<li>Earlier, to resolve the issue the Afghanistan government had convened <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/loya-jirga-grand-assembly-of-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Loya Jirga (grand assembly)</strong></a>, which also approved the release of prisoners and further the peace process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-taliban-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> USA signed a deal with the Taliban</strong></a> that paved the way towards a full withdrawal of USA troops from Afghanistan and also represent a step towards ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The peace deal was expected to <strong>kick-off two processes- a phased withdrawal of US troops </strong>and<strong> an &lsquo;intra-Afghan&rsquo; dialogue.</strong></li>
<li>The deal is a fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for the Afghanistan peace process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Interests in Afghanistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indias-role-in-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> major stake</strong></a> in the stability of Afghanistan. India has invested considerable resources in Afghanistan's development. <strong>E.g.</strong> the <strong>Afghan Parliament, the Zaranj-Delaram Highway,</strong> Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam <strong>(Salma Dam)</strong> among others.</li>
<li>India favours the continuation of the current Afghanistan government in power, which it considers a strategic asset vis-&agrave;-vis Pakistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An increased political and military role for the Taliban and the expansion of its territorial control should be of great concern to India since the Taliban is widely believed to be a prot&eacute;g&eacute; of Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Afghanistan is the <strong>gateway to Central Asia.</strong></li>
<li>Withdrawal of US troops could result in the breeding of the fertile ground for various anti-India terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598684492_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598684492_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="395" height="297" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India should support any genuine peace process in Afghanistan. However, the peace process in Afghanistan appears to be <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-taliban-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>one-sided and pushed by the U.S.A. and Pakistan.</strong></a></li>
<li>India should not recognise or publicly engage the Taliban until it recognises the Afghanistan government.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/taliban-delegation-in-pakistan-for-afghanistan-peace-process/article32432161.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/taliban-delegation-in-pakistan'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'UAE-Israel Peace Treaty & India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/narendra-modi-arab-gulf-countries-middle-east-relations-c-raja-mohan-6558876/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;India&rsquo;s geopolitical interests are in close alignment with moderate Arab centre&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in the Indian Express on 18th of August 2020. It analyses the peace pact between Israel and UAE and the Indian interest therein.</p>
</div>
<p>In a move that significantly impacts geopolitics of the world, <strong>Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that they will normalise diplomatic relations.</strong> In a joint statement released by the US, Israel and the UAE, the leaders of the three countries agreed to &ldquo;the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates&rdquo;.</p>
<p>The agreement is a historic diplomatic breakthrough that <strong>would advance peace in the Middle East region.</strong> This would not just serve the interest of the world but <strong>India too which has a huge stake in the middle east due to its cultural and trade tie-ups.</strong></p>
<h3>UAE-Israel Peace Deal &amp; Its Importance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Israel and the United Arab Emirates just agreed to a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-uae-peace-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>historic deal</strong> </a>to normalize their long-strained relations.</li>
<li>This move is significant because, with the exception of Jordan and Egypt, Israel does not have diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab states owing to its long-standing conflict with Palestinians.</li>
<li>The agreement comes after Israel&rsquo;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to suspend plans to annex parts of the West Bank, one that had been bitterly criticised by these Gulf Arab states, Europe and a few other countries around the world.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Arab-Israel Relation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since<strong> Israeli independence in 1948,</strong> it has fought several <strong>wars with Arab</strong> neighbouring countries.</li>
<li>The persecuted Jews saw Israel as their promised home while Arabs saw it as an occupation.</li>
<li>The Israel Arab conflict is<strong> one of the worst conflicts that has its root in the History, Religion and Geopolitics.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>West Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a landlocked territory in West Asia.</li>
<li>It also contains a significant section of the western dead sea.</li>
<li>It was captured by Jordan after the Arab Israel war in 1948</li>
<li>However, Israel snatched it back during the Six-Day War of 1967 and has occupied it ever since.</li>
<li>At present, there are around 130 formal Israeli settlements along with 26 lakh Palestinians at West Bank.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Impact of the Deal</h3>
<p>The agreement could fast-track the changes that are already underway in the region.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tripolar Contest:</strong> The Saudi bloc (consisting of Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and others) sees its interests being aligned with that of the U.S. and Israel and their support for Palestine, which Arab powers had historically upheld, is dwindling, while Turkey and Iran emerge as the strongest supporters of the Palestinians in the Muslim world.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This tripolar contest is already at work in West Asia. The UAE-Israel thaw could sharpen it further.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Setback to Palestinian Statehood:</strong> Unlike the past two Arab-Israeli peace agreements, Palestinians do not figure prominently in the current one. The Palestinians are understandably upset. They called the UAE&rsquo;s decision &ldquo;treason&rdquo;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, Israel&rsquo;s pledge not to go ahead with the annexation of one-third of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, for the time being, will be cold comfort for the Palestinians.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Further Deeping of Sectoral Divide:</strong> In all of this, a fault line in West Asia is likely to deepen between Sunni Muslim states and Iran, as well as that country&rsquo;s allies in Syria and in Lebanon.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These Sunni states, led by Saudi Arabia and UAE and backed by the United States in collaboration with Israel, are building a buffer against Iran.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: How India Should Respond?</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s geopolitical interests are in <strong>close alignment with stability in West Asia.</strong> Therefore, standing up for the region and opposing the forces of regional destabilisation should be at the very heart of India&rsquo;s foreign policy in the region. In this context, India&rsquo;s West Asia policy should adhere to following four principles.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Acting as a Peace Negotiator:</strong> India should act as a mediator to normalize the relationship between West Asian countries, especially between Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey and Iran.</li>
<li><strong>Opposing Foreign Interventions in the Region:</strong> In the past, those came from the West and Israel. Today, most Arabs see the greatest threat to their security from Turkish and Iranian interventions.</li>
<li><strong>Aiding Arab Economic Integration:</strong> India should extend support to Arab economic integration, intra-Arab political reconciliation and the strengthening of regional institutions.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening Ties With All Major Players in the Region:</strong> India&rsquo;s geopolitical interests are in close alignment with those in the Arab Centre including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman. Thus, India needs to make strong ties with the region.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Interest in West Asia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Geopolitically West Asia occupies an important position in international relations due to its <strong>geographical location and proximity to continents and countries</strong> South Asia, China, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa.</li>
<li>The region is strategically significant due to its <strong>enormous energy resources, trade route links</strong> to different parts of the world.</li>
<li>It is the world's largest oil-producing region accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of crude oil exports and 48% of oil proven reserves.</li>
<li>India has been <strong>heavily dependent on energy supplies</strong> from the region, while Indian expatriates have constituted a substantial share of the regional labour market.</li>
<li><strong>Remittances from the region</strong> constitute a major chunk of total remittances to India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598619653_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598619653_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="512" height="401" /></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: #fffde3;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Analyse how the recent UAE-Israel peace deal will impact the region and India?</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eQgoRLVgcJM" 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.hindustantimes.com/analysis/ndhm-will-radically-transform-health-care/story-IMu0xWNY3uIVdVJvw7HSwO.html#:~:text=Through%20the%20adoption%20of%20digital,affordable%20prices%20as%20well%20as" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;NDHM&thinsp;will radically transform health care&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on August 27<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'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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	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'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) 2 => [
		'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>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f0f3ff;">
<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>
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	(int) 3 => [
		'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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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/prelims/prelims-quick-revision-course-english'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'UN Principles for People with Disabilities',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations (UN)</strong> </a>has released its <strong>first-ever guidelines</strong> on <strong>access to social justice for <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/issues-related-to-persons-with-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People with Disabilities (PwD)</a></strong> to make it easier for them to access justice systems around the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The guidelines outline a set of 10 principles and detail the steps for implementation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>10 Principles:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Principle 1:</strong> PwD shall not be denied access to justice on the basis of disability.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 2:</strong> Facilities and services must be <strong>universally accessible</strong> without discrimination of PwD.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 3:</strong> PwD, including children with disabilities, have the <strong>right to appropriate procedural accommodations.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Principle 4:</strong> PwD have the <strong>right to access legal notices and information in a timely and accessible manner</strong> on an equal basis with others.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 5:</strong> PwD are <strong>entitled to all substantive and procedural safeguards recognized in international law</strong> on an equal basis with others, and <strong>States must provide</strong> the necessary accommodations to guarantee due process.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 6:</strong> PwD have the<strong> right to free or affordable legal assistance.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Principle 7:</strong> PwD have the <strong>right to participate in the administration of justice</strong> on an equal basis with others.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 8:</strong> PwD have the <strong>right to report complaints and initiate legal proceedings</strong> concerning human rights violations and crimes.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 9: Effective and robust monitoring mechanisms</strong> play a critical role in supporting access to justice for PwD.</li>
<li><strong>Principle 10:</strong> All those working in the justice system must be provided with <strong>awareness-raising and training programmes</strong> addressing the rights of PwD.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Definition of Person with Disability:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UN Convention on the Rights of PwD</strong>, which was adopted <strong>in 2006,</strong> defines persons with disabilities as those &ldquo;who have<strong> long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments</strong> which in interaction with various barriers may <strong>hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis</strong> with others&rdquo;.</li>
<li>India ratified the Convention in October 2007.</li>
<li>The Parliament enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 with a view to fulfilling the obligations under the UNCRPD.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Statistics:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per statistics maintained by the UN:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Around 15% of the world&rsquo;s population, or estimated 1 billion people, live with disabilities. They are the world&rsquo;s largest minority.</li>
<li><strong>In India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>2.4 % of males are disabled and</li>
<li>2% of females from all age groups are disabled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Efforts for Persons with Disability</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 41</strong> of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) states that the State shall make effective provision for securing right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, within the limits of its economic capacity and development.</li>
<li>The<strong> subject</strong> of &lsquo;relief of the disabled and unemployable&rsquo; is specified in the state list of the <strong>Seventh Schedule</strong> of the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legislation for Disabled - Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016</strong> </a>replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.</li>
<li>"Person with disability" means a person with<strong> long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with barriers, hinders his full and effective participation in society equally with others.</strong></li>
<li><strong>"Person with benchmark disability"</strong> means a person with not less than 40% of a specified disability where specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and includes a person with a disability where specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority.</li>
<li>The <strong>types of disabilities</strong> have been<strong> increased from 7 to 21.</strong> The Act added mental illness, autism, spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions, speech and language disability,<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/issues-related-to-persons-with-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities including deaf blindness</strong></a>, acid attack victims and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/z-scan-method-for-parkinson-s-disease#:~:text=Parkinson's%20disease%20is%20a%20chronic,dropping%20the%20levels%20of%20dopamine.&amp;text=Medication%20can%20help%20control%20the,from%206%20to%2060%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parkinson&rsquo;s disease</strong></a> which were largely ignored in earlier Act. In addition, the Government has been authorized to notify any other category of specified disability.</li>
<li>It increases the quantum of reservation for people suffering from disabilities from <strong>3% to 4%</strong> in <strong>government jobs</strong> and from <strong>3% to 5%</strong> in <strong>higher education institutes.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Every child</strong> with benchmark disability between the age group of <strong>6 and 18 years</strong> shall have the<strong> right to free education.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accessible India Campaign (Creation of Accessible Environment for PwDs):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A nation-wide <strong>flagship campaign</strong> for achieving<strong> universal accessibility</strong> that will enable persons with disabilities to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.</li>
<li>The campaign targets at enhancing the accessibility of the built<strong> environment, transport system and Information &amp; communication ecosystem.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/united-nations-guidelines-people-with-disabilities-social-justice-6575766/#:~:text=Principle%201%20All%20persons%20with,on%20the%20basis%20of%20disability.&amp;text=Principle%202%20Facilities%20and%20services,discrimination%20of%20persons%20with%20disabilities." 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/un-principles-for-people-with-disabilities'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Day 42',
		'catname' => '60 days refresher',
		'desc' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">Polity: Hot Topics (Big Picture, In-depth, EPW, Yojana)</h2>
<p>There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the events which have been in the news. One can any time expect several questions on the current hot topics. Moreover, questions from this topic can be asked from static portions. Thus, in this context, this section becomes very important from a prelims point of view.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-verdict-on-hindu-women-s-inheritance-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hindu Succession Law &amp; Daughters' Rights</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>J&amp;K: One Year Since Revocation of Special Status</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-virtual-courts-and-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virtual Courts and Way forward</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-tackling-rumours" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Section 505 - Tackling Rumours</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/census-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Census &ndash; Challenges &amp; Importance</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-army-women-in-commanding-role" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Army: Women in Commanding Role</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-protest-in-a-free-society" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right To Free Speech</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-article-131-special-powers-of-supreme-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 131 - Special Powers of Supreme Court</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-police-commissioner-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Police Commissioner System</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-electoral-politics-need-for-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electoral Politics - Need for Reform</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-population-register" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NPR - National Population Register</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-rajya-sabha-250th-session-takeaways" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rajya Sabha 250<sup>th</sup> Session &ndash; Takeaways</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-election-commission-collegium-system-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission: Collegium System &amp; Appointments</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/how-to-regulate-the-digital-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regulating News on Digital Platforms</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/violence-against-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Violence Against Women</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/child-s-right-to-affection-of-both-parents" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Family Laws &amp; Custodial Rights</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cji-under-the-rti-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CJI under RTI</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-strengthening-parliamentary-institutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-legislative-impact-assessment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Legislative Impact Assessment</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/jurisdictional-conflict-in-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jurisdictional Conflict in Delhi</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sub-categorisation-of-backward-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sub Categorisation of Backward Classes</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/30-years-of-mandal-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>30 Years of Mandal Commission</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/three-language-formula-and-autonomy-in-language-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Three Language Formula and Autonomy in Language Policy</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/efficacy-of-anti-defection-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anti-Defection Law</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/contempt-of-court-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Contempt of Court</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/presidential-form-of-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Presidential Form of Government</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/22nd-law-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Law Commission of India</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reimagining-the-national-commission-for-scheduled-castes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Scheduled Castes</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/police-reforms-in-indian-criminal-justice-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Police Reforms</strong></a></li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/60-days-refresher-programme/day-42'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'India Pulls Out of Kavkaz 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has withdrawn its participation from <strong>Kavkaz 2020,</strong> a multinational tri-services exercise in Russia, citing <strong>Covid-19</strong> as the official reason.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598867577_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598867577_image3.png" 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>Other Possible Reasons for Withdrawal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Participation of Chinese, Turkish and Pakistani troops.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/galwan-valley-clash" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>standoff</strong></a> at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-crossed-its-1960-s-lac-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong></a> (LAC) with China has been ongoing since May 2020 and several rounds of talks for disengagement have failed to end the impasse.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, in June 2020, Indian and Chinese military contingents marched at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/victory-day-parade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Victory Day Parade</strong></a> at Red Square in Moscow to mark the 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/victory-day-parade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World War II.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Turkey has been critical of India&rsquo;s policies on Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Participation of Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the exercise which have<strong>&nbsp;been recognised only by Russia and few other countries.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India<strong> does not recognize</strong> these breakaway regions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kavkaz-2020 Exercise:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a strategic<strong> command-post exercise,</strong> and also known as <strong>Caucasus-2020.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> tri-service exercise</strong> is part of a<strong> four-year exercise cycle</strong> of the Russian army. Previous editions of the exercise were held in 2012 and 2016.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2020 it will be conducted in the Astrakhan province of Southern Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Member countries of<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) and Central Asian countries</strong> would be participating.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-Russia Military Diplomacy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s military diplomacy with Russia started in 2003 with the first edition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-indra-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ex Indra</strong></a>, a bilateral Naval exercise. India also participated in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-russia-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exercise TSENTR 2019.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exercise<strong> TSENTR 2019 </strong>is a<strong> part of the Russian Armed Forces' annual training cycle.</strong></li>
<li>It aims at evolving drills of the participating armies and practising them in the fight against the scourge of international terrorism thereby ensuring military security in the strategic Central Asian region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s withdrawal from Kavkaz assumes significance because the Kavkaz was essentially a Russian military exercise and not a Chinese one. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has always viewed its relations with Russia independent of China-Russia ties.</li>
<li>Russia has also responded in a similar fashion. It maintained its commitment of supplying arms to India even during the standoff.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to <strong>deepen its ties with Russia</strong> because Russia is an important balancer for India vis-&agrave;-vis China.</li>
<li>Also, India should seek to reset its relationship with Russia, especially as the defence element is starting to fade as India has started diversifying its defence procurements. Energy and strategic minerals can be other areas of cooperation.</li>
<li><strong>Promoting mutually beneficial trilateral cooperation between Russia, China and India</strong> could contribute towards the reduction of mistrust and suspicion between India and China. In this context, the <strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ric-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RIC trilateral forum</strong></a> must be leveraged.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-decides-to-pull-out-of-kavkaz-2020-military-exercise-on-russia-due-to-chinese-participation/article32475212.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-pulls-out-of-kavkaz-2020'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Consultations',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the 17<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/16th-india-asean-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN-India</strong> </a>Economic Ministers Consultations was held virtually, co-chaired by India and Vietnam.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting was attended by the Trade Ministers of all the 10 <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)</strong></a> countries viz. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598863845_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598863845_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>Related to Covid-19:</strong> The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to take<strong> collective actions in mitigating the economic impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> pandemic.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They also resolved to<strong> ensure macroeconomic and financial stability</strong> and <strong>resilient supply chain connectivity,</strong> particularly the unimpeded flow of essential goods and medicines in the region, in compliance with the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> WTO</strong></a> rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>AIBC&rsquo;s Report:</strong> The report of the <strong>ASEAN India Business Council (AIBC)</strong> was placed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has recommended that the <strong>ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) be reviewed</strong> for mutual benefit.</li>
<li>The review will make the Agreement <strong>modern with contemporary trade facilitative practices, </strong>and<strong> streamline customs and regulatory procedures.</strong></li>
<li><strong>ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC)</strong> was set up in March 2003 as a forum to bring key <strong>private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries on a single platform</strong> for business networking and sharing of ideas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>AITIGA:</strong> Discussions on review of the <strong>ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)</strong> took place.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The AITIGA is a<a href="/summary-of-important-reports/a-note-on-free-trade-agreements-and-their-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Free Trade Agreement (FTA)</strong> </a>among the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India which came into force in January, 2010.</li>
<li>India emphasized on review on AITIGA at the earliest and the need to<strong> strengthen the Rules of Origin</strong> provisions, work towards<strong> removal of non-tariff barriers</strong> and provide <strong>better market access.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rules of Origins provisions of AITIGA specify that the preferential treatment under the agreement will be applicable <strong>only to goods which have wholly or partially originated</strong> in the exporting country.</li>
<li><strong>India </strong>wants strict <strong>rules of origin </strong>to<strong> prevent Chinese goods from flooding the country through ASEAN member countries</strong> that may have lower or no duty levels.</li>
<li>A <strong>nontariff barrier</strong> is a way to restrict <strong>trade</strong> using<strong> trade barriers</strong> in a form other than a <strong>tariff. Nontariff barriers</strong> include quotas, embargoes, sanctions, and levies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has concerns regarding the FTA, given that its FTA with ASEAN is <strong>leading to increased trade deficits</strong> with several ASEAN partners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s trade deficit with the ASEAN rose from around 5 billion USD in 2011 to 21.8 USD billion in 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2003, India and ASEAN signed a<strong> Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation</strong> to establish an ASEAN-India Regional Trade and Investment Area, which would provide a basis for subsequent FTAs covering goods, services and investment.</li>
<li>India dropped out of the <strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong> in November 2019 at<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> ASEAN+3</strong></a> summit, because of increasing trade deficits with partner nations and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> increasing China-India tensions.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently, India participated in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-india-network-of-think-tanks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 6<sup>th</sup> roundtable meeting of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India <strong>highlighted the difficulties</strong> that were hindering strong response to deal with the <strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An immediate review of the agreement and the effective utilisation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement will contribute to the realisation of the<strong> 2020 trade target of 200 billion USD set by India and ASEAN.</strong></li>
<li>Over dependence of India and other countries on China can be decreased by developing a common forum/platform with ASEAN countries. Moreover, better collaboration and partnership with ASEAN is in line with <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Act East Policy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1649703" 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/asean-india-economic-ministers-consultations'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Scholarship Schemes in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a multi-crore scam has been reported in the <strong>post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes (SC)</strong> in Punjab.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central government is planning to bring a <strong>single national scholarship scheme</strong> by merging all the current scholarship schemes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Post Matric Scholarship for SCs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme</strong></a> launched in 2006. It is <strong>implemented</strong> through State government and Union Territory administration.</li>
<li>The Scheme provides<strong> financial assistance to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-classification-of-reserved-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduled Caste</a> (SC) students</strong> studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.</li>
<li>The scholarship is <strong>available for studies in India only</strong> and is paid to the students whose guardians&rsquo; income is below Rs. 2,50,000 per annum .</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Single National Scholarship Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Central government is <strong>contemplating</strong> setting up a <strong>single national scholarship scheme</strong> called <strong>PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI)</strong> for meritorious students which will absorb all the existing scholarship schemes.</li>
<li><strong>Beneficiary:</strong> Students in the Other Backward Class (OBC), SC, Denotified, Nomadic and semi-Nomadic Tribe (DNT) and Economically Backward Caste (EBC) categories will be able to avail the national scholarship.</li>
<li><strong>Implementing Agency:</strong> The <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</strong> has been tasked to implement the Scheme<strong> by conducting a merit test.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Benefits of Single National Scholarship Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will <strong>increase the reach of information</strong> about the govt scholarships.</li>
<li><strong>Boost</strong> the importance of maintaining a <strong>basic curriculum and teaching standards</strong> across the country.</li>
<li>Help improve the <strong>quality and implementation of scholarships.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In case a student misses the deadline of scholarship, he will<strong> not get a second chance</strong> to apply for other scholarships.</li>
<li>The national-level scholarship exam would become an <strong>added burden on students.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Having a separate exam for identifying merit is redundant as already students are appearing for board examinations and entrance examinations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If the existing pre-matric and post-matric scholarship schemes are done away with, it could end up <strong>hampering the education of students.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The single national scholarship scheme under PM-YASASVI can be beneficial only if it is implemented properly. Without correct implementation, it can become a hindrance rather than a help for students in India.</li>
<li>The government should leverage the experience of scholarship provider platforms while developing this new scholarship scheme as they have a first-hand experience of supporting students.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-bajwa-demands-time-bound-probe-by-high-court-judge-6574223/" 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/scholarship-schemes-in-india'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Shetrunji and Bhadar Dams of Gujarat',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to heavy rains, Shetrunji and Bhadar dams, the<strong> two largest reservoirs</strong> in the Saurashtra<strong> region (Gujarat),</strong> have overflowed simultaneously.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This monsoon, rain is centred over south Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch regions while north and central Gujarat regions are highly rain-deficient.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Saurashtra region</strong> has received <strong>more than 100% of its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/imd-forecasts-surplus-rains" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average rainfall</a></strong> this year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, in this peninsular region, almost <strong>every fourth monsoon remains a deficient monsoon.</strong></li>
<li>Even within 11 districts of Saurashtra, <strong>spatial distribution of rainfall remains skewed,</strong> as evidenced by 12 different years in which either only Bhadar or Shetrunji dam overflowed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shetrunji and Bhadar Dam:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shetrunji </strong>is located in <strong>Bhavnagar</strong> district and has a designed gross storage capacity of 308.68 million cubic metre (mcm), the <strong>largest</strong> in Saurashtra region.</li>
<li><strong>Bhadar</strong> is located in <strong>Rajkot district</strong> and has a gross storage capacity of 188.14 mcm, the<strong> second largest</strong> in the Saurashtra region.</li>
<li>The<strong> two dams are across Shetrunji and Bhadar rivers.</strong> These rivers flow in opposite directions and the two dams have different catchment areas. Geographical location of these dams in Saurashtra makes them a good indicator of rainfall distribution in the region.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gujarat-madhya-pradesh-tussle-over-the-narmada" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sardar Sarovar Dam</strong></a>, also called Narmada Dam, is the largest reservoir in Gujarat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shetrunji River:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It originates from the <strong>Amreli district.</strong> It is an <strong>east flowing river</strong> and outfalls into the Gulf of Khambhat.</li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Safara, Shel, Khari, Talaji, Stali, Thebu, Gagadia, Rajwal and Kharo.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bhadar River:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It originates from <strong>Jasdan taluka of Rajkot.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tributaries:</strong> Gondali, Chapparwadi, Phopal, Utawali, Moj, Venu, Vasavadi, Surwa and Galolia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598861848_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598861848_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="494" height="387" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/first-time-in-5-years-shetrunji-bhadar-dams-overflow-simultaneously-6576799/#:~:text=08%2F1x1.png-,Following%20good%20rainfall%20in%20their%20catchment%20areas%2C%20Sehtrunji%20dam%20overflowed,across%20Shetrunji%20and%20Bhadar%20rivers." 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/shetrunji-and-bhadar-dams-of-gujarat'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Sub Categorisation of Backward Classes',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/sc-st-sub-category-reservation-supreme-court-6574052/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A Case For Equality</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 29<sup>th</sup> of August 2020. It analyses the Supreme Court Judgement on sub categorisation of the SCs/STs and different dimensions related to it.</p>
</div>
<p>A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has recently ruled that states can sub-classify the list of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs)</strong></a>, to provide preferential treatment to the especially deprived among them &ldquo;to achieve the real purpose of reservation&rdquo;.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court of India has thus reopened the legal debate on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-classification-of-reserved-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservations</strong></a>, or what is commonly referred to as &ldquo;quota within quota&rdquo; for SCs and STs. However, the court has referred the issue to a larger Bench to decide.</p>
<h3>What was the case?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The present case before The Supreme Court of India <strong>was an appeal against the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had struck down a state law empowering the government to sub-classify SC/STs for grant of quotas.</strong></li>
<li>The High Court judgment had struck down a circular of the Punjab government, which provided that out of the seats reserved for SCs, 50 percent would be offered to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs.</li>
<li>The High Court in this judgement had relied on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-classification-of-reserved-classes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chinnaiah judgment</strong></a> for concluding so.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Meaning of Sub-Categorisation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes are made up of several castes which are <strong>not homogenous.</strong></li>
<li>It is argued that <strong>some of the castes among the category remain grossly under-represented</strong> despite reservation in comparison to other Scheduled Castes.</li>
<li>This inequality within the Scheduled Castes is underlined in several reports, and special quotas have been framed to address it.</li>
<li>The <strong>&ldquo;creamy layer&rdquo;</strong> concept puts an income ceiling on those eligible for reservation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While this concept applies to Other Backward Castes (OBCs), it was applied to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/creamy-layer-for-sc-s-st-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>promotions of Scheduled Castes</strong></a> for the first time in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The central government has sought a review of the 2018 verdict and the case is currently pending.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why was the issue referred to a larger bench?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was because in 2004 another five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India in <strong>EV Chinnaiah judgement</strong> had ruled that state governments had no power to create sub-categories of SCs for the purpose of reservation.</li>
<li>Since <strong>a Bench of equal strength cannot overrule a previous decision, the court referred it to a larger Bench to settle the law.</strong></li>
<li>The larger Bench, whenever it is set up by the Chief Justice of India, will reconsider the two judgements.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Arguments For Sub-categorisation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As India is a welfare state, its obligation is to undertake the emancipation of the deprived section of the community and<strong> eradicate inequalities.</strong></li>
<li>When the reservation creates inequalities within the reserved castes itself, it is required to be taken care of by the State making sub-classification and adopting a <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-512#:~:text=The%20basic%20principle%20of%20distributive,share%20of%20the%20rewards%2Fcosts." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>distributive justice</strong> </a>method so that State resources do not concentrate in few hands and equal justice to all is provided.</li>
<li><strong>Justice involves redistribution and reallocation of resources and opportunities and equitable access to all public and social goods</strong> to fulfil the very purpose of the constitutional mandate of equal justice to all.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reservation was <strong>not contemplated for all the time by the framers of the Constitution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>If sub-classification is denied, it <strong>would defeat the right to equality by treating unequal as equal.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are unequals within the list of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and socially and educationally backward classes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Various reports indicate that <strong>Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes do not constitute a homogenous group.</strong></li>
<li>The Supreme Court has also stated that States can sub-classify SC and ST in the Central List <strong>to provide preferential treatment to the &ldquo;weakest out of the weak&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Arguments Against Sub-categorisation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The argument is that the test or requirement of social and educational backwardness cannot be applied to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The special treatment is given to the SCs <strong>due to untouchability with which they suffer since ages.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the N M Thomas V/S State Of Kerala case in 1976, the Supreme Court itself has admitted that <strong>Scheduled Castes are not castes but they are a class</strong> and hence should be treated as a class.</li>
<li>Sub categorisation will be <strong>used to appease one vote-bank or the other among the SC/ST and thus a cause of social justice would end being politicised.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Identification of SC/ST</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Constitution, while providing for special treatment of SCs and STs to achieve equality, <strong>does not specify the castes and tribes that are to be called Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.</strong></li>
<li>This power is left to the central executive, <strong>The President, under Article 341.</strong></li>
<li>As per Article 341, those castes notified by the President are called SCs and STs.</li>
<li>A caste notified as SC in one state may not be a SC in another state.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court of India in the landmark <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mandal case</strong></a> had held that there was no constitutional bar on a state classifying SEBCs as backward and more backward. The constitutional goal of social transformation cannot be achieved without taking into account changing social realities.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598702065_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598702065_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="444" height="347" /></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: #f0ffe8;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Reservation in India is a system of affirmative action that provides representation for historically and currently disadvantaged groups in Indian society.&rdquo; Discuss the statement in the light of the recent judgement of the Supreme Court on sub categorisation of SC and ST.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mYBNPbLrv9w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/jee-neet-exam-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Testing Times&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on August 28<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sub-categorisation-of-backward-classes'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Identification of Minorities',
		'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</strong> </a>has sought the Central government's response on a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/public-interest-litigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Interest Litigation (PIL)</strong> </a>challenging provisions of the <strong>National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Petitioner&rsquo;s Argument:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NCMEI Act<strong> identifies minorities at the national level</strong> and not at the State level, thereby <strong>depriving deserving minorities</strong> in the states of<strong> their Constitutional rights.</strong></li>
<li>The Centre&rsquo;s notification (under section 2(f) of NCMEI Act) which identifies Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains as minorities at the national level is against the judgement of <strong><em>TMA Pai Foundation case, 2002.</em></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These minorities at national level have a significant population in many states. E.g. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Muslims are in majority</strong> in Lakshadweep (96.58%) &amp; Kashmir (96%).</li>
<li><strong>Christians are in majority</strong> in Nagaland (88.10%), Mizoram (87.16%) and Meghalaya (74.59%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court in the <strong>TMA Pai Foundation case</strong>&nbsp;held that the unit of determining religious and linguistic minority would be 'State'. It also authorised the state government to regulate minority educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Rational basis of declaring certain religions as minority by the Central government as they have less population in the States is contravened when benefits of schemes for minorities are acquired by those religious minorities in states where they are in majority and those religious communities who are actually minorities are not given equal status.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Those who follow<strong> Hinduism, Judaism and Bahaism</strong> are minorities in regions like Ladakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Kashmir, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur.</li>
<li>However, they cannot establish &amp; administer educational institutions of their choice because of non-identification of 'minority' at the State level, thus jeopardising their basic rights guaranteed under <strong>Article 29 and 30.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changes Demanded:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Direct and declare that Section 2(f) of the NCMEI Act 2004 is arbitrary, irrational and violative of the Constitution and hence void.</li>
<li>Direct the Centre to lay down guidelines for identification of minority at State level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional and Legal Provisions Related to Minorities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The term<strong> "Minority"</strong> is <strong>not defined in the Indian Constitution.</strong> However, the Constitution recognises <strong>religious and linguistic minorities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 29:</strong> It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the same.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It grants protection to <strong>both religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities.</strong></li>
<li>However, the Supreme Court held that the scope of this article is not necessarily restricted to minorities only, as use of the word <strong>&lsquo;section of citizens&rsquo;</strong> in the Article includes <strong>minorities as well as the majority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 30:</strong> All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The protection under <strong>Article 30 is confined only to minorities</strong> (religious or linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as under Article 29).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 350-B:</strong> Originally, the Constitution of India did not make any provision with respect to the <strong>Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities.</strong> However, the <strong>7<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956</strong> inserted Article 350-B in the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President of India.</li>
<li>It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gives the <strong>minority status to the educational institutions on the basis of six religious communities notified</strong> by the government under the NCMEI Act, 2004-- Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-issues-notice-to-govt-on-plea-to-identify-minorities-at-state-level-6574171/" 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/identification-of-minorities'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'National Mission for Financial Inclusion',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) - National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completed its six years of successful implementation.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While launching the programme on 28<sup>th</sup> August 2014, the Prime Minister had described the occasion as a festival to celebrate the liberation of the poor from a vicious cycle of poverty.</li>
<li>A key initiative towards commitment of financial inclusion is the <strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/financial-inclusion-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial inclusion</strong></a> may be defined as the process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low-income groups at an affordable cost.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Financial Inclusion is a national priority of the Government as it is an enabler for inclusive growth.</li>
<li>It is important as it provides an avenue to the poor for bringing their savings into the formal financial system, an avenue to remit money to their families in villages besides taking them out of the clutches of the usurious money lenders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Achievements under PMJDY:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>PMJDY Accounts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total Number of PMJDY Accounts (as on 19<sup>th</sup> August 2020): 40.35 Crore; Rural PMJDY accounts: 63.6%, Women PMJDY accounts: 55.2%</li>
<li>During the first year of the scheme 17.90 crore PMJDY accounts were opened.</li>
<li>Continuous increase in no of accounts under PMJDY.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Operative PMJDY Accounts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per extant RBI guidelines, a PMJDY account is treated as inoperative if there are no customer induced transactions in the account for <strong>over a period of two years.</strong></li>
<li>Out of total 40.35 crore PMJDY accounts, 34.81 crore (86.3%) are operative.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deposits under PMJDY accounts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total deposit balances under PMJDY Accounts stand at Rs. 1.31 lakh crore.</li>
<li>Deposits have increased about 5.7 times with increase in accounts 2.3 times between 2015 to 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rupay Card issued to PMJDY account holders:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Total RuPay cards issued to PMJDY account holders: 29.75 Crore</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jan Dhan Darshak App:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A mobile application was launched to provide a citizen centric platform for locating banking touchpoints such as bank branches, ATMs, Bank Mitras, Post Offices, etc.</li>
<li>This app is also being used for identifying villages which are not served by banking touchpoints within 5 km. The efforts have resulted in a significant decrease in the number of such villages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) for PMJDY women beneficiaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An amount of Rs. 500/- per month for three months (April&rsquo; 20 to June&rsquo; 20), was credited to the accounts of women account holders under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Towards ensuring smooth DBT transactions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As informed by banks, about 8 crore PMJDY account holders receive <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-advisory-on-direct-benefit-transfer#:~:text=Acknowledging%20the%20problems%20in%20the,to%20DBT%20based%20cash%20transfers." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)</strong></a> from the Government under various schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important approach adopted in PMJDY based on past experience:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Extension of PMJDY with New features:</strong> From 28<sup>th</sup> August 2018, the Government extended PMJDY with some modifications:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Focus shifted from &lsquo;Every Household&rsquo; to Every Unbanked Adult&rsquo;</strong></li>
<li><strong>RuPay Card Insurance:</strong> Free accidental insurance cover on RuPay cards increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh for PMJDY accounts opened after 28.8.2018.</li>
<li><strong>Enhancement in overdraft facilities:</strong> OD limit doubled from Rs 5,000/- to Rs 10,000/-; OD upto Rs 2,000/- (without conditions). Increase in upper age limit for OD from 60 to 65 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is <strong>National Mission for Financial Inclusion</strong> to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/Savings &amp; Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ensure access of financial products &amp; services at an affordable cost.</li>
<li>Use of technology to lower cost &amp; widen reach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Basic tenets of the scheme</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Banking the unbanked</strong> - Opening of basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) account with minimal paperwork, relaxed KYC, e-KYC, account opening in camp mode, zero balance &amp; zero charges</li>
<li><strong>Securing the unsecured -</strong> Issuance of Indigenous Debit cards for cash withdrawals &amp; payments at merchant locations, with free accident insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakh</li>
<li><strong>Funding the unfunded -</strong> Other financial products like micro-insurance, overdraft for consumption, micro-pension &amp; micro-credit</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598696311_PMJDY1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598696311_PMJDY1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scheme was launched based upon the following 6 pillars: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Universal access to banking services &ndash;</strong> Branch and Banking Correspondents</li>
<li><strong>Basic savings bank accounts with overdraft facility</strong> of Rs. 10,000/- to every household.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Literacy Program&ndash;</strong> Promoting savings, use of ATMs, getting ready for credit, availing insurance and pensions, using basic mobile phones for banking.</li>
<li><strong>Creation of Credit Guarantee Fund &ndash;</strong> To provide banks some guarantee against defaults.</li>
<li><strong>Insurance &ndash;</strong> Accident cover up to Rs. 1,00,000 and life cover of Rs. 30,000 on account opened between 15 Aug 2014 to 31 January 2015.</li>
<li><strong>Pension Scheme for Unorganized sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There must be an endeavour to ensure coverage of PMJDY account holders under micro insurance schemes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Eligible PMJDY accountholders will be sought to be covered under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana <strong>(PMJJBY)</strong> and <strong>Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Promotion of digital payments including RuPay debit card usage amongst PMJDY account holders through creation of acceptance infrastructure across India can be taken into account.</li>
<li>Improving the access of PMJDY account holders to Micro-credit and micro-investment such as Flexi-<strong>recurring deposit etc.</strong></li>
<li>Adding more focus on financial literacy and digital literacy for the common man.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><a href="https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1649091#:~:text=Pradhan%20Mantri%20Jan%2DDhan%20Yojana,six%20years%20of%20successful%20implementation&amp;text=Ministry%20of%20Finance%20is%20committed,hitherto%20socio%2Deconomically%20neglected%20classes." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source PIB</a></strong></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-financial-inclusion'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Temperature Inversion',
		'catname' => 'Paper 1',
		'desc' => '<h3>Meaning</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under normal conditions, temperature usually decreases with increase in altitude in the troposphere at a rate of 1 degree for every 165 metres. This is called <strong>normal lapse rate.&nbsp;</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But on some occasions, the situations get reversed and temperature starts increasing with height rather than decreasing. This is called <strong>temperature inversion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Temperature inversion:</strong> It is a reversal of the normal behavior of temperature in the troposphere. Under this meteorological phenomenon a layer of warm air lies over the cold air layer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is caused in stac atmospheric conditions while some times, it occurs due to <strong>horizontal or vertical movement of air.</strong></li>
<li>Temperature inversion is usually of short duration but quite common nonetheless.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694790_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694790_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="326" /></a></p>
<h3>Favourable Conditions for Temperature Inversion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Long winter nights:</strong> Loss of heat by terrestrial radiation from the ground surface during night may exceed the amount of incoming solar radiation.</li>
<li><strong>Cloudless and clear sky</strong>: Loss of heat through terrestrial radiation proceeds more rapidly without any obstruction.</li>
<li><strong>Dry air near the ground surface:</strong> It limits the absorption of the radiated heat from the Earth&rsquo;s surface.</li>
<li><strong>Slow movement of air:</strong> It results in no transfer or mixing of heat in the lower layers of the atmosphere.</li>
<li><strong>Snow covered ground surface:</strong> It results in maximum loss of heat through reflection of incoming solar radiation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Types of Temperature Inversion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Temperature inversion occurs in several conditions ranging from ground surface to great heights. Thus there are several kinds of temperature inversions. </li>
<li>The following are classified on the basis of relative heights from the earth&rsquo;s surface at which it occurs and the type of air circulation:</li>
<li><strong>Non-Advectional</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Radiation Inversion (Surface Temperature Inversion)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Surface temperature inversion develops when air is cooled by contact with a colder surface until it becomes cooler than the overlying atmosphere; this occurs most often on clear nights, when the ground cools off rapidly by radiation. If the temperature of surface air drops below its dew point, fog may result. </li>
<li>It is very common in the higher latitudes. In lower and middle latitudes, it occurs during cold nights and gets destroyed during day time.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694827_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694827_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="402" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subsidence Inversion (Upper Surface Temperature Inversion)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When a widespread layer of air descends, it is compressed and heated by the resulting increase in atmospheric pressure, and as a result the lapse rate of temperature is reduced.</li>
<li>The air at higher altitudes becomes warmer than at lower altitudes, producing a temperature inversion. This type of temperature inversion is called subsidence inversion.</li>
<li>It is very common over the northern continents in winter (dry atmosphere) and over the subtropical oceans; these regions generally have subsiding air because they are located under large high-pressure centers.</li>
<li>It is also called upper surface temperature inversion because it takes place in the upper parts of the atmosphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694848_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694848_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="450" height="343" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Advectional</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Valley inversion in intermontane valley</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In high mountains or deep valleys, sometimes, the temperature of the lower layers of air increases instead of decreasing with elevation along a sloping surface.</li>
<li>Here, the surface radiates heat back to space rapidly and cools down at a faster rate than the upper layers. As a result the lower cold layers get condensed and become heavy.</li>
<li>The sloping surface underneath makes them move towards the bottom where the cold layer settles down as a zone of low temperature while the upper layers are relatively warmer.</li>
<li>This condition, opposite to normal vertical distribution of temperature, is known as Temperature Inversion.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694867_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694867_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="400" height="200" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Frontal or Cyclonic inversion</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When the warm and cold fronts meet, then the warm front rises up and being heavier the cold front sinks down. It results in formation of Frontal Inversion.</li>
<li>It has considerable slope, whereas other inversions are nearly horizontal. It often takes place in the temperate zone and causes cyclonic conditions which result in the precipitation in different forms.</li>
<li>A frontal inversion is unstable and is destroyed as the weather changes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694888_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694888_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="432" /></a></p>
<h3>Effect</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Temperature inversion determines the precipitation, forms of clouds, and also causes frost due to condensation of warm air due to its cooling.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dust particles hanging in the air:</strong> Due to inversion of temperature, air pollutants such as dust particles and smoke do not disperse on the surface.</li>
<li><strong>Stops the movement of air:</strong> It causes the stability of the atmosphere that stops the downward and upward movement of air.</li>
<li><strong>Less rainfall:</strong> Convection clouds can not move high upwards so there is less rainfall and no showers. So, it causes a problem for agricultural productivity.</li>
<li><strong>Lower visibility:</strong> Fog is formed due to the situation of warm air above and cold air below, and hence visibility is reduced which causes disturbance in transportation.</li>
<li><strong>Thunderstorms and tornadoes:</strong> Intense thunderstorms and tornadoes are also associated with inversion of temperature because of the intense energy that is released after an inversion blocks an area&rsquo;s normal convention patterns.</li>
<li>Diurnal variations in temperature tend to be very <strong>small.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/temperature-inversion'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Mahatma Ayyankali',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to<strong> social reformer Mahatma Ayyankali</strong> on his 157<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598689834_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598689834_image2.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="287" height="175" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ayyankali (1863-1914),</strong> born in <strong>Kerala,</strong> was a<strong> leader of the lower castes and Dalits.</strong> With his efforts, Dalits got the freedom to walk on public roads, and Dalit children were allowed to join schools.</li>
<li>He formed <strong>Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS)</strong> to work for low castes.</li>
<li><strong>Efforts to organise the &ldquo;depressed classes&rdquo;</strong> and particularly the untouchable castes predated the nationalist movement, having begun in the<strong> second half of the nineteenth century.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This was an initiative taken from both ends of the caste spectrum &ndash; by upper caste progressive reformers as well as by members of the lower castes such as <strong>Mahatma Jotiba Phule </strong>and<strong> Babasaheb <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-political-thinker-br-ambedkar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ambedkar</a></strong> in<strong> western India, Ayyankali, Sri Narayana Guru, Iyothee Das </strong>and<strong> Periyar (E.V. Ramaswamy Naickar) </strong>in the<strong> South.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional and Legal Provisions Against Discrimination of Dalits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Social Safeguards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 17</strong> of the constitution abolishes the practice of<strong> &ldquo;untouchability&rdquo;</strong> and punishes the enforcement of any disability arising out of the practice.</li>
<li><strong>Article 21</strong> guarantees the <strong>right to life and liberty.</strong> The Supreme Court has interpreted this right to include the right to be free from degrading and inhuman treatment, the right to integrity and dignity of the person, and the right to speedy justice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When read with <strong>Article 39A</strong> on equal justice and free legal aid, Article 21 also encompasses the right to legal aid for those faced with imprisonment and those too poor to afford counsel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 23</strong> prohibits <strong>traffic in human beings</strong> and other similar forms of forced labor.</li>
<li><strong>Article 24</strong> provides that <strong>no child under the age of fourteen</strong> shall work in any factory or mine or engage in any<strong> hazardous employment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Safeguards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 15(4)</strong> empowers the state to make any special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, or for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.</li>
<li><strong>Through Article 16(4),</strong> the state is empowered to make &ldquo;any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political Safeguards: Article 330</strong> provides reservations for seats for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the Lok Sabha (the House of the People), while <strong>Article 332</strong> provides for reservations in the state legislative assemblies.</li>
<li><strong>Article 338</strong> establishes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reimagining-the-national-commission-for-scheduled-castes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Scheduled Castes.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Related Directive Principles of State Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 43</strong> calls on the state to secure to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, a living wage and conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life.</li>
<li><strong>Article 45</strong> charges that the state shall endeavor to provide free and compulsory education for all children until they reach the age of six.</li>
<li><strong>Article 46</strong> states that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and forms of exploitation</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-upholds-changes-to-sc-st-atrocities-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) amendment Act, 2018.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1649195" 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/mahatma-ayyankali'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Protests Against Farm Ordinances',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Punjab Assembly passed a resolution</strong> and rejected the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agricultural-sector-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centre&rsquo;s recent farm ordinances</strong> </a>and the <strong>proposed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electricity-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020.</a></strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reforms Brought by Centre:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ordinances include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Farmers&rsquo; Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020</li>
<li>Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020</li>
<li>Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These ordinances were a part of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-stimulus-iii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> third tranche of the economic package</strong> </a>announced under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong> </a>to counter <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>They are expected to <strong>allow free movement of agricultural produce between states</strong> and let the <strong>farmers decide to whom they want to sell their crops.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 centralizes the power sector</strong> through establishment of <strong>Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recognition of franchisees and sub- licensees under the Bill might open the <strong>sector to private players.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Source of Income for State Governments:</strong> One of the Ordinance prohibits state governments from levying any market fee, cess or levy on farmers, traders, and electronic trading platforms for any trade under the Ordinance. State governments would lose incomes from Agricultural Produce Market Committee-controlled trading.</li>
<li><strong>Usurping State Powers:</strong> These ordinances are targeted at usurping state powers, and overriding state laws and market committees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Punjab&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Entry 14 of List II of the Constitution comprises <strong>agriculture as the subject of the states.</strong> Therefore the three ordinances passed by the Centre are against the Constitution of India.</li>
<li>These ordinances are a direct encroachment upon the functions of the states and against the spirit of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/cooperative-and-competitive-federalism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cooperative federalism</strong></a> enshrined in the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cooperative federalism</strong> is defined as administrative cooperation between the Centre &amp; states and among states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Distribution of Legislative Subjects</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 246</strong> adopts a <strong>threefold distribution of legislative power</strong> between the Union and the states.</li>
<li>The subject-wise distribution of this power is given in the three lists of the <strong>Seventh Schedule</strong> of the constitution: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>List-I- the <strong>Union List</strong></li>
<li>List-II- the <strong>State List</strong></li>
<li>List-III- the <strong>Concurrent List</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Union List: Parliament has exclusive powers</strong> to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Union List. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the <strong>matters of national importance</strong> and the matters which require uniformity of legislation nationwide.</li>
<li>This list includes <strong>98 subjects</strong> like defence, banking, foreign affairs, currency, atomic energy, insurance, communication, inter-state trade and commerce, census, audit and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State List:</strong> The<strong> state legislature</strong> has<strong> exclusive powers</strong> (not during emergency) to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the <strong>matters of regional and local importance</strong> and the matters which permit diversity of interest.</li>
<li>This list includes<strong> 59 subjects</strong> like public order, police, public health and sanitation, agriculture, prisons, local government, fisheries, markets, theaters, gambling and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concurrent List:</strong> Both, the <strong>Parliament and state legislature</strong> can make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Concurrent List. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes the <strong>matters on which uniformity of legislation</strong> throughout the country is <strong>desirable but not essential.</strong></li>
<li>This list has at present 52 subjects like criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, marriage and divorce, population control and family planning, electricity, labour welfare,economic and social planning, drugs, newspapers, books and printing press, and others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Features:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The power to make laws with respect to<strong> residuary subjects</strong> i.e. the matters which are not enumerated in any of the three lists, is vested in the Parliament.</li>
<li>Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any part of the territory of India not included in a state even though that matter is one which is enumerated in the State List. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This provision is related to the Union Territories or the Acquired Territories (if any).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/punjab-house-passes-resolution-against-centres-agri-ordinances/article32469442.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/protests-against-farm-ordinances'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'SC Decision on UGC Guidelines on Conduct of Examinations',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court ruled that the <strong>states are empowered</strong> under the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-disaster-management-authority-ndma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Disaster </strong><strong>Management Act, 2005</strong></a> <strong>(DM Act)</strong> to override <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ugc-on-university-exams" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>University Grants Commission (UGC) exam guidelines</strong> </a>in order to protect human lives amid the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, it held that universities and other institutions of higher education <strong>will have to conduct the final-year exams </strong>and<strong> cannot promote students</strong> on the basis of internal assessment or other criteria.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The UGC had directed that final year examinations of Universities must be conducted by September-end in online or offline mode. However, the <strong>Maharashtra and Delhi governments employed the DM Act, 2005</strong> to cancel the examinations due to Covid-19 to which<strong> the UGC objected.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of a disaster, the priority of all authorities under the <strong>DM Act</strong> is to immediately combat the disaster and contain it to<strong> save human life.</strong> Saving the life of human beings is given paramount importance.</li>
<li>However, the powers of the States under the DM Act<strong> do not extend to promoting students</strong> on the sole basis of their internal assessment without taking exams.</li>
<li>In future, if any State found it impossible to conduct the exams by the deadline given by UGC and wanted to postpone them, it could<strong> apply to the UGC,</strong> which would <strong>consider the request and decide</strong> at the earliest.</li>
<li>Also, the States and universities<strong> cannot dismiss UGC guidelines</strong> as being merely advisory. They were necessary for the determination of standards in institutions of higher education and were<strong> obligatory for universities.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> UGC (Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of the Master&rsquo;s Degree through Formal Education) Regulations, 2003,</strong> categorically requires universities to adopt the guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The court also rejected the argument that compelling attendance by holding physical examination is a<strong> violation of the &lsquo;Right to Life&rsquo; under Article 21.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It pointed out that the revised guidelines take into consideration the fact that the number of Covid cases are rising.</li>
<li>They were based on the recommendations of the <strong>R.C. Kuhad Expert Committee.</strong> They provided three modes of examination - pen and paper, online and blended (both physical and online). A &ldquo;special chance&rdquo; was also given to students unable to take the exams.</li>
<li>The R.C. Kuhad Expert Committee recommended that <strong>exams should be held for Terminal Semester Students</strong> while the <strong>Intermediate Semester Students should be graded based on internal assessment</strong> of the present and previous semester. It also suggested the <strong>constitution of a Covid-19 cell in every university.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>University Grants Commission (UGC)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It came into existence on 28<sup>th</sup> December, 1953 but became a <strong>statutory organization</strong> of the Government of India by the <strong>UGC Act, 1956,</strong> under the<strong> Ministry of Education.</strong></li>
<li>The UGC`s mandate includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Promoting and<strong> coordinating</strong> university education.</li>
<li>Determining and maintaining <strong>standards of teaching, examination and research</strong> in universities.</li>
<li>Framing <strong>regulations</strong> on minimum standards of education.</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring</strong> developments in the field of collegiate and university education; <strong>disbursing grants</strong> to the universities and colleges.</li>
<li>Serving as a <strong>vital link</strong> between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.</li>
<li><strong>Advising</strong> the Central and State governments on the measures necessary for improvement of university.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The performance in examinations contributes to <strong>merit, lifelong credibility, wider global acceptability and better future prospects</strong> to the student. However, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-internet-access-and-digital-literacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital divide</strong></a> that exists in the country must be taken into account while going for online conduct of examinations.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Education must proactively intervene</strong> in the appointments of final year students who have not been able to appear for the examination and come out with <strong>policies to defer the requirement of degree certificates for job appointments.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/states-and-universities-cannot-promote-students-without-holding-final-year-exams-by-sept-30-supreme-court/article32462969.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Notification of Rules for J&K',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified<strong> Rules of Transaction of Business for the Government of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The rules have been notified under the <strong>Section 55</strong> of the <a href="/blog/implications-of-j&amp;k-reorganisation-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to Section 55 of the act &ldquo;the <strong>Lieutenant Governor (LG)</strong> shall make rules on the advice of the Council of Ministers<strong> for the allocation of business to the Ministers;</strong> and for the more convenient <strong>transaction of business with the Ministers</strong> including the procedure to be adopted in case of a<strong> difference of opinion</strong> between the LG and the Council of Ministers or a Minister.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The rules provide details of<strong> work allocation, distribution of the business among the departments,</strong> their powers, executive powers of LG etc. in J&amp;K.</li>
<li>As per the rules, there will be <strong>39 departments</strong> in the J&amp;K such as school education, agriculture, higher education, horticulture, election, general administration, home, mining, power, Public Works Department, tribal affairs and transport.</li>
<li><strong>Police, Public order, All India Services and Anti-corruption</strong> will fall under the executive functions of the <strong>LG.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This implies that the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers will have no say in their functioning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Proposals or matters which affect or are likely to affect the<strong> peace and tranquility of the UT</strong> or the <strong>interest of any minority community, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes</strong> shall essentially be submitted to the LG through the Chief Secretary, under intimation to the Chief Minister,<strong> before issuing any orders.</strong></li>
<li>Any matter, which is likely to bring the government of the Union Territory into a <strong>controversy with the Centre or a State government,</strong> shall, as soon as possible, be brought to the notice of the LG and the Chief Minister through the Chief Secretary.</li>
<li>All important <strong>communications received from the Centre</strong> shall, as soon as possible, be submitted to the Chief Secretary, the Minister in charge, the Chief Minister and the LG for information.</li>
<li>In case of <strong>difference of opinion between the LG and a Minister</strong> when no agreement could be reached even after a<strong> month,</strong> the <strong>decision of the LG</strong> shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Council of Ministers.</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre on 5<sup>th</sup> August 2019<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> scrapped provisions of Article 370</strong> </a>through the <strong>Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019.</strong></li>
<li>A separate Bill - the <strong>Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 -</strong> was introduced to <strong>bifurcate the State into two separate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uts-j-k-and-ladakh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">union territories of Jammu and Kashmir</a> (with legislature), and Ladakh (without legislature).</strong></li>
<li>The move created a controversy with many civil groups demanding restoration of the special status of J&amp;K. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the abrogation.</li>
<li>Following the move, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-s-new-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pakistan released a new political map</strong></a> that includes all of Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Ladakh, Sir Creek and Junagadh.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-issue-raised-at-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China called India&rsquo;s step &ldquo;illegal and invalid&rdquo;</strong> </a>and raised the issue at the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1#:~:text=Its%20primary%20responsibility%20is%20to,China%20and%20the%20United%20Kingdom." target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Security Council</a> (UNSC)</strong> in New York (USA).</li>
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-refuses-to-restore-4g-services-in-j-k" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>special committee</strong> </a><strong>set up by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court of India</a></strong> recommended <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restoration-of-4g-internet-in-j-k" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>restoration of 4G internet services</strong> </a>on a trial basis in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, which was suspended to avoid violence in the state after the abrogation of Article 370.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ministry-of-home-affairs-notifies-new-rules-for-administration-in-jk/article32466936.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Taliban Delegation in Pakistan',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a<strong> Taliban delegation visited Pakistan</strong> to discuss the way forward in the Afghan peace process.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Taliban delegation was led by their political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pakistan Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It had played a facilitating role on the Afghan issue, which led to a peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban.</li>
<li>The next step it seeks is intra-Afghan peace dialogue, to which Afghanistan has also agreed.</li>
<li>It has reiterated its commitment to further deepen the ties with Afghanistan and enhance cooperation in all fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Taliban visited Pakistan in the backdrop of stalled intra-Afghan peace dialogue over the issue of <strong>prisoners release.</strong></li>
<li>The Taliban also want to speed up the intra-Afghan peace dialogue.</li>
<li>Earlier, to resolve the issue the Afghanistan government had convened <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/loya-jirga-grand-assembly-of-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Loya Jirga (grand assembly)</strong></a>, which also approved the release of prisoners and further the peace process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-taliban-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> USA signed a deal with the Taliban</strong></a> that paved the way towards a full withdrawal of USA troops from Afghanistan and also represent a step towards ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The peace deal was expected to <strong>kick-off two processes- a phased withdrawal of US troops </strong>and<strong> an &lsquo;intra-Afghan&rsquo; dialogue.</strong></li>
<li>The deal is a fundamental step to deliver a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and the future political roadmap for the Afghanistan peace process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Interests in Afghanistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indias-role-in-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> major stake</strong></a> in the stability of Afghanistan. India has invested considerable resources in Afghanistan's development. <strong>E.g.</strong> the <strong>Afghan Parliament, the Zaranj-Delaram Highway,</strong> Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam <strong>(Salma Dam)</strong> among others.</li>
<li>India favours the continuation of the current Afghanistan government in power, which it considers a strategic asset vis-&agrave;-vis Pakistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An increased political and military role for the Taliban and the expansion of its territorial control should be of great concern to India since the Taliban is widely believed to be a prot&eacute;g&eacute; of Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Afghanistan is the <strong>gateway to Central Asia.</strong></li>
<li>Withdrawal of US troops could result in the breeding of the fertile ground for various anti-India terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598684492_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598684492_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="395" height="297" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India should support any genuine peace process in Afghanistan. However, the peace process in Afghanistan appears to be <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-taliban-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>one-sided and pushed by the U.S.A. and Pakistan.</strong></a></li>
<li>India should not recognise or publicly engage the Taliban until it recognises the Afghanistan government.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/taliban-delegation-in-pakistan-for-afghanistan-peace-process/article32432161.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'UAE-Israel Peace Treaty & India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This editorial analysis is based on the article<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/narendra-modi-arab-gulf-countries-middle-east-relations-c-raja-mohan-6558876/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;India&rsquo;s geopolitical interests are in close alignment with moderate Arab centre&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in the Indian Express on 18th of August 2020. It analyses the peace pact between Israel and UAE and the Indian interest therein.</p>
</div>
<p>In a move that significantly impacts geopolitics of the world, <strong>Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that they will normalise diplomatic relations.</strong> In a joint statement released by the US, Israel and the UAE, the leaders of the three countries agreed to &ldquo;the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates&rdquo;.</p>
<p>The agreement is a historic diplomatic breakthrough that <strong>would advance peace in the Middle East region.</strong> This would not just serve the interest of the world but <strong>India too which has a huge stake in the middle east due to its cultural and trade tie-ups.</strong></p>
<h3>UAE-Israel Peace Deal &amp; Its Importance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Israel and the United Arab Emirates just agreed to a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-uae-peace-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>historic deal</strong> </a>to normalize their long-strained relations.</li>
<li>This move is significant because, with the exception of Jordan and Egypt, Israel does not have diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab states owing to its long-standing conflict with Palestinians.</li>
<li>The agreement comes after Israel&rsquo;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to suspend plans to annex parts of the West Bank, one that had been bitterly criticised by these Gulf Arab states, Europe and a few other countries around the world.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Arab-Israel Relation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since<strong> Israeli independence in 1948,</strong> it has fought several <strong>wars with Arab</strong> neighbouring countries.</li>
<li>The persecuted Jews saw Israel as their promised home while Arabs saw it as an occupation.</li>
<li>The Israel Arab conflict is<strong> one of the worst conflicts that has its root in the History, Religion and Geopolitics.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>West Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a landlocked territory in West Asia.</li>
<li>It also contains a significant section of the western dead sea.</li>
<li>It was captured by Jordan after the Arab Israel war in 1948</li>
<li>However, Israel snatched it back during the Six-Day War of 1967 and has occupied it ever since.</li>
<li>At present, there are around 130 formal Israeli settlements along with 26 lakh Palestinians at West Bank.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Impact of the Deal</h3>
<p>The agreement could fast-track the changes that are already underway in the region.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tripolar Contest:</strong> The Saudi bloc (consisting of Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and others) sees its interests being aligned with that of the U.S. and Israel and their support for Palestine, which Arab powers had historically upheld, is dwindling, while Turkey and Iran emerge as the strongest supporters of the Palestinians in the Muslim world.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This tripolar contest is already at work in West Asia. The UAE-Israel thaw could sharpen it further.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Setback to Palestinian Statehood:</strong> Unlike the past two Arab-Israeli peace agreements, Palestinians do not figure prominently in the current one. The Palestinians are understandably upset. They called the UAE&rsquo;s decision &ldquo;treason&rdquo;
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, Israel&rsquo;s pledge not to go ahead with the annexation of one-third of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, for the time being, will be cold comfort for the Palestinians.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Further Deeping of Sectoral Divide:</strong> In all of this, a fault line in West Asia is likely to deepen between Sunni Muslim states and Iran, as well as that country&rsquo;s allies in Syria and in Lebanon.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These Sunni states, led by Saudi Arabia and UAE and backed by the United States in collaboration with Israel, are building a buffer against Iran.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: How India Should Respond?</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s geopolitical interests are in <strong>close alignment with stability in West Asia.</strong> Therefore, standing up for the region and opposing the forces of regional destabilisation should be at the very heart of India&rsquo;s foreign policy in the region. In this context, India&rsquo;s West Asia policy should adhere to following four principles.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Acting as a Peace Negotiator:</strong> India should act as a mediator to normalize the relationship between West Asian countries, especially between Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey and Iran.</li>
<li><strong>Opposing Foreign Interventions in the Region:</strong> In the past, those came from the West and Israel. Today, most Arabs see the greatest threat to their security from Turkish and Iranian interventions.</li>
<li><strong>Aiding Arab Economic Integration:</strong> India should extend support to Arab economic integration, intra-Arab political reconciliation and the strengthening of regional institutions.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening Ties With All Major Players in the Region:</strong> India&rsquo;s geopolitical interests are in close alignment with those in the Arab Centre including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman. Thus, India needs to make strong ties with the region.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Interest in West Asia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Geopolitically West Asia occupies an important position in international relations due to its <strong>geographical location and proximity to continents and countries</strong> South Asia, China, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa.</li>
<li>The region is strategically significant due to its <strong>enormous energy resources, trade route links</strong> to different parts of the world.</li>
<li>It is the world's largest oil-producing region accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of crude oil exports and 48% of oil proven reserves.</li>
<li>India has been <strong>heavily dependent on energy supplies</strong> from the region, while Indian expatriates have constituted a substantial share of the regional labour market.</li>
<li><strong>Remittances from the region</strong> constitute a major chunk of total remittances to India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598619653_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598619653_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="512" height="401" /></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: #fffde3;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Analyse how the recent UAE-Israel peace deal will impact the region and India?</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eQgoRLVgcJM" 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.hindustantimes.com/analysis/ndhm-will-radically-transform-health-care/story-IMu0xWNY3uIVdVJvw7HSwO.html#:~:text=Through%20the%20adoption%20of%20digital,affordable%20prices%20as%20well%20as" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;NDHM&thinsp;will radically transform health care&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on August 27<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 70
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 303
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

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

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