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India-UAE Meet on Investments

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

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Tele-Law

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

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

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

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Hurricane Eta

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

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Enhanced Version of Pinaka Mk-1 Missile

Why in News Recently, an enhanced version of the Pinaka Mark (Mk)-1 missile was successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range in...

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Future Pandemics and Reduction Measures

Why in News Recently, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem (IPBES) has released a report which warns about...

05 Nov 2020 News Analysis
New Commission for Air Quality Management

This article is based on “More than commission to check air pollution” which was published in The Economic Times on 03/11/2020. It...

04 Nov 2020 News Editorials
Extension of Food Fortification Scheme

Why in News In order to fight chronic anaemia and undernutrition, the government is making plans to distribute fortified rice through the Integrated...

04 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Centre’s Stand on Central Vista Redevelopment Project

Why in News The Central Government has recently tried to justify its decision to construct a new Parliament building under the proposed 'Central...

04 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Evaluation of National Monsoon Mission

Why in News Recently, the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has evaluated the economic benefits of the National Monsoon Mission...

04 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Cold Wave

Why in News As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there are cold wave conditions over Delhi. Key Points Cold Wave: A rapid fall in...

04 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Gulf Cooperation Council and India

Why in News Recently, India had a virtual meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a leading regional organisation comprising almost all...

04 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Security in Gig Economy

This article is based on “A secure future for platform workers” which was published in The Hindu on 02/11/2020. It talks about the need...

03 Nov 2020 News Editorials
UPI Transactions

Why in News According to the data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the total number of transactions conducted on the...

03 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Mission Sagar - II

Why in news As part of ‘Mission Sagar-II’, the Government of India is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome...

03 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Ganga Utsav 2020

Why in News Recently, the Ganga Utsav 2020 has begun which celebrates the glory of the National river Ganga. Ganga was declared as the National...

03 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Initiatives for Good and Vigilant Governance

Why in News Recently, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has come up with new initiatives for good and vigilant...

03 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme

Why in News The Union Government has extended the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by one month till 30th November, 2020, or till such...

03 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Growth in Manufacturing: PMI and NIBRI

Why in News As per the IHS Markit India Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), India's manufacturing output showed the strongest growth in 13 years...

03 Nov 2020 News Analysis
Natural Gas Marketing Reforms

This article is based on “How India is unbottling the ‘gas economy’” which was published in The Hindu Businessline on...

02 Nov 2020 News Editorials

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			'title' => 'India-UAE Meet on Investments',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the eighth meeting of the <strong>India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments</strong> has been virtually hosted by India in the wake of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604573841_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604573841_image4.png" width="431" height="256" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Joint Task Force was created in 2012</strong> as a crucial forum for further <strong>deepening the economic ties</strong> between the UAE and India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mechanism has assumed greater importance as the two countries signed the <strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership</strong> (CSP) <strong>Agreement</strong> in<strong> January 2017</strong> and the Joint Task Force is an integral component of it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The focus areas underlined in the CSP were economy with emphasis on a <strong>two-way flow of investments, counter-terror cooperation and defence ties</strong>.</li>
<li>India has signed<strong> CSPs with the UK, Indonesia, Vietnam and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At the meeting, both sides reviewed the existing<strong> UAE Plus</strong> and the <strong>Fast Track Mechanism created in 2018</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>UAE Plus</strong> is a special and dedicated desk constituted under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invest-india-business-immunity-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Invest India</strong></a> with Arabic speaking officials to help facilitate investments.</li>
<li>The <strong>Fast Track Mechanism </strong>aims to<strong> resolve any challenges experienced by UAE investors </strong>in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scope of Improvement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Explore ways to <strong>facilitate investments</strong> in key Indian and UAE sectors with potential for economic growth, and to maintain their dialogue and further build on the considerable achievements of the Joint Task Force.</li>
<li><strong>Encourage investment and cooperation</strong> in areas of mutual interest with the purpose to stimulate economic activities in the post-Covid-19 times.</li>
<li><strong>Address specific barriers</strong> to trade, like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-dumping-duty-on-steel-imports#:~:text=Dumping%20impacts%20the%20price%20of,and%20its%20trade%20distortive%20effect." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>anti-dumping duties</strong></a>, tariffs and regulatory restrictions between the two countries with an aim to further <strong>strengthen the trade and economic ties and to coordinate efforts and promote mutual cooperation</strong>.</li>
<li>Continue the work between respective<strong> civil aviation authorities to ensure speedy normalisation of air transport</strong> operations for their mutual benefit.</li>
<li><strong>Development and operation of UAE-based funds</strong> to invest in India, in the light of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-norms-for-fpi#:~:text=FPIs%20shall%20be%20permitted%20for,and%20invest%20in%20Indian%20markets." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Portfolio Investor Regulations 2019</strong></a> by the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Securities and Exchange Board of India</strong></a> (SEBI).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India agreed to look into these issues with the objective of facilitating further direct investments of UAE-based funds and seeking mutually beneficial solutions in that regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focus on opportunities for cooperation and potential investments in key sectors</strong> in India including the <strong>healthcare and pharmaceutical </strong>industry, <strong>mobility and logistics, food and agriculture, energy and utilities</strong> and others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-UAE Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on age-old cultural, religious and economic ties between the two nations.</li>
<li>The relationship <strong>flourished after</strong> the accession of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in <strong>1966</strong> and subsequently with the <strong>creation of the UAE Federation in 1971</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Political Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>August 2019,</strong> UAE <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uae-awards-highest-civilian-honour-to-the-prime-minister" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded ZAYED Medal</a></strong>, their highest civilian award, <strong>to the Prime Minister of India</strong> for consolidating the long-standing friendship and joint strategic cooperation between the two nations.</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to the UAE in <strong>August 2015</strong> marked the beginning of a new and <strong>comprehensive and strategic partnership</strong>.</li>
<li>The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited India in <strong>February 2016</strong> and had <strong>wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Commercial Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India-UAE trade was around <strong>USD 59 billion making UAE, India&rsquo;s third-largest trading partner</strong> for the year <strong>2019-20</strong> after China and the USA.</li>
<li>The <strong>UAE is the second-largest export destination of India</strong> with an amount of over <strong>USD 29 billion for the year 2019-20</strong>.</li>
<li>For the<strong> UAE, India is the second-largest trading partner</strong> for the year <strong>2019</strong> with an amount of around <strong>USD 41.43 billion</strong> for non-oil trade.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Major Exports:</strong> Food items, Machinery, Gems and Jewellery, Textiles, Engineering and Machinery Products, Chemicals, etc.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Major Import:</strong> Crude Oil, Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Precious Metals, Minerals, Chemicals, Wood and Wood Products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two nations <strong>share historical ties and have maintained regular cultural exchanges</strong> both at official and popular levels.</li>
<li>They signed a <strong>Cultural Agreement in 1975</strong> and the embassies continue to organise various cultural activities on their own as well as by collaborating with other cultural organisations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Community:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UAE is<strong> home to the Indian expatriate community of more than 2.6 million,</strong> the largest expatriate community in the UAE, which has played a <strong>major role in the economic development</strong> of the UAE.</li>
<li>Recently, India has asked the members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gulf-cooperation-council-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which also includes UAE</strong></a>, to facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work with the relaxing of Covid-19-related restrictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Recent Developmental Events in the UAE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In March 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-opening-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>46<sup>th</sup> session of the Council of Foreign Ministers</strong></a> of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)</strong></a>, was held in Abu Dhabi where India was invited as a guest of honour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UAE</strong> hosted the event and had <strong>strongly defended the decision to invite India</strong> despite Pakistan&rsquo;s strong objection and threat to boycott the event.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>February 2020,</strong> the UAE issued an operating licence for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arab-world-s-first-nuclear-power-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arab world's first nuclear power plant</strong></a>, paving the way for it to start production in 2020.</li>
<li><strong>UAE Mars Mission:</strong> In July 2020, the UAE launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars probe named Amal (Hope)</strong></a> from Japan, marking the <strong>Arab world&rsquo;s first interplanetary mission.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>September 2020,</strong> the UAE signed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-uae-and-bahrain-abraham-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Abraham Accord</strong></a> with Israel and Bahrain, which is the <strong>first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669792" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Tele-Law',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Tele-Law</strong> touched a new milestone on october 30<sup>th</sup> 2020 by providing legal advice to 4 million beneficiaries through <strong>Common Service Centres.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Common Services Centre (CSC)</strong> programme is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Electronics &amp; IT (MeitY),</strong> that serves as the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a <strong>digitally and financially inclusive society.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> Tele-Law programme was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Law and Justice</strong> in collaboration with the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> launched in 2017 to address cases at pre&ndash;litigation stage.</li>
<li><strong>Connect Lawyers to Litigants:</strong> It is a service that uses video conferencing facilities and telephone services to connect <strong>lawyers to litigants</strong> who need legal advice. This service aims to reach out to the needy especially the marginalized and disadvantaged.</li>
<li><strong>Common Service Centres:</strong> Under this programme, smart technology of video conferencing, telephone/instant calling facilities available at the vast network of <strong>Common Service Centres</strong> at the Panchayat level are used to connect the indigent, down-trodden, vulnerable, unreached groups and communities with the Panel Lawyers for seeking timely and valuable legal advice.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> Tele Law service enables anyone to seek legal advice without wasting precious time and money. The service is free for those who are eligible for free legal Aid as mentioned under <strong>Section 12 of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.</strong> For all others a nominal fee is charged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a recent report titled <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quality-of-free-legal-aid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Quality of Legal Representation: An Empirical Analysis of Free Legal Aid Services in India&rsquo;</strong></a>, the majority of the people who are entitled to the free legal aid system see the service as an option only when they cannot afford a private lawyer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supports SDGs:</strong> It can be noted that this initiative is in line with <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal-16</strong></a>, which seeks to<strong> "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels".</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1987, the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act was enacted to give free and competent legal services to the poor and paved the way for the constitution of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-legal-services-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Legal Service Authority (NALSA)</strong></a> and other legal service institutions at the State, district and taluka level.</li>
<li>Free legal services under LSA Act are available to a person belonging to Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste, woman, child, victim of human trafficking, differently abled person, industrial workman, and person in custody in a protective home and the poor.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Constitutional Provision</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 39A of the Constitution of India</strong> provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.</li>
<li><strong>Articles 14 and 22(1)</strong> also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669756" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tele-law'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award-2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Dr. Susanta Kar of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI)</strong></a>, Lucknow has been chosen for this year's <strong>Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award by the Society of Biological Chemists (India).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Society Of Biological Chemists (India) was founded in 1930, with its HeadQuarters at <strong>Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.</strong></li>
<li><strong>CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI),</strong> is a premier drug research institute of India with its HeadQuarters at<strong> Lucknow.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The award has been given to recognize the significant contributions towards defining the survival tactics of<em><strong> Leishmania donovani.</strong></em></li>
<li><em><strong>Leishmania Donovani</strong></em> is a protozoan parasite that infects macrophages and is a causative agent of <em><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kala-azar-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>visceral leishmaniasis (Kala Azar)</strong></a></em>, a lethal infectious disease affecting millions worldwide.</li>
<li><strong>DR. Susanta Kar&rsquo;s research group</strong> studied the interaction of<em><strong> Leishmania</strong></em> with <strong>immune cells</strong> like<strong> macrophages, dendritic cells</strong> and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> T cells</strong></a> and the impact of these interactions on immune response/infection progression.</li>
<li>The award is conferred every <strong>two years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Recipients</strong> of the award should be <strong>below 50 years of age.</strong> The Award is given for <strong>Biological Chemistry and Allied sciences,</strong> preferably related to parasitic infections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Leishmaniasis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>neglected tropical disease</strong> affecting almost 100 countries including India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is caused by a<strong> parasite called Leishmania,</strong> which is transmitted through the bite of <strong>sand flies.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>three types of leishmaniasis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease.</li>
<li><strong>Cutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin sores and is the most common form.</li>
<li><strong>Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin and mucosal lesions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which is commonly known as <strong>Kala-azar</strong> in India, is fatal in over 95% of the cases, if left untreated.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1670109" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prof-a-n-bhaduri-memorial-lecture-award-2020'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Hurricane Eta',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Recently, Hurricane Eta</strong> has hit northeastern <strong>Nicaragua</strong> with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flash flooding occurring over <strong>portions of Central America.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> It is categorised as a <strong>Category 4 hurricane.</strong> A Category 4 storm has wind speeds between <strong>130-156 mph</strong> and can uproot trees and bring down power lines.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 based on wind speed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hurricanes that reach category three or higher are classified as major hurricanes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> Tropical cyclones or hurricanes use warm, moist air as fuel, and therefore form over warm Equatorial water.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low-Pressure Creation:</strong> When the warm, moist air rises upward from the surface of the ocean, it creates an area of low air pressure below.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When this happens, the air from the surrounding areas rushes to fill this place, eventually rising when it becomes warm and moist too.</li>
<li>An <strong>eye forms</strong> in the centre. It is the calmest part of the cyclone. Before the wind reaches the centre it gets warmed up and rises upwards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the warm air rises and cools off, the moisture forms clouds. This system of clouds and winds continues to grow and spin.</li>
<li>This disturbance is fuelled by the ocean&rsquo;s heat and the water that evaporates from its surface.</li>
<li>Such storm systems rotate faster and faster. Storms that form towards the north of the equator <strong>rotate counterclockwise, w</strong>hile those that form to the<strong> south spin clockwise</strong> because of the rotation of the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" width="550" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/hurricane-eta-slams-into-nicaragua-grinds-inland-6936772/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-eta'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Enhanced Version of Pinaka Mk-1 Missile',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an enhanced version of the Pinaka Mark (Mk)-1 missile was<strong> successfully flight-tested</strong> from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604564260_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604564260_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The enhanced version of the Pinaka Mk-1 system was taken up to achieve longer-range performance compared to the earlier design with lesser length.</li>
<li><strong>Development:</strong> The design and development has been <strong>carried out by Pune-based <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)</a> laboratories -</strong> Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Enhanced Pinaka Mk-1 will eventually<strong> replace the Pinaka Mk-1 missiles,</strong> which are currently used by regiments of the Indian Army along India&rsquo;s frontiers with China and Pakistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While the <strong>Mark-1</strong> has a range of<strong> 38 km,</strong> the <strong>enhanced version</strong> of Mark-1 has <strong>a range of 45 km</strong> and some key additional features.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The latest test is in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nag-missile-anti-tank-guided-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>continuation of a number of missile trials conducted by the DRDO in the last two months.</strong> </a></li>
<li>The test comes <strong>months after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced</strong> that its acquisition wing signed contracts with three Indian private companies for supply of six regiments of Pinaka Rocket System, to be deployed along borders with Pakistan and China. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The MoD had said that the <strong>induction would be completed by 2024.</strong> These six Pinaka Regiments would comprise 114 Launchers with Automated Gun Aiming and Positioning System (AGAPS), 45 command posts and 330 vehicles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pinaka Missile</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development:</strong> The development of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket systems was <strong>started by the DRDO in the late 1980s,</strong> as an <strong>alternative to the Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher systems of Russian make</strong> called the &lsquo;Grad&rsquo;, which are still used by some regiments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After successful tests of Pinaka Mark-1 in the late 1990, it was <strong>first used successfully</strong> in the battlefield during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kargil-vijay-diwas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>1999 Kargil War.</strong> </a>Subsequently, multiple regiments of the system came up over the 2000s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Pinaka, a <strong>multi-barrel rocket-launcher (MBRL) system</strong> named after Shiva&rsquo;s bow, can fire a salvo of 12 rockets over a period of 44 seconds.</li>
<li>One battery of Pinaka system <strong>consists of six launch vehicles,</strong> accompanied by loader systems, radar and links with network-based systems and a command post. One battery <strong>can neutralise an area of 1 km by 1 km.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As a key tactic of long-range artillery battle, the launchers have to &lsquo;shoot and scoot&rsquo; to ensure they themselves do not become the targets, especially being detectable due to its back blast.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multiple Variants:</strong> DRDO has also developed and successfully tested the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pinaka-missile-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mk-II</strong></a> <strong>and guided variants of the Pinaka,</strong> which has a range of around 60 km, while the Guided Pinaka system has a range of 75 km and has integrated navigation, control and guidance system to improve the end accuracy and enhance the range. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The navigation system of Guided Pinaka missile is also <strong>aided by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1670104" 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/enhanced-version-of-pinaka-mk-1-missile'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Future Pandemics and Reduction Measures',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem</strong> (IPBES) has released a <strong>report which warns about future <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemics</a></strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">,</a> their more frequent emergence, a faster pace of spread and more damage to the world killing more people than <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, unless significant measures are taken.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body, <strong>established by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a></strong> (UN) in 2012.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>aims to strengthen the science-policy interface</strong> for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pandemics of the Century:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604563595_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604563595_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Covid-19 is at least the sixth pandemic to have taken place in the last century since the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/spanish-flu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spanish Influenza</a> Pandemic of 1918.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In March 2020, 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) declared Covid-19 a pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Three</strong> of the pandemics were caused<strong> by influenza viruses,</strong> one by <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Immunodeficiency Virus</strong></a> (HIV) followed by<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome</strong> </a>(SARS) and now Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Almost all the pandemics so far, have been<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> zoonoses</strong></a> (diseases caused by germs that spread between animals and people).</li>
<li>More than 70% of emerging diseases, such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-global-health-emergency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ebola</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti#:~:text=Zika%20virus%20is%20a%20mosquito,%2C%20Asia%2C%20and%20the%20Pacific." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nipah-outbreak-in-kerala" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nipah</strong></a>, are <strong>caused by microbes found in animals</strong> which <strong>spread due to contact</strong> among wildlife, livestock and people.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The estimated value of the legal international wildlife trade in 2019 was about USD 107 billion, a 500% increase since 2005 and a 2000% increase since the 1980s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid-19&rsquo;s origins also lie in microbes carried by animals</strong> but its <strong>emergence has been entirely driven by human activities</strong> like all pandemics.</li>
<li>About 30% of emerging infectious diseases are attributed to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/land-use-changes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>land-use change</strong></a>, <strong>agricultural expansion </strong>and <strong>urbanisation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Future Possibilities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, there are over <strong>1.7 million &lsquo;undiscovered&rsquo; viruses</strong> that exist in mammals and birds, out of which <strong>up to 827,000 could have the ability to infect humans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reduction Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pandemic risk can be lowered by<strong> reducing the human activities that drive the loss of biodiversity,</strong> by greater <strong>conservation of protected areas</strong> and through measures that <strong>reduce unsustainable exploitation</strong> of high biodiversity regions.</li>
<li>These measures will help in <strong>reducing the contact between wildlife-livestock and humans,</strong> thereby <strong>helping prevent the spread</strong> of new diseases.</li>
<li>Policy options like launching a<strong> high-level intergovernmental council on pandemic prevention,</strong> countries setting<strong> mutually-agreed goals or targets</strong> regarding the environment, animals and people, and <strong>reducing zoonotic disease risk in the international wildlife trade</strong> by forming intergovernmental &lsquo;health and trade&rsquo; partnerships will also reduce the risks substantially.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pandemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the WHO, a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Epidemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An epidemic is a large outbreak, one that spreads among a population or region. It is less severe than pandemic due to a limited area of spread.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/likelihood-of-future-pandemics-their-damage-potential-ipbes-6945649/" 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/future-pandemics-and-reduction-measures'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'New Commission for Air Quality Management',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/more-than-commission-to-check-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;More than commission to check air pollution&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Economic Times on 03/11/2020. It talks about the significance and issues related to the newly setup Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas.</p>
</div>
<p>Air pollution is a serious problem with environmental, public health and economic dimensions. Northern India gets exposed to hazardous levels of air quality almost every year.</p>
<p>Acknowledging this public health hazard, the centre government has promulgated an ordinance. Through this ordinance, the Centre set up a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/commission-for-air-quality-management-in-the-ncr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas.</strong></a></p>
<p>The commission replaces 22 year old <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/epca-on-early-burning-of-crop-residue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority</strong></a> (EPCA) and envisages to streamline the public participation, the inter-State cooperation, the expert involvement and persistent research and innovation.</p>
<p>CAQM is a <strong>statutory mechanism</strong> to coordinate and oversee diverse efforts to improve air quality in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP, with the underlying remedial approach. The establishment of CAQM has the potential to address the problem of air pollution but an institution by itself is not a solution.</p>
<h3>Significance of the New Commission</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishing a Statutory Body:</strong> So far, the matter was overseen by the Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority that had taken decisions like converting public transport to the CNG mode of fuel and imposing a pollution charge on old polluting vehicles.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the EPCA was criticised for not exercising its statutory powers and for merely functioning as an advisory body to the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>Through this ordinance, a statutory body is being set up to regulate the process by coordinating between the Central Government and the states concerned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consolidated Approach:</strong> The ordinance envisages for consolidated approach towards monitoring, elimination of pollution sources and enforcement.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The commission will have the power to coordinate with relevant state and central governments on the multi-sector plan including industry, power plants, agriculture, transport, residential and construction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participatory Democracy:</strong> The Commission would function under the oversight of the elected representatives with regular reports to the Parliament.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ordinance claims, adding &ldquo;the highest degree of democratic oversight would ensure effective enforcement of the efforts and proposals of the commission&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Removal of Ad-hocism:</strong> As the Commission is to function under the aegis and the overall supervision and guidance of the Central government, the ordinance hopes it would replace multitudes of committees, task forces, commissions and informal groups formed temporarily or otherwise, by various orders of the constitutional courts or the Centre and the States concerned and synergise the efforts of different stake-holders.</li>
<li><strong>Empowered Body:</strong> The new commission will reportedly have more powers &mdash; in its constitution and scope as well in terms of punitive provisions.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ordinance talks of a Rs 1 crore fine or five years&rsquo; imprisonment or both for violators of pollution control norms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Federal Issue:</strong> The ordinance vests the commission with great power and its domain overlaps that of different state bodies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the coordinating body, the commission will be dependent on states for enforcement.</li>
<li>Separately, many areas of the commission&rsquo;s mandate such as ending stubble burning and finding ways to lower carbon emissions from vehicle tailpipes involve economic tradeoffs and fiscal measures.</li>
<li>As the five states are administered by different political parties, politics will have a say in the outcome.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dilution of Judicial Oversight:</strong> The intervention of the Supreme Court in environment protection matters stems from a deep distrust of the Executive. It is due to this Supreme Court established EPCA.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the ordinances dissolve all other committees and authorities that were set up under judicial and administrative orders, there are apprehensions of limiting the role of the judiciary and creating a supra-centralised framework for air-quality management in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-Inclusive:</strong> Air pollution impacts health, restrictions imposed to control air pollution impacts agricultural labourers and dealing with stubble burning requires incentives which is the domain of rural development.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, no farmers&rsquo; body has been allowed to be co-opted as members while representatives of any association or commerce or industry&rsquo; can be co-opted as members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unrealistic Punitive Measures:</strong> By putting an unrealistic limit of Rs 1 crore to the fine payable, irrespective of the damage caused to the environment, the Ordinance is deviation from the polluter pays principle.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>An impediment to improving air quality has been the inability and unwillingness of the authorities, particularly state governments, to address the issues outside of emergency situations or seasonal spikes.</p>
<p>Therefore, while coordination between authorities is, no doubt, a precondition for clearing the air, these have to be founded on policies to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/air-pollution-concerted-efforts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bring a holistic plan</strong></a> and enable behavioural changes for farmers to incentivise them to give up <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stubble-waste-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>stubble burning.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604490758_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604490758_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" 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: #fafcff;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss to what extent the newly established Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas will be successful in combating air pollution in the region.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQmV02jUMpI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/end-of-the-tunnel/article33005879.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;End of the tunnel?: On GST revenues&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on November 03<sup>rd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-commission-for-air-quality-management'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Extension of Food Fortification Scheme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In order to fight chronic <strong>anaemia</strong> and <strong>undernutrition,</strong> the government is making plans to distribute <strong>fortified rice</strong> through the <strong>Integrated Child Development Services</strong> and <strong>Mid Day Meal Schemes</strong> across the country from the year 2021, with special focus on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational districts.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was decided in a review meeting of an<strong> existing pilot scheme</strong> which aims to distribute fortified rice in 15 districts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Existing Scheme:</strong> The centrally-sponsored pilot scheme was approved in February 2019, for a three-year period from 2019-20 onwards. Under it, one district each in 15 predominantly rice-eating States was selected.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was found that, out of 15 states only 5 &mdash; Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh &mdash; have started the distribution of fortified rice in their identified pilot districts.</li>
<li>In other words, the scheme has only been implemented in five districts so far, although more than half the project duration is over.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Renewed Push:</strong> The Food Corporation of India has now been mandated to scale up the annual supply of <strong>Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK)</strong> from the <strong>current 15,000 tonnes to at least 1.3 lakh tonnes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To cover PDS, anganwadis and mid-day meals in the 112 aspirational districts, annual supply capacity would need to be increased to about 1.3 lakh tonnes.</li>
<li>Further, existing rice mills will be equipped with Blending Machines for mixing FRK with normal rice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/milk-fortification-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Milk Fortification Project</strong> </a>was launched by the <strong>National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in collaboration with the World Bank and Tata Trusts,</strong> as a pilot project in 2017. It is intended to address vitamin deficiency in consumers.</li>
<li>Recently, the month of September was observed as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-maah" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Poshan Maah i.e. Nutrition month.</strong> </a>It includes a month-long activities focussed on antenatal care, optimal breastfeeding, anaemia, growth monitoring, girls education, diet, right age of marriage, hygiene and sanitation and eating healthy (food fortification).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fortified Rice Kernels</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fortifying rice involves grinding broken rice into powder, mixing it with nutrients, and then shaping it into rice-like kernels using an extrusion process.</li>
<li>These fortified kernels are then mixed with normal rice in a ratio ranging from 1:50 to 1:200.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched on 2<sup>nd</sup> October, 1975, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/meal-scheme-hit-due-to-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme</strong></a> offers a package of six services (Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school non-formal education, Nutrition &amp; health education, Immunization, Health check-up and Referral services) to children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Mid-day Meal Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in 1995 as a centrally sponsored scheme.</li>
<li>It provides that every child within the age group of six to fourteen years studying in classes I to VIII who enrols and attends the school shall be provided with a hot cooked meal, free of charge every day except on school holidays.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/midday-meal-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mid Day Meal Scheme</strong></a> comes under the HRD Ministry&rsquo;s Department of School Education and Literacy.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Aspirational Districts</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The programme was launched in January 2018 with the aim of expeditiously improving the socio-economic status of 117 districts through cooperative and competitive federalism.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational Districts programme</strong></a> aims to rapidly transform districts that have been showing relatively less progress in key social areas, and have emerged as pockets of under-development, thereby posing a challenge to balanced regional development.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Food Fortification</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=46af3b128c215065822d363716461e3bda556ba2-1603783779-0-AQqcs23ihmqDWEzYzOTw2ZLATgIFQrHLyN5UDI9GBGfKb9Nw6xIYXLD0XnsFATPLOkfD2ZIVKdPR85H55F206a0f9GZts0saMxAhtaEPfgrhVvdmt1OJXAitkoMUI1kseMQy2zf139HzrBNbjXjnkjBU32U9ZV4g6ZcJqRi9mMAB561nxsXTYQ0xvOeMKpygwOvzDwD6cY1egBaUEjw3iJqc0WkEBOK4028DSYOwSuMjadzLHFPyVwpmZfyb84dZ_dr_kapwYLQirV2MCCF_91vIO2eij1RpbJ84rCBMDccLERI_E41MmQ2Hyi8VIBPaivX75tTOX_KkU7jr1AiSBqM7_RWVPUCfXAZ1yOgXbbm9CrULYC20iLnBLuT4Svbjp8gM0xv_EFdmeQkDb7czMzhwQ1HyOsQDEG8WcmiBLdGEAdOptYKzCFHncq_6M6AK4kfz2ej8Z0A-FaqgYwTTguS-w7zQBxsYYuEqzXHLCZvQyaPk0J0L7oTP3t_7TlORsOWGsOmAKQ_ElyvspVavQfhx4e2CZca_3TK39T_rJuhMzKO4vZLIXkgIapT95fY5bq6P-bXz035wlU6WxMOy9lwYci1ShV8wMuy4ZWv5gJ6M8N_FYuwbkYHRpSRvLq1CWWQtrwb6ov9nCCg8AQrexBc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a>, food fortification is defined as the practice of deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients so as to improve the nutritional quality of the food supply and to provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health.</li>
<li><strong>Types:</strong> Food fortification can be done for foods widely consumed by the general population (mass fortification), to fortify foods designed for specific population subgroups, such as complementary foods for young children or rations for displaced populations (targeted fortification) and/or to allow food manufacturers to voluntarily fortify foods available in the marketplace (market-driven fortification).</li>
<li><strong>Procedure:</strong> The extent to which a national or regional food supply is fortified varies considerably. The concentration of just one micronutrient might be increased in a single foodstuff (e.g. the iodization of salt), or, at the other end of the scale, there might be a whole range of food&ndash;micronutrient combinations.</li>
<li>In October 2016,<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Food Safety and Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI)</strong></a> operationalized the <strong>Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016</strong> for fortifying staples namely Wheat Flour and Rice (with Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid), Milk and Edible Oil (with Vitamins A and D) and Double Fortified Salt (with Iodine and Iron) to reduce the high burden of micronutrient malnutrition in India.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s<strong> National Nutritional strategy, 2017,</strong> had listed food fortification as one of the interventions to address anaemia, vitamin A and iodine deficiencies apart from supplementation and dietary diversification.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-to-extend-fortified-rice-scheme-to-112-districts/article33016045.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/extension-of-food-fortification-scheme'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Centre’s Stand on Central Vista Redevelopment Project',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Central Government</strong> has recently tried to<strong> justify</strong> its decision to<strong> construct a new Parliament building</strong> under the proposed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-vista-redevelopment-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'Central Vista Redevelopment' project</strong></a>, in the Supreme Court (SC).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>One of the issues</strong> raised by the petitioners was <strong>if it&rsquo;s possible to refurbish and use the existing Parliament building.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Vista Redevelopment Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs proposed the Central Vista redevelopment project in 2019.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The project envisages:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constructing a triangular Parliament building next to the existing one.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Constructing Common Central Secretariat.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Revamping of the 3-km-long Rajpath &mdash; from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>North and South Block to be repurposed as museums.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Currently, the Central Vista </strong>of New Delhi <strong>houses Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, North and South Block, India Gate, National Archives </strong>among others.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Centre&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Underlining the cost and infrastructure advantages of the proposed project, the Centre told the SC that<strong> the question whether or not to have a new Parliament building is a policy decision which the government is entitled to take.</strong></li>
<li>The government had taken an important policy decision to construct a Parliament complex and central secretariat as the <strong>existing one is under tremendous stress.</strong> Further, the project cannot come up at Noida or elsewhere, but on Central Vista.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments Put Forward by the Government:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Pre Independence building:</strong> The <strong>current one was built in 1927</strong> to house the legislative council and was not intended to house a bicameral legislature that the country has today.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Space:</strong> The current building will be under more stress when the <strong>number of seats to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are raised.</strong> Both Houses are already packed and members have to sit on plastic chairs when joint sessions are held, diminishing the dignity of the House.</li>
<li><strong>Safety Concerns:</strong> The existing building does not conform to <strong>fire safety norms. Water and sewer lines are also haphazard</strong> and this is damaging its heritage nature. Security concerns in the wake of the<strong> 2001 Parliament attack shows its vulnerable nature.</strong> It is also <strong>not quake-proof.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cost Advantage:</strong> Many central ministries <strong>are housed in different buildings</strong> with the result that the government ends up paying rent for many of them. The new building, a new central secretariat will help avoid this.</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Benefits:</strong> The fact that people and officials have to run around the city to go to different ministries also<strong> increases traffic and pollution.</strong> The project <strong>also proposes interlinking of metro stations</strong> which will minimise use of vehicles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Opposition, environmentalists, architects and citizens have raised many concerns even before the pandemic brought in extra issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They have <strong>questioned the lack of studies</strong> to ascertain the need for the project and its impact on the environment, traffic and pollution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Several key approvals for the proposed Parliament building have been pushed during the lockdown. This led to allegations of a <strong>lack of transparency.</strong></li>
<li>They argue that in the <strong>situation created by the pandemic, the project must be deferred as the country can&rsquo;t afford it at this time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/central-vista-parliament-house-6931227/" 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/centre-s-stand-on-central-vista-redevelopment-project'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Evaluation of National Monsoon Mission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Council of Applied Economic Research</strong> (NCAER) has <strong>evaluated the economic benefits</strong> of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Monsoon Mission</strong> </a>(NMM).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in <strong>1956,</strong> NCAER is India&rsquo;s <strong>oldest and largest independent, non-profit, economic policy research institute,</strong> based in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study spanned<strong> across 173 rain-fed districts </strong>in <strong>16 states</strong> which appropriately represented agro-climatic zones, rain-fed areas, coverage of major crops, and incidence of extreme weather events in the country. It was conducted on behalf of the<strong> Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> (MoES).</li>
<li>The study refers to <strong>economic benefits as direct monetary gains to crop farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen</strong> in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s investment of nearly <strong>Rs. 1,000 crore</strong> in the NMM and <strong>High-Performance Computing</strong> (HPC)<strong> facilities</strong> would provide benefits worth Rs. 50,000 crore to nearly 1.07 crore <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9#:~:text=Poverty%20Estimation%20in%20India&amp;text=A%20poor%20household%20is%20defined,below%20a%20specific%20poverty%20line.&amp;text=As%20per%20the%20Rangarajan%20committee,972%20in%20rural%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Below Poverty Line</strong> </a>(BPL) agricultural households and 53 lakh BPL fisherfolk households in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> total annual economic benefits</strong> to agricultural households, farmers and livestock owners taken together, has been calculated at<strong> Rs. 13,331 crore</strong> and the<strong> incremental benefits over the next five years</strong> are estimated to be about<strong> Rs. 48,056 crore.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The benefits are from accurate weather forecasting by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-warming-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India Meteorological Department</strong> </a>(IMD) and other agencies working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Agro-meteorological services</strong> for farmers is one of the most prominent weather services of IMD.</li>
<li>Every day Ocean <strong>State Forecast</strong> (OSF) and <strong>warnings</strong> to fishermen going out to the sea by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-national-centre-for-ocean-information-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services</strong> </a>(INCOIS) helped in<strong> elimination of less or not so productive trips</strong> to the ocean.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-s-assistance-in-fishing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories</strong> </a>resulted in successful trips generating additional catches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Analysis of the Benefits:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Based on weather advisories, <strong>98% farmers made modifications</strong> such as changing variety/breed of the crop, arranging storage of harvest, early/delayed harvesting, changed crop, early/delayed sowing, changed the schedule of ploughing/land preparation, changed pesticide application schedule, changed fertiliser application schedule and changed scheduled irrigation.</li>
<li><strong>94% of farmers</strong> were able to<strong> avoid losses and increase income</strong> because of services provided through NMM.</li>
<li><strong>82% of fishermen</strong> surveyed, reported <strong>using OSF advisories</strong> before they venture into the sea every time.</li>
<li>A total of approximately Rs 1.92 crore additional income was generated from<strong> 1,079 successful fishing expeditions made using PFZ advisories.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Monsoon Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences in 2012.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To improve the forecasting skills by setting up a state-of-the-art dynamic prediction system for monsoon rainfall different time scales.</li>
<li>NMM builds a<strong> working partnership between the academic and research and development</strong> (R&amp;D) <strong>organisations,</strong> both<strong> national and international.</strong></li>
<li>Its <strong>augmentation with the HPC facilities</strong> has helped the country in achieving a paradigm shift in weather and climate modelling for operational weather forecasts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/accurate-forecast-helps-farmers-fishermen-save-crores-survey-6932971/" 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/evaluation-of-national-monsoon-mission'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Cold Wave',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>As per the <strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD),</strong> there are<strong> cold wave conditions</strong> over <strong>Delhi.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Cold Wave:</strong> A <strong>rapid fall in temperature within 24 hours</strong> to a level requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities.</li>
<li><strong>Cold Wave Conditions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For the <strong>plains,</strong> a cold wave is declared when the<strong> minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below</strong> and is <strong>4.5 degrees Celsius (C) less than normal for two consecutive days.</strong></li>
<li>For <strong>coastal stations,</strong> the threshold value of minimum temperature of 10 degree Celsius is rarely reached. However, the local people feel <strong>discomfort due to the wind chill factor</strong> which reduces the minimum temperature by a few degrees depending upon the wind speed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>wind chill factor</strong> is a measure of the cooling effect of the wind on the temperature of the air.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Core Cold Wave Zone:</strong> India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-core-cold-wave-zone#:~:text=India%27s%20%27core%20cold%20wave%27%20zone,higher%20minimum%20temperature%20during%20winters.&amp;text=Core%20cold%20wave%27%20zone%20covers,West%20Bengal%2C%20Odisha%20and%20Telangana." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;core cold wave zone&rsquo;</strong></a> covers Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> 2019, Delhi and adjoining areas</strong> in the north had<strong> experienced its coldest winter of the century.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cold Wave Situation in Delhi:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On 3<sup>rd</sup> November 2020, <strong>Delhi</strong> recorded a<strong> minimum temperature of 10 degree Celsius</strong> which was <strong>5 degrees C below normal.</strong></li>
<li><strong>IMD may consider</strong> declaring a cold wave if the<strong> temperature continues to stay the same for another day.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Fall in Minimum Temperature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Absence of cloud cover in the region:</strong> Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back downward, warming the ground.</li>
<li><strong>Snowfall in the upper Himalayas</strong> that has blown <strong>cold winds</strong> towards the region.</li>
<li><strong>Subsidence of cold air over the region:</strong> Subsidence is the <strong>downward movement of cold and dry air closer to the surface.</strong></li>
<li>Prevailing <strong>weak <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Nina</a> conditions</strong> in the Pacific Ocean.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>La Nina is the <strong>abnormal cooler sea surface temperatures</strong> reported along the equatorial Pacific Ocean and it is known to favour cold waves.</li>
<li><strong>During La Nina years,</strong> the <strong>severity of cold conditions becomes intense.</strong> The frequency and area covered under the grip of a cold wave becomes larger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Winters 2020:</strong> November is <strong>expected to be colder than usual</strong> after the <strong>mean minimum temperature in October 2020 was 17.2 degrees Celsius,</strong> the<strong> lowest since 1962,</strong> when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was established in <strong>1875.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>principal agency</strong> responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/mercury-dips-to-10c-imd-may-declare-a-cold-wave/article33016758.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/cold-wave-1'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Gulf Cooperation Council and India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India had a virtual meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a leading regional organisation comprising almost all Arab countries.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Workers Want to Return to Arab Countries:</strong> India has asked the members of the GCC to facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work with the relaxing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20(WHO,31st%20December%2C%202019)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>-related restrictions. This can happen through sustainable<strong> travel bubble arrangements.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>More than eight million Indians</strong> live and work in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-west-asia-crisis-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>West Asia</strong></a>, with a<strong> majority of them within the region covered by the GCC,</strong> which includes<strong> Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia </strong>and<strong> the UAE.</strong></li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;Transport Bubbles&rsquo; </strong>or<strong> &lsquo;Air Travel Arrangements&rsquo; </strong>are<strong> temporary arrangements</strong> between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. They are <strong>reciprocal in nature,</strong> meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation:</strong> Both sides affirmed their commitment to<strong> reform <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-role-in-multilateral-world-order" target="_blank" rel="noopener">multilateral institutions</a></strong> to reflect the realities of the 21<sup>st</sup> century and work together to <strong>address contemporary challenges</strong> such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, sustainable development and terrorism.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>GCC welcomed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India's inclusion in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member</a></strong> from January 2021.</li>
<li><strong>India</strong> assured continuing the <strong>flow of food, medicines and essential items</strong> to the Gulf region. Supply chains from India to the Gulf were not disrupted despite the lockdowns during the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GCC was <strong>established by an agreement</strong> concluded in 1981 among<strong> Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE</strong> in view of their special relations, geographic proximity, similar political systems based on Islamic beliefs, joint destiny and common objectives.</li>
<li>The <strong>structure</strong> of the GCC consists of the Supreme Council (the highest authority), the Ministerial Council and the Secretariat General. The <strong>Secretariat</strong> is located in <strong>Riyadh,</strong> Saudi Arabia.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>political, economic, social, and regional organisation</strong> according to its charter.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604476517_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604476517_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Relations with the GCC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political:</strong> The governments of the GCC members are <strong>India-friendly</strong> and <strong>Indian-friendly.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Prime MInister of India has received the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uae-awards-highest-civilian-honour-to-the-prime-minister#:~:text=guest%20of%20honor.-,Zayed%20Medal,bearing%20the%20name%20%27Zayed%27.&amp;text=UK%27s%20Queen%20Elizabeth%20II." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;Order of Zayed&rsquo;,</strong> </a>the highest civilian order of the UAE and the <strong>&lsquo;King Hamad Order of the Renaissance&rsquo;,</strong> the third-highest civilian order of Bahrain.</li>
<li>In the recent past, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have<strong> not adopted hostile posture</strong> to India&rsquo;s domestic developments such as<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> removing the special status for Jammu &amp; Kashmir under Article 370.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> The GCC states are among<strong> India&rsquo;s key suppliers of energy,</strong> and<strong> annual remittances</strong> from Indians in these countries are worth an estimated USD 4.8 billion.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>United Arab Emirates (UAE)</strong> and<strong> Saudi Arabia</strong> are <strong>India&rsquo;s third and fourth-largest trading partners</strong> respectively and the <strong>total bilateral trade</strong> of the GCC countries with India for the year<strong> 2018-19</strong> stood at USD 121.34 billion.</li>
<li>UAE also features in the <strong>top 10 sources of FDI inflows</strong> into India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both India and the GCC are members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-on-fatf-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF).</strong></a></li>
<li>Apart from the participation of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and others in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/naval-exercise-milan-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India&rsquo;s mega multilateral Milan Exercise</strong></a>, India also has<strong> bilateral exercises</strong> with most of them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India and Oman hold annual bilateral exercises</strong> across all three wings of the armed forces (Army Exercise<strong> &lsquo;Al Najah&rsquo;,</strong> Air Force Exercise <strong>&lsquo;Eastern Bridge&rsquo;,</strong> Naval Exercise <strong>&lsquo;Naseem al Bahr&rsquo;</strong>). Further, Oman has provided the Indian Navy access to the <strong>Port of Duqm SEZ</strong> which is one of Indian Ocean&rsquo;s largest deep-sea ports.</li>
<li>India has a bilateral<strong> naval (In-UAE BILAT)</strong> as well as an<strong> air force exercise (Desert Eagle-II) </strong>with the <strong>UAE.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gulf region has historical, political, economic, strategic and cultural significance for India. <strong>India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA)</strong> can provide a boost to the relations.</li>
<li>Presently, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> GCC region is volatile,</strong> </a>thus, India needs to safeguard its large economic, political and demographic stakes in the region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jaishankar-urges-gulf-nations-to-facilitate-return-of-indians-to-resume-work-6930981/" 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/gulf-cooperation-council-and-india'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Security in Gig Economy',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-secure-future-for-platform-workers/article32998179.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A secure future for platform workers&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 02/11/2020. It talks about the need for social security in platform workers in the Gig Economy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recent <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-the-labour-code-bills" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Code on Social Security Bill, 2020</strong></a>, for the first time in Indian law acknowledges platform workers and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gig-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gig workers</strong></a> as new occupational categories. The bill attempts to define &lsquo;platform work&rsquo; outside of the traditional employment category.</p>
<p>The bill defines Platform work as a work arrangement outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship in which organisations or individuals use an online platform to access other organisations or individuals.</p>
<p>People working on digital platforms like Uber, Ola, Zomato, Swiggy and UrbanClap can be termed as Platforms workers.</p>
<p>The bill aims to bring digital labour platforms within the purview of new or existing employment and labour regulations in India. However, there is a lot to be done in order to ensure all relevant labour benefits for those working in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gig-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;gig economy&rsquo;.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Significance of Gig Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Providing Employment In Urban Areas:</strong> At the moment, the manufacturing sector in India is unable to provide employment opportunities to the youth. There is thus a mismatch between education and jobs skills in the market.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Governments have also been unable to create viable public work schemes in urban areas for those continuously migrating into cities and towns.</li>
<li>Gig Economy, however, has been able to provide employment opportunities in urban areas.</li>
<li>Due to this, the Governments now actively acknowledge that platforms provide work to the growing demographic of youth in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting Social Services:</strong> Central and many state governments have signed MOUs with several gig platforms to augment social services.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, Uber partnered with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></a> to facilitate free healthcare for drivers and delivery partners.</li>
<li>UrbanClap partnered with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skoch-governance-gold-award-for-day-nulm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Urban Livelihoods Mission</strong></a> to generate jobs with minimum assured monthly wages for the urban poor.</li>
<li>In cases of informal jobs where it was difficult to identify workers for whom protection was to be given, platforms became vehicles to serve this purpose.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enabling Jobs For All Scenario:</strong> Gig economy based companies helps to create work, entrepreneurial opportunities and skill development.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the right ecosystem of public policy, platform work, and the government together can suggest an urban &lsquo;Jobs for All&rsquo;, a financialised employment guarantee scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need for Protection of Platform Workers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Benefits But Not Rights:</strong> Platform delivery people can claim benefits, but not labour rights.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Present legal framework does not allow them to go to court to demand better and stable pay, or regulate the algorithms that assign the tasks.</li>
<li>This also means that the government or courts cannot pull up platform companies for their choice of pay, or how long they ask people to work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arbitrary Action:</strong> During the last six months, many platform workers have unionised under the All India Gig Workers Union and have protested for continuous dip in pay.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, Swiggy workers have been essential during the pandemic. Even after that pay of Swiggy workers was reduced from ₹35 to ₹10 per delivery order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Experience:</strong> Many international agencies in the EU are demanding a move towards granting employee status to platform workers, thus guaranteeing minimum wage and welfare benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerability of Debt Trap:</strong> In order to enter the platform economy, workers rely on intensive loan schemes, often facilitated by platform aggregator companies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This results in dependence on platform companies, driven by financial obligations, thus rendering them into the short- to middle-term debt trap.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues in the Security Code</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>No Guarantee of Benefits:</strong> In the Code on Social Security bill , 2020, platform workers are now eligible for benefits like maternity benefits, life and disability cover, old age protection, provident fund, employment injury benefits, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, eligibility does not mean that the benefits are guaranteed.</li>
<li>None of the provisions secure benefits, which means that from time to time, the Central government can formulate welfare schemes that cover these aspects of personal and work security, but they are not guaranteed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Fixed Responsibility:</strong> The Code states the provision of basic welfare measures as a joint responsibility of the Central government, platform aggregators, and workers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, it does not state which stakeholder is responsible for delivering what quantum of welfare.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need For Clarity:</strong> A categorical clarification could ensure that social security measures are provided to workers without compromising the touted qualities of platform work.</li>
<li><strong>Joint Accountability:</strong> There is a need for a socio-legal acknowledgement of the heterogeneity of work in the gig economy, and the ascription of joint accountability to the State and platform companies for the delivery of social services.</li>
<li><strong>Concerted Efforts:</strong> To mitigate operational breakdowns in providing welfare services, a tripartite effort by the State, companies, and workers to identify where workers fall on the spectrum of flexibility and dependence on platform companies is critical.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Platform workers were responsible for delivery of essential services during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> at great personal risk to themselves. This has cemented their role as public infrastructures who also sustain demand-driven aggregators.</p>
<p>However, vulnerability of platform workers that was exposed amidst the pandemic has presented a strong case to attribute a more robust responsibility to platform aggregator companies and the State.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604404616_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604404616_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" 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: #fffff2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Platform work can help establish the Gig economy to provide an urban &lsquo;Jobs for All&rsquo; scenario. Critically analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/silYIa4vBxo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/unasked-questions-in-the-power-sector/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Unasked questions in the power sector&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Economic Times on November 02<sup>nd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/security-in-gig-economy'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'UPI Transactions',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the data released by the <strong>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI),</strong> the total number of transactions conducted on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bhim-2-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharat Interface for Money-Unified Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI)</strong></a>, known more simply as the UPI, crossed the 2 billion transactions count in a month in October 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UPI</strong> is currently the<strong> biggest among the NPCI operated systems </strong>including <strong>National Automated Clearing House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS), Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), RuPay</strong> etc.</li>
<li><strong>Digital transactions</strong> were already on the rise but the <strong>lockdown imposed during the pandemic provided a thrust</strong> and the value of UPI transactions crossed the 200 crore-mark.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> had advised to <strong>resort to digital payment</strong> due to the threat of coronavirus spreading through physical exchange of currency. This resulted in businesses accepting mostly prepaid orders and in turn rise in digital transactions.</li>
<li>Further, after being able to conveniently pay utility bills and even receive cashback at times, people might now be preferring to transact digitally. So, <strong>their habit</strong> may have played an important role in this thrust.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s digital payments industry is<strong> likely to grow</strong> from Rs. 2,153 trillion at 27% Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to Rs. 7,092 trillion by 2025.</li>
<li>The <strong>growth is likely to come on the back</strong> of strong use cases of <strong>merchant payments,</strong> government policies including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-financial-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Dhan Yojana</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">personal data protection bill</a></strong> along with the <strong>growth of MSMEs,</strong> growth of millennials and high <strong>smartphone penetration.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> threat of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybercrime</a></strong> on the global banking and financial services industry has increased amid the coronavirus pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>E.g.</strong> Malicious Software <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/malicious-software-cerberus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cerberus</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Fraudulent claims, chargebacks, fake buyer accounts, promotion/coupon abuse, account takeover, identity theft, card detail theft and triangulation frauds are emerging as challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Payments Corporation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of<strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks&rsquo; Association (IBA)</strong> under the provisions of the <strong>Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>&ldquo;Not for Profit&rdquo;</strong> Company under the provisions of<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-the-companies-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Section 25 of Companies Act 1956</strong></a> <strong>(now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013),</strong> with an intention to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system in India for <strong>physical</strong> as well as <strong>electronic</strong> payment and settlement systems.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Various NPCI Operated Systems</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bharat Interface for Money-Unified Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an initiative to enable fast, secure, reliable cashless payments through the mobile phone. BHIM is based on <strong>Unified Payment Interface (UPI)</strong> to facilitate e-payments directly through banks. It is an<strong> app.</strong></li>
<li><strong>UPI</strong> is an <strong>advanced version of Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) -</strong> round&ndash;the-clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments<strong> faster, easier and smoother.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is a system that <strong>powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application</strong> (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing &amp; merchant payments into one hood.</li>
<li>It also <strong>caters to the &ldquo;Peer to Peer&rdquo; collect request</strong> which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AePS allows people to carry out financial transactions on a Micro-ATM by furnishing just their Aadhaar number and verifying it with the help of their fingerprint/iris scan.</li>
<li>This system adds another layer of security to financial transactions as <strong>bank details would no longer be required</strong> to be furnished while carrying out these transactions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It helps in electronic toll collection at toll plazas using FASTag.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/all-about-the-fastag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FASTag</strong></a> is a device that employs <strong>Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)</strong> technology for making toll payments directly while the vehicle is in motion.</li>
<li>FASTag (RFID Tag) is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables a customer to make the toll payments directly from the account which is linked to FASTag.</li>
<li>RFID tagging is a system that uses<strong> small radio frequency detection devices</strong> for identification and tracking purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Automated Clearing House (NACH):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a service offered by NPCI to banks which aims at facilitating interbank high volume, low value debit/credit transactions, which are repetitive and electronic in nature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Immediate Payment Service (IMPS):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It offers <strong>an instant 24X7 interbank electronic fund transfer service</strong> through mobile phones.</li>
<li>IMPS is an emphatic tool to transfer money instantly within banks across India through mobile, internet and ATM.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bharat Bill Payment System is a tiered structure for operating a unified bill payment system.</li>
<li><strong>NPCI</strong> functions as the authorised <strong>Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU),</strong> which is responsible for setting business standards, rules and procedures for technical and business requirements for all the participants.</li>
<li>Under BBPS, the <strong>Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)</strong> function as entities facilitating collection of repetitive payments for <strong>everyday utility services,</strong> such as, electricity, water, gas, telephone and Direct-to-Home (DTH).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>RuPay:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RuPay is the<strong> first-of-its-kind domestic card payment network of India,</strong> with wide acceptance at ATMs, POS devices and e-commerce websites across India. It is a highly secure network that <strong>protects against anti-phishing.</strong></li>
<li>The name, derived from the words &lsquo;Rupee and &lsquo;Payment&rsquo;, emphasizes that it is India&rsquo;s very own initiative for Card payments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To further penetrate digital transactions, the government's constant push to digitisation through necessary education, digital rewards and incentives along with intelligent innovations in financial transactions focussed on improving customer experience is necessary.</li>
<li>Further, there is a need for the convergence of anti-money laundering, fraud and cybersecurity processes in Financial Institutions (FIs). This includes more information sharing, tightening due diligence requirements and investing in maintaining systems to strengthen their defences.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/upi-transactions-cross-2-billion-month-6915441/" 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/upi-transactions'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Mission Sagar - II',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in news</h3>
<p>As part of &lsquo;Mission Sagar-II&rsquo;, the Government of India is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Towards the same <strong>INS Airavat</strong> is delivering food aid for the people of <strong>Sudan.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mission Sagar-II, follows the first<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-sagar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;Mission Sagar&rsquo;</strong> </a>undertaken in 2020.</li>
<li>As part of Mission Sagar-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to <strong>Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604400241_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604400241_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles</strong> along with <strong>La R&eacute;union</strong> are part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Commission</strong></a>. <strong>India has recently become an observer</strong> to the Commission.</li>
<li>The assistance is in line with India&rsquo;s role as the first responder in the <strong>Indian Ocean region.</strong></li>
<li>The deployment is also in consonance with the Prime Minister's vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)</strong></a></li>
<li>Earlier, India had sent <strong>Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari,</strong> carrying food items and medical assistance teams, to countries in the southern Indian Ocean to deal with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>as part of a<strong> "Mission Sagar"</strong> initiative.</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Significance of the Island Countries:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The strategic importance of these island nations is highlighted by their location along key <strong>Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).</strong></li>
<li>These islands are vital and can facilitate a navy&rsquo;s continuous presence along key international shipping routes, allowing a navy to patrol and secure SLOCs during peace times and an option to interdict and cut off an adversary&rsquo;s communications during times of conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/65th-anniversary-of-bandung-conference-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>65<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> </a>of the landmark <strong>Bandung Conference</strong> emphasized that members of the <strong>Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)</strong> must work to reduce the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable sections of society and promote <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-africa-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South-South cooperation.</strong></a></li>
<li>In the wake of the global pandemic<strong>, the</strong> International Solar Alliance (ISA) responded by setting up ISA CARES <strong>(like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PM-CARES</a> in India),</strong> an initiative dedicated to the deployment of solar energy in the healthcare sector.</li>
<li>With<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> <strong>and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade tensions between China and the United States</a></strong> are threatening supply chains, Japan has mooted the <strong>Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)</strong> as a trilateral approach to trade, with India and Australia as the key-partners.</li>
<li>The Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness for Innovation (CEPI), a global initiative, has named <strong>Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad</strong> as one of the six laboratories for assessing<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> vaccine candidates that are under development</li>
<li>India has contributed 10 million USD to <strong>SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund</strong> and manufactured essential drugs, Covid protection and testing kits, for countries in the SAARC region (<strong>Eg. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-sanjeevani" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Operation Sanjeevani</a></strong> for Maldives).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>SAGAR</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) was launched in 2015. It is India&rsquo;s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).</li>
<li>Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours and assist in building their maritime security capabilities.</li>
<li>Further, India seeks to safeguard its national interests and ensure Indian Ocean region to become inclusive, collaborative and respect international law.</li>
<li>The key relevance of SAGAR emerges when seen in conjunction with India&rsquo;s other policies impacting the maritime domain like <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East Policy</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-09th-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Sagarmala</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Mausam</strong></a>, India as &lsquo;net security provider&rsquo;, focus on<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Blue Economy</strong> </a>etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Other Important Groupings Associated with Indian Ocean Region</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)</strong></a> was established in 1997. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Naval Symposium:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-27th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Indian Ocean Naval Symposium&rsquo; (IONS)</strong></a> is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Commission:</strong> Recently, India has been approved as an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>observer of the Indian Ocean Commission</strong></a>, the inter-governmental organization that coordinates maritime governance in the south-western Indian Ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Asia Africa Growth Corridor:</strong> The idea of <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/07-01-2019#:~:text=The%20AAGC%20will%20bring%20out,people%20in%20Asia%20and%20Africa." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC)</strong> </a>emerged in the joint declaration issued by India and Japan in 2016.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The AAGC is raised on four pillars of Development and Cooperation Projects, Quality Infrastructure and Institutional Connectivity, Enhancing Capacities and Skills and People-to-People partnership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1669599" 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/mission-sagar-ii'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Ganga Utsav 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ganga Utsav 2020</strong> has begun which celebrates the glory of the <strong>National river Ganga.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ganga was declared as the National River of India on <strong>4<sup>th</sup> November 2008.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ganga Utsav:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-clean-ganga#:~:text=National%20River%20Ganga%20Basin%20Authority,'National%20River'%20of%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Mission for Clean Ganga</strong></a> (NMCG) celebrates the festival every year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NMCG is the <strong>implementation wing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Ganga Council</a></strong>, set up in 2016, which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> three-day festival</strong> aims to <strong>promote stakeholder engagement and ensure public participation.</strong></li>
<li>It celebrates mystical and cultural river Ganga through storytelling, folklores, dialogues with eminent personalities, quizzes, displaying traditional art forms, dance and music performance by renowned artists, photo galleries and exhibitions and much more.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Programmes Held During the Festival:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ganga Task Force</strong> (GTF) conducted an <a href="/daily-news-analysis/ganga-vriksharopan-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>afforestation drive</strong></a> with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-the-ncc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cadet Corps</strong></a> (NCC) cadets and educational tour for youth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GTF is a<strong> unit of battalion of ex-servicemen deployed in the services of the Ganga</strong> with the approval of the Ministry of Defence for the period of four years till December 2020.</li>
<li>It was approved by the Cabinet under the <strong>Public Participation component of the Namami Gange Programme</strong> and the <strong>first battalion was raised in March 2016.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mini <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ganga-quest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ganga Quest</a></strong>, designed to make youth and students aware of environmental issues and explain their role in conservation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ganga Quest is <strong>a pan India bilingual quiz</strong> to increase public participation in Namami Gange program and encourage the youth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestion on the innovative ways in which <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Namami Gange</a></strong> can engage in activities throughout the year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> Namami Gange Programme was launched to accomplish the<strong> twin objectives</strong> of <strong>effective abatement of pollution and conservation,</strong> and <strong>rejuvenation</strong> of Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives on River Ganga:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ganga Action Plan:</strong> It was the <strong>first river action plan</strong> which was taken up by the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 1985,</strong> to improve the water quality by the interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> National River Conservation Plan</strong> is an extension to this plan, which aims at<strong> cleaning the Ganga river under Ganga Action Plan phase-2.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National River Ganga Basin Authority:</strong> It was formed by the Government of India in the year <strong>2009</strong> under<strong> Section-3 of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1#:~:text=On%2027%20January%201994%2C%20the,Schedule%201%20of%20the%20notification." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Environment Protection Act 1986.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Clean Ganga Fund: </strong>In<strong> 2014,</strong> it was formed for cleaning up of the Ganga, setting up of waste treatment plants and conservation of biotic diversity of the river.</li>
<li><strong>Bhuvan-Ganga Web App:</strong> It ensures the involvement of the public in the monitoring of pollution entering into the river Ganga.</li>
<li><strong>Ban on Waste Disposal:</strong> In <strong>2017,</strong> the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> (NGT) banned the disposal of any waste in the Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>River Ganga</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> longest river of India</strong> flowing over 2,510 km of mountains, valleys and plains and is<strong> revered by Hindus</strong> as the most sacred river on earth.</li>
<li>It <strong>originates in the snowfields of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/concentration-of-black-carbon-on-gangotri-glacier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gangotri Glacier</a></strong> <strong>in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/re-measuring-mount-everest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Himalayas</a></strong> as the Bhagirathi River and is joined by other rivers such as the Alaknanda, Yamuna, Son, Gumti, Kosi and Ghagra.</li>
<li>The Ganga river <strong>basin is one of the most fertile and densely populated areas</strong> of the world and covers an area of 1,000,000 sq. km.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gangetic-dolphins-found-in-mahananda-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ganges River Dolphin</strong> </a>is an <strong>endangered</strong> animal that specifically habitats this river.</li>
<li>The Ganga widens out into the <strong>Ganges Delta in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sunderbans-damaged-in-cyclone-amphan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sundarbans</a> swamp of Bangladesh,</strong> before it ends its journey by emptying into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604398820_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604398820_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1669540#:~:text=Amidst%20COVID%2019%20precautions%2C%20Ganga,with%20much%20fun%20and%20festivities&amp;text=The%20much%2Dawaited%20Ganga%20Utsav,childhood%20in%20conversation%20with%20Mahiya." 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/ganga-utsav-2020'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Initiatives for Good and Vigilant Governance',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances</strong> (DARPG) has come up with new initiatives for good and vigilant governance on the last day of the <strong>Vigilance Awareness Week 2020.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launches and Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&ldquo;Ideas Box on Good Governance Practices in a Pandemic&rdquo;</strong> has been launched and operationalised both on the DARPG as well as on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Aim-&amp;-mygov-launches-innovate-india-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MyGov platform.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will crowdsource ideas related to good governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Social media tweets on the <strong>&ldquo;Best Practices in <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-governance</a>&rdquo;</strong> have been launched.</li>
<li>Round table discussion on <em><strong>&ldquo;Satark Bharat, Samriddh Bharat&rdquo;</strong> </em>(Vigilant India, Prosperous India) was held.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focused on key<strong> issues of preventive vigilance in the pursuit of <em>&ldquo;Naitik Bharat&rdquo;</em></strong> (Ethical India) which includes ethics training in public services, a social audit of ethical practices, development of measurable metrics for corruption and disproportionately high impact of corruption on governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vigilance Awareness Week:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/central-vigilance-commission-cvc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Vigilance Commission</strong> </a>(CVC) observes the Week every year during the week in which the <strong>birthday of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-unity-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel</a></strong> (31<sup>st</sup> October) falls.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> It <strong>affirms</strong> India&rsquo;s commitment to the promotion of integrity and probity in public life through citizen participation and reiterates Government&rsquo;s resolve to continue the crusade against corruption.</li>
<li><strong>Theme for 2020:</strong> In 2020, it was observed from 27<sup>th</sup> October to 2<sup>nd</sup> November with the theme of <em>&ldquo;Satark Bharat, Samriddh Bharat&rdquo;.</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives to Prevent and Curb Corruption:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rajya-sabha-passes-amendments-to-anti-corruption-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</strong> </a>to make the processes more equitable and reduce opportunities for corruption.</li>
<li>Introduction of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/lokpal-lokayukta-ombudsman-upsc-governance-transparency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lokpal and Lokayuktas.</strong></a></li>
<li>Scaled up disposal of cases by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/14th-anniversary-of-right-to-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Information Commission</strong></a> (CIC) and the DARPG.</li>
<li>Level playing field for employment opportunities to lower-level jobs by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-recruitment-agency-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Recruitment Agency</strong></a> (NRA).</li>
<li>Introduction of<strong> e-governance </strong>and<strong> Direct Benefit Scheme.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Other Related Legislations:<a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Right to Information Act 2005</a></strong>, <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/13-05-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/whistleblowers-protection-act#:~:text=The%20act%20establishes%20a%20mechanism,an%20inquiry%20into%20such%20disclosure." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Whistleblower Protection Act, 2014</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/changes-in-the-prevention-of-money-laundering-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prosecution-under-benami-act-stuck#:~:text=Benami%20Transactions%20(Prohibition)%20Amendment%20Act,or%20paid%20by%20another%20person." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2016</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Vigilance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>independent body</strong> which is <strong>only responsible to the Parliament.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>apex vigilance institution</strong> monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government and advising various authorities in Central Government organisations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was set up by the Government in <strong>February 1964</strong> on the recommendations of the <strong>Committee on Prevention of Corruption,</strong> headed by <strong>K Santhanam.</strong></li>
<li>The Parliament enacted the <strong>Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003</strong> conferring <strong>statutory status</strong> on the CVC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> multi-member</strong> commission consisting of a <strong>Central Vigilance Commissioner</strong> (Chairperson) and <strong>not more than 2 Vigilance Commissioners</strong> (members).</li>
<li>They are <strong>appointed by the President</strong> on the recommendations of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Minister of Home Affairs (Member) and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People (Member).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tenure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term of office of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners is <strong>4 years</strong> from the date on which they enter their office or till they attain the <strong>age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669488" 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/initiatives-for-good-and-vigilant-governance'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Government has<strong> extended the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)</strong> by one month till 30<sup>th</sup> November, 2020, or till such time that an amount of Rs. 3 lakh crore is sanctioned under the Scheme, whichever is earlier.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme was <strong>launched as part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package</a></strong> announced in May 2020 to mitigate the distress caused by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coronavirus</a>-induced lockdown</strong>, by providing credit to different sectors, especially <strong>Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). </strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To provide<strong> fully guaranteed and collateral free additional credit</strong> to MSMEs, business enterprises, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/interest-subvention-scheme-for-shishu-loan-accounts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MUDRA borrowers</strong></a> and individual loans for business purposes <strong>to the extent of 20% of their credit outstanding</strong> as on 29<sup>th</sup> February, 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>100% guarantee coverage</strong> is being provided by the <strong>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company,</strong> whereas<strong> Banks</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</strong></a> provide loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Borrowers with <strong>credit outstanding up to Rs. 50 crore</strong> as on 29<sup>th</sup> February, 2020, and with <strong>an annual turnover of up to Rs. 250 crore</strong> are eligible under the Scheme. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On 1<sup>st</sup> August, the government <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-emergency-credit-line-guarantee-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">widened the scope</a> of the Rs. 3 lakh crore-ECLGS scheme</strong> by doubling the upper ceiling of loans outstanding and including certain loans given to professionals like doctors, lawyers and chartered accountants for business purposes under its ambit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tenor</strong> of loans provided under the Scheme is<strong> four years,</strong> including a moratorium of one year on principal repayment.</li>
<li><strong>Interest rates</strong> under the Scheme are capped at<strong> 9.25% for Banks</strong> and Financial Institutions (FIs), and <strong>14% for NBFCs. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Present Status:</strong> As per data uploaded by Member Lending Institutions on the ECLGS portal, an amount of Rs. 2.03 lakh crore has been sanctioned under the Scheme to 60.67 lakh borrowers so far, while an amount of Rs. 1.48 lakh crore has been disbursed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCGTC is a<strong> private limited company</strong> incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in 2014, established by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, as a <strong>wholly owned company of the Government of India,</strong> to act as a common trustee company for multiple credit guarantee funds.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Credit guarantee programmes</strong> are designed to share the lending risk of the lenders and in turn, facilitate access to finance for the prospective borrowers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1669449" 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/emergency-credit-line-guarantee-scheme-1'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Growth in Manufacturing: PMI and NIBRI',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>As per the <strong>IHS Markit India Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI),</strong> India's <strong>manufacturing output showed the strongest growth in 13 years in October 2020</strong> amid robust sales growth.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Nomura India Business Resumption Index (NIBRI)</strong> has also shown improvement.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rise in PMI:</strong> The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI)<strong> rose from 56.8 in September to 58.9 in October,</strong> and pointed to the<strong> strongest improvement in the health of the sector</strong> in more than a decade (13 years).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is a <strong>third straight monthly improvement</strong> in PMI. In <strong>April,</strong> the index had slipped into <strong>contraction mode (27.4),</strong> after remaining in growth territory for 32 consecutive months.</li>
<li>In PMI parlance, a print <strong>above 50 means expansion,</strong> while <strong>a score below that denotes contraction.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improvement in NIBRI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NIBRI <strong>improved to 82.4 in October, a rise of 2.1 points</strong> from 80.3 in September and 73.6 in August.</li>
<li>It is the<strong> Japanese brokerage&rsquo;s weekly tracker</strong> of the <strong>pace of normalisation of economic activity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Upturn in Sales:</strong> The upturn in sales was the <strong>strongest since mid-2008.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A<strong> strong jump in</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-way-bills-during-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-way bills</strong> </a>(electronic permits for goods movement) has been seen for October, indicating that more goods were shipped within and across states in the month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rise in Export Orders:</strong> New export orders rose at a quicker pace, one that was the most pronounced in close to six years.</li>
<li><strong>Improvement in IIP:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/index-of-industrial-production-iip" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>index of industrial production (IIP)</strong> </a><strong>shrank 8% in August</strong> on a year-on-year basis, marking <strong>a marginally improvement</strong> compared with <strong>July</strong> when output <strong>contracted 10.8%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong> The compliance with government guidelines related to the Covid-19 pandemic caused<strong> a further reduction in employment.</strong> The fall was the <strong>seventh in consecutive months.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PMI is an <strong>indicator of business activity -</strong> both in the manufacturing and services sectors.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is<strong> calculated separately</strong> for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a <strong>composite index</strong> is also constructed.</li>
<li>The PMI summarizes whether <strong>market conditions as viewed by purchasing managers are</strong> expanding, neutral, or contracting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about <strong>current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.</strong></li>
<li>The headline PMI is a number from 0 to 100.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>PMI <strong>above 50 represents an expansion</strong> when compared to the previous month;</li>
<li>PMI<strong> under 50 represents a contraction,</strong> and</li>
<li>A reading at <strong>50</strong> indicates <strong>no change.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The PMI is<strong> usually released at the start of every month.</strong> It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity.</li>
<li>PMI is <strong>compiled by IHS Markit</strong> for more than 40 economies worldwide. IHS Markit is a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/october-data-indicators-hint-at-demand-revival-caution-prevails-6915411/" 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/growth-in-manufacturing-pmi-and-nibri'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Natural Gas Marketing Reforms',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/how-india-is-unbottling-the-gas-economy/article32984963.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;How India is unbottling the &lsquo;gas economy&rsquo;&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Businessline on 30/10/2020. It talks about the significance and steps for India to become a market economy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reforms-in-exploration-and-licensing-policy-oil-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Natural Gas Marketing Reforms</strong></a> were approved by the government of India. These were introduced with the objective to prescribe standard procedure to discover the market price of gas through a transparent and competitive e-bidding process.</p>
<p>Globally, natural gas has been gaining traction as a key alternative and an ideal fuel to support the energy shift in favour of cleaner and greener energy sources. India too is on its path to become a <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=Economic%20Sustainability%3A,all%20its%20forms%20and%20dimensions." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sustainable development</strong></a> and has set a vision to become <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-petroleum-natural-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>a gas-based economy.</strong></a></p>
<p>However, a well-functioning gas market will require the enabling regulatory framework to reduce entry/exit barriers, achieve balance between safeguarding the interests of customers pricing, delivery expectations and sellers returns expectations.</p>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Pursuit of Becoming Gas Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With its aim to increase the share of gas in the energy mix from the current 6% to about 15% by 2030, India has bolstered its efforts in making the environment favourable to ensure such an increase.</li>
<li>Gas markets will play a crucial role in achieving the national aspirations of increasing the share of gas.</li>
<li>Increasing domestic gas production has been a key government priority. Further, the plan to achieve<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-gas-grid-fuel-for-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;One Nation One Gas Grid&rsquo;</strong> </a>will shift Indian economy towards a gas-based economy.</li>
<li>A liquid and well-functioning domestic gas market, as also suggested by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-energy-review-2020-iea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)</strong></a>, would be a strong pillar for building gas economy in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Recent Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The latest reforms are with the intent to keep to the letter and spirit of ensuring marketing and pricing freedom for gas pricing in India.</li>
<li>They allow transparent price discovery based on e-bidding through an independent agency selected from a panel maintained by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons.</li>
<li>This permits affiliates to participate in the bidding process for sale of gas and allow marketing freedom to certain field development plans (FDPs) where production sharing contracts already provide pricing freedom.</li>
<li>This is to bring uniformity to the bidding process across various contractual regimes and policies to avoid ambiguity.</li>
<li>Such a platform will aid in expanding the gas industry by providing competitive and transparent pricing, flexibility in procurement and payment security.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Nascent Gas Sector:</strong> The gas makes only 6% of India&rsquo;s energy basket mix.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the government is putting all its might, critics are quick to point out that domestic production is yet to take off and majority of India&rsquo;s gas requirement continues to be met through imports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Differential Pricing:</strong> Today, gas in India is sold at varied prices &mdash; the gas under administered price regime at $1.79 per mBtu and other domestic gas in the range of $4.5 to $5.5 per mBtu. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This hampers the evolution of a vibrant gas market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public Sector Domination:</strong> Almost 80 per cent of Indian domestic gas is produced from blocks given on nomination basis to national oil companies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, the obsolete technology and efficiency with the public sector hampers gas production as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Deregulation of Pricing:</strong> A key aspect of ensuring market reforms to boost gas economy, would be deregulation of pricing for domestically produced gas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will allow freedom to price and market domestic gas and in turn boost domestic production, making it more viable for players to invest.</li>
<li>Moreover, market-determined and affordable pricing would also boost industrial growth and economic competitiveness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Boosting Infrastructure:</strong> These markets have greatly benefited from factors such as open access to infrastructure, system operator, unbundled marketing and transport functions and market-friendly transport access and tariff besides strong pipeline infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Freeing Gas Markets:</strong> Through ensuring price benchmarks, it will drive competition across the value chain and stimulate investments in exploration and production along with downstream infrastructure. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, factors such as inclusion under GST and an overarching regulatory framework will also play an important role in boosting the overall gas markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India has currently gas pipeline infrastructure of around 16,000 km and plans to double the capacity in 2-3 years. Coupled with necessary policy and regulatory support, India can indeed accelerate its pace towards building a market-based gas economy.</p>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604318797_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
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<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Natural gas is an ideal fuel to support the energy shift in favour of cleaner and greener energy sources. Critically examine the potential of India becoming a gas based economy.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'India-UAE Meet on Investments',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the eighth meeting of the <strong>India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments</strong> has been virtually hosted by India in the wake of the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604573841_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604573841_image4.png" width="431" height="256" style="float: right;" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Joint Task Force was created in 2012</strong> as a crucial forum for further <strong>deepening the economic ties</strong> between the UAE and India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mechanism has assumed greater importance as the two countries signed the <strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership</strong> (CSP) <strong>Agreement</strong> in<strong> January 2017</strong> and the Joint Task Force is an integral component of it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The focus areas underlined in the CSP were economy with emphasis on a <strong>two-way flow of investments, counter-terror cooperation and defence ties</strong>.</li>
<li>India has signed<strong> CSPs with the UK, Indonesia, Vietnam and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At the meeting, both sides reviewed the existing<strong> UAE Plus</strong> and the <strong>Fast Track Mechanism created in 2018</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>UAE Plus</strong> is a special and dedicated desk constituted under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/invest-india-business-immunity-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Invest India</strong></a> with Arabic speaking officials to help facilitate investments.</li>
<li>The <strong>Fast Track Mechanism </strong>aims to<strong> resolve any challenges experienced by UAE investors </strong>in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scope of Improvement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Explore ways to <strong>facilitate investments</strong> in key Indian and UAE sectors with potential for economic growth, and to maintain their dialogue and further build on the considerable achievements of the Joint Task Force.</li>
<li><strong>Encourage investment and cooperation</strong> in areas of mutual interest with the purpose to stimulate economic activities in the post-Covid-19 times.</li>
<li><strong>Address specific barriers</strong> to trade, like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-dumping-duty-on-steel-imports#:~:text=Dumping%20impacts%20the%20price%20of,and%20its%20trade%20distortive%20effect." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>anti-dumping duties</strong></a>, tariffs and regulatory restrictions between the two countries with an aim to further <strong>strengthen the trade and economic ties and to coordinate efforts and promote mutual cooperation</strong>.</li>
<li>Continue the work between respective<strong> civil aviation authorities to ensure speedy normalisation of air transport</strong> operations for their mutual benefit.</li>
<li><strong>Development and operation of UAE-based funds</strong> to invest in India, in the light of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-norms-for-fpi#:~:text=FPIs%20shall%20be%20permitted%20for,and%20invest%20in%20Indian%20markets." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foreign Portfolio Investor Regulations 2019</strong></a> by the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Securities and Exchange Board of India</strong></a> (SEBI).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India agreed to look into these issues with the objective of facilitating further direct investments of UAE-based funds and seeking mutually beneficial solutions in that regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focus on opportunities for cooperation and potential investments in key sectors</strong> in India including the <strong>healthcare and pharmaceutical </strong>industry, <strong>mobility and logistics, food and agriculture, energy and utilities</strong> and others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India-UAE Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on age-old cultural, religious and economic ties between the two nations.</li>
<li>The relationship <strong>flourished after</strong> the accession of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in <strong>1966</strong> and subsequently with the <strong>creation of the UAE Federation in 1971</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Political Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>August 2019,</strong> UAE <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uae-awards-highest-civilian-honour-to-the-prime-minister" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded ZAYED Medal</a></strong>, their highest civilian award, <strong>to the Prime Minister of India</strong> for consolidating the long-standing friendship and joint strategic cooperation between the two nations.</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to the UAE in <strong>August 2015</strong> marked the beginning of a new and <strong>comprehensive and strategic partnership</strong>.</li>
<li>The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited India in <strong>February 2016</strong> and had <strong>wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Commercial Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India-UAE trade was around <strong>USD 59 billion making UAE, India&rsquo;s third-largest trading partner</strong> for the year <strong>2019-20</strong> after China and the USA.</li>
<li>The <strong>UAE is the second-largest export destination of India</strong> with an amount of over <strong>USD 29 billion for the year 2019-20</strong>.</li>
<li>For the<strong> UAE, India is the second-largest trading partner</strong> for the year <strong>2019</strong> with an amount of around <strong>USD 41.43 billion</strong> for non-oil trade.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Major Exports:</strong> Food items, Machinery, Gems and Jewellery, Textiles, Engineering and Machinery Products, Chemicals, etc.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Major Import:</strong> Crude Oil, Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Precious Metals, Minerals, Chemicals, Wood and Wood Products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two nations <strong>share historical ties and have maintained regular cultural exchanges</strong> both at official and popular levels.</li>
<li>They signed a <strong>Cultural Agreement in 1975</strong> and the embassies continue to organise various cultural activities on their own as well as by collaborating with other cultural organisations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Community:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UAE is<strong> home to the Indian expatriate community of more than 2.6 million,</strong> the largest expatriate community in the UAE, which has played a <strong>major role in the economic development</strong> of the UAE.</li>
<li>Recently, India has asked the members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gulf-cooperation-council-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which also includes UAE</strong></a>, to facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work with the relaxing of Covid-19-related restrictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Recent Developmental Events in the UAE</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In March 2019, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-opening-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>46<sup>th</sup> session of the Council of Foreign Ministers</strong></a> of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)</strong></a>, was held in Abu Dhabi where India was invited as a guest of honour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UAE</strong> hosted the event and had <strong>strongly defended the decision to invite India</strong> despite Pakistan&rsquo;s strong objection and threat to boycott the event.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>February 2020,</strong> the UAE issued an operating licence for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arab-world-s-first-nuclear-power-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arab world's first nuclear power plant</strong></a>, paving the way for it to start production in 2020.</li>
<li><strong>UAE Mars Mission:</strong> In July 2020, the UAE launched a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hope-uae-mars-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mars probe named Amal (Hope)</strong></a> from Japan, marking the <strong>Arab world&rsquo;s first interplanetary mission.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>September 2020,</strong> the UAE signed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/israel-uae-and-bahrain-abraham-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Abraham Accord</strong></a> with Israel and Bahrain, which is the <strong>first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669792" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Tele-Law',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Tele-Law</strong> touched a new milestone on october 30<sup>th</sup> 2020 by providing legal advice to 4 million beneficiaries through <strong>Common Service Centres.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Common Services Centre (CSC)</strong> programme is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Electronics &amp; IT (MeitY),</strong> that serves as the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a <strong>digitally and financially inclusive society.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> Tele-Law programme was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Law and Justice</strong> in collaboration with the <strong>Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> launched in 2017 to address cases at pre&ndash;litigation stage.</li>
<li><strong>Connect Lawyers to Litigants:</strong> It is a service that uses video conferencing facilities and telephone services to connect <strong>lawyers to litigants</strong> who need legal advice. This service aims to reach out to the needy especially the marginalized and disadvantaged.</li>
<li><strong>Common Service Centres:</strong> Under this programme, smart technology of video conferencing, telephone/instant calling facilities available at the vast network of <strong>Common Service Centres</strong> at the Panchayat level are used to connect the indigent, down-trodden, vulnerable, unreached groups and communities with the Panel Lawyers for seeking timely and valuable legal advice.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> Tele Law service enables anyone to seek legal advice without wasting precious time and money. The service is free for those who are eligible for free legal Aid as mentioned under <strong>Section 12 of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.</strong> For all others a nominal fee is charged.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a recent report titled <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quality-of-free-legal-aid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Quality of Legal Representation: An Empirical Analysis of Free Legal Aid Services in India&rsquo;</strong></a>, the majority of the people who are entitled to the free legal aid system see the service as an option only when they cannot afford a private lawyer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supports SDGs:</strong> It can be noted that this initiative is in line with <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal-16</strong></a>, which seeks to<strong> "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels".</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1987, the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act was enacted to give free and competent legal services to the poor and paved the way for the constitution of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-legal-services-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Legal Service Authority (NALSA)</strong></a> and other legal service institutions at the State, district and taluka level.</li>
<li>Free legal services under LSA Act are available to a person belonging to Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste, woman, child, victim of human trafficking, differently abled person, industrial workman, and person in custody in a protective home and the poor.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Constitutional Provision</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 39A of the Constitution of India</strong> provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.</li>
<li><strong>Articles 14 and 22(1)</strong> also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669756" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award-2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Dr. Susanta Kar of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI)</strong></a>, Lucknow has been chosen for this year's <strong>Prof. A N Bhaduri Memorial Lecture Award by the Society of Biological Chemists (India).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Society Of Biological Chemists (India) was founded in 1930, with its HeadQuarters at <strong>Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.</strong></li>
<li><strong>CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI),</strong> is a premier drug research institute of India with its HeadQuarters at<strong> Lucknow.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The award has been given to recognize the significant contributions towards defining the survival tactics of<em><strong> Leishmania donovani.</strong></em></li>
<li><em><strong>Leishmania Donovani</strong></em> is a protozoan parasite that infects macrophages and is a causative agent of <em><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kala-azar-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>visceral leishmaniasis (Kala Azar)</strong></a></em>, a lethal infectious disease affecting millions worldwide.</li>
<li><strong>DR. Susanta Kar&rsquo;s research group</strong> studied the interaction of<em><strong> Leishmania</strong></em> with <strong>immune cells</strong> like<strong> macrophages, dendritic cells</strong> and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> T cells</strong></a> and the impact of these interactions on immune response/infection progression.</li>
<li>The award is conferred every <strong>two years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Recipients</strong> of the award should be <strong>below 50 years of age.</strong> The Award is given for <strong>Biological Chemistry and Allied sciences,</strong> preferably related to parasitic infections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Leishmaniasis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>neglected tropical disease</strong> affecting almost 100 countries including India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is caused by a<strong> parasite called Leishmania,</strong> which is transmitted through the bite of <strong>sand flies.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>three types of leishmaniasis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease.</li>
<li><strong>Cutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin sores and is the most common form.</li>
<li><strong>Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis,</strong> which causes skin and mucosal lesions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Visceral leishmaniasis,</strong> which is commonly known as <strong>Kala-azar</strong> in India, is fatal in over 95% of the cases, if left untreated.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1670109" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prof-a-n-bhaduri-memorial-lecture-award-2020'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Hurricane Eta',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Recently, Hurricane Eta</strong> has hit northeastern <strong>Nicaragua</strong> with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flash flooding occurring over <strong>portions of Central America.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> It is categorised as a <strong>Category 4 hurricane.</strong> A Category 4 storm has wind speeds between <strong>130-156 mph</strong> and can uproot trees and bring down power lines.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 based on wind speed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hurricanes that reach category three or higher are classified as major hurricanes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> Tropical cyclones or hurricanes use warm, moist air as fuel, and therefore form over warm Equatorial water.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low-Pressure Creation:</strong> When the warm, moist air rises upward from the surface of the ocean, it creates an area of low air pressure below.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When this happens, the air from the surrounding areas rushes to fill this place, eventually rising when it becomes warm and moist too.</li>
<li>An <strong>eye forms</strong> in the centre. It is the calmest part of the cyclone. Before the wind reaches the centre it gets warmed up and rises upwards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the warm air rises and cools off, the moisture forms clouds. This system of clouds and winds continues to grow and spin.</li>
<li>This disturbance is fuelled by the ocean&rsquo;s heat and the water that evaporates from its surface.</li>
<li>Such storm systems rotate faster and faster. Storms that form towards the north of the equator <strong>rotate counterclockwise, w</strong>hile those that form to the<strong> south spin clockwise</strong> because of the rotation of the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" width="550" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/hurricane-eta-slams-into-nicaragua-grinds-inland-6936772/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-eta'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Enhanced Version of Pinaka Mk-1 Missile',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, an enhanced version of the Pinaka Mark (Mk)-1 missile was<strong> successfully flight-tested</strong> from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604564260_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604564260_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> The enhanced version of the Pinaka Mk-1 system was taken up to achieve longer-range performance compared to the earlier design with lesser length.</li>
<li><strong>Development:</strong> The design and development has been <strong>carried out by Pune-based <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)</a> laboratories -</strong> Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Enhanced Pinaka Mk-1 will eventually<strong> replace the Pinaka Mk-1 missiles,</strong> which are currently used by regiments of the Indian Army along India&rsquo;s frontiers with China and Pakistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While the <strong>Mark-1</strong> has a range of<strong> 38 km,</strong> the <strong>enhanced version</strong> of Mark-1 has <strong>a range of 45 km</strong> and some key additional features.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The latest test is in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nag-missile-anti-tank-guided-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>continuation of a number of missile trials conducted by the DRDO in the last two months.</strong> </a></li>
<li>The test comes <strong>months after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced</strong> that its acquisition wing signed contracts with three Indian private companies for supply of six regiments of Pinaka Rocket System, to be deployed along borders with Pakistan and China. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The MoD had said that the <strong>induction would be completed by 2024.</strong> These six Pinaka Regiments would comprise 114 Launchers with Automated Gun Aiming and Positioning System (AGAPS), 45 command posts and 330 vehicles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pinaka Missile</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development:</strong> The development of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket systems was <strong>started by the DRDO in the late 1980s,</strong> as an <strong>alternative to the Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher systems of Russian make</strong> called the &lsquo;Grad&rsquo;, which are still used by some regiments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After successful tests of Pinaka Mark-1 in the late 1990, it was <strong>first used successfully</strong> in the battlefield during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kargil-vijay-diwas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>1999 Kargil War.</strong> </a>Subsequently, multiple regiments of the system came up over the 2000s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Pinaka, a <strong>multi-barrel rocket-launcher (MBRL) system</strong> named after Shiva&rsquo;s bow, can fire a salvo of 12 rockets over a period of 44 seconds.</li>
<li>One battery of Pinaka system <strong>consists of six launch vehicles,</strong> accompanied by loader systems, radar and links with network-based systems and a command post. One battery <strong>can neutralise an area of 1 km by 1 km.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As a key tactic of long-range artillery battle, the launchers have to &lsquo;shoot and scoot&rsquo; to ensure they themselves do not become the targets, especially being detectable due to its back blast.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multiple Variants:</strong> DRDO has also developed and successfully tested the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pinaka-missile-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mk-II</strong></a> <strong>and guided variants of the Pinaka,</strong> which has a range of around 60 km, while the Guided Pinaka system has a range of 75 km and has integrated navigation, control and guidance system to improve the end accuracy and enhance the range. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The navigation system of Guided Pinaka missile is also <strong>aided by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1670104" 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/enhanced-version-of-pinaka-mk-1-missile'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Future Pandemics and Reduction Measures',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem</strong> (IPBES) has released a <strong>report which warns about future <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemics</a></strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">,</a> their more frequent emergence, a faster pace of spread and more damage to the world killing more people than <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, unless significant measures are taken.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body, <strong>established by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a></strong> (UN) in 2012.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>aims to strengthen the science-policy interface</strong> for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pandemics of the Century:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604563595_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604563595_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Covid-19 is at least the sixth pandemic to have taken place in the last century since the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/spanish-flu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spanish Influenza</a> Pandemic of 1918.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In March 2020, 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) declared Covid-19 a pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Three</strong> of the pandemics were caused<strong> by influenza viruses,</strong> one by <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Immunodeficiency Virus</strong></a> (HIV) followed by<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome</strong> </a>(SARS) and now Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Almost all the pandemics so far, have been<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> zoonoses</strong></a> (diseases caused by germs that spread between animals and people).</li>
<li>More than 70% of emerging diseases, such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-global-health-emergency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ebola</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti#:~:text=Zika%20virus%20is%20a%20mosquito,%2C%20Asia%2C%20and%20the%20Pacific." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nipah-outbreak-in-kerala" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nipah</strong></a>, are <strong>caused by microbes found in animals</strong> which <strong>spread due to contact</strong> among wildlife, livestock and people.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The estimated value of the legal international wildlife trade in 2019 was about USD 107 billion, a 500% increase since 2005 and a 2000% increase since the 1980s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid-19&rsquo;s origins also lie in microbes carried by animals</strong> but its <strong>emergence has been entirely driven by human activities</strong> like all pandemics.</li>
<li>About 30% of emerging infectious diseases are attributed to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/land-use-changes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>land-use change</strong></a>, <strong>agricultural expansion </strong>and <strong>urbanisation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Future Possibilities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Currently, there are over <strong>1.7 million &lsquo;undiscovered&rsquo; viruses</strong> that exist in mammals and birds, out of which <strong>up to 827,000 could have the ability to infect humans.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reduction Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pandemic risk can be lowered by<strong> reducing the human activities that drive the loss of biodiversity,</strong> by greater <strong>conservation of protected areas</strong> and through measures that <strong>reduce unsustainable exploitation</strong> of high biodiversity regions.</li>
<li>These measures will help in <strong>reducing the contact between wildlife-livestock and humans,</strong> thereby <strong>helping prevent the spread</strong> of new diseases.</li>
<li>Policy options like launching a<strong> high-level intergovernmental council on pandemic prevention,</strong> countries setting<strong> mutually-agreed goals or targets</strong> regarding the environment, animals and people, and <strong>reducing zoonotic disease risk in the international wildlife trade</strong> by forming intergovernmental &lsquo;health and trade&rsquo; partnerships will also reduce the risks substantially.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pandemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the WHO, a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Epidemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An epidemic is a large outbreak, one that spreads among a population or region. It is less severe than pandemic due to a limited area of spread.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/likelihood-of-future-pandemics-their-damage-potential-ipbes-6945649/" 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/future-pandemics-and-reduction-measures'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'New Commission for Air Quality Management',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/more-than-commission-to-check-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;More than commission to check air pollution&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Economic Times on 03/11/2020. It talks about the significance and issues related to the newly setup Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas.</p>
</div>
<p>Air pollution is a serious problem with environmental, public health and economic dimensions. Northern India gets exposed to hazardous levels of air quality almost every year.</p>
<p>Acknowledging this public health hazard, the centre government has promulgated an ordinance. Through this ordinance, the Centre set up a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/commission-for-air-quality-management-in-the-ncr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas.</strong></a></p>
<p>The commission replaces 22 year old <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/epca-on-early-burning-of-crop-residue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority</strong></a> (EPCA) and envisages to streamline the public participation, the inter-State cooperation, the expert involvement and persistent research and innovation.</p>
<p>CAQM is a <strong>statutory mechanism</strong> to coordinate and oversee diverse efforts to improve air quality in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP, with the underlying remedial approach. The establishment of CAQM has the potential to address the problem of air pollution but an institution by itself is not a solution.</p>
<h3>Significance of the New Commission</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishing a Statutory Body:</strong> So far, the matter was overseen by the Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority that had taken decisions like converting public transport to the CNG mode of fuel and imposing a pollution charge on old polluting vehicles.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the EPCA was criticised for not exercising its statutory powers and for merely functioning as an advisory body to the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>Through this ordinance, a statutory body is being set up to regulate the process by coordinating between the Central Government and the states concerned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consolidated Approach:</strong> The ordinance envisages for consolidated approach towards monitoring, elimination of pollution sources and enforcement.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The commission will have the power to coordinate with relevant state and central governments on the multi-sector plan including industry, power plants, agriculture, transport, residential and construction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participatory Democracy:</strong> The Commission would function under the oversight of the elected representatives with regular reports to the Parliament.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ordinance claims, adding &ldquo;the highest degree of democratic oversight would ensure effective enforcement of the efforts and proposals of the commission&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Removal of Ad-hocism:</strong> As the Commission is to function under the aegis and the overall supervision and guidance of the Central government, the ordinance hopes it would replace multitudes of committees, task forces, commissions and informal groups formed temporarily or otherwise, by various orders of the constitutional courts or the Centre and the States concerned and synergise the efforts of different stake-holders.</li>
<li><strong>Empowered Body:</strong> The new commission will reportedly have more powers &mdash; in its constitution and scope as well in terms of punitive provisions.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ordinance talks of a Rs 1 crore fine or five years&rsquo; imprisonment or both for violators of pollution control norms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Federal Issue:</strong> The ordinance vests the commission with great power and its domain overlaps that of different state bodies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the coordinating body, the commission will be dependent on states for enforcement.</li>
<li>Separately, many areas of the commission&rsquo;s mandate such as ending stubble burning and finding ways to lower carbon emissions from vehicle tailpipes involve economic tradeoffs and fiscal measures.</li>
<li>As the five states are administered by different political parties, politics will have a say in the outcome.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dilution of Judicial Oversight:</strong> The intervention of the Supreme Court in environment protection matters stems from a deep distrust of the Executive. It is due to this Supreme Court established EPCA.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the ordinances dissolve all other committees and authorities that were set up under judicial and administrative orders, there are apprehensions of limiting the role of the judiciary and creating a supra-centralised framework for air-quality management in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-Inclusive:</strong> Air pollution impacts health, restrictions imposed to control air pollution impacts agricultural labourers and dealing with stubble burning requires incentives which is the domain of rural development.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, no farmers&rsquo; body has been allowed to be co-opted as members while representatives of any association or commerce or industry&rsquo; can be co-opted as members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unrealistic Punitive Measures:</strong> By putting an unrealistic limit of Rs 1 crore to the fine payable, irrespective of the damage caused to the environment, the Ordinance is deviation from the polluter pays principle.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>An impediment to improving air quality has been the inability and unwillingness of the authorities, particularly state governments, to address the issues outside of emergency situations or seasonal spikes.</p>
<p>Therefore, while coordination between authorities is, no doubt, a precondition for clearing the air, these have to be founded on policies to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/air-pollution-concerted-efforts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bring a holistic plan</strong></a> and enable behavioural changes for farmers to incentivise them to give up <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stubble-waste-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>stubble burning.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604490758_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604490758_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" 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: #fafcff;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss to what extent the newly established Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas will be successful in combating air pollution in the region.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQmV02jUMpI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/end-of-the-tunnel/article33005879.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;End of the tunnel?: On GST revenues&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on November 03<sup>rd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-commission-for-air-quality-management'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Extension of Food Fortification Scheme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In order to fight chronic <strong>anaemia</strong> and <strong>undernutrition,</strong> the government is making plans to distribute <strong>fortified rice</strong> through the <strong>Integrated Child Development Services</strong> and <strong>Mid Day Meal Schemes</strong> across the country from the year 2021, with special focus on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational districts.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This was decided in a review meeting of an<strong> existing pilot scheme</strong> which aims to distribute fortified rice in 15 districts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Existing Scheme:</strong> The centrally-sponsored pilot scheme was approved in February 2019, for a three-year period from 2019-20 onwards. Under it, one district each in 15 predominantly rice-eating States was selected.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was found that, out of 15 states only 5 &mdash; Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh &mdash; have started the distribution of fortified rice in their identified pilot districts.</li>
<li>In other words, the scheme has only been implemented in five districts so far, although more than half the project duration is over.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Renewed Push:</strong> The Food Corporation of India has now been mandated to scale up the annual supply of <strong>Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK)</strong> from the <strong>current 15,000 tonnes to at least 1.3 lakh tonnes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To cover PDS, anganwadis and mid-day meals in the 112 aspirational districts, annual supply capacity would need to be increased to about 1.3 lakh tonnes.</li>
<li>Further, existing rice mills will be equipped with Blending Machines for mixing FRK with normal rice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/milk-fortification-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Milk Fortification Project</strong> </a>was launched by the <strong>National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in collaboration with the World Bank and Tata Trusts,</strong> as a pilot project in 2017. It is intended to address vitamin deficiency in consumers.</li>
<li>Recently, the month of September was observed as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-maah" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Poshan Maah i.e. Nutrition month.</strong> </a>It includes a month-long activities focussed on antenatal care, optimal breastfeeding, anaemia, growth monitoring, girls education, diet, right age of marriage, hygiene and sanitation and eating healthy (food fortification).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Fortified Rice Kernels</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Fortifying rice involves grinding broken rice into powder, mixing it with nutrients, and then shaping it into rice-like kernels using an extrusion process.</li>
<li>These fortified kernels are then mixed with normal rice in a ratio ranging from 1:50 to 1:200.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched on 2<sup>nd</sup> October, 1975, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/meal-scheme-hit-due-to-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme</strong></a> offers a package of six services (Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school non-formal education, Nutrition &amp; health education, Immunization, Health check-up and Referral services) to children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Mid-day Meal Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in 1995 as a centrally sponsored scheme.</li>
<li>It provides that every child within the age group of six to fourteen years studying in classes I to VIII who enrols and attends the school shall be provided with a hot cooked meal, free of charge every day except on school holidays.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/midday-meal-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mid Day Meal Scheme</strong></a> comes under the HRD Ministry&rsquo;s Department of School Education and Literacy.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Aspirational Districts</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The programme was launched in January 2018 with the aim of expeditiously improving the socio-economic status of 117 districts through cooperative and competitive federalism.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational Districts programme</strong></a> aims to rapidly transform districts that have been showing relatively less progress in key social areas, and have emerged as pockets of under-development, thereby posing a challenge to balanced regional development.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Food Fortification</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=46af3b128c215065822d363716461e3bda556ba2-1603783779-0-AQqcs23ihmqDWEzYzOTw2ZLATgIFQrHLyN5UDI9GBGfKb9Nw6xIYXLD0XnsFATPLOkfD2ZIVKdPR85H55F206a0f9GZts0saMxAhtaEPfgrhVvdmt1OJXAitkoMUI1kseMQy2zf139HzrBNbjXjnkjBU32U9ZV4g6ZcJqRi9mMAB561nxsXTYQ0xvOeMKpygwOvzDwD6cY1egBaUEjw3iJqc0WkEBOK4028DSYOwSuMjadzLHFPyVwpmZfyb84dZ_dr_kapwYLQirV2MCCF_91vIO2eij1RpbJ84rCBMDccLERI_E41MmQ2Hyi8VIBPaivX75tTOX_KkU7jr1AiSBqM7_RWVPUCfXAZ1yOgXbbm9CrULYC20iLnBLuT4Svbjp8gM0xv_EFdmeQkDb7czMzhwQ1HyOsQDEG8WcmiBLdGEAdOptYKzCFHncq_6M6AK4kfz2ej8Z0A-FaqgYwTTguS-w7zQBxsYYuEqzXHLCZvQyaPk0J0L7oTP3t_7TlORsOWGsOmAKQ_ElyvspVavQfhx4e2CZca_3TK39T_rJuhMzKO4vZLIXkgIapT95fY5bq6P-bXz035wlU6WxMOy9lwYci1ShV8wMuy4ZWv5gJ6M8N_FYuwbkYHRpSRvLq1CWWQtrwb6ov9nCCg8AQrexBc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a>, food fortification is defined as the practice of deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients so as to improve the nutritional quality of the food supply and to provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health.</li>
<li><strong>Types:</strong> Food fortification can be done for foods widely consumed by the general population (mass fortification), to fortify foods designed for specific population subgroups, such as complementary foods for young children or rations for displaced populations (targeted fortification) and/or to allow food manufacturers to voluntarily fortify foods available in the marketplace (market-driven fortification).</li>
<li><strong>Procedure:</strong> The extent to which a national or regional food supply is fortified varies considerably. The concentration of just one micronutrient might be increased in a single foodstuff (e.g. the iodization of salt), or, at the other end of the scale, there might be a whole range of food&ndash;micronutrient combinations.</li>
<li>In October 2016,<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Food Safety and Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI)</strong></a> operationalized the <strong>Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016</strong> for fortifying staples namely Wheat Flour and Rice (with Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid), Milk and Edible Oil (with Vitamins A and D) and Double Fortified Salt (with Iodine and Iron) to reduce the high burden of micronutrient malnutrition in India.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s<strong> National Nutritional strategy, 2017,</strong> had listed food fortification as one of the interventions to address anaemia, vitamin A and iodine deficiencies apart from supplementation and dietary diversification.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-to-extend-fortified-rice-scheme-to-112-districts/article33016045.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/extension-of-food-fortification-scheme'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Centre’s Stand on Central Vista Redevelopment Project',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Central Government</strong> has recently tried to<strong> justify</strong> its decision to<strong> construct a new Parliament building</strong> under the proposed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/central-vista-redevelopment-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'Central Vista Redevelopment' project</strong></a>, in the Supreme Court (SC).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>One of the issues</strong> raised by the petitioners was <strong>if it&rsquo;s possible to refurbish and use the existing Parliament building.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Vista Redevelopment Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs proposed the Central Vista redevelopment project in 2019.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The project envisages:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constructing a triangular Parliament building next to the existing one.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Constructing Common Central Secretariat.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Revamping of the 3-km-long Rajpath &mdash; from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>North and South Block to be repurposed as museums.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Currently, the Central Vista </strong>of New Delhi <strong>houses Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, North and South Block, India Gate, National Archives </strong>among others.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Centre&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Underlining the cost and infrastructure advantages of the proposed project, the Centre told the SC that<strong> the question whether or not to have a new Parliament building is a policy decision which the government is entitled to take.</strong></li>
<li>The government had taken an important policy decision to construct a Parliament complex and central secretariat as the <strong>existing one is under tremendous stress.</strong> Further, the project cannot come up at Noida or elsewhere, but on Central Vista.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments Put Forward by the Government:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Pre Independence building:</strong> The <strong>current one was built in 1927</strong> to house the legislative council and was not intended to house a bicameral legislature that the country has today.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Space:</strong> The current building will be under more stress when the <strong>number of seats to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are raised.</strong> Both Houses are already packed and members have to sit on plastic chairs when joint sessions are held, diminishing the dignity of the House.</li>
<li><strong>Safety Concerns:</strong> The existing building does not conform to <strong>fire safety norms. Water and sewer lines are also haphazard</strong> and this is damaging its heritage nature. Security concerns in the wake of the<strong> 2001 Parliament attack shows its vulnerable nature.</strong> It is also <strong>not quake-proof.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cost Advantage:</strong> Many central ministries <strong>are housed in different buildings</strong> with the result that the government ends up paying rent for many of them. The new building, a new central secretariat will help avoid this.</li>
<li><strong>Environmental Benefits:</strong> The fact that people and officials have to run around the city to go to different ministries also<strong> increases traffic and pollution.</strong> The project <strong>also proposes interlinking of metro stations</strong> which will minimise use of vehicles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Opposition, environmentalists, architects and citizens have raised many concerns even before the pandemic brought in extra issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They have <strong>questioned the lack of studies</strong> to ascertain the need for the project and its impact on the environment, traffic and pollution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Several key approvals for the proposed Parliament building have been pushed during the lockdown. This led to allegations of a <strong>lack of transparency.</strong></li>
<li>They argue that in the <strong>situation created by the pandemic, the project must be deferred as the country can&rsquo;t afford it at this time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/central-vista-parliament-house-6931227/" 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/centre-s-stand-on-central-vista-redevelopment-project'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Evaluation of National Monsoon Mission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Council of Applied Economic Research</strong> (NCAER) has <strong>evaluated the economic benefits</strong> of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Monsoon Mission</strong> </a>(NMM).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in <strong>1956,</strong> NCAER is India&rsquo;s <strong>oldest and largest independent, non-profit, economic policy research institute,</strong> based in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study spanned<strong> across 173 rain-fed districts </strong>in <strong>16 states</strong> which appropriately represented agro-climatic zones, rain-fed areas, coverage of major crops, and incidence of extreme weather events in the country. It was conducted on behalf of the<strong> Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> (MoES).</li>
<li>The study refers to <strong>economic benefits as direct monetary gains to crop farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen</strong> in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s investment of nearly <strong>Rs. 1,000 crore</strong> in the NMM and <strong>High-Performance Computing</strong> (HPC)<strong> facilities</strong> would provide benefits worth Rs. 50,000 crore to nearly 1.07 crore <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9#:~:text=Poverty%20Estimation%20in%20India&amp;text=A%20poor%20household%20is%20defined,below%20a%20specific%20poverty%20line.&amp;text=As%20per%20the%20Rangarajan%20committee,972%20in%20rural%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Below Poverty Line</strong> </a>(BPL) agricultural households and 53 lakh BPL fisherfolk households in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> total annual economic benefits</strong> to agricultural households, farmers and livestock owners taken together, has been calculated at<strong> Rs. 13,331 crore</strong> and the<strong> incremental benefits over the next five years</strong> are estimated to be about<strong> Rs. 48,056 crore.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The benefits are from accurate weather forecasting by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-warming-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India Meteorological Department</strong> </a>(IMD) and other agencies working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Agro-meteorological services</strong> for farmers is one of the most prominent weather services of IMD.</li>
<li>Every day Ocean <strong>State Forecast</strong> (OSF) and <strong>warnings</strong> to fishermen going out to the sea by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-national-centre-for-ocean-information-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services</strong> </a>(INCOIS) helped in<strong> elimination of less or not so productive trips</strong> to the ocean.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-s-assistance-in-fishing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories</strong> </a>resulted in successful trips generating additional catches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Analysis of the Benefits:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Based on weather advisories, <strong>98% farmers made modifications</strong> such as changing variety/breed of the crop, arranging storage of harvest, early/delayed harvesting, changed crop, early/delayed sowing, changed the schedule of ploughing/land preparation, changed pesticide application schedule, changed fertiliser application schedule and changed scheduled irrigation.</li>
<li><strong>94% of farmers</strong> were able to<strong> avoid losses and increase income</strong> because of services provided through NMM.</li>
<li><strong>82% of fishermen</strong> surveyed, reported <strong>using OSF advisories</strong> before they venture into the sea every time.</li>
<li>A total of approximately Rs 1.92 crore additional income was generated from<strong> 1,079 successful fishing expeditions made using PFZ advisories.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Monsoon Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences in 2012.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To improve the forecasting skills by setting up a state-of-the-art dynamic prediction system for monsoon rainfall different time scales.</li>
<li>NMM builds a<strong> working partnership between the academic and research and development</strong> (R&amp;D) <strong>organisations,</strong> both<strong> national and international.</strong></li>
<li>Its <strong>augmentation with the HPC facilities</strong> has helped the country in achieving a paradigm shift in weather and climate modelling for operational weather forecasts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/accurate-forecast-helps-farmers-fishermen-save-crores-survey-6932971/" 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/evaluation-of-national-monsoon-mission'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Cold Wave',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>As per the <strong>India Meteorological Department (IMD),</strong> there are<strong> cold wave conditions</strong> over <strong>Delhi.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Cold Wave:</strong> A <strong>rapid fall in temperature within 24 hours</strong> to a level requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities.</li>
<li><strong>Cold Wave Conditions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For the <strong>plains,</strong> a cold wave is declared when the<strong> minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below</strong> and is <strong>4.5 degrees Celsius (C) less than normal for two consecutive days.</strong></li>
<li>For <strong>coastal stations,</strong> the threshold value of minimum temperature of 10 degree Celsius is rarely reached. However, the local people feel <strong>discomfort due to the wind chill factor</strong> which reduces the minimum temperature by a few degrees depending upon the wind speed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>wind chill factor</strong> is a measure of the cooling effect of the wind on the temperature of the air.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Core Cold Wave Zone:</strong> India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-core-cold-wave-zone#:~:text=India%27s%20%27core%20cold%20wave%27%20zone,higher%20minimum%20temperature%20during%20winters.&amp;text=Core%20cold%20wave%27%20zone%20covers,West%20Bengal%2C%20Odisha%20and%20Telangana." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;core cold wave zone&rsquo;</strong></a> covers Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> 2019, Delhi and adjoining areas</strong> in the north had<strong> experienced its coldest winter of the century.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cold Wave Situation in Delhi:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On 3<sup>rd</sup> November 2020, <strong>Delhi</strong> recorded a<strong> minimum temperature of 10 degree Celsius</strong> which was <strong>5 degrees C below normal.</strong></li>
<li><strong>IMD may consider</strong> declaring a cold wave if the<strong> temperature continues to stay the same for another day.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Fall in Minimum Temperature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Absence of cloud cover in the region:</strong> Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back downward, warming the ground.</li>
<li><strong>Snowfall in the upper Himalayas</strong> that has blown <strong>cold winds</strong> towards the region.</li>
<li><strong>Subsidence of cold air over the region:</strong> Subsidence is the <strong>downward movement of cold and dry air closer to the surface.</strong></li>
<li>Prevailing <strong>weak <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Nina</a> conditions</strong> in the Pacific Ocean.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>La Nina is the <strong>abnormal cooler sea surface temperatures</strong> reported along the equatorial Pacific Ocean and it is known to favour cold waves.</li>
<li><strong>During La Nina years,</strong> the <strong>severity of cold conditions becomes intense.</strong> The frequency and area covered under the grip of a cold wave becomes larger.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Winters 2020:</strong> November is <strong>expected to be colder than usual</strong> after the <strong>mean minimum temperature in October 2020 was 17.2 degrees Celsius,</strong> the<strong> lowest since 1962,</strong> when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was established in <strong>1875.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>principal agency</strong> responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/mercury-dips-to-10c-imd-may-declare-a-cold-wave/article33016758.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/cold-wave-1'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Gulf Cooperation Council and India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India had a virtual meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a leading regional organisation comprising almost all Arab countries.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Workers Want to Return to Arab Countries:</strong> India has asked the members of the GCC to facilitate the return of Indians who want to resume work with the relaxing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20(WHO,31st%20December%2C%202019)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>-related restrictions. This can happen through sustainable<strong> travel bubble arrangements.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>More than eight million Indians</strong> live and work in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-west-asia-crisis-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>West Asia</strong></a>, with a<strong> majority of them within the region covered by the GCC,</strong> which includes<strong> Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia </strong>and<strong> the UAE.</strong></li>
<li><strong>&lsquo;Transport Bubbles&rsquo; </strong>or<strong> &lsquo;Air Travel Arrangements&rsquo; </strong>are<strong> temporary arrangements</strong> between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. They are <strong>reciprocal in nature,</strong> meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation:</strong> Both sides affirmed their commitment to<strong> reform <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-role-in-multilateral-world-order" target="_blank" rel="noopener">multilateral institutions</a></strong> to reflect the realities of the 21<sup>st</sup> century and work together to <strong>address contemporary challenges</strong> such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, sustainable development and terrorism.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>GCC welcomed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India's inclusion in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member</a></strong> from January 2021.</li>
<li><strong>India</strong> assured continuing the <strong>flow of food, medicines and essential items</strong> to the Gulf region. Supply chains from India to the Gulf were not disrupted despite the lockdowns during the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GCC was <strong>established by an agreement</strong> concluded in 1981 among<strong> Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE</strong> in view of their special relations, geographic proximity, similar political systems based on Islamic beliefs, joint destiny and common objectives.</li>
<li>The <strong>structure</strong> of the GCC consists of the Supreme Council (the highest authority), the Ministerial Council and the Secretariat General. The <strong>Secretariat</strong> is located in <strong>Riyadh,</strong> Saudi Arabia.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>political, economic, social, and regional organisation</strong> according to its charter.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604476517_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604476517_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Relations with the GCC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political:</strong> The governments of the GCC members are <strong>India-friendly</strong> and <strong>Indian-friendly.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Prime MInister of India has received the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uae-awards-highest-civilian-honour-to-the-prime-minister#:~:text=guest%20of%20honor.-,Zayed%20Medal,bearing%20the%20name%20%27Zayed%27.&amp;text=UK%27s%20Queen%20Elizabeth%20II." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;Order of Zayed&rsquo;,</strong> </a>the highest civilian order of the UAE and the <strong>&lsquo;King Hamad Order of the Renaissance&rsquo;,</strong> the third-highest civilian order of Bahrain.</li>
<li>In the recent past, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have<strong> not adopted hostile posture</strong> to India&rsquo;s domestic developments such as<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> removing the special status for Jammu &amp; Kashmir under Article 370.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong> The GCC states are among<strong> India&rsquo;s key suppliers of energy,</strong> and<strong> annual remittances</strong> from Indians in these countries are worth an estimated USD 4.8 billion.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>United Arab Emirates (UAE)</strong> and<strong> Saudi Arabia</strong> are <strong>India&rsquo;s third and fourth-largest trading partners</strong> respectively and the <strong>total bilateral trade</strong> of the GCC countries with India for the year<strong> 2018-19</strong> stood at USD 121.34 billion.</li>
<li>UAE also features in the <strong>top 10 sources of FDI inflows</strong> into India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both India and the GCC are members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-on-fatf-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF).</strong></a></li>
<li>Apart from the participation of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and others in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/naval-exercise-milan-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India&rsquo;s mega multilateral Milan Exercise</strong></a>, India also has<strong> bilateral exercises</strong> with most of them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India and Oman hold annual bilateral exercises</strong> across all three wings of the armed forces (Army Exercise<strong> &lsquo;Al Najah&rsquo;,</strong> Air Force Exercise <strong>&lsquo;Eastern Bridge&rsquo;,</strong> Naval Exercise <strong>&lsquo;Naseem al Bahr&rsquo;</strong>). Further, Oman has provided the Indian Navy access to the <strong>Port of Duqm SEZ</strong> which is one of Indian Ocean&rsquo;s largest deep-sea ports.</li>
<li>India has a bilateral<strong> naval (In-UAE BILAT)</strong> as well as an<strong> air force exercise (Desert Eagle-II) </strong>with the <strong>UAE.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gulf region has historical, political, economic, strategic and cultural significance for India. <strong>India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA)</strong> can provide a boost to the relations.</li>
<li>Presently, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> GCC region is volatile,</strong> </a>thus, India needs to safeguard its large economic, political and demographic stakes in the region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jaishankar-urges-gulf-nations-to-facilitate-return-of-indians-to-resume-work-6930981/" 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/gulf-cooperation-council-and-india'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Security in Gig Economy',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-secure-future-for-platform-workers/article32998179.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A secure future for platform workers&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 02/11/2020. It talks about the need for social security in platform workers in the Gig Economy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recent <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-the-labour-code-bills" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Code on Social Security Bill, 2020</strong></a>, for the first time in Indian law acknowledges platform workers and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gig-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gig workers</strong></a> as new occupational categories. The bill attempts to define &lsquo;platform work&rsquo; outside of the traditional employment category.</p>
<p>The bill defines Platform work as a work arrangement outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship in which organisations or individuals use an online platform to access other organisations or individuals.</p>
<p>People working on digital platforms like Uber, Ola, Zomato, Swiggy and UrbanClap can be termed as Platforms workers.</p>
<p>The bill aims to bring digital labour platforms within the purview of new or existing employment and labour regulations in India. However, there is a lot to be done in order to ensure all relevant labour benefits for those working in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gig-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;gig economy&rsquo;.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Significance of Gig Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Providing Employment In Urban Areas:</strong> At the moment, the manufacturing sector in India is unable to provide employment opportunities to the youth. There is thus a mismatch between education and jobs skills in the market.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Governments have also been unable to create viable public work schemes in urban areas for those continuously migrating into cities and towns.</li>
<li>Gig Economy, however, has been able to provide employment opportunities in urban areas.</li>
<li>Due to this, the Governments now actively acknowledge that platforms provide work to the growing demographic of youth in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting Social Services:</strong> Central and many state governments have signed MOUs with several gig platforms to augment social services.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, Uber partnered with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></a> to facilitate free healthcare for drivers and delivery partners.</li>
<li>UrbanClap partnered with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/skoch-governance-gold-award-for-day-nulm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Urban Livelihoods Mission</strong></a> to generate jobs with minimum assured monthly wages for the urban poor.</li>
<li>In cases of informal jobs where it was difficult to identify workers for whom protection was to be given, platforms became vehicles to serve this purpose.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enabling Jobs For All Scenario:</strong> Gig economy based companies helps to create work, entrepreneurial opportunities and skill development.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the right ecosystem of public policy, platform work, and the government together can suggest an urban &lsquo;Jobs for All&rsquo;, a financialised employment guarantee scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need for Protection of Platform Workers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Benefits But Not Rights:</strong> Platform delivery people can claim benefits, but not labour rights.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Present legal framework does not allow them to go to court to demand better and stable pay, or regulate the algorithms that assign the tasks.</li>
<li>This also means that the government or courts cannot pull up platform companies for their choice of pay, or how long they ask people to work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arbitrary Action:</strong> During the last six months, many platform workers have unionised under the All India Gig Workers Union and have protested for continuous dip in pay.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, Swiggy workers have been essential during the pandemic. Even after that pay of Swiggy workers was reduced from ₹35 to ₹10 per delivery order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Experience:</strong> Many international agencies in the EU are demanding a move towards granting employee status to platform workers, thus guaranteeing minimum wage and welfare benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerability of Debt Trap:</strong> In order to enter the platform economy, workers rely on intensive loan schemes, often facilitated by platform aggregator companies.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This results in dependence on platform companies, driven by financial obligations, thus rendering them into the short- to middle-term debt trap.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues in the Security Code</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>No Guarantee of Benefits:</strong> In the Code on Social Security bill , 2020, platform workers are now eligible for benefits like maternity benefits, life and disability cover, old age protection, provident fund, employment injury benefits, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, eligibility does not mean that the benefits are guaranteed.</li>
<li>None of the provisions secure benefits, which means that from time to time, the Central government can formulate welfare schemes that cover these aspects of personal and work security, but they are not guaranteed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Fixed Responsibility:</strong> The Code states the provision of basic welfare measures as a joint responsibility of the Central government, platform aggregators, and workers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, it does not state which stakeholder is responsible for delivering what quantum of welfare.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need For Clarity:</strong> A categorical clarification could ensure that social security measures are provided to workers without compromising the touted qualities of platform work.</li>
<li><strong>Joint Accountability:</strong> There is a need for a socio-legal acknowledgement of the heterogeneity of work in the gig economy, and the ascription of joint accountability to the State and platform companies for the delivery of social services.</li>
<li><strong>Concerted Efforts:</strong> To mitigate operational breakdowns in providing welfare services, a tripartite effort by the State, companies, and workers to identify where workers fall on the spectrum of flexibility and dependence on platform companies is critical.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Platform workers were responsible for delivery of essential services during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> at great personal risk to themselves. This has cemented their role as public infrastructures who also sustain demand-driven aggregators.</p>
<p>However, vulnerability of platform workers that was exposed amidst the pandemic has presented a strong case to attribute a more robust responsibility to platform aggregator companies and the State.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604404616_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604404616_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" 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: #fffff2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Platform work can help establish the Gig economy to provide an urban &lsquo;Jobs for All&rsquo; scenario. Critically analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/silYIa4vBxo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/unasked-questions-in-the-power-sector/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Unasked questions in the power sector&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Economic Times on November 02<sup>nd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/security-in-gig-economy'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'UPI Transactions',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the data released by the <strong>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI),</strong> the total number of transactions conducted on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bhim-2-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharat Interface for Money-Unified Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI)</strong></a>, known more simply as the UPI, crossed the 2 billion transactions count in a month in October 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UPI</strong> is currently the<strong> biggest among the NPCI operated systems </strong>including <strong>National Automated Clearing House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS), Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), RuPay</strong> etc.</li>
<li><strong>Digital transactions</strong> were already on the rise but the <strong>lockdown imposed during the pandemic provided a thrust</strong> and the value of UPI transactions crossed the 200 crore-mark.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> had advised to <strong>resort to digital payment</strong> due to the threat of coronavirus spreading through physical exchange of currency. This resulted in businesses accepting mostly prepaid orders and in turn rise in digital transactions.</li>
<li>Further, after being able to conveniently pay utility bills and even receive cashback at times, people might now be preferring to transact digitally. So, <strong>their habit</strong> may have played an important role in this thrust.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s digital payments industry is<strong> likely to grow</strong> from Rs. 2,153 trillion at 27% Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to Rs. 7,092 trillion by 2025.</li>
<li>The <strong>growth is likely to come on the back</strong> of strong use cases of <strong>merchant payments,</strong> government policies including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-financial-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Dhan Yojana</strong></a>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">personal data protection bill</a></strong> along with the <strong>growth of MSMEs,</strong> growth of millennials and high <strong>smartphone penetration.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> threat of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybercrime</a></strong> on the global banking and financial services industry has increased amid the coronavirus pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>E.g.</strong> Malicious Software <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/malicious-software-cerberus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cerberus</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Fraudulent claims, chargebacks, fake buyer accounts, promotion/coupon abuse, account takeover, identity theft, card detail theft and triangulation frauds are emerging as challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Payments Corporation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of<strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks&rsquo; Association (IBA)</strong> under the provisions of the <strong>Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>&ldquo;Not for Profit&rdquo;</strong> Company under the provisions of<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-the-companies-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Section 25 of Companies Act 1956</strong></a> <strong>(now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013),</strong> with an intention to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system in India for <strong>physical</strong> as well as <strong>electronic</strong> payment and settlement systems.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Various NPCI Operated Systems</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bharat Interface for Money-Unified Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an initiative to enable fast, secure, reliable cashless payments through the mobile phone. BHIM is based on <strong>Unified Payment Interface (UPI)</strong> to facilitate e-payments directly through banks. It is an<strong> app.</strong></li>
<li><strong>UPI</strong> is an <strong>advanced version of Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) -</strong> round&ndash;the-clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments<strong> faster, easier and smoother.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is a system that <strong>powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application</strong> (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing &amp; merchant payments into one hood.</li>
<li>It also <strong>caters to the &ldquo;Peer to Peer&rdquo; collect request</strong> which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>AePS allows people to carry out financial transactions on a Micro-ATM by furnishing just their Aadhaar number and verifying it with the help of their fingerprint/iris scan.</li>
<li>This system adds another layer of security to financial transactions as <strong>bank details would no longer be required</strong> to be furnished while carrying out these transactions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It helps in electronic toll collection at toll plazas using FASTag.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/all-about-the-fastag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FASTag</strong></a> is a device that employs <strong>Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)</strong> technology for making toll payments directly while the vehicle is in motion.</li>
<li>FASTag (RFID Tag) is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables a customer to make the toll payments directly from the account which is linked to FASTag.</li>
<li>RFID tagging is a system that uses<strong> small radio frequency detection devices</strong> for identification and tracking purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Automated Clearing House (NACH):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a service offered by NPCI to banks which aims at facilitating interbank high volume, low value debit/credit transactions, which are repetitive and electronic in nature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Immediate Payment Service (IMPS):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It offers <strong>an instant 24X7 interbank electronic fund transfer service</strong> through mobile phones.</li>
<li>IMPS is an emphatic tool to transfer money instantly within banks across India through mobile, internet and ATM.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bharat Bill Payment System is a tiered structure for operating a unified bill payment system.</li>
<li><strong>NPCI</strong> functions as the authorised <strong>Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU),</strong> which is responsible for setting business standards, rules and procedures for technical and business requirements for all the participants.</li>
<li>Under BBPS, the <strong>Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)</strong> function as entities facilitating collection of repetitive payments for <strong>everyday utility services,</strong> such as, electricity, water, gas, telephone and Direct-to-Home (DTH).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>RuPay:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>RuPay is the<strong> first-of-its-kind domestic card payment network of India,</strong> with wide acceptance at ATMs, POS devices and e-commerce websites across India. It is a highly secure network that <strong>protects against anti-phishing.</strong></li>
<li>The name, derived from the words &lsquo;Rupee and &lsquo;Payment&rsquo;, emphasizes that it is India&rsquo;s very own initiative for Card payments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To further penetrate digital transactions, the government's constant push to digitisation through necessary education, digital rewards and incentives along with intelligent innovations in financial transactions focussed on improving customer experience is necessary.</li>
<li>Further, there is a need for the convergence of anti-money laundering, fraud and cybersecurity processes in Financial Institutions (FIs). This includes more information sharing, tightening due diligence requirements and investing in maintaining systems to strengthen their defences.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/upi-transactions-cross-2-billion-month-6915441/" 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/upi-transactions'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Mission Sagar - II',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in news</h3>
<p>As part of &lsquo;Mission Sagar-II&rsquo;, the Government of India is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Towards the same <strong>INS Airavat</strong> is delivering food aid for the people of <strong>Sudan.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Mission Sagar-II, follows the first<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-sagar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;Mission Sagar&rsquo;</strong> </a>undertaken in 2020.</li>
<li>As part of Mission Sagar-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to <strong>Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604400241_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604400241_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles</strong> along with <strong>La R&eacute;union</strong> are part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Commission</strong></a>. <strong>India has recently become an observer</strong> to the Commission.</li>
<li>The assistance is in line with India&rsquo;s role as the first responder in the <strong>Indian Ocean region.</strong></li>
<li>The deployment is also in consonance with the Prime Minister's vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)</strong></a></li>
<li>Earlier, India had sent <strong>Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari,</strong> carrying food items and medical assistance teams, to countries in the southern Indian Ocean to deal with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>as part of a<strong> "Mission Sagar"</strong> initiative.</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Significance of the Island Countries:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The strategic importance of these island nations is highlighted by their location along key <strong>Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).</strong></li>
<li>These islands are vital and can facilitate a navy&rsquo;s continuous presence along key international shipping routes, allowing a navy to patrol and secure SLOCs during peace times and an option to interdict and cut off an adversary&rsquo;s communications during times of conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/65th-anniversary-of-bandung-conference-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>65<sup>th</sup> anniversary</strong> </a>of the landmark <strong>Bandung Conference</strong> emphasized that members of the <strong>Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)</strong> must work to reduce the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable sections of society and promote <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-africa-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South-South cooperation.</strong></a></li>
<li>In the wake of the global pandemic<strong>, the</strong> International Solar Alliance (ISA) responded by setting up ISA CARES <strong>(like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PM-CARES</a> in India),</strong> an initiative dedicated to the deployment of solar energy in the healthcare sector.</li>
<li>With<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> <strong>and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade tensions between China and the United States</a></strong> are threatening supply chains, Japan has mooted the <strong>Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)</strong> as a trilateral approach to trade, with India and Australia as the key-partners.</li>
<li>The Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness for Innovation (CEPI), a global initiative, has named <strong>Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad</strong> as one of the six laboratories for assessing<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> vaccine candidates that are under development</li>
<li>India has contributed 10 million USD to <strong>SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund</strong> and manufactured essential drugs, Covid protection and testing kits, for countries in the SAARC region (<strong>Eg. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-sanjeevani" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Operation Sanjeevani</a></strong> for Maldives).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>SAGAR</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) was launched in 2015. It is India&rsquo;s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).</li>
<li>Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours and assist in building their maritime security capabilities.</li>
<li>Further, India seeks to safeguard its national interests and ensure Indian Ocean region to become inclusive, collaborative and respect international law.</li>
<li>The key relevance of SAGAR emerges when seen in conjunction with India&rsquo;s other policies impacting the maritime domain like <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East Policy</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-09th-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Sagarmala</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Mausam</strong></a>, India as &lsquo;net security provider&rsquo;, focus on<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Blue Economy</strong> </a>etc.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Other Important Groupings Associated with Indian Ocean Region</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)</strong></a> was established in 1997. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Naval Symposium:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-27th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Indian Ocean Naval Symposium&rsquo; (IONS)</strong></a> is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Commission:</strong> Recently, India has been approved as an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>observer of the Indian Ocean Commission</strong></a>, the inter-governmental organization that coordinates maritime governance in the south-western Indian Ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Asia Africa Growth Corridor:</strong> The idea of <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/07-01-2019#:~:text=The%20AAGC%20will%20bring%20out,people%20in%20Asia%20and%20Africa." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC)</strong> </a>emerged in the joint declaration issued by India and Japan in 2016.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The AAGC is raised on four pillars of Development and Cooperation Projects, Quality Infrastructure and Institutional Connectivity, Enhancing Capacities and Skills and People-to-People partnership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1669599" 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/mission-sagar-ii'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Ganga Utsav 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ganga Utsav 2020</strong> has begun which celebrates the glory of the <strong>National river Ganga.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ganga was declared as the National River of India on <strong>4<sup>th</sup> November 2008.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ganga Utsav:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-mission-for-clean-ganga#:~:text=National%20River%20Ganga%20Basin%20Authority,'National%20River'%20of%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Mission for Clean Ganga</strong></a> (NMCG) celebrates the festival every year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NMCG is the <strong>implementation wing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Ganga Council</a></strong>, set up in 2016, which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> three-day festival</strong> aims to <strong>promote stakeholder engagement and ensure public participation.</strong></li>
<li>It celebrates mystical and cultural river Ganga through storytelling, folklores, dialogues with eminent personalities, quizzes, displaying traditional art forms, dance and music performance by renowned artists, photo galleries and exhibitions and much more.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Programmes Held During the Festival:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ganga Task Force</strong> (GTF) conducted an <a href="/daily-news-analysis/ganga-vriksharopan-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>afforestation drive</strong></a> with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-the-ncc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Cadet Corps</strong></a> (NCC) cadets and educational tour for youth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GTF is a<strong> unit of battalion of ex-servicemen deployed in the services of the Ganga</strong> with the approval of the Ministry of Defence for the period of four years till December 2020.</li>
<li>It was approved by the Cabinet under the <strong>Public Participation component of the Namami Gange Programme</strong> and the <strong>first battalion was raised in March 2016.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mini <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ganga-quest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ganga Quest</a></strong>, designed to make youth and students aware of environmental issues and explain their role in conservation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ganga Quest is <strong>a pan India bilingual quiz</strong> to increase public participation in Namami Gange program and encourage the youth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestion on the innovative ways in which <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Namami Gange</a></strong> can engage in activities throughout the year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2014,</strong> Namami Gange Programme was launched to accomplish the<strong> twin objectives</strong> of <strong>effective abatement of pollution and conservation,</strong> and <strong>rejuvenation</strong> of Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives on River Ganga:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ganga Action Plan:</strong> It was the <strong>first river action plan</strong> which was taken up by the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 1985,</strong> to improve the water quality by the interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> National River Conservation Plan</strong> is an extension to this plan, which aims at<strong> cleaning the Ganga river under Ganga Action Plan phase-2.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National River Ganga Basin Authority:</strong> It was formed by the Government of India in the year <strong>2009</strong> under<strong> Section-3 of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environmental-impact-assessment-1#:~:text=On%2027%20January%201994%2C%20the,Schedule%201%20of%20the%20notification." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Environment Protection Act 1986.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Clean Ganga Fund: </strong>In<strong> 2014,</strong> it was formed for cleaning up of the Ganga, setting up of waste treatment plants and conservation of biotic diversity of the river.</li>
<li><strong>Bhuvan-Ganga Web App:</strong> It ensures the involvement of the public in the monitoring of pollution entering into the river Ganga.</li>
<li><strong>Ban on Waste Disposal:</strong> In <strong>2017,</strong> the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> (NGT) banned the disposal of any waste in the Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>River Ganga</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> longest river of India</strong> flowing over 2,510 km of mountains, valleys and plains and is<strong> revered by Hindus</strong> as the most sacred river on earth.</li>
<li>It <strong>originates in the snowfields of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/concentration-of-black-carbon-on-gangotri-glacier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gangotri Glacier</a></strong> <strong>in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/re-measuring-mount-everest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Himalayas</a></strong> as the Bhagirathi River and is joined by other rivers such as the Alaknanda, Yamuna, Son, Gumti, Kosi and Ghagra.</li>
<li>The Ganga river <strong>basin is one of the most fertile and densely populated areas</strong> of the world and covers an area of 1,000,000 sq. km.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gangetic-dolphins-found-in-mahananda-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ganges River Dolphin</strong> </a>is an <strong>endangered</strong> animal that specifically habitats this river.</li>
<li>The Ganga widens out into the <strong>Ganges Delta in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sunderbans-damaged-in-cyclone-amphan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sundarbans</a> swamp of Bangladesh,</strong> before it ends its journey by emptying into the Bay of Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604398820_image0.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604398820_image0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1669540#:~:text=Amidst%20COVID%2019%20precautions%2C%20Ganga,with%20much%20fun%20and%20festivities&amp;text=The%20much%2Dawaited%20Ganga%20Utsav,childhood%20in%20conversation%20with%20Mahiya." 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/ganga-utsav-2020'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Initiatives for Good and Vigilant Governance',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances</strong> (DARPG) has come up with new initiatives for good and vigilant governance on the last day of the <strong>Vigilance Awareness Week 2020.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launches and Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&ldquo;Ideas Box on Good Governance Practices in a Pandemic&rdquo;</strong> has been launched and operationalised both on the DARPG as well as on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Aim-&amp;-mygov-launches-innovate-india-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MyGov platform.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will crowdsource ideas related to good governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Social media tweets on the <strong>&ldquo;Best Practices in <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-governance</a>&rdquo;</strong> have been launched.</li>
<li>Round table discussion on <em><strong>&ldquo;Satark Bharat, Samriddh Bharat&rdquo;</strong> </em>(Vigilant India, Prosperous India) was held.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focused on key<strong> issues of preventive vigilance in the pursuit of <em>&ldquo;Naitik Bharat&rdquo;</em></strong> (Ethical India) which includes ethics training in public services, a social audit of ethical practices, development of measurable metrics for corruption and disproportionately high impact of corruption on governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vigilance Awareness Week:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/central-vigilance-commission-cvc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Vigilance Commission</strong> </a>(CVC) observes the Week every year during the week in which the <strong>birthday of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-unity-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel</a></strong> (31<sup>st</sup> October) falls.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> It <strong>affirms</strong> India&rsquo;s commitment to the promotion of integrity and probity in public life through citizen participation and reiterates Government&rsquo;s resolve to continue the crusade against corruption.</li>
<li><strong>Theme for 2020:</strong> In 2020, it was observed from 27<sup>th</sup> October to 2<sup>nd</sup> November with the theme of <em>&ldquo;Satark Bharat, Samriddh Bharat&rdquo;.</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives to Prevent and Curb Corruption:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rajya-sabha-passes-amendments-to-anti-corruption-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</strong> </a>to make the processes more equitable and reduce opportunities for corruption.</li>
<li>Introduction of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/lokpal-lokayukta-ombudsman-upsc-governance-transparency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lokpal and Lokayuktas.</strong></a></li>
<li>Scaled up disposal of cases by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/14th-anniversary-of-right-to-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Information Commission</strong></a> (CIC) and the DARPG.</li>
<li>Level playing field for employment opportunities to lower-level jobs by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-recruitment-agency-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Recruitment Agency</strong></a> (NRA).</li>
<li>Introduction of<strong> e-governance </strong>and<strong> Direct Benefit Scheme.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Other Related Legislations:<a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Right to Information Act 2005</a></strong>, <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/13-05-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/whistleblowers-protection-act#:~:text=The%20act%20establishes%20a%20mechanism,an%20inquiry%20into%20such%20disclosure." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Whistleblower Protection Act, 2014</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/changes-in-the-prevention-of-money-laundering-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prosecution-under-benami-act-stuck#:~:text=Benami%20Transactions%20(Prohibition)%20Amendment%20Act,or%20paid%20by%20another%20person." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2016</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Vigilance Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>independent body</strong> which is <strong>only responsible to the Parliament.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>apex vigilance institution</strong> monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government and advising various authorities in Central Government organisations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was set up by the Government in <strong>February 1964</strong> on the recommendations of the <strong>Committee on Prevention of Corruption,</strong> headed by <strong>K Santhanam.</strong></li>
<li>The Parliament enacted the <strong>Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003</strong> conferring <strong>statutory status</strong> on the CVC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> multi-member</strong> commission consisting of a <strong>Central Vigilance Commissioner</strong> (Chairperson) and <strong>not more than 2 Vigilance Commissioners</strong> (members).</li>
<li>They are <strong>appointed by the President</strong> on the recommendations of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Minister of Home Affairs (Member) and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People (Member).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tenure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term of office of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners is <strong>4 years</strong> from the date on which they enter their office or till they attain the <strong>age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1669488" 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/initiatives-for-good-and-vigilant-governance'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Government has<strong> extended the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)</strong> by one month till 30<sup>th</sup> November, 2020, or till such time that an amount of Rs. 3 lakh crore is sanctioned under the Scheme, whichever is earlier.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme was <strong>launched as part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package</a></strong> announced in May 2020 to mitigate the distress caused by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coronavirus</a>-induced lockdown</strong>, by providing credit to different sectors, especially <strong>Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). </strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To provide<strong> fully guaranteed and collateral free additional credit</strong> to MSMEs, business enterprises, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/interest-subvention-scheme-for-shishu-loan-accounts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MUDRA borrowers</strong></a> and individual loans for business purposes <strong>to the extent of 20% of their credit outstanding</strong> as on 29<sup>th</sup> February, 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>100% guarantee coverage</strong> is being provided by the <strong>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company,</strong> whereas<strong> Banks</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</strong></a> provide loans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Borrowers with <strong>credit outstanding up to Rs. 50 crore</strong> as on 29<sup>th</sup> February, 2020, and with <strong>an annual turnover of up to Rs. 250 crore</strong> are eligible under the Scheme. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On 1<sup>st</sup> August, the government <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-emergency-credit-line-guarantee-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">widened the scope</a> of the Rs. 3 lakh crore-ECLGS scheme</strong> by doubling the upper ceiling of loans outstanding and including certain loans given to professionals like doctors, lawyers and chartered accountants for business purposes under its ambit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tenor</strong> of loans provided under the Scheme is<strong> four years,</strong> including a moratorium of one year on principal repayment.</li>
<li><strong>Interest rates</strong> under the Scheme are capped at<strong> 9.25% for Banks</strong> and Financial Institutions (FIs), and <strong>14% for NBFCs. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Present Status:</strong> As per data uploaded by Member Lending Institutions on the ECLGS portal, an amount of Rs. 2.03 lakh crore has been sanctioned under the Scheme to 60.67 lakh borrowers so far, while an amount of Rs. 1.48 lakh crore has been disbursed.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCGTC is a<strong> private limited company</strong> incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in 2014, established by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, as a <strong>wholly owned company of the Government of India,</strong> to act as a common trustee company for multiple credit guarantee funds.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Credit guarantee programmes</strong> are designed to share the lending risk of the lenders and in turn, facilitate access to finance for the prospective borrowers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1669449" 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/emergency-credit-line-guarantee-scheme-1'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Growth in Manufacturing: PMI and NIBRI',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>As per the <strong>IHS Markit India Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI),</strong> India's <strong>manufacturing output showed the strongest growth in 13 years in October 2020</strong> amid robust sales growth.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Nomura India Business Resumption Index (NIBRI)</strong> has also shown improvement.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rise in PMI:</strong> The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index (PMI)<strong> rose from 56.8 in September to 58.9 in October,</strong> and pointed to the<strong> strongest improvement in the health of the sector</strong> in more than a decade (13 years).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is a <strong>third straight monthly improvement</strong> in PMI. In <strong>April,</strong> the index had slipped into <strong>contraction mode (27.4),</strong> after remaining in growth territory for 32 consecutive months.</li>
<li>In PMI parlance, a print <strong>above 50 means expansion,</strong> while <strong>a score below that denotes contraction.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improvement in NIBRI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NIBRI <strong>improved to 82.4 in October, a rise of 2.1 points</strong> from 80.3 in September and 73.6 in August.</li>
<li>It is the<strong> Japanese brokerage&rsquo;s weekly tracker</strong> of the <strong>pace of normalisation of economic activity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Upturn in Sales:</strong> The upturn in sales was the <strong>strongest since mid-2008.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A<strong> strong jump in</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-way-bills-during-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>e-way bills</strong> </a>(electronic permits for goods movement) has been seen for October, indicating that more goods were shipped within and across states in the month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rise in Export Orders:</strong> New export orders rose at a quicker pace, one that was the most pronounced in close to six years.</li>
<li><strong>Improvement in IIP:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/index-of-industrial-production-iip" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>index of industrial production (IIP)</strong> </a><strong>shrank 8% in August</strong> on a year-on-year basis, marking <strong>a marginally improvement</strong> compared with <strong>July</strong> when output <strong>contracted 10.8%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong> The compliance with government guidelines related to the Covid-19 pandemic caused<strong> a further reduction in employment.</strong> The fall was the <strong>seventh in consecutive months.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Purchasing Managers&rsquo; Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PMI is an <strong>indicator of business activity -</strong> both in the manufacturing and services sectors.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is<strong> calculated separately</strong> for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a <strong>composite index</strong> is also constructed.</li>
<li>The PMI summarizes whether <strong>market conditions as viewed by purchasing managers are</strong> expanding, neutral, or contracting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about <strong>current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.</strong></li>
<li>The headline PMI is a number from 0 to 100.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>PMI <strong>above 50 represents an expansion</strong> when compared to the previous month;</li>
<li>PMI<strong> under 50 represents a contraction,</strong> and</li>
<li>A reading at <strong>50</strong> indicates <strong>no change.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The PMI is<strong> usually released at the start of every month.</strong> It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity.</li>
<li>PMI is <strong>compiled by IHS Markit</strong> for more than 40 economies worldwide. IHS Markit is a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/october-data-indicators-hint-at-demand-revival-caution-prevails-6915411/" 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/growth-in-manufacturing-pmi-and-nibri'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Natural Gas Marketing Reforms',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/how-india-is-unbottling-the-gas-economy/article32984963.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;How India is unbottling the &lsquo;gas economy&rsquo;&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Businessline on 30/10/2020. It talks about the significance and steps for India to become a market economy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reforms-in-exploration-and-licensing-policy-oil-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Natural Gas Marketing Reforms</strong></a> were approved by the government of India. These were introduced with the objective to prescribe standard procedure to discover the market price of gas through a transparent and competitive e-bidding process.</p>
<p>Globally, natural gas has been gaining traction as a key alternative and an ideal fuel to support the energy shift in favour of cleaner and greener energy sources. India too is on its path to become a <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3#:~:text=Economic%20Sustainability%3A,all%20its%20forms%20and%20dimensions." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sustainable development</strong></a> and has set a vision to become <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-petroleum-natural-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>a gas-based economy.</strong></a></p>
<p>However, a well-functioning gas market will require the enabling regulatory framework to reduce entry/exit barriers, achieve balance between safeguarding the interests of customers pricing, delivery expectations and sellers returns expectations.</p>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Pursuit of Becoming Gas Economy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With its aim to increase the share of gas in the energy mix from the current 6% to about 15% by 2030, India has bolstered its efforts in making the environment favourable to ensure such an increase.</li>
<li>Gas markets will play a crucial role in achieving the national aspirations of increasing the share of gas.</li>
<li>Increasing domestic gas production has been a key government priority. Further, the plan to achieve<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-gas-grid-fuel-for-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;One Nation One Gas Grid&rsquo;</strong> </a>will shift Indian economy towards a gas-based economy.</li>
<li>A liquid and well-functioning domestic gas market, as also suggested by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-energy-review-2020-iea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)</strong></a>, would be a strong pillar for building gas economy in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Recent Reforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The latest reforms are with the intent to keep to the letter and spirit of ensuring marketing and pricing freedom for gas pricing in India.</li>
<li>They allow transparent price discovery based on e-bidding through an independent agency selected from a panel maintained by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons.</li>
<li>This permits affiliates to participate in the bidding process for sale of gas and allow marketing freedom to certain field development plans (FDPs) where production sharing contracts already provide pricing freedom.</li>
<li>This is to bring uniformity to the bidding process across various contractual regimes and policies to avoid ambiguity.</li>
<li>Such a platform will aid in expanding the gas industry by providing competitive and transparent pricing, flexibility in procurement and payment security.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Nascent Gas Sector:</strong> The gas makes only 6% of India&rsquo;s energy basket mix.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While the government is putting all its might, critics are quick to point out that domestic production is yet to take off and majority of India&rsquo;s gas requirement continues to be met through imports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Differential Pricing:</strong> Today, gas in India is sold at varied prices &mdash; the gas under administered price regime at $1.79 per mBtu and other domestic gas in the range of $4.5 to $5.5 per mBtu. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This hampers the evolution of a vibrant gas market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public Sector Domination:</strong> Almost 80 per cent of Indian domestic gas is produced from blocks given on nomination basis to national oil companies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, the obsolete technology and efficiency with the public sector hampers gas production as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Deregulation of Pricing:</strong> A key aspect of ensuring market reforms to boost gas economy, would be deregulation of pricing for domestically produced gas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will allow freedom to price and market domestic gas and in turn boost domestic production, making it more viable for players to invest.</li>
<li>Moreover, market-determined and affordable pricing would also boost industrial growth and economic competitiveness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Boosting Infrastructure:</strong> These markets have greatly benefited from factors such as open access to infrastructure, system operator, unbundled marketing and transport functions and market-friendly transport access and tariff besides strong pipeline infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Freeing Gas Markets:</strong> Through ensuring price benchmarks, it will drive competition across the value chain and stimulate investments in exploration and production along with downstream infrastructure. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, factors such as inclusion under GST and an overarching regulatory framework will also play an important role in boosting the overall gas markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India has currently gas pipeline infrastructure of around 16,000 km and plans to double the capacity in 2-3 years. Coupled with necessary policy and regulatory support, India can indeed accelerate its pace towards building a market-based gas economy.</p>
<p><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604318797_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Natural gas is an ideal fuel to support the energy shift in favour of cleaner and greener energy sources. Critically examine the potential of India becoming a gas based economy.</p>
</td>
</tr>
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