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Rescued Exotic Animals

Why in News Recently six blue or hyacinth macaws and two capuchin monkeys were released in the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden in...

09 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Ethics in Journalism

Gandhian Ethics on Journalism "The sole aim of journalism should be service. The newspaper is a great power, but just as an unchained torrent of...

09 Nov 2020 Paper 4
French Secularism

This article is based on “French classroom lessons” which was published in The Indian Express on 07/11/2020. It talks about the issues...

07 Nov 2020 News Editorials
Covid-19 and Tinnitus

Why in News New research has found that Tinnitus is being exacerbated by Covid-19 and also by the measures being taken to fight the...

07 Nov 2020 News Analysis
WhatsApp UPI and NPCI Regulations

Why in News Recently, WhatsApp (a unit of Facebook) has introduced payments services in India following approval by the National Payments...

07 Nov 2020 News Analysis
India-Italy Bilateral Summit

Why in News Recently, a virtual Bilateral Summit between India and Italy has been held to comprehensively review the broad framework of the...

07 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Kartarpur Sahib

Why in News India has criticized Pakistan’s decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara from a Sikh body to a separate...

07 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Radio Burst in Milky Way

Why in News Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has spotted fast Radio Burst for the first time in the Milky...

07 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Central Armed Police Forces

This article is based on “The crucial expertise of CAPFs” which was published in The Hindu on 06/11/2020. It talks about the challenges...

06 Nov 2020 News Editorials
India’s Annual Resolution on Counter-Terror

Why in News Recently, India’s annual resolution on the issue of counter-terrorism was adopted by consensus in the First Committee of the...

06 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards

Why in News Recently, the Union Minister of Science and Technology has given Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Awards to encourage...

06 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Metro Neo

Why in News The Centre is planning to approve national standard specifications for Metro Neo, a no-frills, low-cost urban rail transit system...

06 Nov 2020 News Analysis
World Food Programme (WFP)

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies...

06 Nov 2020 International Institutions
Virtual Global Investor Roundtable

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister has chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR), with an aim to attract investment into the...

06 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Academic Freedom in India

Why in News India has scored considerably low in the international Academic Freedom Index (AFI) with a score of 0.352. Academic freedom, in...

06 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Promoting South Asian Tourism

This article is based on “How India can take the lead in reviving tourism in South Asia” which was published in The Hindustan Times on...

05 Nov 2020 News Editorials
India-UAE Meet on Investments

Why in News Recently, the eighth meeting of the India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments has been virtually hosted by India in the wake...

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Tele-Law

Why in News Tele-Law touched a new milestone on october 30th 2020 by providing legal advice to 4 million beneficiaries through Common Service...

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award-2020

Why in News Recently, Dr. Susanta Kar of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow has...

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Hurricane Eta

Why in News Recently, Hurricane Eta has hit northeastern Nicaragua with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flash flooding...

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Rescued Exotic Animals',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently six<strong> blue or hyacinth macaws</strong> and two <strong>capuchin monkeys</strong> were released in the <strong>Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden in Guwahati.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, a large consignment of exotic animals was confiscated by the <strong>Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)</strong> in the same region.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Provisions Related to Illegal Wildlife Trade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Illegally exotic animals are <strong>confiscated under Section 111 of the Customs Act, 1962</strong> which is read with the provision of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES</strong> </a><strong>and the Foreign Trade Policy (Import-Export Policy) of India.</strong></li>
<li>Also, Sections 48 and 49 of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Protection Act</strong> </a>prohibit trade or commerce in wild animals, animal articles or trophies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The possibility of spread of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zoonotic diseases</strong></a> on account of smuggling in such exotic species is increasingly becoming a global concern against the backdrop of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19.</a></strong></li>
<li>Illegal wildlife trade was ranked the <strong>fourth largest transnational organised crime</strong> globally, after the smuggling of narcotics, counterfeit goods and human trafficking.</li>
<li><strong>West Bengal and northeast India</strong> are vulnerable to cross-border wildlife smuggling because of their proximity to the Bangladesh and Myanmar borders, and to Thailand.</li>
<li>Many international organisations involved in wildlife crime use the Indo-Bangladesh Border for various other illegal activities, such as smuggling of drugs, commercial goods, and even gun-running, apart from illegal movement of foreign currency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Guwahati Zoo was established in 1957.</li>
<li>The Zoo is located in the <strong>Hengrabari Reserve Forest</strong> in the capital city of Guwahati.</li>
<li>Owing to its rich fauna, the Assam State Zoo is popularly known as <strong>"Green Lung"</strong> of the Guwahati city.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Blue Macaws<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604914233_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604914233_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scientific Name: <em><strong>Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus</strong></em></li>
<li>It is a parrot native to central and eastern South America.</li>
<li>With a length of about one meter it is longer than any other species of parrot.</li>
<li>It is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species.</li>
<li><strong>Threat:</strong> Habitat loss and the trapping of wild birds for the pet trade have taken a heavy toll on their population in the wild.</li>
<li><strong>Protection status :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List</a>: Vulnerable.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):</strong> Appendix I.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Capuchin Monkeys<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604914215_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604914215_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scientific name: <strong>Cebus.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Capuchin Monkeys,</strong> also called <strong>sapajou,</strong> is a common Central and South American primate found in tropical forests from Nicaragua to Paraguay.</li>
<li>They are named for their &ldquo;caps&rdquo; of hair, which resemble the cowls of Capuchin monks.</li>
<li><strong>Protection status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List:</strong> Least concerned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/guwahati-zoo-becomes-home-for-rescued-exotic-animals/article33051833.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Ethics in Journalism',
			'catname' => 'Paper 4',
			'desc' => '<h3>Gandhian Ethics on Journalism</h3>
<p>"The sole aim of journalism should be service. The newspaper is a great power, but just as an unchained torrent of water submerges the whole countryside and devastates crops, even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy."- Mahatma Gandhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Idea of Social Responsibility:</strong> While recognising that the newspaper is a great power", Mahatma Gandhi- himself a great journalist and editor, was very clear about the objectives of journalism and why it shouldn't be an unchained torrent of water. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He wasn't referring to external curbs or control on free speech and freedom of the press - both of which he always supported and fought for. Instead, he was articulating the idea of social responsibility of journalism.</li>
<li>This simply put, means that journalism must be socially responsible, serve the people with devotion, and educate them while <strong>avoiding sensationalism, distortion and manipulation of facts</strong> in the news reports, and not compromise with ethical standards of journalism for profit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance of Journalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Voice of voiceless:</strong> As the fourth estate of democracy and voice of voiceless'. The news media and the institution of journalism plays a crucial role for keeping the citizens informed about powerful instruments of public information, opinion and debates.</li>
<li><strong>Public watchdog:</strong> One cannot imagine a vibrant democracy without a vibrant, independent and critical news media which not only disseminates news and views of public importance but also acts as a watchdog that monitors, investigates and critically examines the functioning of key organs and institutions of the State, and evaluates the performances of those in the public office and holds the accountable.</li>
<li><strong>Enhances vibrance of democracy:</strong> An independent news media which includes legacy media like newspapers, magazines, television radio and new media like online news portals and digital news platforms, has been integral to democracy's long and tumultuous journey. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over time, it has evolved with democracy, especially in the late 19 and 20' century. There and vibrant media is treated as a key parameter for the success of a democracy and in fact, is among the crucial factors in measuring its health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shaping the public perception:</strong> It has an influential role in shaping public perception, setting the agenda for public debate and its widespread impact on the society, politics, economy, culture and governance, news media and journalism enjoys a powerful position in a democratic society. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, Napoleon Bonaparte had once famously said, "Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets."</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Features of Responsible Journalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Transparency and accountability:</strong> The credibility and respect doesn't come free or as a gift to the news media but eamed and sustained by adhering to the ethical and moral standards of journalism. News media must also follow the principles and norms of journalism and be transparent and accountable for its reportage, commentary and overall functioning.</li>
<li><strong>Maintaining journalistic ethics</strong>: Like other public-facing professions, journalism too has also evolved with a set of ethical principles, standards and norms for fulfilling its social responsibility and serving the citizens better by ensuring the quality of content and highest professional standards in gathering, processing, filtering and dissemination of news and views. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Journalistic ethics</strong> are basically a set of principles, standards, guidelines and code of conduct prepared for professional journalists. It deals with conduct, character and behavior of a journalist and how she works before, during and after the news gathering and dissemination process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Self regulation:</strong> Generally, it is expected from the news media outlets and its professional journalists to not only strictly follow these principles and norms but to also self-regulate in alignment with them. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But given the non-mandatory and voluntary nature of journalistic ethics, there are always complaints of violation by journalists and news media outlets.</li>
<li>There is no denying the fact that a section of news media outlets are either willingly or unwillingly deviating from or compromising on journalistic ethics to attract more readers or viewers, for some personal gains and generally, at the altar of commercial interests and to boost their bottom-lines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Journalism in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Erosion of ethics in journalism:</strong> In India instances of violation of ethical norms and principles; from indulging in Paid News, spreading Fake News, engaging sensationalism and exaggerating trivial stories, creating misleading headlines, breach of privacy, distortion of facts has increased manifold.</li>
<li><strong>Biased reporting:</strong> Openly taking sides and bias in reporting. Besides this, many mainstream news media outlets and their journalists are found to be engaging in one-sided media trials, lobbying for personal gains, blackmailing, manipulating news stories, engaging in malicious and defamatory reporting, running propaganda and disinformation campaigns.</li>
<li><strong>Misuse of freedom of speech and press:</strong> There is a growing concern in the country that many Indian news media outlets have shown little respect for journalistic ethics and norms by regularly crossing the limits and becoming habitual offenders. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In fact, the critics of unethical conduct of the news media are demanding stringent regulation in place of ineffective self regulatory mechanism and their voices are growing louder day by day.</li>
<li>It may be noted that like many other liberal democracies, India too recognises the primacy of the Freedom of the Press and allows for self regulation of news media</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Manipulation of TRPs:</strong> Recently, various claims have been made about the manipulation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/television-rating-points" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>TRPs (Target Rating Points)</strong></a> by some TV channels by rigging the devices used by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TRP is the metric used by the marketing and advertising agencies to evaluate viewership. It represents how many people, from which socio-economic categories, watched which channels for how much time during a particular period. This period is one minute as per the international standards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reforms Initiated in U.S.A</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pollution of democractic discourse:</strong> Earlier due to <strong>yellow journalism,</strong> newspapers in the USA were riddled with sensational crime stories with exaggerated headlines, pictures and sketches. There was cut throat competition and a mad rush to attract more readers and maximising the profits for newspapers' owners. But this was also polluting the democratic discourse, distorting the public opinion, impairing the citizens' right and negatively affecting their democratic choices and decisions.</li>
<li><strong>Campaign for reforms:</strong> Slowly a concerted campaign started in the US and many other countries in the early 20h century to bring in ethics and principles with a set of guidelines and code of conduct for news media and journalists. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Canons of journalism:</strong> In the US, in 1922, <strong>the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE)</strong> adopted a set of ethical principles titled "Canons of Journalism', which was later revised and renamed 'Statement of Principles in 1975.</li>
<li><strong>Key principles:</strong> The ASNE proposed<strong> six key principles;</strong> Responsibility, Freedom of the Press, Independence, Truth and Accuracy, Impartiality and Fair Play. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These principles were devised to professionalise the news media and journalism and to set it to ethical standards to monitor and evaluate the journalistic work and its contents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hutchins Commission:</strong> This Commission was established to review the functioning of the press and the impact of media ownership on its content. The Commission reiterated that while the freedom of press is paramount, it also has a moral obligation to consider the well-being of the general public when making its decisions and choices.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provided a strong philosophical basis for adopting these ethical norms and standards for improving the quality of news media and journalism. The report echoed Gandhi's concerns of<strong> "an uncontrollable pen"</strong> while stressing that its <strong>"sole aim should be service":</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Yellow journalism:</strong> It is a style of newspaper reporting that emphasizes sensationalism over facts. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this the use of lurid features and sensationalized news in newspaper publishing to attract readers and increase circulation.</li>
<li>The phrase was coined in the 1890s to describe the tactics employed in the furious competition between two New York City newspapers, the World and the Journal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Acts and Agencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Press Council of India (PCI):</strong> A <strong>statutory and quasi-judicial body,</strong> was established by an Act of Parliament. It functions as a "watchdog of the press, for the press and by the press". <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its two broad objectives are-safeguarding the freedom of the press and to improve its quality and standards.</li>
<li>It works on the premise of self regulation of print media but has <strong>no punitive powers.</strong></li>
<li>It can only censure, warn or ask newspapers to issue apologies and corrections.</li>
<li>It has also put out a detailed<strong> "Norms of Journalistic Conduct"</strong> which it expects journalists and newspapers to follow with utmost care and diligence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>News Broadcasting Standard Authority (NBSA):</strong> It is a <strong>non-governmental body,</strong> it oversees the news channels. It has issued a <strong>"Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards"</strong> for its member news channels who had voluntarily pledged to follow it. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Like the PCI, the NBSA too is <strong>headed by a retired Supreme Court judge</strong> and its other members comprise well-known people belonging to civil society and editors of TV news channels.</li>
<li>It receives complaints of violation of technical norms against member TV news channels and decides after hearing all the sides. Additionally, it has the power of imposing a fine that can go up to Rs. one lakh against an errant channel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995:</strong> Apart from the NBSA, the news channels are also regulated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&amp;B) under the <strong>Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995</strong> which contains a "programme code" and an "advertising code"' to which news channels have to adhere. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Their adherence to this code is, in fact, one of the pre-conditions for obtaining the license for a news channel. The I&amp;B Ministry, on some rare occasions, for violation of "programme code has taken strict action against errant channels while on others has issued advisories to the news channels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with the Existing Architecture of Regulation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ineffective in reforming unethical conducts:</strong> The real question facing is how effective is the present architecture of news media regulation in India considering the growing instances of violation of ethical principles and norms by the news media and journalists.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of introspection:</strong> Apart from jurists, intellectuals and civil society members, many senior journalists and editors themselves are not happy with the present state of journalistic ethics in India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are calling for serious introspection from news media outlets and the journalists' community to take steps to minimise the flouting of ethical norms, and to take corrective measures and honest initiatives to improve the quality and standards of the news media in India.</li>
<li>News media outlets have to understand that it's in their own interest to follow ethical norms to sustain public faith in them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Initiating discussions on reforms:</strong> Professional bodies like the Editors Guild of India, NBA and statutory bodies like PCI can take lead and initiate debate and discussion on this issue and propose remedial measures. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Everyone knows the cost of failure would be very high as witnessed in the News of the World scandal in the UK. In India too, a chorus demanding harsher regulation is gaining momentum.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Imposing reasonable restrictions on the media:</strong> While demanding punitive power for the Press Council of India, it is articulated that there is no freedom which is absolute. All freedoms are subject to reasonable restrictions, and are also coupled with responsibilities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In a democracy everyone is accountable to the people, and so is the media. Therefore Indian media must now introspect and develop a sense of responsibility and maturity. One hopes that the Indian news media will remember the advice and warning of Mahatma Gandhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strict adherence to ethical norms:</strong> It is also important that the saner voices within the media fraternity will see the warning signs and act fast to restore the credibility of the news media and journalism as a profession by ensuring adherence to ethical norms, try to win citizens' confidence and work to strengthen the social contract with the public.</li>
</ul>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper4/ethics-in-journalism'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'French Secularism',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/france-secularism-emmanuel-macron-islamic-radicalism-6981220/lite/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;French classroom lessons&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 07/11/2020. It talks about the issues pertaining to the France model of secularism.</p>
</div>
<p>The latest crisis in France which emanated from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-in-support-of-france" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>killing of a middle-school history teacher</strong></a> and followed up killings in French city of Nice has once again brought France's unique model of secularism into spotlight.</p>
<p>French la&iuml;cit&eacute;, or secularism is better understood as a project of social cohesion and a key component of French citizenship. It encompasses not simply the formal separation of Church and State, but also the removal of religious values from the public space and their replacement with secular values such as liberty, equality, and fraternity.</p>
<p>This has caused social tension in French society and pushes the country to re-articulate its liberal values in a way that lessens its internal tensions. In this pursuit France can derive inspiration from <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/secularism-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian model of secularism.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Evolution of French Secularism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The French model of secularism was developed during the French Revolution in 1905, when a French law separated the church and the state, thus marking the beginnings of French secularism (la&iuml;cit&eacute;) in modern times.</li>
<li>La&iuml;cit&eacute;&rdquo; derives from the French term for laity&mdash;non-clergy or lay people.</li>
<li>Broadly, the idea refers to the freedom of citizens and of public institutions from the influence of organized religion.</li>
<li>The new Act defined three essential principles: Freedom of conscience, equality in law for spiritual and religious belief, and neutrality of political power.</li>
<li>This secular outlook was strengthened by another constitutional right &mdash; the right to freedom of expression.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In pursuance of this, French school teachers today are thus actively encouraged to foster a fearless spirit of inquiry, regardless of religion or any other hindrance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This French secular tradition was further fortified in the face of new challenges posed by immigration, largely from former French colonies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2004, another law was promulgated, banning schoolchildren from wearing any overt signs or clothes that would betray their religious affiliation.</li>
<li>This was an effort to create a unique school space, where everyone would look equal and &ldquo;religiously anonymous&rdquo; &mdash; no crosses, no headscarves or burqas, no turbans, no Jewish kippahs (skullcaps).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges Related to French Model of Secularism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Changed Demographics:</strong> In early 20<sup>th</sup>-century France&mdash;a fairly homogeneous, Christian nation. French model of secularism was a straightforward attempt to protect the government from the sway of the Catholic Church.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, modern France is a more heterogeneous and multi-religious society. Thus, the current model of French secularism is getting into conflict with rights of minorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against Freedom of Religion:</strong> Critics of la&iuml;cit&eacute; argue that it is a disguised form of anti-clericalism and infringement on individual right to religious expression, and that, instead of promoting freedom of thought and freedom of religion, it prevents the believer from observing his or her religion.</li>
<li><strong>Undermining Civil Liberties:</strong> La&iuml;cit&eacute; is also criticized for increasing police powers that could endanger respect for civil liberties.</li>
<li><strong>Prompting Radicalization:</strong> La&iuml;cit&eacute; is unintelligible and even shocking to religious minorities, who view it as an injunction to abandon their religion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Instead of enhancing social harmony, it may actually be exacerbating religious and racial tensions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Inspiration that France Can Draw From Indian Secularism</h3>
<p>French integration model, which is enshrined in the country&rsquo;s Constitution appears to be not in synergy with the emergence of multiculturalism. In this context, France can imbibe the philosophy of Indian Secularism. Following are philosophical underpinning of Indian model of Secularism:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sarva Dharma Sambhava:</strong> Indian philosophy of secularism is related to &ldquo;Sarva Dharma Sambhava&rdquo; (literally it means that the destination of the paths followed by all religions is the same, though the paths themselves may be different) which means equal respect to all religions.</li>
<li><strong>Positive secularism:</strong> This concept, embraced and promoted by personalities like Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi is called &lsquo;Positive secularism&rsquo; that reflects the dominant ethos of Indian culture.</li>
<li><strong>Religious Plurality:</strong> Indian secularism is not an end in itself but a means to address religious plurality and sought to achieve peaceful coexistence of different religions.</li>
<li><strong>Protection of Minority Rights:</strong> Indian Secularism deals not only with the religious freedom of individuals but also with the religious freedom of minority communities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In a pluralistic society, the best approach to nurture secularism is to expand religious freedom rather than strictly practicing state neutrality. Thus, it is incumbent on French society to ensure value-education that makes the younger generation understand and appreciate not only its own religious traditions but also those of the other religions in the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604751523_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604751523_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fafaff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Toleration, not suppression, of difference is the only policy that&rsquo;s really compatible with a heterogeneous society&rdquo;. Discuss the statement in light of issues related to French model of Secularism.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pM1B3w0H378" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/worst-over-for-the-economy-not-covid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Worst Over for the Economy, Not Covid&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Economic Times on November 06<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/french-secularism'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Covid-19 and Tinnitus',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>New research has found that <strong>Tinnitus</strong> is being exacerbated by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> and also by the measures being taken to fight the infection.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The research was led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK, with support from the British Tinnitus Association and the American Tinnitus Association.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The research covered 3,103 people with tinnitus from 48 countries, mostly from the UK and the USA.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tinnitus</strong> is a common condition that <strong>causes the perception of noise or ringing in the ears and head.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It found that 40% of those <strong>displaying symptoms of Covid-19</strong> simultaneously experience a<strong> worsening of their tinnitus.</strong></li>
<li>A small number of participants reported that <strong>their tinnitus condition was initially triggered by developing Covid-19</strong> symptoms.This suggests that <strong>tinnitus could be a Covid symptom</strong> in some cases.</li>
<li>A large proportion of people believe their <strong>tinnitus is being made worse by social distancing measures.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As many as 46% of UK respondents said that lifestyle changes had negatively impacted their tinnitus, compared to 29% in North America.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In<strong> another study</strong> published in BMJ Case Reports, researchers stated <strong>the possible ways through which Covid -19 can affect hearing.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The presence of <strong>ACE-2</strong> human <strong>receptors</strong> that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SARS-CoV-2</strong> </a>binds with.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The receptor was recently found to be expressed in the epithelial cells in the middle ear of mice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another way that could affect hearing is through the immune <strong>system response to the infection.</strong> In this case, the<strong> inflammatory responses and an increase in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-cytokine-storms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cytokines</a></strong> due to infection could lead to hearing loss in case there is direct entry into the cochlea leading to inflammation and cell stress.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> cochlea</strong> contains the sensory organ of hearing.</li>
<li><strong>Cytokines</strong> are inflammatory immunological proteins that are there to fight off infections and ward off cancers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Earlier, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists have noted a growing number of patients with<strong> anosmia (the abrupt loss of smell)</strong> and<strong> ageusia (loss of sense of taste).</strong> Both <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anosmia-and-ageusia-possible-signs-of-covid-19#:~:text=Recently%2C%20Ear%2C%20Nose%20and%20Throat,people%20who%20otherwise%20appear%20well." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>anosmia and ageusia could be signs of Covid-19</strong> </a>in people who otherwise appear well.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Tinnitus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tinnitus is the perception of <strong>noise or ringing in the ears.</strong></li>
<li>Tinnitus <strong>isn't a condition itself &mdash;</strong> it's a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or a circulatory system disorder.</li>
<li>Tinnitus can significantly <strong>affect quality of life.</strong> One may experience fatigue, stress, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, memory problems, depression, anxiety and irritability, etc.</li>
<li>Although it can worsen with age, for many people, tinnitus can improve with treatment. Treating an identified underlying cause sometimes helps. Other treatments reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.</li>
<li><strong>Treatments</strong> may include <strong>hearing aids, sound-masking devices, medicines, and ways to learn how to cope with the noise.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/covid-19-can-make-tinnitus-worse-6991346/" 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/covid-19-and-tinnitus'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'WhatsApp UPI and NPCI Regulations',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>WhatsApp</strong> (a unit of Facebook) has <strong>introduced payments services in India</strong> following approval by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NPCI approval also follows another recent <strong>direction imposing a cap of 30% of the total volume of transactions processed in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/payment-revolution-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unified Payments Interface</a></strong> (UPI), applicable to all third-party app providers, <strong>effective from 1<sup>st</sup> January 2021.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UPI is a<strong> single platform that merges various banking services and features</strong> under one umbrella and turns<strong> smartphones into a virtual debit card,</strong> allowing <strong>real-time bank-to-bank payments</strong> to be made using a mobile number or virtual payment address (UPI ID).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>WhatsApp UPI in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>People can send <strong>money on WhatsApp to anyone using a UPI supported app.</strong></li>
<li>India is <strong>one of the biggest markets for WhatsApp,</strong> which first started testing its UPI-based payments system in 2018 and would now <strong>compete with existing players such as Paytm, Google Pay, Amazon Pay and PhonePe.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>working with five leading banks in India</strong> viz. ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, the State Bank of India, and Jio Payments Bank.</li>
<li>However, <strong>not all users in India would be able to access</strong> payment features because NPCI had mandated <strong>expansion</strong> of WhatsApp&rsquo;s UPI user base<strong> in a graded manner</strong> starting with a maximum registered user base of 20 million.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Imposition of 30% Cap:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The guidelines stipulate<strong> any entity not exceeding 30% of the total transaction volume to be in compliance.</strong> However,<strong> entities exceeding</strong> the said market share have been given time<strong> till 2023 to comply.</strong></li>
<li>The cap will be calculated on the <strong>basis of total volume of transactions processed in UPI during the preceding three months on a rolling basis.</strong></li>
<li>Seeing the <strong>recent growth in UPI transaction volumes,</strong> NPCI analysed the <strong>risks in the UPI ecosystem</strong> and introduced the cap.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The idea for a 30% cap on UPI transaction volumes was <strong>first brought up in a meeting of the NPCI&rsquo;s Steering Committee on UPI in 2019</strong> after concerns of <strong>rising dominance with non-bank third-party app providers</strong> were raised.</li>
<li>As of <strong>October 2019, Google Pay and PhonePe</strong> together had around <strong>80% of transaction volumes</strong> in UPI on their platforms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NPCI is <strong>yet to issue the risk assessment</strong> of the UPI ecosystem on the basis of which the new norms were brought in and <strong>the Standard Operating Procedure</strong> (SOP) for the newly introduced restrictions on transaction volumes.</li>
<li>Another reason is<strong> banks&rsquo; concerns about the sudden rise in transaction volumes and the subsequent load</strong> on their systems, especially after the introduction of WhatsApp UPI.</li>
<li>The move could <strong>disincentivize platforms from on-boarding customers of a lower ticket size</strong> and in effect, <strong>could prevent the efforts to accelerate digital payments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Payments Corporation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>umbrella organisation for all retail payments systems</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It was set up with the guidance and support of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India</strong></a> (RBI) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-2-0-banking-reforms-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Banks&rsquo; Association</strong></a> (IBA).</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To consolidate and integrate the existing multiple systems into a nation-wide uniform and standard business process for all retail payment systems.</li>
<li>To facilitate an affordable payment mechanism to benefit the common man across the country and propel financial inclusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Digital payments in India is still in its development phase and any interventions at this point should be made with a view to accelerate consumer choice and innovation. A choice based and open model is key to drive this momentum.</li>
<li>The 30% cap has implications for hundreds of millions of users who use UPI for their daily payments and it could impact the further adoption of UPI and the end goal of financial inclusion.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/whatsapp-introducespayment-services-in-india/article33042793.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/whatsapp-upi-and-npci-regulations'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'India-Italy Bilateral Summit',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <strong>virtual Bilateral Summit between India and Italy</strong> has been held to comprehensively review the broad framework of the bilateral relationship and also strengthen cooperation against common global challenges, including the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic.</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604741531_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604741531_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="400" height="283" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both nations decided to adopt the <strong>Action Plan for an enhanced Partnership between India and Italy (2020-2024)</strong> to set up priorities, strategic goals and mechanisms of a bilateral partnership.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604741531_image3.png">Economic Engagement:</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral fora especially <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G-20</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Italy will assume the Presidency of G-20 in December 2021 followed by India in 2022.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saudi-arabia-becomes-first-arab-nation-to-head-g20" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saudi Arabia is holding the current presidency</strong></a> of G20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Memorandum of Understanding</strong> (MoU) between <strong>Cassa Depositi Prestiti</strong> (CDP), an Italian investment bank and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Infrastructure Investment Fund</strong></a> (NIIF) to <strong>promote innovative financial schemes</strong> capable of supporting bilateral investments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Italy is <strong>India&rsquo;s fifth-largest trading partner in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a> (EU).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Underscored the need to<strong> further expand defence engagement</strong> through greater two-way collaboration and technology cooperation, co-development and co-production.</li>
<li>Recognised the opportunity to<strong> consolidate defence relations with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of peacekeeping activities</strong> within the framework of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> (UN).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation During Covid-19 Pandemic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Italy thanked India for extending support during the pandemic</strong> by supplying medicines and personal protection equipment (PPE).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Indian community in Italy is the <strong>second-largest community of Indians in Europe after the UK.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Reiterated that the pandemic calls for an inclusive multilateral approach to health protection, especially in the framework of the UN and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></a> (WHO).</li>
<li>Welcomed the <strong>World Health Summit,</strong> which will be held in Italy in 2021, in cooperation with the <strong>European Union</strong> (EU) Commission.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The World Health Summit is <strong>one of the world&rsquo;s leading strategic forums for global health</strong> and is held in <strong>October every year.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Science, Technology and Research Collaboration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Welcomed the progress made under <strong>India-Italy Science and Technology Cooperation</strong> and the <strong>India-Italy Executive Programme of Cooperation.</strong></li>
<li>Welcomed the <strong>establishment of Thematic Working Groups</strong> as a method of work between the <strong>Italian Space Agency</strong> (ASI) and the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Space Research Organisation</strong> </a>(ISRO) as well as the creation of the<strong> first joint ASI-ISRO working group in heliophysics.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Heliophysics</strong> is the study of the effects of the Sun on the Solar System.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation for Counter-Terrorism and Security:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pledged to strengthen cooperation in the<strong> fight against <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">terrorism</a> and transnational crime</strong> both at a bilateral level and in multilateral fora and also agreed to hold the next meeting of the<strong> &lsquo;India-Italy Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism&rsquo;</strong> to further advance cooperation, exchange of expertise and capacity building in 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Cooperation and Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Italy acknowledged the potential of new international organisations such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure#:~:text=The%20Union%20Cabinet%20has%20given,on%2023rd%20September%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructures</strong></a> (CDRI) and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/third-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a> (ISA).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India welcomed Italy joining ISA after it coming into force of the universalisation of ISA.</li>
<li>India also welcomed Italy&rsquo;s engagement in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association</strong> </a>(IORA) and <strong>Italy&rsquo;s new status as Development Partner</strong> of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Cooperation on Environment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc#:~:text=It%20aims%3A,and%20switch%20to%20renewable%20energy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change</strong></a> (UNFCCC) and its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-renewed-support-for-paris-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong> </a>and their respective <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/11-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nationally determined contributions</strong></a> (NDCs).</li>
<li>Highlighted the <strong>significance of cooperation in the run-up to the 26<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties</strong> (COP26) of the UNFCCC, which will be <strong>organised in 2021 by the UK</strong> in partnership with Italy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1670763" 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/india-italy-bilateral-summit'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Kartarpur Sahib',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has criticized Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to<strong> transfer the management</strong> of the <strong>Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara</strong> from a Sikh body to a separate trust.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, also known as the <strong>Gurdwara Darbar Sahib,</strong> is located in Pakistan&rsquo;s Narowal district across river Ravi. It is one of the most significant historical and spiritual places for Sikhs.</li>
<li>According to historians, the <strong>first Sikh Guru</strong> (Guru Nanak Dev) had arrived in Kartarpur between <strong>1520 and 1522,</strong> and <strong>spent the last 18 years of his life there.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was in Kartarpur where he laid the <strong>foundations of a Sikh religion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Kartarpur Corridor</strong> was thrown open in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kartarpur Corridor</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604727727_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604727727_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Kartarpur corridor<strong> connects the Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan</strong> with the<strong> Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur</strong> district Punjab, India.</li>
<li>The agreement facilitates <strong>visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims</strong> who would <strong>only need a permit</strong> to cross over to Pakistan.</li>
<li>The corridor was built in 2019 to <strong>commemorate the 550<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary</strong> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/guru-nanak-dev-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Guru Nanak Dev</strong></a>, founder of <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/sikhism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sikhism.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-condemns-pakistan-for-handing-over-kartarpur-gurdwara-management-to-non-sikh-body-6958927/" 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/kartarpur-sahib-1'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Radio Burst in Milky Way',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration</strong></a> (NASA) has spotted <strong>fast Radio Burst</strong> for the first time in the <strong>Milky Way.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fast Radio Burst:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FRB are <strong>bright bursts of radio waves</strong> (radio waves can be produced by astronomical objects with changing magnetic fields) whose<strong> durations lie in the millisecond-scale,</strong> because of which it is <strong>difficult to detect them</strong> and determine their position in the sky.</li>
<li>It was<strong> first discovered in 2007.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discovery of FRB in Milky Way:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NASA</strong> observed <strong>a mix of X-ray and radio signals</strong> never observed before in the Milky Way.</li>
<li>The X-ray portion of the simultaneous bursts was detected by several satellites, including <strong>NASA&rsquo;s Wind mission. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NASA&rsquo;s Wind</strong> is a spin stabilized spacecraft launched on 1st November, 1994. After several orbits through the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/1-d-simulation-code-to-study-earth-s-magnetosphere" target="_blank" rel="noopener">magnetosphere</a></strong>, Wind was placed in a halo orbit around the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aditya-l1-mission#:~:text=L1%20refers%20to%20Lagrangian%2FLagrange,of%20the%20Earth%2DSun%20system.&amp;text=The%20L1%20point%20is%20home,European%20Space%20Agency%20(ESA)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>L1 Lagrange point</strong></a> in early 2004 to observe the unperturbed solar wind that is about to impact the magnetosphere of Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> radio component</strong> was discovered by the <strong>Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME),</strong> a radio telescope located at Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in British Columbia, which is led by McGill University in Montreal, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Toronto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>CHIME</strong> is a novel radio telescope that has no moving parts. Originally conceived to map the most abundant element in the universe - hydrogen - over a good fraction of the observable universe, this unusual telescope is optimized to have a high "mapping speed".</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Source of FRB in Milky Way:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The source of the FRB detected recently in the Milky Way is a very powerful <strong>magnetic <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/evidence-of-supernova-remnants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neutron star</a></strong> referred to as a <strong>magnetar,</strong> called <strong>SGR 1935+2154 or SGR 1935,</strong> which is located in the <strong>constellation Vulpecula</strong> and is estimated to be between 14,000-41,000 light-years away.</li>
<li>The FRB was part of one of the magnetar&rsquo;s most prolific flare-ups, with the X-ray bursts lasting less than a second.</li>
<li>The radio burst, on the other hand, lasted for a thousandth of a second and was thousands of times brighter than any other radio emissions from magnetars seen in the Milky Way previously.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is possible that the FRB-associated burst was exceptional because it likely occurred at or close to the magnetar&rsquo;s magnetic pole.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This flare-up, which lasted for hours, was picked up by <strong>NASA&rsquo;s Fermi Gamma-ray Space telescope and NASA&rsquo;s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope,</strong> formerly called the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), is a space observatory being used to perform gamma-ray astronomy observations from low Earth orbit.</li>
<li><strong>NASA&rsquo;s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer</strong> is an<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-27-february-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Space Station (ISS)</strong> </a>payload devoted to the study of neutron stars through soft X-ray timing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Magnetar</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As per NASA, a <strong>magnetar</strong> is a neutron star, &ldquo;the crushed, city-size remains of a star many times more massive than the Sun.&rdquo;</li>
<li>The <strong>magnetic field of such a star is very powerful,</strong> which can be over 10 trillion times stronger than a refrigerator magnet and up to a thousand times stronger than a typical <strong>neutron star&rsquo;s.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Neutron stars</strong> are formed when the core of a massive star undergoes gravitational collapse when it reaches the end of its life. This results in the matter being so tightly packed that even a sugar-cube sized amount of material taken from such a star weighs more than 1 billion tons, which is about the same as the weight of Mount Everest, according to NASA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Magnetars are a subclass of these neutrons and occasionally release flares with more energy in a fraction of a second than the Sun is capable of emitting in tens of thousands of years.</li>
<li>In the case of<strong> SGR 1935,</strong> for instance, the X-ray portion of the simultaneous bursts it released recently carried as much energy as the Sun produces in a month, assuming that the magnetar lies towards the nearer end of its distance range.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-a-radio-burst-spotted-by-nasa-for-the-first-time-in-the-milky-way-6968134/" 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/radio-burst-in-milky-way'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Central Armed Police Forces',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-crucial-expertise-of-capfs/article33033884.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The crucial expertise of CAPFs&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 06/11/2020. It talks about the challenges and solutions for efficient functioning of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).</p>
</div>
<p>Under the Indian Constitution, police and public order are state subjects. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) assists state governments by providing them support of the Central Armed Police Forces.</p>
<p>Apart from this, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-armed-police-force-capf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)</strong> </a>performs a multidimentional role like protecting the borders of the nation from external aggression &amp; infiltration, aiding in internal security in combating insurgency, anti-naxalism and counter terrorism.</p>
<p>Further, these forces assist the civil population in various area development programs, community policing programs and disaster management. This can be reflected in the role played by these forces in dealing with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<p>However, there are many issues which need to be addressed for efficient working of these forces.</p>
<h3>Central Armed Police Forces</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs maintains seven CAPFs:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which assists in internal security and counterinsurgency.</li>
<li>The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which protects vital installations (like airports) and public sector undertakings.</li>
<li>The National Security Guards (NSG), which is a special counterterrorism force.</li>
<li>Four border guarding forces, which are the Border Security Force(BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Assam Rifles (AR).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604663880_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604663880_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Major Functions of CAPFs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Safeguard the security of borders of India and promote a sense of security among the people living in border areas.</li>
<li>Prevent trans-border crimes, smuggling, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India and to prevent any other illegal activity.</li>
<li>Provide security to sensitive installations, persons at security risk.</li>
<li>Restore and preserve order in any area in the event of disturbance therein.</li>
<li><strong>Other Functions:</strong> Counter Insurgency Operations, Anti Naxal Operations, Internal Security Duties, VIP Protection, Lead Intelligence Agency, Security To Diplomatic Missions Abroad, UN Peacekeeping Operations, Disaster Management, Civic Action Nodal agency for UN Police Missions, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Working Conditions:</strong> The Standing Committee on Home Affairs in the year 2017 had expressed concern over the working conditions of personnel of the border guarding forces.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Committee observed that they had to work 16-18 hours a day, with little time for rest or sleep.</li>
<li>The personnel were also not satisfied with medical facilities that had been provided at border locations.</li>
<li>In addition, the Standing Committee observed that personnel of the CAPFs have not been treated at par with the Armed Forces, in terms of pay and allowances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Operational Bottlenecks:</strong> All CAPFs have set up training institutions to meet their training requirements and impart professional skills on specialised topics.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there is an urgent need to upgrade the curriculum and infrastructure in these training institutes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impediments to Modernisation:</strong> The MHA has been making efforts to provide modern arms, ammunition, and vehicles to the CAPFs. In this regard, the Modernization Plan-II, for the period 2012-17, was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Plan aims to provide financial support to CAPFs for modernisation in areas of arms, clothing, and equipment.</li>
<li>However, the Estimates Committee observed that the procurement process under the Plan was cumbersome and time consuming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Burdened By States&rsquo; Responsibilities:</strong> There is heavy dependence of states on central armed police forces (CAPFs), even for everyday law and order issues.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This affects the anti-insurgency and border guarding operations, besides curtailing the training needs of these forces.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cadre Management Issue:</strong> Each of the seven has its own cadre of officers, but they are headed by officers of the Indian Police Service.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This has a demoralizing effect on the officers of the CAPFs, and impacts the effectiveness of the forces.</li>
<li>In addition, there was frustration in CAPFs due to stagnation in promotions and lack of cadre review.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Modernising the CAPFs:</strong> MHA should ensure the bottlenecks in procurement should be identified and corrective action should be taken.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the government should engage in negotiations with ordnance factories and manufacturers in the public or private sector, to ensure an uninterrupted supply of equipment and other infrastructure.</li>
<li>While purchasing the latest equipment, training needs should also be taken care of, and if required, should be included in the purchase agreement itself.</li>
<li>Moreover, given the evolution of hybrid warfare, the contents of training should be a mix of conventional matters as well as latest technologies such as ICT, and cyber security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting States&rsquo; Capacity:</strong> States must develop their own systems, and augment their police forces by providing adequate training and equipment.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The central government should supplement the efforts of state governments by providing financial assistance and other help needed by states for capacity building of their forces.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corrective Measures in Cadre Policy:</strong> Citing the dissatisfaction in Cadre policy, Joshi Committee recommended that top positions should be filled from the respective cadre of the CAPF.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the Committee recommended that cadre review of all the CAPFs should be carried out within a defined timeline.</li>
<li>It is high time to implement these recommendations as soon as possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Personnel Reforms:</strong> Workshops on stress management should regularly be undertaken, and yoga and meditation be made part of the daily exercise for CAPF personnel.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the provision of accommodation near the deployment of the respective force, to enable personnel to meet their family members, can also be explored.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>CAPF personnel give a semblance of existence of government administration even in the remotest corners of the country. Their versatile experience can be utilised to the nation&rsquo;s advantage. However, there is a need to address the underlying issues that affect the efficient working of CAPFs.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f5fff7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Central Armed Forces give a semblance of existence of government administration even in the remotest corners of the country. However, there are many issues that hamper their functioning. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Z-SqOPK9MM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/bihar-elections-agriculture-corn-revolution-6948497/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Just like corn&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on November 05<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/central-armed-police-forces'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'India’s Annual Resolution on Counter-Terror',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India&rsquo;s<strong> annual resolution on the issue of counter-terrorism</strong> was adopted by consensus in the First Committee of the <strong>United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s resolution<strong> &lsquo;Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction&rsquo;</strong> was <strong>co-sponsored by more than 75 countries</strong> and adopted by <strong>consensus without a vote.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, a victim of state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, has been at the forefront in highlighting the serious threat to international peace and security emanating from acquisition of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by terrorist groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s resolution predates the adoption of <strong>resolution 1540</strong> by the Security Council.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> resolution 1540 of the year 2004,</strong> the Security Council decided that all States shall refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in particular for terrorist purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>the UN has not agreed on a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/at-unga-india-call-for-early-adoption-of-ccit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)</a></strong> yet.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1996, with the objective of providing a comprehensible legal framework to counter terrorism, India proposed to the UNGA the adoption of the "Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism&rdquo; (CCIT).</li>
<li>CCIT seeks a universal definition of terrorism, prosecution of terrorists under special laws, making cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence worldwide, among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Weapon of Mass Destruction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WMD refers to a weapon with the capacity to inflict death and destruction on such a massive scale and so indiscriminately that its very presence in the hands of a hostile power can be considered a grievous threat.</li>
<li>Modern weapons of mass destruction are either nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons&mdash;frequently referred to collectively as <strong>NBC weapons.</strong></li>
<li>Efforts to control the spread of WMD are enshrined in international agreements such as the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/50-years-of-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty-npt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Nuclear</strong> </a><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/50-years-of-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty-npt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-proliferation Treaty</a> of 1968</strong>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/combating-bioterrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Biological Weapons Convention of 1972</strong></a>, and the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/25-02-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty of 1968.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has enacted an act to prohibit unlawful activities, in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems which is known as <strong>The Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of unlawful activities) Act, 2005.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNGA is <strong>one of the six principal organs of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a></strong>, serving as the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UN is an international organization founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States.</li>
<li>The <strong>other five organs</strong> of the UN are: Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the UN Secretariat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>First Committee of the UNGA</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>First Committee (Disarmament and International security)</strong> deals with disarmament, global challenges and threats to peace that affect the international community and seeks out solutions to the challenges in the international security regime.</li>
<li>The Committee works in close cooperation with the <strong>United Nations Disarmament Commission</strong> and the <strong>Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament.</strong> It is the <strong>only Main Committee</strong> of the General Assembly entitled to<strong> verbatim records coverage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-resolution-on-counter-terror-adopted-by-un-general-assembly-6968818/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source:IE</a></strong></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-annual-resolution-on-counter-terror'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Minister of Science and Technology has given<strong> Gandhian Young Technological Innovation</strong> (GYTI) <strong>Awards</strong> to encourage technology students to move towards setting up biotechnology and other start-ups.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GYTI awards constitute <strong>two categories</strong> of awards:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Students Innovations for Advancement of Research Explorations-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation</strong> (SITARE-GYTI):<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Given To:</strong> Every year to the most promising technologies developed by the students in life sciences, biotechnology, agriculture,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/medical-devices-in-india-issues-and-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> medical devices</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Given By:</strong> The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a public sector enterprise, set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technological Innovations-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation</strong> (SRISTI-GYTI):<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Given To:</strong> Every year to students in other engineering disciplines except for the ones covered by SITARE-GYTI.</li>
<li><strong>Given By:</strong> Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technological Innovations (SRISTI), a developmental voluntary organisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Initiatives Aimed at Boosting Start-Ups</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Social Responsibility Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, the government is working on a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/scientific-social-responsibility-policy#:~:text=Definition%3A,linkages%20between%20science%20and%20society." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scientific Social Responsibility Policy</strong> </a>with a focus on how efforts of scientists can benefit all sections of society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the flagship programme of BIRAC, which provides <strong>support to young startups and entrepreneurial individuals.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>largest early-stage biotech funding programme in India</strong> with the funding<strong> grant of up to Rs. 5 million</strong> to best in class innovative ideas to build and refine the idea to proof-of-concept.</li>
<li><strong>Aims:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Foster generation of ideas with commercialisation potential.</li>
<li>Upscale and validate proof of concept.</li>
<li>Encourage researchers to take technology closer to market through a start-up.</li>
<li>Stimulate enterprise formation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Encouraging Youth for Undertaking Innovative Research through Vibrant Acceleration (E-YUVA) Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will engage a number of universities and technology institutes to serve as mentors, which will help to create a pan-India network to encourage a larger number of student entrepreneurs.</li>
<li>It aims to <strong>promote a culture of applied research and need-oriented</strong> (societal or industry) entrepreneurial innovation among young students and researchers.</li>
<li>It is implemented through E-YUVA Centres (EYCs) to inculcate entrepreneurial culture through fellowship, pre-incubation and mentoring support.</li>
<li>It provides<strong> support for students under the following two categories:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BIRAC&rsquo;s Innovation Fellows (for postgraduates and above).</li>
<li>BIRAC&rsquo;s E-Yuva Fellows (for undergraduate students).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biologically-inspired Resilient Autonomic Cloud</strong> (BioRAC) helps more and more students who try to set up start-ups and <strong>help India become <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atmanirbhar</a></strong> (self-reliant).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BioRAC employs <strong>biologically inspired techniques and multi-level tunable redundancy techniques to increase attack and exploitation resilience</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/edge-computing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cloud computing</strong></a>, helping it tolerate and minimise the impact of novel <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyber-attacks.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1670367" 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/gandhian-young-technological-innovation-awards'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Metro Neo',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Centre is planning to approve national standard specifications for<strong> Metro Neo, a no-frills, low-cost urban rail transit system targeted at tier 2 and tier 3 cities.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Metro Neo is a <strong>mass rapid transit system providing low-cost, energy-efficient and eco-friendly urban transport solutions</strong> for tier 2 and tier 3 cities.</li>
<li>Drawing traction power from overhead wires, Metro Neo will<strong> not run on track but on road.</strong> It is <strong>suitable for places</strong> where the traffic demand is around 8,000 passengers one way in peak time.</li>
<li>Metro Neo systems are <strong>lighter and smaller than conventional Metro trains.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They <strong>cost about 25% of conventional systems</strong> but with <strong>similar facilities,</strong> and are <strong>cheaper than the other budget option Metrolite,</strong> which costs about 40% of the normal Metro.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Maharashtra government</strong> has already given a green signal for this state-of-the-art Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for <strong>Nashik.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Metro Trains and Metrolite:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> metro rail system</strong> being developed at present is <strong>of high capacity</strong> which is required for bigger cities with very high ridership and Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT).</li>
<li>Seeing the success of metro rail in the country, several other <strong>cities with lower projection of ridership</strong> are also <strong>aspiring for a rail based mass rapid transit system,</strong> which could be fulfilled by<strong> Light Urban Rail Transit System</strong> named <strong>"Metrolite"</strong> with lesser capacity at much less cost. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>'Metrolite' would also act as a <strong>feeder system to high capacity Metro.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other New Modes of Urban Mobility <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604650119_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604650119_image6.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hyperloop Transportation System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a transportation system where a <strong>pod-like vehicle</strong> is propelled through a near-vacuum tube connecting cities at <strong>speeds matching that of an aircraft.</strong></li>
<li>The hyperloop concept is a<strong> brainchild of Tesla founder Elon Musk.</strong> The hyperloop system is being designed to transport passengers and freight.</li>
<li>The USA-based Hyperloop Transport Technology (HTT) has claimed that it <strong>costs USD 40 million per kilometre to build a hyperloop system while building a high-speed train line would cost almost twice.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Maharashtra government</strong> had signed an agreement with<strong> Virgin group</strong> to build a Hyperloop in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pod Taxi:</strong> <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604650136_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604650136_image5.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2017, the <strong>National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)</strong> had called the expression of interest (EOI) for launching <strong>India&rsquo;s first driverless pod taxi systems</strong> on a 70 km stretch from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi to Manesar in Haryana. Pod Taxi Scheme is also called the<strong> Personal Rapid Transit (PRT).</strong></li>
<li>PRT consists of <strong>driverless vehicles</strong> in the shape of pods, which <strong>can hold two to six people each,</strong> and run along a predetermined course at <strong>80-130 km per hour.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India grapples <strong>with a host of mobility-related challenges</strong> like pollution and traffic congestion, thus it is essential to ramp up and optimise mobility services.</li>
<li>The <strong>focus</strong> has to be on promoting green, clean mobility. Electric vehicles are already on high priority on the government&rsquo;s agenda.</li>
<li>Further, mobility services should be convenient to access by the public and secure, even for the fringes of the demographic, including women, children and the elderly.</li>
<li>Cities are<strong> engines of economic growth.</strong> Thus, for a fast urbanising country such as India, we need such a fuel efficient mass rapid transit system to achieve <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals</strong> </a>and ensure movement of people instead of moving vehicles.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/metro-neo'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'World Food Programme (WFP)',
			'catname' => 'International Institutions',
			'desc' => '<p>The <strong>World Food Programme (WFP)</strong> is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was founded in 1961 by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)</strong></a> and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)</strong></a> with its headquarters in Rome, Italy.</li>
<li>It is also a member of the<strong> United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG)</strong>, a coalition of UN agencies and organizations aimed at fulfilling the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The WFP assists 88 countries, and has assisted 97 million people (in 2019) which is the largest number since 2012.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>WFP focuses on emergency assistance as well as rehabilitation and development aid.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two-thirds of its work is in conflict-affected countries, where people are three times more likely to be undernourished than elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It works closely with the other two Rome-based UN agencies: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),</strong> which helps countries draw up policy and change legislation to support sustainable agriculture</li>
<li>The <strong>International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),</strong> which finances projects in poor rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To end hunger by protecting access to food.</li>
<li>Improving nutrition and achieving food security.</li>
<li>Supporting the SDG implementation and partnering for its results.</li>
</ul>
<h3>WFP&rsquo;s Strategic Plan for 2017-2021</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was adopted just over a year after the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It aligns the organization&rsquo;s work to the 2030 Agenda&rsquo;s global call to action, which <strong>prioritizes efforts</strong> to <strong>end poverty, hunger</strong> and <strong>inequality,</strong> encompassing humanitarian as well as development efforts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Strategic Plan is guided by the SDGs set forth in the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 2 on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/achieving-zero-hunger-by-2030-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ending hunger</strong></a> and SDG 17 on revitalizing global partnerships for implementation of the SDGs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It ushers in a<strong> new planning and operational structure,</strong> including the implementation of results-based country portfolios that will maximize WFP&rsquo;s contribution to governments&rsquo; efforts towards achieving the SDGs.</li>
<li><strong>Responding to emergencies</strong> and saving lives and livelihoods &ndash; either through direct assistance, or by strengthening country capacities &ndash; remains at the heart of WFP&rsquo;s operations, especially as humanitarian needs become increasingly complex and protracted.</li>
<li>WFP will support countries in ensuring no one is left behind by continuing to<strong> build resilience for food security and nutrition</strong> and addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change and rising inequality.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Funding</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WFP has <strong>no independent source of funds,</strong> it is funded entirely by voluntary donations. Its principal donors are governments, but the organization also receives donations from the private sector and individuals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Governments:</strong> governments are the principal source of funding for WFP; the organization receives no dues or portions of the UN assessed contributions. On average, over 60 governments underwrite the humanitarian and development projects of WFP</li>
<li><strong>Corporates:</strong> Through corporate-giving programmes, individual companies make vital contributions to fighting hunger.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Donations from private and not-for-profit entities have included frontline support to several emergency operations; expertise to enhance WFP's logistics and fundraising capacities; and critical cash for school feeding.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Individuals:</strong> Individual contributions can make a difference in the lives of the hungry. A personal donation can provide:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Emergency food rations during a crisis</li>
<li>Special food for hungry children in schools.</li>
<li>Food incentives to encourage poor families to send their girls to school.</li>
<li>Food as payment for people to rebuild schools, roads and other infrastructure in the wake of conflicts and natural disasters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Share the Meal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ShareTheMeal is an initiative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).</li>
<li>Donations from the ShareTheMeal app support various WFP operations ranging from resilience building and school feeding programmes to providing food assistance in emergencies.</li>
<li>The app was launched in 2015 and since then, it has helped provide aid to some of the largest food crises in the world including Yemen, Syria and Nigeria.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>WFP and India</h3>
<p>WFP has been working in India since 1963, with work transitioning from food distribution to technical assistance since the country achieved self-sufficiency in cereal production. The areas in which WFP mainly assists in India are:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Transforming the targeted public distribution system</strong>: WFP is working to improve the efficiency, accountability and transparency of India&rsquo;s own subsidized food distribution system, which brings supplies of wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene oil to around 800 million poor people across the country.</li>
<li><strong>Fortification of government distributed food:</strong> To boost the nutritional value of the Government&rsquo;s Midday Meal school feeding programme, WFP is pioneering the multi-micronutrient fortification of school meals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The pilot project saw rice fortified with iron, which was distributed in a single district, resulting in a 20 percent drop in anaemia.</li>
<li>It has also helped tackle malnutrition by fortifying food given to babies and young children in Kerala State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mapping and monitoring of food insecurity:</strong> WFP has used Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping softwares to identify India&rsquo;s most food insecure areas, which allows policy and relief work to be targeted appropriately. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WFP is also supporting the government&rsquo;s Poverty and Human Development Monitoring Agency in establishing a State-level Food Security Analysis Unit, working towards the goal of achieving Zero Hunger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Report Released by WFP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/food-crisis-amid-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Report on Food Crisis</strong></a>- The Global Report on Food Crises describes the scale of acute hunger in the world. It provides an analysis of the drivers that are contributing to food crises across the globe. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report is produced by the Global Network against Food Crises, an international alliance working to address the root causes of extreme hunger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Award Won</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WFP has been awarded with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-in-literature-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize for Peace 2020</strong></a> for its efforts to combat hunger, bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and preventing the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Virtual Global Investor Roundtable',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Prime Minister has chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable</strong> (VGIR), with an aim to attract investment into the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Virtual Global Investor Roundtable:</strong> It is <strong>an exclusive dialogue</strong> between leading global institutional investors, Indian business leaders and the highest decision-makers from the Government of India and Financial Market Regulators.</li>
<li><strong>Organised by:</strong> Ministry of Finance and the <strong>National Investment and Infrastructure Fund</strong> (NIIF).</li>
<li><strong>Focus for 2020:</strong> Discussions around India&rsquo;s economic and investment outlook, structural reforms and the government&rsquo;s vision for the path to a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25.</li>
<li><strong>Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aatmanirbhar Vision</a>:</strong> It is a <strong>well-planned economic strategy</strong> that aims to<strong> use the capabilities of India&rsquo;s businesses and skills of its workers</strong> to make India into a global manufacturing powerhouse.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/esg-funds-becoming-popular-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ESG Score</strong></a>: India has companies ranking high on <strong>Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)</strong> scores.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline</strong></a>: Under it, India has an ambitious plan to<strong> invest USD 1.5 trillion</strong> in various social and economic infrastructure projects, aimed for faster economic growth and alleviation of poverty in the country.</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives Taken to Improve Manufacturing Potential and Ease of Doing Business:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One Nation, One Tax system in the form of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax</strong></a> (GST), one of the <strong>Lowest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-and-corporate-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Corporate Tax</a> rates </strong>and<strong> Faceless regime for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/transparent-taxation-honoring-the-honest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Income Tax</a></strong> (IT) <strong>assessment and appeal.</strong></li>
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-code-for-labour" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>new labour laws</strong></a> regime balancing the welfare of workers and ease of doing business for the employers and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-production-linked-incentive-scheme#:~:text=Under%20the%20scheme%2C%20electronics%20manufacturing,phones%20and%20specified%20electronic%20components." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Production Linked Incentive schemes</strong></a> in specific sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiative Taken for the Development of the Financial Sector:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unified authority for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-financial-services-centres-authority-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Financial Services Centre</strong></a>, liberal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-foreign-direct-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong> </a>(FDI) regime, suitable policy regimes for investment vehicles like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/infrastructure-investment-trusts-as-fundraiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Infrastructure Investment Trust</strong> </a>and<strong> Real Estate Investment Trust.</strong></li>
<li>Implementation of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code</strong></a> (IBC), financial empowerment through <strong>Direct Benefit Transfer</strong> and fin-tech based payment systems like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-transactions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ru-Pay cards and BHIM-UPI.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The opportunity created by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-education-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Education Policy 2020</strong> </a>in setting up campuses of foreign universities in India was also highlighted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Investment and Infrastructure Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NIIF is a <strong>government-backed entity</strong> established to provide long-term capital to the country&rsquo;s infrastructure sector. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Indian government has a 49% stake</strong> in NIIF with the rest held by foreign and domestic investors.</li>
<li>With the Centre&rsquo;s significant stake, NIIF is considered <strong>India&rsquo;s quasi-sovereign wealth fund.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was set up in <strong>December 2015</strong> as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/a-special-fund-for-housing-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Category-II Alternate Investment Fund</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Across its <strong>three funds viz. Master Fund, Fund of Funds, and Strategic Opportunities Fund,</strong> it manages over USD 4.3 billion of capital.</li>
<li>Its registered office is in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1670444" 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/virtual-global-investor-roundtable'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Academic Freedom in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has scored considerably low in the international<strong> Academic Freedom Index (AFI)</strong> with a score of 0.352.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Academic freedom,</strong> in general, refers to a scholar's freedom to express ideas without risk of official interference or professional disadvantage.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Academic Freedom Index:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been <strong>published by Global Public Policy Institute</strong> as a part of a global time-series dataset (1900-2019) in close cooperation with <strong>Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-N&uuml;rnberg, Scholars at Risk and the V‑Dem Institute.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>compares</strong> levels of academic freedom worldwide and enhances the understanding of its curtailments.</li>
<li>The AFI used <strong>eight components</strong> to evaluate the scores: freedom to research and teach, freedom of academic exchange and dissemination, institutional autonomy, campus integrity, freedom of academic and cultural expression, constitutional protection of academic freedom, international legal commitment to academic freedom under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and existence of universities.</li>
<li>The scores are <strong>scaled 0-1.</strong></li>
<li>The index<strong> did not report data for 35 countries -</strong> including the United States and Australia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Top Performers:</strong> Uruguay and Portugal top the AFI, with scores of 0.971 each, followed closely by Latvia (0.964) and Germany (0.960).</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s performance on the index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India with a <strong>score of 0.352,</strong> is closely<strong> followed by</strong> Saudi Arabia (0.278) and Libya (0.238). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the last five years, the AFI of India<strong> has dipped by 0.1 points.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Countries like Malaysia (0.582), Pakistan (0.554), Brazil (0.466), Somalia (0.436) and Ukraine (0.422) have <strong>scored better than India.</strong></li>
<li>India has <strong>not fared well</strong> in components like <strong>institutional autonomy, campus integrity, freedom of academic and cultural expression </strong>and <strong>constitutional</strong> <strong>protection of academic freedom.</strong></li>
<li>The AFI has cited the<strong> &lsquo;Free to Think: Report of the Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Monitoring Project&rsquo;,</strong> to suggest that the <strong>political tensions in India may have something to do with declining &lsquo;academic freedom&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the Report,<strong> political tensions</strong> in India have led to <strong>violent altercations between students, security forces, and off-campus groups,</strong> and have driven legal actions and <strong>disciplinary measures against scholars</strong> critical of those in power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges for India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Freedom to Scholars:</strong> India fails to provide desired freedom to scholars to discuss politically and culturally controversial topics, without fearing for their life, studies or profession.</li>
<li><strong>Political Interference:</strong> Most universities in the country are subjected to unsolicited interference from governments in both academic and non-academic issues. It is common knowledge by now that a majority of appointments, especially to top-ranking posts like that of vice-chancellors, pro vice-chancellors and registrars, have been highly politicized.</li>
<li><strong>Corrupt Practices:</strong> Political appointments not only choke academic and creative freedom, but also lead to corrupt practices, including those in licensing and accreditation.</li>
<li><strong>Bureaucratisation of Universities:</strong> At present, many educational institutions and regulatory bodies, both at the Central and State levels, are headed by bureaucrats.</li>
<li><strong>Nepotism:</strong> Favouritism and nepotism in staff appointments and student admissions. This reflects a <strong>&lsquo;rent-seeking culture&rsquo;</strong> within the academic community.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rent-seeking is an economic concept that occurs when an entity seeks to gain added wealth without any reciprocal contribution of productivity. Typically, it revolves around government-funded social services and social service programs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solutions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Implementing New Education Policy (NEP) 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NEP 2020 claims that it is based on <strong>principles of creativity</strong> and <strong>critical thinking</strong> and envisions an education system that is <strong>free from political or external interference.</strong></li>
<li>The policy states that faculty will be given the <strong>&ldquo;freedom to design their own curricular and pedagogical approaches within the approved framework,</strong> including textbook and reading material selections, assignments and assessments&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It also suggests constituting a <strong>National Research Foundation (NRF),</strong> a merit-based and peer-reviewed research funding, which &ldquo;will be governed, independently of the government, by a rotating Board of Governors consisting of the very best researchers and innovators across fields&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Further, it aims to <strong>de-bureaucratise the education system</strong> by giving <strong>governance powers to academicians.</strong> It talks about giving autonomy to higher education institutions by handing over their administration to a board comprising academicians.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regulatory and Governance Reforms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Restructure or merge different higher education regulators</strong> (UGC, AICTE, NCTE etc.) to ensure effective coordination. Amend <strong>UGC Act, 1956 to give legislative backing to regulatory structure.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Select Vice-Chancellors</strong> of universities through a transparent &amp; objective process.</li>
<li>Link <strong>University grants</strong> to performance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every government laments the absence of world-class universities, without realizing that it is attributable in part to their interventions and the growing intrusion of political processes. Where politics is largely kept out&mdash;as in IIT, IIM or the IISc&mdash;institutions thrive.</li>
<li>Higher education policy-makers must respond to declining AFi scores. This will also help in making &ldquo;India a global knowledge superpower&rdquo;, aligned with the <strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-4 (SDG 4 -Quality Education).</strong></li>
<li>Academic freedom is primary because universities are <strong>places for raising doubts</strong> and asking questions about everything. Exploring ideas, <strong>debating issues </strong>and<strong> thinking independently</strong> are essential in the quest for excellence.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/academia-and-the-free-will/article33016651.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/academic-freedom-in-india'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Promoting South Asian Tourism',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-india-can-take-the-lead-in-reviving-tourism-in-south-asia/story-IjP7eEjSjnwfDSlWzV3EIL.html#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20India%20liberalised%20the,arrivals%20from%20Bangladesh%20in%202014.&amp;text=India%20should%20also%20leverage%20the,revive%20intra%2Dregional%20tourism%20flows.https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-india-can-take-the-lead-in-reviving-tourism-in-south-asia/story-IjP7eEjSjnwfDSlWzV3EIL.html#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20India%20liberalised%20the,arrivals%20from%20Bangladesh%20in%202014.&amp;text=India%20should%20also%20leverage%20the,revive%20intra%2Dregional%20tourism%20flows.https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-india-can-take-the-lead-in-reviving-tourism-in-south-asia/story-IjP7eEjSjnwfDSlWzV3EIL.html#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20India%20liberalised%20the,arrivals%20from%20Bangladesh%20in%202014.&amp;text=India%20should%20also%20leverage%20the,revive%20intra%2Dregional%20tourism%20flows.https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-india-can-take-the-lead-in-reviving-tourism-in-south-asia/story-IjP7eEjSjnwfDSlWzV3EIL.html#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20India%20liberalised%20the,arrivals%20from%20Bangladesh%20in%202014.&amp;text=India%20should%20also%20leverage%20the,revive%20intra%2Dregional%20tourism%20flows." target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;How India can take the lead in reviving tourism in South Asia&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 05/11/2020. It talks about the challenges and opportunities for developing South Asian regional tourism.</p>
</div>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tourism-industry-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Travel &amp; Tourism Council (WTTC)</a>, the travel and tourism sector accounted for 10.3% of global GDP and 330 million jobs in 2019. The sector has seen high growth in the last decade, which can be largely attributed to factors such as rising disposable incomes, the emergence of low-cost carriers, etc.</p>
<p>While the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic</a> has affected all sectors of the economy, the travel and tourism (T&amp;T) sector is among those expected to suffer the most prolonged impact.</p>
<p>However, the pandemic provides an opportunity for India to take the lead in promoting regional tourism in South Asia. Further, there is immense potential in the travel and tourism sector, which can be harnessed to contribute to the region&rsquo;s economic recovery.</p>
<h3>Challenges for Regional Tourism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Disruption Caused by Covid-19:</strong> Tourism as an industry is built around mobility and the enabling mechanisms of consumption that are mostly intangible. The challenge posed to these factors by the Covid-19 pandemic is unparalleled in many ways.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the World Bank estimates, South Asia&rsquo;s T&amp;T sector has lost more than 10 million jobs and is further expected to incur losses of over $50 billion in GDP.</li>
<li>This makes the countries most economically dependent on tourism, such as Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, particularly vulnerable.</li>
<li>Further, post-pandemic, inter-regional mobility will remain limited due to reduced air connectivity, high costs, and a lack of willingness to travel long distances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Informal Tourism Sector:</strong> Nearly three-fourths of the tourism sector in the South Asian region are in the informal sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is majorly dominated by bed &amp; breakfast facilities, guest houses and other small-scale units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geo-Political Tensions:</strong> Hostile political conditions in India&rsquo;s neighbourhood, especially between India &amp; Pakistan, discourages development of a South Asian regional circuit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Opportunities For the Regional Tourism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>High Tourism Potential:</strong> Over the last two decades, South Asia has emerged as an attractive tourist destination due to its natural and cultural diversity, and price competitiveness.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The region is home to tourism-based economies such as Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka that attract high spending per traveller.</li>
<li>In 2019, the World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) ranked South Asia as &ldquo;the most improved region since 2017.</li>
<li>In South Asia, tourism was one of the fastest-growing sectors in the last decade, with double-digit growth leading to a contribution of $234 billion or 6.6% of the region&rsquo;s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crisis Presents An Opportunity:</strong> Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unforeseen challenges to global tourism. With geography gaining significance and the importance of shorter distances becoming more pronounced, regional tourism is likely to grow.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such a push would also contribute locally through employment and revenue generation from foreign exchange earnings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Niche Tourism:</strong> There is an opportunity that can be explored to bring back the international traveler to the niche segment of South Asian Countries, Adventure Tourism circuit with Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example: India&rsquo;s medical, spiritual and Ayurveda tourism, Adventure Tourism circuit with Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Opportunity for India:</strong> In the last decade, India has witnessed an increase in the share of South Asian tourist arrivals. Additionally, tourist spill-overs from India to the rest of the region contribute significantly to the regional tourism economy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, in particular, should leverage geographic proximity and the wide range of cultural similarities with its neighbours such as the regional Buddhist trail and pilgrimage, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Several steps can be taken to ensure a seamless flow of tourists in India and its neighbourhood:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>E-visa Facility:</strong> Technical modernisation, upgradation and other improvements are needed in the Indian visa application and delivery system for South Asian nationals.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, only China and Sri Lanka are eligible for an Indian e-visa.</li>
<li>Considering the rising share of tourists from the neighbourhood in India, the e-visa facility should be extended to other countries in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investing in Digitisation in the Tourism Industry</strong>: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an increasing focus on digitisation of various services to revive the tourism sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Contact-less transfers, hotel check-ins, site-visits etc. will be crucial for revival of the industry.</li>
<li>This requires participation from both public and private sector stakeholders and significant investment in digitisation to enhance secure travel and ensure revenue from foreign exchange.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inter-Ministerial Coordination to Enhance Infrastructural Connectivity:</strong> The Ministry of Tourism should actively work with other ministries such as the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Home Affairs to undertake infrastructure-related connectivity initiatives.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example by further expanding the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/udan-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UDAN Scheme</a> to neighbouring countries and supporting digital immigration services at the Integrated Check Posts.</li>
<li>Apart from this, the government must play a role in facilitating tourism infrastructural development supported by multilaterals such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tourism Promotion Through Regional Initiatives:</strong> India must take the lead in promoting intra-regional tourism through the <strong>South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) or the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal initiative (BBIN)</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Following the example of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</a>, India could host regional tourism summits and facilitate inter-regional cooperation among tour operators, for example with the Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA).</li>
<li>India should also work and cooperate bilaterally with other South Asian countries on joint tourism promotion and advertising campaigns, towards establishing the tourism industry as a regional value chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Religious Tourism Circuits:</strong> The historical and cultural linkages between South Asian nations offer the potential to develop religious tourism circuits within the region.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There has been an interest towards developing a Buddhist circuit between India and Nepal, and a Ramayana circuit between India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s regional governments will have to play a vital role in targeted outreach initiatives to promote their religious heritage to specific countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has been the preferred short-haul destination for tourists from its neighbourhood. Tourists visit India not only for leisure and medical reasons, but also use the country for transit to other regions.</li>
<li>However, there is an urgent need to address the significant challenges towards promoting free and open intra-regional tourism such as visa-openness, gaps in cross-border infrastructure, etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604579774_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604579774_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #d0edf5; border-color: #0d85a6;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Answer</strong></em><br /><br />Developing South Asian regional tourism will not only help in boosting the economy of the region but bring people closer. Comment</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ql07Qwf5se8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/what-is-at-stake-in-us-elections/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;What is at stake in US Elections&rdquo;</a> which was published in The Economic Times on November 03rd, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/promoting-south-asian-tourism'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'India-UAE Meet on Investments',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the eighth meeting of the <strong>India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments</strong> has been virtually hosted by India in the wake of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604573841_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604573841_image4.png" width="431" height="256" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Joint Task Force was created in 2012</strong> as a crucial forum for further <strong>deepening the economic ties</strong> between the UAE and India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mechanism has assumed greater importance as the two countries signed the <strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership</strong> (CSP) <strong>Agreement</strong> in<strong> January 2017</strong> and the Joint Task Force is an integral component of it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The focus areas underlined in the CSP were economy with emphasis on a <strong>two-way flow of investments, counter-terror cooperation and defence ties</strong>.</li>
<li>India has signed<strong> CSPs with the UK, Indonesia, Vietnam and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At the meeting, both sides reviewed the existing<strong> UAE Plus</strong> and the <strong>Fast Track Mechanism created in 2018</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>UAE Plus</strong> is a special and dedicated desk constituted under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invest-india-business-immunity-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Invest India</strong></a> with Arabic speaking officials to help facilitate investments.</li>
<li>The <strong>Fast Track Mechanism </strong>aims to<strong> resolve any challenges experienced by UAE investors </strong>in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scope of Improvement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Explore ways to <strong>facilitate investments</strong> in key Indian and UAE sectors with potential for economic growth, and to maintain their dialogue and further build on the considerable achievements of the Joint Task Force.</li>
<li><strong>Encourage investment and cooperation</strong> in areas of mutual interest with the purpose to stimulate economic activities in the post-Covid-19 times.</li>
<li><strong>Address specific barriers</strong> to trade, like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-dumping-duty-on-steel-imports#:~:text=Dumping%20impacts%20the%20price%20of,and%20its%20trade%20distortive%20effect." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>anti-dumping duties</strong></a>, tariffs and regulatory restrictions between the two countries with an aim to further <strong>strengthen the trade and economic ties and to coordinate efforts and promote mutual cooperation</strong>.</li>
<li>Continue the work between respective<strong> civil aviation authorities to ensure speedy normalisation of air transport</strong> operations for their mutual benefit.</li>
<li><strong>Development and operation of UAE-based funds</strong> to invest in India, in the light of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-norms-for-fpi#:~:text=FPIs%20shall%20be%20permitted%20for,and%20invest%20in%20Indian%20markets." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Portfolio Investor Regulations 2019</strong></a> by the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Securities and Exchange Board of India</strong></a> (SEBI).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India agreed to look into these issues with the objective of facilitating further direct investments of UAE-based funds and seeking mutually beneficial solutions in that regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focus on opportunities for cooperation and potential investments in key sectors</strong> in India including the <strong>healthcare and pharmaceutical </strong>industry, <strong>mobility and logistics, food and agriculture, energy and utilities</strong> and others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-UAE Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on age-old cultural, religious and economic ties between the two nations.</li>
<li>The relationship <strong>flourished after</strong> the accession of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in <strong>1966</strong> and subsequently with the <strong>creation of the UAE Federation in 1971</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Political Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>August 2019,</strong> UAE <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uae-awards-highest-civilian-honour-to-the-prime-minister" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded ZAYED Medal</a></strong>, their highest civilian award, <strong>to the Prime Minister of India</strong> for consolidating the long-standing friendship and joint strategic cooperation between the two nations.</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to the UAE in <strong>August 2015</strong> marked the beginning of a new and <strong>comprehensive and strategic partnership</strong>.</li>
<li>The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited India in <strong>February 2016</strong> and had <strong>wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Commercial Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India-UAE trade was around <strong>USD 59 billion making UAE, India&rsquo;s third-largest trading partner</strong> for the year <strong>2019-20</strong> after China and the USA.</li>
<li>The <strong>UAE is the second-largest export destination of India</strong> with an amount of over <strong>USD 29 billion for the year 2019-20</strong>.</li>
<li>For the<strong> UAE, India is the second-largest trading partner</strong> for the year <strong>2019</strong> with an amount of around <strong>USD 41.43 billion</strong> for non-oil trade.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Major Exports:</strong> Food items, Machinery, Gems and Jewellery, Textiles, Engineering and Machinery Products, Chemicals, etc.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Major Import:</strong> Crude Oil, Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Precious Metals, Minerals, Chemicals, Wood and Wood Products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two nations <strong>share historical ties and have maintained regular cultural exchanges</strong> both at official and popular levels.</li>
<li>They signed a <strong>Cultural Agreement in 1975</strong> and the embassies continue to organise various cultural activities on their own as well as by collaborating with other cultural organisations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Community:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UAE is<strong> home to the Indian expatriate community of more than 2.6 million,</strong> the largest expatriate community in the UAE, which has played a <strong>major role in the economic development</strong> of the UAE.</li>
<li>Recently, India has asked the members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gulf-cooperation-council-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which also includes UAE</strong></a>, to facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work with the relaxing of Covid-19-related restrictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Recent Developmental Events in the UAE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In March 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-opening-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>46<sup>th</sup> session of the Council of Foreign Ministers</strong></a> of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)</strong></a>, was held in Abu Dhabi where India was invited as a guest of honour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UAE</strong> hosted the event and had <strong>strongly defended the decision to invite India</strong> despite Pakistan&rsquo;s strong objection and threat to boycott the event.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>February 2020,</strong> the UAE issued an operating licence for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arab-world-s-first-nuclear-power-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arab world's first nuclear power plant</strong></a>, paving the way for it to start production in 2020.</li>
<li><strong>UAE Mars Mission:</strong> In July 2020, the UAE launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars probe named Amal (Hope)</strong></a> from Japan, marking the <strong>Arab world&rsquo;s first interplanetary mission.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>September 2020,</strong> the UAE signed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-uae-and-bahrain-abraham-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Abraham Accord</strong></a> with Israel and Bahrain, which is the <strong>first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669792" 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/india-uae-meet-on-investments'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Tele-Law',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Tele-Law</strong> touched a new milestone on october 30<sup>th</sup> 2020 by providing legal advice to 4 million beneficiaries through <strong>Common Service Centres.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Common Services Centre (CSC)</strong> programme is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Electronics &amp; IT (MeitY),</strong> that serves as the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a <strong>digitally and financially inclusive society.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> Tele-Law programme was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Law and Justice</strong> in collaboration with the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> launched in 2017 to address cases at pre&ndash;litigation stage.</li>
<li><strong>Connect Lawyers to Litigants:</strong> It is a service that uses video conferencing facilities and telephone services to connect <strong>lawyers to litigants</strong> who need legal advice. This service aims to reach out to the needy especially the marginalized and disadvantaged.</li>
<li><strong>Common Service Centres:</strong> Under this programme, smart technology of video conferencing, telephone/instant calling facilities available at the vast network of <strong>Common Service Centres</strong> at the Panchayat level are used to connect the indigent, down-trodden, vulnerable, unreached groups and communities with the Panel Lawyers for seeking timely and valuable legal advice.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> Tele Law service enables anyone to seek legal advice without wasting precious time and money. The service is free for those who are eligible for free legal Aid as mentioned under <strong>Section 12 of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.</strong> For all others a nominal fee is charged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a recent report titled <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quality-of-free-legal-aid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Quality of Legal Representation: An Empirical Analysis of Free Legal Aid Services in India&rsquo;</strong></a>, the majority of the people who are entitled to the free legal aid system see the service as an option only when they cannot afford a private lawyer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supports SDGs:</strong> It can be noted that this initiative is in line with <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal-16</strong></a>, which seeks to<strong> "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels".</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1987, the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act was enacted to give free and competent legal services to the poor and paved the way for the constitution of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-legal-services-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Legal Service Authority (NALSA)</strong></a> and other legal service institutions at the State, district and taluka level.</li>
<li>Free legal services under LSA Act are available to a person belonging to Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste, woman, child, victim of human trafficking, differently abled person, industrial workman, and person in custody in a protective home and the poor.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Constitutional Provision</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 39A of the Constitution of India</strong> provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.</li>
<li><strong>Articles 14 and 22(1)</strong> also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669756" 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/tele-law'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award-2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Dr. Susanta Kar of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI)</strong></a>, Lucknow has been chosen for this year's <strong>Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award by the Society of Biological Chemists (India).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Society Of Biological Chemists (India) was founded in 1930, with its HeadQuarters at <strong>Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.</strong></li>
<li><strong>CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI),</strong> is a premier drug research institute of India with its HeadQuarters at<strong> Lucknow.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The award has been given to recognize the significant contributions towards defining the survival tactics of<em><strong> Leishmania donovani.</strong></em></li>
<li><em><strong>Leishmania Donovani</strong></em> is a protozoan parasite that infects macrophages and is a causative agent of <em><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kala-azar-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>visceral leishmaniasis (Kala Azar)</strong></a></em>, a lethal infectious disease affecting millions worldwide.</li>
<li><strong>DR. Susanta Kar&rsquo;s research group</strong> studied the interaction of<em><strong> Leishmania</strong></em> with <strong>immune cells</strong> like<strong> macrophages, dendritic cells</strong> and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> T cells</strong></a> and the impact of these interactions on immune response/infection progression.</li>
<li>The award is conferred every <strong>two years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Recipients</strong> of the award should be <strong>below 50 years of age.</strong> The Award is given for <strong>Biological Chemistry and Allied sciences,</strong> preferably related to parasitic infections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Leishmaniasis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>neglected tropical disease</strong> affecting almost 100 countries including India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is caused by a<strong> parasite called Leishmania,</strong> which is transmitted through the bite of <strong>sand flies.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>three types of leishmaniasis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease.</li>
<li><strong>Cutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin sores and is the most common form.</li>
<li><strong>Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin and mucosal lesions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which is commonly known as <strong>Kala-azar</strong> in India, is fatal in over 95% of the cases, if left untreated.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1670109" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Hurricane Eta',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Recently, Hurricane Eta</strong> has hit northeastern <strong>Nicaragua</strong> with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flash flooding occurring over <strong>portions of Central America.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> It is categorised as a <strong>Category 4 hurricane.</strong> A Category 4 storm has wind speeds between <strong>130-156 mph</strong> and can uproot trees and bring down power lines.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 based on wind speed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hurricanes that reach category three or higher are classified as major hurricanes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> Tropical cyclones or hurricanes use warm, moist air as fuel, and therefore form over warm Equatorial water.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low-Pressure Creation:</strong> When the warm, moist air rises upward from the surface of the ocean, it creates an area of low air pressure below.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When this happens, the air from the surrounding areas rushes to fill this place, eventually rising when it becomes warm and moist too.</li>
<li>An <strong>eye forms</strong> in the centre. It is the calmest part of the cyclone. Before the wind reaches the centre it gets warmed up and rises upwards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the warm air rises and cools off, the moisture forms clouds. This system of clouds and winds continues to grow and spin.</li>
<li>This disturbance is fuelled by the ocean&rsquo;s heat and the water that evaporates from its surface.</li>
<li>Such storm systems rotate faster and faster. Storms that form towards the north of the equator <strong>rotate counterclockwise, w</strong>hile those that form to the<strong> south spin clockwise</strong> because of the rotation of the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" width="550" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/hurricane-eta-slams-into-nicaragua-grinds-inland-6936772/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Rescued Exotic Animals',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently six<strong> blue or hyacinth macaws</strong> and two <strong>capuchin monkeys</strong> were released in the <strong>Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden in Guwahati.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, a large consignment of exotic animals was confiscated by the <strong>Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)</strong> in the same region.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Provisions Related to Illegal Wildlife Trade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Illegally exotic animals are <strong>confiscated under Section 111 of the Customs Act, 1962</strong> which is read with the provision of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES</strong> </a><strong>and the Foreign Trade Policy (Import-Export Policy) of India.</strong></li>
<li>Also, Sections 48 and 49 of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Protection Act</strong> </a>prohibit trade or commerce in wild animals, animal articles or trophies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The possibility of spread of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zoonotic diseases</strong></a> on account of smuggling in such exotic species is increasingly becoming a global concern against the backdrop of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19.</a></strong></li>
<li>Illegal wildlife trade was ranked the <strong>fourth largest transnational organised crime</strong> globally, after the smuggling of narcotics, counterfeit goods and human trafficking.</li>
<li><strong>West Bengal and northeast India</strong> are vulnerable to cross-border wildlife smuggling because of their proximity to the Bangladesh and Myanmar borders, and to Thailand.</li>
<li>Many international organisations involved in wildlife crime use the Indo-Bangladesh Border for various other illegal activities, such as smuggling of drugs, commercial goods, and even gun-running, apart from illegal movement of foreign currency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Guwahati Zoo was established in 1957.</li>
<li>The Zoo is located in the <strong>Hengrabari Reserve Forest</strong> in the capital city of Guwahati.</li>
<li>Owing to its rich fauna, the Assam State Zoo is popularly known as <strong>"Green Lung"</strong> of the Guwahati city.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Blue Macaws<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604914233_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604914233_image3.png" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scientific Name: <em><strong>Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus</strong></em></li>
<li>It is a parrot native to central and eastern South America.</li>
<li>With a length of about one meter it is longer than any other species of parrot.</li>
<li>It is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species.</li>
<li><strong>Threat:</strong> Habitat loss and the trapping of wild birds for the pet trade have taken a heavy toll on their population in the wild.</li>
<li><strong>Protection status :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List</a>: Vulnerable.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):</strong> Appendix I.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Capuchin Monkeys<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604914215_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604914215_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Scientific name: <strong>Cebus.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Capuchin Monkeys,</strong> also called <strong>sapajou,</strong> is a common Central and South American primate found in tropical forests from Nicaragua to Paraguay.</li>
<li>They are named for their &ldquo;caps&rdquo; of hair, which resemble the cowls of Capuchin monks.</li>
<li><strong>Protection status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List:</strong> Least concerned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/guwahati-zoo-becomes-home-for-rescued-exotic-animals/article33051833.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Ethics in Journalism',
		'catname' => 'Paper 4',
		'desc' => '<h3>Gandhian Ethics on Journalism</h3>
<p>"The sole aim of journalism should be service. The newspaper is a great power, but just as an unchained torrent of water submerges the whole countryside and devastates crops, even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy."- Mahatma Gandhi.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Idea of Social Responsibility:</strong> While recognising that the newspaper is a great power", Mahatma Gandhi- himself a great journalist and editor, was very clear about the objectives of journalism and why it shouldn't be an unchained torrent of water. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He wasn't referring to external curbs or control on free speech and freedom of the press - both of which he always supported and fought for. Instead, he was articulating the idea of social responsibility of journalism.</li>
<li>This simply put, means that journalism must be socially responsible, serve the people with devotion, and educate them while <strong>avoiding sensationalism, distortion and manipulation of facts</strong> in the news reports, and not compromise with ethical standards of journalism for profit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Importance of Journalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Voice of voiceless:</strong> As the fourth estate of democracy and voice of voiceless'. The news media and the institution of journalism plays a crucial role for keeping the citizens informed about powerful instruments of public information, opinion and debates.</li>
<li><strong>Public watchdog:</strong> One cannot imagine a vibrant democracy without a vibrant, independent and critical news media which not only disseminates news and views of public importance but also acts as a watchdog that monitors, investigates and critically examines the functioning of key organs and institutions of the State, and evaluates the performances of those in the public office and holds the accountable.</li>
<li><strong>Enhances vibrance of democracy:</strong> An independent news media which includes legacy media like newspapers, magazines, television radio and new media like online news portals and digital news platforms, has been integral to democracy's long and tumultuous journey. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over time, it has evolved with democracy, especially in the late 19 and 20' century. There and vibrant media is treated as a key parameter for the success of a democracy and in fact, is among the crucial factors in measuring its health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shaping the public perception:</strong> It has an influential role in shaping public perception, setting the agenda for public debate and its widespread impact on the society, politics, economy, culture and governance, news media and journalism enjoys a powerful position in a democratic society. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, Napoleon Bonaparte had once famously said, "Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets."</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Features of Responsible Journalism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Transparency and accountability:</strong> The credibility and respect doesn't come free or as a gift to the news media but eamed and sustained by adhering to the ethical and moral standards of journalism. News media must also follow the principles and norms of journalism and be transparent and accountable for its reportage, commentary and overall functioning.</li>
<li><strong>Maintaining journalistic ethics</strong>: Like other public-facing professions, journalism too has also evolved with a set of ethical principles, standards and norms for fulfilling its social responsibility and serving the citizens better by ensuring the quality of content and highest professional standards in gathering, processing, filtering and dissemination of news and views. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Journalistic ethics</strong> are basically a set of principles, standards, guidelines and code of conduct prepared for professional journalists. It deals with conduct, character and behavior of a journalist and how she works before, during and after the news gathering and dissemination process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Self regulation:</strong> Generally, it is expected from the news media outlets and its professional journalists to not only strictly follow these principles and norms but to also self-regulate in alignment with them. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But given the non-mandatory and voluntary nature of journalistic ethics, there are always complaints of violation by journalists and news media outlets.</li>
<li>There is no denying the fact that a section of news media outlets are either willingly or unwillingly deviating from or compromising on journalistic ethics to attract more readers or viewers, for some personal gains and generally, at the altar of commercial interests and to boost their bottom-lines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Journalism in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Erosion of ethics in journalism:</strong> In India instances of violation of ethical norms and principles; from indulging in Paid News, spreading Fake News, engaging sensationalism and exaggerating trivial stories, creating misleading headlines, breach of privacy, distortion of facts has increased manifold.</li>
<li><strong>Biased reporting:</strong> Openly taking sides and bias in reporting. Besides this, many mainstream news media outlets and their journalists are found to be engaging in one-sided media trials, lobbying for personal gains, blackmailing, manipulating news stories, engaging in malicious and defamatory reporting, running propaganda and disinformation campaigns.</li>
<li><strong>Misuse of freedom of speech and press:</strong> There is a growing concern in the country that many Indian news media outlets have shown little respect for journalistic ethics and norms by regularly crossing the limits and becoming habitual offenders. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In fact, the critics of unethical conduct of the news media are demanding stringent regulation in place of ineffective self regulatory mechanism and their voices are growing louder day by day.</li>
<li>It may be noted that like many other liberal democracies, India too recognises the primacy of the Freedom of the Press and allows for self regulation of news media</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Manipulation of TRPs:</strong> Recently, various claims have been made about the manipulation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/television-rating-points" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>TRPs (Target Rating Points)</strong></a> by some TV channels by rigging the devices used by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TRP is the metric used by the marketing and advertising agencies to evaluate viewership. It represents how many people, from which socio-economic categories, watched which channels for how much time during a particular period. This period is one minute as per the international standards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reforms Initiated in U.S.A</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pollution of democractic discourse:</strong> Earlier due to <strong>yellow journalism,</strong> newspapers in the USA were riddled with sensational crime stories with exaggerated headlines, pictures and sketches. There was cut throat competition and a mad rush to attract more readers and maximising the profits for newspapers' owners. But this was also polluting the democratic discourse, distorting the public opinion, impairing the citizens' right and negatively affecting their democratic choices and decisions.</li>
<li><strong>Campaign for reforms:</strong> Slowly a concerted campaign started in the US and many other countries in the early 20h century to bring in ethics and principles with a set of guidelines and code of conduct for news media and journalists. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Canons of journalism:</strong> In the US, in 1922, <strong>the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE)</strong> adopted a set of ethical principles titled "Canons of Journalism', which was later revised and renamed 'Statement of Principles in 1975.</li>
<li><strong>Key principles:</strong> The ASNE proposed<strong> six key principles;</strong> Responsibility, Freedom of the Press, Independence, Truth and Accuracy, Impartiality and Fair Play. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These principles were devised to professionalise the news media and journalism and to set it to ethical standards to monitor and evaluate the journalistic work and its contents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hutchins Commission:</strong> This Commission was established to review the functioning of the press and the impact of media ownership on its content. The Commission reiterated that while the freedom of press is paramount, it also has a moral obligation to consider the well-being of the general public when making its decisions and choices.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It provided a strong philosophical basis for adopting these ethical norms and standards for improving the quality of news media and journalism. The report echoed Gandhi's concerns of<strong> "an uncontrollable pen"</strong> while stressing that its <strong>"sole aim should be service":</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Yellow journalism:</strong> It is a style of newspaper reporting that emphasizes sensationalism over facts. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this the use of lurid features and sensationalized news in newspaper publishing to attract readers and increase circulation.</li>
<li>The phrase was coined in the 1890s to describe the tactics employed in the furious competition between two New York City newspapers, the World and the Journal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Acts and Agencies</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Press Council of India (PCI):</strong> A <strong>statutory and quasi-judicial body,</strong> was established by an Act of Parliament. It functions as a "watchdog of the press, for the press and by the press". <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its two broad objectives are-safeguarding the freedom of the press and to improve its quality and standards.</li>
<li>It works on the premise of self regulation of print media but has <strong>no punitive powers.</strong></li>
<li>It can only censure, warn or ask newspapers to issue apologies and corrections.</li>
<li>It has also put out a detailed<strong> "Norms of Journalistic Conduct"</strong> which it expects journalists and newspapers to follow with utmost care and diligence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>News Broadcasting Standard Authority (NBSA):</strong> It is a <strong>non-governmental body,</strong> it oversees the news channels. It has issued a <strong>"Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards"</strong> for its member news channels who had voluntarily pledged to follow it. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Like the PCI, the NBSA too is <strong>headed by a retired Supreme Court judge</strong> and its other members comprise well-known people belonging to civil society and editors of TV news channels.</li>
<li>It receives complaints of violation of technical norms against member TV news channels and decides after hearing all the sides. Additionally, it has the power of imposing a fine that can go up to Rs. one lakh against an errant channel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995:</strong> Apart from the NBSA, the news channels are also regulated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&amp;B) under the <strong>Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995</strong> which contains a "programme code" and an "advertising code"' to which news channels have to adhere. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Their adherence to this code is, in fact, one of the pre-conditions for obtaining the license for a news channel. The I&amp;B Ministry, on some rare occasions, for violation of "programme code has taken strict action against errant channels while on others has issued advisories to the news channels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with the Existing Architecture of Regulation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ineffective in reforming unethical conducts:</strong> The real question facing is how effective is the present architecture of news media regulation in India considering the growing instances of violation of ethical principles and norms by the news media and journalists.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of introspection:</strong> Apart from jurists, intellectuals and civil society members, many senior journalists and editors themselves are not happy with the present state of journalistic ethics in India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are calling for serious introspection from news media outlets and the journalists' community to take steps to minimise the flouting of ethical norms, and to take corrective measures and honest initiatives to improve the quality and standards of the news media in India.</li>
<li>News media outlets have to understand that it's in their own interest to follow ethical norms to sustain public faith in them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Initiating discussions on reforms:</strong> Professional bodies like the Editors Guild of India, NBA and statutory bodies like PCI can take lead and initiate debate and discussion on this issue and propose remedial measures. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Everyone knows the cost of failure would be very high as witnessed in the News of the World scandal in the UK. In India too, a chorus demanding harsher regulation is gaining momentum.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Imposing reasonable restrictions on the media:</strong> While demanding punitive power for the Press Council of India, it is articulated that there is no freedom which is absolute. All freedoms are subject to reasonable restrictions, and are also coupled with responsibilities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In a democracy everyone is accountable to the people, and so is the media. Therefore Indian media must now introspect and develop a sense of responsibility and maturity. One hopes that the Indian news media will remember the advice and warning of Mahatma Gandhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strict adherence to ethical norms:</strong> It is also important that the saner voices within the media fraternity will see the warning signs and act fast to restore the credibility of the news media and journalism as a profession by ensuring adherence to ethical norms, try to win citizens' confidence and work to strengthen the social contract with the public.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper4/ethics-in-journalism'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'French Secularism',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/france-secularism-emmanuel-macron-islamic-radicalism-6981220/lite/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;French classroom lessons&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 07/11/2020. It talks about the issues pertaining to the France model of secularism.</p>
</div>
<p>The latest crisis in France which emanated from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-in-support-of-france" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>killing of a middle-school history teacher</strong></a> and followed up killings in French city of Nice has once again brought France's unique model of secularism into spotlight.</p>
<p>French la&iuml;cit&eacute;, or secularism is better understood as a project of social cohesion and a key component of French citizenship. It encompasses not simply the formal separation of Church and State, but also the removal of religious values from the public space and their replacement with secular values such as liberty, equality, and fraternity.</p>
<p>This has caused social tension in French society and pushes the country to re-articulate its liberal values in a way that lessens its internal tensions. In this pursuit France can derive inspiration from <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/secularism-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian model of secularism.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Evolution of French Secularism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The French model of secularism was developed during the French Revolution in 1905, when a French law separated the church and the state, thus marking the beginnings of French secularism (la&iuml;cit&eacute;) in modern times.</li>
<li>La&iuml;cit&eacute;&rdquo; derives from the French term for laity&mdash;non-clergy or lay people.</li>
<li>Broadly, the idea refers to the freedom of citizens and of public institutions from the influence of organized religion.</li>
<li>The new Act defined three essential principles: Freedom of conscience, equality in law for spiritual and religious belief, and neutrality of political power.</li>
<li>This secular outlook was strengthened by another constitutional right &mdash; the right to freedom of expression.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In pursuance of this, French school teachers today are thus actively encouraged to foster a fearless spirit of inquiry, regardless of religion or any other hindrance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This French secular tradition was further fortified in the face of new challenges posed by immigration, largely from former French colonies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2004, another law was promulgated, banning schoolchildren from wearing any overt signs or clothes that would betray their religious affiliation.</li>
<li>This was an effort to create a unique school space, where everyone would look equal and &ldquo;religiously anonymous&rdquo; &mdash; no crosses, no headscarves or burqas, no turbans, no Jewish kippahs (skullcaps).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges Related to French Model of Secularism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Changed Demographics:</strong> In early 20<sup>th</sup>-century France&mdash;a fairly homogeneous, Christian nation. French model of secularism was a straightforward attempt to protect the government from the sway of the Catholic Church.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, modern France is a more heterogeneous and multi-religious society. Thus, the current model of French secularism is getting into conflict with rights of minorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against Freedom of Religion:</strong> Critics of la&iuml;cit&eacute; argue that it is a disguised form of anti-clericalism and infringement on individual right to religious expression, and that, instead of promoting freedom of thought and freedom of religion, it prevents the believer from observing his or her religion.</li>
<li><strong>Undermining Civil Liberties:</strong> La&iuml;cit&eacute; is also criticized for increasing police powers that could endanger respect for civil liberties.</li>
<li><strong>Prompting Radicalization:</strong> La&iuml;cit&eacute; is unintelligible and even shocking to religious minorities, who view it as an injunction to abandon their religion.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Instead of enhancing social harmony, it may actually be exacerbating religious and racial tensions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Inspiration that France Can Draw From Indian Secularism</h3>
<p>French integration model, which is enshrined in the country&rsquo;s Constitution appears to be not in synergy with the emergence of multiculturalism. In this context, France can imbibe the philosophy of Indian Secularism. Following are philosophical underpinning of Indian model of Secularism:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sarva Dharma Sambhava:</strong> Indian philosophy of secularism is related to &ldquo;Sarva Dharma Sambhava&rdquo; (literally it means that the destination of the paths followed by all religions is the same, though the paths themselves may be different) which means equal respect to all religions.</li>
<li><strong>Positive secularism:</strong> This concept, embraced and promoted by personalities like Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi is called &lsquo;Positive secularism&rsquo; that reflects the dominant ethos of Indian culture.</li>
<li><strong>Religious Plurality:</strong> Indian secularism is not an end in itself but a means to address religious plurality and sought to achieve peaceful coexistence of different religions.</li>
<li><strong>Protection of Minority Rights:</strong> Indian Secularism deals not only with the religious freedom of individuals but also with the religious freedom of minority communities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In a pluralistic society, the best approach to nurture secularism is to expand religious freedom rather than strictly practicing state neutrality. Thus, it is incumbent on French society to ensure value-education that makes the younger generation understand and appreciate not only its own religious traditions but also those of the other religions in the country.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604751523_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604751523_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fafaff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Toleration, not suppression, of difference is the only policy that&rsquo;s really compatible with a heterogeneous society&rdquo;. Discuss the statement in light of issues related to French model of Secularism.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pM1B3w0H378" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/worst-over-for-the-economy-not-covid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Worst Over for the Economy, Not Covid&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Economic Times on November 06<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/french-secularism'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Covid-19 and Tinnitus',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>New research has found that <strong>Tinnitus</strong> is being exacerbated by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> and also by the measures being taken to fight the infection.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The research was led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK, with support from the British Tinnitus Association and the American Tinnitus Association.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The research covered 3,103 people with tinnitus from 48 countries, mostly from the UK and the USA.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tinnitus</strong> is a common condition that <strong>causes the perception of noise or ringing in the ears and head.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It found that 40% of those <strong>displaying symptoms of Covid-19</strong> simultaneously experience a<strong> worsening of their tinnitus.</strong></li>
<li>A small number of participants reported that <strong>their tinnitus condition was initially triggered by developing Covid-19</strong> symptoms.This suggests that <strong>tinnitus could be a Covid symptom</strong> in some cases.</li>
<li>A large proportion of people believe their <strong>tinnitus is being made worse by social distancing measures.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As many as 46% of UK respondents said that lifestyle changes had negatively impacted their tinnitus, compared to 29% in North America.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In<strong> another study</strong> published in BMJ Case Reports, researchers stated <strong>the possible ways through which Covid -19 can affect hearing.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The presence of <strong>ACE-2</strong> human <strong>receptors</strong> that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SARS-CoV-2</strong> </a>binds with.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The receptor was recently found to be expressed in the epithelial cells in the middle ear of mice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another way that could affect hearing is through the immune <strong>system response to the infection.</strong> In this case, the<strong> inflammatory responses and an increase in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-cytokine-storms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cytokines</a></strong> due to infection could lead to hearing loss in case there is direct entry into the cochlea leading to inflammation and cell stress.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> cochlea</strong> contains the sensory organ of hearing.</li>
<li><strong>Cytokines</strong> are inflammatory immunological proteins that are there to fight off infections and ward off cancers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Earlier, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists have noted a growing number of patients with<strong> anosmia (the abrupt loss of smell)</strong> and<strong> ageusia (loss of sense of taste).</strong> Both <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anosmia-and-ageusia-possible-signs-of-covid-19#:~:text=Recently%2C%20Ear%2C%20Nose%20and%20Throat,people%20who%20otherwise%20appear%20well." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>anosmia and ageusia could be signs of Covid-19</strong> </a>in people who otherwise appear well.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Tinnitus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tinnitus is the perception of <strong>noise or ringing in the ears.</strong></li>
<li>Tinnitus <strong>isn't a condition itself &mdash;</strong> it's a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or a circulatory system disorder.</li>
<li>Tinnitus can significantly <strong>affect quality of life.</strong> One may experience fatigue, stress, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, memory problems, depression, anxiety and irritability, etc.</li>
<li>Although it can worsen with age, for many people, tinnitus can improve with treatment. Treating an identified underlying cause sometimes helps. Other treatments reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.</li>
<li><strong>Treatments</strong> may include <strong>hearing aids, sound-masking devices, medicines, and ways to learn how to cope with the noise.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/covid-19-can-make-tinnitus-worse-6991346/" 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/covid-19-and-tinnitus'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'WhatsApp UPI and NPCI Regulations',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>WhatsApp</strong> (a unit of Facebook) has <strong>introduced payments services in India</strong> following approval by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NPCI approval also follows another recent <strong>direction imposing a cap of 30% of the total volume of transactions processed in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/payment-revolution-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unified Payments Interface</a></strong> (UPI), applicable to all third-party app providers, <strong>effective from 1<sup>st</sup> January 2021.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UPI is a<strong> single platform that merges various banking services and features</strong> under one umbrella and turns<strong> smartphones into a virtual debit card,</strong> allowing <strong>real-time bank-to-bank payments</strong> to be made using a mobile number or virtual payment address (UPI ID).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>WhatsApp UPI in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>People can send <strong>money on WhatsApp to anyone using a UPI supported app.</strong></li>
<li>India is <strong>one of the biggest markets for WhatsApp,</strong> which first started testing its UPI-based payments system in 2018 and would now <strong>compete with existing players such as Paytm, Google Pay, Amazon Pay and PhonePe.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>working with five leading banks in India</strong> viz. ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, the State Bank of India, and Jio Payments Bank.</li>
<li>However, <strong>not all users in India would be able to access</strong> payment features because NPCI had mandated <strong>expansion</strong> of WhatsApp&rsquo;s UPI user base<strong> in a graded manner</strong> starting with a maximum registered user base of 20 million.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Imposition of 30% Cap:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The guidelines stipulate<strong> any entity not exceeding 30% of the total transaction volume to be in compliance.</strong> However,<strong> entities exceeding</strong> the said market share have been given time<strong> till 2023 to comply.</strong></li>
<li>The cap will be calculated on the <strong>basis of total volume of transactions processed in UPI during the preceding three months on a rolling basis.</strong></li>
<li>Seeing the <strong>recent growth in UPI transaction volumes,</strong> NPCI analysed the <strong>risks in the UPI ecosystem</strong> and introduced the cap.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The idea for a 30% cap on UPI transaction volumes was <strong>first brought up in a meeting of the NPCI&rsquo;s Steering Committee on UPI in 2019</strong> after concerns of <strong>rising dominance with non-bank third-party app providers</strong> were raised.</li>
<li>As of <strong>October 2019, Google Pay and PhonePe</strong> together had around <strong>80% of transaction volumes</strong> in UPI on their platforms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NPCI is <strong>yet to issue the risk assessment</strong> of the UPI ecosystem on the basis of which the new norms were brought in and <strong>the Standard Operating Procedure</strong> (SOP) for the newly introduced restrictions on transaction volumes.</li>
<li>Another reason is<strong> banks&rsquo; concerns about the sudden rise in transaction volumes and the subsequent load</strong> on their systems, especially after the introduction of WhatsApp UPI.</li>
<li>The move could <strong>disincentivize platforms from on-boarding customers of a lower ticket size</strong> and in effect, <strong>could prevent the efforts to accelerate digital payments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Payments Corporation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>umbrella organisation for all retail payments systems</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It was set up with the guidance and support of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India</strong></a> (RBI) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-2-0-banking-reforms-index" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Banks&rsquo; Association</strong></a> (IBA).</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To consolidate and integrate the existing multiple systems into a nation-wide uniform and standard business process for all retail payment systems.</li>
<li>To facilitate an affordable payment mechanism to benefit the common man across the country and propel financial inclusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Digital payments in India is still in its development phase and any interventions at this point should be made with a view to accelerate consumer choice and innovation. A choice based and open model is key to drive this momentum.</li>
<li>The 30% cap has implications for hundreds of millions of users who use UPI for their daily payments and it could impact the further adoption of UPI and the end goal of financial inclusion.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/whatsapp-introducespayment-services-in-india/article33042793.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/whatsapp-upi-and-npci-regulations'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'India-Italy Bilateral Summit',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <strong>virtual Bilateral Summit between India and Italy</strong> has been held to comprehensively review the broad framework of the bilateral relationship and also strengthen cooperation against common global challenges, including the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic.</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604741531_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604741531_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="400" height="283" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both nations decided to adopt the <strong>Action Plan for an enhanced Partnership between India and Italy (2020-2024)</strong> to set up priorities, strategic goals and mechanisms of a bilateral partnership.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604741531_image3.png">Economic Engagement:</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral fora especially <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G-20</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Italy will assume the Presidency of G-20 in December 2021 followed by India in 2022.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saudi-arabia-becomes-first-arab-nation-to-head-g20" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saudi Arabia is holding the current presidency</strong></a> of G20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Memorandum of Understanding</strong> (MoU) between <strong>Cassa Depositi Prestiti</strong> (CDP), an Italian investment bank and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Infrastructure Investment Fund</strong></a> (NIIF) to <strong>promote innovative financial schemes</strong> capable of supporting bilateral investments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Italy is <strong>India&rsquo;s fifth-largest trading partner in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a> (EU).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Underscored the need to<strong> further expand defence engagement</strong> through greater two-way collaboration and technology cooperation, co-development and co-production.</li>
<li>Recognised the opportunity to<strong> consolidate defence relations with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of peacekeeping activities</strong> within the framework of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> (UN).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation During Covid-19 Pandemic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Italy thanked India for extending support during the pandemic</strong> by supplying medicines and personal protection equipment (PPE).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Indian community in Italy is the <strong>second-largest community of Indians in Europe after the UK.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Reiterated that the pandemic calls for an inclusive multilateral approach to health protection, especially in the framework of the UN and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation</strong></a> (WHO).</li>
<li>Welcomed the <strong>World Health Summit,</strong> which will be held in Italy in 2021, in cooperation with the <strong>European Union</strong> (EU) Commission.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The World Health Summit is <strong>one of the world&rsquo;s leading strategic forums for global health</strong> and is held in <strong>October every year.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Science, Technology and Research Collaboration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Welcomed the progress made under <strong>India-Italy Science and Technology Cooperation</strong> and the <strong>India-Italy Executive Programme of Cooperation.</strong></li>
<li>Welcomed the <strong>establishment of Thematic Working Groups</strong> as a method of work between the <strong>Italian Space Agency</strong> (ASI) and the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Space Research Organisation</strong> </a>(ISRO) as well as the creation of the<strong> first joint ASI-ISRO working group in heliophysics.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Heliophysics</strong> is the study of the effects of the Sun on the Solar System.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation for Counter-Terrorism and Security:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pledged to strengthen cooperation in the<strong> fight against <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">terrorism</a> and transnational crime</strong> both at a bilateral level and in multilateral fora and also agreed to hold the next meeting of the<strong> &lsquo;India-Italy Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism&rsquo;</strong> to further advance cooperation, exchange of expertise and capacity building in 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Cooperation and Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Italy acknowledged the potential of new international organisations such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure#:~:text=The%20Union%20Cabinet%20has%20given,on%2023rd%20September%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructures</strong></a> (CDRI) and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/third-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a> (ISA).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India welcomed Italy joining ISA after it coming into force of the universalisation of ISA.</li>
<li>India also welcomed Italy&rsquo;s engagement in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association</strong> </a>(IORA) and <strong>Italy&rsquo;s new status as Development Partner</strong> of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Cooperation on Environment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc#:~:text=It%20aims%3A,and%20switch%20to%20renewable%20energy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change</strong></a> (UNFCCC) and its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-renewed-support-for-paris-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong> </a>and their respective <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/11-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nationally determined contributions</strong></a> (NDCs).</li>
<li>Highlighted the <strong>significance of cooperation in the run-up to the 26<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties</strong> (COP26) of the UNFCCC, which will be <strong>organised in 2021 by the UK</strong> in partnership with Italy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1670763" 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/india-italy-bilateral-summit'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Kartarpur Sahib',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has criticized Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to<strong> transfer the management</strong> of the <strong>Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara</strong> from a Sikh body to a separate trust.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, also known as the <strong>Gurdwara Darbar Sahib,</strong> is located in Pakistan&rsquo;s Narowal district across river Ravi. It is one of the most significant historical and spiritual places for Sikhs.</li>
<li>According to historians, the <strong>first Sikh Guru</strong> (Guru Nanak Dev) had arrived in Kartarpur between <strong>1520 and 1522,</strong> and <strong>spent the last 18 years of his life there.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was in Kartarpur where he laid the <strong>foundations of a Sikh religion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Kartarpur Corridor</strong> was thrown open in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kartarpur Corridor</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604727727_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604727727_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Kartarpur corridor<strong> connects the Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan</strong> with the<strong> Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur</strong> district Punjab, India.</li>
<li>The agreement facilitates <strong>visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims</strong> who would <strong>only need a permit</strong> to cross over to Pakistan.</li>
<li>The corridor was built in 2019 to <strong>commemorate the 550<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary</strong> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/guru-nanak-dev-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Guru Nanak Dev</strong></a>, founder of <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/sikhism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sikhism.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-condemns-pakistan-for-handing-over-kartarpur-gurdwara-management-to-non-sikh-body-6958927/" 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/kartarpur-sahib-1'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Radio Burst in Milky Way',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration</strong></a> (NASA) has spotted <strong>fast Radio Burst</strong> for the first time in the <strong>Milky Way.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fast Radio Burst:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FRB are <strong>bright bursts of radio waves</strong> (radio waves can be produced by astronomical objects with changing magnetic fields) whose<strong> durations lie in the millisecond-scale,</strong> because of which it is <strong>difficult to detect them</strong> and determine their position in the sky.</li>
<li>It was<strong> first discovered in 2007.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discovery of FRB in Milky Way:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NASA</strong> observed <strong>a mix of X-ray and radio signals</strong> never observed before in the Milky Way.</li>
<li>The X-ray portion of the simultaneous bursts was detected by several satellites, including <strong>NASA&rsquo;s Wind mission. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NASA&rsquo;s Wind</strong> is a spin stabilized spacecraft launched on 1st November, 1994. After several orbits through the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/1-d-simulation-code-to-study-earth-s-magnetosphere" target="_blank" rel="noopener">magnetosphere</a></strong>, Wind was placed in a halo orbit around the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aditya-l1-mission#:~:text=L1%20refers%20to%20Lagrangian%2FLagrange,of%20the%20Earth%2DSun%20system.&amp;text=The%20L1%20point%20is%20home,European%20Space%20Agency%20(ESA)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>L1 Lagrange point</strong></a> in early 2004 to observe the unperturbed solar wind that is about to impact the magnetosphere of Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> radio component</strong> was discovered by the <strong>Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME),</strong> a radio telescope located at Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in British Columbia, which is led by McGill University in Montreal, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Toronto.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>CHIME</strong> is a novel radio telescope that has no moving parts. Originally conceived to map the most abundant element in the universe - hydrogen - over a good fraction of the observable universe, this unusual telescope is optimized to have a high "mapping speed".</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Source of FRB in Milky Way:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The source of the FRB detected recently in the Milky Way is a very powerful <strong>magnetic <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/evidence-of-supernova-remnants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neutron star</a></strong> referred to as a <strong>magnetar,</strong> called <strong>SGR 1935+2154 or SGR 1935,</strong> which is located in the <strong>constellation Vulpecula</strong> and is estimated to be between 14,000-41,000 light-years away.</li>
<li>The FRB was part of one of the magnetar&rsquo;s most prolific flare-ups, with the X-ray bursts lasting less than a second.</li>
<li>The radio burst, on the other hand, lasted for a thousandth of a second and was thousands of times brighter than any other radio emissions from magnetars seen in the Milky Way previously.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is possible that the FRB-associated burst was exceptional because it likely occurred at or close to the magnetar&rsquo;s magnetic pole.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This flare-up, which lasted for hours, was picked up by <strong>NASA&rsquo;s Fermi Gamma-ray Space telescope and NASA&rsquo;s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope,</strong> formerly called the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), is a space observatory being used to perform gamma-ray astronomy observations from low Earth orbit.</li>
<li><strong>NASA&rsquo;s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer</strong> is an<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-27-february-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Space Station (ISS)</strong> </a>payload devoted to the study of neutron stars through soft X-ray timing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Magnetar</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As per NASA, a <strong>magnetar</strong> is a neutron star, &ldquo;the crushed, city-size remains of a star many times more massive than the Sun.&rdquo;</li>
<li>The <strong>magnetic field of such a star is very powerful,</strong> which can be over 10 trillion times stronger than a refrigerator magnet and up to a thousand times stronger than a typical <strong>neutron star&rsquo;s.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Neutron stars</strong> are formed when the core of a massive star undergoes gravitational collapse when it reaches the end of its life. This results in the matter being so tightly packed that even a sugar-cube sized amount of material taken from such a star weighs more than 1 billion tons, which is about the same as the weight of Mount Everest, according to NASA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Magnetars are a subclass of these neutrons and occasionally release flares with more energy in a fraction of a second than the Sun is capable of emitting in tens of thousands of years.</li>
<li>In the case of<strong> SGR 1935,</strong> for instance, the X-ray portion of the simultaneous bursts it released recently carried as much energy as the Sun produces in a month, assuming that the magnetar lies towards the nearer end of its distance range.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-a-radio-burst-spotted-by-nasa-for-the-first-time-in-the-milky-way-6968134/" 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/radio-burst-in-milky-way'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Central Armed Police Forces',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-crucial-expertise-of-capfs/article33033884.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The crucial expertise of CAPFs&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 06/11/2020. It talks about the challenges and solutions for efficient functioning of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).</p>
</div>
<p>Under the Indian Constitution, police and public order are state subjects. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) assists state governments by providing them support of the Central Armed Police Forces.</p>
<p>Apart from this, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-armed-police-force-capf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)</strong> </a>performs a multidimentional role like protecting the borders of the nation from external aggression &amp; infiltration, aiding in internal security in combating insurgency, anti-naxalism and counter terrorism.</p>
<p>Further, these forces assist the civil population in various area development programs, community policing programs and disaster management. This can be reflected in the role played by these forces in dealing with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<p>However, there are many issues which need to be addressed for efficient working of these forces.</p>
<h3>Central Armed Police Forces</h3>
<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs maintains seven CAPFs:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which assists in internal security and counterinsurgency.</li>
<li>The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which protects vital installations (like airports) and public sector undertakings.</li>
<li>The National Security Guards (NSG), which is a special counterterrorism force.</li>
<li>Four border guarding forces, which are the Border Security Force(BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Assam Rifles (AR).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604663880_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604663880_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Major Functions of CAPFs</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Safeguard the security of borders of India and promote a sense of security among the people living in border areas.</li>
<li>Prevent trans-border crimes, smuggling, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India and to prevent any other illegal activity.</li>
<li>Provide security to sensitive installations, persons at security risk.</li>
<li>Restore and preserve order in any area in the event of disturbance therein.</li>
<li><strong>Other Functions:</strong> Counter Insurgency Operations, Anti Naxal Operations, Internal Security Duties, VIP Protection, Lead Intelligence Agency, Security To Diplomatic Missions Abroad, UN Peacekeeping Operations, Disaster Management, Civic Action Nodal agency for UN Police Missions, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Working Conditions:</strong> The Standing Committee on Home Affairs in the year 2017 had expressed concern over the working conditions of personnel of the border guarding forces.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Committee observed that they had to work 16-18 hours a day, with little time for rest or sleep.</li>
<li>The personnel were also not satisfied with medical facilities that had been provided at border locations.</li>
<li>In addition, the Standing Committee observed that personnel of the CAPFs have not been treated at par with the Armed Forces, in terms of pay and allowances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Operational Bottlenecks:</strong> All CAPFs have set up training institutions to meet their training requirements and impart professional skills on specialised topics.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there is an urgent need to upgrade the curriculum and infrastructure in these training institutes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impediments to Modernisation:</strong> The MHA has been making efforts to provide modern arms, ammunition, and vehicles to the CAPFs. In this regard, the Modernization Plan-II, for the period 2012-17, was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Plan aims to provide financial support to CAPFs for modernisation in areas of arms, clothing, and equipment.</li>
<li>However, the Estimates Committee observed that the procurement process under the Plan was cumbersome and time consuming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Burdened By States&rsquo; Responsibilities:</strong> There is heavy dependence of states on central armed police forces (CAPFs), even for everyday law and order issues.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This affects the anti-insurgency and border guarding operations, besides curtailing the training needs of these forces.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cadre Management Issue:</strong> Each of the seven has its own cadre of officers, but they are headed by officers of the Indian Police Service.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This has a demoralizing effect on the officers of the CAPFs, and impacts the effectiveness of the forces.</li>
<li>In addition, there was frustration in CAPFs due to stagnation in promotions and lack of cadre review.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Modernising the CAPFs:</strong> MHA should ensure the bottlenecks in procurement should be identified and corrective action should be taken.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the government should engage in negotiations with ordnance factories and manufacturers in the public or private sector, to ensure an uninterrupted supply of equipment and other infrastructure.</li>
<li>While purchasing the latest equipment, training needs should also be taken care of, and if required, should be included in the purchase agreement itself.</li>
<li>Moreover, given the evolution of hybrid warfare, the contents of training should be a mix of conventional matters as well as latest technologies such as ICT, and cyber security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting States&rsquo; Capacity:</strong> States must develop their own systems, and augment their police forces by providing adequate training and equipment.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The central government should supplement the efforts of state governments by providing financial assistance and other help needed by states for capacity building of their forces.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corrective Measures in Cadre Policy:</strong> Citing the dissatisfaction in Cadre policy, Joshi Committee recommended that top positions should be filled from the respective cadre of the CAPF.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the Committee recommended that cadre review of all the CAPFs should be carried out within a defined timeline.</li>
<li>It is high time to implement these recommendations as soon as possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Personnel Reforms:</strong> Workshops on stress management should regularly be undertaken, and yoga and meditation be made part of the daily exercise for CAPF personnel.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the provision of accommodation near the deployment of the respective force, to enable personnel to meet their family members, can also be explored.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>CAPF personnel give a semblance of existence of government administration even in the remotest corners of the country. Their versatile experience can be utilised to the nation&rsquo;s advantage. However, there is a need to address the underlying issues that affect the efficient working of CAPFs.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f5fff7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Central Armed Forces give a semblance of existence of government administration even in the remotest corners of the country. However, there are many issues that hamper their functioning. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Z-SqOPK9MM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/bihar-elections-agriculture-corn-revolution-6948497/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Just like corn&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on November 05<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/central-armed-police-forces'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'India’s Annual Resolution on Counter-Terror',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India&rsquo;s<strong> annual resolution on the issue of counter-terrorism</strong> was adopted by consensus in the First Committee of the <strong>United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s resolution<strong> &lsquo;Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction&rsquo;</strong> was <strong>co-sponsored by more than 75 countries</strong> and adopted by <strong>consensus without a vote.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, a victim of state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, has been at the forefront in highlighting the serious threat to international peace and security emanating from acquisition of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by terrorist groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s resolution predates the adoption of <strong>resolution 1540</strong> by the Security Council.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> resolution 1540 of the year 2004,</strong> the Security Council decided that all States shall refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in particular for terrorist purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that <strong>the UN has not agreed on a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/at-unga-india-call-for-early-adoption-of-ccit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)</a></strong> yet.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1996, with the objective of providing a comprehensible legal framework to counter terrorism, India proposed to the UNGA the adoption of the "Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism&rdquo; (CCIT).</li>
<li>CCIT seeks a universal definition of terrorism, prosecution of terrorists under special laws, making cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence worldwide, among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Weapon of Mass Destruction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WMD refers to a weapon with the capacity to inflict death and destruction on such a massive scale and so indiscriminately that its very presence in the hands of a hostile power can be considered a grievous threat.</li>
<li>Modern weapons of mass destruction are either nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons&mdash;frequently referred to collectively as <strong>NBC weapons.</strong></li>
<li>Efforts to control the spread of WMD are enshrined in international agreements such as the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/50-years-of-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty-npt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Nuclear</strong> </a><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/50-years-of-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty-npt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-proliferation Treaty</a> of 1968</strong>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/combating-bioterrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Biological Weapons Convention of 1972</strong></a>, and the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/25-02-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty of 1968.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has enacted an act to prohibit unlawful activities, in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems which is known as <strong>The Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of unlawful activities) Act, 2005.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNGA is <strong>one of the six principal organs of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a></strong>, serving as the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UN is an international organization founded in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States.</li>
<li>The <strong>other five organs</strong> of the UN are: Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the UN Secretariat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>First Committee of the UNGA</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>First Committee (Disarmament and International security)</strong> deals with disarmament, global challenges and threats to peace that affect the international community and seeks out solutions to the challenges in the international security regime.</li>
<li>The Committee works in close cooperation with the <strong>United Nations Disarmament Commission</strong> and the <strong>Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament.</strong> It is the <strong>only Main Committee</strong> of the General Assembly entitled to<strong> verbatim records coverage.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-resolution-on-counter-terror-adopted-by-un-general-assembly-6968818/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source:IE</a></strong></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-annual-resolution-on-counter-terror'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Minister of Science and Technology has given<strong> Gandhian Young Technological Innovation</strong> (GYTI) <strong>Awards</strong> to encourage technology students to move towards setting up biotechnology and other start-ups.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GYTI awards constitute <strong>two categories</strong> of awards:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Students Innovations for Advancement of Research Explorations-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation</strong> (SITARE-GYTI):<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Given To:</strong> Every year to the most promising technologies developed by the students in life sciences, biotechnology, agriculture,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/medical-devices-in-india-issues-and-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> medical devices</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Given By:</strong> The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a public sector enterprise, set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technological Innovations-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation</strong> (SRISTI-GYTI):<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Given To:</strong> Every year to students in other engineering disciplines except for the ones covered by SITARE-GYTI.</li>
<li><strong>Given By:</strong> Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technological Innovations (SRISTI), a developmental voluntary organisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Initiatives Aimed at Boosting Start-Ups</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Social Responsibility Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, the government is working on a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/scientific-social-responsibility-policy#:~:text=Definition%3A,linkages%20between%20science%20and%20society." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scientific Social Responsibility Policy</strong> </a>with a focus on how efforts of scientists can benefit all sections of society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the flagship programme of BIRAC, which provides <strong>support to young startups and entrepreneurial individuals.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>largest early-stage biotech funding programme in India</strong> with the funding<strong> grant of up to Rs. 5 million</strong> to best in class innovative ideas to build and refine the idea to proof-of-concept.</li>
<li><strong>Aims:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Foster generation of ideas with commercialisation potential.</li>
<li>Upscale and validate proof of concept.</li>
<li>Encourage researchers to take technology closer to market through a start-up.</li>
<li>Stimulate enterprise formation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Encouraging Youth for Undertaking Innovative Research through Vibrant Acceleration (E-YUVA) Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will engage a number of universities and technology institutes to serve as mentors, which will help to create a pan-India network to encourage a larger number of student entrepreneurs.</li>
<li>It aims to <strong>promote a culture of applied research and need-oriented</strong> (societal or industry) entrepreneurial innovation among young students and researchers.</li>
<li>It is implemented through E-YUVA Centres (EYCs) to inculcate entrepreneurial culture through fellowship, pre-incubation and mentoring support.</li>
<li>It provides<strong> support for students under the following two categories:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BIRAC&rsquo;s Innovation Fellows (for postgraduates and above).</li>
<li>BIRAC&rsquo;s E-Yuva Fellows (for undergraduate students).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biologically-inspired Resilient Autonomic Cloud</strong> (BioRAC) helps more and more students who try to set up start-ups and <strong>help India become <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atmanirbhar</a></strong> (self-reliant).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BioRAC employs <strong>biologically inspired techniques and multi-level tunable redundancy techniques to increase attack and exploitation resilience</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/edge-computing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cloud computing</strong></a>, helping it tolerate and minimise the impact of novel <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyber-attacks.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1670367" 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/gandhian-young-technological-innovation-awards'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Metro Neo',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Centre is planning to approve national standard specifications for<strong> Metro Neo, a no-frills, low-cost urban rail transit system targeted at tier 2 and tier 3 cities.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Metro Neo is a <strong>mass rapid transit system providing low-cost, energy-efficient and eco-friendly urban transport solutions</strong> for tier 2 and tier 3 cities.</li>
<li>Drawing traction power from overhead wires, Metro Neo will<strong> not run on track but on road.</strong> It is <strong>suitable for places</strong> where the traffic demand is around 8,000 passengers one way in peak time.</li>
<li>Metro Neo systems are <strong>lighter and smaller than conventional Metro trains.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They <strong>cost about 25% of conventional systems</strong> but with <strong>similar facilities,</strong> and are <strong>cheaper than the other budget option Metrolite,</strong> which costs about 40% of the normal Metro.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Maharashtra government</strong> has already given a green signal for this state-of-the-art Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for <strong>Nashik.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Metro Trains and Metrolite:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> metro rail system</strong> being developed at present is <strong>of high capacity</strong> which is required for bigger cities with very high ridership and Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT).</li>
<li>Seeing the success of metro rail in the country, several other <strong>cities with lower projection of ridership</strong> are also <strong>aspiring for a rail based mass rapid transit system,</strong> which could be fulfilled by<strong> Light Urban Rail Transit System</strong> named <strong>"Metrolite"</strong> with lesser capacity at much less cost. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>'Metrolite' would also act as a <strong>feeder system to high capacity Metro.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other New Modes of Urban Mobility <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604650119_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604650119_image6.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hyperloop Transportation System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a transportation system where a <strong>pod-like vehicle</strong> is propelled through a near-vacuum tube connecting cities at <strong>speeds matching that of an aircraft.</strong></li>
<li>The hyperloop concept is a<strong> brainchild of Tesla founder Elon Musk.</strong> The hyperloop system is being designed to transport passengers and freight.</li>
<li>The USA-based Hyperloop Transport Technology (HTT) has claimed that it <strong>costs USD 40 million per kilometre to build a hyperloop system while building a high-speed train line would cost almost twice.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Maharashtra government</strong> had signed an agreement with<strong> Virgin group</strong> to build a Hyperloop in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pod Taxi:</strong> <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604650136_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604650136_image5.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2017, the <strong>National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)</strong> had called the expression of interest (EOI) for launching <strong>India&rsquo;s first driverless pod taxi systems</strong> on a 70 km stretch from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi to Manesar in Haryana. Pod Taxi Scheme is also called the<strong> Personal Rapid Transit (PRT).</strong></li>
<li>PRT consists of <strong>driverless vehicles</strong> in the shape of pods, which <strong>can hold two to six people each,</strong> and run along a predetermined course at <strong>80-130 km per hour.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India grapples <strong>with a host of mobility-related challenges</strong> like pollution and traffic congestion, thus it is essential to ramp up and optimise mobility services.</li>
<li>The <strong>focus</strong> has to be on promoting green, clean mobility. Electric vehicles are already on high priority on the government&rsquo;s agenda.</li>
<li>Further, mobility services should be convenient to access by the public and secure, even for the fringes of the demographic, including women, children and the elderly.</li>
<li>Cities are<strong> engines of economic growth.</strong> Thus, for a fast urbanising country such as India, we need such a fuel efficient mass rapid transit system to achieve <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals</strong> </a>and ensure movement of people instead of moving vehicles.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/metro-neo'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'World Food Programme (WFP)',
		'catname' => 'International Institutions',
		'desc' => '<p>The <strong>World Food Programme (WFP)</strong> is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was founded in 1961 by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)</strong></a> and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)</strong></a> with its headquarters in Rome, Italy.</li>
<li>It is also a member of the<strong> United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG)</strong>, a coalition of UN agencies and organizations aimed at fulfilling the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The WFP assists 88 countries, and has assisted 97 million people (in 2019) which is the largest number since 2012.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>WFP focuses on emergency assistance as well as rehabilitation and development aid.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two-thirds of its work is in conflict-affected countries, where people are three times more likely to be undernourished than elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It works closely with the other two Rome-based UN agencies: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),</strong> which helps countries draw up policy and change legislation to support sustainable agriculture</li>
<li>The <strong>International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),</strong> which finances projects in poor rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To end hunger by protecting access to food.</li>
<li>Improving nutrition and achieving food security.</li>
<li>Supporting the SDG implementation and partnering for its results.</li>
</ul>
<h3>WFP&rsquo;s Strategic Plan for 2017-2021</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was adopted just over a year after the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It aligns the organization&rsquo;s work to the 2030 Agenda&rsquo;s global call to action, which <strong>prioritizes efforts</strong> to <strong>end poverty, hunger</strong> and <strong>inequality,</strong> encompassing humanitarian as well as development efforts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Strategic Plan is guided by the SDGs set forth in the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 2 on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/achieving-zero-hunger-by-2030-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ending hunger</strong></a> and SDG 17 on revitalizing global partnerships for implementation of the SDGs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It ushers in a<strong> new planning and operational structure,</strong> including the implementation of results-based country portfolios that will maximize WFP&rsquo;s contribution to governments&rsquo; efforts towards achieving the SDGs.</li>
<li><strong>Responding to emergencies</strong> and saving lives and livelihoods &ndash; either through direct assistance, or by strengthening country capacities &ndash; remains at the heart of WFP&rsquo;s operations, especially as humanitarian needs become increasingly complex and protracted.</li>
<li>WFP will support countries in ensuring no one is left behind by continuing to<strong> build resilience for food security and nutrition</strong> and addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change and rising inequality.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Funding</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WFP has <strong>no independent source of funds,</strong> it is funded entirely by voluntary donations. Its principal donors are governments, but the organization also receives donations from the private sector and individuals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Governments:</strong> governments are the principal source of funding for WFP; the organization receives no dues or portions of the UN assessed contributions. On average, over 60 governments underwrite the humanitarian and development projects of WFP</li>
<li><strong>Corporates:</strong> Through corporate-giving programmes, individual companies make vital contributions to fighting hunger.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Donations from private and not-for-profit entities have included frontline support to several emergency operations; expertise to enhance WFP's logistics and fundraising capacities; and critical cash for school feeding.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Individuals:</strong> Individual contributions can make a difference in the lives of the hungry. A personal donation can provide:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Emergency food rations during a crisis</li>
<li>Special food for hungry children in schools.</li>
<li>Food incentives to encourage poor families to send their girls to school.</li>
<li>Food as payment for people to rebuild schools, roads and other infrastructure in the wake of conflicts and natural disasters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Share the Meal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ShareTheMeal is an initiative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).</li>
<li>Donations from the ShareTheMeal app support various WFP operations ranging from resilience building and school feeding programmes to providing food assistance in emergencies.</li>
<li>The app was launched in 2015 and since then, it has helped provide aid to some of the largest food crises in the world including Yemen, Syria and Nigeria.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>WFP and India</h3>
<p>WFP has been working in India since 1963, with work transitioning from food distribution to technical assistance since the country achieved self-sufficiency in cereal production. The areas in which WFP mainly assists in India are:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Transforming the targeted public distribution system</strong>: WFP is working to improve the efficiency, accountability and transparency of India&rsquo;s own subsidized food distribution system, which brings supplies of wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene oil to around 800 million poor people across the country.</li>
<li><strong>Fortification of government distributed food:</strong> To boost the nutritional value of the Government&rsquo;s Midday Meal school feeding programme, WFP is pioneering the multi-micronutrient fortification of school meals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The pilot project saw rice fortified with iron, which was distributed in a single district, resulting in a 20 percent drop in anaemia.</li>
<li>It has also helped tackle malnutrition by fortifying food given to babies and young children in Kerala State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mapping and monitoring of food insecurity:</strong> WFP has used Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping softwares to identify India&rsquo;s most food insecure areas, which allows policy and relief work to be targeted appropriately. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WFP is also supporting the government&rsquo;s Poverty and Human Development Monitoring Agency in establishing a State-level Food Security Analysis Unit, working towards the goal of achieving Zero Hunger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Report Released by WFP</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/food-crisis-amid-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Report on Food Crisis</strong></a>- The Global Report on Food Crises describes the scale of acute hunger in the world. It provides an analysis of the drivers that are contributing to food crises across the globe. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report is produced by the Global Network against Food Crises, an international alliance working to address the root causes of extreme hunger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Award Won</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WFP has been awarded with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-in-literature-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize for Peace 2020</strong></a> for its efforts to combat hunger, bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and preventing the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Virtual Global Investor Roundtable',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Prime Minister has chaired the Virtual Global Investor Roundtable</strong> (VGIR), with an aim to attract investment into the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Virtual Global Investor Roundtable:</strong> It is <strong>an exclusive dialogue</strong> between leading global institutional investors, Indian business leaders and the highest decision-makers from the Government of India and Financial Market Regulators.</li>
<li><strong>Organised by:</strong> Ministry of Finance and the <strong>National Investment and Infrastructure Fund</strong> (NIIF).</li>
<li><strong>Focus for 2020:</strong> Discussions around India&rsquo;s economic and investment outlook, structural reforms and the government&rsquo;s vision for the path to a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25.</li>
<li><strong>Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aatmanirbhar Vision</a>:</strong> It is a <strong>well-planned economic strategy</strong> that aims to<strong> use the capabilities of India&rsquo;s businesses and skills of its workers</strong> to make India into a global manufacturing powerhouse.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/esg-funds-becoming-popular-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ESG Score</strong></a>: India has companies ranking high on <strong>Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)</strong> scores.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline</strong></a>: Under it, India has an ambitious plan to<strong> invest USD 1.5 trillion</strong> in various social and economic infrastructure projects, aimed for faster economic growth and alleviation of poverty in the country.</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives Taken to Improve Manufacturing Potential and Ease of Doing Business:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One Nation, One Tax system in the form of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax</strong></a> (GST), one of the <strong>Lowest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gst-council-and-corporate-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Corporate Tax</a> rates </strong>and<strong> Faceless regime for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/transparent-taxation-honoring-the-honest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Income Tax</a></strong> (IT) <strong>assessment and appeal.</strong></li>
<li>A <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-code-for-labour" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>new labour laws</strong></a> regime balancing the welfare of workers and ease of doing business for the employers and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-production-linked-incentive-scheme#:~:text=Under%20the%20scheme%2C%20electronics%20manufacturing,phones%20and%20specified%20electronic%20components." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Production Linked Incentive schemes</strong></a> in specific sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiative Taken for the Development of the Financial Sector:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Unified authority for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-financial-services-centres-authority-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Financial Services Centre</strong></a>, liberal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-foreign-direct-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong> </a>(FDI) regime, suitable policy regimes for investment vehicles like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/infrastructure-investment-trusts-as-fundraiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Infrastructure Investment Trust</strong> </a>and<strong> Real Estate Investment Trust.</strong></li>
<li>Implementation of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code</strong></a> (IBC), financial empowerment through <strong>Direct Benefit Transfer</strong> and fin-tech based payment systems like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-transactions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ru-Pay cards and BHIM-UPI.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The opportunity created by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-education-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Education Policy 2020</strong> </a>in setting up campuses of foreign universities in India was also highlighted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Investment and Infrastructure Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NIIF is a <strong>government-backed entity</strong> established to provide long-term capital to the country&rsquo;s infrastructure sector. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Indian government has a 49% stake</strong> in NIIF with the rest held by foreign and domestic investors.</li>
<li>With the Centre&rsquo;s significant stake, NIIF is considered <strong>India&rsquo;s quasi-sovereign wealth fund.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was set up in <strong>December 2015</strong> as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/a-special-fund-for-housing-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Category-II Alternate Investment Fund</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Across its <strong>three funds viz. Master Fund, Fund of Funds, and Strategic Opportunities Fund,</strong> it manages over USD 4.3 billion of capital.</li>
<li>Its registered office is in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1670444" 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/virtual-global-investor-roundtable'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Academic Freedom in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has scored considerably low in the international<strong> Academic Freedom Index (AFI)</strong> with a score of 0.352.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Academic freedom,</strong> in general, refers to a scholar's freedom to express ideas without risk of official interference or professional disadvantage.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Academic Freedom Index:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been <strong>published by Global Public Policy Institute</strong> as a part of a global time-series dataset (1900-2019) in close cooperation with <strong>Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-N&uuml;rnberg, Scholars at Risk and the V‑Dem Institute.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>compares</strong> levels of academic freedom worldwide and enhances the understanding of its curtailments.</li>
<li>The AFI used <strong>eight components</strong> to evaluate the scores: freedom to research and teach, freedom of academic exchange and dissemination, institutional autonomy, campus integrity, freedom of academic and cultural expression, constitutional protection of academic freedom, international legal commitment to academic freedom under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and existence of universities.</li>
<li>The scores are <strong>scaled 0-1.</strong></li>
<li>The index<strong> did not report data for 35 countries -</strong> including the United States and Australia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Top Performers:</strong> Uruguay and Portugal top the AFI, with scores of 0.971 each, followed closely by Latvia (0.964) and Germany (0.960).</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s performance on the index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India with a <strong>score of 0.352,</strong> is closely<strong> followed by</strong> Saudi Arabia (0.278) and Libya (0.238). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the last five years, the AFI of India<strong> has dipped by 0.1 points.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Countries like Malaysia (0.582), Pakistan (0.554), Brazil (0.466), Somalia (0.436) and Ukraine (0.422) have <strong>scored better than India.</strong></li>
<li>India has <strong>not fared well</strong> in components like <strong>institutional autonomy, campus integrity, freedom of academic and cultural expression </strong>and <strong>constitutional</strong> <strong>protection of academic freedom.</strong></li>
<li>The AFI has cited the<strong> &lsquo;Free to Think: Report of the Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Monitoring Project&rsquo;,</strong> to suggest that the <strong>political tensions in India may have something to do with declining &lsquo;academic freedom&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the Report,<strong> political tensions</strong> in India have led to <strong>violent altercations between students, security forces, and off-campus groups,</strong> and have driven legal actions and <strong>disciplinary measures against scholars</strong> critical of those in power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges for India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Freedom to Scholars:</strong> India fails to provide desired freedom to scholars to discuss politically and culturally controversial topics, without fearing for their life, studies or profession.</li>
<li><strong>Political Interference:</strong> Most universities in the country are subjected to unsolicited interference from governments in both academic and non-academic issues. It is common knowledge by now that a majority of appointments, especially to top-ranking posts like that of vice-chancellors, pro vice-chancellors and registrars, have been highly politicized.</li>
<li><strong>Corrupt Practices:</strong> Political appointments not only choke academic and creative freedom, but also lead to corrupt practices, including those in licensing and accreditation.</li>
<li><strong>Bureaucratisation of Universities:</strong> At present, many educational institutions and regulatory bodies, both at the Central and State levels, are headed by bureaucrats.</li>
<li><strong>Nepotism:</strong> Favouritism and nepotism in staff appointments and student admissions. This reflects a <strong>&lsquo;rent-seeking culture&rsquo;</strong> within the academic community.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rent-seeking is an economic concept that occurs when an entity seeks to gain added wealth without any reciprocal contribution of productivity. Typically, it revolves around government-funded social services and social service programs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Solutions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Implementing New Education Policy (NEP) 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NEP 2020 claims that it is based on <strong>principles of creativity</strong> and <strong>critical thinking</strong> and envisions an education system that is <strong>free from political or external interference.</strong></li>
<li>The policy states that faculty will be given the <strong>&ldquo;freedom to design their own curricular and pedagogical approaches within the approved framework,</strong> including textbook and reading material selections, assignments and assessments&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It also suggests constituting a <strong>National Research Foundation (NRF),</strong> a merit-based and peer-reviewed research funding, which &ldquo;will be governed, independently of the government, by a rotating Board of Governors consisting of the very best researchers and innovators across fields&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Further, it aims to <strong>de-bureaucratise the education system</strong> by giving <strong>governance powers to academicians.</strong> It talks about giving autonomy to higher education institutions by handing over their administration to a board comprising academicians.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regulatory and Governance Reforms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Restructure or merge different higher education regulators</strong> (UGC, AICTE, NCTE etc.) to ensure effective coordination. Amend <strong>UGC Act, 1956 to give legislative backing to regulatory structure.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Select Vice-Chancellors</strong> of universities through a transparent &amp; objective process.</li>
<li>Link <strong>University grants</strong> to performance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every government laments the absence of world-class universities, without realizing that it is attributable in part to their interventions and the growing intrusion of political processes. Where politics is largely kept out&mdash;as in IIT, IIM or the IISc&mdash;institutions thrive.</li>
<li>Higher education policy-makers must respond to declining AFi scores. This will also help in making &ldquo;India a global knowledge superpower&rdquo;, aligned with the <strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-4 (SDG 4 -Quality Education).</strong></li>
<li>Academic freedom is primary because universities are <strong>places for raising doubts</strong> and asking questions about everything. Exploring ideas, <strong>debating issues </strong>and<strong> thinking independently</strong> are essential in the quest for excellence.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/academia-and-the-free-will/article33016651.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/academic-freedom-in-india'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Promoting South Asian Tourism',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-india-can-take-the-lead-in-reviving-tourism-in-south-asia/story-IjP7eEjSjnwfDSlWzV3EIL.html#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20India%20liberalised%20the,arrivals%20from%20Bangladesh%20in%202014.&amp;text=India%20should%20also%20leverage%20the,revive%20intra%2Dregional%20tourism%20flows.https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-india-can-take-the-lead-in-reviving-tourism-in-south-asia/story-IjP7eEjSjnwfDSlWzV3EIL.html#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20India%20liberalised%20the,arrivals%20from%20Bangladesh%20in%202014.&amp;text=India%20should%20also%20leverage%20the,revive%20intra%2Dregional%20tourism%20flows.https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-india-can-take-the-lead-in-reviving-tourism-in-south-asia/story-IjP7eEjSjnwfDSlWzV3EIL.html#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20India%20liberalised%20the,arrivals%20from%20Bangladesh%20in%202014.&amp;text=India%20should%20also%20leverage%20the,revive%20intra%2Dregional%20tourism%20flows.https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-india-can-take-the-lead-in-reviving-tourism-in-south-asia/story-IjP7eEjSjnwfDSlWzV3EIL.html#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20India%20liberalised%20the,arrivals%20from%20Bangladesh%20in%202014.&amp;text=India%20should%20also%20leverage%20the,revive%20intra%2Dregional%20tourism%20flows." target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;How India can take the lead in reviving tourism in South Asia&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 05/11/2020. It talks about the challenges and opportunities for developing South Asian regional tourism.</p>
</div>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tourism-industry-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Travel &amp; Tourism Council (WTTC)</a>, the travel and tourism sector accounted for 10.3% of global GDP and 330 million jobs in 2019. The sector has seen high growth in the last decade, which can be largely attributed to factors such as rising disposable incomes, the emergence of low-cost carriers, etc.</p>
<p>While the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 pandemic</a> has affected all sectors of the economy, the travel and tourism (T&amp;T) sector is among those expected to suffer the most prolonged impact.</p>
<p>However, the pandemic provides an opportunity for India to take the lead in promoting regional tourism in South Asia. Further, there is immense potential in the travel and tourism sector, which can be harnessed to contribute to the region&rsquo;s economic recovery.</p>
<h3>Challenges for Regional Tourism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Disruption Caused by Covid-19:</strong> Tourism as an industry is built around mobility and the enabling mechanisms of consumption that are mostly intangible. The challenge posed to these factors by the Covid-19 pandemic is unparalleled in many ways.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the World Bank estimates, South Asia&rsquo;s T&amp;T sector has lost more than 10 million jobs and is further expected to incur losses of over $50 billion in GDP.</li>
<li>This makes the countries most economically dependent on tourism, such as Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, particularly vulnerable.</li>
<li>Further, post-pandemic, inter-regional mobility will remain limited due to reduced air connectivity, high costs, and a lack of willingness to travel long distances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Informal Tourism Sector:</strong> Nearly three-fourths of the tourism sector in the South Asian region are in the informal sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is majorly dominated by bed &amp; breakfast facilities, guest houses and other small-scale units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geo-Political Tensions:</strong> Hostile political conditions in India&rsquo;s neighbourhood, especially between India &amp; Pakistan, discourages development of a South Asian regional circuit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Opportunities For the Regional Tourism</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>High Tourism Potential:</strong> Over the last two decades, South Asia has emerged as an attractive tourist destination due to its natural and cultural diversity, and price competitiveness.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The region is home to tourism-based economies such as Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka that attract high spending per traveller.</li>
<li>In 2019, the World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) ranked South Asia as &ldquo;the most improved region since 2017.</li>
<li>In South Asia, tourism was one of the fastest-growing sectors in the last decade, with double-digit growth leading to a contribution of $234 billion or 6.6% of the region&rsquo;s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crisis Presents An Opportunity:</strong> Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unforeseen challenges to global tourism. With geography gaining significance and the importance of shorter distances becoming more pronounced, regional tourism is likely to grow.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such a push would also contribute locally through employment and revenue generation from foreign exchange earnings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Niche Tourism:</strong> There is an opportunity that can be explored to bring back the international traveler to the niche segment of South Asian Countries, Adventure Tourism circuit with Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example: India&rsquo;s medical, spiritual and Ayurveda tourism, Adventure Tourism circuit with Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Opportunity for India:</strong> In the last decade, India has witnessed an increase in the share of South Asian tourist arrivals. Additionally, tourist spill-overs from India to the rest of the region contribute significantly to the regional tourism economy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India, in particular, should leverage geographic proximity and the wide range of cultural similarities with its neighbours such as the regional Buddhist trail and pilgrimage, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Several steps can be taken to ensure a seamless flow of tourists in India and its neighbourhood:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>E-visa Facility:</strong> Technical modernisation, upgradation and other improvements are needed in the Indian visa application and delivery system for South Asian nationals.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, only China and Sri Lanka are eligible for an Indian e-visa.</li>
<li>Considering the rising share of tourists from the neighbourhood in India, the e-visa facility should be extended to other countries in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Investing in Digitisation in the Tourism Industry</strong>: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an increasing focus on digitisation of various services to revive the tourism sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Contact-less transfers, hotel check-ins, site-visits etc. will be crucial for revival of the industry.</li>
<li>This requires participation from both public and private sector stakeholders and significant investment in digitisation to enhance secure travel and ensure revenue from foreign exchange.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inter-Ministerial Coordination to Enhance Infrastructural Connectivity:</strong> The Ministry of Tourism should actively work with other ministries such as the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Home Affairs to undertake infrastructure-related connectivity initiatives.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example by further expanding the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/udan-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UDAN Scheme</a> to neighbouring countries and supporting digital immigration services at the Integrated Check Posts.</li>
<li>Apart from this, the government must play a role in facilitating tourism infrastructural development supported by multilaterals such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tourism Promotion Through Regional Initiatives:</strong> India must take the lead in promoting intra-regional tourism through the <strong>South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) or the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal initiative (BBIN)</strong>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Following the example of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</a>, India could host regional tourism summits and facilitate inter-regional cooperation among tour operators, for example with the Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA).</li>
<li>India should also work and cooperate bilaterally with other South Asian countries on joint tourism promotion and advertising campaigns, towards establishing the tourism industry as a regional value chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Religious Tourism Circuits:</strong> The historical and cultural linkages between South Asian nations offer the potential to develop religious tourism circuits within the region.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There has been an interest towards developing a Buddhist circuit between India and Nepal, and a Ramayana circuit between India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s regional governments will have to play a vital role in targeted outreach initiatives to promote their religious heritage to specific countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has been the preferred short-haul destination for tourists from its neighbourhood. Tourists visit India not only for leisure and medical reasons, but also use the country for transit to other regions.</li>
<li>However, there is an urgent need to address the significant challenges towards promoting free and open intra-regional tourism such as visa-openness, gaps in cross-border infrastructure, etc.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604579774_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604579774_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #d0edf5; border-color: #0d85a6;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Answer</strong></em><br /><br />Developing South Asian regional tourism will not only help in boosting the economy of the region but bring people closer. Comment</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ql07Qwf5se8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/what-is-at-stake-in-us-elections/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;What is at stake in US Elections&rdquo;</a> which was published in The Economic Times on November 03rd, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/promoting-south-asian-tourism'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'India-UAE Meet on Investments',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the eighth meeting of the <strong>India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments</strong> has been virtually hosted by India in the wake of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604573841_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604573841_image4.png" width="431" height="256" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Joint Task Force was created in 2012</strong> as a crucial forum for further <strong>deepening the economic ties</strong> between the UAE and India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mechanism has assumed greater importance as the two countries signed the <strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership</strong> (CSP) <strong>Agreement</strong> in<strong> January 2017</strong> and the Joint Task Force is an integral component of it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The focus areas underlined in the CSP were economy with emphasis on a <strong>two-way flow of investments, counter-terror cooperation and defence ties</strong>.</li>
<li>India has signed<strong> CSPs with the UK, Indonesia, Vietnam and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At the meeting, both sides reviewed the existing<strong> UAE Plus</strong> and the <strong>Fast Track Mechanism created in 2018</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>UAE Plus</strong> is a special and dedicated desk constituted under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invest-india-business-immunity-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Invest India</strong></a> with Arabic speaking officials to help facilitate investments.</li>
<li>The <strong>Fast Track Mechanism </strong>aims to<strong> resolve any challenges experienced by UAE investors </strong>in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scope of Improvement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Explore ways to <strong>facilitate investments</strong> in key Indian and UAE sectors with potential for economic growth, and to maintain their dialogue and further build on the considerable achievements of the Joint Task Force.</li>
<li><strong>Encourage investment and cooperation</strong> in areas of mutual interest with the purpose to stimulate economic activities in the post-Covid-19 times.</li>
<li><strong>Address specific barriers</strong> to trade, like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-dumping-duty-on-steel-imports#:~:text=Dumping%20impacts%20the%20price%20of,and%20its%20trade%20distortive%20effect." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>anti-dumping duties</strong></a>, tariffs and regulatory restrictions between the two countries with an aim to further <strong>strengthen the trade and economic ties and to coordinate efforts and promote mutual cooperation</strong>.</li>
<li>Continue the work between respective<strong> civil aviation authorities to ensure speedy normalisation of air transport</strong> operations for their mutual benefit.</li>
<li><strong>Development and operation of UAE-based funds</strong> to invest in India, in the light of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-norms-for-fpi#:~:text=FPIs%20shall%20be%20permitted%20for,and%20invest%20in%20Indian%20markets." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Portfolio Investor Regulations 2019</strong></a> by the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Securities and Exchange Board of India</strong></a> (SEBI).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India agreed to look into these issues with the objective of facilitating further direct investments of UAE-based funds and seeking mutually beneficial solutions in that regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focus on opportunities for cooperation and potential investments in key sectors</strong> in India including the <strong>healthcare and pharmaceutical </strong>industry, <strong>mobility and logistics, food and agriculture, energy and utilities</strong> and others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-UAE Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on age-old cultural, religious and economic ties between the two nations.</li>
<li>The relationship <strong>flourished after</strong> the accession of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in <strong>1966</strong> and subsequently with the <strong>creation of the UAE Federation in 1971</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Political Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>August 2019,</strong> UAE <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uae-awards-highest-civilian-honour-to-the-prime-minister" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded ZAYED Medal</a></strong>, their highest civilian award, <strong>to the Prime Minister of India</strong> for consolidating the long-standing friendship and joint strategic cooperation between the two nations.</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to the UAE in <strong>August 2015</strong> marked the beginning of a new and <strong>comprehensive and strategic partnership</strong>.</li>
<li>The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited India in <strong>February 2016</strong> and had <strong>wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Commercial Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India-UAE trade was around <strong>USD 59 billion making UAE, India&rsquo;s third-largest trading partner</strong> for the year <strong>2019-20</strong> after China and the USA.</li>
<li>The <strong>UAE is the second-largest export destination of India</strong> with an amount of over <strong>USD 29 billion for the year 2019-20</strong>.</li>
<li>For the<strong> UAE, India is the second-largest trading partner</strong> for the year <strong>2019</strong> with an amount of around <strong>USD 41.43 billion</strong> for non-oil trade.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Major Exports:</strong> Food items, Machinery, Gems and Jewellery, Textiles, Engineering and Machinery Products, Chemicals, etc.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Major Import:</strong> Crude Oil, Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Precious Metals, Minerals, Chemicals, Wood and Wood Products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two nations <strong>share historical ties and have maintained regular cultural exchanges</strong> both at official and popular levels.</li>
<li>They signed a <strong>Cultural Agreement in 1975</strong> and the embassies continue to organise various cultural activities on their own as well as by collaborating with other cultural organisations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Community:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UAE is<strong> home to the Indian expatriate community of more than 2.6 million,</strong> the largest expatriate community in the UAE, which has played a <strong>major role in the economic development</strong> of the UAE.</li>
<li>Recently, India has asked the members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gulf-cooperation-council-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which also includes UAE</strong></a>, to facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work with the relaxing of Covid-19-related restrictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Recent Developmental Events in the UAE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In March 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-opening-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>46<sup>th</sup> session of the Council of Foreign Ministers</strong></a> of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)</strong></a>, was held in Abu Dhabi where India was invited as a guest of honour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UAE</strong> hosted the event and had <strong>strongly defended the decision to invite India</strong> despite Pakistan&rsquo;s strong objection and threat to boycott the event.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>February 2020,</strong> the UAE issued an operating licence for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arab-world-s-first-nuclear-power-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arab world's first nuclear power plant</strong></a>, paving the way for it to start production in 2020.</li>
<li><strong>UAE Mars Mission:</strong> In July 2020, the UAE launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars probe named Amal (Hope)</strong></a> from Japan, marking the <strong>Arab world&rsquo;s first interplanetary mission.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>September 2020,</strong> the UAE signed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-uae-and-bahrain-abraham-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Abraham Accord</strong></a> with Israel and Bahrain, which is the <strong>first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669792" 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/india-uae-meet-on-investments'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Tele-Law',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Tele-Law</strong> touched a new milestone on october 30<sup>th</sup> 2020 by providing legal advice to 4 million beneficiaries through <strong>Common Service Centres.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Common Services Centre (CSC)</strong> programme is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Electronics &amp; IT (MeitY),</strong> that serves as the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a <strong>digitally and financially inclusive society.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> Tele-Law programme was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Law and Justice</strong> in collaboration with the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> launched in 2017 to address cases at pre&ndash;litigation stage.</li>
<li><strong>Connect Lawyers to Litigants:</strong> It is a service that uses video conferencing facilities and telephone services to connect <strong>lawyers to litigants</strong> who need legal advice. This service aims to reach out to the needy especially the marginalized and disadvantaged.</li>
<li><strong>Common Service Centres:</strong> Under this programme, smart technology of video conferencing, telephone/instant calling facilities available at the vast network of <strong>Common Service Centres</strong> at the Panchayat level are used to connect the indigent, down-trodden, vulnerable, unreached groups and communities with the Panel Lawyers for seeking timely and valuable legal advice.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> Tele Law service enables anyone to seek legal advice without wasting precious time and money. The service is free for those who are eligible for free legal Aid as mentioned under <strong>Section 12 of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.</strong> For all others a nominal fee is charged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a recent report titled <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quality-of-free-legal-aid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Quality of Legal Representation: An Empirical Analysis of Free Legal Aid Services in India&rsquo;</strong></a>, the majority of the people who are entitled to the free legal aid system see the service as an option only when they cannot afford a private lawyer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supports SDGs:</strong> It can be noted that this initiative is in line with <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal-16</strong></a>, which seeks to<strong> "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels".</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1987, the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act was enacted to give free and competent legal services to the poor and paved the way for the constitution of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-legal-services-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Legal Service Authority (NALSA)</strong></a> and other legal service institutions at the State, district and taluka level.</li>
<li>Free legal services under LSA Act are available to a person belonging to Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste, woman, child, victim of human trafficking, differently abled person, industrial workman, and person in custody in a protective home and the poor.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Constitutional Provision</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 39A of the Constitution of India</strong> provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.</li>
<li><strong>Articles 14 and 22(1)</strong> also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669756" 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/tele-law'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award-2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Dr. Susanta Kar of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI)</strong></a>, Lucknow has been chosen for this year's <strong>Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award by the Society of Biological Chemists (India).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Society Of Biological Chemists (India) was founded in 1930, with its HeadQuarters at <strong>Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.</strong></li>
<li><strong>CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI),</strong> is a premier drug research institute of India with its HeadQuarters at<strong> Lucknow.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The award has been given to recognize the significant contributions towards defining the survival tactics of<em><strong> Leishmania donovani.</strong></em></li>
<li><em><strong>Leishmania Donovani</strong></em> is a protozoan parasite that infects macrophages and is a causative agent of <em><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kala-azar-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>visceral leishmaniasis (Kala Azar)</strong></a></em>, a lethal infectious disease affecting millions worldwide.</li>
<li><strong>DR. Susanta Kar&rsquo;s research group</strong> studied the interaction of<em><strong> Leishmania</strong></em> with <strong>immune cells</strong> like<strong> macrophages, dendritic cells</strong> and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> T cells</strong></a> and the impact of these interactions on immune response/infection progression.</li>
<li>The award is conferred every <strong>two years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Recipients</strong> of the award should be <strong>below 50 years of age.</strong> The Award is given for <strong>Biological Chemistry and Allied sciences,</strong> preferably related to parasitic infections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Leishmaniasis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>neglected tropical disease</strong> affecting almost 100 countries including India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is caused by a<strong> parasite called Leishmania,</strong> which is transmitted through the bite of <strong>sand flies.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>three types of leishmaniasis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease.</li>
<li><strong>Cutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin sores and is the most common form.</li>
<li><strong>Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin and mucosal lesions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which is commonly known as <strong>Kala-azar</strong> in India, is fatal in over 95% of the cases, if left untreated.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1670109" 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/prof-a-n-bhaduri-memorial-lecture-award-2020'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Hurricane Eta',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Recently, Hurricane Eta</strong> has hit northeastern <strong>Nicaragua</strong> with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flash flooding occurring over <strong>portions of Central America.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> It is categorised as a <strong>Category 4 hurricane.</strong> A Category 4 storm has wind speeds between <strong>130-156 mph</strong> and can uproot trees and bring down power lines.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 based on wind speed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hurricanes that reach category three or higher are classified as major hurricanes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> Tropical cyclones or hurricanes use warm, moist air as fuel, and therefore form over warm Equatorial water.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low-Pressure Creation:</strong> When the warm, moist air rises upward from the surface of the ocean, it creates an area of low air pressure below.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When this happens, the air from the surrounding areas rushes to fill this place, eventually rising when it becomes warm and moist too.</li>
<li>An <strong>eye forms</strong> in the centre. It is the calmest part of the cyclone. Before the wind reaches the centre it gets warmed up and rises upwards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the warm air rises and cools off, the moisture forms clouds. This system of clouds and winds continues to grow and spin.</li>
<li>This disturbance is fuelled by the ocean&rsquo;s heat and the water that evaporates from its surface.</li>
<li>Such storm systems rotate faster and faster. Storms that form towards the north of the equator <strong>rotate counterclockwise, w</strong>hile those that form to the<strong> south spin clockwise</strong> because of the rotation of the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" width="550" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/hurricane-eta-slams-into-nicaragua-grinds-inland-6936772/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-eta'
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