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Covid-19 Specific Memory T Cells

Why in News Recent studies have shown that people unexposed to and not infected with Covid-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2 or Novel Coronavirus) may still...

15 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Renaissance In Ayurveda

This article is based on “Renaissance in Ayurveda” which was published in The Indian Express on 20/06/2020. It traces the development...

14 Jul 2020 News Editorials
Retail Inflation Growth at 6.09%

Why in News Recently, the National Statistical Office (NSO) released the retail inflation data, which rose to 6.09% in the month of June,...

14 Jul 2020 News Analysis
India's Second Voluntary Review of SDGs

Why in News Recently, India has represented the second voluntary national review of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report titled as...

14 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Language of the Tangams

Why in News Recently, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh has released a book titled “Tangams: An Ethnolinguistic Study Of The Critically...

14 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Tiger Census 2018: Guinness Book of World Records

Why in News India’s 2018 Tiger Census has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s largest camera trapping...

14 Jul 2020 News Analysis
India Dropped from Chabahar Rail Project

Why in News Recently, Iran has decided to proceed with the Chabahar rail line construction on its own, citing delays from the Indian side in...

14 Jul 2020 News Analysis
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple Case

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court of India upheld the right of the Travancore royal family to manage the property of deity at Sree...

14 Jul 2020 News Analysis
App to Monitor Rice Fields: Paddy Watch

Why in News Researchers from University of Sydney in collaboration with other partners have been developing an app i.e. Paddy watch, which will act...

14 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Criminalisation of Politics

This article is based on “Owning up to criminalisation in politics” which was published in The Hindu on 10/07/2020. It talks about the...

13 Jul 2020 News Editorials
Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Introduction The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption. The GST is paid...

13 Jul 2020 Paper 3
Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise

Why in News The recently discovered comet C/2020 F3 will make its closest approach to the Earth at a distance of 64 million miles or 103 million...

13 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Flood Resistant Paddy: Assam

Why in News Recently, farmers from Golaghat district in Assam have cultivated new flood resistant paddy varieties to shift from the traditional...

13 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Itolizumab: Emergency Covid-19 Drug

Why in News Recently, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has cleared Itolizumab for restricted emergency use in Covid-19...

13 Jul 2020 News Analysis
FASTag Details for New Vehicle Registration

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has decided to ensure capturing of FASTag details while registering or...

13 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Disabled are Entitled to Same Benefits of SC/ST quota: SC

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court of India observed that persons suffering from disabilities are also socially backward and entitled to the...

13 Jul 2020 News Analysis
MoU between NATGRID and NCRB

Why in News Recently, the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Crime Records Bureau...

13 Jul 2020 News Analysis
Universal Social Security

This article is based on “India needs a universal social security system” which was published in The Hindustan Times on 08/07/2020. It...

11 Jul 2020 News Editorials
Rare Orchids in India

Why in News Recently, two rare orchid species i.e. Tiger orchids (Grammatophyllum speciosum) and Ground orchids (Eulophia obtusa) have been found to...

11 Jul 2020 News Analysis
National Fish Farmers Day 2020

Why in News Recently, a webinar was hosted by the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in...

11 Jul 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Covid-19 Specific Memory T Cells',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recent studies have shown that people unexposed to and not infected with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> (caused by <strong>SARS-CoV-2</strong> or<strong> Novel Coronavirus</strong>) may still exhibit <strong>T cell responses</strong> specific to other <strong>coronaviruses.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A huge number of adults are exposed to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> four different coronaviruses</strong></a> that cause <strong>common cold</strong> and studies have shown that <strong>20-50%</strong> of healthy people <strong>display SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The healthy people studied were those <strong>tested prior to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a></strong> or have not been infected with novel coronavirus.</li>
<li>Memory T cells protect against <strong>previously encountered pathogens.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is thought that <strong>SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses</strong> seen in healthy people might arise from <strong>memory T cells</strong> derived from<strong> exposure to &lsquo;common cold&rsquo; coronaviruses.</strong></li>
<li>However, it is <strong>not known</strong> that the presence of pre-existing immunity from memory T cells <strong>offers clinical relevance,</strong> when exposed to SARS-CoV-2.</li>
<li><strong>Measuring pre-existing immunity and correlating</strong> it with infection and severity of disease is the only way to find out its role in protection against SARS-CoV-2.</li>
<li>However, the<strong> relationship between the infections by and immunity</strong> from common cold coronavirus and <strong>age is not well established.</strong> That is why it is unclear why children do not show severe symptoms, while older people do.</li>
<li>These considerations underline how <strong>multiple variables may be involved</strong> in potential pre-existing partial immunity to Covid-19.</li>
<li><strong>Pros:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is believed that people with a high level of pre-existing memory T cells <strong>could mount a faster and stronger immune response</strong> upon exposure to the virus and thereby limit disease severity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>T cells could potentially<strong> facilitate an increased and more rapid neutralizing antibody response</strong> against the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The pre-existing immunity can<strong> reduce the immune responses</strong> that the vaccine causes through a mechanism called the <strong>&lsquo;original antigenic sin&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Original antigenic sin,</strong> also known as the <strong>Hoskins effect,</strong> refers to the propensity of the body's immune system to preferentially utilize immunological memory based on a previous infection when a second slightly different version of that foreign entity is encountered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can also lead to<strong> antibody-mediated disease enhancement,</strong> where antibodies present at sub-neutralising concentrations can actually <strong>augment virus infection and cause more severe disease.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>T Cells</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>T cells are so called because they are <strong>predominantly produced in the thymus.</strong></li>
<li>They recognise foreign particles (antigen) by a surface expressed, highly variable, T cell receptor (TCR).</li>
<li>There are two major types of T cells: <strong>the helper T cell</strong> and the <strong>cytotoxic T cell.</strong></li>
<li>As the names suggest, helper T cells &lsquo;help&rsquo; other cells of the immune system, whilst cytotoxic T cells kill virally infected cells and tumours.</li>
<li>The severity of disease can depend on the strength of these T cell responses.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/unexposed-people-may-have-covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells/article32052605.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Renaissance In Ayurveda',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/renaissance-in-ayurveda-coronavirus-healthcare-6467026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Renaissance in Ayurveda&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 20/06/2020. It traces the development of Ayurveda as a modern medicinal system and the challenges and solutions in this process.</p>
</div>
<p>Ayurveda, the ancient medical system, is considered as one of the best ways to treat diseases and to lead a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, it gained attention, as the government of India has pitched for use of Ayurvedic formulations to boost immunity in its efforts to fight <a href="/pdf/1593949713-coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<p>Further, the government has announced innovative clinical drug trials to evaluate the safe and effective use of selected and standardised Ayurvedic medicines in the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19.</p>
<p>Given the increasing significance of Ayurveda in treating modern diseases, it is now poised to truly and actively participate in the health and medical care system. Thus, there is a need to fast track its progress and transformation into a modern vibrant health and medical system.</p>
<p>However in undergoing such transformation there are several challenges and issues yet to be resolved.</p>
<h3>Significance Of Ayurveda</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In Ayurveda it is believed living man is a conglomeration of three humors (Vata, Pitta &amp; Kapha), seven basic tissues (Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja &amp; Shukra) and the waste products of the body i.e. mala, mutra and sweda.</li>
<li>The growth and decay of this body matrix and its constituents revolve psychological mechanisms of these elements and its balance is the main reason for the state of one&rsquo;s health.</li>
<li>The treatment approach in the Ayurveda system is holistic and individualized having preventive, curative, mitigative, recuperative and rehabilitative aspects.</li>
<li>The principal objectives of Ayurveda are maintenance and promotion of health, prevention of disease and cure of sickness.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Evolution Of Ayurveda</h3>
<p><strong>Pre-Independence Era:</strong> The British Raj considered Ayurveda unscientific, mystical and a religious belief and consequently was keen on destroying the system.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1835, the teaching of Ayurveda was suspended in the Calcutta Medical College.</li>
<li>The <strong>Bhore Committee recommendations</strong> were in favour of modern medicine thus Ayurveda did not get support to modernise in colonial times.</li>
<li>However, among Britishers, many orientalists indirectly benefited Ayurveda by recovering the vedic texts. It compelled its opponents to revisit Ayurveda and recognise the science within it.</li>
<li>Also, Indian freedom struggle and subsequent national uprising and social reforms infused new strength in Ayurveda.</li>
<li>During this time, many Ayurvedic physicians had organised themselves into a professional organisation, started publishing journals and were participating in the freedom struggle.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Bhore Committee was set up by the Government of India in 1943 under Sir Joseph William Bhore.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The major aim of the committee was to survey then existing position regarding the health conditions and health organisation in the country and to make recommendations for future development to improve the public health system in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Post-Independent India:</strong> It was suggested that Ayurveda be integrated with modern medicine. It was argued that a united system would be more perfect than the Ayurveda as an individual science.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Though there were islands of excellence in the old Ayurveda institutions in Kolkata, Benares, Haridwar, Indore, Pune, Mumbai,</li>
<li>In the post-1960s, there was a spurt in the growth of well-planned medical colleges and universities, especially in Gujarat and Kerala.</li>
<li><strong>However, Ayurveda got impetus by the establishment of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) Ministry</strong> in 2014.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has set up an efficient network of communications with all stakeholders and enabled education and research, conservation and preservation of Ayurveda.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges Related to Ayurveda</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ineffective Treatment in Emergency Cases:</strong> The inadequacies of Ayurveda in treating acute infections and other emergencies including surgery, and lack of meaningful research in therapeutics continue to limit the universal acceptance of Ayurveda.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ayurveda therapeutics are complex and there are too many dos and don&rsquo;ts.</li>
<li>Ayurvedic medicines are slow to act and heal. It is difficult if not impossible to predict response or prognosis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Homogeneity:</strong> The medical practices in Ayurveda are not uniform. It is because the medicinal plants used in it vary with geography and climate and local agriculture practices.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike Ayurveda, in modern medicine, the diseases are classified and treated as per prior set uniform criteria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Misleading Propaganda by Ayurvedic Pharmas:</strong> Ayurvedic pharmacopeia industry claimed that its manufacturing practices were consistent with the classic Ayurveda texts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For better market appeal of ayurvedic medicines, the pharmaceutical companies publicised many medicinal claims about their ayurvedic products without sufficient scientific basis.</li>
<li>This led to further obsession for drugs in the community and ailments requiring lifestyle correction were instead treated with poly-pharmacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Recognition:</strong> Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in the global interest in Ayurveda.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, several countries do not officially recognise Ayurveda as a medical field and have placed many restrictions on the use of Ayurvedic medicines.</li>
<li>In some countries, including the US, Ayurvedic drugs follow an abbreviated less stringent regulatory pathway for &ldquo;food and diet supplements&rdquo; and are sold over the counter not as medicines but as health products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Deep Knowledge :</strong> In 2004, a leading American journal reported heavy metal (arsenic, mercury, lead) content in some of the Ayurveda drugs sold in the US, way beyond the allowed safety limits.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This led to worldwide condemnation and the government made testing of heavy metals in herbal drugs compulsory and the industry was asked to follow WHO standards.</li>
<li>It damaged the image of Ayurveda. It remained unexplained that hundreds of Ayurveda herbal formulations contained metals and minerals that had therapeutic properties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sub-standard Research In Ayurveda:</strong> During the last five decades or so, research in Ayurveda was mainly confined to hundreds of drug trials using the normal procedures that are used in other medical systems.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Often it was found that standardisation of formulation and quality of methods and data in the study was substandard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: Facilitating Growth of Ayurveda</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reverse Pharmacology:</strong> A very interesting research development in Ayurveda was the conceptual framework of &ldquo;reverse pharmacology&rdquo;, which was championed by a researcher in Mumbai.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is defined as the science of integrating documented clinical experiences and experiential observations into leads, through transdisciplinary exploratory studies, to develop these into drugs.</li>
<li>In the conventional model, the pharmacological research precedes clinical validation by several years and the entire process may take 15-20 years and cost billions of dollars before a successful drug is launched in the community.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI): <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenous-fuel-cell-system#:~:text=It%20is%20developed%20under%20the,Leadership%20Initiative%20(NMITLI)'." target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative programme</a></strong> is a flagship scheme to catalyze innovation centered scientific and technological developments as a vehicle to attain for Indian industry a global leadership position.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It seeks to build, capture and retain for India a leadership position by synergising the best competencies of publicly funded R&amp;D institutions, academia and private industry</li>
<li>The Ayurvedic medicine system is one area of promising industrial potential for India on a global scale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Emulating Kerala Model:</strong> In this roller coaster journey since independence, there has been one bright exception, the state of Kerala, where Ayurveda continues to occupy a unique position in the health and medical care sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kerala has been promoting Ayurveda as a way of improving immunity in the general population. It promotes Ayurvedic formulations and recommends Ayurveda practices to all demographics of its population.</li>
<li>The Kerala model has been lauded across the globe for its effectiveness in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
<li>The state has taken several steps to keep its case count low, and one of them is a focus on improving the immunity levels of people, using Ayurveda.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Though deeply rooted in antiquity and Hindu civilisation, Ayurveda has carried forward some of the finest traditions in healing and cure the world has ever seen. Moreover, it has undergone some transformation to suit modern India, but more is required.</p>
<p>Thus, there is a need for state patronage, so that Ayurveda can claim its rightful place along with modern medicine as a mainstream medicinal system.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594725052_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594725052_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="429" /></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: #fffced;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>With increased significance of Ayurveda in treating modern diseases, it is now poised to truly and actively participate in the health and medical care system.Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uYLx_CYLQak" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/sure-power-the-hindu-editorial-on-indias-solar-strategy/article32060269.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Sure Power&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on July 13<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Retail Inflation Growth at 6.09%',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Statistical Office (NSO)</strong></a> released the retail inflation data, which rose to <strong>6.09%</strong> in the month of June, 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Retail inflation is measured by the <strong>Consumer Price Index (CPI).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The retail inflation growth was mainly due to a rise in <strong>pulses and products</strong> prices that saw a <strong>16.68%</strong> on-year rise in June. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from pulses and products segment, the<strong> meat and fish</strong> segment saw a rise of <strong>16.22%,</strong> while that of <strong>oils and fats</strong> rose 12.27% and <strong>spices</strong> prices gained <strong>11.74%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The retail inflation has grown beyond 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&rsquo;s (RBI)</strong></a> <strong>upper margin of 6%.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Central government has mandated the RBI to keep inflation within the range of 4&plusmn;2%.</li>
<li>This <strong>inflation range (4% within a band of +/- 2%) was recommended by the committee headed by Urjit Patel in 2014.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NSO also released the<strong> Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)</strong> data which measures the inflation in the food basket.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The CFPI stood at 7.87% in the month of June. The CFPI for May was revised to 9.20%.</li>
<li>The reduction in CFPI is because of ease in supply related issues post lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government<strong> has not released the retail inflation data for April and May.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The price collection of Consumer Price Index (CPI) through personal visits of price collectors was suspended due to the announcement of nation-wide lockdown to contain spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Inflation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inflation refers to the <strong>rise in the prices of most goods and services</strong> of daily or common use, such as food, clothing, housing, recreation, transport, consumer staples, etc.</li>
<li>Inflation measures the average price change in a basket of commodities and services over time.</li>
<li>Inflation is indicative of the <strong>decrease in the purchasing power</strong> of a unit of a country&rsquo;s currency. This could ultimately lead to a deceleration in economic growth.</li>
<li>However, a <strong>moderate level of inflation is required in the economy</strong> to ensure that production is promoted.</li>
<li>In India, the NSO under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation measures inflation.</li>
<li>In India, inflation is primarily measured by two main indices &mdash; <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WPI (Wholesale Price Index)</a> and CPI (Consumer Price Index)</strong> which measure wholesale and retail-level price changes, respectively.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Consumer Price Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It measures price changes from the <strong>perspective of a retail buyer.</strong></li>
<li>The CPI calculates the difference in the price of commodities and services such as food, medical care, education, electronics etc, which Indian consumers buy for use.</li>
<li>The CPI has several sub-groups including food and beverages, fuel and light, housing and clothing, bedding and footwear.</li>
<li>Four types of CPI are as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>CPI for Industrial Workers (IW).</strong></li>
<li><strong>CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).</strong></li>
<li><strong>CPI for Rural Labourer (RL).</strong></li>
<li><strong>CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined).</strong></li>
<li>Of these, the first three are compiled by the Labour Bureau in the <strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment.</strong> Fourth is compiled by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Base Year</strong> for CPI is <strong>2012.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/repo-rate-unchanged-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)</strong></a> uses CPI data to control inflation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/india-june-2020-cpi-retail-inflation-data-6503751/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'India's Second Voluntary Review of SDGs',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has represented the <strong>second voluntary national review of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</a></strong> report titled as <strong>&lsquo;Decade of Action: Taking SDGs from Global to Local&rsquo; </strong>to the<strong> United Nations High-level Political Forum.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report, presented by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a>, discusses SDGs related policy, means of implementation and situation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> in India.</li>
<li>It presented the<strong> first</strong> voluntary national review of SDGs in <strong>2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Localising SDGs:</strong> The goal wise account of the progress on SDGs has been represented with examples of a range of diverse practices and success stories of interventions from the States, specifically <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational Districts.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong> Highlighted the challenges thrown up by the Covid-19 outbreak, India has called on developed countries to provide <strong>financial assistance</strong> to the developing countries, especially for <strong>global public good such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> mitigation and control of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemics</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a study conducted by the government in partnership with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong></a> &mdash; education, health, electricity, roads and water and sanitation &mdash; will require additional funding for &ldquo;significant&rdquo; progress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Curbing Illicit Financial Flows:</strong> Deliberating on the &ldquo;SDG-17&rdquo; that is about &ldquo;partnerships for the goals&rdquo;, the report highlighted the need for international cooperation for curbing illicit financial flows.</li>
<li><strong>Efforts to curb the Covid-19:</strong> It mentioned the vulnerabilities faced by the migrants and the urban poor in the wake of the pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is leading a multi-faceted effort to revamp the public health infrastructure, protect jobs and livelihoods to reduce the impact of the Covid-19.</li>
<li>Government has announced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>economic relief packages</strong></a> for them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations High-Level Political Forum</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Formed in 2013, it is a subsidiary body of both the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations General Assembly</strong></a> and the<strong> United Nations Economic and Social Council</strong> responsible for the entire organization's policy on sustainable development.</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> New York, USA</li>
<li>It adopts negotiated declarations, reviews commitment and the progress of the<strong> 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</strong></li>
<li>Member countries are required to apprise about the progress in the form of<strong> Voluntary National Review reports (VNRs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The VNRs that are presented by the member states are a critical component of the <strong>review of the implementation and progress</strong> of 2030 Agenda and SDGs.</li>
<li>The process of the preparation of a country&rsquo;s VNR provides a platform for the partnerships, which includes the participation of various stakeholders.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s VNR in 2020 undertook a paradigm shift in terms of embodying a <strong>&lsquo;whole of society&rsquo; approach</strong> in letter and spirit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been prepared with the help of sub-national and local governments, civil society organizations, local communities, people in vulnerable situations and the private sector.</li>
<li>NITI Aayog has the mandate of overseeing the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-calls-for-developed-nations-to-assist-developing-ones-6504482/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIndia%20reiterates%20that%20the%20developed,%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20the%20report%20titled%20%E2%80%9C" 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/india-s-second-voluntary-review-of-sdgs'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Language of the Tangams',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh has released a book titled <strong>&ldquo;Tangams: An Ethnolinguistic Study Of The Critically Endangered Group of Arunachal Pradesh&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The book has valuable data on <strong>endangered oral narratives</strong> like ritual songs, lamentation songs, lullabies and festival songs in<strong> Tangam language</strong> spoken by the Tangam community, which has <strong>reportedly 253 speakers left now.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tangam People:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a little-known community within the larger <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tribal-lockdown-rituals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh</strong></a> which resides in the <strong>hamlet of Kugging in Upper Siang district&rsquo;s Paindem circle.</strong></li>
<li>For long, the only account of the Tangams could be found in a book,<strong> &ldquo;Tangams&rdquo; (1975)</strong> where the community&rsquo;s population was pegged at 2,000 spread across 25 villages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tangam Language:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tangam is an <strong>oral language that belongs to the Tani group,</strong> under the greater <strong>Tibeto-Burman language family.</strong></li>
<li>It has been marked <strong>&lsquo;critically endangered&rsquo;</strong> by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO</strong></a> <strong>World Atlas of Endangered Languages</strong> (2009).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594719584_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594719584_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons for its Decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low population:</strong> Smaller languages are more vulnerable and extinction is directly proportional to population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Another <strong>critically endangered language is Meyor</strong> but it is better off than Tangam because the community has a population of around 1,000 people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multilingualism:</strong> Tangams have become<strong> multilingual over time</strong> to communicate with their neighbours.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Kugging is surrounded by a number of villages inhabited by Adi subgroups such as Shimong, Minyongs, as well as the Buddhist tribal community of Khambas, among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Less or No Use of Tangam:</strong> They rarely speak their own language now because their population is restricted to a single village. Moreover, they are relatively unknown even within the state so there was no possibility of its expansion.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Development and Infrastructure:</strong> The village lacks proper infrastructure in all basic sectors of education, health, drinking water facilities, road and electricity. Not a single person from the community has gone to a university.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Languages of Arunachal Pradesh</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There has been <strong>no systematic, scientific or official survey</strong> on the number of languages in Arunachal Pradesh till recently.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An <strong>official linguistic survey</strong> by the state government began only in <strong>2018,</strong> which is currently underway.</li>
<li>Before that, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protection-and-preservation-of-endangered-language" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>People&rsquo;s Linguistic Survey of India</strong></a> was published in <strong>2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to experts, there are <strong>around 32-34 languages</strong> with a disclaimer that it is <strong>not a conclusive figure.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If various linguistic varieties or dialects embedded within these languages are enlisted then the numbers can go up to 90.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The languages of Arunachal Pradesh have been <strong>classified under the Sino-Tibetan language family</strong> and <strong>more specifically under the Tibeto-Burman and Tai group of languages,</strong> such as Lolo-Burmish, Bodhic, Sal, Tani, Mishmi, Hruissh and Tai.</li>
<li>The <strong>education system introduced Devanagari, Assamese and Roman scripts</strong> for most tribal languages but<strong> new scripts such as Tani Lipi and Wancho Script</strong> have been developed by native scholars as well.</li>
<li>According to the UNESCO Atlas of the World&rsquo;s Languages in Danger,<strong> more than 26 languages</strong> of Arunachal Pradesh have been identified as endangered with the<strong> degrees ranging from &lsquo;unsafe&rsquo;, &lsquo;definitely endangered&rsquo; to &lsquo;critically endangered&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Risks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>diversity of languages</strong> has led various communities to<strong> depend on English, Assamese and Arunachalee Hindi as the link languages.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> younger generation</strong> of various tribes, especially in the urban areas, <strong>has mostly discarded</strong> the use of their mother tongue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study for the book took a multidisciplinary approach by taking into account not only language but also rituals, folklore, food habits, belief systems, etc.</li>
<li>The book will help future children retain their unique identity as an ethnolinguistic group and will appeal to those interested in ethnolinguistics, anthropology and folkloristics of lesser studied tribes.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-language-of-the-tangams-with-just-253-speakers-6503165/" 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/language-of-the-tangams'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Tiger Census 2018: Guinness Book of World Records',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s 2018 Tiger Census</strong> </a>has made it to the <strong>Guinness Book of World Records</strong> for being the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest camera trapping wildlife survey.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has also fulfilled its resolution to double the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-conservation-of-tigers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tiger</strong></a> numbers made at St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010, before the target year of 2022.</li>
<li>The tiger numbers in India have increased from around 1500 in 2010 to 2976 in 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Comprehensive:</strong> The <strong>fourth cycle</strong> of the<strong> Tiger Census 2018,</strong> conducted in 2018-19 is the most comprehensive in terms of both resource and data recorded.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It counted <strong>2976 tigers</strong> which is <strong>75%</strong> of the global tiger population.</li>
<li>The census is done quadrennially (every four years) by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority</a> (NTCA)</strong> with technical help from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rhinos-to-be-re-introduced-in-uttarakhand#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20Uttarakhand%20State%20Wildlife,more%20would%20be%20added%20subsequently." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is done with cooperation from the state Forest Departments and partners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Methods:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Camera traps</strong> were placed at multiple locations across different sites and surveyed an effective area of 121,337 square kilometres. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Camera Traps</strong> are<strong> outdoor photographic devices</strong> fitted with motion sensors that start recording when an animal passes by.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also conducted extensive<strong> foot surveys</strong> that sampled habitat plots for vegetation and prey dung.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Identification:</strong> From these photographs 83% of the total tiger population were identified using <strong>stripe-pattern-recognition software.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The software helps to match a new image of a tiger already in the database, based on the pattern of stripes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Project Tiger</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in <strong>1973</strong> with 9 tiger reserves for conserving our national animal, the tiger.</li>
<li>It is an ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforming-centrally-sponsored-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme</strong></a> of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.</li>
<li>Currently, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 50 Tiger reserves, spread out in 18 tiger range states which amounts to around 2.21% of the geographical area of our country.</li>
<li>The tiger reserves are <strong>constituted on a core/buffer strategy.</strong> The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple use area.</li>
<li>The <strong>NTCA</strong> was <strong>launched in 2005,</strong> following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. It is a <strong>statutory body of the Ministry,</strong> with an overarching supervisory/coordination role, performing functions as provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.</li>
<li><strong>M-STrIPES</strong> (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) is an <strong>app based monitoring system,</strong> launched across Indian tiger reserves by the NTCA in 2010. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The system would enable field managers to assist intensity and spatial coverage of patrols in a geographic information system (GIS) domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Tiger<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594719000_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594719000_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Panthera tigris</em></li>
<li><strong>Indian Sub Species:</strong> <em>Panthera tigris tigris.</em></li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> It stretches from Siberian temperate forests to <strong>subtropical and tropical forests on the Indian subcontinent</strong> and Sumatra.</li>
<li>It is the largest cat species and a member of the genus Panthera.</li>
<li>Traditionally<strong> eight subspecies of tigers</strong> have been recognized, out of which <strong>three are extinct.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bengal Tigers:</strong> Indian Subcontinent</li>
<li><strong>Caspian tiger:</strong> Turkey through central and west Asia <strong>(extinct).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Amur tiger:</strong> Amur Rivers region of Russia and China, and North Korea</li>
<li><strong>Javan tiger:</strong> Java, Indonesia <strong>(extinct).</strong></li>
<li><strong>South China tiger:</strong> South central China.</li>
<li><strong>Bali tiger:</strong> Bali, Indonesia <strong>(extinct).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sumatran tiger:</strong> Sumatra, Indonesia.</li>
<li><strong>Indo-Chinese tiger:</strong> Continental south-east Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Designated as the National Animal of India, Bengal Tiger is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange-brown fur with a lighter underside.</li>
<li><strong>Importance:</strong> Tigers are terminal consumers in the ecological food pyramid, and their conservation results in the conservation of all trophic levels in an ecosystem.</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong> Habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation and poaching.</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</a>: Schedule I</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong> </a>Red List:<strong> Endangered.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)</a>: Appendix I.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tiger Reserves in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Total Number: 50</strong></li>
<li><strong>Largest: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nagarjunasagar-srisailam-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve</a></strong>, Andhra Pradesh</li>
<li><strong>Smallest: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dehing-patkai-wildlife-sanctuary-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orang National park</a></strong>, Assam</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mainpage.aspx" 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/tiger-census-2018-guinness-book-of-world-records'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'India Dropped from Chabahar Rail Project',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Iran has decided to proceed with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-firm-takes-over-chabahar-port-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chabahar</strong></a> rail line construction on its own, citing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-not-making-promised-investments-in-chabahar-port-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>delays from the Indian side</strong> </a>in beginning and funding the project.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Chabahar Port</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Chabahar port is located on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-sankalp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf of Oman</strong></a> and is only 72 km away from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/viability-of-bri-and-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gwadar port</strong> </a><strong>in Pakistan</strong> which has been <strong>developed by China.</strong></li>
<li>The port serves as the <strong>only oceanic port of Iran</strong> and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594715104_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594715104_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Iran has inaugurated the track-laying process for the <strong>628 km Chabahar-Zahedan rail line,</strong> which will be <strong>extended to Zaranj across the border in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
<li>The entire project would be <strong>completed by March 2022</strong> and Iranian Railways will use approximately <strong>USD 400 million</strong> from the<strong> Iranian National Development Fund.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed the <strong>trilateral agreement</strong> which entailed the establishment of <strong>Transit and Transport Corridor</strong> among the three countries using Chabahar port in Iran as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation.</li>
<li>Construction of a rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the border with Afghanistan as an alternate trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, was also a part of it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The state-owned <strong>Indian Railways Construction Ltd.</strong> (IRCON) had signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding</strong> (MoU) with the <strong>Iranian Rail Ministry</strong> and promised to provide all services, superstructure work and financing (around USD 1.6 billion).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Chabahar port is being considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by the three countries with other Central Asian countries in the wake of<strong> Pakistan denying transit access to India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite several site visits by IRCON engineers and preparations by Iranian railways, <strong>India never began the work,</strong> worrying that it could attract <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/chabahar-port-us-sanctions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sanctions by the USA.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has already <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iran-sanctions-india-lines-up-alternative-sources" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zeroed out its oil imports from Iran</strong></a> due to USA sanctions.</li>
<li>The USA had provided a sanctions waiver for the Chabahar port and the rail line but it was <strong>difficult to find equipment suppliers and partners</strong> due to worries of being targeted by the USA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another reason could be the<strong> &lsquo;Comprehensive Plan for Cooperation between Iran and China&rsquo;</strong> which is a <strong>25-year and USD 400 billion strategic partnership deal.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both nations are <strong>close to finalising</strong> the deal, which will <strong>include Chinese involvement</strong> in Chabahar&rsquo;s duty-free zone, an oil refinery nearby and possibly a larger role in Chabahar port as well.</li>
<li>The cooperation will extend from<strong> investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and upgrading energy and transport</strong> facilities, to <strong>refurbishing ports, refineries and other installations</strong> and will commit Iranian oil and gas supplies to China during that period.</li>
<li>Iran proposed a tie-up between the Chinese-run Pakistani port at Gwadar and Chabahar in 2019 and offered interests to China in the <strong>Bandar-e-Jask port</strong> 350 km away from Chabahar, as well as in the Chabahar duty-free zone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Iran-China deal <strong>impinges on India&rsquo;s strategic ties with Iran</strong> and the use of Chabahar port. Bandar-e-Jask lies to the west of Chabahar and right before the Strait <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strait-of-hormuz-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>of Hormuz</strong></a> which would <strong>allow China to extend its control along the Pakistan-Iran coast.</strong></li>
<li>Each of these possibilities<strong> should be watched closely</strong> by India and it should <strong>strengthen its relations</strong> with the concerned countries.</li>
<li>As an emerging power, India cannot remain confined to South Asia and a peaceful extended neighbourhood (Iran-Afghanistan) is not only good for trade and energy security but also plays a <strong>vital role in India's aspirations of becoming a superpower.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/iran-drops-india-from-chabahar-rail-project-cites-funding-delay/article32072428.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-dropped-from-chabahar-rail-project'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'The Padmanabhaswamy Temple Case',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3 style="padding-left: 30px;">Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong></a> <strong>upheld the right of the Travancore royal family</strong> to manage the property of deity at <strong>Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple</strong> in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Temple has been in the news since 2011 after the discovery of treasure worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore in its underground vaults.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court (SC)<strong> reversed the 2011 Kerala High Court decision,</strong> which had directed the Kerala government to set up a trust to control the management and assets of the temple.</li>
<li>The High Court (HC) had ruled that the<strong> successor to the erstwhile royals could not claim to be in control of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple</strong> after the <strong>amendment of definition of &lsquo;Ruler&rsquo; in Article 366 (22)</strong> of the Constitution of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The definition of Ruler was amended by the <strong>Twenty Sixth (Constitutional) Amendment Act, 1971,</strong> which abolished the privy purses.</li>
<li>Article 366 (22) reads, &ldquo;Ruler&rdquo; means the Prince, Chief or other person who, at any time before the commencement of the Twenty Sixth (Constitutional) Amendment Act, 1971, was recognised as the Ruler of an Indian State or was recognised as the successor of such Ruler.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the SC rejected this and said that, <strong>as per customary law,</strong> the members of the royal family have the <strong>shebait rights</strong> even after the death of the last ruler.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Shebait rights means right to manage the financial affairs of the deity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The SC held that, <strong>for the purpose of shebait rights the definition of Ruler would apply</strong> and would transfer to the successor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Administrative Committees:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SC accepted the submission of the royal family that the temple is a <strong>public temple,</strong> and directed setting up of an<strong> administrative committee with the Thiruvananthapuram District Judge as its chairperson,</strong> for its transparent administration in the future.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The other members of the Committee would be a nominee of the trustee (royal family), the chief thanthri of the temple, a nominee of the State and a member nominated by the Union Ministry of Culture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The SC<strong> also ordered a second committee</strong> to be constituted to advise the administrative committee on policy matters. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This would be <strong>chaired by a retired High Court judge</strong> nominated by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The primary duties of the two committees would be to preserve the treasures and properties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the <strong>Instrument of Accession</strong> signed between the princely states and the Government of India, the administration of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple was <strong>vested in trust in the Ruler of Travancore,</strong> since 1949.</li>
<li><strong>In 1971, privy purses to the former royals were abolished</strong> through a constitutional amendment stripping their entitlements and privileges.</li>
<li>In 1991, when the last ruler of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, passed away, his brother Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma took over the temple management.</li>
<li>This created a furore that he had no legal right to claim the control or management of the temple.</li>
<li>However, the royal family continued to manage the affairs of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple till the Kerala High Court in 2011 ruled that the family cannot continue to exert its shebait rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594714198_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to Historians, the temple dates back to the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> century</strong> but the present structure was built in the 18<sup>th</sup> century by the then Travancore <strong>Maharaja Marthanda Varma.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The temple was initially made of wood but later it was constructed with granite.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The temple is built in the unique <strong>Chera style of architecture,</strong> and its <strong>main deity is Lord Vishnu</strong> who is found in the <strong>Anantha Shayana posture</strong> (reclined posture of eternal yoga) on <strong>Adishesha</strong> or king of all serpents.</li>
<li>It is known to be <strong>one of the 108 holy temples associated with Vaishnavism in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-upholds-right-of-erstwhile-travancore-royal-family-in-administration-of-keralas-sree-padmanabhaswamy-temple/article32063310.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/the-padmanabhaswamy-temple-case'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'App to Monitor Rice Fields: Paddy Watch',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers from University of Sydney in collaboration with other partners have been developing an app i.e.<strong> Paddy watch,</strong> which will act as the <strong>first real-time monitoring platform for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/direct-seeding-of-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rice</a> fields.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The project has been undertaken in collaboration with <strong>Google Earth</strong> and the <strong>Group on Earth Observations (GEO).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development of the App:</strong> The Paddy watch is being developed in partnership with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iari-breeds-nutrient-rich-hybrid-maize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Agricultural Research Institute</strong></a>, India along with the research institutes from different countries i.e. China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These five countries hold the position of the largest rice-producing countries across the globe.</li>
<li>Among these, <strong>India, China and Indonesia</strong> are the world&rsquo;s three largest producers of rice and together account for about <strong>60% of the total</strong> world production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functioning:</strong> The <strong>real-time land-use data</strong> will be generated using<strong> Google Earth</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/edge-computing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cloud computing technology</strong></a>, and will be verified by field operators in partner countries to ensure accuracy of rice production worldwide.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Digital Agriculture:</strong> The app would work on <strong>deep-learning techniques</strong> (works on the idea of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a>) to forecast crop yields and water consumption.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This type of technology would enhance the world's confidence to feed the population in a sustainable way.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accurate Information:</strong> Accurate and up-to-date information on rice planted and harvested can be achieved through the app. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It would allow <strong>farmers, agricultural scientists, non-government organisations and government planners</strong> to manage land use to<strong> ensure <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food security</a></strong> in the world&rsquo;s rice bowls.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Therefore, helps in meeting the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a>-mandated <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sustainable development goal</strong></a> No.2 &mdash; of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-how-can-india-overcome-the-zero-hunger-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Zero Hunger.&rsquo;</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It would help in water management and <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-ensuring-water-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>water security</strong></a> by predicting the use of water for the rice fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GreenHouse Gas Emission:</strong> As paddy fields release methane, a significant component to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/greenhouse-gas-levels-reach-record-highs-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>greenhouse gases</strong></a>, the app would help in the estimation of the emission and impact of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Policy Formulation:</strong> The information collected through the app would also help the associated partners to develop policies for education, economic growth, gender equity, and reduction of social inequality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Group on Earth Observations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GEO is a unique <strong>global network</strong> connecting government institutions, academic and research institutions, data providers and scientists to benefit the world by comprehensive and sustained Earth observations.</li>
<li>It coordinates international efforts to build a <strong>Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to produce a <strong>global public infrastructure</strong> that generates, near-real-time environmental data, information and analyses for a wide range of users and mitigation of global issues like climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/economy/first-real-time-digital-platform-to-monitor-rice-fields-can-bolster-food-security-72264" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/app-to-monitor-rice-fields-paddy-watch'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Criminalisation of Politics',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/owning-up-to-criminalisation-in-politics/article32035186.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Owning up to criminalisation in politics&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 10/07/2020. It talks about the menace of criminalisation of politics in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Upcoming Bihar elections in October 2020, will be the first election where the Supreme Court's decision (given in february 2020) that requires political parties to publish the entire criminal history of their candidates for elections along with the reasons to field such suspected criminals, will be implemented.</p>
<p>This judgement also requires such information mandatorily be published in a local and national newspaper as well as the parties&rsquo; social media handles.</p>
<p>While the judgment may have far-reaching consequences for curbing criminalisation of politics, yet still a lot has to be done to make a cleaner electoral process in India.</p>
<h3>Significance of the Judgment</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-order-on-criminalisation-of-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>order by the Supreme Court</strong></a> is in line with<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/curbing-criminalisation-of-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> a series of judgments</strong> </a>aimed at preserving the purity of the election process. Some of the judgements are as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Directions to ensure the asset disclosure and criminal records of candidates.</li>
<li>The incorporation of the &lsquo;none of the above&rsquo; option in the voting machine.</li>
<li>Invalidation of a clause that protected sitting legislators from immediate disqualification after conviction.</li>
<li>Establishment of special courts in all States for the quick disposal of cases involving elected representatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The political party and its leadership would for the first time have to publicly own up to criminalisation of politics, which they had been denying it all these years.</li>
<li>The judgment assumes importance amid the steady deterioration in politics over decades, with the decline accelerating in the last two decades.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2004, 24% of the Members of Parliament had criminal cases pending against them. It shot up to 30% in 2009 and 34% in 2014.</li>
<li>In 2019 as many as 43% of MPs had criminal cases pending against them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons of Criminalisation of Politics</h3>
<p><strong>Lack of Political Will:</strong> Majorly whatever progress made in curbing criminalisation of politics has been through the initiative of the Supreme Court and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission.</strong> </a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, it is parliament's responsibility to amend the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/representation-of-people-s-act-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Representation of the People (RPA) Act 1951</strong></a>, which deals with disqualification of candidates against whom charges have been proved in court for serious offences.</li>
<li>In spite of taking appropriate measures to amend the RPA Act, there has been an unsaid understanding among the political parties which deters Parliament to make strong law curbing criminalisation of politics.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lack of Enforcement:</strong> Several laws and court judgments have not helped much, due to the lack of enforcement of laws and judgments. For example, blatant violation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/model-code-of-conduct-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Model Code of Conduct</strong></a>, as seen in almost all elections.</p>
<p><strong>Narrow Self-interests:</strong> Publishing of the entire criminal history of candidates fielded by political parties may not be very effective, as a major chunk of voters tend to vote through a narrow prism of community interests like caste or religion.</p>
<p><strong>Use of Muscle and Money Power:</strong> Candidates with serious records seem to do well despite their public image, largely due to their ability to finance their own elections and bring substantive resources to their respective parties.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also, sometimes voters are left with no options, as all competing candidates have criminal records.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Effect of Criminalisation of Politics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Against the Principle of Free and Fair Election:</strong> Using money and muscle power in elections, limits the choice of voters to elect a suitable candidate. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, it is against the ethos of free and fair election which is the bedrock of a democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affecting Good Governance:</strong> The major problem is that the law-breakers become law-makers, this affects the efficacy of the democratic process in delivering good governance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These unhealthy tendencies in the democratic system reflect a poor image of the nature of India&rsquo;s state institutions and the quality of its elected representatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affecting Integrity of Public Servants:</strong> It also leads to increased circulation of black money during and after elections, which in turn increases corruption in society and affects the working of public servants.</li>
<li><strong>Causes Social Disharmony:</strong> It introduces a culture of violence in society and sets a bad precedent for the youth to follow and reduces people 's faith in democracy as a system of governance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>State Funding of Election:</strong> Various <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-electoral-politics-need-for-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>committees</strong> </a>(Dinesh Goswami, Inderjeet Committee) on the electoral reforms have recommended for state funding of elections.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-regulating-anonymous-donations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State funding of elections</strong></a> will curb use of black money to a large extent and thereby will have a significant impact on limiting criminalization of politics.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Strengthening of Election Commission:</strong> Election Commission can register a political party but cannot deregister it. Regulating the affairs of a political party is essential for a cleaner electoral process.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen the election commission.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Behavioural Change:</strong> Until the citizens realise that people who bribe them for votes cannot be trusted and it will be to their ultimate disadvantage, the efforts to curb criminalisation of politics will have limited impact.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Thus, voters also need to be vigilant about misuse of money, gifts and other inducements during elections.</li>
<li>Further, seeing a behavioral change amongst voters, political parties will be forced to field candidates with a clean background.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Given the reluctance by the political parties to curb criminalisation of politics and its growing detrimental effects on Indian democracy, Indian courts must now seriously consider banning people accused with serious criminal charges from contesting elections.</p>
<p>While there are various arguments for and against such a move, it will be a step in the right direction for making Indian elections more free and fair.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594638153_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594638153_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="470" /></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: #faffeb;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>De-criminalisation of politics cannot be achieved by judicial fiat alone, it requires strong political will and most importantly a behavioral change amongst the Indian voters. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/criminalisation-of-politics-2'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Goods and Services Tax (GST)',
			'catname' => 'Paper 3',
			'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a <strong>value-added tax</strong> levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption. The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services.</p>
<h3>Main Features of GST</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Applicable On supply side:</strong> GST is applicable on &lsquo;supply&rsquo; of goods or services as against the old concept on the manufacture of goods or on sale of goods or on provision of services.</li>
<li><strong>Destination based Taxation:</strong> GST is based on the principle of destination-based consumption taxation as against the present principle of origin-based taxation.</li>
<li><strong>Dual GST:</strong> It is a dual GST with the Centre and the States simultaneously levying tax on a common base. GST to be levied by the Centre is called Central GST (CGST) and that to be levied by the States is called State GST (SGST).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Import of goods or services would be treated as inter-state supplies and would be subject to Integrated Goods &amp; Services Tax (IGST) in addition to the applicable customs duties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GST rates to be mutually decided:</strong> CGST, SGST &amp; IGST are levied at rates to be mutually agreed upon by the Centre and the States. The rates are notified on the recommendation of the GST Council. </li>
<li><strong>Multiple Rates:</strong> Initially GST was levied at four rates viz. 5%, 12%, 16% and 28%. The schedule or list of items that would fall under these multiple slabs are worked out by the GST council.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Legislative Basis Of GST</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, GST Bill was first introduced in 2014 as The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill.</li>
<li>This got an approval in 2016 and was renumbered in the statute by Rajya Sabha as The Constitution (101<sup>st</sup> Amendment) Act, 2016. Its provisions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Central GST to cover Excise duty, Service tax etc, State GST to cover VAT, luxury tax etc.</li>
<li>Integrated GST to cover inter-state trade. IGST per se is not a tax but a system to coordinate state and union taxes.</li>
<li><strong>Article 246A &ndash;</strong> States have power to tax goods and services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GST Council</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Article 279A - <strong>GST</strong> Council to be formed by the President to administer &amp; govern GST. It's Chairman is Union Finance Minister of India with ministers nominated by the state governments as its members.</li>
<li>The council is devised in such a way that the centre will have 1/3<sup>rd</sup> voting power and the states have 2/3<sup>rd</sup>.</li>
<li>The decisions are taken by 3/4<sup>th</sup> majority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reforms Brought About by GST</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Creation of common national market:</strong> By amalgamating a large number of Central and State taxes into a single tax. </li>
<li><strong>Mitigation of cascading effect:</strong> GST mitigated ill effects of cascading or double taxation in a major way and paved the way for a common national market. </li>
<li><strong>Reduction in Tax burden:</strong> From the consumers&rsquo; point of view, the biggest advantage would be in terms of reduction in the overall tax burden on goods. </li>
<li><strong>Making Indian products more competitive:</strong> Introduction of GST is making Indian products more competitive in the domestic and international markets owing to the full neutralization of input taxes across the value chain of production. </li>
<li><strong>Easier to administer:</strong> Because of the transparent and self-policing character of GST, it would be easier to administer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantages of GST</h3>
<p><strong>For the Government</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Create a unified common market:</strong> Will help to create a unified common national market for India. It will also give a boost to foreign investment and &ldquo;Make in India&rdquo; campaign.</li>
<li><strong>Streamline Taxation:</strong> Through harmonization of laws, procedures and rates of tax between Centre and States and across States.</li>
<li><strong>Increase tax Compliance:</strong> Improved environment for compliance as all returns are to be filed online, input credits to be verified online, encouraging more paper trail of transactions at each level of supply chain;</li>
<li><strong>Discourage Tax evasion:</strong> Uniform SGST and IGST rates will reduce the incentive for evasion by eliminating rate arbitrage between neighbouring States and that between intra and inter-state sales.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For Overall Economy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bring about certainty:</strong> Common procedures for registration of taxpayers, refund of taxes, uniform formats of tax return, common tax base, common system of classification of goods and services will lend greater certainty to taxation system;</li>
<li><strong>Reduce corruption:</strong> Greater use of IT will reduce human interface between the taxpayer and the tax administration, which will go a long way in reducing corruption;</li>
<li><strong>Boost secondary sector:</strong> It will boost export and manufacturing activity, generate more employment and thus increase GDP with gainful employment leading to substantive economic growth;</li>
<li>Ultimately it will help in poverty eradication by generating more employment and more financial resources.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For the Trade and Industry</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Simpler tax regime with fewer exemptions.</li>
<li>Increased ease of doing business.</li>
<li>Reduction in multiplicity of taxes.</li>
<li>Elimination of double taxation on certain sectors.</li>
<li>More efficient neutralization of taxes especially for exports </li>
<li>Making our products more competitive in the international market.</li>
<li>Simplified and automated procedures for registration, returns, refunds and tax payments.</li>
<li>Decrease in average tax burden on supply of goods or services.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For Consumers</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Transparent prices:</strong> Final price of goods is expected to be transparent due to seamless flow of input tax credit between the manufacturer, retailer and service supplier.</li>
<li><strong>Price reduction:</strong> Reduction in prices of commodities and goods in long run due to reduction in cascading impact of taxation;</li>
<li><strong>Poverty eradication</strong>: By generating more employment and more financial resources.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For the States</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of the tax base:</strong> As states will be able to tax the entire supply chain from manufacturing to retail.</li>
<li><strong>More economical empowerment:</strong> Power to tax services, which was hitherto with the Central Government only, will boost revenue and give States access to the fastest growing sector of the economy.</li>
<li><strong>Enhancing Investments:</strong> GST being destination based consumption tax will favour consuming States. Improve the overall investment climate in the country which will naturally benefit the development in the States.</li>
<li><strong>Increase Compliance:</strong> Largely uniform SGST and IGST rates will reduce the incentive for evasion by eliminating rate arbitrage between neighbouring States and that between intra and inter-state sales</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Exemptions under GST</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Custom duty will be still collected along with the levy of IGST on imported goods.</li>
<li>Petroleum and tobacco products are currently exempted.</li>
<li>Excise duty on liquor, stamp duty and electricity taxes are also exempted.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Challenges Of GST</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SCGT and CGST input credit cannot be cross utilized.</li>
<li>Manufacturing states lose revenue on a bigger scale.</li>
<li>High rate to tax to compensate the revenue collected now from multiple taxes i.e High Revenue Neutral Rate.</li>
<li>The reduction in the fiscal autonomy of the States.</li>
<li>Concerns raised by banks and insurance companies over the need for multiple registrations under GST.</li>
<li>The levy of additional cess.</li>
<li>The capacity of State tax authorities, so far used to taxing goods and not services, to deal with the latter is an unknown quantity.</li>
<li>The success of GST depends on political consensus, technology and the capacity of tax officials to adapt to the new requirements.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Thus GST is a positive step towards shifting Indian economy from the informal to formal economy. It is important to utilise experiences from global economies that have implemented GST before us,to overcome the impending challenges.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The recently discovered <strong>comet C/2020 F3</strong> will make its closest approach to the Earth at a distance of 64 million miles or 103 million kilometres while crossing <strong>Earth&rsquo;s outside orbit on 22<sup>nd</sup> July 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also known as <strong>NEOWISE</strong> after the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration</strong></a> (NASA) <strong>telescope</strong> that discovered it.</li>
<li>On 3<sup>rd</sup> July, it was closest to the sun at 43 million km due to which its outer layer was released, creating an atmosphere (referred to as coma) of gas and dust from its icy surface.</li>
<li><strong>It will be visible</strong> through binoculars or a small telescope.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594636492_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594636492_image1.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>The word comet comes from the Latin word <strong><em>&lsquo;Cometa&rsquo;</em></strong> which means <strong>&lsquo;long-haired&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The earliest known record of a comet sighting was made by an astrologer in<strong> 1059 BC.</strong></li>
<li>Comets or <strong>&lsquo;dirty snowballs&rsquo;</strong> are <strong>mostly made of dust, rocks and ice</strong> and can range in their width from a <strong>few miles to tens of miles wide.</strong></li>
<li>When they orbit <strong>closer to the sun,</strong> like C/2020 F3, they <strong>heat up and release debris of dust and gases.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>solid portions</strong> of comets consisting mostly of water, ice and embedded dust particles are <strong>inactive when far away from the sun.</strong></li>
<li>When near the sun, the<strong> icy cometary surfaces vaporize</strong> and throw off large quantities of gas and dust thus<strong> forming the enormous atmosphere and tails.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>released gases form a glowing head</strong> that can often be larger than a planet and the <strong>debris forms a tail</strong> that can stretch out to millions of miles.</li>
<li>Each time a comet passes the sun, it <strong>loses some of its material</strong> and it will <strong>eventually disappear completely</strong> as a result.</li>
<li>Comets may be occasionally pushed into orbits closer to the Sun and the Earth&rsquo;s neighbourhood <strong>due to forces of gravity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to NASA, while there are millions of comets orbiting the sun, there are<strong> more than 3,650 known comets</strong> as of now.</li>
<li><strong>The predictable comets</strong> are the <strong>short-period comets</strong> which take <strong>less than 200 years to orbit around the sun.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These can be <strong>found in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nasa-spaceship-reaches-ultima-thule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuiper belt</a>,</strong> where many comets orbit the sun in the realm of Pluto.</li>
<li>One of the most famous short-period comets is called <strong>Halley&rsquo;s Comet</strong> that <strong>reappears every 76 years.</strong> Halley&rsquo;s will be <strong>sighted next in 2062.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>less-predictable comets</strong> can be found in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/voyager-2-enters-interstellar-space" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Oort cloud</strong></a> that is about <strong>100,000 AU (Astronomical Unit</strong> which is the distance between the Earth and the Sun and is roughly 150 million km)<strong> from the sun</strong> or 100,000 times the distance between the Earth and the sun.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Comets in this cloud <strong>can take as long as 30 million years to complete one rotation</strong> around the sun.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Visibility:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Comets <strong>do not have the light of their own</strong> and the visibility <strong>depends on its gas and dust outbursts.</strong></li>
<li>Humans see the <strong>reflection of the sun&rsquo;s light off the comet</strong> as well as the<strong> energy released</strong> by the gas molecules after it is absorbed from the sun.</li>
<li>To be visible, a comet must make a<strong> particularly close approach to the sun</strong> to produce enormous quantities of gas and dust or it should make a <strong>relatively close approach to the Earth</strong> so that it is easily viewed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Study</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Astronomers believe that comets hold important <strong>clues about the formation of the solar system</strong> and it is <strong>possible that comets brought water and other organic compounds</strong> to Earth.</li>
<li>NASA tracks all <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/163348-2002-nn4-a-near-earth-asteroid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Near Earth Objects</strong> </a><strong>(NEOs)</strong> that includes comets and asteroids using telescopes placed all around the Earth, as part of its <strong>NEO Observation Program.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objective of the Program:</strong> To find, track and characterise NEOs that are 140 meters or larger in size since they can pose a risk to the Earth because of the devastation a potential impact can cause.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/comet-c-2020-f3-neowise-nasa-earth-6500688/" 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/comet-c-2020-f3-neowise'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Flood Resistant Paddy: Assam',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, farmers from <strong>Golaghat district in Assam</strong> have cultivated new <strong>flood resistant <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restriction-on-paddy-cultivation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paddy</a> varieties</strong> to shift from the traditional ones.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The varieties called <strong>Ranjit Sub1, Swarna Sub1 and Bahadur Sub1</strong> have been used by about 60% farmers of the <strong>West Brahmaputra area.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Farmers in flood-prone areas of Assam have been harvesting the water-resistant Swarna Sub1, developed by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Agricultural Research</a></strong> <strong>and the Manila-based <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/golden-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Rice Research Institute</a></strong>, since 2009.</li>
<li>But the switchover from traditional varieties of paddy has been slow.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The flood-resistant varieties including Ranjit Sub-1 were reintroduced in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Resist Submergence:</strong> The new <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/direct-seeding-of-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rice</a></strong> varieties can resist submergence for <strong>up to two weeks, a</strong>nd significantly do not get damaged by the heavy flood. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, comparison with the traditional varieties is difficult as they get damaged in the flood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Greater Yield:</strong> Enriched with the <strong>&lsquo;submergence&rsquo;</strong> (sub in short) <strong>gene,</strong> the varieties can yield up to <strong>five tonnes per hectare</strong> on an average.</li>
<li><strong>Reduction in Crop Loss:</strong> Some 1,500 farmers cultivate on about 950 hectares in crop-yielding areas which have been impacted by the regular flood. Therefore, rice varieties can reduce<strong> flood-caused crop loss substantially.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Regeneration:</strong> These varieties<strong> can get regenerated again</strong> in case damaged by the flood, hence ensure maximum productivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>kharif crop</strong> which requires<strong> high temperature, (above 25&deg;C)</strong> and <strong>high humidity</strong> with annual <strong>rainfall above 100 cm.</strong></li>
<li>About one-fourth of the total cropped area in India is under rice cultivation.</li>
<li><strong>Leading Producer States:</strong> West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.</li>
<li><strong>High Yielding States:</strong> Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Kerala.</li>
<li>In West Bengal, farmers grow three crops of rice called <strong>&lsquo;aus&rsquo;, &lsquo;aman&rsquo; and &lsquo;boro&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India contributes <strong>21.6% of rice production in the world</strong> and ranks second after China.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/amid-deluge-assam-farmer-stands-out-with-flood-resistant-paddy/article32060811.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/flood-resistant-paddy-assam'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Itolizumab: Emergency Covid-19 Drug',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-clinical-trials-in-india-for-new-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drugs Controller General of India</strong></a> (DCGI) has cleared <strong>Itolizumab</strong> for <strong>restricted emergency use in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> cases.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Itolizumab is a drug used to treat <strong>severe chronic plaque psoriasis.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Plaque psoriasis is a <strong>chronic autoimmune condition</strong> in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Itolizumab is for emergency use only in the treatment of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-cytokine-storms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cytokine Storm Syndrome</a> </strong>(CSS) in moderate to Severe <strong>Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome</strong> (ARDS) patients due to Covid-19.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>CSS</strong> is an uncontrolled attempt by the immune system to neutralise the virus that often ends up damaging the lungs and other organs and even death.</li>
<li><strong>ARDS</strong> is a disease in which the lung loses its capacity to expand further.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will be<strong> manufactured and formulated as an intravenous (IV) injection</strong> at the bio-manufacturing facility in Bengaluru.</li>
<li>Itolizumab is the<strong> first novel biologic therapy</strong> to be approved anywhere in the world for treating patients with moderate to severe Covid-19 complications.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Itolizumab is a<strong> biologic/biologic drug</strong> given by injection (shot) or IV infusion.</li>
<li>A biologic is a <strong>protein-based drug derived from living cells cultured in a laboratory.</strong></li>
<li>Biologics are <strong>different from traditional systemic drugs</strong> that impact the entire immune system.</li>
<li>Biologics <strong>only target specific parts of the immune system</strong> and biologics used to treat psoriatic disease block the action of a specific type of immune cell called a <strong>T-cell.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for its Approval</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DCGI&rsquo;s approval for the repurposed drug comes after the <strong>successful conclusion of a randomised, controlled clinical trial</strong> at multiple hospitals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The trial was designed employing a method called <strong>Simon&rsquo;s Two-Stage Design,</strong> an approach in executing <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/drugs-and-clinical-trials-rules-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phase-2 clinical trials</a> where the efficacy of a drug is tested.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other criteria such as<strong> improvement in oxygen levels</strong> and <strong>reduced inflammation</strong> were also convincing to several doctors who used the drug on their patients.</li>
<li>The evaluation also<strong> rests on Itolizumab being added to the &lsquo;best standard of care&rsquo;</strong> which slightly varied across hospitals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In general, this consisted of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-use-of-hydroxy-chloroquine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hydroxychloroquine</strong></a> (HCQ), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-hiv-drugs-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ritonavir</strong></a> (antivirals), oxygen therapy, antibiotics, heparin (to avoid clotting) and some got methylprednisolone (a corticosteroid).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its usage was justified because of its l<strong>arge trials and safety assessments are already done for psoriasis.</strong> Plus, it is <strong>hard to recruit a larger number of patients in critical care conditions</strong> so numbers had to be kept low.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>no hard rules on a minimum number</strong> of recruits.</li>
<li>For an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-the-orphan-drug-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>orphan drug</strong> </a>(used to treat <strong>orphan or rare diseases</strong>), small numbers of recruits are approved.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The available evidence for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>remdesivir</strong></a> suggests that it may decrease the time for clinical improvement when used in moderate to severe cases and has no benefits in terms of reduced mortality.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Remdesivir has to be used with <strong>extreme caution</strong> due to its potential for<strong> serious adverse effects including liver and kidney injury.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another drug <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dexamethasone-drug" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tocilizumab</strong></a> has not shown any benefits in mortality reduction.</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Itolizumab appears to have been<strong> tested on too few patients to reliably conclude on its benefits</strong> and with such a small sample size it would be unwise to claim it as the final and fully successful drug.</li>
<li>30 patients were recruited across four hospitals and 20 of them were given Itolizumab along with the &lsquo;standard of care treatment&rsquo; and 10 were given only standard of care.</li>
<li>Nobody died from the set of 20 patients and 3 patients died from the set of 10 patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drug Controller General of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is responsible for <strong>approval of licences of specified categories of drugs</strong> such as blood and blood products,<strong> IV fluids, vaccines and sera</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It comes under the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/biocons-covid-19-drug-tested-on-too-few-patients-to-reliably-conclude-on-benefits-say-experts/article32060019.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/itolizumab-emergency-covid-19-drug'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'FASTag Details for New Vehicle Registration',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)</strong> has decided to ensure capturing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/all-about-the-fastag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FASTag</strong></a> <strong>details while registering or issuing fitness certificates</strong> to vehicles all over the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Besides facilitating smooth commutation/transit, use of <strong>electronic medium of FASTag payment,</strong> would also help in <strong>checking Covid-19 spread</strong> as cash payment is avoided.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>FASTag</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Introduced in 2017, it is an <strong>electronic toll collection system</strong> with reloadable tag feature which <strong>allows automatic deduction of toll</strong> without having to stop for carrying out the cash transaction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reloadable tag allows addition of monetary values multiple times.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is operated by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhai-achieves-highest-ever-construction-of-national-highways" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)</strong> </a>under the supervision of MoRTH.</li>
<li>The tag uses<strong> Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology</strong> and is fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle once active.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>RFID</strong> is the<strong> use of radio waves to read and capture information stored</strong> on a tag attached to an object. A tag can be read from up to several feet away and does not need to be within the direct line-of-sight of the reader to be tracked.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is linked to a prepaid account from which the applicable toll amount is deducted.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consumers avoided using it following complaints of technical glitches, and money getting deducted twice from their bank accounts or e-wallets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The MoRTH has directed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nic-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Information Centre (NIC)</strong></a> to ensure details of the electronic toll collection device are captured on <strong>VAHAN portal.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The full integration of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/digital-transactions-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC)</a> with VAHAN portal</strong> has been achieved and the portal is now getting all information on FASTags through <strong>Vehicle Identification Number/ Vehicle Registration Number (VIN/VRN).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>VAHAN Portal:</strong> It acts as an<strong> integrated solution for vehicle registration</strong> for the State Transport Department. It helps in various processes like fitness, taxes, permits &amp; enforcement to get computerized.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The State Transport Department is governed by both Central Motor Vehicle Regulation (CMVR) and state specific Motor Vehicle Regulation (State MVR).</li>
<li>Consequently, VAHAN was conceptualized as a product that would capture the functionalities <strong>mandated by CMVR as well as state MVRs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Electronic Toll Collection:</strong> It was developed by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</a> in 2016</strong> for electronic toll collection at toll plazas using FASTag.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1638107" 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/fastag-details-for-new-vehicle-registration'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Disabled are Entitled to Same Benefits of SC/ST quota: SC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong> </a>observed that <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/issues-related-to-persons-with-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>persons suffering from disabilities</strong> </a>are also socially backward and <strong>entitled to the same benefits of relaxation</strong> as Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates <strong>in public employment and education.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decision came on a petition filed by Aryan Raj, a special needs person, against a <strong>Punjab and Haryana High Court order.</strong></li>
<li>Raj was denied relaxation in minimum qualifying marks in the Painting and Applied Art course in the Government College of Arts, Chandigarh.</li>
<li>The college insisted that disabled persons too need to meet the general qualifying standard of 40% in the aptitude test, whereas SC/ST candidates were given a relaxation to 35%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Upheld Delhi High Court Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the<em><strong> Anmol Bhandari v. Delhi Technological University</strong> <strong>case</strong></em> (2012), the Delhi High Court held that <strong>people suffering from disabilities are also socially backward,</strong> and are therefore, at the very least, entitled to the same benefits as given to the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe candidates.</li>
<li><strong>New academic courses</strong> should be designed to specifically cater to the needs of <strong>intellectually disabled persons.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Court observed the fact that intellectually/mentally challenged persons have certain limitations, which are not there in physically challenged persons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 15 (4)</strong> empowers the State to make special provision for the advancement of the SCs and the STs. E.g. providing fee concession in admission to any educational institution, building hostels for SCs/STs.</li>
<li><strong>Article 15 (5)</strong> empowers the State to reserve seats for SCs and the STs in admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, it excludes minority educational institutions referred to in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-can-regulate-minority-institutions-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 30 (1).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservation-issue-in-ap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 16 (4)</strong> </a>empowers the State to make provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservation-not-a-fundamental-right-supreme-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> SCs/STs.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Initiatives for Disabled in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rights of Person with Disabilities Act, 2016.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this, persons with disabilities are <strong>provided reservation of seats in government higher educational institutions</strong> (not less than 5%) and government jobs (not less than 4%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Accessible India Campaign.</li>
<li>DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme.</li>
<li>Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP).</li>
<li>National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities (RGMF).</li>
<li>Schemes of the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/disabled-are-entitled-to-same-benefits-of-scst-quota-supreme-court/article32059867.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/disabled-are-entitled-to-same-benefits-of-sc-st-quota-sc'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'MoU between NATGRID and NCRB ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/natgrid-to-link-social-media-accounts-to-central-database" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)</strong></a> has signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)</strong> with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/annual-crimes-in-india-report-2018-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)</strong></a> to <strong>access the centralised online database</strong> on FIRs and stolen vehicles.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>NATGRID</strong> which seeks to become the <strong>one-stop destination for security and intelligence agencies</strong> will be operational by<strong> 31<sup>st</sup> December 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Access to CCTNS:</strong> The MoU will give NATGRID access to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizen-centric-services-of-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)</strong></a> database, a platform that links around 14,000 police stations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All State police are mandated to file First Information Reports (FIR) in the CCTNS.</li>
<li>The MoU enables the NATGRID to get information about<strong> details of a suspect as mentioned in the FIR</strong> such as his/her father&rsquo;s name, telephone number and other details.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Infringe on the Federal System of the Constitution:</strong> The <strong>NCRB</strong> under the Union government is <strong>only a repository</strong> and<strong> the data pertaining to FIRs</strong> of a particular police station are a <strong>State subject.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, it does not seem to violate any legal provisions as data pertaining to FIRs is shared with all the police stations.</li>
<li>The <strong>State police will not be</strong> a part of NATGRID and they could directly contact the airlines or railways for information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Providing Information to Multiple Agencies:</strong> Earlier the Civil Aviation Ministry and airline companies had raised concerns in providing information to yet another agency &mdash; NATGRID as they already provide information to the<strong> Bureau of Immigration</strong> and the <strong>customs authorities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Privacy Issues:</strong> Many agencies raised their concern regarding the accessibility of Data and privacy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the information accessed by one agency through the grid <strong>will not be accessible</strong> to<strong> any other agency</strong> as it will be an <strong>automated system</strong> and the request will land directly with the concerned department.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expenditure:</strong> The major amount of funds would be required for the expenditure towards the <strong>NATGRID software solution</strong> and for <strong>building infrastructural works</strong> of offices, Data Centre etc. at Delhi and Bengaluru.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Intelligence Grid</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As a <strong>counter-terrorism measure</strong> it was proposed after the <strong>terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008</strong> and functions under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs.</strong></li>
<li>It is the integrated <strong>intelligence grid connecting databases of core security agencies</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is intending to set up an<strong> Entity Extraction, Visualization, and Analytics</strong> (EVA) system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Secure Centralised Database:</strong> It will become a<strong> secure centralised database to stream sensitive information</strong> from sets of data sources such as <strong>banks, credit cards, visa, immigration and train and air travel details,</strong> as well as from various intelligence agencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Presently, the security agencies directly contact an airline or a telephone company if they are on a suspect&rsquo;s trail through international servers such as Google etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Acts as a Link:</strong> It will act as a link between intelligence and investigation agencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will be a medium for at least 10 Central agencies such as the <strong>Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&amp;AW)</strong> to access data on a secured platform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology Intensive Solutions:</strong> The solutions provided by the NATGRID would be technology-intensive (e.g. use of Big Data and analytics) involving multiple stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Crime Records Bureau</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was set-up in <strong>1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA&rsquo;s Task Force (1985).</li>
<li>It functions as <strong>a repository of information on crime and criminals</strong> so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.</li>
<li>It releases the <strong>Crime in India report</strong> which serves as a<strong> statistical tool in understanding</strong> the law and order situation across the country.</li>
<li>It developed<strong> CCTNS in 2009</strong> which aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for effective policing at all levels through <strong>adoption of principles of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-Governance.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It digitises data related to <strong>FIR registration, investigation and charge sheets in all police stations</strong> leading to the development of a national database of crimes and criminals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> New Delhi</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/natgrid-to-have-access-to-database-that-links-around-14000-police-stations/article32058643.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Universal Social Security',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/india-needs-
a-universal-social-security-system/story-zXURLxf4Xy5dxdEdk5dOMP.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;India needs a universal social security system&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 08/07/2020. It talks about the need for universal social security in India.</p>
</div>
<p>The lockdown necessitated by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>has caused misery to almost all sections of society, but the vulnerable section viz. people below the poverty line, migrant workers have been affected the most.</p>
<p>Further, the principle of Universality of social security is enshrined in various goals related to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development</strong></a>. In this context, the imperative of providing universal social security, has assumed much significance.</p>
<h3>What is the Social Security System?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organisation (ILO)</strong></a>, <strong>Social Security</strong> is a comprehensive approach designed to prevent deprivation, give assurance to the individual of a basic minimum income for himself and his dependents and to protect the individual from any uncertainties.</li>
<li>It is also comprised of two elements, namely:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Right to a Standard of Living</strong> adequate for the health and well-being, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.</li>
<li><strong>Right to Income Security</strong> in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond any person&rsquo;s control.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need For Universal Social Security in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Majority of WorkForce is in Unorganised Sector:</strong> The organised sector workers constitute less than 10% of all workers in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leaves more than 90% of the workforce without job security, labour rights and post-retirement provisions.</li>
<li>Also, in a dynamic market-economy, workers will lose jobs at a faster pace with technological changes. Thus, workers need to keep learning to stay productively employed.</li>
<li>However, in spite of great attention given to skills development in the last 15 years, the results are not very encouraging.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Too Expensive Private Healthcare Expense:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Out-of-pocket health expenses</strong></a>, which create barriers to seeking healthcare and can push marginal households into poverty, form as much as nearly 90% of private expenditure on health.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also Covid-19 has highlighted the urgency for providing universal free health care. It has demonstrated that private health care can be afforded only by the wealthy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Expenditure on Social Security:</strong> India has a broad aim of social protection programs, but the overall public expenditure on social protection (excluding public healthcare) is only approx. 1.5% of the GDP, lower than many middle-income countries across the world.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Implement Universal Social System</h3>
<p><strong>Extending MGNREGA to Urban Areas</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGA</strong></a> has proved its utility by providing employment to millions of workers who have reverse migrated.</li>
<li>Thus, there is a case for extending this programme to urban areas with municipal bodies being given the responsibility for providing a fixed no of days work to all those seeking it.</li>
<li>Municipal bodies have a range of work to get done, such as improving sanitation, minor repairs, in which they could productively use labour.</li>
<li>Also, a MGNREGA scheme in urban areas can be framed to attach on-the-job skill development.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Skill Development via &lsquo;Learning while Earning&rsquo; Model</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The principle of &ldquo;learning while earning&rdquo; should be more vigorously applied to improve India&rsquo;s skill development systems.</li>
<li>The best way to learn useful skills is on the job, supplemented with off-line modules, which has been the successful approach of governments and employers in Germany and Japan.</li>
<li>The principle of on-the-job learning supplemented with government-supported training can be applied in clusters of small and medium enterprises.</li>
<li>That way, not only can physical infrastructure be improved in rural and urban areas, but human capabilities will also be simultaneously developed.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Providing Universal Health Coverage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to establish the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat-National Health Agency</strong></a> at all levels of governance for management of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY).</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, greater autonomy to public hospitals is required to use claims money generated under PM-JAY to improve facilities, purchase the necessary drugs/tests and provide performance-based incentives to staff.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to review and iron out the challenges with the business model of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-1st-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Aushadhi stores</strong> </a>to ensure that they can function as self-sustaining entities and scale up rapidly across the country.</li>
<li>The State must also provide the infrastructure and make doctors and facilities accessible.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Digital technologies, telemedicine, pharmacy chains of generic drugs, promotion of healthier lifestyles, and greater use of trained nurses and paramedics can improve health care and lower costs dramatically.</li>
<li>In this context, the target of raising the share of expenditure on health care to 2.5% of the GDP, as envisaged by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/governments-efforts-for-rural-healthcare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National health policy 2017</strong></a>, in the next two years would be a good beginning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The need for a Universal social security is also highlighted by the various provisions under Indian constitution, like <strong>Directive Principles of State Policy,</strong> which envisages the State to provide public assistance to all sections of society, including vulnerable sections.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594467616_pasted%20image 0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594467616_pasted image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="545" height="414" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #fc0000; background-color: #fcfff0;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Income support with skill improvement and good health care for all, are essential for a universal social security system in India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YPSwZCtHhr0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/none-gains-the-hindu-editorial-on-us-withdrawal-from-who/article32035308.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;None gains: On U.S. withdrawal from WHO&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on July 10<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-social-security'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Rare Orchids in India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, two <strong>rare <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-13th-may-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">orchid</a> species</strong> i.e. <strong>Tiger orchids</strong> <em>(Grammatophyllum speciosum)</em> and <strong>Ground orchids</strong> <em>(Eulophia obtusa)</em> have been found to be blooming in different parts of the country after a gap of many years.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tiger Orchid:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594463918_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594463918_image7.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Grammatophyllum speciosum</em></li>
<li><strong>Characteristics:</strong> It has <strong>large and resplendent flowers</strong> which resemble the tiger skin.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It flowers in<strong> alternate years</strong> and remains in bloom for about a month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geographical Distribution:</strong> These epiphytic plants are <strong>not native to India,</strong> and are <strong>endemic</strong> to <strong>southeast Asia</strong> i.e.Indonesia and Philippines.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An <strong>epiphyte</strong> grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water or from debris accumulating around it.</li>
<li>It is found to be in full bloom at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) Kerala, where it was introduced in the 1990s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ground Orchid:</strong> <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594463945_image8.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594463945_image8.png" style="float: right;" width="150" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Eulophia obtusa</li>
<li><strong>Rediscovery:</strong> It has been rediscovered in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dudhwa Tiger Reserve</strong></a>, Uttar Pradesh after 118 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was last recorded in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh in 1902.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geographical Distribution:</strong> The species is originally from <strong>Uttarakhand.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was collected by botanists from Gangetic plains but there have been no sightings in the past 100 years. In 2008, the plant species was sighted in Bangladesh for the first time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Characteristics:</strong> It has white flowers and bright pink hues.</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong> Listed as <strong>&ldquo;critically endangered&rdquo;</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> Red List of endangered species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/the-flowering-tigers/article32043886.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'National Fish Farmers Day 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a webinar was hosted by the<strong> Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying</strong> in association with the <strong>National Fisheries Development Board</strong> (NFDB) on the occasion of <strong>National Fish Farmers Day,</strong> which is celebrated on <strong>10<sup>th</sup> July every year.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Fish Farmers Day is celebrated in the memory of scientists <strong>Dr K. H. Alikunhi and Dr H. L. Chaudhury.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both of them successfully demonstrated <strong>Hypophysation</strong> (technology of induced breeding) in <strong>Indian Major Carps</strong> (common name for several species of fish) on <strong>10<sup>th</sup> July 1957.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>recognise the accomplishments and contribution</strong> of fish farmers, <strong>aquapreneurs</strong> (entrepreneurs in the water sector) and fisherfolks in the growth of the fisheries sector in the country.</li>
<li>To <strong>draw attention to changing the way the country manages fisheries</strong> resources to ensure sustainable stocks and healthy ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiative:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to make the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-blue-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Blue Revolution</strong></a> successful, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-share-in-pmmsy-and-fme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana</a></strong> (PMMSY) has been launched.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fish Cryobanks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NFDB and the <strong>National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources</strong> (NBFGR) will establish fish cryobanks in different parts of the country.</li>
<li>The Cryomilt technology may be helpful in the establishment of fish cryobanks, which will <strong>provide good quality of fish sperm in hatcheries at any time.</strong></li>
<li>This would be the<strong> first time in the world when Fish Cryobanks</strong> will be established, enhancing fish production and increasing prosperity among the fish farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Fisheries Development Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in<strong> 2006</strong> as an<strong> autonomous organization</strong> under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Now, it works under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mandate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To enhance fish production and productivity in the country and to coordinate fishery development in an integrated and holistic manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in <strong>December 1983,</strong> under the aegis of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research</strong></a> (ICAR).</li>
<li><strong>Mandate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Exploration, characterization and cataloguing of fish genetic resources.</li>
<li>Maintenance and preservation of fish genetic resources for conservation and utilization of prioritized species.</li>
<li>Evaluation of indigenous and exotic germplasm including risk assessment and fish health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1637838" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recent studies have shown that people unexposed to and not infected with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> (caused by <strong>SARS-CoV-2</strong> or<strong> Novel Coronavirus</strong>) may still exhibit <strong>T cell responses</strong> specific to other <strong>coronaviruses.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A huge number of adults are exposed to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> four different coronaviruses</strong></a> that cause <strong>common cold</strong> and studies have shown that <strong>20-50%</strong> of healthy people <strong>display SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The healthy people studied were those <strong>tested prior to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a></strong> or have not been infected with novel coronavirus.</li>
<li>Memory T cells protect against <strong>previously encountered pathogens.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is thought that <strong>SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses</strong> seen in healthy people might arise from <strong>memory T cells</strong> derived from<strong> exposure to &lsquo;common cold&rsquo; coronaviruses.</strong></li>
<li>However, it is <strong>not known</strong> that the presence of pre-existing immunity from memory T cells <strong>offers clinical relevance,</strong> when exposed to SARS-CoV-2.</li>
<li><strong>Measuring pre-existing immunity and correlating</strong> it with infection and severity of disease is the only way to find out its role in protection against SARS-CoV-2.</li>
<li>However, the<strong> relationship between the infections by and immunity</strong> from common cold coronavirus and <strong>age is not well established.</strong> That is why it is unclear why children do not show severe symptoms, while older people do.</li>
<li>These considerations underline how <strong>multiple variables may be involved</strong> in potential pre-existing partial immunity to Covid-19.</li>
<li><strong>Pros:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is believed that people with a high level of pre-existing memory T cells <strong>could mount a faster and stronger immune response</strong> upon exposure to the virus and thereby limit disease severity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>T cells could potentially<strong> facilitate an increased and more rapid neutralizing antibody response</strong> against the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The pre-existing immunity can<strong> reduce the immune responses</strong> that the vaccine causes through a mechanism called the <strong>&lsquo;original antigenic sin&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Original antigenic sin,</strong> also known as the <strong>Hoskins effect,</strong> refers to the propensity of the body's immune system to preferentially utilize immunological memory based on a previous infection when a second slightly different version of that foreign entity is encountered.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can also lead to<strong> antibody-mediated disease enhancement,</strong> where antibodies present at sub-neutralising concentrations can actually <strong>augment virus infection and cause more severe disease.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>T Cells</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>T cells are so called because they are <strong>predominantly produced in the thymus.</strong></li>
<li>They recognise foreign particles (antigen) by a surface expressed, highly variable, T cell receptor (TCR).</li>
<li>There are two major types of T cells: <strong>the helper T cell</strong> and the <strong>cytotoxic T cell.</strong></li>
<li>As the names suggest, helper T cells &lsquo;help&rsquo; other cells of the immune system, whilst cytotoxic T cells kill virally infected cells and tumours.</li>
<li>The severity of disease can depend on the strength of these T cell responses.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/unexposed-people-may-have-covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells/article32052605.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/covid-19-specific-memory-t-cells'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Renaissance In Ayurveda',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/renaissance-in-ayurveda-coronavirus-healthcare-6467026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Renaissance in Ayurveda&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 20/06/2020. It traces the development of Ayurveda as a modern medicinal system and the challenges and solutions in this process.</p>
</div>
<p>Ayurveda, the ancient medical system, is considered as one of the best ways to treat diseases and to lead a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, it gained attention, as the government of India has pitched for use of Ayurvedic formulations to boost immunity in its efforts to fight <a href="/pdf/1593949713-coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<p>Further, the government has announced innovative clinical drug trials to evaluate the safe and effective use of selected and standardised Ayurvedic medicines in the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19.</p>
<p>Given the increasing significance of Ayurveda in treating modern diseases, it is now poised to truly and actively participate in the health and medical care system. Thus, there is a need to fast track its progress and transformation into a modern vibrant health and medical system.</p>
<p>However in undergoing such transformation there are several challenges and issues yet to be resolved.</p>
<h3>Significance Of Ayurveda</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In Ayurveda it is believed living man is a conglomeration of three humors (Vata, Pitta &amp; Kapha), seven basic tissues (Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja &amp; Shukra) and the waste products of the body i.e. mala, mutra and sweda.</li>
<li>The growth and decay of this body matrix and its constituents revolve psychological mechanisms of these elements and its balance is the main reason for the state of one&rsquo;s health.</li>
<li>The treatment approach in the Ayurveda system is holistic and individualized having preventive, curative, mitigative, recuperative and rehabilitative aspects.</li>
<li>The principal objectives of Ayurveda are maintenance and promotion of health, prevention of disease and cure of sickness.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Evolution Of Ayurveda</h3>
<p><strong>Pre-Independence Era:</strong> The British Raj considered Ayurveda unscientific, mystical and a religious belief and consequently was keen on destroying the system.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1835, the teaching of Ayurveda was suspended in the Calcutta Medical College.</li>
<li>The <strong>Bhore Committee recommendations</strong> were in favour of modern medicine thus Ayurveda did not get support to modernise in colonial times.</li>
<li>However, among Britishers, many orientalists indirectly benefited Ayurveda by recovering the vedic texts. It compelled its opponents to revisit Ayurveda and recognise the science within it.</li>
<li>Also, Indian freedom struggle and subsequent national uprising and social reforms infused new strength in Ayurveda.</li>
<li>During this time, many Ayurvedic physicians had organised themselves into a professional organisation, started publishing journals and were participating in the freedom struggle.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Bhore Committee was set up by the Government of India in 1943 under Sir Joseph William Bhore.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The major aim of the committee was to survey then existing position regarding the health conditions and health organisation in the country and to make recommendations for future development to improve the public health system in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Post-Independent India:</strong> It was suggested that Ayurveda be integrated with modern medicine. It was argued that a united system would be more perfect than the Ayurveda as an individual science.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Though there were islands of excellence in the old Ayurveda institutions in Kolkata, Benares, Haridwar, Indore, Pune, Mumbai,</li>
<li>In the post-1960s, there was a spurt in the growth of well-planned medical colleges and universities, especially in Gujarat and Kerala.</li>
<li><strong>However, Ayurveda got impetus by the establishment of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) Ministry</strong> in 2014.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has set up an efficient network of communications with all stakeholders and enabled education and research, conservation and preservation of Ayurveda.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges Related to Ayurveda</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ineffective Treatment in Emergency Cases:</strong> The inadequacies of Ayurveda in treating acute infections and other emergencies including surgery, and lack of meaningful research in therapeutics continue to limit the universal acceptance of Ayurveda.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ayurveda therapeutics are complex and there are too many dos and don&rsquo;ts.</li>
<li>Ayurvedic medicines are slow to act and heal. It is difficult if not impossible to predict response or prognosis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Homogeneity:</strong> The medical practices in Ayurveda are not uniform. It is because the medicinal plants used in it vary with geography and climate and local agriculture practices.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike Ayurveda, in modern medicine, the diseases are classified and treated as per prior set uniform criteria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Misleading Propaganda by Ayurvedic Pharmas:</strong> Ayurvedic pharmacopeia industry claimed that its manufacturing practices were consistent with the classic Ayurveda texts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For better market appeal of ayurvedic medicines, the pharmaceutical companies publicised many medicinal claims about their ayurvedic products without sufficient scientific basis.</li>
<li>This led to further obsession for drugs in the community and ailments requiring lifestyle correction were instead treated with poly-pharmacy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Recognition:</strong> Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in the global interest in Ayurveda.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, several countries do not officially recognise Ayurveda as a medical field and have placed many restrictions on the use of Ayurvedic medicines.</li>
<li>In some countries, including the US, Ayurvedic drugs follow an abbreviated less stringent regulatory pathway for &ldquo;food and diet supplements&rdquo; and are sold over the counter not as medicines but as health products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Deep Knowledge :</strong> In 2004, a leading American journal reported heavy metal (arsenic, mercury, lead) content in some of the Ayurveda drugs sold in the US, way beyond the allowed safety limits.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This led to worldwide condemnation and the government made testing of heavy metals in herbal drugs compulsory and the industry was asked to follow WHO standards.</li>
<li>It damaged the image of Ayurveda. It remained unexplained that hundreds of Ayurveda herbal formulations contained metals and minerals that had therapeutic properties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sub-standard Research In Ayurveda:</strong> During the last five decades or so, research in Ayurveda was mainly confined to hundreds of drug trials using the normal procedures that are used in other medical systems.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Often it was found that standardisation of formulation and quality of methods and data in the study was substandard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: Facilitating Growth of Ayurveda</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reverse Pharmacology:</strong> A very interesting research development in Ayurveda was the conceptual framework of &ldquo;reverse pharmacology&rdquo;, which was championed by a researcher in Mumbai.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is defined as the science of integrating documented clinical experiences and experiential observations into leads, through transdisciplinary exploratory studies, to develop these into drugs.</li>
<li>In the conventional model, the pharmacological research precedes clinical validation by several years and the entire process may take 15-20 years and cost billions of dollars before a successful drug is launched in the community.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI): <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenous-fuel-cell-system#:~:text=It%20is%20developed%20under%20the,Leadership%20Initiative%20(NMITLI)'." target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative programme</a></strong> is a flagship scheme to catalyze innovation centered scientific and technological developments as a vehicle to attain for Indian industry a global leadership position.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It seeks to build, capture and retain for India a leadership position by synergising the best competencies of publicly funded R&amp;D institutions, academia and private industry</li>
<li>The Ayurvedic medicine system is one area of promising industrial potential for India on a global scale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Emulating Kerala Model:</strong> In this roller coaster journey since independence, there has been one bright exception, the state of Kerala, where Ayurveda continues to occupy a unique position in the health and medical care sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kerala has been promoting Ayurveda as a way of improving immunity in the general population. It promotes Ayurvedic formulations and recommends Ayurveda practices to all demographics of its population.</li>
<li>The Kerala model has been lauded across the globe for its effectiveness in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
<li>The state has taken several steps to keep its case count low, and one of them is a focus on improving the immunity levels of people, using Ayurveda.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Though deeply rooted in antiquity and Hindu civilisation, Ayurveda has carried forward some of the finest traditions in healing and cure the world has ever seen. Moreover, it has undergone some transformation to suit modern India, but more is required.</p>
<p>Thus, there is a need for state patronage, so that Ayurveda can claim its rightful place along with modern medicine as a mainstream medicinal system.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594725052_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594725052_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="429" /></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: #fffced;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>With increased significance of Ayurveda in treating modern diseases, it is now poised to truly and actively participate in the health and medical care system.Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uYLx_CYLQak" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/sure-power-the-hindu-editorial-on-indias-solar-strategy/article32060269.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Sure Power&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on July 13<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/renaissance-in-ayurveda'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Retail Inflation Growth at 6.09%',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Statistical Office (NSO)</strong></a> released the retail inflation data, which rose to <strong>6.09%</strong> in the month of June, 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Retail inflation is measured by the <strong>Consumer Price Index (CPI).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The retail inflation growth was mainly due to a rise in <strong>pulses and products</strong> prices that saw a <strong>16.68%</strong> on-year rise in June. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from pulses and products segment, the<strong> meat and fish</strong> segment saw a rise of <strong>16.22%,</strong> while that of <strong>oils and fats</strong> rose 12.27% and <strong>spices</strong> prices gained <strong>11.74%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The retail inflation has grown beyond 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&rsquo;s (RBI)</strong></a> <strong>upper margin of 6%.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Central government has mandated the RBI to keep inflation within the range of 4&plusmn;2%.</li>
<li>This <strong>inflation range (4% within a band of +/- 2%) was recommended by the committee headed by Urjit Patel in 2014.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NSO also released the<strong> Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)</strong> data which measures the inflation in the food basket.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The CFPI stood at 7.87% in the month of June. The CFPI for May was revised to 9.20%.</li>
<li>The reduction in CFPI is because of ease in supply related issues post lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government<strong> has not released the retail inflation data for April and May.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The price collection of Consumer Price Index (CPI) through personal visits of price collectors was suspended due to the announcement of nation-wide lockdown to contain spread of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impact-of-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Inflation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Inflation refers to the <strong>rise in the prices of most goods and services</strong> of daily or common use, such as food, clothing, housing, recreation, transport, consumer staples, etc.</li>
<li>Inflation measures the average price change in a basket of commodities and services over time.</li>
<li>Inflation is indicative of the <strong>decrease in the purchasing power</strong> of a unit of a country&rsquo;s currency. This could ultimately lead to a deceleration in economic growth.</li>
<li>However, a <strong>moderate level of inflation is required in the economy</strong> to ensure that production is promoted.</li>
<li>In India, the NSO under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation measures inflation.</li>
<li>In India, inflation is primarily measured by two main indices &mdash; <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WPI (Wholesale Price Index)</a> and CPI (Consumer Price Index)</strong> which measure wholesale and retail-level price changes, respectively.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Consumer Price Index</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It measures price changes from the <strong>perspective of a retail buyer.</strong></li>
<li>The CPI calculates the difference in the price of commodities and services such as food, medical care, education, electronics etc, which Indian consumers buy for use.</li>
<li>The CPI has several sub-groups including food and beverages, fuel and light, housing and clothing, bedding and footwear.</li>
<li>Four types of CPI are as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>CPI for Industrial Workers (IW).</strong></li>
<li><strong>CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).</strong></li>
<li><strong>CPI for Rural Labourer (RL).</strong></li>
<li><strong>CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined).</strong></li>
<li>Of these, the first three are compiled by the Labour Bureau in the <strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment.</strong> Fourth is compiled by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Base Year</strong> for CPI is <strong>2012.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/repo-rate-unchanged-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)</strong></a> uses CPI data to control inflation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/india-june-2020-cpi-retail-inflation-data-6503751/" 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/retail-inflation-growth-at-6-09'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'India's Second Voluntary Review of SDGs',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has represented the <strong>second voluntary national review of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</a></strong> report titled as <strong>&lsquo;Decade of Action: Taking SDGs from Global to Local&rsquo; </strong>to the<strong> United Nations High-level Political Forum.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report, presented by <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a>, discusses SDGs related policy, means of implementation and situation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> in India.</li>
<li>It presented the<strong> first</strong> voluntary national review of SDGs in <strong>2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Localising SDGs:</strong> The goal wise account of the progress on SDGs has been represented with examples of a range of diverse practices and success stories of interventions from the States, specifically <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational Districts.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong> Highlighted the challenges thrown up by the Covid-19 outbreak, India has called on developed countries to provide <strong>financial assistance</strong> to the developing countries, especially for <strong>global public good such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> mitigation and control of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemics</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to a study conducted by the government in partnership with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong></a> &mdash; education, health, electricity, roads and water and sanitation &mdash; will require additional funding for &ldquo;significant&rdquo; progress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Curbing Illicit Financial Flows:</strong> Deliberating on the &ldquo;SDG-17&rdquo; that is about &ldquo;partnerships for the goals&rdquo;, the report highlighted the need for international cooperation for curbing illicit financial flows.</li>
<li><strong>Efforts to curb the Covid-19:</strong> It mentioned the vulnerabilities faced by the migrants and the urban poor in the wake of the pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is leading a multi-faceted effort to revamp the public health infrastructure, protect jobs and livelihoods to reduce the impact of the Covid-19.</li>
<li>Government has announced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>economic relief packages</strong></a> for them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations High-Level Political Forum</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Formed in 2013, it is a subsidiary body of both the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations General Assembly</strong></a> and the<strong> United Nations Economic and Social Council</strong> responsible for the entire organization's policy on sustainable development.</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> New York, USA</li>
<li>It adopts negotiated declarations, reviews commitment and the progress of the<strong> 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</strong></li>
<li>Member countries are required to apprise about the progress in the form of<strong> Voluntary National Review reports (VNRs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The VNRs that are presented by the member states are a critical component of the <strong>review of the implementation and progress</strong> of 2030 Agenda and SDGs.</li>
<li>The process of the preparation of a country&rsquo;s VNR provides a platform for the partnerships, which includes the participation of various stakeholders.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s VNR in 2020 undertook a paradigm shift in terms of embodying a <strong>&lsquo;whole of society&rsquo; approach</strong> in letter and spirit.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been prepared with the help of sub-national and local governments, civil society organizations, local communities, people in vulnerable situations and the private sector.</li>
<li>NITI Aayog has the mandate of overseeing the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-calls-for-developed-nations-to-assist-developing-ones-6504482/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIndia%20reiterates%20that%20the%20developed,%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20the%20report%20titled%20%E2%80%9C" 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/india-s-second-voluntary-review-of-sdgs'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Language of the Tangams',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh has released a book titled <strong>&ldquo;Tangams: An Ethnolinguistic Study Of The Critically Endangered Group of Arunachal Pradesh&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The book has valuable data on <strong>endangered oral narratives</strong> like ritual songs, lamentation songs, lullabies and festival songs in<strong> Tangam language</strong> spoken by the Tangam community, which has <strong>reportedly 253 speakers left now.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tangam People:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a little-known community within the larger <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tribal-lockdown-rituals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh</strong></a> which resides in the <strong>hamlet of Kugging in Upper Siang district&rsquo;s Paindem circle.</strong></li>
<li>For long, the only account of the Tangams could be found in a book,<strong> &ldquo;Tangams&rdquo; (1975)</strong> where the community&rsquo;s population was pegged at 2,000 spread across 25 villages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tangam Language:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tangam is an <strong>oral language that belongs to the Tani group,</strong> under the greater <strong>Tibeto-Burman language family.</strong></li>
<li>It has been marked <strong>&lsquo;critically endangered&rsquo;</strong> by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO</strong></a> <strong>World Atlas of Endangered Languages</strong> (2009).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594719584_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594719584_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons for its Decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low population:</strong> Smaller languages are more vulnerable and extinction is directly proportional to population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Another <strong>critically endangered language is Meyor</strong> but it is better off than Tangam because the community has a population of around 1,000 people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multilingualism:</strong> Tangams have become<strong> multilingual over time</strong> to communicate with their neighbours.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Kugging is surrounded by a number of villages inhabited by Adi subgroups such as Shimong, Minyongs, as well as the Buddhist tribal community of Khambas, among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Less or No Use of Tangam:</strong> They rarely speak their own language now because their population is restricted to a single village. Moreover, they are relatively unknown even within the state so there was no possibility of its expansion.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Development and Infrastructure:</strong> The village lacks proper infrastructure in all basic sectors of education, health, drinking water facilities, road and electricity. Not a single person from the community has gone to a university.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Languages of Arunachal Pradesh</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There has been <strong>no systematic, scientific or official survey</strong> on the number of languages in Arunachal Pradesh till recently.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An <strong>official linguistic survey</strong> by the state government began only in <strong>2018,</strong> which is currently underway.</li>
<li>Before that, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protection-and-preservation-of-endangered-language" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>People&rsquo;s Linguistic Survey of India</strong></a> was published in <strong>2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to experts, there are <strong>around 32-34 languages</strong> with a disclaimer that it is <strong>not a conclusive figure.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If various linguistic varieties or dialects embedded within these languages are enlisted then the numbers can go up to 90.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The languages of Arunachal Pradesh have been <strong>classified under the Sino-Tibetan language family</strong> and <strong>more specifically under the Tibeto-Burman and Tai group of languages,</strong> such as Lolo-Burmish, Bodhic, Sal, Tani, Mishmi, Hruissh and Tai.</li>
<li>The <strong>education system introduced Devanagari, Assamese and Roman scripts</strong> for most tribal languages but<strong> new scripts such as Tani Lipi and Wancho Script</strong> have been developed by native scholars as well.</li>
<li>According to the UNESCO Atlas of the World&rsquo;s Languages in Danger,<strong> more than 26 languages</strong> of Arunachal Pradesh have been identified as endangered with the<strong> degrees ranging from &lsquo;unsafe&rsquo;, &lsquo;definitely endangered&rsquo; to &lsquo;critically endangered&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Risks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>diversity of languages</strong> has led various communities to<strong> depend on English, Assamese and Arunachalee Hindi as the link languages.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> younger generation</strong> of various tribes, especially in the urban areas, <strong>has mostly discarded</strong> the use of their mother tongue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study for the book took a multidisciplinary approach by taking into account not only language but also rituals, folklore, food habits, belief systems, etc.</li>
<li>The book will help future children retain their unique identity as an ethnolinguistic group and will appeal to those interested in ethnolinguistics, anthropology and folkloristics of lesser studied tribes.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-language-of-the-tangams-with-just-253-speakers-6503165/" 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/language-of-the-tangams'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Tiger Census 2018: Guinness Book of World Records',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s 2018 Tiger Census</strong> </a>has made it to the <strong>Guinness Book of World Records</strong> for being the <strong>world&rsquo;s largest camera trapping wildlife survey.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has also fulfilled its resolution to double the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-conservation-of-tigers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tiger</strong></a> numbers made at St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010, before the target year of 2022.</li>
<li>The tiger numbers in India have increased from around 1500 in 2010 to 2976 in 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Comprehensive:</strong> The <strong>fourth cycle</strong> of the<strong> Tiger Census 2018,</strong> conducted in 2018-19 is the most comprehensive in terms of both resource and data recorded.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It counted <strong>2976 tigers</strong> which is <strong>75%</strong> of the global tiger population.</li>
<li>The census is done quadrennially (every four years) by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority</a> (NTCA)</strong> with technical help from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rhinos-to-be-re-introduced-in-uttarakhand#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20Uttarakhand%20State%20Wildlife,more%20would%20be%20added%20subsequently." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is done with cooperation from the state Forest Departments and partners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Methods:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Camera traps</strong> were placed at multiple locations across different sites and surveyed an effective area of 121,337 square kilometres. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Camera Traps</strong> are<strong> outdoor photographic devices</strong> fitted with motion sensors that start recording when an animal passes by.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also conducted extensive<strong> foot surveys</strong> that sampled habitat plots for vegetation and prey dung.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Identification:</strong> From these photographs 83% of the total tiger population were identified using <strong>stripe-pattern-recognition software.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The software helps to match a new image of a tiger already in the database, based on the pattern of stripes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Project Tiger</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in <strong>1973</strong> with 9 tiger reserves for conserving our national animal, the tiger.</li>
<li>It is an ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforming-centrally-sponsored-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme</strong></a> of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.</li>
<li>Currently, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 50 Tiger reserves, spread out in 18 tiger range states which amounts to around 2.21% of the geographical area of our country.</li>
<li>The tiger reserves are <strong>constituted on a core/buffer strategy.</strong> The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple use area.</li>
<li>The <strong>NTCA</strong> was <strong>launched in 2005,</strong> following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. It is a <strong>statutory body of the Ministry,</strong> with an overarching supervisory/coordination role, performing functions as provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.</li>
<li><strong>M-STrIPES</strong> (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) is an <strong>app based monitoring system,</strong> launched across Indian tiger reserves by the NTCA in 2010. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The system would enable field managers to assist intensity and spatial coverage of patrols in a geographic information system (GIS) domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Tiger<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594719000_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594719000_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Panthera tigris</em></li>
<li><strong>Indian Sub Species:</strong> <em>Panthera tigris tigris.</em></li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> It stretches from Siberian temperate forests to <strong>subtropical and tropical forests on the Indian subcontinent</strong> and Sumatra.</li>
<li>It is the largest cat species and a member of the genus Panthera.</li>
<li>Traditionally<strong> eight subspecies of tigers</strong> have been recognized, out of which <strong>three are extinct.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bengal Tigers:</strong> Indian Subcontinent</li>
<li><strong>Caspian tiger:</strong> Turkey through central and west Asia <strong>(extinct).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Amur tiger:</strong> Amur Rivers region of Russia and China, and North Korea</li>
<li><strong>Javan tiger:</strong> Java, Indonesia <strong>(extinct).</strong></li>
<li><strong>South China tiger:</strong> South central China.</li>
<li><strong>Bali tiger:</strong> Bali, Indonesia <strong>(extinct).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sumatran tiger:</strong> Sumatra, Indonesia.</li>
<li><strong>Indo-Chinese tiger:</strong> Continental south-east Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Designated as the National Animal of India, Bengal Tiger is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange-brown fur with a lighter underside.</li>
<li><strong>Importance:</strong> Tigers are terminal consumers in the ecological food pyramid, and their conservation results in the conservation of all trophic levels in an ecosystem.</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong> Habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation and poaching.</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</a>: Schedule I</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong> </a>Red List:<strong> Endangered.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)</a>: Appendix I.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tiger Reserves in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Total Number: 50</strong></li>
<li><strong>Largest: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nagarjunasagar-srisailam-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve</a></strong>, Andhra Pradesh</li>
<li><strong>Smallest: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dehing-patkai-wildlife-sanctuary-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orang National park</a></strong>, Assam</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/mainpage.aspx" 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/tiger-census-2018-guinness-book-of-world-records'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'India Dropped from Chabahar Rail Project',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Iran has decided to proceed with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-firm-takes-over-chabahar-port-operations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chabahar</strong></a> rail line construction on its own, citing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-not-making-promised-investments-in-chabahar-port-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>delays from the Indian side</strong> </a>in beginning and funding the project.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Chabahar Port</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Chabahar port is located on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-sankalp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf of Oman</strong></a> and is only 72 km away from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/viability-of-bri-and-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gwadar port</strong> </a><strong>in Pakistan</strong> which has been <strong>developed by China.</strong></li>
<li>The port serves as the <strong>only oceanic port of Iran</strong> and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594715104_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594715104_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Iran has inaugurated the track-laying process for the <strong>628 km Chabahar-Zahedan rail line,</strong> which will be <strong>extended to Zaranj across the border in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
<li>The entire project would be <strong>completed by March 2022</strong> and Iranian Railways will use approximately <strong>USD 400 million</strong> from the<strong> Iranian National Development Fund.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed the <strong>trilateral agreement</strong> which entailed the establishment of <strong>Transit and Transport Corridor</strong> among the three countries using Chabahar port in Iran as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation.</li>
<li>Construction of a rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the border with Afghanistan as an alternate trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, was also a part of it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The state-owned <strong>Indian Railways Construction Ltd.</strong> (IRCON) had signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding</strong> (MoU) with the <strong>Iranian Rail Ministry</strong> and promised to provide all services, superstructure work and financing (around USD 1.6 billion).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Chabahar port is being considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by the three countries with other Central Asian countries in the wake of<strong> Pakistan denying transit access to India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite several site visits by IRCON engineers and preparations by Iranian railways, <strong>India never began the work,</strong> worrying that it could attract <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/chabahar-port-us-sanctions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sanctions by the USA.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has already <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iran-sanctions-india-lines-up-alternative-sources" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zeroed out its oil imports from Iran</strong></a> due to USA sanctions.</li>
<li>The USA had provided a sanctions waiver for the Chabahar port and the rail line but it was <strong>difficult to find equipment suppliers and partners</strong> due to worries of being targeted by the USA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another reason could be the<strong> &lsquo;Comprehensive Plan for Cooperation between Iran and China&rsquo;</strong> which is a <strong>25-year and USD 400 billion strategic partnership deal.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both nations are <strong>close to finalising</strong> the deal, which will <strong>include Chinese involvement</strong> in Chabahar&rsquo;s duty-free zone, an oil refinery nearby and possibly a larger role in Chabahar port as well.</li>
<li>The cooperation will extend from<strong> investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and upgrading energy and transport</strong> facilities, to <strong>refurbishing ports, refineries and other installations</strong> and will commit Iranian oil and gas supplies to China during that period.</li>
<li>Iran proposed a tie-up between the Chinese-run Pakistani port at Gwadar and Chabahar in 2019 and offered interests to China in the <strong>Bandar-e-Jask port</strong> 350 km away from Chabahar, as well as in the Chabahar duty-free zone.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Iran-China deal <strong>impinges on India&rsquo;s strategic ties with Iran</strong> and the use of Chabahar port. Bandar-e-Jask lies to the west of Chabahar and right before the Strait <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strait-of-hormuz-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>of Hormuz</strong></a> which would <strong>allow China to extend its control along the Pakistan-Iran coast.</strong></li>
<li>Each of these possibilities<strong> should be watched closely</strong> by India and it should <strong>strengthen its relations</strong> with the concerned countries.</li>
<li>As an emerging power, India cannot remain confined to South Asia and a peaceful extended neighbourhood (Iran-Afghanistan) is not only good for trade and energy security but also plays a <strong>vital role in India's aspirations of becoming a superpower.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/iran-drops-india-from-chabahar-rail-project-cites-funding-delay/article32072428.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-dropped-from-chabahar-rail-project'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'The Padmanabhaswamy Temple Case',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3 style="padding-left: 30px;">Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong></a> <strong>upheld the right of the Travancore royal family</strong> to manage the property of deity at <strong>Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple</strong> in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Temple has been in the news since 2011 after the discovery of treasure worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore in its underground vaults.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court (SC)<strong> reversed the 2011 Kerala High Court decision,</strong> which had directed the Kerala government to set up a trust to control the management and assets of the temple.</li>
<li>The High Court (HC) had ruled that the<strong> successor to the erstwhile royals could not claim to be in control of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple</strong> after the <strong>amendment of definition of &lsquo;Ruler&rsquo; in Article 366 (22)</strong> of the Constitution of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The definition of Ruler was amended by the <strong>Twenty Sixth (Constitutional) Amendment Act, 1971,</strong> which abolished the privy purses.</li>
<li>Article 366 (22) reads, &ldquo;Ruler&rdquo; means the Prince, Chief or other person who, at any time before the commencement of the Twenty Sixth (Constitutional) Amendment Act, 1971, was recognised as the Ruler of an Indian State or was recognised as the successor of such Ruler.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the SC rejected this and said that, <strong>as per customary law,</strong> the members of the royal family have the <strong>shebait rights</strong> even after the death of the last ruler.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Shebait rights means right to manage the financial affairs of the deity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The SC held that, <strong>for the purpose of shebait rights the definition of Ruler would apply</strong> and would transfer to the successor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Administrative Committees:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SC accepted the submission of the royal family that the temple is a <strong>public temple,</strong> and directed setting up of an<strong> administrative committee with the Thiruvananthapuram District Judge as its chairperson,</strong> for its transparent administration in the future.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The other members of the Committee would be a nominee of the trustee (royal family), the chief thanthri of the temple, a nominee of the State and a member nominated by the Union Ministry of Culture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The SC<strong> also ordered a second committee</strong> to be constituted to advise the administrative committee on policy matters. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This would be <strong>chaired by a retired High Court judge</strong> nominated by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The primary duties of the two committees would be to preserve the treasures and properties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the <strong>Instrument of Accession</strong> signed between the princely states and the Government of India, the administration of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple was <strong>vested in trust in the Ruler of Travancore,</strong> since 1949.</li>
<li><strong>In 1971, privy purses to the former royals were abolished</strong> through a constitutional amendment stripping their entitlements and privileges.</li>
<li>In 1991, when the last ruler of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, passed away, his brother Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma took over the temple management.</li>
<li>This created a furore that he had no legal right to claim the control or management of the temple.</li>
<li>However, the royal family continued to manage the affairs of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple till the Kerala High Court in 2011 ruled that the family cannot continue to exert its shebait rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple<img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594714198_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to Historians, the temple dates back to the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> century</strong> but the present structure was built in the 18<sup>th</sup> century by the then Travancore <strong>Maharaja Marthanda Varma.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The temple was initially made of wood but later it was constructed with granite.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The temple is built in the unique <strong>Chera style of architecture,</strong> and its <strong>main deity is Lord Vishnu</strong> who is found in the <strong>Anantha Shayana posture</strong> (reclined posture of eternal yoga) on <strong>Adishesha</strong> or king of all serpents.</li>
<li>It is known to be <strong>one of the 108 holy temples associated with Vaishnavism in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-upholds-right-of-erstwhile-travancore-royal-family-in-administration-of-keralas-sree-padmanabhaswamy-temple/article32063310.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/the-padmanabhaswamy-temple-case'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'App to Monitor Rice Fields: Paddy Watch',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Researchers from University of Sydney in collaboration with other partners have been developing an app i.e.<strong> Paddy watch,</strong> which will act as the <strong>first real-time monitoring platform for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/direct-seeding-of-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rice</a> fields.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The project has been undertaken in collaboration with <strong>Google Earth</strong> and the <strong>Group on Earth Observations (GEO).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Development of the App:</strong> The Paddy watch is being developed in partnership with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iari-breeds-nutrient-rich-hybrid-maize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Agricultural Research Institute</strong></a>, India along with the research institutes from different countries i.e. China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These five countries hold the position of the largest rice-producing countries across the globe.</li>
<li>Among these, <strong>India, China and Indonesia</strong> are the world&rsquo;s three largest producers of rice and together account for about <strong>60% of the total</strong> world production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functioning:</strong> The <strong>real-time land-use data</strong> will be generated using<strong> Google Earth</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/edge-computing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cloud computing technology</strong></a>, and will be verified by field operators in partner countries to ensure accuracy of rice production worldwide.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Digital Agriculture:</strong> The app would work on <strong>deep-learning techniques</strong> (works on the idea of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a>) to forecast crop yields and water consumption.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This type of technology would enhance the world's confidence to feed the population in a sustainable way.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Accurate Information:</strong> Accurate and up-to-date information on rice planted and harvested can be achieved through the app. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It would allow <strong>farmers, agricultural scientists, non-government organisations and government planners</strong> to manage land use to<strong> ensure <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food security</a></strong> in the world&rsquo;s rice bowls.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Therefore, helps in meeting the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a>-mandated <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sustainable development goal</strong></a> No.2 &mdash; of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-how-can-india-overcome-the-zero-hunger-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Zero Hunger.&rsquo;</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It would help in water management and <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-ensuring-water-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>water security</strong></a> by predicting the use of water for the rice fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GreenHouse Gas Emission:</strong> As paddy fields release methane, a significant component to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/greenhouse-gas-levels-reach-record-highs-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>greenhouse gases</strong></a>, the app would help in the estimation of the emission and impact of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Policy Formulation:</strong> The information collected through the app would also help the associated partners to develop policies for education, economic growth, gender equity, and reduction of social inequality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Group on Earth Observations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GEO is a unique <strong>global network</strong> connecting government institutions, academic and research institutions, data providers and scientists to benefit the world by comprehensive and sustained Earth observations.</li>
<li>It coordinates international efforts to build a <strong>Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to produce a <strong>global public infrastructure</strong> that generates, near-real-time environmental data, information and analyses for a wide range of users and mitigation of global issues like climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/economy/first-real-time-digital-platform-to-monitor-rice-fields-can-bolster-food-security-72264" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/app-to-monitor-rice-fields-paddy-watch'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Criminalisation of Politics',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/owning-up-to-criminalisation-in-politics/article32035186.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Owning up to criminalisation in politics&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 10/07/2020. It talks about the menace of criminalisation of politics in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Upcoming Bihar elections in October 2020, will be the first election where the Supreme Court's decision (given in february 2020) that requires political parties to publish the entire criminal history of their candidates for elections along with the reasons to field such suspected criminals, will be implemented.</p>
<p>This judgement also requires such information mandatorily be published in a local and national newspaper as well as the parties&rsquo; social media handles.</p>
<p>While the judgment may have far-reaching consequences for curbing criminalisation of politics, yet still a lot has to be done to make a cleaner electoral process in India.</p>
<h3>Significance of the Judgment</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-order-on-criminalisation-of-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>order by the Supreme Court</strong></a> is in line with<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/curbing-criminalisation-of-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> a series of judgments</strong> </a>aimed at preserving the purity of the election process. Some of the judgements are as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Directions to ensure the asset disclosure and criminal records of candidates.</li>
<li>The incorporation of the &lsquo;none of the above&rsquo; option in the voting machine.</li>
<li>Invalidation of a clause that protected sitting legislators from immediate disqualification after conviction.</li>
<li>Establishment of special courts in all States for the quick disposal of cases involving elected representatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The political party and its leadership would for the first time have to publicly own up to criminalisation of politics, which they had been denying it all these years.</li>
<li>The judgment assumes importance amid the steady deterioration in politics over decades, with the decline accelerating in the last two decades.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2004, 24% of the Members of Parliament had criminal cases pending against them. It shot up to 30% in 2009 and 34% in 2014.</li>
<li>In 2019 as many as 43% of MPs had criminal cases pending against them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons of Criminalisation of Politics</h3>
<p><strong>Lack of Political Will:</strong> Majorly whatever progress made in curbing criminalisation of politics has been through the initiative of the Supreme Court and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Election Commission.</strong> </a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, it is parliament's responsibility to amend the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/representation-of-people-s-act-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Representation of the People (RPA) Act 1951</strong></a>, which deals with disqualification of candidates against whom charges have been proved in court for serious offences.</li>
<li>In spite of taking appropriate measures to amend the RPA Act, there has been an unsaid understanding among the political parties which deters Parliament to make strong law curbing criminalisation of politics.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Lack of Enforcement:</strong> Several laws and court judgments have not helped much, due to the lack of enforcement of laws and judgments. For example, blatant violation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/model-code-of-conduct-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Model Code of Conduct</strong></a>, as seen in almost all elections.</p>
<p><strong>Narrow Self-interests:</strong> Publishing of the entire criminal history of candidates fielded by political parties may not be very effective, as a major chunk of voters tend to vote through a narrow prism of community interests like caste or religion.</p>
<p><strong>Use of Muscle and Money Power:</strong> Candidates with serious records seem to do well despite their public image, largely due to their ability to finance their own elections and bring substantive resources to their respective parties.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Also, sometimes voters are left with no options, as all competing candidates have criminal records.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Effect of Criminalisation of Politics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Against the Principle of Free and Fair Election:</strong> Using money and muscle power in elections, limits the choice of voters to elect a suitable candidate. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, it is against the ethos of free and fair election which is the bedrock of a democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affecting Good Governance:</strong> The major problem is that the law-breakers become law-makers, this affects the efficacy of the democratic process in delivering good governance.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These unhealthy tendencies in the democratic system reflect a poor image of the nature of India&rsquo;s state institutions and the quality of its elected representatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affecting Integrity of Public Servants:</strong> It also leads to increased circulation of black money during and after elections, which in turn increases corruption in society and affects the working of public servants.</li>
<li><strong>Causes Social Disharmony:</strong> It introduces a culture of violence in society and sets a bad precedent for the youth to follow and reduces people 's faith in democracy as a system of governance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>State Funding of Election:</strong> Various <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-electoral-politics-need-for-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>committees</strong> </a>(Dinesh Goswami, Inderjeet Committee) on the electoral reforms have recommended for state funding of elections.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-regulating-anonymous-donations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State funding of elections</strong></a> will curb use of black money to a large extent and thereby will have a significant impact on limiting criminalization of politics.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Strengthening of Election Commission:</strong> Election Commission can register a political party but cannot deregister it. Regulating the affairs of a political party is essential for a cleaner electoral process.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen the election commission.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Behavioural Change:</strong> Until the citizens realise that people who bribe them for votes cannot be trusted and it will be to their ultimate disadvantage, the efforts to curb criminalisation of politics will have limited impact.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Thus, voters also need to be vigilant about misuse of money, gifts and other inducements during elections.</li>
<li>Further, seeing a behavioral change amongst voters, political parties will be forced to field candidates with a clean background.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Given the reluctance by the political parties to curb criminalisation of politics and its growing detrimental effects on Indian democracy, Indian courts must now seriously consider banning people accused with serious criminal charges from contesting elections.</p>
<p>While there are various arguments for and against such a move, it will be a step in the right direction for making Indian elections more free and fair.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594638153_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594638153_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="470" /></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: #faffeb;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>De-criminalisation of politics cannot be achieved by judicial fiat alone, it requires strong political will and most importantly a behavioral change amongst the Indian voters. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/criminalisation-of-politics-2'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Goods and Services Tax (GST)',
		'catname' => 'Paper 3',
		'desc' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a <strong>value-added tax</strong> levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption. The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services.</p>
<h3>Main Features of GST</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Applicable On supply side:</strong> GST is applicable on &lsquo;supply&rsquo; of goods or services as against the old concept on the manufacture of goods or on sale of goods or on provision of services.</li>
<li><strong>Destination based Taxation:</strong> GST is based on the principle of destination-based consumption taxation as against the present principle of origin-based taxation.</li>
<li><strong>Dual GST:</strong> It is a dual GST with the Centre and the States simultaneously levying tax on a common base. GST to be levied by the Centre is called Central GST (CGST) and that to be levied by the States is called State GST (SGST).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Import of goods or services would be treated as inter-state supplies and would be subject to Integrated Goods &amp; Services Tax (IGST) in addition to the applicable customs duties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GST rates to be mutually decided:</strong> CGST, SGST &amp; IGST are levied at rates to be mutually agreed upon by the Centre and the States. The rates are notified on the recommendation of the GST Council. </li>
<li><strong>Multiple Rates:</strong> Initially GST was levied at four rates viz. 5%, 12%, 16% and 28%. The schedule or list of items that would fall under these multiple slabs are worked out by the GST council.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Legislative Basis Of GST</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, GST Bill was first introduced in 2014 as The Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill.</li>
<li>This got an approval in 2016 and was renumbered in the statute by Rajya Sabha as The Constitution (101<sup>st</sup> Amendment) Act, 2016. Its provisions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Central GST to cover Excise duty, Service tax etc, State GST to cover VAT, luxury tax etc.</li>
<li>Integrated GST to cover inter-state trade. IGST per se is not a tax but a system to coordinate state and union taxes.</li>
<li><strong>Article 246A &ndash;</strong> States have power to tax goods and services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>GST Council</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Article 279A - <strong>GST</strong> Council to be formed by the President to administer &amp; govern GST. It's Chairman is Union Finance Minister of India with ministers nominated by the state governments as its members.</li>
<li>The council is devised in such a way that the centre will have 1/3<sup>rd</sup> voting power and the states have 2/3<sup>rd</sup>.</li>
<li>The decisions are taken by 3/4<sup>th</sup> majority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reforms Brought About by GST</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Creation of common national market:</strong> By amalgamating a large number of Central and State taxes into a single tax. </li>
<li><strong>Mitigation of cascading effect:</strong> GST mitigated ill effects of cascading or double taxation in a major way and paved the way for a common national market. </li>
<li><strong>Reduction in Tax burden:</strong> From the consumers&rsquo; point of view, the biggest advantage would be in terms of reduction in the overall tax burden on goods. </li>
<li><strong>Making Indian products more competitive:</strong> Introduction of GST is making Indian products more competitive in the domestic and international markets owing to the full neutralization of input taxes across the value chain of production. </li>
<li><strong>Easier to administer:</strong> Because of the transparent and self-policing character of GST, it would be easier to administer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Advantages of GST</h3>
<p><strong>For the Government</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Create a unified common market:</strong> Will help to create a unified common national market for India. It will also give a boost to foreign investment and &ldquo;Make in India&rdquo; campaign.</li>
<li><strong>Streamline Taxation:</strong> Through harmonization of laws, procedures and rates of tax between Centre and States and across States.</li>
<li><strong>Increase tax Compliance:</strong> Improved environment for compliance as all returns are to be filed online, input credits to be verified online, encouraging more paper trail of transactions at each level of supply chain;</li>
<li><strong>Discourage Tax evasion:</strong> Uniform SGST and IGST rates will reduce the incentive for evasion by eliminating rate arbitrage between neighbouring States and that between intra and inter-state sales.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For Overall Economy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bring about certainty:</strong> Common procedures for registration of taxpayers, refund of taxes, uniform formats of tax return, common tax base, common system of classification of goods and services will lend greater certainty to taxation system;</li>
<li><strong>Reduce corruption:</strong> Greater use of IT will reduce human interface between the taxpayer and the tax administration, which will go a long way in reducing corruption;</li>
<li><strong>Boost secondary sector:</strong> It will boost export and manufacturing activity, generate more employment and thus increase GDP with gainful employment leading to substantive economic growth;</li>
<li>Ultimately it will help in poverty eradication by generating more employment and more financial resources.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For the Trade and Industry</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Simpler tax regime with fewer exemptions.</li>
<li>Increased ease of doing business.</li>
<li>Reduction in multiplicity of taxes.</li>
<li>Elimination of double taxation on certain sectors.</li>
<li>More efficient neutralization of taxes especially for exports </li>
<li>Making our products more competitive in the international market.</li>
<li>Simplified and automated procedures for registration, returns, refunds and tax payments.</li>
<li>Decrease in average tax burden on supply of goods or services.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For Consumers</strong> </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Transparent prices:</strong> Final price of goods is expected to be transparent due to seamless flow of input tax credit between the manufacturer, retailer and service supplier.</li>
<li><strong>Price reduction:</strong> Reduction in prices of commodities and goods in long run due to reduction in cascading impact of taxation;</li>
<li><strong>Poverty eradication</strong>: By generating more employment and more financial resources.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For the States</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expansion of the tax base:</strong> As states will be able to tax the entire supply chain from manufacturing to retail.</li>
<li><strong>More economical empowerment:</strong> Power to tax services, which was hitherto with the Central Government only, will boost revenue and give States access to the fastest growing sector of the economy.</li>
<li><strong>Enhancing Investments:</strong> GST being destination based consumption tax will favour consuming States. Improve the overall investment climate in the country which will naturally benefit the development in the States.</li>
<li><strong>Increase Compliance:</strong> Largely uniform SGST and IGST rates will reduce the incentive for evasion by eliminating rate arbitrage between neighbouring States and that between intra and inter-state sales</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Exemptions under GST</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Custom duty will be still collected along with the levy of IGST on imported goods.</li>
<li>Petroleum and tobacco products are currently exempted.</li>
<li>Excise duty on liquor, stamp duty and electricity taxes are also exempted.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Challenges Of GST</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SCGT and CGST input credit cannot be cross utilized.</li>
<li>Manufacturing states lose revenue on a bigger scale.</li>
<li>High rate to tax to compensate the revenue collected now from multiple taxes i.e High Revenue Neutral Rate.</li>
<li>The reduction in the fiscal autonomy of the States.</li>
<li>Concerns raised by banks and insurance companies over the need for multiple registrations under GST.</li>
<li>The levy of additional cess.</li>
<li>The capacity of State tax authorities, so far used to taxing goods and not services, to deal with the latter is an unknown quantity.</li>
<li>The success of GST depends on political consensus, technology and the capacity of tax officials to adapt to the new requirements.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Thus GST is a positive step towards shifting Indian economy from the informal to formal economy. It is important to utilise experiences from global economies that have implemented GST before us,to overcome the impending challenges.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The recently discovered <strong>comet C/2020 F3</strong> will make its closest approach to the Earth at a distance of 64 million miles or 103 million kilometres while crossing <strong>Earth&rsquo;s outside orbit on 22<sup>nd</sup> July 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also known as <strong>NEOWISE</strong> after the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration</strong></a> (NASA) <strong>telescope</strong> that discovered it.</li>
<li>On 3<sup>rd</sup> July, it was closest to the sun at 43 million km due to which its outer layer was released, creating an atmosphere (referred to as coma) of gas and dust from its icy surface.</li>
<li><strong>It will be visible</strong> through binoculars or a small telescope.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594636492_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594636492_image1.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>The word comet comes from the Latin word <strong><em>&lsquo;Cometa&rsquo;</em></strong> which means <strong>&lsquo;long-haired&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The earliest known record of a comet sighting was made by an astrologer in<strong> 1059 BC.</strong></li>
<li>Comets or <strong>&lsquo;dirty snowballs&rsquo;</strong> are <strong>mostly made of dust, rocks and ice</strong> and can range in their width from a <strong>few miles to tens of miles wide.</strong></li>
<li>When they orbit <strong>closer to the sun,</strong> like C/2020 F3, they <strong>heat up and release debris of dust and gases.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>solid portions</strong> of comets consisting mostly of water, ice and embedded dust particles are <strong>inactive when far away from the sun.</strong></li>
<li>When near the sun, the<strong> icy cometary surfaces vaporize</strong> and throw off large quantities of gas and dust thus<strong> forming the enormous atmosphere and tails.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>released gases form a glowing head</strong> that can often be larger than a planet and the <strong>debris forms a tail</strong> that can stretch out to millions of miles.</li>
<li>Each time a comet passes the sun, it <strong>loses some of its material</strong> and it will <strong>eventually disappear completely</strong> as a result.</li>
<li>Comets may be occasionally pushed into orbits closer to the Sun and the Earth&rsquo;s neighbourhood <strong>due to forces of gravity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to NASA, while there are millions of comets orbiting the sun, there are<strong> more than 3,650 known comets</strong> as of now.</li>
<li><strong>The predictable comets</strong> are the <strong>short-period comets</strong> which take <strong>less than 200 years to orbit around the sun.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These can be <strong>found in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nasa-spaceship-reaches-ultima-thule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuiper belt</a>,</strong> where many comets orbit the sun in the realm of Pluto.</li>
<li>One of the most famous short-period comets is called <strong>Halley&rsquo;s Comet</strong> that <strong>reappears every 76 years.</strong> Halley&rsquo;s will be <strong>sighted next in 2062.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>less-predictable comets</strong> can be found in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/voyager-2-enters-interstellar-space" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Oort cloud</strong></a> that is about <strong>100,000 AU (Astronomical Unit</strong> which is the distance between the Earth and the Sun and is roughly 150 million km)<strong> from the sun</strong> or 100,000 times the distance between the Earth and the sun.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Comets in this cloud <strong>can take as long as 30 million years to complete one rotation</strong> around the sun.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Visibility:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Comets <strong>do not have the light of their own</strong> and the visibility <strong>depends on its gas and dust outbursts.</strong></li>
<li>Humans see the <strong>reflection of the sun&rsquo;s light off the comet</strong> as well as the<strong> energy released</strong> by the gas molecules after it is absorbed from the sun.</li>
<li>To be visible, a comet must make a<strong> particularly close approach to the sun</strong> to produce enormous quantities of gas and dust or it should make a <strong>relatively close approach to the Earth</strong> so that it is easily viewed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of the Study</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Astronomers believe that comets hold important <strong>clues about the formation of the solar system</strong> and it is <strong>possible that comets brought water and other organic compounds</strong> to Earth.</li>
<li>NASA tracks all <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/163348-2002-nn4-a-near-earth-asteroid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Near Earth Objects</strong> </a><strong>(NEOs)</strong> that includes comets and asteroids using telescopes placed all around the Earth, as part of its <strong>NEO Observation Program.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objective of the Program:</strong> To find, track and characterise NEOs that are 140 meters or larger in size since they can pose a risk to the Earth because of the devastation a potential impact can cause.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/comet-c-2020-f3-neowise-nasa-earth-6500688/" 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/comet-c-2020-f3-neowise'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Flood Resistant Paddy: Assam',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, farmers from <strong>Golaghat district in Assam</strong> have cultivated new <strong>flood resistant <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restriction-on-paddy-cultivation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paddy</a> varieties</strong> to shift from the traditional ones.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The varieties called <strong>Ranjit Sub1, Swarna Sub1 and Bahadur Sub1</strong> have been used by about 60% farmers of the <strong>West Brahmaputra area.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Farmers in flood-prone areas of Assam have been harvesting the water-resistant Swarna Sub1, developed by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Agricultural Research</a></strong> <strong>and the Manila-based <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/golden-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Rice Research Institute</a></strong>, since 2009.</li>
<li>But the switchover from traditional varieties of paddy has been slow.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The flood-resistant varieties including Ranjit Sub-1 were reintroduced in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Resist Submergence:</strong> The new <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/direct-seeding-of-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rice</a></strong> varieties can resist submergence for <strong>up to two weeks, a</strong>nd significantly do not get damaged by the heavy flood. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, comparison with the traditional varieties is difficult as they get damaged in the flood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Greater Yield:</strong> Enriched with the <strong>&lsquo;submergence&rsquo;</strong> (sub in short) <strong>gene,</strong> the varieties can yield up to <strong>five tonnes per hectare</strong> on an average.</li>
<li><strong>Reduction in Crop Loss:</strong> Some 1,500 farmers cultivate on about 950 hectares in crop-yielding areas which have been impacted by the regular flood. Therefore, rice varieties can reduce<strong> flood-caused crop loss substantially.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Regeneration:</strong> These varieties<strong> can get regenerated again</strong> in case damaged by the flood, hence ensure maximum productivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>kharif crop</strong> which requires<strong> high temperature, (above 25&deg;C)</strong> and <strong>high humidity</strong> with annual <strong>rainfall above 100 cm.</strong></li>
<li>About one-fourth of the total cropped area in India is under rice cultivation.</li>
<li><strong>Leading Producer States:</strong> West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.</li>
<li><strong>High Yielding States:</strong> Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Kerala.</li>
<li>In West Bengal, farmers grow three crops of rice called <strong>&lsquo;aus&rsquo;, &lsquo;aman&rsquo; and &lsquo;boro&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India contributes <strong>21.6% of rice production in the world</strong> and ranks second after China.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/amid-deluge-assam-farmer-stands-out-with-flood-resistant-paddy/article32060811.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/flood-resistant-paddy-assam'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Itolizumab: Emergency Covid-19 Drug',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-clinical-trials-in-india-for-new-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drugs Controller General of India</strong></a> (DCGI) has cleared <strong>Itolizumab</strong> for <strong>restricted emergency use in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> cases.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Itolizumab is a drug used to treat <strong>severe chronic plaque psoriasis.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Plaque psoriasis is a <strong>chronic autoimmune condition</strong> in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Itolizumab is for emergency use only in the treatment of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-cytokine-storms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cytokine Storm Syndrome</a> </strong>(CSS) in moderate to Severe <strong>Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome</strong> (ARDS) patients due to Covid-19.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>CSS</strong> is an uncontrolled attempt by the immune system to neutralise the virus that often ends up damaging the lungs and other organs and even death.</li>
<li><strong>ARDS</strong> is a disease in which the lung loses its capacity to expand further.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will be<strong> manufactured and formulated as an intravenous (IV) injection</strong> at the bio-manufacturing facility in Bengaluru.</li>
<li>Itolizumab is the<strong> first novel biologic therapy</strong> to be approved anywhere in the world for treating patients with moderate to severe Covid-19 complications.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Itolizumab is a<strong> biologic/biologic drug</strong> given by injection (shot) or IV infusion.</li>
<li>A biologic is a <strong>protein-based drug derived from living cells cultured in a laboratory.</strong></li>
<li>Biologics are <strong>different from traditional systemic drugs</strong> that impact the entire immune system.</li>
<li>Biologics <strong>only target specific parts of the immune system</strong> and biologics used to treat psoriatic disease block the action of a specific type of immune cell called a <strong>T-cell.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for its Approval</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DCGI&rsquo;s approval for the repurposed drug comes after the <strong>successful conclusion of a randomised, controlled clinical trial</strong> at multiple hospitals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The trial was designed employing a method called <strong>Simon&rsquo;s Two-Stage Design,</strong> an approach in executing <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/drugs-and-clinical-trials-rules-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phase-2 clinical trials</a> where the efficacy of a drug is tested.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other criteria such as<strong> improvement in oxygen levels</strong> and <strong>reduced inflammation</strong> were also convincing to several doctors who used the drug on their patients.</li>
<li>The evaluation also<strong> rests on Itolizumab being added to the &lsquo;best standard of care&rsquo;</strong> which slightly varied across hospitals.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In general, this consisted of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-use-of-hydroxy-chloroquine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hydroxychloroquine</strong></a> (HCQ), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-hiv-drugs-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ritonavir</strong></a> (antivirals), oxygen therapy, antibiotics, heparin (to avoid clotting) and some got methylprednisolone (a corticosteroid).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its usage was justified because of its l<strong>arge trials and safety assessments are already done for psoriasis.</strong> Plus, it is <strong>hard to recruit a larger number of patients in critical care conditions</strong> so numbers had to be kept low.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>no hard rules on a minimum number</strong> of recruits.</li>
<li>For an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-the-orphan-drug-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>orphan drug</strong> </a>(used to treat <strong>orphan or rare diseases</strong>), small numbers of recruits are approved.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The available evidence for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>remdesivir</strong></a> suggests that it may decrease the time for clinical improvement when used in moderate to severe cases and has no benefits in terms of reduced mortality.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Remdesivir has to be used with <strong>extreme caution</strong> due to its potential for<strong> serious adverse effects including liver and kidney injury.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another drug <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dexamethasone-drug" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tocilizumab</strong></a> has not shown any benefits in mortality reduction.</li>
<li><strong>Criticism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Itolizumab appears to have been<strong> tested on too few patients to reliably conclude on its benefits</strong> and with such a small sample size it would be unwise to claim it as the final and fully successful drug.</li>
<li>30 patients were recruited across four hospitals and 20 of them were given Itolizumab along with the &lsquo;standard of care treatment&rsquo; and 10 were given only standard of care.</li>
<li>Nobody died from the set of 20 patients and 3 patients died from the set of 10 patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Drug Controller General of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is responsible for <strong>approval of licences of specified categories of drugs</strong> such as blood and blood products,<strong> IV fluids, vaccines and sera</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It comes under the <strong>Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/biocons-covid-19-drug-tested-on-too-few-patients-to-reliably-conclude-on-benefits-say-experts/article32060019.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/itolizumab-emergency-covid-19-drug'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'FASTag Details for New Vehicle Registration',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)</strong> has decided to ensure capturing of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/all-about-the-fastag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FASTag</strong></a> <strong>details while registering or issuing fitness certificates</strong> to vehicles all over the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Besides facilitating smooth commutation/transit, use of <strong>electronic medium of FASTag payment,</strong> would also help in <strong>checking Covid-19 spread</strong> as cash payment is avoided.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>FASTag</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Introduced in 2017, it is an <strong>electronic toll collection system</strong> with reloadable tag feature which <strong>allows automatic deduction of toll</strong> without having to stop for carrying out the cash transaction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reloadable tag allows addition of monetary values multiple times.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is operated by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhai-achieves-highest-ever-construction-of-national-highways" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)</strong> </a>under the supervision of MoRTH.</li>
<li>The tag uses<strong> Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology</strong> and is fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle once active.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>RFID</strong> is the<strong> use of radio waves to read and capture information stored</strong> on a tag attached to an object. A tag can be read from up to several feet away and does not need to be within the direct line-of-sight of the reader to be tracked.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is linked to a prepaid account from which the applicable toll amount is deducted.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Consumers avoided using it following complaints of technical glitches, and money getting deducted twice from their bank accounts or e-wallets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The MoRTH has directed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nic-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Information Centre (NIC)</strong></a> to ensure details of the electronic toll collection device are captured on <strong>VAHAN portal.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The full integration of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/digital-transactions-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC)</a> with VAHAN portal</strong> has been achieved and the portal is now getting all information on FASTags through <strong>Vehicle Identification Number/ Vehicle Registration Number (VIN/VRN).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>VAHAN Portal:</strong> It acts as an<strong> integrated solution for vehicle registration</strong> for the State Transport Department. It helps in various processes like fitness, taxes, permits &amp; enforcement to get computerized.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The State Transport Department is governed by both Central Motor Vehicle Regulation (CMVR) and state specific Motor Vehicle Regulation (State MVR).</li>
<li>Consequently, VAHAN was conceptualized as a product that would capture the functionalities <strong>mandated by CMVR as well as state MVRs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Electronic Toll Collection:</strong> It was developed by <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</a> in 2016</strong> for electronic toll collection at toll plazas using FASTag.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1638107" 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/fastag-details-for-new-vehicle-registration'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Disabled are Entitled to Same Benefits of SC/ST quota: SC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court of India</strong> </a>observed that <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/issues-related-to-persons-with-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>persons suffering from disabilities</strong> </a>are also socially backward and <strong>entitled to the same benefits of relaxation</strong> as Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates <strong>in public employment and education.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decision came on a petition filed by Aryan Raj, a special needs person, against a <strong>Punjab and Haryana High Court order.</strong></li>
<li>Raj was denied relaxation in minimum qualifying marks in the Painting and Applied Art course in the Government College of Arts, Chandigarh.</li>
<li>The college insisted that disabled persons too need to meet the general qualifying standard of 40% in the aptitude test, whereas SC/ST candidates were given a relaxation to 35%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Upheld Delhi High Court Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the<em><strong> Anmol Bhandari v. Delhi Technological University</strong> <strong>case</strong></em> (2012), the Delhi High Court held that <strong>people suffering from disabilities are also socially backward,</strong> and are therefore, at the very least, entitled to the same benefits as given to the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe candidates.</li>
<li><strong>New academic courses</strong> should be designed to specifically cater to the needs of <strong>intellectually disabled persons.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Court observed the fact that intellectually/mentally challenged persons have certain limitations, which are not there in physically challenged persons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 15 (4)</strong> empowers the State to make special provision for the advancement of the SCs and the STs. E.g. providing fee concession in admission to any educational institution, building hostels for SCs/STs.</li>
<li><strong>Article 15 (5)</strong> empowers the State to reserve seats for SCs and the STs in admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, it excludes minority educational institutions referred to in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-can-regulate-minority-institutions-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 30 (1).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservation-issue-in-ap" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 16 (4)</strong> </a>empowers the State to make provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservation-not-a-fundamental-right-supreme-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> SCs/STs.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Initiatives for Disabled in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Rights of Person with Disabilities Act, 2016.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under this, persons with disabilities are <strong>provided reservation of seats in government higher educational institutions</strong> (not less than 5%) and government jobs (not less than 4%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Accessible India Campaign.</li>
<li>DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme.</li>
<li>Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP).</li>
<li>National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities (RGMF).</li>
<li>Schemes of the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/disabled-are-entitled-to-same-benefits-of-scst-quota-supreme-court/article32059867.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/disabled-are-entitled-to-same-benefits-of-sc-st-quota-sc'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'MoU between NATGRID and NCRB ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/natgrid-to-link-social-media-accounts-to-central-database" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)</strong></a> has signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)</strong> with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/annual-crimes-in-india-report-2018-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)</strong></a> to <strong>access the centralised online database</strong> on FIRs and stolen vehicles.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>NATGRID</strong> which seeks to become the <strong>one-stop destination for security and intelligence agencies</strong> will be operational by<strong> 31<sup>st</sup> December 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Access to CCTNS:</strong> The MoU will give NATGRID access to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizen-centric-services-of-ncrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)</strong></a> database, a platform that links around 14,000 police stations. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All State police are mandated to file First Information Reports (FIR) in the CCTNS.</li>
<li>The MoU enables the NATGRID to get information about<strong> details of a suspect as mentioned in the FIR</strong> such as his/her father&rsquo;s name, telephone number and other details.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Infringe on the Federal System of the Constitution:</strong> The <strong>NCRB</strong> under the Union government is <strong>only a repository</strong> and<strong> the data pertaining to FIRs</strong> of a particular police station are a <strong>State subject.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, it does not seem to violate any legal provisions as data pertaining to FIRs is shared with all the police stations.</li>
<li>The <strong>State police will not be</strong> a part of NATGRID and they could directly contact the airlines or railways for information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Providing Information to Multiple Agencies:</strong> Earlier the Civil Aviation Ministry and airline companies had raised concerns in providing information to yet another agency &mdash; NATGRID as they already provide information to the<strong> Bureau of Immigration</strong> and the <strong>customs authorities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Privacy Issues:</strong> Many agencies raised their concern regarding the accessibility of Data and privacy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the information accessed by one agency through the grid <strong>will not be accessible</strong> to<strong> any other agency</strong> as it will be an <strong>automated system</strong> and the request will land directly with the concerned department.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expenditure:</strong> The major amount of funds would be required for the expenditure towards the <strong>NATGRID software solution</strong> and for <strong>building infrastructural works</strong> of offices, Data Centre etc. at Delhi and Bengaluru.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Intelligence Grid</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As a <strong>counter-terrorism measure</strong> it was proposed after the <strong>terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008</strong> and functions under the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs.</strong></li>
<li>It is the integrated <strong>intelligence grid connecting databases of core security agencies</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is intending to set up an<strong> Entity Extraction, Visualization, and Analytics</strong> (EVA) system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Secure Centralised Database:</strong> It will become a<strong> secure centralised database to stream sensitive information</strong> from sets of data sources such as <strong>banks, credit cards, visa, immigration and train and air travel details,</strong> as well as from various intelligence agencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Presently, the security agencies directly contact an airline or a telephone company if they are on a suspect&rsquo;s trail through international servers such as Google etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Acts as a Link:</strong> It will act as a link between intelligence and investigation agencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will be a medium for at least 10 Central agencies such as the <strong>Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&amp;AW)</strong> to access data on a secured platform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology Intensive Solutions:</strong> The solutions provided by the NATGRID would be technology-intensive (e.g. use of Big Data and analytics) involving multiple stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Crime Records Bureau</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was set-up in <strong>1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs</strong> based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA&rsquo;s Task Force (1985).</li>
<li>It functions as <strong>a repository of information on crime and criminals</strong> so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.</li>
<li>It releases the <strong>Crime in India report</strong> which serves as a<strong> statistical tool in understanding</strong> the law and order situation across the country.</li>
<li>It developed<strong> CCTNS in 2009</strong> which aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for effective policing at all levels through <strong>adoption of principles of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/e-governance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-Governance.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It digitises data related to <strong>FIR registration, investigation and charge sheets in all police stations</strong> leading to the development of a national database of crimes and criminals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> New Delhi</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/natgrid-to-have-access-to-database-that-links-around-14000-police-stations/article32058643.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/mou-between-natgrid-and-ncrb'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Universal Social Security',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/india-needs-
a-universal-social-security-system/story-zXURLxf4Xy5dxdEdk5dOMP.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;India needs a universal social security system&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 08/07/2020. It talks about the need for universal social security in India.</p>
</div>
<p>The lockdown necessitated by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>has caused misery to almost all sections of society, but the vulnerable section viz. people below the poverty line, migrant workers have been affected the most.</p>
<p>Further, the principle of Universality of social security is enshrined in various goals related to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development</strong></a>. In this context, the imperative of providing universal social security, has assumed much significance.</p>
<h3>What is the Social Security System?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organisation (ILO)</strong></a>, <strong>Social Security</strong> is a comprehensive approach designed to prevent deprivation, give assurance to the individual of a basic minimum income for himself and his dependents and to protect the individual from any uncertainties.</li>
<li>It is also comprised of two elements, namely:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Right to a Standard of Living</strong> adequate for the health and well-being, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.</li>
<li><strong>Right to Income Security</strong> in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond any person&rsquo;s control.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Need For Universal Social Security in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Majority of WorkForce is in Unorganised Sector:</strong> The organised sector workers constitute less than 10% of all workers in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leaves more than 90% of the workforce without job security, labour rights and post-retirement provisions.</li>
<li>Also, in a dynamic market-economy, workers will lose jobs at a faster pace with technological changes. Thus, workers need to keep learning to stay productively employed.</li>
<li>However, in spite of great attention given to skills development in the last 15 years, the results are not very encouraging.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Too Expensive Private Healthcare Expense:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Out-of-pocket health expenses</strong></a>, which create barriers to seeking healthcare and can push marginal households into poverty, form as much as nearly 90% of private expenditure on health.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also Covid-19 has highlighted the urgency for providing universal free health care. It has demonstrated that private health care can be afforded only by the wealthy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Expenditure on Social Security:</strong> India has a broad aim of social protection programs, but the overall public expenditure on social protection (excluding public healthcare) is only approx. 1.5% of the GDP, lower than many middle-income countries across the world.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Implement Universal Social System</h3>
<p><strong>Extending MGNREGA to Urban Areas</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MGNREGA</strong></a> has proved its utility by providing employment to millions of workers who have reverse migrated.</li>
<li>Thus, there is a case for extending this programme to urban areas with municipal bodies being given the responsibility for providing a fixed no of days work to all those seeking it.</li>
<li>Municipal bodies have a range of work to get done, such as improving sanitation, minor repairs, in which they could productively use labour.</li>
<li>Also, a MGNREGA scheme in urban areas can be framed to attach on-the-job skill development.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Skill Development via &lsquo;Learning while Earning&rsquo; Model</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The principle of &ldquo;learning while earning&rdquo; should be more vigorously applied to improve India&rsquo;s skill development systems.</li>
<li>The best way to learn useful skills is on the job, supplemented with off-line modules, which has been the successful approach of governments and employers in Germany and Japan.</li>
<li>The principle of on-the-job learning supplemented with government-supported training can be applied in clusters of small and medium enterprises.</li>
<li>That way, not only can physical infrastructure be improved in rural and urban areas, but human capabilities will also be simultaneously developed.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Providing Universal Health Coverage</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to establish the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat-National Health Agency</strong></a> at all levels of governance for management of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY).</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, greater autonomy to public hospitals is required to use claims money generated under PM-JAY to improve facilities, purchase the necessary drugs/tests and provide performance-based incentives to staff.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to review and iron out the challenges with the business model of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-1st-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Aushadhi stores</strong> </a>to ensure that they can function as self-sustaining entities and scale up rapidly across the country.</li>
<li>The State must also provide the infrastructure and make doctors and facilities accessible.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Digital technologies, telemedicine, pharmacy chains of generic drugs, promotion of healthier lifestyles, and greater use of trained nurses and paramedics can improve health care and lower costs dramatically.</li>
<li>In this context, the target of raising the share of expenditure on health care to 2.5% of the GDP, as envisaged by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/governments-efforts-for-rural-healthcare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National health policy 2017</strong></a>, in the next two years would be a good beginning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The need for a Universal social security is also highlighted by the various provisions under Indian constitution, like <strong>Directive Principles of State Policy,</strong> which envisages the State to provide public assistance to all sections of society, including vulnerable sections.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594467616_pasted%20image 0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594467616_pasted image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="545" height="414" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #fc0000; background-color: #fcfff0;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Income support with skill improvement and good health care for all, are essential for a universal social security system in India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YPSwZCtHhr0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/none-gains-the-hindu-editorial-on-us-withdrawal-from-who/article32035308.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;None gains: On U.S. withdrawal from WHO&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on July 10<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-social-security'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Rare Orchids in India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, two <strong>rare <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-13th-may-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">orchid</a> species</strong> i.e. <strong>Tiger orchids</strong> <em>(Grammatophyllum speciosum)</em> and <strong>Ground orchids</strong> <em>(Eulophia obtusa)</em> have been found to be blooming in different parts of the country after a gap of many years.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tiger Orchid:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594463918_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594463918_image7.jpg" style="float: right;" width="150" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> <em>Grammatophyllum speciosum</em></li>
<li><strong>Characteristics:</strong> It has <strong>large and resplendent flowers</strong> which resemble the tiger skin.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It flowers in<strong> alternate years</strong> and remains in bloom for about a month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geographical Distribution:</strong> These epiphytic plants are <strong>not native to India,</strong> and are <strong>endemic</strong> to <strong>southeast Asia</strong> i.e.Indonesia and Philippines.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An <strong>epiphyte</strong> grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water or from debris accumulating around it.</li>
<li>It is found to be in full bloom at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) Kerala, where it was introduced in the 1990s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ground Orchid:</strong> <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594463945_image8.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1594463945_image8.png" style="float: right;" width="150" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Eulophia obtusa</li>
<li><strong>Rediscovery:</strong> It has been rediscovered in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dudhwa Tiger Reserve</strong></a>, Uttar Pradesh after 118 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was last recorded in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh in 1902.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geographical Distribution:</strong> The species is originally from <strong>Uttarakhand.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was collected by botanists from Gangetic plains but there have been no sightings in the past 100 years. In 2008, the plant species was sighted in Bangladesh for the first time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Characteristics:</strong> It has white flowers and bright pink hues.</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong> Listed as <strong>&ldquo;critically endangered&rdquo;</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> Red List of endangered species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/the-flowering-tigers/article32043886.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rare-orchids-in-india'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'National Fish Farmers Day 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a webinar was hosted by the<strong> Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying</strong> in association with the <strong>National Fisheries Development Board</strong> (NFDB) on the occasion of <strong>National Fish Farmers Day,</strong> which is celebrated on <strong>10<sup>th</sup> July every year.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Fish Farmers Day is celebrated in the memory of scientists <strong>Dr K. H. Alikunhi and Dr H. L. Chaudhury.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Both of them successfully demonstrated <strong>Hypophysation</strong> (technology of induced breeding) in <strong>Indian Major Carps</strong> (common name for several species of fish) on <strong>10<sup>th</sup> July 1957.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>recognise the accomplishments and contribution</strong> of fish farmers, <strong>aquapreneurs</strong> (entrepreneurs in the water sector) and fisherfolks in the growth of the fisheries sector in the country.</li>
<li>To <strong>draw attention to changing the way the country manages fisheries</strong> resources to ensure sustainable stocks and healthy ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiative:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to make the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-blue-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Blue Revolution</strong></a> successful, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/states-share-in-pmmsy-and-fme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana</a></strong> (PMMSY) has been launched.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fish Cryobanks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NFDB and the <strong>National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources</strong> (NBFGR) will establish fish cryobanks in different parts of the country.</li>
<li>The Cryomilt technology may be helpful in the establishment of fish cryobanks, which will <strong>provide good quality of fish sperm in hatcheries at any time.</strong></li>
<li>This would be the<strong> first time in the world when Fish Cryobanks</strong> will be established, enhancing fish production and increasing prosperity among the fish farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Fisheries Development Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in<strong> 2006</strong> as an<strong> autonomous organization</strong> under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Now, it works under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mandate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To enhance fish production and productivity in the country and to coordinate fishery development in an integrated and holistic manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in <strong>December 1983,</strong> under the aegis of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research</strong></a> (ICAR).</li>
<li><strong>Mandate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Exploration, characterization and cataloguing of fish genetic resources.</li>
<li>Maintenance and preservation of fish genetic resources for conservation and utilization of prioritized species.</li>
<li>Evaluation of indigenous and exotic germplasm including risk assessment and fish health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1637838" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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