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Supply of DDT to South Africa for Malaria Control Program

Why in News Recently, HIL (India) Limited has supplied 20.60 Metric tonne of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a fertilizer to South Africa for...

22 Jul 2020 News Analysis
ESI Augments Healthcare Services In India

This article is based on the “How ESI can bolster health infrastructure” which was published in Express on 15/07/2020. This article...

21 Jul 2020 News Editorials
Mine Ploughs on T-90 Tanks

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Defence has signed Rs. 557 crore contract with the BEML Limited (formerly known as the Bharat Earth Movers...

21 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Non-personal Data

Why in News Recently, a government committee headed by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan has suggested that non-personal data generated in...

21 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Ravana’s Aviation Route: Sri Lanka

Why in News Recently, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka has sought relevant documents and literature from the public to study the...

21 Jul 2020 News Analysis
No Postal Ballots for Above 65 in Bihar

Why in News Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided against extending postal ballots to electors above 65 years of age in the...

21 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Consumer Protection Act, 2019

Why in News The new Consumer Protection Act, 2019 came into force on 20th July 2020 and it will empower consumers and help them in protecting their...

21 Jul 2020 News Analysis
C.S. Seshadri

Why in News Eminent mathematician Professor CS Seshadri, known for his contributions in algebraic geometry and mathematical education passed away...

21 Jul 2020 News Analysis
National Financial Reporting Authority

Why in News Recently, the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has constituted a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to aid and advise the...

21 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Zoram Mega Food Park: Mizoram

Why in News Recently, the government has operationalized the first Mega Food Park (MFP) of Mizoram i.e. Zoram Mega Food Park. It has been set up...

21 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Significance of 15th India-European Union Summit

This article is based on “India should believe in the EU” which was published in The Hindu on 16/07/2020. This article discusses the...

20 Jul 2020 News Editorials
ICJ on Qatar Blockade

Why in News Recently, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) refused an appeal by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)...

20 Jul 2020 News Analysis
3rd G20 FMCBG Meeting

Why in News Recently India has virtually participated in the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the...

20 Jul 2020 News Analysis
China Crossed its 1960’s LAC Claims

Why in News According to the records of 1960 boundary talks, the Chinese troops have gone beyond China’s own territorial claims at Pangong Tso...

20 Jul 2020 News Analysis
National Award for Excellence in Forestry

Why in News The National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research in Forestry for the year 2019 has been awarded to Kannan C S Warrier, a...

20 Jul 2020 News Analysis
RADT Vs RT-PCR

Why in News Recently, New Delhi's Covid-19 testing strategy has become controversial due to the low level of RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription...

20 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Bathynomus raksasa: Isopod Species

Why in News Recently, scientists have reported the discovery of the first super giant isopod species in the eastern Indian Ocean named...

20 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Day 1

Citizenship This is an important topic for this year's prelims, as it has remained in the news because of the controversy over the Citizenship...

20 Jul 2020 60 days refresher
Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan

This article is based on the article “Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan: Will the scheme be of help?” which was published in Financial...

18 Jul 2020 News Editorials
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2020

Why in News Recently, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2020 was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford...

18 Jul 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Supply of DDT to South Africa for Malaria Control Program',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>HIL (India) Limited</strong> has supplied 20.60 Metric tonne of <strong>Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane</strong> (DDT), a fertilizer to South Africa for their <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>malaria</strong></a> control program.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Company is further in the process of supplying DDT to Zimbabwe and Zambia in the current Financial Year 2020-21.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>HIL (India) Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a PSU under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-chemicals-fertilizers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.</strong></a></li>
<li>It was incorporated in 1954 to manufacture and supply DDT to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for <strong>malaria control programmes.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>sole manufacturer of DDT</strong> globally.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>DDT:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was first synthesized in 1874 by the Austrian chemist Othmar Zeidler.</li>
<li>Its insecticidal action was discovered by the<strong> Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller</strong> in 1939.</li>
<li>He was awarded the<strong> Nobel Prize</strong> in Physiology or Medicine in 1948 "for his discovery of the high efficiency of DDT as a<strong> contact poison against several arthropods.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Arthropods</strong> are invertebrate species which include insects (Mosquitos), arachnids (Spiders), and crustaceans (Crabs) etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Originally developed as <strong>an insecticide,</strong> it became infamous for its <strong>environmental impacts.</strong></li>
<li>A worldwide ban on agricultural use was formalized under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brs-conventions-cop-meet-in-geneva" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.</strong></a></li>
<li>However, its limited use in <strong>disease vector control continues,</strong> because of its <strong>effectiveness in reducing malarial infections.</strong></li>
<li>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) recommends DDT as one of the efficient <strong>Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS)</strong> chemicals to <strong>curb mosquito menace</strong> and it is widely used by Southern African countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IRS is a <strong>core vector control intervention</strong> that involves the application of a residual insecticide to internal walls and ceilings of housing structures where malaria vectors may come into contact with the insecticide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supply to South Africa: South Africa will be utilising DDT</strong> in three provinces bordering<strong> Mozambique.</strong></li>
<li>The region is <strong>highly affected with Malaria</strong> and it has reported <strong>maximum morbidity and mortality.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supply to Other Countries:</strong> HIL (India) Limited has recently exported <strong>Malathion Technical 95%</strong> to Iran under Government-to-Government initiative for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/locusts-appeared-early-in-rajasthan#:~:text=Locust%20Control%20measures%20include%20destroying,swarms%20and%20breeding%20grounds%20from" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Locust</strong></a> <strong>Control Programme</strong> and also exported <strong>Agrochemical-fungicide</strong> to Latin American region.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Malaria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-lancet-on-malaria-eradication" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malaria</strong></a> is caused by<strong> Plasmodium parasites.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected<strong> female Anopheles mosquitoes, called "malaria vectors".</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> Malaria continues to be one of the <strong>major public health problems</strong> globally. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, an estimated <strong>228 million cases</strong> of malaria occurred worldwide.</li>
<li>Most of the<strong> cases and deaths (93%)</strong> were reported from <strong>African Region.</strong></li>
<li>In the South East Asia Region, <strong>India accounts</strong> for the majority of cases and death.</li>
<li>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Malaria Report 2019</strong></a>, India reported 2.6 million fewer cases in 2018 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-report-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>compared to 2017</strong></a>. Thus the overall incidence of malaria in the country has reduced.</li>
<li>However, 7 states <strong>(Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh)</strong> account for about 90% of the burden of malaria cases in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1640136#:~:text=HIL%20(India)%20Limited%2C%20a,their%20Malaria%20control%20program%20yesterday.&amp;text=The%20region%20is%20highly%20affected,the%20disease%20in%20recent%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'ESI Augments Healthcare Services In India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/how-esi-can-bolster-health-infrastructure-6510877/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;How ESI can bolster health infrastructure&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in Express on 15/07/2020. This article talks about how the The Employee State Insurance Corporation can play a significant role in ensuring better healthcare facilities to organized sector employees in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Labour and Employment notified that the wage limit of coverage would be increased from Rs 16,000 to Rs 21,000 per month. Healthcare is one the top priorities of a developing country like India. Successive governments in India have tried to bolster the healthcare infrastructure but much remains to be done.</p>
<p>As an alternative to revamping the entire structure, India can avail itself of better healthcare facilities by focusing on and improving the infrastructure under Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).</p>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Important welfare legislation:</strong> The Employee State Insurance Act 1948, was promulgated to ensure social security and health insurance for workers in India.</li>
<li><strong>Ensures medical security:</strong> The ESI ensures medical benefit, sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit, dependents benefit, funeral expenses, and rehabilitation.</li>
<li><strong>Wide Inclusion:</strong> It provides allowance for all employees and contract labours earning Rs 21,000 or less in wages per month. It takes care of not only the employees but also their dependent family members.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reduction in the burden:</strong> To increase the take-home salary of the employees, the overall contribution rate was reduced from 6.5 per cent to 4 per cent. This put more money in the hands of the employee and even the employers.</li>
<li><strong>Expansion of coverage:</strong> Another inclusive step was to enhance the income limit of dependent parents of an insured person covered under ESI Scheme from the existing Rs 5,000 per month from all sources to Rs 9,000 per month. This would bring the dependent parents of more subscribers under the ambit of ESI.</li>
<li><strong>Improving state medical service system:</strong> Recently, ESIC decided to bear the full cost of implementing the scheme. Earlier, 1/8<sup>th</sup> of the cost was borne by the states while ESIC bore the rest.</li>
<li><strong>More establishments included:</strong> To increase coverage, ESI facilities would be available even for those firms that employ less than 10 people. While for most firms, it would be voluntary, for firms in the hazardous industries, it would be mandatory. Previously, firms with 10 or more people could only avail themselves of this facility.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Optimum utilisation of funds:</strong> ESIC has massive surplus in its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/esic-funds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reserve funds</strong></a>. There Is need to invest these funds: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To establish new medical infrastructure</li>
<li>Upgrade the current medical infrastructure</li>
<li>Improve the services provided to the increasing number of beneficiaries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional disparity:</strong> If ESI coverage has to be extended all over India, at least one ESI dispensary per district is required and several model ESIC hospitals in every state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, in the entire Northeast India, there are only ten ESIC dispensaries and only one ESIC Model Hospital in Guwahati, Assam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthen tie-ups:</strong> ESIC also has tie-ups with private hospitals for super-speciality services. The beneficiaries avail themselves of this cashless benefit. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However there is a need for ESIC to strengthen the tie-ups by ensuring that the private hospital bills are settled promptly so that the ESI beneficiaries can continue to get hassle-free service.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Upgradation of Services:</strong> On an immediate basis, to improve the standard of services, ESIC can improve the infrastructure of the current dispensaries and the hospitals on a war footing and ensure the availability of more types of medicines in the dispensaries.</li>
<li><strong>Extension the ESI to Non notified areas:</strong> Coverage should be extended to all areas. Currently, ESI Coverage is restricted only to notified areas.</li>
<li><strong>Simplifying the financing:</strong> It would have a positive impact on the quality of services delivered by reducing red tape and increasing the overall accountability of the ESIC.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>It is now apparent that the ESIC is a purposeful organisation serving millions of people and the government is consciously increasing its ambit of impact. Although many positive changes have been proposed and implemented in recent times, much more can be done and the ESIC can be a model organisation for countries around the world.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595329936_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595329936_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="692" height="435" /></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: #f0f8ff;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Improving the facilities under ESIC is a panacea to Healthcare service delivery in India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/osTw2Kw7_0Y" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/disentangling-india-s-trade-surplus/story-giOg4uynVrzwDHi0xlh8kK.html#:~:text=The%20cumulative%20effect%20was%20a,%25%20and%20imports%20by%2051%25.&amp;text=In%20April%202020%2C%20India%20registered,and%20imports%20falling%20by%2058.7%25." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Disentangling India&rsquo;s trade Surplus</strong></a> which was published in Hindustan Times on July 20<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Mine Ploughs on T-90 Tanks',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Ministry of Defence</strong> has signed <strong>Rs. 557 crore contract</strong> with the <strong>BEML Limited</strong> (formerly known as the <strong>Bharat Earth Movers Limited</strong>) for the procurement of <strong>1,512 mine ploughs for T-90 Tanks.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The induction is <strong>expected to be completed by 2027.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595327601_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595327601_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>T-90 Tanks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <strong>Russian-origin</strong> tanks are the <strong>Indian Army&rsquo;s main battle tanks.</strong></li>
<li>Indian Army recently deployed them in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/galwan-valley-clash" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Galwan Valley</strong></a> sector of Ladakh amid the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>face-off with Chinese troops.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mine Ploughs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mine ploughs <strong>help tanks to clear minefields and minimize risks to men and machines.</strong></li>
<li>After being fitted on T-90 Tanks, they will<strong> facilitate individual mobility</strong> to the tanks while negotiating a minefield.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>mobility of the tank fleet will enhance manifolds</strong> which in turn would <strong>extend the reach of the armoured formations deep into enemy territory</strong> without becoming a mine casualty.</li>
<li>The decision is expected to boost the government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india#:~:text=On%20September%2025%2C%202014%2C%20the,surpassing%20the%20U.S.%20and%20China." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Make in India&rsquo;</strong></a> initiative.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the procedure, the contract has <strong>Buy and Make (Indian) categorisation</strong> with a minimum of <strong>50% indigenous content</strong> in the Make portion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>BEML Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>established in 1964</strong> as a <strong>Public Sector Undertaking</strong> (PSU).</li>
<li>It has <strong>partially disinvested</strong> and presently the <strong>Government of India owns 54%</strong> of total equity and the rest 46% is held by public and financial institutions, foreign institutional investors, banks and employees.</li>
<li>The company operates under<strong> three major business verticals</strong> viz. <strong>Mining and Construction, Defence and Rail and Metro.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/defence-ministry-signs-557-cr-deal-for-t-90-tanks-mine-ploughs/article32140818.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mine-ploughs-on-t-90-tanks'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Non-personal Data',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a government committee headed by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan has suggested that <strong>non-personal data</strong> generated in India<strong> be allowed to be harnessed by various domestic companies and entities.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The committee has also suggested a <strong>separate national legislation</strong> and a <strong>separate authority</strong> to oversee non-personal data.</li>
<li>It also<strong> recommended mandatory sharing of non-personal data,</strong> as it may be useful for Indian entrepreneurs to develop new and innovative services or products to benefit citizens.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Non-personal data is any set of data <strong>which does not contain personally identifiable information.</strong> This means that no individual or living person can be identified by looking at such data.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, order details collected by a food delivery service will have the name, age, gender, and other contact information of an individual, it will become non-personal data <strong>if the identifiers such as name and contact information are taken out.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government committee, which submitted its report has classified non-personal data into<strong> three main categories,</strong> namely <strong>public non-personal data, community non-personal data</strong> and <strong>private non-personal data.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public, Community, and Private Non-personal Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Public non-personal data:</strong> It involves all the data collected by the government and its agencies during execution of all publicly funded works.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>E.g.</strong> census, data collected by municipal corporations on the total tax receipts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Community non-personal data:</strong> It involves any data identifiers about a set of people who have either the <strong>same geographic location, religion, job, or other common social interests.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>E.g.</strong> The metadata collected by ride-hailing apps, telecom companies, electricity distribution companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Private non-personal data:</strong> It can be defined as those which are produced by individuals which can be derived from<strong> application of proprietary software or knowledge.</strong> E.g data generated by companies like Google, Amazon etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Non-personal Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These data sets will help to map consumer biases and ensure<strong> targeted delivery of services.</strong> It will unlock the doors of economic value and innovation in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sensitivity of Non-personal Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike personal data, non-personal data is more likely to be in an anonymised (without particulars or details) form.</li>
<li>However, in certain categories such as data related to national security or strategic interests such as locations of government laboratories or research facilities, even if the data provided in anonymised form can be dangerous.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Possibilities of such harm are obviously much higher if the original personal data is of a sensitive nature.</li>
<li>Therefore, the <strong>non-personal data arising from sensitive personal data may be considered as sensitive non-personal data.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The data sets will heavily <strong>favour big tech companies.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Only big tech companies possess the capital and infrastructure to create such large volumes of data. Others will find it difficult to match the capabilities of these technology giants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As a signatory to <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)</strong></a>, India extended copyright protection to computer databases in 1999. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In such a scenario, there is a challenge of demarcation between non-personal data that cannot be shared, and non-copyright non-personal data that can be used as a public resource.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is <strong>no clarity over the grievance redressal mechanism</strong> in the committee&rsquo;s report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Like many other countries, India too will have to define non-personal data in a manner that protects intellectual property rights, serves genuine public interest and promotes innovation.</li>
<li>India can learn from <strong>France&rsquo;s National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence policy,</strong> which encourages economic players<strong> to share and pool their data</strong> with the state acting as a trusted third party. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France&rsquo;s policy even empowers public authorities to impose openness on certain data because of its societal benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India can also look towards the <strong>European Union&rsquo;s Regulation on the Free Flow of Non-Personal Data,</strong> which recognises the free flow of non-personal data as a prerequisite of a competitive economy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/non-personal-data-explained-6506613/#:~:text=In%20its%20most%20basic%20form,by%20looking%20at%20such%20data." 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/non-personal-data'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Ravana’s Aviation Route: Sri Lanka',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Civil Aviation Authority of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-sri-lanka" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sri Lanka</a></strong> has sought relevant documents and literature from the public to study the mythological character <strong>Ravana&rsquo;s &ldquo;aviation routes&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> The Civil Aviation Authority will lead a<strong> research project</strong> titled &ldquo;King Ravana and the ancient domination of aerial routes now lost&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The project aims to bring out an <strong>authoritative narrative about King Ravana</strong> as there are many stories about Ravana <strong>flying aircrafts and covering</strong> these aerial routes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the civil aviation authority, it was Ravana who used a flying machine called &ldquo;Dandu monara&rdquo; to fly not only within the country, but also in the South East Asia region.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> Sri Lanka&rsquo;s tourism sector promotes the <strong>&lsquo;Ramayana trail&rsquo;</strong> for visitors from India &mdash; one of Sri Lanka&rsquo;s largest tourism markets.</li>
<li><strong>Sinhala-Buddhists Community:</strong> The majority <strong>Sinhala-Buddhists community</strong> hail the King Ravana.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The group calls itself <strong>Ravana Balaya.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Linkages with India: Dravidian parties</strong> in Tamil Nadu acknowledge Ravana as &ldquo;the brave king&rdquo; similar to the Buddhists community of Sri Lanka.</li>
<li><strong>Satellite:</strong> Sri Lanka named its first satellite <strong>Ravana-1</strong> launched in June 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sinhala-Buddhists Community</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The community focuses upon <strong>Theravada <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buddhism</a></strong>, which is the majority belief system of most of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka.</li>
<li>Sinhalese are the<strong> largest ethnic group on</strong> the island.</li>
<li>It mostly originated in reaction to the <strong>colonisation of Sri Lanka by the British Empire</strong> and became increasingly assertive in the years following the independence of the country.</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-sri-lanka-security-and-geopolitics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka</strong> </a>is rooted in the discrimination against the Tamil minority by the Sinhalese majority after the end of British colonial domination in 1948.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Theravada Buddhism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the most <strong>ancient branch of extant Buddhism</strong> today.</li>
<li>It remains closest to the original teachings of the Buddha.</li>
<li>Theravada Buddhism <strong>developed in Sri Lanka</strong> and subsequently spread to the rest of Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>dominant form of religion</strong> in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.</li>
<li>In India, this strain of Buddhism is represented by the followers of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-political-thinker-br-ambedkar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dr B.R. Ambedkar</strong></a>, <strong>known as the Ambedkar Buddhists</strong>, who are exclusive to India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-to-research-ravanas-aviation-routes/article32142518.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/ravana-s-aviation-route-sri-lanka'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'No Postal Ballots for Above 65 in Bihar',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Election Commission of India</strong></a> (ECI) has <strong>decided against extending postal ballots to electors above 65 years of age</strong> in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections due to logistical challenges.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier in June 2020, the Law Ministry, on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amendments-in-postal-ballot-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recommendation of ECI</strong></a>, had extended the postal ballot facility to electors over 65 years (being most vulnerable to Covid-19), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> patients and those suspected to have it by notifying a change to the <strong>Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier, postal ballots were <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/postal-ballot-facilities-for-absentee-voters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>extended to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and electors over 80 years</strong></a> in November 2019 ahead of the Jharkhand and Delhi elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Working Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The postal ballot facility for electors above 65 years is different from the conventional postal service.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Usually, <strong>ballot papers are distributed electronically</strong> to electors and are <strong>returned to the election officers via post.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For above 65 and Covid-19 patients, it works as a<strong> polling station on the move,</strong> with the polling staff visiting the homes of such electors, having them fill out their ballots, sealing them in envelopes and taking it back.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was done to <strong>minimize vulnerability and exposure</strong> at the polling stations for above 65 and to<strong> not deprive</strong> the Covid-19 patients and people under quarantine <strong>of their voting rights.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After reviewing the preparations for the Bihar polls, the ECI has made this decision keeping in mind the <strong>logistical, staff and safety protocol</strong> related constraints.</li>
<li>For collecting votes of so many electors, <strong>additional staff and security will be required</strong> and would not be possible to arrange the facility for about 72 lakh electors, about 10% of the total 7.19 crore electors in the state.</li>
<li>State authorities are already preparing 34,000 additional polling stations in order to <strong>limit electors to 1,000 at each location.</strong> It also <strong>requires additional polling personnel</strong> which is an administrative challenge in itself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Postal Ballots System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ballot papers are distributed electronically to electors and are returned to the election officers via post.</li>
<li>Currently, <strong>only the following voters</strong> are allowed to cast their votes through postal ballot:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Service voters</strong> (armed forces, the armed police force of a state and government servants posted abroad).</li>
<li><strong>Voters on election duty.</strong></li>
<li>Voters <strong>above 80 years of age or Persons with Disabilities</strong> (PwD).</li>
<li>Voters <strong>under preventive detention.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exception to the above-mentioned category of voters is provided under Section 60 of the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-representation-of-the-people-act-part-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Representation of the People Act, 1951.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-postal-ballot-as-over-70-lakh-electors-in-65-plus-age-group-in-bihar/article32141225.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/no-postal-ballots-for-above-65-in-bihar'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Consumer Protection Act, 2019',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>new <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/consumer-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Protection Act, 2019</a></strong> came into force on <strong>20<sup>th</sup> July 2020</strong> and it will empower consumers and help them in protecting their rights through its various notified rules and provisions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new act will be swift and less time consuming compared to the <strong>older <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-consumer-protection-bill-2018-amendment-1986-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Protection Act, 1986</a></strong> in which single-point access to justice was given making it a time-consuming exercise.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The old act provided for a <strong>three-tier consumer dispute redressal machinery</strong> at the<strong> National (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-consumer-disputes-redressal-commission-ncdrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission</a>), State</strong> and <strong>District</strong> levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes the <strong>Central Consumer Protection Authority</strong> (CCPA) whose primary <strong>objective</strong> will be to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>It is empowered to:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints/prosecution.</li>
<li>Order recall of unsafe goods and services.</li>
<li>Order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.</li>
<li>Impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rules on E-commerce and Unfair Trade Practices:</strong> The government will notify the <strong>Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020</strong> under the Act whose broad provisions are given below.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>E-commerce</strong></a> entities are <strong>required to provide information</strong> to consumers, relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal mechanism, payment methods, security of payment methods, charge-back options and country of origin.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are necessary for <strong>enabling the consumer to make an informed decision</strong> at the pre-purchase stage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These platforms will have to <strong>acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within 48 hours</strong> and <strong>redress the complaint within one month</strong> from the date of receipt. They will also have to appoint a grievance officer for consumer grievance redressal.</li>
<li>The Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 are <strong>mandatory and are not advisories.</strong></li>
<li>Sellers <strong>cannot refuse to take back goods or withdraw services or refuse refunds,</strong> if such goods or services are defective, deficient, delivered late, or if they do not meet the description on the platform.</li>
<li>The rules also <strong>prohibit the e-commerce companies from manipulating the price</strong> of the goods or services to gain unreasonable profit through unjustified prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Product Liability:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller will be held <strong>responsible to compensate for injury or damage</strong> caused by defective product or deficiency in services</li>
<li><strong>Basis for product liability action:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Manufacturing defect.</li>
<li>Design defect.</li>
<li>Deviation from manufacturing specifications.</li>
<li>Not conforming to express warranty.</li>
<li>Failing to contain adequate instructions for correct use.</li>
<li>Service provided-faulty, imperfect or deficient.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Punishment for Manufacture or Sale of Adulterated/Spurious Goods:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of the first conviction, a competent court may suspend any licence issued to the person for a<strong> period of up to two years</strong> and in case of second or subsequent conviction, may <strong>cancel the licence permanently.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Alternate Dispute Resolution Mechanism of Mediation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A complaint will be referred by a Consumer Commission for mediation, wherever scope for early settlement exists and parties agree for it.</li>
<li>The mediation will be held in the <strong>Mediation Cells</strong> which will be established under the aegis of the<strong> Consumer Commissions.</strong></li>
<li>There will be <strong>no appeal against settlement through mediation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Simplification of the Consumer Dispute Adjudication Process:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Empowering the State and District Commissions to review</strong> their own orders.</li>
<li>Enabling a consumer to file complaints electronically and in consumer commissions that have jurisdiction over the place of his residence.</li>
<li>Video-conferencing for hearing and deemed admissibility of complaints if the question of admissibility is not decided within the specified period of 21 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Rules and Regulations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the <strong>Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Rules,</strong> there will be <strong>no fee for filing cases up to Rs. 5 lakh.</strong></li>
<li>The credit of the amount due to unidentifiable consumers will go to the <strong>Consumer Welfare Fund</strong> (CWF).</li>
<li>State Commissions will furnish information to the Central Government on a quarterly basis on vacancies, disposal, the pendency of cases and other matters.</li>
<li>Apart from these general rules, there are <strong>Central Consumer Protection Council Rules,</strong> provided for the constitution of the <strong>Central Consumer Protection Council</strong> (CCPC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will be an <strong>advisory body</strong> on consumer issues, headed by the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution with the Minister of State as Vice Chairperson and 34 other members from different fields.</li>
<li>It will have a <strong>three-year tenure</strong> and will have Minister-in-charge of consumer affairs from two States from each region- North, South, East, West, and North-East Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595322910_CPA%202019.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595322910_CPA 2019.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="540" height="424" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1639925#:~:text=The%20Consumer%20Protection%20Act%2C2019,i.e.%2020th%20July%202020.&amp;text=The%20gazette%20notification%20for%20establishment,e%2Dcommerce%20are%20under%20publication." 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/consumer-protection-act-2019'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'C.S. Seshadri',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Eminent mathematician <strong>Professor CS Seshadri,</strong> known for his contributions in <strong>algebraic geometry</strong> and <strong>mathematical education</strong> passed away recently.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595319032_Image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595319032_Image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He was born in 1932 in Kanchipuram and educated in Chennai, TN and Mumbai (he got his PhD from Bombay University in 1958).</li>
<li>He joined<strong> Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR),</strong> where he helped establish a school of algebraic geometry.</li>
<li>He is known for his work on <strong>algebraic geometry.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Applications of algebraic geometry arise in statistics, control theory, robotics, coding theory, integer programming and theoretical physics.</li>
<li>The<strong> Narasimhan-Seshadri theorem,</strong> developed in 1965 with his friend M S Narasimhan, plays a central role in <strong>conformal field theory and string theory.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>He founded the <strong>Chennai Mathematical Institute,</strong> which attracts talent from around the world with its courses on <strong>mathematics, computer science and theoretical physics.</strong></li>
<li>He was elected <strong>Fellow of the Royal Society (UK) in 1988</strong> and a <strong>Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences, USA in 2010.</strong> He was awarded the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/padma-awards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Padma Bhushan</strong></a> (the third highest civilian award in India) in 2009.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cs-seshadri-a-leader-of-indian-mathematics-passes-away-in-chennai/article32121576.ece#:~:text=of%20graduate%20students.-,C.S.,He%20was%2088." 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/c-s-seshadri'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'National Financial Reporting Authority',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)</strong> has constituted a <strong>Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)</strong> to aid and advise the executive body of the NFRA on <strong>issues relating to drafts of accounting standards and auditing standards.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The TAC comprises<strong> seven members</strong> including the <strong>chairman - R. Narayanaswamy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitution:</strong> NFRA was constituted in <strong>2018</strong> by the Government of India under <strong>section 132 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013.</strong> It is an <strong>audit regulator.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The decision to constitute the NFRA was taken after the role of auditors and the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/icai-nfra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Institute of Chartered Accountants of India</strong></a> came under the scanner for alleged lapses in various corporate scams including that at the Punjab National Bank.</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> It consists of a<strong> chairperson,</strong> who shall be a person of eminence and having expertise in accountancy, auditing, finance or law,<strong> appointed by the Central Government</strong> and such<strong> other members not exceeding 15. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Functions and Duties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Recommend accounting and auditing policies</strong> and standards to be adopted by companies for approval by the Central Government.</li>
<li>Monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards and auditing standards.</li>
<li>Oversee the <strong>quality of service of the professions</strong> associated with ensuring compliance with such standards and suggest measures for improvement in the quality of service.</li>
<li>Protect the <strong>public interest.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Powers:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can undertake investigation related to the following class of companies and bodies corporate, namely:-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Companies whose <strong>securities are listed on any stock exchange</strong> in India or outside India.</li>
<li><strong>Unlisted public companies</strong> having <strong>paid-up capital</strong> of not less than <strong>Rs. 500 crores</strong> or having<strong> annual turnover</strong> of not less than <strong>Rs. 1,000 crores</strong> or having, in aggregate, <strong>outstanding loans,</strong> debentures and deposits of not less than <strong>Rs. 500 crores</strong> as on the 31<sup>st</sup> March of immediately preceding financial year.</li>
<li>Insurance companies, banking companies, companies engaged in the generation or supply of electricity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Where professional or other misconduct is proved, it has the power to make order for imposing<strong> penalty</strong> of&mdash;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>not less than one lakh rupees,</strong> but which may extend to five times of the fees received, in case of<strong> individuals;</strong> and</li>
<li>not less than ten lakh rupees, but which may extend to ten times of the fees received, in case of <strong>firms.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its account is monitored by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/comptroller-and-auditor-general-of-india-cag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.</strong></a></li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered</strong> in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-financial-reporting-authority-2'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Zoram Mega Food Park: Mizoram',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government has operationalized the <strong>first Mega Food Park (MFP) of Mizoram i.e. Zoram Mega Food Park.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been set up under the &lsquo;Mega Food Park Scheme&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Zoram MFP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is located in Khamrang village in Kolasib District, Mizoram.</li>
<li>It is spread over 55 acres of land and is set up at a cost of Rs. 75. 20 crores.</li>
<li>It is not only expected to benefit the people of Mizoram but also that of adjoining districts in Assam.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Assam</strong> already has a MFP in its Nalbari district- <strong>North East Mega Food Park.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will <strong>boost the North-East Region&rsquo;s potential to become the organic destination of the world</strong> due to its rich agricultural and horticultural produce.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Sikkim</strong> has already been <strong>declared as an organic state.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mega Food Park Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Launched in: 2008-09</strong> under the purview of the <strong>Ministry of Food Processing Industries.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To provide a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers income and creating employment opportunities particularly in the rural sector.</li>
<li><strong>Components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Scheme is based on the <strong>&ldquo;Cluster&rdquo; approach</strong> and envisages creation of state of art support infrastructure in a well-defined agri/horticultural zone for setting up of modern food processing units in the industrial plots provided in the park with a well-established supply chain.</li>
<li>A Mega food Park typically consists of <strong>supply chain infrastructure</strong> including collection centers (cc), primary processing centers (ppc) central processing centers (cpc), cold chain and around 25-30 fully developed plots for entrepreneurs to set up <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-processing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>food processing</strong></a> units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The central government provides financial assistance <strong>upto Rs. 50 Crore per Mega Food Park (MFP) project.</strong></li>
<li>The MFP project is<strong> implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)</strong> which is a Body Corporate registered under the Companies Act, 2013.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Presently, 18 MFP Projects are under implementation in various states and 19 Mega Food Parks have already become functional in the States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is in line with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Make in India&rsquo;</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Atmanirbhar&rsquo;</strong></a> vision of the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595315259_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595315259_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="663" height="472" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1639896" 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/zoram-mega-food-park-mizoram'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Significance of 15th India-European Union Summit',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/india-should-believe-in-the-eu/article32094669.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;India should believe in the EU&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 16/07/2020. This article discusses the importance of India's relationship with the EU in the wake of the recently held summit.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-eu-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-EU Virtual summit</strong> </a>resumed after being halted for a couple of years. The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> European Union (EU)</strong></a> is a group of countries that operates as a cohesive economic and political block.</p>
<p>Europe&rsquo;s perception of India has been changing in tandem with increasing tensions with China. In 2018, the EU released a new strategy for cooperation with India, calling it a <strong>geopolitical pillar in a multipolar Asia,</strong> crucial for maintaining the balance of power in the region. Paris and Brussels have been actively pushing Europe to see India as a truly strategic partner.</p>
<p>The EU and India can work together to promote peace, create jobs, boost economic growth and enhance sustainable development in the member countries.</p>
<h3>Opportunities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Potential gain from EU-India trade agreement:</strong> The potential impact of an EU-India trade agreement would significantly increase trade gains likely to flow to India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Additional potential gains from enhanced coordination on the provision of global public goods, such as environmental standards would help India to adopt Bharat VI standards more swiftly and meet its emission cut targets on time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Combating Covid crisis:</strong> Getting access to Covid tools&rsquo; of the EU and its countries, India&rsquo;s pharma companies could collaborate with them in a global attempt in finding the cure of Covid. This partnership could help in:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhancing global cooperation and solidarity to protect lives to mitigate the socio-economic consequences.</li>
<li>Strengthening preparedness and response capacities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong> The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation or Europol and CBI are negotiating a working arrangement to support law enforcement authorities of EU member states and India to prevent and combat organised crime and terror.</li>
<li><strong>Combating Climate Change:</strong> India can learn from new industrial strategy called the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eu-green-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Green Deal of EU</strong></a> to render its carbon-emission neutral by 2050 <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The EU and India could endeavour transforming into carbon-neutral economies by 2050 by investing in clean energies. .</li>
<li>European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and India signed for cooperation between the EU's research programmes on new ways of using nuclear energy to limit India&rsquo;s dependency on fossil fuels.</li>
<li>In India&rsquo;s efforts to increase the use of renewable energy in India, the investment and technology of Europe is of paramount importance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong> The two sides are also set to launch a high-level trade dialogue to address issues such as stalled negotiations on a maritime security dialogue, and develop security and defence consultations and military contacts.</li>
<li><strong>Countering China:</strong> EU can be a reliant partner for India to counter Chinese influence in its neighbourhood. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The EU has its own connectivity strategy, providing around &euro;414 billion in aid globally, and is already partnering with Japan and the United States (US)&thinsp;to provide alternatives to BRI. This can check China&rsquo;s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments and infrastructure connectivity.</li>
<li>This is a crucial opportunity where the EU can deliver what India needs. Entities such as the European Investment Bank are active in India, investing in metro and other infrastructure projects.</li>
<li>India should explore this partnership with the EU to not only fill domestic infrastructure needs but also as part of India&rsquo;s neighbourhood diplomacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pending Free Trade Deal:</strong> A free trade deal that India and the European Union have been pending since 2007. It was not concluded even in the 15<sup>th</sup> India-EU summit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the end of the virtual summit, no official deadline for the free trade agreement was declared.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lopsided Investments:</strong> There is still room for improvement especially when compared to EU investments in China.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enhancing connectivity:</strong> Facilitating people&rsquo;s mobility and connectivity to improve mutual understanding and create opportunities for innovation and growth.</li>
<li><strong>Geopolitical Balancing:</strong> In geopolitical terms partnership with the EU can help India balancing its powerful rivals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For eg: Indo-Pacific region is increasingly the focus of attention, so India should capitalise on its geopolitical leverage there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maximising Strategic Cooperation:</strong> Even India&rsquo;s strongest bilateral relations with individual EU member states do not come close to the potential of dealing effectively with the EU as a whole.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The EU and India can join forces to promote sustainable reform like parity among nations in multilateral institutions including the World Trade Organization (WTO).</li>
<li>India could maximise benefit from this strategic partnership. Stronger cooperation with democratic powers can support this effort, especially towards assertive competitors like China</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Greater Business Cooperation:</strong> The EU is India&rsquo;s largest trading partner and the second-largest destination for Indian exports. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As Europe looks to diversify supply chains and move away from China, India shouldn&rsquo;t miss the opportunity to attract investments. It should deepen its relationship with the world&rsquo;s largest trading bloc, which has already negotiated FTAs with Vietnam, Japan and Singapore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India and the EU are natural partners. This partnership could enhance peace and stability in India and member countries of the EU. This reality has become even clearer in today&rsquo;s global situation. However for this, India and the EU must adopt a long-term strategic perspective and an action-oriented agenda should be implemented within a stipulated time frame.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595244275_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595244275_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="498" /></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: #fffad9;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The power of any aspiring global player depends on the number and quality of its bilateral and multilateral relationships. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ciDPqnWqJq0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/state-of-deluge-assam-floods-6509523/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;State of deluge&rdquo;</strong></a> that was published in The Indian Express on July 17<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/significance-of-15th-india-european-union-summit'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'ICJ on Qatar Blockade',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Court of Justice</strong></a> (ICJ) refused an appeal by<strong> Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates</strong> (UAE) which challenged the authority of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-civil-aviation-organisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Civil Aviation Organisation</strong></a> (ICAO) to adjudicate on the legality of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/qatar-quits-opec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Qatar blockade.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICJ is the top<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations</strong></a> (UN) court and ICAO is the international aviation agency of the UN.</li>
<li>UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are located in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Persian Gulf Region</strong></a> and are the members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council</strong> </a>(GCC).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595240229_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595240229_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Qatar Blockade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>June 2017,</strong> Qatar&rsquo;s neighbouring Arab nations of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt <strong>shut off shipping routes and air space with Qatar</strong> for its <strong>alleged support for<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> terrorism</a></strong> and its<strong> ties with Iran.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It severed their diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, <strong>Qatar denied supporting Islamic extremism</strong> and has openly <strong>condemned its isolation</strong> as a clear attack on its sovereignty.</li>
<li>All four neighbours issued a <strong>13-point list of demands for Doha</strong> (capital of Qatar) to comply with in order to restore erstwhile relations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of the demands included Qatar closing down news outlets such as <strong>Al-Jazeera,</strong> end ties with radical Islamist groups like the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-attended-oic-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Muslim Brotherhood</strong></a>, scale down ties with Shia-majority Iran and remove Turkish troops stationed in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since 2017, the<strong> blockade of Qatar has included:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Closing of its only land border with Saudi Arabia.</li>
<li>Stopping Qatari ships from entering ports anywhere in the Saudi coalition.</li>
<li>Blocking Qatari planes from flying in their airspace.</li>
<li>Expelling Qatari citizens from these countries as part of the measures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dispute at the ICJ:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Qatar approached the ICAO, alleging that its rights of free passage under the <strong>1944 Convention on Civil Aviation</strong> were violated by the blockade.</li>
<li>Saudi Arabia and its allies argued that the<strong> ICJ should have the authority</strong> to settle the dispute instead of the ICAO because the <strong>dispute goes beyond the aviation matters.</strong></li>
<li>In 2018, the<strong> ICAO ruled against the Saudi coalition,</strong> holding that it did have jurisdiction to hear the case and its ruling was <strong>recently backed by the ICJ</strong> too.</li>
<li>The blockade <strong>still remains in force</strong> and the ICAO is expected to <strong>deliver its verdict in 2021.</strong> The ruling will be in Qatar&rsquo;s favour and will be a major win for the country and its <strong>national carrier, Qatar Airways.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Civil Aviation Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established by the <strong>Convention on International Civil Aviation</strong> which was signed on<strong> 7<sup>th</sup> December 1944 in Chicago.</strong></li>
<li>It laid the foundation for the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation and established the core principles permitting international transport by air.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To foster the planning and development of international air transport so as to ensure the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation throughout the world.</li>
<li><strong>India is among its 193 members.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Montreal, Canada.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-the-latest-icj-ruling-means-for-qatar-and-its-airspace-6513580/" 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/icj-on-qatar-blockade'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => '3rd G20 FMCBG Meeting',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently India has virtually participated in the <strong>3<sup>rd</sup> G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG)</strong> meeting under the<strong> Presidency</strong> of <strong>Saudi Arabia.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It discussed the global economic outlook amid evolving <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> crisis along with other <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a> <strong>finance track priorities</strong> for the year 2020.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-meeting-in-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>First meeting was held in February 2020 at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>G20 Action Plan:</strong> The importance and relevance of the G20 action plan was highlighted.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was endorsed in response to Covid-19 in April 2020. </li>
<li>It has a list of collective commitments under the pillars of <strong>Health Response, Economic Response, Strong and Sustainable Recovery and International Financial Coordination,</strong> aimed at coordinating G20 efforts to fight the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Response:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India emphasised the need to <strong>balance supply side and demand side measures</strong> in response to Covid-19.</li>
<li>It also spoke about the <strong>procyclicality of credit rating downgrades</strong> by the rating agencies and its deterrent impact on policy options, particularly for <strong>Emerging Market Economy</strong> (EMEs).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Procyclic ratings</strong> are stricter during an economic downturn than an expansion. As a result, firms receive <strong>overly pessimistic ratings in a recession,</strong> relative to during an expansion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International coordination required</strong> in addressing the <strong>spill-over effects of exit strategies</strong> related to covid-19 lockdowns.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Spillover effect</strong> refers to the impact of unrelated events in one nation on the economies of other nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>G20 Finance Track deliverables</strong>: FMCBG discussed the developments on G20 Finance Track deliverables under the Saudi Arabian Presidency. <strong>India</strong> discussed<strong> two such deliverables:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First, <strong>Enhancing access to opportunities for Women, Youth and Small Market Economies (SMEs)</strong> and a <strong>menu of policy options on access to opportunity.</strong></li>
<li>Second,<strong> International Taxation agenda</strong> and the <strong>intended deliverable of formulating a solution</strong> for addressing challenges related to <strong>digital taxation.</strong></li>
<li>India said that the consensus based solution should be simple, inclusive and based on a robust economic impact assessment.</li>
<li>It is in line with the recent decision of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ustr-takes-india-off-developing-country-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United States Trade Representative (USTR)</strong></a> to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ustr-s-probe-into-digital-services-taxes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>initiate an investigation into taxes adopted</strong> </a>or under consideration by 10 nations, including India, on revenues of American digital service companies like Netflix, Airbnb etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Digital taxation or Digital Services Taxes (DSTs)</strong> are the adopted taxes on revenues that certain companies generate from providing certain digital services. E.g. digital multinationals like Google, Amazon and Apple etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In response to it the central government has stated that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/equalisation-levy-for-non-resident-e-commerce-firms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>it will not extend the deadline for payment of equalisation levy</strong> </a><strong>by non-resident e-commerce</strong> players, even though a majority of them are yet to deposit the first installment of the tax.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> equalization levy is aimed at taxing foreign companies</strong> which have a significant local client base in India but are billing them through their offshore units, effectively escaping the country&rsquo;s tax system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G-20</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <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"><strong>G20</strong></a> is an <strong>informal group of 19 countries</strong> and the <strong>European Union,</strong> with <strong>representatives</strong> of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong></a> <strong>and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world&rsquo;s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> The<strong> G20 operates as a forum</strong> and not as an organisation. Therefore, it <strong>does not have any permanent secretariat.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Origin</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1997-1999 Asian Financial Crisis:</strong> This was a ministerial-level forum which emerged after G7 invited both developed and developing economies. The finance ministers and central bank governors began meeting in 1999.</li>
<li>Amid the 2008 Financial Crisis the world saw the need for a new consensus-building at the highest political level. It was decided that the G20 leaders would begin meeting once annually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The members of the G20 are <strong>Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.</strong></li>
<li>One nation holds the chair every year, known as the 'G20 Presidency'. <strong>Saudia Arabia</strong> is holding the 2020 chair.</li>
<li>The 2021 summit will be held in <strong>Italy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1639707#:~:text=Nirmala%20Sitharaman%20participated%20in%20the,Track%20priorities%20for%20the%20year" 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/3rd-g20-fmcbg-meeting'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'China Crossed its 1960’s LAC Claims',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the records of 1960 boundary talks, the Chinese troops have gone beyond China&rsquo;s own territorial claims at Pangong Tso Lake and Galwan Valley.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The records also raise questions on recent statements from Indian officials that China is not present anywhere on Indian territory.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Official Records:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 1960&rsquo;s documents show that the Chinese claim over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pangong Tso Lake</strong></a> was at near <strong>Finger 8,</strong> around 8 km east of where China now says the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control (LAC)</strong></a> is. Now the Chinese troops are at<strong> Finger 4.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Fingers refer to mountain spurs on the bank of the Lake, and run from 1 to 8, west to east.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595237231_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595237231_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="606" height="300" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The documents show that, in the <strong>Galwan Valley,</strong> the LAC ran east of the bend of the Galwan river, called the <strong>Y-nallah,</strong> which is now claimed by China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Y-nallah was the site of the recent clash between Indian and Chinese troops.</li>
<li>The clash took place following a dispute during the de-escalation process, triggered when the Chinese troops put up a tent near the bend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595237240_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595237240_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="605" height="296" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reason for Increased Claims:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Chinese are now likely interpreting their perception of the LAC in a manner that seeks<strong> to redefine or maximise old claims</strong> along new lines, as cartography and terrain knowledge have improved, which offer them<strong> tactical advantage</strong> and <strong>more &lsquo;domination&rsquo;</strong> in key areas along the LAC.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening of India&rsquo;s border infrastructure</strong> (e.g. construction of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/darbuk-shyok-daulat-beg-oldie-road" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road</strong></a>) may also be the reason.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-has-crossed-its-1960-claims-along-the-lac/article32133689.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/china-crossed-its-1960-s-lac-claims'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'National Award for Excellence in Forestry',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research in Forestry for the year 2019</strong> has been awarded to Kannan C S Warrier, a scientist at <strong>Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB).</strong></li>
<li>This award is conferred by the <strong>Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ICFRE is an apex body in the national forestry research system. ICFRE was recently declared as the <strong>Centre for Excellence</strong> in addressing issues related to <strong>land degradation</strong> by the Prime Minister.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The award has been awarded to Kannan C S Warrier for releasing<strong> three salt-tolerant productive clones of <em>Casuarina</em></strong> that are suitable for <strong>salt-affected soils,</strong> for the first time in the country.</li>
<li>India has 6.73 million hectares of salt affected land and is also the largest producer of <em>Casuarina</em> in the world which makes the production of these clones a significant achievement.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Casuarina</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><em>Casuarina,</em> also known as<strong> kattadi and savukku,</strong> is a plant genus with over 17 species with <em>Casuarina equisetifolia</em> being introduced in India in the 19<sup>th</sup> century.</li>
<li>They have a role in <strong>nitrogen fixation</strong> in symbiotic association with bacteria Frankia.</li>
<li>They provide fuel wood, pulp for paper making and of late is a preferred choice for biomass-based power generation.</li>
<li>They are also used at construction sites for scaffolding.</li>
<li>They are used as shelterbelts in coastal areas and windbreaks for protecting agricultural crops and banana plantations.</li>
<li>They also play a key role in reclaiming mined areas and afforesting nutrient-poor sites.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Warrier has also done extensive work on the <strong>conservation of endangered sacred groves</strong> in Alappuzha district of Kerala.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sacred Groves</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sacred groves are<strong> communally protected forests</strong> which usually have a significant <strong>religious connotation</strong> for the protecting community.</li>
<li>In India, there are over a lakh sacred groves across different states called by different names like <em><strong>Kaavu</strong></em> <strong>in Malayalam,</strong><em><strong> Koyil kaadu</strong> </em><strong>in Tamil, Orans in Rajasthan, Devara kaadu in Karnataka,</strong> and <strong><em>Sernas</em> in Madhya Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>Many <strong>rare and endemic species,</strong> and <strong>species having medicinal and economic value</strong> can be found here, thus making them Biodiversity Hotspots. They house gene pools of some critically endangered plant species.</li>
<li>They are often associated with religious beliefs and felling of trees in sacred groves is considered taboo.</li>
<li>Sacred groves have been legally protected under<strong> &lsquo;community reserves&rsquo;</strong> in the <strong>Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002.</strong></li>
<li>Some<strong> common threats</strong> to Sacred Groves are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Disappearance</strong> of the <strong>traditional belief systems,</strong> which were fundamental to the concept of sacred groves.</li>
<li>The <strong>transformation</strong> of the primitive forms of nature worship into formal temple worship.</li>
<li><strong>Rapid urbanization</strong> and developmental interventions such as roads, railways tracks, dams including commercial forestry.</li>
<li>Invasion by <strong>exotic weeds.</strong></li>
<li>Pressures due to <strong>increasing livestock</strong> and fuelwood collection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/ifgtb-scientist-gets-award-from-indian-council-of-forestry-research-and-education/articleshow/76958346.cms#:~:text=COIMBATORE%3A%20Senior%20principal%20of%20Institute,Forestry%20for%20the%20year%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TOI</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-award-for-excellence-in-forestry'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'RADT Vs RT-PCR',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, New Delhi's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> testing strategy has become controversial due to<strong> the low level</strong> of <strong>RT-PCR</strong> (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction)<strong> re-testing in persons</strong> tested negative in <strong>RADT</strong> (Rapid Antigen Detection Tests).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Using RADT <strong>widely without following up</strong> with <strong>adequate retests contradicts <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elisa-antibody-kits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Medical Research</a> (ICMR) guidelines</strong> on use of the RADT test.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ICMR Guidelines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RADT ought to be used only in <strong>containment zones, hotspots, hospital settings and laboratories</strong> among those who manifested one or other symptoms of the disease, influenza-like illnesses.</li>
<li>People with <strong>comorbidities who were asymptomatic</strong> and high-risk contacts of those confirmed positive.</li>
<li>Those who tested &lsquo;negative&rsquo; and whom<strong> clinicians suspected</strong> to be harbouring the disease ought to be <strong>definitely tested sequentially by RT-PCR</strong> to rule out infection and <strong>higher chances of false negatives.</strong></li>
<li>Those who test positive don&rsquo;t need a re-test and must be considered positive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Testing in New Delhi:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From 18<sup>th</sup> June - 16<sup>th</sup> July, it has conducted 3,05,820 RADT. Of these, 2,85,225 tests came &lsquo;negative&rsquo; and out of them only, 1,670 were chosen for re-test by RT-PCR and 262 of these were confirmed positive.</li>
<li>Only <strong>1 in 200 of those who tested negative in an antigen</strong> test to detect possible coronavirus cases<strong> were re-tested,</strong> which is against the given guidelines of ICMR.</li>
<li>Of those re-tested with <strong>RT-PCR, around 15% tested positive,</strong> which is higher than the<strong> RADT positive results i.e. 6%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments for Low Re-tests:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Re-testing everyone would defeat the purpose of having another (rapid antigen) test.</li>
<li>The RT-PCR test takes a minimum of 2-5 hours including the time taken for sample transportation. This <strong>limits the widespread use of the test</strong> and also impedes quick augmentation of testing capacity in various containment zones and hospital settings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>RADT, the maximum duration</strong> for interpreting a positive or negative test is <strong>30 minutes,</strong> thus <strong>a quicker complement to the standard RT-PCR</strong> tests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments Against:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The consequence of<strong> indiscriminately deploying antigen tests</strong> would mean expanding the number of tests and presenting a lower positivity rate while not necessarily being able to<strong> reliably establish the extent of the spread</strong> of the coronavirus in the population.</li>
<li>A low level of re-testing with RT-PCR in persons who are testing antigen negative will <strong>underestimate the cases</strong> and make the <strong>tracking inaccurate. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RADT</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a test on swabbed nasal samples that detects antigens (foreign substances that induce an immune response in the body) that are found on or within the SARS-CoV-2 virus.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>point-of-care test,</strong> performed outside the conventional laboratory setting, and is used to quickly obtain a diagnostic result.</li>
<li>Like RT-PCR, the rapid antigen detection test too seeks to detect the virus rather than the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/neutralising-antibodies-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antibodies</strong> </a>produced by the body.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the mechanism is different, the <strong>most significant difference between the two is time.</strong></li>
<li>As the ICMR has pointed out, the <strong>RT-PCR</strong> test takes a minimum of <strong>2-5 hours</strong> including the time taken for sample transportation..</li>
<li>In a reliable <strong>rapid antigen detection test,</strong> the maximum duration for interpreting a positive or negative test is <strong>30 minutes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>RT-PCR Test</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Kary Mullis,</strong> the American biochemist invented the PCR technique. He was awarded the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize</strong></a> for Chemistry in 1993.</li>
<li>Under this,<strong> copies of a segment of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)</strong> are created using an enzyme called Polymerase.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The &lsquo;chain reaction&rsquo; signifies how the DNA fragments are copied, exponentially &mdash; one is copied into two, the two are copied into four, and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A fluorescent <strong>DNA binding dye called the &ldquo;probe&rdquo; is added to DNA,</strong> which shows the presence of the virus on a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/portable-device-to-detect-adulteration-in-milk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> fluorometer.</strong></a></li>
<li>However, coronavirus is made of <strong>RNA (ribonucleic acid).</strong></li>
<li>Therefore to detect coronavirus, <strong>RNA is converted into DNA</strong> using a technique called reverse transcription.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A &lsquo;reverse transcriptase&rsquo; enzyme converts the RNA into DNA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Copies of the DNA are then made and amplified.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/fewer-covid-19-re-tests-mar-delhis-testing-strategy/article32115082.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/radt-vs-rt-pcr'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Bathynomus raksasa: Isopod Species',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, scientists have reported the<strong> discovery of the first super giant isopod species in the eastern Indian Ocean</strong> named <em><strong>&lsquo;Bathynomus raksasa&rsquo;.</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been described as the <strong>&lsquo;cockroach of the sea&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>A team of researchers from Singapore discovered it while exploring waters of the Indian Ocean<strong> in Bantan,</strong> off the southern coast of West Java in <strong>Indonesia</strong> in <strong>2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595229586_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595229586_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="220" height="165" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Super Giant Isopod:</strong> The <em>Bathynomus</em> raksasa is a super giant isopod in the genus <em>Bathynomus.</em> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Isopods are <strong>marine invertebrates</strong> (animals without backbones) that belong to the greater crustacean group of animals, which also includes crabs and shrimp.</li>
<li>They live in many different types of habitat, from mountains and deserts to the deep sea.</li>
<li><strong>Isopods that reach 50 cm are referred to as supergiants.</strong> The largest isopod species are from the genus Bathynomus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has <strong>14 legs</strong> but uses these only to crawl along the bed of oceans in search of food.</li>
<li>It measures around<strong> 50 cm in length,</strong> which is big for isopods, which normally do not grow beyond 33 cm.</li>
<li>The only member of the isopod species that <strong>exceeds the raksasa in size</strong> is the <em><strong>Bathynomus giganteus</strong></em>, which is commonly found in the deep waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.</li>
<li>As a<strong> scavenger,</strong> it eats the remains of dead marine animals, such as whales and fish, but can also go for long periods without food, a trait that it shares with the cockroach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the first recorded species of the genus Bathynomus from Indonesia.</li>
<li>It is the<strong> sixth &lsquo;supergiant&rsquo; species</strong> from the Indo-West Pacific, and is one of the largest known members of the genus Bathynomus.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s discovery will contribute towards increasing knowledge about the deep sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-raksasa-cockroach-from-the-deep-the-stuff-nightmares-are-made-of-6513281/" 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/bathynomus-raksasa-isopod-species'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Day 1',
			'catname' => '60 days refresher',
			'desc' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">Citizenship</h2>
<p>This is an important topic for this year's prelims, as it has remained in the news because of the controversy over the <strong>Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 &amp; National Register of Citizens (NRC).</strong> Apart from it, many questions have been asked on aspects related to citizenship. One can find all streamlined and exam oriented information in the following links:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Constitutional Provisions for Citizenship</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizenship-by-registration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship by Registration</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizenship-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Salient features of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arguments in favour and against of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register of Citizens (NRC). Overseas Citizenship of India</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/free-downloads/ncert-book-polity--download" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Question on Citizenship</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2018)</p>
<ol>
<li>Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile.</li>
<li>Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Preamble</h2>
<p>This is an all time favourite topic for UPSC, as a lot of questions have been asked over the years. By analyzing the kind of questions asked on this topic, one can have a fair idea on what can be expected in the prelims.</p>
<p><a href="/free-downloads/ncert-book-polity--download" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work</strong></a></p>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Question on Preamble</span></h3>
<p>Q. In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty? (2019)</p>
<p>(a) Protection against the tyranny of political rulers</p>
<p>(b) Absence of restraint</p>
<p>(c) Opportunity to do whatever one likes</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. The mind of the makers of the Constitution of India is reflected in which of the following? (2017)</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) The Preamble</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) The Fundamental Rights</p>
<p>(c) The Directive Principles of State Policy</p>
<p>(d) The Fundamental Duties</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which one of the following objectives is not embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India? (2015)</p>
<p>(a) Liberty of thought</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) Economic liberty</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) Liberty of expression</p>
<p>(d) Liberty of belief</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. &lsquo;Economic Justice&rsquo; as one of the objectives of the Indian Constitution has been provided in: (2013)</p>
<p>(a) the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy</p>
<p>(d) None of the above</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Charter Acts</h2>
<p>It remains a very important topic for UPSC. A lot of questions have been asked over the years.</p>
<p>Questions on Charter Act 1813, have been asked in the successive years. So there is a fair bit of chance that the question can be asked on <strong>Charter Act 1833, 1853 or on Act of Good Governance 1858.</strong></p>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on Charter Act</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements about &lsquo;the Charter Act of 1813: (2019)</p>
<ol>
<li>It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.</li>
<li>It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.</li>
<li>The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India? (2018)</p>
<ol>
<li>Charter Act of 1813</li>
<li>General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823</li>
<li>Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Latest Constitutional Amendment Acts</h2>
<p>There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the latest Constitutional Amendment Acts. This can be depicted from the previous year questions. Thus, in this context, 100 to 103<sup>rd</sup> constitutional amendments become very important for this year's prelims.</p>
<p><strong>100<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/disputed-territories-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Land Boundary Agreement Between India And Bangladesh</strong> </a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>101<sup>st</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax (GST)</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>102<sup>nd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>103<sup>rd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-prerogative-to-provide-10-reservation#:~:text=Constitution%20(103rd%20Amendment)%20Act%2C%202019&amp;text=It%20was%20enacted%20to%20promote,to%20the%20EWSs%20of%20society." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reservation to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/08-01-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Analysis of EWS Reservation</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year questions on Constitutional Amendment Acts.</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2019)</p>
<ol>
<li>The 44<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of the judiciary.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 2 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p>Apart from it, one can also go through:</p>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendment-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Major Constitutional Amendment: Part 1</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Major Constitutional Amendments: Part-2</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-3#:~:text=Amendment%3A,functional%20items%20of%20the%20panchayats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Major Constitutional Amendments: Part-3</strong></a></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Fundamental Rights and Duties</h2>
<p>One can always expect at least one question on Fundamental Rights which is provisioned under Part-III (Article 12 to Article 35) of the Constitution of India. Moreover, questions from this topic can come from static as well as from the current affairs portion.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 15 &amp; 16: <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Debate on Reservation in India</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reservation-not-a-right" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reservation: Not a Right</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservations-in-promotion-is-not-a-fundamental-right-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reservations in promotion is not a fundamental right SC</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 19: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/why-indias-sedition-law-needs-to-be-buried" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sedition Law</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-of-speech-and-expression-on-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freedom of speech and expression on social media</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 21: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/privacy-judgement-and-the-aftermath" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Right to Privacy</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fundamental-duties" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fundamental Duties</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rights-and-duties" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Difference Between Rights and duties</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fundamental-rights-and-oci-cardholders" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fundamental Rights and oci cardholders </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/free-downloads/ncert-book-polity--download" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year questions on Fundamental Rights and Duties</span></h3>
<p>Q. Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement? (2018)</p>
<p>(a) Article 14 and the provisions under the 42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment to the Constitution.</p>
<p>(b) Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV.</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III.</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Article 24 and the provisions under the 44<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution.</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which of the following are envisaged by the Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of India? (2017)</p>
<ol>
<li>Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour</li>
<li>Abolition of untouchability</li>
<li>Protection of the interests of minorities</li>
<li>Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1, 2 and 4 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) 1 and 4 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Right to vote and to be elected in India is a (2017)</p>
<p>(a) Fundamental Right</p>
<p>(b) Natural Right</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Constitutional Right</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Legal Right</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. In the context of India, which one of the following is the correct relationship between Rights and Duties? (2017)</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) Rights are correlative with Duties.</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) Rights are personal and hence independent of society and Duties.</p>
<p>(c) Rights, not Duties, are important for the advancement of the personality of the citizen.</p>
<p>(d) Duties, not Rights, are important for the stability of the State.</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. &ldquo;To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India&rdquo; is a provision made in the (2015)</p>
<p>(a) Preamble of the Constitution</p>
<p>(b) Directive Principles of State Policy</p>
<p>(c) Fundamental Rights</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Fundamental Duties</strong></span></p>
<p><gdiv></gdiv></p>
<p><gdiv></gdiv></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the article <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyan-will-the-scheme-be-of-help/2024107/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan: Will the scheme be of help?&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Financial Express on 15/07/2020. This article deals with the objectives and limitations of the recently launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA).</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 lockdown</strong></a> left million migrant labourers migrating across cities in inhuman and compelling conditions. Faced with lives and livelihood challenges, a large number of them began to leave in groups to their native places, many on foot; it was a human tragedy.</p>
<p>To alleviate their woes a number of relief measures were initiated by the State and Centre Government. A stimulus package to support the economy was announced. There were structural reforms covering agriculture, core sectors and MSME. Introduction of short-term relief measures for migrants, including free foodgrains for three months, employment under MGNREGA, one-time payment under Jan-Dhan and easy loans under Mudra Yojana to migrants at their native places.</p>
<p>In that series, recently a new package of 50,000 crore has been launched under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA)</strong></a>. Nature of work offered under this scheme includes building gram panchayat bhawans, anganwadi centres, national highway works, railway works and water conservation projects.</p>
<p>This will provide immediate relief to families of migrant workers while creating infrastructure in rural areas, and help generate rural demand.</p>
<h3>Benefits of Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will create livelihood opportunities for the returned migrants, and while doing so it is expected to create durable infrastructure in rural areas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For eg. Saturate villages with public infrastructure and create livelihood opportunities viz. Roads, Housing, Anganwadis, Panchayat Bhavans, various livelihood assets and Community Complexes among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The basket of a wide variety of works will ensure that each migrant worker is able to get an opportunity of employment according to his skill, in the coming 125 days.</li>
<li>The Program will also prepare for expansion and development of livelihoods over a longer term.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Multi Ministerial Initiative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Abhiyaan is a convergent effort between 12 different Ministries/Departments, namely; Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport &amp; Highways, Mines, Drinking Water &amp; Sanitation, Environment, Railways, Petroleum &amp; Natural Gas, New &amp; Renewable Energy, Border Roads, Telecom and Agriculture, to expedite implementation of 25 public infrastructure works and works relating to augmentation of livelihood opportunities.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Implementing Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Ministry of Rural Development</strong> is the nodal Ministry for this campaign and the campaign will be implemented in close coordination with the State Governments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Central Nodal Officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above will be appointed to oversee the effective and timely implementation of various schemes in the identified districts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Coverage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It would cover the ones who returned to 116 districts of six states&mdash;Bihar (32 districts), Uttar Pradesh (31), Madhya Pradesh (24), Rajasthan (22), Odisha (4) and Jharkhand (3). These 116 districts also include 27 aspirational districts as identified by the NITI Aayog..</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Caveats In The Scheme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exclusion of States:</strong> It would be implemented only in 116 districts of six states, it is discriminatory in that states such as Chhattisgarh and West Bengal are outside its ambit.</li>
<li><strong>Inequitable Allocation:</strong> Odisha and Jharkhand with large migrant workers got less allocation in terms of the number of districts.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Universal Coverage:</strong> this scheme will cover only two-thirds of migrant workers who have returned, and one-third fall outside its coverage.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of clarity in work allocation:</strong> Different stakeholders&mdash;ministries/departments, district administrations, banking systems&mdash;will coordinate on things such as timely payments to the workers. To that extent, the scheme will face implementation challenges.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Creating a Single IT platform:</strong> Bringing all the stakeholders on a single IT-based platform, especially when the government is facilitating the role of an aggregator.</li>
<li><strong>Universal Basic Income:</strong> Woes of distressed migrants could have been redressed by giving a <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/universal-basic-income-ubi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>basic income</strong></a>, or as the second-best the government could have made a reasonable amount of money transfer (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-advisory-on-direct-benefit-transfer" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer</strong></a>, or DBT).</li>
<li><strong>Creating a database of migrant workers:</strong> The government should seize this opportunity to build a database of migrant workers that could be used in the future to create a social security system for them.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Long Term Measures</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Creating a unified economy:</strong> Creating a unified economy where free movement of labour and capital should be allowed. States with older populations would require younger labour, which states with younger populations could supply.</li>
<li><strong>Establishing a Migration Commission:</strong> It should be given the mandate to prepare an appropriate social protection and welfare system for migrant workers.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening existing schemes:</strong> Schemes like MGNREGA should be adequately funded to provide employment to migrants for at least the remaining months of this year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The intent behind the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Yojana seems noble and a much needed one. However, the success of the program depends upon whether its benefits reach the migrant laborers in time and is able to revive rural demand as soon as possible.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595072158_image.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595072158_image.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" 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: #f2f4ff;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In the COVID-19 large numbers of returnee migrant workers continue to face livelihood issues and economic vagaries. Discuss the sufficiency of Central Government initiatives in providing the much needed relief.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nwdrBeiUkYE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/europe-can-be-a-key-ally-for-india/story-6Y3sw21v3ASCXArt5IQXXK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Europe can be a key ally for India&rdquo;</strong></a> published in Hindustan Times on July 14<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2020</strong> was released by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)</strong></a> and the <strong>Oxford Poverty &amp; Human Development Initiative (OPHI).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data of the index is based on the <strong>study of poverty trends</strong> in 75 countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1.3 billion</strong> people are still living in multidimensional poverty. More than <strong>80% are deprived in at least five</strong> of the ten indicators used to measure health, education and living standards in the global MPI.</li>
<li>The <strong>burden of multidimensional poverty disproportionately falls on children</strong> - half of multidimensionally poor people are children under age 18.</li>
<li><strong>65 out of 75 countries </strong>studied significantly<strong> reduced their multidimensional poverty levels between 2000 and 2019.</strong></li>
<li>About <strong>84.3% of multidimensionally poor</strong> people live in<strong> Sub-Saharan Africa </strong>and<strong> South Asia.</strong></li>
<li><strong>67% of multidimensionally poor</strong> people are in <strong>middle-income countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-lifted-271-million-people-out-of-poverty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lifted as many as 270 million people</strong></a> out of multidimensional poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Neighbourhood Scenario:</strong> In <strong>China,</strong> 70 million people left multidimensional poverty between 2010 and 2014, while in <strong>Bangladesh,</strong> the numbers declined by 19 million between 2014 and 2019.</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Covid-19: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> is having a profound impact on the development landscape.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The study finds that on average, <strong>poverty levels</strong> will be set back <strong>3 to 10 years </strong>due to <strong>Covid-19.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Development Goals:</strong> The index emphasises on measuring and monitoring progress under the goals to reach <strong>&lsquo;zero poverty by 2030-Goal 1 of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SDGs&rsquo;</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Multidimensional Poverty Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Multidimensional Poverty Index was launched by the <strong>UNDP</strong> and the <strong>OPHI</strong> in<strong> 2010.</strong></li>
<li>MPI is based on the idea that<strong> poverty is not unidimensional</strong> (not just depends on income and one individual may lack several basic needs like<strong> education, health</strong> etc.), rather it is <strong>multidimensional.</strong></li>
<li>The index shows the<strong> proportion of poor people</strong> and the <strong>average number of deprivations</strong> each poor person experiences at the same time.</li>
<li>MPI uses three dimensions and ten indicators which are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Education:</strong> Years of schooling and child enrollment (1/6 weightage each, total 2/6);</li>
<li><strong>Health:</strong> Child mortality and nutrition (1/6 weightage each, total 2/6);</li>
<li><strong>Standard of living:</strong> Electricity, flooring, drinking water, sanitation, cooking fuel and assets (1/18 weightage each, total 2/6)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A person is <strong>multidimensionally poor</strong> if she/he is deprived in one third or more (means 33% or more)<strong> of the weighted indicators</strong> (out of the ten indicators). Those who are deprived in one half or more of the weighted indicators are considered living in <strong>extreme multidimensional poverty.</strong></li>
<li>MPI is significant as it recognizes poverty from different dimensions compared to the conventional methodology that measures poverty only from the income or monetary terms.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The index with its information on both the <strong>level and composition of poverty</strong> &ndash; provides the data needed to pinpoint where and how poverty manifests itself. Therefore, it will incite action in <strong>solidarity with the poor,</strong> so that nations like India can <strong>&lsquo;build better&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Reflecting <strong>progress before the coronavirus pandemic,</strong> it suggests that the progress is at risk and stake-holders need to<strong> look beyond income</strong> to tackle poverty in all its forms. Hence, there is a need to take action to redress the rise of under-nutrition and children leaving school.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-lifted-270-million-people-out-of-poverty-in-2005-15-finds-study/story-1Ck6ZTy92wBHJx6QF4GbJP.html#:~:text=India%20lifted%20as%20many%20as,report%20released%20on%20Thursday%20reveals." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'Supply of DDT to South Africa for Malaria Control Program',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>HIL (India) Limited</strong> has supplied 20.60 Metric tonne of <strong>Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane</strong> (DDT), a fertilizer to South Africa for their <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>malaria</strong></a> control program.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Company is further in the process of supplying DDT to Zimbabwe and Zambia in the current Financial Year 2020-21.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>HIL (India) Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a PSU under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-chemicals-fertilizers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.</strong></a></li>
<li>It was incorporated in 1954 to manufacture and supply DDT to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for <strong>malaria control programmes.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>sole manufacturer of DDT</strong> globally.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>DDT:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was first synthesized in 1874 by the Austrian chemist Othmar Zeidler.</li>
<li>Its insecticidal action was discovered by the<strong> Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller</strong> in 1939.</li>
<li>He was awarded the<strong> Nobel Prize</strong> in Physiology or Medicine in 1948 "for his discovery of the high efficiency of DDT as a<strong> contact poison against several arthropods.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Arthropods</strong> are invertebrate species which include insects (Mosquitos), arachnids (Spiders), and crustaceans (Crabs) etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Originally developed as <strong>an insecticide,</strong> it became infamous for its <strong>environmental impacts.</strong></li>
<li>A worldwide ban on agricultural use was formalized under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/brs-conventions-cop-meet-in-geneva" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.</strong></a></li>
<li>However, its limited use in <strong>disease vector control continues,</strong> because of its <strong>effectiveness in reducing malarial infections.</strong></li>
<li>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) recommends DDT as one of the efficient <strong>Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS)</strong> chemicals to <strong>curb mosquito menace</strong> and it is widely used by Southern African countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IRS is a <strong>core vector control intervention</strong> that involves the application of a residual insecticide to internal walls and ceilings of housing structures where malaria vectors may come into contact with the insecticide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supply to South Africa: South Africa will be utilising DDT</strong> in three provinces bordering<strong> Mozambique.</strong></li>
<li>The region is <strong>highly affected with Malaria</strong> and it has reported <strong>maximum morbidity and mortality.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supply to Other Countries:</strong> HIL (India) Limited has recently exported <strong>Malathion Technical 95%</strong> to Iran under Government-to-Government initiative for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/locusts-appeared-early-in-rajasthan#:~:text=Locust%20Control%20measures%20include%20destroying,swarms%20and%20breeding%20grounds%20from" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Locust</strong></a> <strong>Control Programme</strong> and also exported <strong>Agrochemical-fungicide</strong> to Latin American region.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Malaria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-lancet-on-malaria-eradication" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malaria</strong></a> is caused by<strong> Plasmodium parasites.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected<strong> female Anopheles mosquitoes, called "malaria vectors".</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> Malaria continues to be one of the <strong>major public health problems</strong> globally. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, an estimated <strong>228 million cases</strong> of malaria occurred worldwide.</li>
<li>Most of the<strong> cases and deaths (93%)</strong> were reported from <strong>African Region.</strong></li>
<li>In the South East Asia Region, <strong>India accounts</strong> for the majority of cases and death.</li>
<li>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Malaria Report 2019</strong></a>, India reported 2.6 million fewer cases in 2018 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-report-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>compared to 2017</strong></a>. Thus the overall incidence of malaria in the country has reduced.</li>
<li>However, 7 states <strong>(Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh)</strong> account for about 90% of the burden of malaria cases in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1640136#:~:text=HIL%20(India)%20Limited%2C%20a,their%20Malaria%20control%20program%20yesterday.&amp;text=The%20region%20is%20highly%20affected,the%20disease%20in%20recent%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supply-of-ddt-to-south-africa-for-malaria-control-program'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'ESI Augments Healthcare Services In India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/how-esi-can-bolster-health-infrastructure-6510877/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;How ESI can bolster health infrastructure&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in Express on 15/07/2020. This article talks about how the The Employee State Insurance Corporation can play a significant role in ensuring better healthcare facilities to organized sector employees in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Labour and Employment notified that the wage limit of coverage would be increased from Rs 16,000 to Rs 21,000 per month. Healthcare is one the top priorities of a developing country like India. Successive governments in India have tried to bolster the healthcare infrastructure but much remains to be done.</p>
<p>As an alternative to revamping the entire structure, India can avail itself of better healthcare facilities by focusing on and improving the infrastructure under Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).</p>
<h3>Significance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Important welfare legislation:</strong> The Employee State Insurance Act 1948, was promulgated to ensure social security and health insurance for workers in India.</li>
<li><strong>Ensures medical security:</strong> The ESI ensures medical benefit, sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit, dependents benefit, funeral expenses, and rehabilitation.</li>
<li><strong>Wide Inclusion:</strong> It provides allowance for all employees and contract labours earning Rs 21,000 or less in wages per month. It takes care of not only the employees but also their dependent family members.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reduction in the burden:</strong> To increase the take-home salary of the employees, the overall contribution rate was reduced from 6.5 per cent to 4 per cent. This put more money in the hands of the employee and even the employers.</li>
<li><strong>Expansion of coverage:</strong> Another inclusive step was to enhance the income limit of dependent parents of an insured person covered under ESI Scheme from the existing Rs 5,000 per month from all sources to Rs 9,000 per month. This would bring the dependent parents of more subscribers under the ambit of ESI.</li>
<li><strong>Improving state medical service system:</strong> Recently, ESIC decided to bear the full cost of implementing the scheme. Earlier, 1/8<sup>th</sup> of the cost was borne by the states while ESIC bore the rest.</li>
<li><strong>More establishments included:</strong> To increase coverage, ESI facilities would be available even for those firms that employ less than 10 people. While for most firms, it would be voluntary, for firms in the hazardous industries, it would be mandatory. Previously, firms with 10 or more people could only avail themselves of this facility.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Optimum utilisation of funds:</strong> ESIC has massive surplus in its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/esic-funds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reserve funds</strong></a>. There Is need to invest these funds: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To establish new medical infrastructure</li>
<li>Upgrade the current medical infrastructure</li>
<li>Improve the services provided to the increasing number of beneficiaries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional disparity:</strong> If ESI coverage has to be extended all over India, at least one ESI dispensary per district is required and several model ESIC hospitals in every state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, in the entire Northeast India, there are only ten ESIC dispensaries and only one ESIC Model Hospital in Guwahati, Assam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthen tie-ups:</strong> ESIC also has tie-ups with private hospitals for super-speciality services. The beneficiaries avail themselves of this cashless benefit. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However there is a need for ESIC to strengthen the tie-ups by ensuring that the private hospital bills are settled promptly so that the ESI beneficiaries can continue to get hassle-free service.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Upgradation of Services:</strong> On an immediate basis, to improve the standard of services, ESIC can improve the infrastructure of the current dispensaries and the hospitals on a war footing and ensure the availability of more types of medicines in the dispensaries.</li>
<li><strong>Extension the ESI to Non notified areas:</strong> Coverage should be extended to all areas. Currently, ESI Coverage is restricted only to notified areas.</li>
<li><strong>Simplifying the financing:</strong> It would have a positive impact on the quality of services delivered by reducing red tape and increasing the overall accountability of the ESIC.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>It is now apparent that the ESIC is a purposeful organisation serving millions of people and the government is consciously increasing its ambit of impact. Although many positive changes have been proposed and implemented in recent times, much more can be done and the ESIC can be a model organisation for countries around the world.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595329936_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595329936_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="692" height="435" /></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: #f0f8ff;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Improving the facilities under ESIC is a panacea to Healthcare service delivery in India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/osTw2Kw7_0Y" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/disentangling-india-s-trade-surplus/story-giOg4uynVrzwDHi0xlh8kK.html#:~:text=The%20cumulative%20effect%20was%20a,%25%20and%20imports%20by%2051%25.&amp;text=In%20April%202020%2C%20India%20registered,and%20imports%20falling%20by%2058.7%25." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Disentangling India&rsquo;s trade Surplus</strong></a> which was published in Hindustan Times on July 20<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/esi-augments-healthcare-services-in-india'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Mine Ploughs on T-90 Tanks',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Ministry of Defence</strong> has signed <strong>Rs. 557 crore contract</strong> with the <strong>BEML Limited</strong> (formerly known as the <strong>Bharat Earth Movers Limited</strong>) for the procurement of <strong>1,512 mine ploughs for T-90 Tanks.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The induction is <strong>expected to be completed by 2027.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595327601_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595327601_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>T-90 Tanks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <strong>Russian-origin</strong> tanks are the <strong>Indian Army&rsquo;s main battle tanks.</strong></li>
<li>Indian Army recently deployed them in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/galwan-valley-clash" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Galwan Valley</strong></a> sector of Ladakh amid the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>face-off with Chinese troops.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mine Ploughs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mine ploughs <strong>help tanks to clear minefields and minimize risks to men and machines.</strong></li>
<li>After being fitted on T-90 Tanks, they will<strong> facilitate individual mobility</strong> to the tanks while negotiating a minefield.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>mobility of the tank fleet will enhance manifolds</strong> which in turn would <strong>extend the reach of the armoured formations deep into enemy territory</strong> without becoming a mine casualty.</li>
<li>The decision is expected to boost the government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india#:~:text=On%20September%2025%2C%202014%2C%20the,surpassing%20the%20U.S.%20and%20China." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Make in India&rsquo;</strong></a> initiative.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the procedure, the contract has <strong>Buy and Make (Indian) categorisation</strong> with a minimum of <strong>50% indigenous content</strong> in the Make portion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>BEML Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>established in 1964</strong> as a <strong>Public Sector Undertaking</strong> (PSU).</li>
<li>It has <strong>partially disinvested</strong> and presently the <strong>Government of India owns 54%</strong> of total equity and the rest 46% is held by public and financial institutions, foreign institutional investors, banks and employees.</li>
<li>The company operates under<strong> three major business verticals</strong> viz. <strong>Mining and Construction, Defence and Rail and Metro.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/defence-ministry-signs-557-cr-deal-for-t-90-tanks-mine-ploughs/article32140818.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/mine-ploughs-on-t-90-tanks'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Non-personal Data',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a government committee headed by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan has suggested that <strong>non-personal data</strong> generated in India<strong> be allowed to be harnessed by various domestic companies and entities.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The committee has also suggested a <strong>separate national legislation</strong> and a <strong>separate authority</strong> to oversee non-personal data.</li>
<li>It also<strong> recommended mandatory sharing of non-personal data,</strong> as it may be useful for Indian entrepreneurs to develop new and innovative services or products to benefit citizens.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Definition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Non-personal data is any set of data <strong>which does not contain personally identifiable information.</strong> This means that no individual or living person can be identified by looking at such data.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, order details collected by a food delivery service will have the name, age, gender, and other contact information of an individual, it will become non-personal data <strong>if the identifiers such as name and contact information are taken out.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government committee, which submitted its report has classified non-personal data into<strong> three main categories,</strong> namely <strong>public non-personal data, community non-personal data</strong> and <strong>private non-personal data.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public, Community, and Private Non-personal Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Public non-personal data:</strong> It involves all the data collected by the government and its agencies during execution of all publicly funded works.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>E.g.</strong> census, data collected by municipal corporations on the total tax receipts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Community non-personal data:</strong> It involves any data identifiers about a set of people who have either the <strong>same geographic location, religion, job, or other common social interests.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>E.g.</strong> The metadata collected by ride-hailing apps, telecom companies, electricity distribution companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Private non-personal data:</strong> It can be defined as those which are produced by individuals which can be derived from<strong> application of proprietary software or knowledge.</strong> E.g data generated by companies like Google, Amazon etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Non-personal Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These data sets will help to map consumer biases and ensure<strong> targeted delivery of services.</strong> It will unlock the doors of economic value and innovation in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sensitivity of Non-personal Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike personal data, non-personal data is more likely to be in an anonymised (without particulars or details) form.</li>
<li>However, in certain categories such as data related to national security or strategic interests such as locations of government laboratories or research facilities, even if the data provided in anonymised form can be dangerous.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Possibilities of such harm are obviously much higher if the original personal data is of a sensitive nature.</li>
<li>Therefore, the <strong>non-personal data arising from sensitive personal data may be considered as sensitive non-personal data.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The data sets will heavily <strong>favour big tech companies.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Only big tech companies possess the capital and infrastructure to create such large volumes of data. Others will find it difficult to match the capabilities of these technology giants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As a signatory to <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)</strong></a>, India extended copyright protection to computer databases in 1999. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In such a scenario, there is a challenge of demarcation between non-personal data that cannot be shared, and non-copyright non-personal data that can be used as a public resource.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is <strong>no clarity over the grievance redressal mechanism</strong> in the committee&rsquo;s report.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Like many other countries, India too will have to define non-personal data in a manner that protects intellectual property rights, serves genuine public interest and promotes innovation.</li>
<li>India can learn from <strong>France&rsquo;s National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence policy,</strong> which encourages economic players<strong> to share and pool their data</strong> with the state acting as a trusted third party. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France&rsquo;s policy even empowers public authorities to impose openness on certain data because of its societal benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India can also look towards the <strong>European Union&rsquo;s Regulation on the Free Flow of Non-Personal Data,</strong> which recognises the free flow of non-personal data as a prerequisite of a competitive economy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/non-personal-data-explained-6506613/#:~:text=In%20its%20most%20basic%20form,by%20looking%20at%20such%20data." 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/non-personal-data'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Ravana’s Aviation Route: Sri Lanka',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Civil Aviation Authority of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-sri-lanka" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sri Lanka</a></strong> has sought relevant documents and literature from the public to study the mythological character <strong>Ravana&rsquo;s &ldquo;aviation routes&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> The Civil Aviation Authority will lead a<strong> research project</strong> titled &ldquo;King Ravana and the ancient domination of aerial routes now lost&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The project aims to bring out an <strong>authoritative narrative about King Ravana</strong> as there are many stories about Ravana <strong>flying aircrafts and covering</strong> these aerial routes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the civil aviation authority, it was Ravana who used a flying machine called &ldquo;Dandu monara&rdquo; to fly not only within the country, but also in the South East Asia region.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> Sri Lanka&rsquo;s tourism sector promotes the <strong>&lsquo;Ramayana trail&rsquo;</strong> for visitors from India &mdash; one of Sri Lanka&rsquo;s largest tourism markets.</li>
<li><strong>Sinhala-Buddhists Community:</strong> The majority <strong>Sinhala-Buddhists community</strong> hail the King Ravana.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The group calls itself <strong>Ravana Balaya.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Linkages with India: Dravidian parties</strong> in Tamil Nadu acknowledge Ravana as &ldquo;the brave king&rdquo; similar to the Buddhists community of Sri Lanka.</li>
<li><strong>Satellite:</strong> Sri Lanka named its first satellite <strong>Ravana-1</strong> launched in June 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sinhala-Buddhists Community</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The community focuses upon <strong>Theravada <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buddhism</a></strong>, which is the majority belief system of most of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka.</li>
<li>Sinhalese are the<strong> largest ethnic group on</strong> the island.</li>
<li>It mostly originated in reaction to the <strong>colonisation of Sri Lanka by the British Empire</strong> and became increasingly assertive in the years following the independence of the country.</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-sri-lanka-security-and-geopolitics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka</strong> </a>is rooted in the discrimination against the Tamil minority by the Sinhalese majority after the end of British colonial domination in 1948.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Theravada Buddhism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the most <strong>ancient branch of extant Buddhism</strong> today.</li>
<li>It remains closest to the original teachings of the Buddha.</li>
<li>Theravada Buddhism <strong>developed in Sri Lanka</strong> and subsequently spread to the rest of Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>dominant form of religion</strong> in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.</li>
<li>In India, this strain of Buddhism is represented by the followers of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-political-thinker-br-ambedkar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dr B.R. Ambedkar</strong></a>, <strong>known as the Ambedkar Buddhists</strong>, who are exclusive to India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-to-research-ravanas-aviation-routes/article32142518.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/ravana-s-aviation-route-sri-lanka'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'No Postal Ballots for Above 65 in Bihar',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Election Commission of India</strong></a> (ECI) has <strong>decided against extending postal ballots to electors above 65 years of age</strong> in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections due to logistical challenges.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier in June 2020, the Law Ministry, on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amendments-in-postal-ballot-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recommendation of ECI</strong></a>, had extended the postal ballot facility to electors over 65 years (being most vulnerable to Covid-19), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> patients and those suspected to have it by notifying a change to the <strong>Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier, postal ballots were <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/postal-ballot-facilities-for-absentee-voters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>extended to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and electors over 80 years</strong></a> in November 2019 ahead of the Jharkhand and Delhi elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Working Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The postal ballot facility for electors above 65 years is different from the conventional postal service.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Usually, <strong>ballot papers are distributed electronically</strong> to electors and are <strong>returned to the election officers via post.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For above 65 and Covid-19 patients, it works as a<strong> polling station on the move,</strong> with the polling staff visiting the homes of such electors, having them fill out their ballots, sealing them in envelopes and taking it back.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was done to <strong>minimize vulnerability and exposure</strong> at the polling stations for above 65 and to<strong> not deprive</strong> the Covid-19 patients and people under quarantine <strong>of their voting rights.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After reviewing the preparations for the Bihar polls, the ECI has made this decision keeping in mind the <strong>logistical, staff and safety protocol</strong> related constraints.</li>
<li>For collecting votes of so many electors, <strong>additional staff and security will be required</strong> and would not be possible to arrange the facility for about 72 lakh electors, about 10% of the total 7.19 crore electors in the state.</li>
<li>State authorities are already preparing 34,000 additional polling stations in order to <strong>limit electors to 1,000 at each location.</strong> It also <strong>requires additional polling personnel</strong> which is an administrative challenge in itself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Postal Ballots System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ballot papers are distributed electronically to electors and are returned to the election officers via post.</li>
<li>Currently, <strong>only the following voters</strong> are allowed to cast their votes through postal ballot:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Service voters</strong> (armed forces, the armed police force of a state and government servants posted abroad).</li>
<li><strong>Voters on election duty.</strong></li>
<li>Voters <strong>above 80 years of age or Persons with Disabilities</strong> (PwD).</li>
<li>Voters <strong>under preventive detention.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exception to the above-mentioned category of voters is provided under Section 60 of the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-representation-of-the-people-act-part-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Representation of the People Act, 1951.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-postal-ballot-as-over-70-lakh-electors-in-65-plus-age-group-in-bihar/article32141225.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/no-postal-ballots-for-above-65-in-bihar'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Consumer Protection Act, 2019',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>new <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/consumer-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Protection Act, 2019</a></strong> came into force on <strong>20<sup>th</sup> July 2020</strong> and it will empower consumers and help them in protecting their rights through its various notified rules and provisions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new act will be swift and less time consuming compared to the <strong>older <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/the-consumer-protection-bill-2018-amendment-1986-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Protection Act, 1986</a></strong> in which single-point access to justice was given making it a time-consuming exercise.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The old act provided for a <strong>three-tier consumer dispute redressal machinery</strong> at the<strong> National (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-consumer-disputes-redressal-commission-ncdrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission</a>), State</strong> and <strong>District</strong> levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes the <strong>Central Consumer Protection Authority</strong> (CCPA) whose primary <strong>objective</strong> will be to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>It is empowered to:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints/prosecution.</li>
<li>Order recall of unsafe goods and services.</li>
<li>Order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.</li>
<li>Impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rules on E-commerce and Unfair Trade Practices:</strong> The government will notify the <strong>Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020</strong> under the Act whose broad provisions are given below.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>E-commerce</strong></a> entities are <strong>required to provide information</strong> to consumers, relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal mechanism, payment methods, security of payment methods, charge-back options and country of origin.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are necessary for <strong>enabling the consumer to make an informed decision</strong> at the pre-purchase stage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These platforms will have to <strong>acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within 48 hours</strong> and <strong>redress the complaint within one month</strong> from the date of receipt. They will also have to appoint a grievance officer for consumer grievance redressal.</li>
<li>The Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 are <strong>mandatory and are not advisories.</strong></li>
<li>Sellers <strong>cannot refuse to take back goods or withdraw services or refuse refunds,</strong> if such goods or services are defective, deficient, delivered late, or if they do not meet the description on the platform.</li>
<li>The rules also <strong>prohibit the e-commerce companies from manipulating the price</strong> of the goods or services to gain unreasonable profit through unjustified prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Product Liability:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller will be held <strong>responsible to compensate for injury or damage</strong> caused by defective product or deficiency in services</li>
<li><strong>Basis for product liability action:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Manufacturing defect.</li>
<li>Design defect.</li>
<li>Deviation from manufacturing specifications.</li>
<li>Not conforming to express warranty.</li>
<li>Failing to contain adequate instructions for correct use.</li>
<li>Service provided-faulty, imperfect or deficient.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Punishment for Manufacture or Sale of Adulterated/Spurious Goods:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case of the first conviction, a competent court may suspend any licence issued to the person for a<strong> period of up to two years</strong> and in case of second or subsequent conviction, may <strong>cancel the licence permanently.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Alternate Dispute Resolution Mechanism of Mediation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A complaint will be referred by a Consumer Commission for mediation, wherever scope for early settlement exists and parties agree for it.</li>
<li>The mediation will be held in the <strong>Mediation Cells</strong> which will be established under the aegis of the<strong> Consumer Commissions.</strong></li>
<li>There will be <strong>no appeal against settlement through mediation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Simplification of the Consumer Dispute Adjudication Process:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Empowering the State and District Commissions to review</strong> their own orders.</li>
<li>Enabling a consumer to file complaints electronically and in consumer commissions that have jurisdiction over the place of his residence.</li>
<li>Video-conferencing for hearing and deemed admissibility of complaints if the question of admissibility is not decided within the specified period of 21 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Rules and Regulations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the <strong>Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Rules,</strong> there will be <strong>no fee for filing cases up to Rs. 5 lakh.</strong></li>
<li>The credit of the amount due to unidentifiable consumers will go to the <strong>Consumer Welfare Fund</strong> (CWF).</li>
<li>State Commissions will furnish information to the Central Government on a quarterly basis on vacancies, disposal, the pendency of cases and other matters.</li>
<li>Apart from these general rules, there are <strong>Central Consumer Protection Council Rules,</strong> provided for the constitution of the <strong>Central Consumer Protection Council</strong> (CCPC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will be an <strong>advisory body</strong> on consumer issues, headed by the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution with the Minister of State as Vice Chairperson and 34 other members from different fields.</li>
<li>It will have a <strong>three-year tenure</strong> and will have Minister-in-charge of consumer affairs from two States from each region- North, South, East, West, and North-East Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595322910_CPA%202019.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595322910_CPA 2019.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="540" height="424" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1639925#:~:text=The%20Consumer%20Protection%20Act%2C2019,i.e.%2020th%20July%202020.&amp;text=The%20gazette%20notification%20for%20establishment,e%2Dcommerce%20are%20under%20publication." 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/consumer-protection-act-2019'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'C.S. Seshadri',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Eminent mathematician <strong>Professor CS Seshadri,</strong> known for his contributions in <strong>algebraic geometry</strong> and <strong>mathematical education</strong> passed away recently.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595319032_Image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595319032_Image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He was born in 1932 in Kanchipuram and educated in Chennai, TN and Mumbai (he got his PhD from Bombay University in 1958).</li>
<li>He joined<strong> Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR),</strong> where he helped establish a school of algebraic geometry.</li>
<li>He is known for his work on <strong>algebraic geometry.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Applications of algebraic geometry arise in statistics, control theory, robotics, coding theory, integer programming and theoretical physics.</li>
<li>The<strong> Narasimhan-Seshadri theorem,</strong> developed in 1965 with his friend M S Narasimhan, plays a central role in <strong>conformal field theory and string theory.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>He founded the <strong>Chennai Mathematical Institute,</strong> which attracts talent from around the world with its courses on <strong>mathematics, computer science and theoretical physics.</strong></li>
<li>He was elected <strong>Fellow of the Royal Society (UK) in 1988</strong> and a <strong>Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences, USA in 2010.</strong> He was awarded the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/padma-awards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Padma Bhushan</strong></a> (the third highest civilian award in India) in 2009.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cs-seshadri-a-leader-of-indian-mathematics-passes-away-in-chennai/article32121576.ece#:~:text=of%20graduate%20students.-,C.S.,He%20was%2088." 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/c-s-seshadri'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'National Financial Reporting Authority',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)</strong> has constituted a <strong>Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)</strong> to aid and advise the executive body of the NFRA on <strong>issues relating to drafts of accounting standards and auditing standards.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The TAC comprises<strong> seven members</strong> including the <strong>chairman - R. Narayanaswamy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitution:</strong> NFRA was constituted in <strong>2018</strong> by the Government of India under <strong>section 132 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013.</strong> It is an <strong>audit regulator.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The decision to constitute the NFRA was taken after the role of auditors and the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/icai-nfra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Institute of Chartered Accountants of India</strong></a> came under the scanner for alleged lapses in various corporate scams including that at the Punjab National Bank.</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong> It consists of a<strong> chairperson,</strong> who shall be a person of eminence and having expertise in accountancy, auditing, finance or law,<strong> appointed by the Central Government</strong> and such<strong> other members not exceeding 15. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Functions and Duties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Recommend accounting and auditing policies</strong> and standards to be adopted by companies for approval by the Central Government.</li>
<li>Monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards and auditing standards.</li>
<li>Oversee the <strong>quality of service of the professions</strong> associated with ensuring compliance with such standards and suggest measures for improvement in the quality of service.</li>
<li>Protect the <strong>public interest.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Powers:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can undertake investigation related to the following class of companies and bodies corporate, namely:-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Companies whose <strong>securities are listed on any stock exchange</strong> in India or outside India.</li>
<li><strong>Unlisted public companies</strong> having <strong>paid-up capital</strong> of not less than <strong>Rs. 500 crores</strong> or having<strong> annual turnover</strong> of not less than <strong>Rs. 1,000 crores</strong> or having, in aggregate, <strong>outstanding loans,</strong> debentures and deposits of not less than <strong>Rs. 500 crores</strong> as on the 31<sup>st</sup> March of immediately preceding financial year.</li>
<li>Insurance companies, banking companies, companies engaged in the generation or supply of electricity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Where professional or other misconduct is proved, it has the power to make order for imposing<strong> penalty</strong> of&mdash;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>not less than one lakh rupees,</strong> but which may extend to five times of the fees received, in case of<strong> individuals;</strong> and</li>
<li>not less than ten lakh rupees, but which may extend to ten times of the fees received, in case of <strong>firms.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its account is monitored by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/comptroller-and-auditor-general-of-india-cag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.</strong></a></li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered</strong> in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-financial-reporting-authority-2'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Zoram Mega Food Park: Mizoram',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government has operationalized the <strong>first Mega Food Park (MFP) of Mizoram i.e. Zoram Mega Food Park.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been set up under the &lsquo;Mega Food Park Scheme&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Zoram MFP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is located in Khamrang village in Kolasib District, Mizoram.</li>
<li>It is spread over 55 acres of land and is set up at a cost of Rs. 75. 20 crores.</li>
<li>It is not only expected to benefit the people of Mizoram but also that of adjoining districts in Assam.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Assam</strong> already has a MFP in its Nalbari district- <strong>North East Mega Food Park.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will <strong>boost the North-East Region&rsquo;s potential to become the organic destination of the world</strong> due to its rich agricultural and horticultural produce.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Sikkim</strong> has already been <strong>declared as an organic state.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mega Food Park Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Launched in: 2008-09</strong> under the purview of the <strong>Ministry of Food Processing Industries.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To provide a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers income and creating employment opportunities particularly in the rural sector.</li>
<li><strong>Components:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Scheme is based on the <strong>&ldquo;Cluster&rdquo; approach</strong> and envisages creation of state of art support infrastructure in a well-defined agri/horticultural zone for setting up of modern food processing units in the industrial plots provided in the park with a well-established supply chain.</li>
<li>A Mega food Park typically consists of <strong>supply chain infrastructure</strong> including collection centers (cc), primary processing centers (ppc) central processing centers (cpc), cold chain and around 25-30 fully developed plots for entrepreneurs to set up <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-processing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>food processing</strong></a> units.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The central government provides financial assistance <strong>upto Rs. 50 Crore per Mega Food Park (MFP) project.</strong></li>
<li>The MFP project is<strong> implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)</strong> which is a Body Corporate registered under the Companies Act, 2013.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Presently, 18 MFP Projects are under implementation in various states and 19 Mega Food Parks have already become functional in the States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is in line with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/five-years-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Make in India&rsquo;</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Atmanirbhar&rsquo;</strong></a> vision of the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595315259_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595315259_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="663" height="472" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1639896" 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/zoram-mega-food-park-mizoram'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Significance of 15th India-European Union Summit',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/india-should-believe-in-the-eu/article32094669.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;India should believe in the EU&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 16/07/2020. This article discusses the importance of India's relationship with the EU in the wake of the recently held summit.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-eu-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-EU Virtual summit</strong> </a>resumed after being halted for a couple of years. The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> European Union (EU)</strong></a> is a group of countries that operates as a cohesive economic and political block.</p>
<p>Europe&rsquo;s perception of India has been changing in tandem with increasing tensions with China. In 2018, the EU released a new strategy for cooperation with India, calling it a <strong>geopolitical pillar in a multipolar Asia,</strong> crucial for maintaining the balance of power in the region. Paris and Brussels have been actively pushing Europe to see India as a truly strategic partner.</p>
<p>The EU and India can work together to promote peace, create jobs, boost economic growth and enhance sustainable development in the member countries.</p>
<h3>Opportunities</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Potential gain from EU-India trade agreement:</strong> The potential impact of an EU-India trade agreement would significantly increase trade gains likely to flow to India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Additional potential gains from enhanced coordination on the provision of global public goods, such as environmental standards would help India to adopt Bharat VI standards more swiftly and meet its emission cut targets on time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Combating Covid crisis:</strong> Getting access to Covid tools&rsquo; of the EU and its countries, India&rsquo;s pharma companies could collaborate with them in a global attempt in finding the cure of Covid. This partnership could help in:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhancing global cooperation and solidarity to protect lives to mitigate the socio-economic consequences.</li>
<li>Strengthening preparedness and response capacities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong> The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation or Europol and CBI are negotiating a working arrangement to support law enforcement authorities of EU member states and India to prevent and combat organised crime and terror.</li>
<li><strong>Combating Climate Change:</strong> India can learn from new industrial strategy called the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eu-green-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Green Deal of EU</strong></a> to render its carbon-emission neutral by 2050 <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The EU and India could endeavour transforming into carbon-neutral economies by 2050 by investing in clean energies. .</li>
<li>European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and India signed for cooperation between the EU's research programmes on new ways of using nuclear energy to limit India&rsquo;s dependency on fossil fuels.</li>
<li>In India&rsquo;s efforts to increase the use of renewable energy in India, the investment and technology of Europe is of paramount importance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong> The two sides are also set to launch a high-level trade dialogue to address issues such as stalled negotiations on a maritime security dialogue, and develop security and defence consultations and military contacts.</li>
<li><strong>Countering China:</strong> EU can be a reliant partner for India to counter Chinese influence in its neighbourhood. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The EU has its own connectivity strategy, providing around &euro;414 billion in aid globally, and is already partnering with Japan and the United States (US)&thinsp;to provide alternatives to BRI. This can check China&rsquo;s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments and infrastructure connectivity.</li>
<li>This is a crucial opportunity where the EU can deliver what India needs. Entities such as the European Investment Bank are active in India, investing in metro and other infrastructure projects.</li>
<li>India should explore this partnership with the EU to not only fill domestic infrastructure needs but also as part of India&rsquo;s neighbourhood diplomacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pending Free Trade Deal:</strong> A free trade deal that India and the European Union have been pending since 2007. It was not concluded even in the 15<sup>th</sup> India-EU summit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the end of the virtual summit, no official deadline for the free trade agreement was declared.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lopsided Investments:</strong> There is still room for improvement especially when compared to EU investments in China.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Enhancing connectivity:</strong> Facilitating people&rsquo;s mobility and connectivity to improve mutual understanding and create opportunities for innovation and growth.</li>
<li><strong>Geopolitical Balancing:</strong> In geopolitical terms partnership with the EU can help India balancing its powerful rivals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For eg: Indo-Pacific region is increasingly the focus of attention, so India should capitalise on its geopolitical leverage there.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maximising Strategic Cooperation:</strong> Even India&rsquo;s strongest bilateral relations with individual EU member states do not come close to the potential of dealing effectively with the EU as a whole.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The EU and India can join forces to promote sustainable reform like parity among nations in multilateral institutions including the World Trade Organization (WTO).</li>
<li>India could maximise benefit from this strategic partnership. Stronger cooperation with democratic powers can support this effort, especially towards assertive competitors like China</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Greater Business Cooperation:</strong> The EU is India&rsquo;s largest trading partner and the second-largest destination for Indian exports. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As Europe looks to diversify supply chains and move away from China, India shouldn&rsquo;t miss the opportunity to attract investments. It should deepen its relationship with the world&rsquo;s largest trading bloc, which has already negotiated FTAs with Vietnam, Japan and Singapore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India and the EU are natural partners. This partnership could enhance peace and stability in India and member countries of the EU. This reality has become even clearer in today&rsquo;s global situation. However for this, India and the EU must adopt a long-term strategic perspective and an action-oriented agenda should be implemented within a stipulated time frame.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595244275_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595244275_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="498" /></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: #fffad9;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The power of any aspiring global player depends on the number and quality of its bilateral and multilateral relationships. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ciDPqnWqJq0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/state-of-deluge-assam-floods-6509523/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;State of deluge&rdquo;</strong></a> that was published in The Indian Express on July 17<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/significance-of-15th-india-european-union-summit'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'ICJ on Qatar Blockade',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Court of Justice</strong></a> (ICJ) refused an appeal by<strong> Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates</strong> (UAE) which challenged the authority of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-civil-aviation-organisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Civil Aviation Organisation</strong></a> (ICAO) to adjudicate on the legality of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/qatar-quits-opec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Qatar blockade.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICJ is the top<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations</strong></a> (UN) court and ICAO is the international aviation agency of the UN.</li>
<li>UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are located in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Persian Gulf Region</strong></a> and are the members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council</strong> </a>(GCC).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595240229_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595240229_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Qatar Blockade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>June 2017,</strong> Qatar&rsquo;s neighbouring Arab nations of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt <strong>shut off shipping routes and air space with Qatar</strong> for its <strong>alleged support for<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> terrorism</a></strong> and its<strong> ties with Iran.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It severed their diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, <strong>Qatar denied supporting Islamic extremism</strong> and has openly <strong>condemned its isolation</strong> as a clear attack on its sovereignty.</li>
<li>All four neighbours issued a <strong>13-point list of demands for Doha</strong> (capital of Qatar) to comply with in order to restore erstwhile relations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of the demands included Qatar closing down news outlets such as <strong>Al-Jazeera,</strong> end ties with radical Islamist groups like the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-attended-oic-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Muslim Brotherhood</strong></a>, scale down ties with Shia-majority Iran and remove Turkish troops stationed in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since 2017, the<strong> blockade of Qatar has included:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Closing of its only land border with Saudi Arabia.</li>
<li>Stopping Qatari ships from entering ports anywhere in the Saudi coalition.</li>
<li>Blocking Qatari planes from flying in their airspace.</li>
<li>Expelling Qatari citizens from these countries as part of the measures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dispute at the ICJ:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Qatar approached the ICAO, alleging that its rights of free passage under the <strong>1944 Convention on Civil Aviation</strong> were violated by the blockade.</li>
<li>Saudi Arabia and its allies argued that the<strong> ICJ should have the authority</strong> to settle the dispute instead of the ICAO because the <strong>dispute goes beyond the aviation matters.</strong></li>
<li>In 2018, the<strong> ICAO ruled against the Saudi coalition,</strong> holding that it did have jurisdiction to hear the case and its ruling was <strong>recently backed by the ICJ</strong> too.</li>
<li>The blockade <strong>still remains in force</strong> and the ICAO is expected to <strong>deliver its verdict in 2021.</strong> The ruling will be in Qatar&rsquo;s favour and will be a major win for the country and its <strong>national carrier, Qatar Airways.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Civil Aviation Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established by the <strong>Convention on International Civil Aviation</strong> which was signed on<strong> 7<sup>th</sup> December 1944 in Chicago.</strong></li>
<li>It laid the foundation for the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation and established the core principles permitting international transport by air.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To foster the planning and development of international air transport so as to ensure the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation throughout the world.</li>
<li><strong>India is among its 193 members.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Montreal, Canada.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-the-latest-icj-ruling-means-for-qatar-and-its-airspace-6513580/" 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/icj-on-qatar-blockade'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => '3rd G20 FMCBG Meeting',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently India has virtually participated in the <strong>3<sup>rd</sup> G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG)</strong> meeting under the<strong> Presidency</strong> of <strong>Saudi Arabia.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It discussed the global economic outlook amid evolving <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> crisis along with other <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-g20-leaders-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a> <strong>finance track priorities</strong> for the year 2020.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-meeting-in-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>First meeting was held in February 2020 at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>G20 Action Plan:</strong> The importance and relevance of the G20 action plan was highlighted.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was endorsed in response to Covid-19 in April 2020. </li>
<li>It has a list of collective commitments under the pillars of <strong>Health Response, Economic Response, Strong and Sustainable Recovery and International Financial Coordination,</strong> aimed at coordinating G20 efforts to fight the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Response:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India emphasised the need to <strong>balance supply side and demand side measures</strong> in response to Covid-19.</li>
<li>It also spoke about the <strong>procyclicality of credit rating downgrades</strong> by the rating agencies and its deterrent impact on policy options, particularly for <strong>Emerging Market Economy</strong> (EMEs).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Procyclic ratings</strong> are stricter during an economic downturn than an expansion. As a result, firms receive <strong>overly pessimistic ratings in a recession,</strong> relative to during an expansion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International coordination required</strong> in addressing the <strong>spill-over effects of exit strategies</strong> related to covid-19 lockdowns.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Spillover effect</strong> refers to the impact of unrelated events in one nation on the economies of other nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>G20 Finance Track deliverables</strong>: FMCBG discussed the developments on G20 Finance Track deliverables under the Saudi Arabian Presidency. <strong>India</strong> discussed<strong> two such deliverables:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First, <strong>Enhancing access to opportunities for Women, Youth and Small Market Economies (SMEs)</strong> and a <strong>menu of policy options on access to opportunity.</strong></li>
<li>Second,<strong> International Taxation agenda</strong> and the <strong>intended deliverable of formulating a solution</strong> for addressing challenges related to <strong>digital taxation.</strong></li>
<li>India said that the consensus based solution should be simple, inclusive and based on a robust economic impact assessment.</li>
<li>It is in line with the recent decision of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ustr-takes-india-off-developing-country-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United States Trade Representative (USTR)</strong></a> to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ustr-s-probe-into-digital-services-taxes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>initiate an investigation into taxes adopted</strong> </a>or under consideration by 10 nations, including India, on revenues of American digital service companies like Netflix, Airbnb etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Digital taxation or Digital Services Taxes (DSTs)</strong> are the adopted taxes on revenues that certain companies generate from providing certain digital services. E.g. digital multinationals like Google, Amazon and Apple etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In response to it the central government has stated that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/equalisation-levy-for-non-resident-e-commerce-firms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>it will not extend the deadline for payment of equalisation levy</strong> </a><strong>by non-resident e-commerce</strong> players, even though a majority of them are yet to deposit the first installment of the tax.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> equalization levy is aimed at taxing foreign companies</strong> which have a significant local client base in India but are billing them through their offshore units, effectively escaping the country&rsquo;s tax system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G-20</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <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"><strong>G20</strong></a> is an <strong>informal group of 19 countries</strong> and the <strong>European Union,</strong> with <strong>representatives</strong> of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong></a> <strong>and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world&rsquo;s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> The<strong> G20 operates as a forum</strong> and not as an organisation. Therefore, it <strong>does not have any permanent secretariat.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Origin</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1997-1999 Asian Financial Crisis:</strong> This was a ministerial-level forum which emerged after G7 invited both developed and developing economies. The finance ministers and central bank governors began meeting in 1999.</li>
<li>Amid the 2008 Financial Crisis the world saw the need for a new consensus-building at the highest political level. It was decided that the G20 leaders would begin meeting once annually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The members of the G20 are <strong>Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.</strong></li>
<li>One nation holds the chair every year, known as the 'G20 Presidency'. <strong>Saudia Arabia</strong> is holding the 2020 chair.</li>
<li>The 2021 summit will be held in <strong>Italy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1639707#:~:text=Nirmala%20Sitharaman%20participated%20in%20the,Track%20priorities%20for%20the%20year" 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/3rd-g20-fmcbg-meeting'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'China Crossed its 1960’s LAC Claims',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the records of 1960 boundary talks, the Chinese troops have gone beyond China&rsquo;s own territorial claims at Pangong Tso Lake and Galwan Valley.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The records also raise questions on recent statements from Indian officials that China is not present anywhere on Indian territory.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Official Records:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 1960&rsquo;s documents show that the Chinese claim over the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pangong Tso Lake</strong></a> was at near <strong>Finger 8,</strong> around 8 km east of where China now says the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control (LAC)</strong></a> is. Now the Chinese troops are at<strong> Finger 4.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Fingers refer to mountain spurs on the bank of the Lake, and run from 1 to 8, west to east.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595237231_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595237231_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="606" height="300" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The documents show that, in the <strong>Galwan Valley,</strong> the LAC ran east of the bend of the Galwan river, called the <strong>Y-nallah,</strong> which is now claimed by China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Y-nallah was the site of the recent clash between Indian and Chinese troops.</li>
<li>The clash took place following a dispute during the de-escalation process, triggered when the Chinese troops put up a tent near the bend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595237240_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595237240_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="605" height="296" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reason for Increased Claims:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Chinese are now likely interpreting their perception of the LAC in a manner that seeks<strong> to redefine or maximise old claims</strong> along new lines, as cartography and terrain knowledge have improved, which offer them<strong> tactical advantage</strong> and <strong>more &lsquo;domination&rsquo;</strong> in key areas along the LAC.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening of India&rsquo;s border infrastructure</strong> (e.g. construction of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/darbuk-shyok-daulat-beg-oldie-road" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road</strong></a>) may also be the reason.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-has-crossed-its-1960-claims-along-the-lac/article32133689.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/china-crossed-its-1960-s-lac-claims'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'National Award for Excellence in Forestry',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research in Forestry for the year 2019</strong> has been awarded to Kannan C S Warrier, a scientist at <strong>Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB).</strong></li>
<li>This award is conferred by the <strong>Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ICFRE is an apex body in the national forestry research system. ICFRE was recently declared as the <strong>Centre for Excellence</strong> in addressing issues related to <strong>land degradation</strong> by the Prime Minister.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The award has been awarded to Kannan C S Warrier for releasing<strong> three salt-tolerant productive clones of <em>Casuarina</em></strong> that are suitable for <strong>salt-affected soils,</strong> for the first time in the country.</li>
<li>India has 6.73 million hectares of salt affected land and is also the largest producer of <em>Casuarina</em> in the world which makes the production of these clones a significant achievement.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Casuarina</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><em>Casuarina,</em> also known as<strong> kattadi and savukku,</strong> is a plant genus with over 17 species with <em>Casuarina equisetifolia</em> being introduced in India in the 19<sup>th</sup> century.</li>
<li>They have a role in <strong>nitrogen fixation</strong> in symbiotic association with bacteria Frankia.</li>
<li>They provide fuel wood, pulp for paper making and of late is a preferred choice for biomass-based power generation.</li>
<li>They are also used at construction sites for scaffolding.</li>
<li>They are used as shelterbelts in coastal areas and windbreaks for protecting agricultural crops and banana plantations.</li>
<li>They also play a key role in reclaiming mined areas and afforesting nutrient-poor sites.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Warrier has also done extensive work on the <strong>conservation of endangered sacred groves</strong> in Alappuzha district of Kerala.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sacred Groves</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sacred groves are<strong> communally protected forests</strong> which usually have a significant <strong>religious connotation</strong> for the protecting community.</li>
<li>In India, there are over a lakh sacred groves across different states called by different names like <em><strong>Kaavu</strong></em> <strong>in Malayalam,</strong><em><strong> Koyil kaadu</strong> </em><strong>in Tamil, Orans in Rajasthan, Devara kaadu in Karnataka,</strong> and <strong><em>Sernas</em> in Madhya Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>Many <strong>rare and endemic species,</strong> and <strong>species having medicinal and economic value</strong> can be found here, thus making them Biodiversity Hotspots. They house gene pools of some critically endangered plant species.</li>
<li>They are often associated with religious beliefs and felling of trees in sacred groves is considered taboo.</li>
<li>Sacred groves have been legally protected under<strong> &lsquo;community reserves&rsquo;</strong> in the <strong>Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002.</strong></li>
<li>Some<strong> common threats</strong> to Sacred Groves are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Disappearance</strong> of the <strong>traditional belief systems,</strong> which were fundamental to the concept of sacred groves.</li>
<li>The <strong>transformation</strong> of the primitive forms of nature worship into formal temple worship.</li>
<li><strong>Rapid urbanization</strong> and developmental interventions such as roads, railways tracks, dams including commercial forestry.</li>
<li>Invasion by <strong>exotic weeds.</strong></li>
<li>Pressures due to <strong>increasing livestock</strong> and fuelwood collection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/ifgtb-scientist-gets-award-from-indian-council-of-forestry-research-and-education/articleshow/76958346.cms#:~:text=COIMBATORE%3A%20Senior%20principal%20of%20Institute,Forestry%20for%20the%20year%202019." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TOI</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-award-for-excellence-in-forestry'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'RADT Vs RT-PCR',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, New Delhi's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> testing strategy has become controversial due to<strong> the low level</strong> of <strong>RT-PCR</strong> (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction)<strong> re-testing in persons</strong> tested negative in <strong>RADT</strong> (Rapid Antigen Detection Tests).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Using RADT <strong>widely without following up</strong> with <strong>adequate retests contradicts <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elisa-antibody-kits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Medical Research</a> (ICMR) guidelines</strong> on use of the RADT test.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ICMR Guidelines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RADT ought to be used only in <strong>containment zones, hotspots, hospital settings and laboratories</strong> among those who manifested one or other symptoms of the disease, influenza-like illnesses.</li>
<li>People with <strong>comorbidities who were asymptomatic</strong> and high-risk contacts of those confirmed positive.</li>
<li>Those who tested &lsquo;negative&rsquo; and whom<strong> clinicians suspected</strong> to be harbouring the disease ought to be <strong>definitely tested sequentially by RT-PCR</strong> to rule out infection and <strong>higher chances of false negatives.</strong></li>
<li>Those who test positive don&rsquo;t need a re-test and must be considered positive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Testing in New Delhi:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From 18<sup>th</sup> June - 16<sup>th</sup> July, it has conducted 3,05,820 RADT. Of these, 2,85,225 tests came &lsquo;negative&rsquo; and out of them only, 1,670 were chosen for re-test by RT-PCR and 262 of these were confirmed positive.</li>
<li>Only <strong>1 in 200 of those who tested negative in an antigen</strong> test to detect possible coronavirus cases<strong> were re-tested,</strong> which is against the given guidelines of ICMR.</li>
<li>Of those re-tested with <strong>RT-PCR, around 15% tested positive,</strong> which is higher than the<strong> RADT positive results i.e. 6%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments for Low Re-tests:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Re-testing everyone would defeat the purpose of having another (rapid antigen) test.</li>
<li>The RT-PCR test takes a minimum of 2-5 hours including the time taken for sample transportation. This <strong>limits the widespread use of the test</strong> and also impedes quick augmentation of testing capacity in various containment zones and hospital settings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>RADT, the maximum duration</strong> for interpreting a positive or negative test is <strong>30 minutes,</strong> thus <strong>a quicker complement to the standard RT-PCR</strong> tests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments Against:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The consequence of<strong> indiscriminately deploying antigen tests</strong> would mean expanding the number of tests and presenting a lower positivity rate while not necessarily being able to<strong> reliably establish the extent of the spread</strong> of the coronavirus in the population.</li>
<li>A low level of re-testing with RT-PCR in persons who are testing antigen negative will <strong>underestimate the cases</strong> and make the <strong>tracking inaccurate. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RADT</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a test on swabbed nasal samples that detects antigens (foreign substances that induce an immune response in the body) that are found on or within the SARS-CoV-2 virus.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>point-of-care test,</strong> performed outside the conventional laboratory setting, and is used to quickly obtain a diagnostic result.</li>
<li>Like RT-PCR, the rapid antigen detection test too seeks to detect the virus rather than the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/neutralising-antibodies-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antibodies</strong> </a>produced by the body.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the mechanism is different, the <strong>most significant difference between the two is time.</strong></li>
<li>As the ICMR has pointed out, the <strong>RT-PCR</strong> test takes a minimum of <strong>2-5 hours</strong> including the time taken for sample transportation..</li>
<li>In a reliable <strong>rapid antigen detection test,</strong> the maximum duration for interpreting a positive or negative test is <strong>30 minutes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>RT-PCR Test</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Kary Mullis,</strong> the American biochemist invented the PCR technique. He was awarded the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Prize</strong></a> for Chemistry in 1993.</li>
<li>Under this,<strong> copies of a segment of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)</strong> are created using an enzyme called Polymerase.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The &lsquo;chain reaction&rsquo; signifies how the DNA fragments are copied, exponentially &mdash; one is copied into two, the two are copied into four, and so on.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A fluorescent <strong>DNA binding dye called the &ldquo;probe&rdquo; is added to DNA,</strong> which shows the presence of the virus on a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/portable-device-to-detect-adulteration-in-milk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> fluorometer.</strong></a></li>
<li>However, coronavirus is made of <strong>RNA (ribonucleic acid).</strong></li>
<li>Therefore to detect coronavirus, <strong>RNA is converted into DNA</strong> using a technique called reverse transcription.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A &lsquo;reverse transcriptase&rsquo; enzyme converts the RNA into DNA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Copies of the DNA are then made and amplified.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/fewer-covid-19-re-tests-mar-delhis-testing-strategy/article32115082.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/radt-vs-rt-pcr'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Bathynomus raksasa: Isopod Species',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, scientists have reported the<strong> discovery of the first super giant isopod species in the eastern Indian Ocean</strong> named <em><strong>&lsquo;Bathynomus raksasa&rsquo;.</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been described as the <strong>&lsquo;cockroach of the sea&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>A team of researchers from Singapore discovered it while exploring waters of the Indian Ocean<strong> in Bantan,</strong> off the southern coast of West Java in <strong>Indonesia</strong> in <strong>2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595229586_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595229586_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="220" height="165" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Super Giant Isopod:</strong> The <em>Bathynomus</em> raksasa is a super giant isopod in the genus <em>Bathynomus.</em> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Isopods are <strong>marine invertebrates</strong> (animals without backbones) that belong to the greater crustacean group of animals, which also includes crabs and shrimp.</li>
<li>They live in many different types of habitat, from mountains and deserts to the deep sea.</li>
<li><strong>Isopods that reach 50 cm are referred to as supergiants.</strong> The largest isopod species are from the genus Bathynomus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has <strong>14 legs</strong> but uses these only to crawl along the bed of oceans in search of food.</li>
<li>It measures around<strong> 50 cm in length,</strong> which is big for isopods, which normally do not grow beyond 33 cm.</li>
<li>The only member of the isopod species that <strong>exceeds the raksasa in size</strong> is the <em><strong>Bathynomus giganteus</strong></em>, which is commonly found in the deep waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.</li>
<li>As a<strong> scavenger,</strong> it eats the remains of dead marine animals, such as whales and fish, but can also go for long periods without food, a trait that it shares with the cockroach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the first recorded species of the genus Bathynomus from Indonesia.</li>
<li>It is the<strong> sixth &lsquo;supergiant&rsquo; species</strong> from the Indo-West Pacific, and is one of the largest known members of the genus Bathynomus.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s discovery will contribute towards increasing knowledge about the deep sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-raksasa-cockroach-from-the-deep-the-stuff-nightmares-are-made-of-6513281/" 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/bathynomus-raksasa-isopod-species'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Day 1',
		'catname' => '60 days refresher',
		'desc' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">Citizenship</h2>
<p>This is an important topic for this year's prelims, as it has remained in the news because of the controversy over the <strong>Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 &amp; National Register of Citizens (NRC).</strong> Apart from it, many questions have been asked on aspects related to citizenship. One can find all streamlined and exam oriented information in the following links:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Constitutional Provisions for Citizenship</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizenship-by-registration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship by Registration</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizenship-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Salient features of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arguments in favour and against of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register of Citizens (NRC). Overseas Citizenship of India</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/free-downloads/ncert-book-polity--download" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Question on Citizenship</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2018)</p>
<ol>
<li>Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile.</li>
<li>Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Preamble</h2>
<p>This is an all time favourite topic for UPSC, as a lot of questions have been asked over the years. By analyzing the kind of questions asked on this topic, one can have a fair idea on what can be expected in the prelims.</p>
<p><a href="/free-downloads/ncert-book-polity--download" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work</strong></a></p>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Question on Preamble</span></h3>
<p>Q. In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty? (2019)</p>
<p>(a) Protection against the tyranny of political rulers</p>
<p>(b) Absence of restraint</p>
<p>(c) Opportunity to do whatever one likes</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. The mind of the makers of the Constitution of India is reflected in which of the following? (2017)</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) The Preamble</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) The Fundamental Rights</p>
<p>(c) The Directive Principles of State Policy</p>
<p>(d) The Fundamental Duties</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which one of the following objectives is not embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India? (2015)</p>
<p>(a) Liberty of thought</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) Economic liberty</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) Liberty of expression</p>
<p>(d) Liberty of belief</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. &lsquo;Economic Justice&rsquo; as one of the objectives of the Indian Constitution has been provided in: (2013)</p>
<p>(a) the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy</p>
<p>(d) None of the above</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Charter Acts</h2>
<p>It remains a very important topic for UPSC. A lot of questions have been asked over the years.</p>
<p>Questions on Charter Act 1813, have been asked in the successive years. So there is a fair bit of chance that the question can be asked on <strong>Charter Act 1833, 1853 or on Act of Good Governance 1858.</strong></p>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on Charter Act</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements about &lsquo;the Charter Act of 1813: (2019)</p>
<ol>
<li>It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.</li>
<li>It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.</li>
<li>The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India? (2018)</p>
<ol>
<li>Charter Act of 1813</li>
<li>General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823</li>
<li>Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Latest Constitutional Amendment Acts</h2>
<p>There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the latest Constitutional Amendment Acts. This can be depicted from the previous year questions. Thus, in this context, 100 to 103<sup>rd</sup> constitutional amendments become very important for this year's prelims.</p>
<p><strong>100<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/disputed-territories-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Land Boundary Agreement Between India And Bangladesh</strong> </a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>101<sup>st</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Goods and Services Tax (GST)</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>102<sup>nd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>103<sup>rd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-prerogative-to-provide-10-reservation#:~:text=Constitution%20(103rd%20Amendment)%20Act%2C%202019&amp;text=It%20was%20enacted%20to%20promote,to%20the%20EWSs%20of%20society." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reservation to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/08-01-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Analysis of EWS Reservation</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year questions on Constitutional Amendment Acts.</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2019)</p>
<ol>
<li>The 44<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of the judiciary.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 2 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<p>Apart from it, one can also go through:</p>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendment-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Major Constitutional Amendment: Part 1</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Major Constitutional Amendments: Part-2</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-3#:~:text=Amendment%3A,functional%20items%20of%20the%20panchayats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Major Constitutional Amendments: Part-3</strong></a></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Fundamental Rights and Duties</h2>
<p>One can always expect at least one question on Fundamental Rights which is provisioned under Part-III (Article 12 to Article 35) of the Constitution of India. Moreover, questions from this topic can come from static as well as from the current affairs portion.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 15 &amp; 16: <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Debate on Reservation in India</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reservation-not-a-right" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reservation: Not a Right</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservations-in-promotion-is-not-a-fundamental-right-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reservations in promotion is not a fundamental right SC</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 19: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/why-indias-sedition-law-needs-to-be-buried" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sedition Law</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-of-speech-and-expression-on-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freedom of speech and expression on social media</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 21: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/privacy-judgement-and-the-aftermath" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Right to Privacy</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fundamental-duties" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fundamental Duties</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rights-and-duties" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Difference Between Rights and duties</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fundamental-rights-and-oci-cardholders" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fundamental Rights and oci cardholders </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/free-downloads/ncert-book-polity--download" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Class XI NCERT: Indian Constitution At Work</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year questions on Fundamental Rights and Duties</span></h3>
<p>Q. Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement? (2018)</p>
<p>(a) Article 14 and the provisions under the 42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment to the Constitution.</p>
<p>(b) Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV.</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III.</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Article 24 and the provisions under the 44<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the Constitution.</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which of the following are envisaged by the Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of India? (2017)</p>
<ol>
<li>Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour</li>
<li>Abolition of untouchability</li>
<li>Protection of the interests of minorities</li>
<li>Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1, 2 and 4 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) 1 and 4 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Right to vote and to be elected in India is a (2017)</p>
<p>(a) Fundamental Right</p>
<p>(b) Natural Right</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Constitutional Right</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Legal Right</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. In the context of India, which one of the following is the correct relationship between Rights and Duties? (2017)</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) Rights are correlative with Duties.</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) Rights are personal and hence independent of society and Duties.</p>
<p>(c) Rights, not Duties, are important for the advancement of the personality of the citizen.</p>
<p>(d) Duties, not Rights, are important for the stability of the State.</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. &ldquo;To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India&rdquo; is a provision made in the (2015)</p>
<p>(a) Preamble of the Constitution</p>
<p>(b) Directive Principles of State Policy</p>
<p>(c) Fundamental Rights</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Fundamental Duties</strong></span></p>
<p><gdiv></gdiv></p>
<p><gdiv></gdiv></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/60-days-refresher-programme/day-1'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on the article <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyan-will-the-scheme-be-of-help/2024107/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan: Will the scheme be of help?&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Financial Express on 15/07/2020. This article deals with the objectives and limitations of the recently launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA).</p>
</div>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 lockdown</strong></a> left million migrant labourers migrating across cities in inhuman and compelling conditions. Faced with lives and livelihood challenges, a large number of them began to leave in groups to their native places, many on foot; it was a human tragedy.</p>
<p>To alleviate their woes a number of relief measures were initiated by the State and Centre Government. A stimulus package to support the economy was announced. There were structural reforms covering agriculture, core sectors and MSME. Introduction of short-term relief measures for migrants, including free foodgrains for three months, employment under MGNREGA, one-time payment under Jan-Dhan and easy loans under Mudra Yojana to migrants at their native places.</p>
<p>In that series, recently a new package of 50,000 crore has been launched under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA)</strong></a>. Nature of work offered under this scheme includes building gram panchayat bhawans, anganwadi centres, national highway works, railway works and water conservation projects.</p>
<p>This will provide immediate relief to families of migrant workers while creating infrastructure in rural areas, and help generate rural demand.</p>
<h3>Benefits of Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will create livelihood opportunities for the returned migrants, and while doing so it is expected to create durable infrastructure in rural areas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For eg. Saturate villages with public infrastructure and create livelihood opportunities viz. Roads, Housing, Anganwadis, Panchayat Bhavans, various livelihood assets and Community Complexes among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The basket of a wide variety of works will ensure that each migrant worker is able to get an opportunity of employment according to his skill, in the coming 125 days.</li>
<li>The Program will also prepare for expansion and development of livelihoods over a longer term.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Multi Ministerial Initiative</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Abhiyaan is a convergent effort between 12 different Ministries/Departments, namely; Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport &amp; Highways, Mines, Drinking Water &amp; Sanitation, Environment, Railways, Petroleum &amp; Natural Gas, New &amp; Renewable Energy, Border Roads, Telecom and Agriculture, to expedite implementation of 25 public infrastructure works and works relating to augmentation of livelihood opportunities.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Implementing Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Ministry of Rural Development</strong> is the nodal Ministry for this campaign and the campaign will be implemented in close coordination with the State Governments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Central Nodal Officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above will be appointed to oversee the effective and timely implementation of various schemes in the identified districts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Coverage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It would cover the ones who returned to 116 districts of six states&mdash;Bihar (32 districts), Uttar Pradesh (31), Madhya Pradesh (24), Rajasthan (22), Odisha (4) and Jharkhand (3). These 116 districts also include 27 aspirational districts as identified by the NITI Aayog..</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Caveats In The Scheme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exclusion of States:</strong> It would be implemented only in 116 districts of six states, it is discriminatory in that states such as Chhattisgarh and West Bengal are outside its ambit.</li>
<li><strong>Inequitable Allocation:</strong> Odisha and Jharkhand with large migrant workers got less allocation in terms of the number of districts.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Universal Coverage:</strong> this scheme will cover only two-thirds of migrant workers who have returned, and one-third fall outside its coverage.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of clarity in work allocation:</strong> Different stakeholders&mdash;ministries/departments, district administrations, banking systems&mdash;will coordinate on things such as timely payments to the workers. To that extent, the scheme will face implementation challenges.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Creating a Single IT platform:</strong> Bringing all the stakeholders on a single IT-based platform, especially when the government is facilitating the role of an aggregator.</li>
<li><strong>Universal Basic Income:</strong> Woes of distressed migrants could have been redressed by giving a <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/universal-basic-income-ubi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>basic income</strong></a>, or as the second-best the government could have made a reasonable amount of money transfer (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-advisory-on-direct-benefit-transfer" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer</strong></a>, or DBT).</li>
<li><strong>Creating a database of migrant workers:</strong> The government should seize this opportunity to build a database of migrant workers that could be used in the future to create a social security system for them.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Long Term Measures</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Creating a unified economy:</strong> Creating a unified economy where free movement of labour and capital should be allowed. States with older populations would require younger labour, which states with younger populations could supply.</li>
<li><strong>Establishing a Migration Commission:</strong> It should be given the mandate to prepare an appropriate social protection and welfare system for migrant workers.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening existing schemes:</strong> Schemes like MGNREGA should be adequately funded to provide employment to migrants for at least the remaining months of this year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The intent behind the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Yojana seems noble and a much needed one. However, the success of the program depends upon whether its benefits reach the migrant laborers in time and is able to revive rural demand as soon as possible.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595072158_image.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1595072158_image.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" 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: #f2f4ff;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In the COVID-19 large numbers of returnee migrant workers continue to face livelihood issues and economic vagaries. Discuss the sufficiency of Central Government initiatives in providing the much needed relief.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nwdrBeiUkYE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/europe-can-be-a-key-ally-for-india/story-6Y3sw21v3ASCXArt5IQXXK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Europe can be a key ally for India&rdquo;</strong></a> published in Hindustan Times on July 14<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyan'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2020</strong> was released by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)</strong></a> and the <strong>Oxford Poverty &amp; Human Development Initiative (OPHI).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The data of the index is based on the <strong>study of poverty trends</strong> in 75 countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>1.3 billion</strong> people are still living in multidimensional poverty. More than <strong>80% are deprived in at least five</strong> of the ten indicators used to measure health, education and living standards in the global MPI.</li>
<li>The <strong>burden of multidimensional poverty disproportionately falls on children</strong> - half of multidimensionally poor people are children under age 18.</li>
<li><strong>65 out of 75 countries </strong>studied significantly<strong> reduced their multidimensional poverty levels between 2000 and 2019.</strong></li>
<li>About <strong>84.3% of multidimensionally poor</strong> people live in<strong> Sub-Saharan Africa </strong>and<strong> South Asia.</strong></li>
<li><strong>67% of multidimensionally poor</strong> people are in <strong>middle-income countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-lifted-271-million-people-out-of-poverty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lifted as many as 270 million people</strong></a> out of multidimensional poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Neighbourhood Scenario:</strong> In <strong>China,</strong> 70 million people left multidimensional poverty between 2010 and 2014, while in <strong>Bangladesh,</strong> the numbers declined by 19 million between 2014 and 2019.</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Covid-19: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> is having a profound impact on the development landscape.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The study finds that on average, <strong>poverty levels</strong> will be set back <strong>3 to 10 years </strong>due to <strong>Covid-19.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Development Goals:</strong> The index emphasises on measuring and monitoring progress under the goals to reach <strong>&lsquo;zero poverty by 2030-Goal 1 of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SDGs&rsquo;</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Multidimensional Poverty Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Multidimensional Poverty Index was launched by the <strong>UNDP</strong> and the <strong>OPHI</strong> in<strong> 2010.</strong></li>
<li>MPI is based on the idea that<strong> poverty is not unidimensional</strong> (not just depends on income and one individual may lack several basic needs like<strong> education, health</strong> etc.), rather it is <strong>multidimensional.</strong></li>
<li>The index shows the<strong> proportion of poor people</strong> and the <strong>average number of deprivations</strong> each poor person experiences at the same time.</li>
<li>MPI uses three dimensions and ten indicators which are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Education:</strong> Years of schooling and child enrollment (1/6 weightage each, total 2/6);</li>
<li><strong>Health:</strong> Child mortality and nutrition (1/6 weightage each, total 2/6);</li>
<li><strong>Standard of living:</strong> Electricity, flooring, drinking water, sanitation, cooking fuel and assets (1/18 weightage each, total 2/6)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A person is <strong>multidimensionally poor</strong> if she/he is deprived in one third or more (means 33% or more)<strong> of the weighted indicators</strong> (out of the ten indicators). Those who are deprived in one half or more of the weighted indicators are considered living in <strong>extreme multidimensional poverty.</strong></li>
<li>MPI is significant as it recognizes poverty from different dimensions compared to the conventional methodology that measures poverty only from the income or monetary terms.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The index with its information on both the <strong>level and composition of poverty</strong> &ndash; provides the data needed to pinpoint where and how poverty manifests itself. Therefore, it will incite action in <strong>solidarity with the poor,</strong> so that nations like India can <strong>&lsquo;build better&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Reflecting <strong>progress before the coronavirus pandemic,</strong> it suggests that the progress is at risk and stake-holders need to<strong> look beyond income</strong> to tackle poverty in all its forms. Hence, there is a need to take action to redress the rise of under-nutrition and children leaving school.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-lifted-270-million-people-out-of-poverty-in-2005-15-finds-study/story-1Ck6ZTy92wBHJx6QF4GbJP.html#:~:text=India%20lifted%20as%20many%20as,report%20released%20on%20Thursday%20reveals." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
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