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UNESCO

“Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed” -...

30 Apr 2020 International Institutions
Aero India

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Defence has announced that the 13th edition of Aero India will be held from February 3 to 7, 2021 at Air Force...

30 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Final Report on National Infrastructure Pipeline

Why in News Recently, the task force headed by Atanu Chakraborty (economic affairs secretary) on National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) submitted...

30 Apr 2020 News Analysis
International Financial Services Centres Authority

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Natural Product Based Alzheimer Inhibitor

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U.S. Priority Watch List for IPR

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1.6 Billion Risk Losing Jobs: ILO

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The Big Picture: Localising Globalisation

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$1.5 Billion ADB Loan to India

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Anti-corruption Law Covers Deemed Universities

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XI Petersberg Climate Dialogue

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USCIRF Annual Report-2020

Why In News Recently, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has downgraded India to the lowest ranking of “Countries...

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South Asia Seasonal Climate Outlook Forum

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No Improvement in Ganga Water Quality

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Jal Shakti Abhiyan

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Raja Ravi Varma

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29 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Panchayati Raj Institutions and Participative Democracy

This article is based on Panchayats as instruments of social and economic progress published in The Hindu Business Line on 24/04/2020. It evaluates...

28 Apr 2020 News Editorials

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			'title' => 'UNESCO',
			'catname' => 'International Institutions',
			'desc' => '<p>&ldquo;Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed&rdquo; - UNESCO</p>
<p><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)</strong> is a specialized agency of the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations (UN)</a></strong>. It seeks to <strong>build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.</strong></p>
<p>It is also a member of the <strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG),</strong> a coalition of UN agencies and organizations aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO&rsquo;s <strong>Headquarters</strong> are located in <strong>Paris</strong> and the Organization has more than 50 field offices around the world.</li>
<li>It has <strong>193 Members and 11 Associate Members</strong> (As of April 2020) and is governed by the General Conference and the Executive Board.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Three UNESCO member states are not UN members: <strong>Cook Islands, Niue, and Palestine.</strong></li>
<li>While three UN member states <strong>(Israel, Liechtenstein, United States)</strong> are not UNESCO members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<p>UNESCO focuses on a set of objectives such as:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning</li>
<li>Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development</li>
<li>Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges</li>
<li>Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace</li>
<li>Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication</li>
<li>Focuses on global priority areas - <strong>&ldquo;Africa&rdquo; and &ldquo;Gender Equality&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>History</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1942, during the Second World War, the governments of the European countries, which were confronting Germany and its allies, met in the United Kingdom for the <strong>Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (CAME).</strong></li>
<li>Upon the proposal of CAME, a United Nations Conference for the establishment of an educational and cultural organization was convened in London in November 1945.</li>
<li>At the end of the conference, UNESCO was founded on 16 November 1945.</li>
<li>The <strong>first session</strong> of the General Conference of UNESCO was held in<strong> Paris</strong> during November-December of 1946.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Areas of Specialization of UNESCO</h3>
<p><strong>Education Transforms Lives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Education transforms lives and is at the heart of UNESCO&rsquo;s mission to build peace, eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development.</li>
<li>The Organization is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education.</li>
<li>It has been entrusted to <strong>lead the Global Education 2030 Agenda</strong> through Sustainable Development Goal - 4. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Education 2030 Framework for Action&rsquo; (Incheon Declaration)</strong> is the roadmap to achieve the global education 2030 agenda..</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its work encompasses educational development from pre-school to higher education and beyond.</li>
<li>Themes include global citizenship and sustainable development, human rights and gender equality, health and HIV and AIDS, as well as technical and vocational skills development.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Protecting Our Heritage and Fostering Creativity</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is becoming a fact that no development can be sustainable without a strong culture component.</li>
<li>UNESCO has adopted a <strong>three-pronged approach</strong> to make culture takes it rightful place in development strategies and processes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Spearheads worldwide advocacy</strong> for culture and development.</li>
<li><strong>Engages with the international community</strong> to set clear policies and legal frameworks</li>
<li>Works on the ground to <strong>support governments and local stakeholders</strong> to safeguard heritage, strengthen creative industries and encourage cultural pluralism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Some important conventions and International treaties of UNESCO to protect and safeguard the world&rsquo;s cultural and natural heritage:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005)</li>
<li>The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)</li>
<li>The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001)</li>
<li>The Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001)</li>
<li>The Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)</li>
<li>The Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Traffic of Cultural Property (1970)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Science for a Sustainable Future</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Science equips us to find solutions to today&rsquo;s acute economic, social and environmental challenges and to achieving sustainable development and greener societies.</li>
<li>UNESCO works to assist countries to invest in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), to develop national science policies, to reform their science systems and to build capacity to monitor and evaluate performance through STI indicators..</li>
<li>Also, UNESCO works with its member states to foster informed decisions about the use of science and technology, in particular in the field of bioethics.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Social and Human Sciences</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO helps to enable people to create and use knowledge for just and inclusive societies, support them in understanding each other and working together to build lasting peace.</li>
<li>It promotes mutual understanding among member states through its intergovernmental Programme like <strong>Management of Social Transformations (MOST),</strong> its <strong>Youth Programme</strong> and the<strong> Culture of Peace and Non-Violence Programme</strong> which include initiatives for democracy and global citizenship, intercultural dialogue, peace-building.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Communication and Information</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO <strong>advances freedom of expression</strong> and the safety of journalists, combats online hate speech, as well as disinformation and misinformation through awareness raising initiatives.</li>
<li>It also supports universal access to information and knowledge through promoting Open Solutions, including Open Educational Resources, access for marginalized people, and multilingualism in Cyberspace.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Priorities Of UNESCO - &lsquo;Africa&rsquo; and &lsquo;Gender Equality&rsquo;</h3>
<p><strong>Africa</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO is attentive to 54 African countries with a stronger and better-targeted strategy.</li>
<li>The adoption of the <strong>African Union Agenda 2063</strong> and the <strong>2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development</strong> paving the ground for the African Economic Community and the African Renaissance.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Gender Equality</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO holds that women and men must enjoy equal opportunities, choices, capabilities, power and knowledge as equal citizens.</li>
<li>Equipping girls and boys, women and men with the knowledge, values, attitudes and skills to tackle gender disparities is a precondition to building a sustainable future for all.</li>
<li>Some important initiatives to achieve the objective of Gender equality are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNESCO Priority Gender Equality Action Plan</li>
<li>Gender Equality Tools</li>
<li>Gender Views</li>
<li>Gender-related UNESCO Chairs and Networks</li>
<li>UNESCO Prize for Girls&rsquo; and Women&rsquo;s Education</li>
<li>UNESCO Youth Mobile</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Some of the Important Initiatives of UNESCO</h3>
<p><strong>World Heritage Convention and List</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>World Heritage Convention -1972 links together the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties.</li>
<li>The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites (World Heritage Sites) which can be considered for inscription on the <strong>World Heritage List.</strong></li>
<li>The States Parties of convention are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research.</li>
<li>It explains how the <strong>World Heritage Fund</strong> is to be used and managed.</li>
<li>Globally there are 1121 World Heritage sites in the 167 countries. Meanwhile, India has 38 <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Sites</strong></a> that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental scientific programme</strong> that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.</li>
<li>It promotes innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable.</li>
<li>The <strong>World Network of Biosphere Reserves</strong> currently counts 701 sites in 124 countries all over the world, including 21 transboundary sites.</li>
<li>India has <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biosphere-reserves-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>18 Biosphere reserves</strong></a> out of which 11 have been recognized internationally under Man and Biosphere (MAB) program:</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Geoscience and Global Geoparks Programme (IGGP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>International Geoscience Programme (IGCP)</strong> harnesses the intellectual capacity of a worldwide network of geoscientists to lay the foundation for our planet&rsquo;s future, focusing on responsible resource extraction, natural hazard resilience and preparedness, and adaptability in the era of a changing climate.</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp)</strong> are laboratories for sustainable development which promote the recognition and management of Earth heritage, and the sustainability of local communities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As of April 2019, there are 147 UNESCO Global Geoparks within 41 Member States, covering a total area of 288,000 km&sup2;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Hydrological Programme (IHP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) is the only intergovernmental programme of the United Nations system devoted to water research and management, and related education and capacity development</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The growing global water crisis threatens the security, stability and environmental sustainability of developing nations.</li>
<li>The programme focuses on assessing the developing situation of freshwater throughout the world. It also coordinates the work of 31 UN-Water members and partners in the <strong>World Water Development Report (WWDR).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an international multidisciplinary programme established by UNESCO Member States in order to reinforce intergovernmental cooperation in science to strengthen national capacities in the basic sciences and science education.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Reports of UNESCO</h3>
<p><strong>UNESCO Science Report</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO Science Report maps Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) governance around the world on a regular basis. The report is published every five years, on 10 November, to mark <strong>World Science Day for Peace and Development.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Global Education Monitoring Report</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report carries out its assessment of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal on education (SDG4) and its 10 targets, as well as other related education targets in the SDG agenda.</li>
<li>The report examines different accountability mechanisms that are used to hold governments, schools, teachers, parents, the international community, and the private sector accountable for inclusive, equitable and quality education.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>McBride Report of 1980</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The comprehensive report of the MacBride Commission is also named<strong> &ldquo;Many Voices, OneWorld&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It analyzed communication problems in modern societies, particularly relating to mass media and news, consider the emergence of new technologies, and to suggest a kind of communication order (<strong>New World Information and Communication Order</strong>) to diminish these problems to further peace and human development</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>UNESCO State of the Education Report for India: Children With Disabilities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2019 report is the first edition of the annual report to be published by UNESCO in India.</li>
<li>It highlights accomplishments and challenges with regards to the right to education of children with disabilities (CWDs).</li>
<li>UNESCO&rsquo;s State of the Education Report 2019 is expected to help the education system better respond to the learning needs of CWDs. This will enable significant progress towards our collective objective of leaving no one behind and provide to all children and youth equitable opportunities for quality learning.</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNESCO And INDIA</h3>
<p><strong>Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has been a member of the UNESCO since its inception in 1946.</li>
<li>UNESCO constitution requires that each Member State should have a principle body that shall work with the Organization. Thus, in India, <strong>Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU)</strong> was commissioned.</li>
<li>UNESCO has two Offices in India<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> New Delhi cluster office</strong> for eleven countries in South and Central Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)</li>
<li>The <strong>MGIEP &ndash; the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace</strong> and Sustainable Development fully supported and funded by the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNESCO&rsquo;s International Prizes and India</h3>
<p><strong>UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is established through the generous donation of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Indian artist, writer and diplomat Mr Madanjeet Singh, the prize honors his lifelong commitment to the cause of peace and tolerance.</li>
<li>The creation of the Prize in 1995 marked the United Nations Year for Tolerance and the 125<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.</li>
<li>Since 1996, the Prize has been awarded every two years and, since 2002, it amounts to US $ 100,000.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an international distinction created by UNESCO in 1951 following a donation from Mr Bijoyanand Patnaik, Founder and President of the Kalinga Foundation Trust in India.</li>
</ul>
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Aero India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Defence has announced that the <strong>13<sup>th</sup> edition of Aero India</strong> will be held from February 3 to 7, 2021 at Air Force Station Yelahanka (Karnataka).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aero India is a<strong> biennial international military and civil airshow.</strong></li>
<li>It is a premier event that draws<strong> international and Indian military and civil aircraft makers,</strong> their support industries, military brass and government dignitaries, and business visitors.</li>
<li>The Yelahanka air base, about 30 km from the city centre Bangluru has been hosting the air show in February<strong> since it was started in 1996.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2021 Aero India will be organised by the <strong>Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019 it was organised by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Defence Exhibition Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>autonomous organisation of the Indian Government</strong> established in 1981.</li>
<li>The organisation was<strong> established to promote export potential of the Indian defence industry.</strong></li>
<li>The agency is responsible for <strong>organising international exhibitions such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defexpo-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEFEXPO</a></strong> and Indian participation at overseas exhibitions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/aero-india-2021-is-on-at-the-same-time-and-place/article31465885.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/aero-india'
		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Final Report on National Infrastructure Pipeline',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> task force headed by Atanu Chakraborty</strong> (economic affairs secretary) on <strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)</strong> submitted its final report to the Finance Minister.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Revised Investment Need:</strong> The taskforce has <strong>forecast an investment need of ₹111 lakh crore</strong> over the<strong> next five years (2020-2025)</strong> to build infrastructure projects and drive economic growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The final report has revised up NIP from earlier Rs 100 lakh crore in light of additional data provided by central ministries/state governments since the release of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>summary NIP report.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bulk Share: Energy, roads, railways and urban projects</strong> are estimated to account for the bulk of projects (around 70%).</li>
<li><strong>Measures Suggested:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aggressive push towards asset sales</li>
<li>Monetisation of infrastructure assets</li>
<li>Setting up of development finance institutions</li>
<li>Strengthening the municipal bond market</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Streamlining Process:</strong> The task force<strong> has also recommended to set up of three committees:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Timely Execution:</strong> Panel to monitor NIP progress and eliminate delays.</li>
<li><strong>Follow Up:</strong> Steering committee in each infrastructure ministry for following up implementation</li>
<li><strong>Raising Financial Resources:</strong> Committee in the Department of Economic Affairs for raising financial resources for the NIP</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> task force was set up</strong> after the Prime Minister, in his Independence Day speech of 2019, promised to roll out an <strong>infrastructure push worth ₹100 trillion</strong> over five years to make India a $5 trillion economy.</li>
<li>The summary report for, National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), 2020-25 was released by the finance minister on 31 December, 2019.</li>
<li>Out of the total expected capital expenditure of Rs 111 lakh crore<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Projects worth Rs 44 lakh crore (40 % of NIP) are<strong> under implementation.</strong></li>
<li>Projects worth Rs 33 lakh crore (30 % of NIP) are at <strong>conceptual stage.</strong></li>
<li>Projects worth Rs 22 lakh crore (20 % of NIP) are <strong>under development.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NIP will enable a forward outlook on<strong> infrastructure projects which will create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure</strong> for all, thereby making growth more inclusive.</li>
<li>NIP includes <strong>economic and social infrastructure</strong> projects.</li>
<li>It also includes both<strong> greenfield and brownfield projects.</strong></li>
<li>It will help in stepping-up annual infrastructure investment<strong> to achieve the Gross Domestic Product <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(GDP) of $5 trillion by 2024-25</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The Centre and states are expected to have almost equal share in implementing NIP, while the private sector contribution is expected to be around 21%.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/2020-25-infra-funding-pegged-at-rs-111l-crore-energy-roads-railways-to-get-lions-share-6385402/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'International Financial Services Centres Authority',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The central government has established <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-financial-services-centres-authority-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Financial Services Centres Authority</strong></a> to regulate all financial services in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) with headquarters in <strong>Gandhinagar (Gujarat).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The authority will <strong>regulate financial products</strong> such as securities, deposits or contracts of insurance, financial services, and financial institutions which have been <strong>previously approved by any appropriate regulator such as <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</a></strong>, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)</strong></a> etc., in an IFSC.</li>
<li>It will also regulate any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions in an IFSC, which may be <strong>notified by the central government.</strong></li>
<li>It may also <strong>recommend to the central government</strong> any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions, which may be permitted in an IFSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The International Financial Services Centres Authority will consist of <strong>nine members, appointed by the central government.</strong></li>
<li>They will include<strong> chairperson</strong> of the authority, <strong>a member each from the RBI, SEBI, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sandbox-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)</a>, and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/streamlining-of-national-pension-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)</a>;</strong> and<strong> two members from the Ministry of Finance.</strong> In addition, two other members will be appointed on the<strong> recommendation of a Selection Committee.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Term:</strong> All members of the IFSC Authority will have a <strong>term of three years, subject to reappointment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Unification under one authority:</strong> The banking, capital markets and insurance sectors in IFSC which are regulated by multiple regulators - the RBI, SEBI, and IRDAI will be unified under the IFSC authority.</li>
<li>The single window regulatory institution would <strong>accelerate the development of India's first IFSC at GIFT City,</strong> Gandhinagar.</li>
<li><strong>Both national and international institutions</strong> dealing with international financial services would utilise the IFSC platform for <strong>inbound and outbound investments with improved ease of doing business,</strong> thereby making GIFT IFSC a <strong>global financial hub.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Financial Services Centre:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An IFSC enables <strong>bringing back the financial services and transactions that are currently carried out in offshore financial centres</strong> by Indian corporate entities and overseas branches/subsidiaries of Financial Institutions (such as banks, insurance companies, etc.) to India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It offers a <strong>business and regulatory environment </strong>that is<strong> comparable to other leading international financial centres</strong> in the world like London and Singapore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IFSCs are intended to provide Indian corporates with<strong> easier access to global financial markets,</strong> and to complement and promote further development of financial markets in India.</li>
<li>The first IFSC in India has been set up at the<strong> Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/ifsc-authority-hq-will-be-in-gandhinagar/articleshow/75437351.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: ToI</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-financial-services-centres-authority-1'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Natural Product Based Alzheimer Inhibitor',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Scientists from<strong> Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)</strong> have modified the structure of <strong>Berberine</strong> into Ber-D to use as an Alzheimer's <strong>inhibitor.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>JNCASR is an<strong> autonomous institute under the Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST),</strong> Govt. of India.</li>
<li>Berberine is a chemical found in several plants. It is a natural and cheap product similar to curcumin (a substance in turmeric). It is found in India and China and used in traditional medicine and other applications.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Berberine is poorly soluble and toxic to cells. So scientists modified berberine to <strong>Ber-D,</strong> which is a soluble (aqueous), antioxidant. They found it to be a multifunctional inhibitor of multifaceted amyloid toxicity of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Amyloid</strong> is a protein that is deposited in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other tissues in certain diseases.</li>
<li>In case of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, <strong>Amyloid beta (A&beta;) accumulates in the brain.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ber-D inhibits aggregations of metal-dependent and -independent Amyloid beta (A&beta;).</strong> Further, Ber-D treatment averts mitochondrial dysfunction and corresponding neuronal toxicity contributing to premature apoptosis (cell death).</li>
<li>These multifunctional attributes make Ber-D a promising candidate for developing effective therapeutics to treat multifaceted toxicity of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Alzheimer's disease is a <strong>progressive disorder</strong> that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate) and die.</li>
<li>It is the most prevalent <strong>neurodegenerative disorder</strong> and accounts for <strong>more than 70% of all dementia.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills that affect a person's ability to perform everyday activities.</li>
<li>Memory loss is an example.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588232765_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588232765_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=202639" 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/natural-product-based-alzheimer-inhibitor'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'U.S. Priority Watch List for IPR',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India continues to be on the &lsquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Priority Watch List</strong></a>&rsquo; of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ustr-takes-india-off-developing-country-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United States Trade Representative (USTR)</strong></a> for lack of adequate <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intellectual Property (IP) rights</strong></a> <strong>protection and enforcement,</strong> according to the USTRs<strong> Annual Special 301 Report.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Copyright laws not incentivising the creation and commercialisation of content.</li>
<li>An outdated trade secrets framework.</li>
<li>India <strong>restricted the transparency of information</strong> provided on state-issued pharmaceutical manufacturing licenses.</li>
<li>India continues to apply<strong> restrictive patentability criteria</strong> to reject pharmaceutical patents.</li>
<li>Absence of an effective system for protecting against the<strong> unfair means</strong> to obtain marketing approval for <strong>pharmaceuticals and certain agricultural chemical products.</strong></li>
<li>India maintains extremely <strong>high customs duties</strong> directed to IP-intensive products such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products, solar energy equipment, and capital goods.</li>
<li>India was ranked among the<strong> top five source countries for fake goods</strong> by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organization of Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD)</strong></a> in 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>government&rsquo;s 2019 draft Copyright Amendment Rules,</strong> if implemented, would have &ldquo;severe&rdquo; consequences for Internet-content rights holders as the proposed rules broadened the scope of compulsory licensing <strong>from radio and television broadcasting to online broadcasting.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Trademarks:</strong> Trademark counterfeiting levels were &ldquo;problematic&rdquo; and there were &ldquo;excessive delays&rdquo; in obtaining trademarks due to a <strong>lack of examination quality.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It urged India to join the<strong> Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks,</strong> a treaty that harmonises trademark registration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Progress Noted</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India had made<strong> &ldquo;meaningful progress&rdquo;</strong> to enhance IP protection and enforcement in some areas in 2019 and had acceded to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institutions-international-world-intellectual-property-organisation-wipo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)</strong></a> Internet Treaties and the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-proposal-to-align-with-global-trademark-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Nice Agreement</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Nice Agreement establishes a classification of goods and services for the purposes of registering trademarks and service marks (the Nice Classification).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Online IP enforcement:</strong> Online IP enforcement in India has improved but progress is undercut by factors including :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Weak enforcement by courts and the police.</li>
<li>Lack of familiarity with investigative techniques.</li>
<li>No centralised IP enforcement agency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Special 301 Report</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Special 301 Report identifies trading partners that <strong>do not adequately or effectively protect and enforce Intellectual Property (IP) rights</strong> or otherwise <strong>deny market access to U.S. innovators and creators that rely on protection of their IP rights.</strong></li>
<li>The report is released<strong> annually by the United States Trade Representative (USTR).</strong></li>
<li>Trading partners that currently present the most significant concerns regarding IP rights<strong> are placed on the Priority Watch List or Watch List.</strong> USTR identified <strong>33 countries for these lists in the Special 301 Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Venezuela are on the <strong>Priority Watch List.</strong></li>
<li>Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Thailand, Trinidad &amp; Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are on the <strong>Watch List.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/intellectual-property-rights-india-remains-on-us-priority-watch-list/article31467719.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/u-s-priority-watch-list-for-ipr'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => '1.6 Billion Risk Losing Jobs: ILO',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organization (ILO)</strong></a> has warned that nearly half of the entire global workforce is in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Informal workers at risk:</strong> Due to Covid-19 lockdown, three-quarters of workers (some 1.6 billion people) engaged in the informal economy have suffered massive damage to their capacity to earn a living.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, without alternative income, these workers and their families would have no means to survive.</li>
<li>The global workforce is 3.3 billion people, of which more than two billion people work in the informal economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hard-hit Sectors:</strong> The worst-affected sectors would be <strong>accommodation and food services, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate and business activities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Suggestions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ILO calls for <strong>urgent, targeted and flexible measures to support workers and businesses those in the informal economy</strong> and others who are vulnerable.</li>
<li>Measures for <strong>economic reactivation should follow a job-rich approach,</strong> backed by stronger employment policies and institutions, better-resourced and comprehensive social protection systems.</li>
<li>International coordination on<strong> stimulus packages and debt relief measures</strong> will also be critical to making recovery effective and sustainable. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>International labour standards, which already enjoy tripartite consensus, can provide a framework.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Informal Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The informal sector, also known as the unorganised sector, is the part of any economy that is <strong>neither taxed nor monitored by any form of government.</strong></li>
<li>The informal sector<strong> provides critical economic opportunities</strong> for the poor.</li>
<li>The informal sector is largely <strong>characterized by skills gained outside of a formal education, easy entry, a lack of stable employer-employee relationships, and a small scale of operations.</strong></li>
<li>Unlike the formal economy, the informal sector&rsquo;s components are not included in GDP computations.</li>
<li>The government of India has launched <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-interim-budget-three-big-takeaways" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana</strong></a> as a social security for the unorganised workers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Labour Organization (ILO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in 1919 by the <strong>Treaty of Versailles</strong> as an affiliated agency of the<strong> League of Nations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>League of Nations was disbanded in 1946 and powers and functions of ILO transferred to United Nations</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Became the first affiliated <strong>specialized agency </strong>of the<strong> United Nations in 1946.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Geneva, Switzerland</li>
<li>Received the <strong>Nobel Peace Prize</strong> in 1969.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For improving peace among classes.</li>
<li>Pursuing decent work and justice for workers.</li>
<li>Providing technical assistance to other developing nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The organization has <strong>played a key role</strong> in<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ensuring labour rights during the Great Depression of 1929.</li>
<li>Decolonization process.</li>
<li>The creation of Solidarność (trade union) in Poland.</li>
<li>The victory over apartheid in South Africa.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is the only<strong> tripartite U.N. agency.</strong> It brings together<strong> governments, employers and workers</strong> of <strong>187 member States,</strong> to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-16-billion-at-the-risk-of-losing-jobs-warns-ilo/article31466782.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/1-6-billion-risk-losing-jobs-ilo'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture: Localising Globalisation',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5NZYiEWnIjg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The dual supply and demand shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>are expected to cause a global recession</strong></a>. In the last several weeks, global supply chains have been disrupted as workers are locked down, factories shut and closed borders, and terminals block supplies and cargo. Aggregate demand has collapsed. The pandemic threatens to usher in a phase of economic insularity, through efforts at localisation of supply chains and stricter immigration controls.</p>
<h3>Trends in Globalisation in Recent Times</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global financial crisis:</strong> The financial crisis that began in August 2007 and intensified in the fall of 2008 pushed the global economy into a severe downturn that came to be known as the <strong>Great Recession.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>World trade collapsed at a pace unseen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.</li>
<li>The protectionist instincts invariably come to the fore and concerns rose that it may lead to deglobalization&mdash;a reversal of globalization.</li>
<li>With few exceptions, the trend of slowing world trade and growing protectionism has since continued and the pandemic threatens to make it worse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>US-ChinaTariff war:</strong> US President&rsquo;s imposition of tariffs on China resulted in the US-China trade war. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This disrupted the global supply chains and gave birth to the possibility of these supply chains outside of China to more competitive markets.</li>
<li>The pandemic will now ensure further diversification of global supply chains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>COVID-19 induced disruption to global supply chains:</strong> The geopolitical watchdogs at The Spectator Index noted that Japan&rsquo;s government would spend upwards of $2 billion helping its multinationals leave China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>U.S. companies are leaving, too, even though there is no official push to do so.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Globalisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to the economic, social and political integration of nations. It entails the spread of products, technology, information and jobs across national borders and cultures.</li>
<li>In economic terms, it describes an interdependence of nations around the globe, fostered through free trade.</li>
<li>Globalisation can be further divided into subcategories based on its time frame and focus areas:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Globalization 1.0</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was pre-World War I globalization, which was launched by a historic drop in trade costs.</li>
<li>This globalization came with almost no government support and was without global governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Globalization 2.0</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the post-World War II phase where trade in goods was combined with complimentary domestic policies.</li>
<li>The market was in charge of efficiency while the government was in charge of justice.</li>
<li>It saw the establishment of institute-based, rule-based international governance, specifically the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations</strong></a> (UN), <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong></a> (IMF), <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organisation</strong></a> (WTO, earlier GATT), <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labor Organization</strong> </a>(ILO) etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Globalization 3.0</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It created a new world of manufacturing in which high-tech was combined with low wages.</li>
<li>This was achieved through establishment of global supply chains as factories crossed international borders.</li>
<li>It was variously called New globalization, Hyper globalization, Global value chain evolution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Globalization 4.0</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the latest stage of globalization which involves cutting-edge new technologies like <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence</strong></a> (AI) that powers forward with the explosion of information technology.</li>
<li>These technologies shrink distances, open up borders and minds and bring people all across the globe closer together.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Self-Reliance: Possibilities and Challenges</h3>
<p>As the majority of the businesses worldwide face <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disruptions and economic fallout after the COVID-19 pandemic</strong></a>, India will have the opportunity to build an economy that is more resilient, diversified, and attractive to the global manufacturers and services. India with its large population has a big potential to become the manufacturing hub of the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Identify Core Sectors:</strong> Indian companies need to re-look at their supply chain and start building domestic capacity for essential products to reduce dependence on China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a need to identify and enlist core sectors in which India can become self-reliant and design a strategy to replace too much reliance on China for the imports, particularly Pharma APIs.</li>
<li>Shifting the supply chains from China may also offer FDI opportunities.</li>
<li>Such industries where we have to become more independent and where there is too much monopoly for example- APIs, support needs to be provided in the form of limited, sector-specific, and focused protection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Automation:</strong> With COVID-19 every industry will become less labour dependant and more automated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Labor-intensive sectors will take a hit.</li>
<li>Therefore there&rsquo;ll be a need to produce more and more skilled labour force that could handle basic machines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Liquidity crunch:</strong> Businesses have started facing massive working capital/cash flow issues due to lockdown and they will continue even post that because of reduced demand. MSME and startups are the worst hits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The liquidity needs of companies need to be addressed to help them remain solvent. Though the government has started taking steps via SIDBI to help MSMEs, we still need to do more.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High taxes and competitiveness</strong>: The issue of higher taxes, credit risks, and liquidity crunch will be some of the glaring issues that need to be resolved in a time-bound manner. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new policy to offer a reduced corporate tax rate of 15% to new manufacturing facilities set up after October 1, 2019, should attract people to set up manufacturing in India.</li>
<li>Cheaper credits and lesser taxation needs to be provided to ensure the level playing field for manufacturers in India.</li>
<li>India needs more open trade and investment policies to drive competitiveness</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>De-bureaucratisation:</strong> India needs to put in place such policies that improve its competitiveness, de-bureaucratise some sectors such as agriculture, and make labour laws less complicated. A holistic and easily accessible ecosystem, from the procuring of raw materials to the outlet of finished products, must be made available.</li>
<li><strong>People-centric policies:</strong> The only way to trigger employment is to step-up value addition in the local area. There is a need for such people-centric and sector-specific policies in order to accelerate growth.</li>
<li><strong>Alternative global alliance:</strong> India has till now lead by example in its handling of the pandemic. The sudden call for a video-conference by Indian Prime Minister, with SAARC leaders to chalk out a common strategy to fight COVID-19, sets an example to the world. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India needs to now move beyond regional alliances and look forward to a cooperative alliance between like-minded countries in terms of trade such as the USA, EU, and Japan, to figure out an alternative to break the hegemony of China in the global supply chain.</li>
<li>India needs to expand its cooperation programs into a global effort by engaging in the multilateral development of solutions to global policy challenges and share lessons and experiences to progressively strengthen public systems and state institutions worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promote R&amp;D and capacity building:</strong> There&rsquo;s a need to prioritise building capacity and policy framework to become cost-competitive and quality competitive. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhance domestic consumption as well as put thrust to increase exports and promote research to become more independent. India needs to plan now for the next 20 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-localising-globalisation'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Balancing Intellectual Property with Public Health',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/vaccinating-policy-120042701550_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vaccinating policy</strong></a> published in Business Standard on 27/04/2020. It talks about the tradeoff in pharmaceutical innovation i.e. between patents and public health.</p>
</div>
<p>The current response to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> involves the aggressive implementation of <strong>suppression strategies,</strong> such as<strong> case identification, quarantine and isolation, contact tracing, and social distancing.</strong> However, the transmission of infection may quickly rebound if interventions are relaxed. Therefore, the development of Covid-19 vaccines that can be used globally is a priority for ending the pandemic.</p>
<p>This developmental effort for vaccines should be guided by<strong> three imperatives: Speed, Manufacture and Deployment at scale, and Global access.</strong></p>
<p>But the bigger challenge once the vaccines enter the market will be<strong> balancing Intellectual Property (IP) regimes with public health interests.</strong></p>
<h3>Issue: Patent (Intellectual Property Rights) vs Patient (Public Health Interest)</h3>
<p><strong>Provision of IP laws</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The production of vaccines requires high cost, very sophisticated methods and the high level of knowledge.</li>
<li>In order to protect the initial investment, the global pharmaceutical industry exercises <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)</strong></a> like patents and passes on this cost (and leveraging huge profits) to final consumers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, international trade agreements require countries with vaccine manufacturing capabilities to provide patent protection under the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WTO agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property (TRIPS).</strong> </a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In this context, IP laws are required to promote innovation in the R&amp;D of new medicine or vaccines. However, it is due to these IPRs laws only, the global pharmaceutical industry <strong>establishes a monopoly</strong> over <strong>life-saving drugs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This, in turn, generates billions of dollars in revenue and wealth for shareholders.</li>
<li>This also impedes new manufacturers from entering the Pharma research domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Monopolisation Comes at the Cost of Human Lives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Public-health advocates and scholars have long argued, monopolies kill, by denying access to life-saving medicines. The patents are preventing competition and threatening both the affordability and the supply of new drugs.</li>
<li><strong>PCV13,</strong> the current multi-strain pneumonia vaccine administered to babies, costs hundreds of dollars because it is the monopoly property of Pfizer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, <strong>more than 100,000 preventable infant deaths from pneumonia are recorded every year,</strong> while the vaccine brings in roughly $5 billion in revenue for Pfizer annually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Monopoly control over the technology has even impacted battle against Covid-19.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rapid rollout of more testing kits, the respirator or N95 masks have made it more difficult for new producers to manufacture medical-grade face masks at scale.</li>
<li>Multiple patents are in force for three of the most promising treatments for Covid-19 <strong>&mdash; Remdesivir, Favipiravir, and Lopinavir/Ritonavir.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: Intellectual Production without Intellectual Protection</h3>
<p><strong>Leveraging Global Forums</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The World Health Organization&rsquo;s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS)</strong></a> which has remained largely defunct, should be revived.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)</strong></a> is supported by a World Bank financial intermediary fund that brings together public, philanthropic, and private funding to respond to global priorities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Through this fund, CEPI can act as a global mechanism for funding vaccine development until vaccines can be licensed or used under emergency use provisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GISRS involves experts from a laboratory network in 110 countries funded by governments and some foundations which convene twice a year to analyse the latest data on emerging flu strains.</li>
<li>It decides which strains should be included in each year&rsquo;s vaccine.</li>
<li>This global not-for-profit, knowledge-sharing architecture for the flu vaccines has been around for 50 years and could be a useful template in the quest for the Covid-19 vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Establishing Patent Pool</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Costa Rica&rsquo;s government recently called on the WHO to establish a voluntary pool of IP rights for Covid-19 treatments, which would allow multiple manufacturers to supply new drugs and diagnostics at more affordable prices.</li>
<li>Through the <strong>Medicines Patent Pool,</strong> the United Nations and the WHO have for years sought to increase access to treatments for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis.</li>
<li><strong>Patent pools, prize funds,</strong> and other similar ideas are part of a broader agenda to reform how life-saving drugs are developed and made available. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The goal is to replace a monopoly-driven system with one based on cooperation and shared knowledge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore, the idea of patent pooling should now be expanded to cover vaccines for Covid-19 vaccine and health hazard.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Vaccine Bonds</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Innovative finance mechanisms</strong> have been successful in raising funds for vaccines in the past and should be used to fund the development of Covid-19 vaccines.</li>
<li>The <strong>International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm)</strong> raises funds with vaccine bonds.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These bonds are launched with advanced market commitments, where donors make funding commitments to vaccine manufacturers and, in exchange, companies sign a legally binding commitment to provide the vaccines at a price affordable to low-income and middle-income countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Role of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is among the <strong>largest manufacturers of generic drugs and vaccines</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>It is home to half a dozen major vaccine makers and a host of smaller ones, making doses against <strong>Polio, Meningitis, Pneumonia, Rotavirus, BCG, Measles, Mumps and Rubella,</strong> among other diseases.</li>
<li>India has a state of art R &amp; D facilities in the field of vaccines development. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, the<strong> Serum Institute of India is the world's largest vaccine maker</strong> by the number of doses produced and sold globally.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Following its conventional role of being a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-pharma-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pharmacy to the world</strong></a>, India has already decided to speed up vaccine trials (six firms are in the fray).</li>
<li>The Indian government can deploy the TRIPs-compliant tool of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-removes-price-cap-on-innovative-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>compulsory licensing</strong></a> to enable the vaccine to be produced by third-party manufacturers at affordable prices.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588159157_pasted%20image 4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588159157_pasted image 4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="530" height="452" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #f20000; background-color: #ffeceb;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Intellectual Protection regimes should not outweigh public health interests. In light of the statement, critically analyse the need for Intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AB6y2sWoYFg" 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/virtual-yet-open/article31448593.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Virtual, yet open&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on April, 29th 2020.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/balancing-intellectual-property-with-public-health'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'BRICS Foreign Ministers Meet',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>External Affairs Minister of India attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers meet</strong> through video conferencing.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This<strong> meeting was convened by Russia</strong> to discuss the impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus pandemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BRICS nations have set up a <strong>"special loan instrument"</strong> of <strong>$15 billion fund</strong> for member nations to revive the economy amid Covid-19 pandemic</li>
<li>BRICS nations exchanged views on<strong> possible joint measures to be taken by the member states to counter Covid-19</strong> and overcome the financial, trade, economic and social consequences of the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>India</strong> showcased its<strong> pharmaceutical support to around 85 countries</strong> to deal with the viral infection. It also highlighted the <strong>need for reforms in the multilateral bodies like the United Nations.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Security Council</strong></a> members are currently discussing draft resolutions on the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>BRICS</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>BRICS</strong> is an <strong>acronym</strong> for the grouping of the world&rsquo;s leading emerging economies, namely <strong>Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> 2001,</strong> the British Economist <strong>Jim O&rsquo;Neill coined</strong> the term <strong>BRIC</strong> to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.</li>
<li>The grouping was <strong>formalised</strong> during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers in <strong>2006.</strong></li>
<li>South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It comprises 42% of the world's population, has<strong> 23%</strong> of the<strong> global GDP</strong> and around 17% of the world trade.</li>
<li>The<strong> chairmanship</strong> of the forum is<strong> rotated annually</strong> among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.</li>
<li>The <strong>BRICS Leaders&rsquo; Summit</strong> is convened <strong>annually.</strong></li>
<li>During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the <strong>New Development Bank (NDB).</strong> They also signed the <strong>BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588159508_image.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588159508_image.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/coronavirus-lockdown-no-improvement-in-ganga-water-quality/article31457326.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/brics-foreign-ministers-meet'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => '$1.5 Billion ADB Loan to India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Asian Development Bank (ADB)</strong> has provided a $1.5 billion loan to India to fund India&rsquo;s immediate response to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/adb-assures-covid-19-support-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>had assured Indian government of $2.2 billion (about Rs 16,500 crore)</strong> </a>support to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The loan will help the Central government to focus on immediate priorities such as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Covid-19 containment and prevention.</li>
<li>Social protection for the poor and economically vulnerable sections of the society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The loan has been provided under ADB&rsquo;s <strong>Covid-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program. </strong>The CARES Program&nbsp;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>support the government&rsquo;s stimulus package</strong> geared to expand existing social assistance programs,</li>
<li>boost resources for Covid-19 prevention and control,</li>
<li>safeguard productive sectors and workers from the economic downturn.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CARES Program is <strong>funded through the Covid-19 Pandemic Response Option (CPRO)</strong> under ADB&rsquo;s Countercyclical Support Facility.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CPRO was introduced as part of a $20 billion package approved by ADB on 13<sup>th</sup> April, 2020 to assist its developing member countries in their fight against Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CARES Program will be<strong> implemented through a country engagement framework</strong> focused on policy dialogue and monitoring of the government&rsquo;s countercyclical strategy and measures.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ADB is a <strong>regional development bank</strong> established on <strong>19<sup>th</sup> December 1966.</strong></li>
<li>ADB now has <strong>68 members, 49 from within Asia.</strong></li>
<li>As of 31 December 2019, ADB&rsquo;s five largest shareholders are <strong>Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares),</strong> the People&rsquo;s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).</li>
<li>It aims to promote social and economic development in Asia.</li>
<li>ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.</li>
<li>ADB is <strong>headquartered in Manila, Philippines.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/15-billion-adb-loan-to-fund-covid-19-emergency-response/article31457062.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/-1-5-billion-adb-loan-to-india'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Anti-corruption Law Covers Deemed Universities',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court</strong></a> has held that <strong>bribery and corruption in a deemed university</strong> can <strong>be tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has said that<strong> individuals, authorities connected to a deemed university</strong> come under the definition of <strong>&lsquo;public servant&rsquo;</strong> and can be tried and punished under the anti-corruption law.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court observed that the <strong>officials of a deemed university do not perform any less of a public duty</strong> than their counterparts in other universities.</li>
<li>Deemed universities come within the ambit of the<strong> term &lsquo;university&rsquo; in Section 2(c)(xi) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A deemed institution under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act of 1956 has the <strong>same common public duty like a university to confer academic degrees,</strong> which are recognised in the society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The object of the PC Act was not only to prevent the social evil of bribery and corruption, <strong>but also to make the same applicable to individuals who might conventionally not be considered public servants.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 2(c)(xi) of the Prevention of Corruption Act</strong> states that a<strong> &ldquo;public servant&rdquo;</strong> includes &ldquo;any person who is a vice&shy;-chancellor or member of any governing body, professor, reader, lecturer or any other teacher or employee, by whatever designation called, of any university.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Deemed University</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The status of deemed-to-be-university is awarded in accordance with the <strong>Section 3 of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ukieri-ugc-higher-education-leadership-development-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.</a></strong></li>
<li>An Institution of Higher Education, other than universities, working at a very high standard in a specific area of study, can be declared by the <strong>Central Government on the advice of the UGC</strong> as an Institution &lsquo;deemed-to-be-university&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Institutions that are &lsquo;deemed-to-be-university&rsquo; <strong>enjoy academic status and privileges of a university.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-corruption-law-covers-deemed-varsities-too-supreme-court/article31457413.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/anti-corruption-law-covers-deemed-universities'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'XI Petersberg Climate Dialogue',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> attended the <strong>11<sup>th</sup> Petersberg Climate Dialogue.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The dialogue was <strong>held virtually for the first time</strong> in the wake of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 </a><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Petersberg Climate Dialogue</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been <strong>hosted by Germany since 2010</strong> to provide a<strong> forum for informal high-level political discussions,</strong> focusing both on <strong>international climate negotiations</strong> and the <strong>advancement of climate action.</strong></li>
<li>The virtual XI Petersberg Climate Dialogue was <strong>co-chaired by Germany and the United Kingdom (UK)</strong> and was attended by about 30 countries including India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The UK is the incoming Presidency of the 26<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties (COP 26) to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change</strong></a> (UNFCCC).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-25-ends-without-concrete-outcome" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COP 25</strong></a> was held at <strong>Madrid, Spain in December 2019.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s dialogue was crucial because of the efforts to contain <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus</strong></a> as well as countries preparing to move into the <strong>implementation phase of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris Agreement 2015</a> in the post-2020 period. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Contributions in the Dialogue:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <strong>expressed solidarity with the world</strong> as it combats the Covid-19 pandemic and<strong> emphasised on adopting more sustainable consumption patterns</strong> in line with the requirement of sustainable lifestyles.</li>
<li>India <strong>suggested having climate technology as an open source</strong> available to all countries at affordable prices.</li>
<li>India<strong> stressed on<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/climate-finance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> climate finance</a></strong> and urged to plan for 1 trillion USD in grants to the developing world immediately.</li>
<li>India <strong>highlighted its <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/11-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nationally Determined Contributions</a></strong> spanning a ten-year time frame and in compliance with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> temperature goal</strong></a> of the Paris Agreement.</li>
<li>India <strong>focused on the opportunity to accelerate renewable energy deployment</strong> and create new green jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Paris Agreement 2015</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Parties to UNFCCC</strong> agreed to <strong>strive to limit the rise in global warming</strong> to well <strong>under 2 degrees Celsius,</strong> over <strong>pre-industrial levels, by 2100,</strong> under Paris Agreement 2015.</li>
<li><strong>Nationally determined contributions</strong> (NDCs) were conceived at the Paris summit which require each Party to prepare, communicate and maintain successive NDCs that it intends to achieve.</li>
<li>Parties shall <strong>pursue domestic mitigation measures,</strong> with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions.</li>
<li>Paris Agreement <strong>replaced</strong> earlier agreement to deal with climate change,<strong> Kyoto Protocol.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Kyoto Protocol</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was an <strong>international agreement</strong> linked to the UNFCCC, which committed its parties by<strong> setting internationally binding emission reduction targets.</strong></li>
<li>It was adopted in <strong>Kyoto, Japan in 1997</strong> and entered into <strong>force in 2005.</strong></li>
<li>It recognized that <strong>developed countries are principally responsible for</strong> the current <strong>high levels of <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenhouse gases</a> (GHG) emissions</strong> in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity.</li>
<li>The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at<strong> COP-7 in Marrakesh, in 2001</strong> and are referred to as the <strong>Marrakesh Accords.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Kyoto Protocol Phase-1 (2005-12)</strong> gave the target of cutting down emissions by 5%.</li>
<li><strong>Phase-2 (2013-20)</strong> gave the target of reducing emissions by at least 18% by the industrialized countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=202630" 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/xi-petersberg-climate-dialogue'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'USCIRF Annual Report-2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)</strong> has downgraded India to the lowest ranking of<strong> &ldquo;Countries of Particular Concern&rdquo; (CPC)</strong> in its 2020 report on religious freedom.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>USCIRF has<strong> placed India alongside</strong> China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. India was categorised as a <strong>&ldquo;Tier 2 country&rdquo;</strong> in last year&rsquo;s listing.</li>
<li>This is the first time since 2004 that India has been placed in the CPC category.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Designation of the CPC is the top tier recommendation by the USCIRF when it comes to <strong>violation of international religious freedom.</strong> It is followed by<strong> Special Watch List Countries</strong> for severe violations.</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India took a sharp downward turn in 2019,</strong> which included specific concerns about the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizenship-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Amendment Act</strong></a>, the proposed <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register for Citizens</strong></a>, anti-conversion laws and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li>Indian government used its parliamentary majority to institute <strong>national-level policies violating religious freedom of minorities,</strong> especially for Muslims.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Earlier, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/islamophobia-in-india-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had criticised the Indian government</strong></a> for &ldquo;growing Islamophobia&rdquo; in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps suggested to U.S:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The U.S. government should take stringent action against India under the <strong>&ldquo;International Religious Freedom Act&rdquo; (IRFA).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>International Religious Freedom Act of 1998</strong> was passed to promote religious freedom <strong>as a foreign policy of the United States.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>aims to promote greater religious freedom</strong> in countries which engage in or tolerate violations of religious freedom, and to advocate on the behalf of individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs and activities in foreign countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To impose<strong> targeted sanctions</strong> on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s stand:</strong> The <strong>Indian government has rejected</strong> the USCIRF <strong>report</strong> and termed it<strong> &ldquo;biased and tendentious&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>USCIRF is an <strong>independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission,</strong> dedicated to <strong>defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.</strong></li>
<li>The USCIRF is also an <strong>advisory body</strong> to the US Congress.</li>
<li>USCIRF reviews<strong> the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations</strong> and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.</li>
<li>It is <strong>Headquartered at Washington DC.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uscirf-downgrades-india-in-2020-list/article31457624.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/uscirf-annual-report-2020'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'NITI Aayog Questions GTI',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A report compiled 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> has <strong>questioned the methodology</strong> adopted by the <strong>Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP),</strong> to rank <strong>India as the seventh worst terrorism affected country.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IEP is an <strong>Australian based institute</strong> which releases the<strong> annual Global Terrorism Index (GTI).</strong></li>
<li>It is based on <strong>four parameters:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Number of terrorist incidents per year.</li>
<li>Number of fatalities caused by terrorists per year.</li>
<li>Number of injuries caused by terrorists per year.</li>
<li>Total property damage caused by terrorism per year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>GTI 2019,</strong> India has moved to the<strong> seventh</strong> position from the<strong> previous year&rsquo;s eighth</strong> position.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Countries Ahead:</strong> Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan and Somalia. (top 6).</li>
<li><strong>Countries Behind:</strong> Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Palestine and Lebanon. (at different ranks)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NITI Aayog was being asked to<strong> track various global indices.</strong> The<strong> purpose</strong> was to see:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>How they can <strong>help drive reforms and growth.</strong></li>
<li>Which of these <strong>require some amount of engagement with the publishing agency</strong> to make the indices <strong>more relevant.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2017, India challenged at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Labour Organisation</a> (ILO),</strong> the country&rsquo;s ranking in a <strong>Global Slavery Report</strong> published by the <strong>Walk Free Foundation, Australia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of GTI scores in other rankings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Direct Use:</strong> In <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-peace-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Peace Index</strong></a>, the <strong>Global Slavery Report </strong></li>
<li><strong>Indirect Use:</strong> In the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness and Global Competitiveness Indices</strong></a> and compilation of <strong>Safe Cities Index</strong> by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/urbanisation-trends-eiu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economist Intelligence Unit</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The position in the global indices <strong>impact investments and other global opportunities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Highlights of the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NITI Aayog <strong>questioned the rankings</strong> as well as the <strong>funding of the IEP.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The funding source and the list of donors<strong> has not been revealed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The GTD is based <strong>solely on unclassified media articles,</strong> with more than 100 structured variables such as each attack&rsquo;s location, tactics and weapons, perpetrators, casualties and consequences etc.</li>
<li>The organisation has <strong>only 12 full-time staff, 12 full-time equivalent staff and 6 volunteers.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is something to focus on how the organization is able to annually collect, meaningfully analyse and disseminate data about 163 countries in the Global Terrorism and Peace Indices and provide country wise national peace reports with such <strong>minimal resources.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism of the Methodology:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The GTD <strong>lacks mechanisms to engage with Governments</strong> or to further<strong> classify and verify open source media reports</strong> through Government databases in any of the 163 countries it covers.</li>
<li>The <strong>lack of a universally accepted definition of terrorism</strong> leads to<strong> ambiguity.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism</strong></a> (CCIT) is pending in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>General Assembly</strong> since 2014.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>definition of mass shootings</strong> used in the GTI is <strong>limited</strong> to<strong> indiscriminate rampages in public places resulting in four or more victims killed by the attacker.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>leaves out lone wolf attacks</strong> which may have lesser fatalities and more injuries, and <strong>attacks foiled by security and intelligence agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NITI Aayog report concluded that the GTI has <strong>low direct value for policymakers </strong>due to the<strong> absence of a robust data collection and analysis methodology</strong> and any engagement with Governments facing the scourge of terrorism.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the reasons, it <strong>cannot be used as an aid to understand and alleviate challenges</strong> to countries from domestic and cross border terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/niti-aayog-questions-australian-institutes-terror-ranking-of-india/article31455989.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/niti-aayog-questions-gti'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'South Asia Seasonal Climate Outlook Forum',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> spatial forecast</strong> which shows wide variations in rainfall across India has been <strong>provided by the South Asia Seasonal Climate Outlook Forum.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>South Asian nations, <strong>supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)</strong>, have been conducting the <strong>SASCOF since 2010.</strong></li>
<li>SASCOF is a consortium of meteorologists and hydrological experts from South Asian countries, including <strong>Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Myanmar.</strong></li>
<li>They work collectively to <strong>issue regional forecasts</strong> and the team <strong>releases forecasts for the Southwest and Northeast monsoon seasons, every year.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The experts usually meet ahead of preparing the forecasts, but it <strong>was called off in 2020 in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-s-preparedness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Meteorological Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an <strong>intergovernmental organization</strong> with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories. <strong>India</strong> is a member.</li>
<li>Established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the <strong>specialized agency of the United Nations</strong> for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.</li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/deccan-farmers-may-face-long-dry-spells-in-june-july-like-last-year/article31456735.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/south-asia-seasonal-climate-outlook-forum'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'No Improvement in Ganga Water Quality',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a report published by the <strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),</strong> the pollution in Ganga has not reduced significantly during lockdown.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CPCB assessed pollution a week before lockdown and weeks after at 36 locations in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Dissolved Oxygen (DO)</strong> concentration <strong>improved marginally.</strong></li>
<li>There is a <strong>gradual increase in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)</strong> levels towards downstream stretches of the river, with the maximum values in West Bengal.</li>
<li>There is <strong>marginal reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)</strong> levels which is attributed due to the stoppage of industrial activities.</li>
<li>The <strong>pollution in Ganga is highest in Uttar Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Causes of Pollution:</strong> Domestic wastewater from 97 towns situated near river Ganga, and industrial effluents, are the main sources of water pollution in the river.</li>
<li>There was <strong>notable<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/water-quality-improves-in-yamuna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> improvement in water quality in the Yamuna</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Dissolved Oxygen</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Dissolved Oxygen is a <strong>measure of the amount of free oxygen available in river systems.</strong></li>
<li>Presence of <strong>organic and inorganic wastes</strong> in water <strong>decreases</strong> the <strong>dissolved oxygen</strong> content of the water.</li>
<li>A number of <strong>factors</strong> like surface turbulence, photosynthetic activity, O2 consumption by organisms and decomposition of organic matter are the factors which determine the amount of DO present in water.</li>
<li>The <strong>quality of water increases</strong> with an<strong> increase in DO levels.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Biochemical Oxygen Demand</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Water pollution by organic wastes</strong> is measured in terms of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).</li>
<li>BOD is the<strong> amount of dissolved oxygen needed by bacteria</strong> in decomposing the organic wastes present in water. It is expressed in milligrams of oxygen per litre of water.</li>
<li>The<strong> higher value of BOD</strong> indicates<strong> low DO</strong> content of water.</li>
<li>Since BOD is <strong>limited to biodegradable materials,</strong> it is not a reliable method of measuring water pollution.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>COD measures the amount of oxygen in parts per million required to oxidise<strong> organic (biodegradable and non-biodegradable)</strong> and <strong>oxidizable inorganic</strong> compounds in the water sample.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Ganga River System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The headwaters of the Ganga called the<strong> &lsquo;Bhagirathi&rsquo;</strong> is fed by the Gangotri Glacier and joined by the <strong>Alaknanda</strong> at Devprayag in Uttarakhand.</li>
<li>At <strong>Haridwar,</strong> Ganga emerges from the mountains to the plains.</li>
<li>The Ganga is joined by many<strong> tributaries</strong> from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi.</li>
<li>The Ganga bifurcates at Farakka Barrage; the <strong>Bhagirathi-Hooghly</strong> (a distributary) flows southwards through the deltaic plains to the Bay of Bengal. The mainstream flows southwards into Bangladesh and is joined by the Brahmaputra leading to the <strong>Sunderbans Delta.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588151687_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588151687_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="638" height="479" /></strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a<strong> statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in 1974 under the <strong>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</strong></li>
<li>The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/coronavirus-lockdown-no-improvement-in-ganga-water-quality/article31457326.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-improvement-in-ganga-water-quality'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Centre has decided to utilize the forthcoming monsoon season to expand its water conservation efforts under the <strong>Jal Shakti Abhiyan.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Such interventions would <strong>ensure water source sustainability</strong> in rural areas and would strengthen the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a> being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong></a> in 2019.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>campaign for water conservation</strong> and<strong> water security</strong> in the country through a collaborative effort of various ministries of the Government of India and state governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>focus</strong> of the campaign is on <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/water-leaving-no-one-behind" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>water stressed</strong></a> districts and blocks.</li>
<li>The <strong>important water conservation interventions</strong> are :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Water conservation and rainwater harvesting,</li>
<li>Renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks,</li>
<li>Reuse of water and recharging of structures,</li>
<li>Watershed development and</li>
<li>Intensive afforestation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Last year Jal Shakti Abhiyan covered 256 water stressed districts across the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>More than seventy- five lakh traditional and other water bodies and tanks were renovated and around a crore water conservation &amp; rainwater harvesting structures were created.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Jal Jeevan Mission, a central government initiative under the <strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti,</strong> aims to ensure access of piped water for every household in rural India.</li>
<li>Government of India has <strong>restructured and subsumed </strong>the<strong> National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) into Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong> to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household i.e., <strong>Har Ghar Nal Se Jal (HGNSJ).</strong></li>
<li>The Jal Jeevan Mission is <strong>based on various water conservation efforts</strong> like point recharge, desilting of minor irrigation tanks, use of greywater (wastewater from sinks, kitchen) for agriculture and source sustainability. It will be based on a <strong>community approach</strong> to water.</li>
<li>The Prime Minister has appealed to all states to generate maximum community participation in the form of<strong> &lsquo;Jan Andolan&rsquo;</strong> to achieve the target of functional household tap connection by 2024.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1619025" 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/jal-shakti-abhiyan-1'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Raja Ravi Varma',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>29<sup>th</sup> April</strong> is the<strong> birth anniversary</strong> of the famed <strong>Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma</strong> (1848-1906).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He is remembered for giving Indians their western, classical representations of Hindu gods and goddesses.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Early days and training:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Varma was born into<strong> an aristocratic family in Travancore (Kerala).</strong></li>
<li>At the age of 14, Varma was <strong>patronised by Ayilyam Thirunal,</strong> the then <strong>ruler of Travancore,</strong> and went on to receive training in <strong>watercolours from Ramaswamy Naidu, the royal painter. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Contributions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Made around <strong>7,000 paintings.</strong></li>
<li>Apart from painting Hindu mythological figures, Varma also made <strong>portraits of many Indians as well as Europeans.</strong></li>
<li>Varma worked on both <strong>portrait and landscape paintings,</strong> and is considered<strong> among the first Indian artists to use oil paints.</strong></li>
<li>He continues to be regarded as the most important representative of the <strong>Europeanised school of painting in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lithographic press:</strong> He mastered the<strong> reproduction of his work</strong> on the lithographic press&ndash; through which his paintings spread far and wide. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lithographic press is a method of printing based on the principle that <strong>oil and water do not mix.</strong></li>
<li>Paintings were earlier sent to Germany and Austria to be lithographed.</li>
<li>Varma set up his <strong>own printing press in Maharashtra &mdash;</strong> first in Ghatkopar and eventually in Lonavala in 1894.</li>
<li>Through his printing press, Varma&rsquo;s<strong> paintings travelled into the prayer and living rooms of working-class homes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Famous works:</strong> Damayanti Talking to a Swan, Shakuntala Looking for Dushyanta, Nair Lady Adorning Her Hair, and Shantanu and Matsyagandha.</li>
<li><strong>Awards and Honours:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1904, the British colonial government awarded Varma with the<strong> Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal.</strong></li>
<li>In 2013, a <strong>crater on the planet Mercury</strong> was named in his honour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588143338_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588143338_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="454" height="300" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/raja-ravi-varma-the-painter-who-helped-indians-bring-their-gods-home-6384125/" 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/raja-ravi-varma'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Panchayati Raj Institutions and Participative Democracy',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/panchayats-as-instruments-of-social-and-economic-progress/article31421460.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panchayats as instruments of social and economic progress</a></strong> published in The Hindu Business Line on 24/04/2020. It evaluates the functioning of the panchayat raj institution on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day.</p>
</div>
<p>The <strong>National Panchayati Raj Day</strong> is celebrated every year on April 24. The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj Institutions</strong></a> play a major role in the socio and economic development of people at the grassroot level.</p>
<p><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI)</strong></a> as units of local government have been in existence in India for a long time, in one form or another. However, it was only in 1992, on the recommendations of the <strong>LM Singhvi Committee (1986),</strong> that it was granted constitutional status as the third level of India&rsquo;s federal democracy through the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 73<sup>rd</sup> Amendment Act.</strong></a></p>
<p>The primary objective of establishing the third tier of the government (PRI) is to increase <strong>democratic participation,</strong> to better <strong>articulate local needs and priorities,</strong> and <strong>to ensure a more efficient use of local resources</strong> along with greater accountability and transparency.</p>
<p>However, this tier of the government is marred by many problems that need to be sorted out.</p>
<h3>Significance of Panchayati Raj Institution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Promote Democratic Representation</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PRI system generally consists of three level: Gram Panchayat at the village level, Block Panchayat or Panchayat Samiti at the intermediate level and Zilla Panchayat at the district level</li>
<li>This scheme of the PRI system increases cooperation among people, democratic participation and decentralization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effective and Efficient Planning</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country have been entrusted to provide basic services in the villages and plan for local economic development.</li>
<li>The Gram Sabha (GS) discusses the development work plans of the GP called <strong>Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP)</strong> and the elected representatives execute the plans. Formulation of GPDP improves efficiency of public services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ensures Good Governance</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Consensus oriented&rsquo; and &lsquo;Participation&rsquo;</strong> are two important pillars of <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/good-governance-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Good Governance</strong></a> and the PRI helps in ensuring both these pillars.</li>
<li>For example, GS is a channel to include the less privileged section of society and ensure their participation in the village level governance wherein they can advocate their developmental aspirations.</li>
<li>This bottom-up approach is meant to reflect the needs of various stakeholders</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram sabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gram Sabha is a body consisting of all persons whose names are included in the electoral rolls for the Panchayat at the village level. The term is defined in the Constitution of India under <strong>Article 243(b).</strong></li>
<li>The Constitution mentions that Gram Sabha exercises such powers and performs such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.</li>
<li>All eligible voters of the village can participate in the Gram Sabha.</li>
<li>The decisions taken by the Gram Sabha cannot be annulled by any other body except itself.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges With the PRI System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Effective Devolution</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Local government is a state subject in the Constitution, and consequently, the devolution of power and authority to panchayats has been left to the discretion of states.</li>
<li>Some of the important subjects like fuel and fodder, non-conventional energy sources, rural electrification including distribution of electricity, non-formal education, small scale industries including food processing industries, technical training, and vocational education have not been devolved in certain states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Insufficient Grants/Funds</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite the constitutional empowerment, the local bodies face problems of <strong>inadequate finance</strong> to carry out various activities assigned to them.</li>
<li>Transfers made through the State Finance Commissions are also meagre in most States.</li>
<li>In most of the states, most of the GPs are found reluctant to raise their own source of revenue (OSR). Only a few GPs are able to generate OSR in the form of tax or non-tax revenue by renting shops, house tax and clean water fee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Sarpanch Pati</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the Panchayati Raj Day in 2015, the Prime Minister called for an end to &lsquo;Sarpanch Pati culture&rsquo;. But it is still very much prevalent in the society, mainly due to gender biases, women illiteracy and patriarchal society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructural Challenges</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some of the GPs do not have their own building and they share space with schools, anganwadi centre and other places. Some have their own building but without basic facilities like toilets, drinking water, and electricity connection.</li>
<li>While GPs have internet connections, they are not functional in many cases. For any data entry purposes, panchayat officials have to visit Block Development offices which delay the work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Support Staff</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Standing Committee on Rural Development (Chair: Dr. P Venugopal) in July 2018 observed that there is severe lack of support staff and personnel in panchayats, such as secretary, junior engineers, computer operators, and data entry operators. This affects their functioning and delivery of services by them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Convergence of Various Government Programmes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a clear lack of convergence of various development programmes of the Centre and state governments.</li>
<li>For example, roads in two different patches are constructed utilising two different sources of funding (e.g. Fourteenth Finance Commission and MPLAD), but it is difficult to find one large activity with funding from multiple sources.</li>
<li>Different guidelines by different departments are cited as a major constraint for lack of convergence of activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps to be taken</h3>
<p>The recommendations of the <strong>6<sup>th</sup> report of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Administrative Reform Commission</strong> (ARC) can be implemented for a better and effective functioning of the Panchayati Raj institutions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genuine fiscal federalism</strong> i.e. fiscal autonomy accompanied by fiscal accountability can provide a long term solution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2<sup>nd</sup> ARC had recommended that there should be a clear-cut demarcation of functions of each tier of the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> 2<sup>nd</sup> ARC</strong> also recommended that state Governments should encourage local bodies to <strong>outsource specific functions</strong> to public or private agencies, as may be appropriate, through enabling guidelines and support</li>
<li><strong>The Comprehensive and holistic training</strong> requires expertise and resources from various subject matter specific training institutes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can be best achieved by &lsquo;networking&rsquo; of institutions concerned with various subjects such as financial management, rural development, disaster management and general management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Audit committees</strong> may be constituted by the State Governments at the district level to exercise oversight of the integrity of financial information, adequacy of internal controls, compliance with the applicable laws and ethical conduct of all persons involved in local bodies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Some Positive Steps Taken By Finance Commissions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the context, the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) has substantially increased the grants to the local bodies for the period year 2015-16 to 2019-20</li>
<li>The grants provided are intended to be used to support and strengthen the delivery of important basic public services.</li>
<li>Also, the 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission has further increased the grants in its interim report for year 2020-21 for rural and urban bodies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The governments should make adequate efforts to devolve funds, functions, and functionaries to panchayats, so that they can effectively plan economic development and social justice schemes. An empowered PRI is the foundation to an ideal &lsquo;Gram Swaraj&rsquo; as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>e-GramSwaraj- A Simplified Work Based Accounting Application for Panchayati Raj.</p>
<p>To strengthen e-Governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the country, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has launched eGramSwaraj, a user friendly web-based portal. eGramSwaraj aims to bring in better transparency in decentralised planning, progress reporting and work-based accounting.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588075313_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588075313_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="414" height="252" /></a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss how an empowered Panchayati Raj institution is a major intervention to facilitate good governance.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dnyZYurc0vI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/safe-return-the-hindu-editorial-on-migrant-worker-distress/article31439685.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Safe return: On migrant worker distress&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Hindu on 27/04/2020.</p>',
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		'title' => 'UNESCO',
		'catname' => 'International Institutions',
		'desc' => '<p>&ldquo;Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed&rdquo; - UNESCO</p>
<p><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)</strong> is a specialized agency of the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations (UN)</a></strong>. It seeks to <strong>build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.</strong></p>
<p>It is also a member of the <strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG),</strong> a coalition of UN agencies and organizations aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO&rsquo;s <strong>Headquarters</strong> are located in <strong>Paris</strong> and the Organization has more than 50 field offices around the world.</li>
<li>It has <strong>193 Members and 11 Associate Members</strong> (As of April 2020) and is governed by the General Conference and the Executive Board.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Three UNESCO member states are not UN members: <strong>Cook Islands, Niue, and Palestine.</strong></li>
<li>While three UN member states <strong>(Israel, Liechtenstein, United States)</strong> are not UNESCO members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Objectives</h3>
<p>UNESCO focuses on a set of objectives such as:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning</li>
<li>Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development</li>
<li>Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges</li>
<li>Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace</li>
<li>Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication</li>
<li>Focuses on global priority areas - <strong>&ldquo;Africa&rdquo; and &ldquo;Gender Equality&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>History</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 1942, during the Second World War, the governments of the European countries, which were confronting Germany and its allies, met in the United Kingdom for the <strong>Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (CAME).</strong></li>
<li>Upon the proposal of CAME, a United Nations Conference for the establishment of an educational and cultural organization was convened in London in November 1945.</li>
<li>At the end of the conference, UNESCO was founded on 16 November 1945.</li>
<li>The <strong>first session</strong> of the General Conference of UNESCO was held in<strong> Paris</strong> during November-December of 1946.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Areas of Specialization of UNESCO</h3>
<p><strong>Education Transforms Lives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Education transforms lives and is at the heart of UNESCO&rsquo;s mission to build peace, eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development.</li>
<li>The Organization is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education.</li>
<li>It has been entrusted to <strong>lead the Global Education 2030 Agenda</strong> through Sustainable Development Goal - 4. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Education 2030 Framework for Action&rsquo; (Incheon Declaration)</strong> is the roadmap to achieve the global education 2030 agenda..</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its work encompasses educational development from pre-school to higher education and beyond.</li>
<li>Themes include global citizenship and sustainable development, human rights and gender equality, health and HIV and AIDS, as well as technical and vocational skills development.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Protecting Our Heritage and Fostering Creativity</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is becoming a fact that no development can be sustainable without a strong culture component.</li>
<li>UNESCO has adopted a <strong>three-pronged approach</strong> to make culture takes it rightful place in development strategies and processes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Spearheads worldwide advocacy</strong> for culture and development.</li>
<li><strong>Engages with the international community</strong> to set clear policies and legal frameworks</li>
<li>Works on the ground to <strong>support governments and local stakeholders</strong> to safeguard heritage, strengthen creative industries and encourage cultural pluralism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Some important conventions and International treaties of UNESCO to protect and safeguard the world&rsquo;s cultural and natural heritage:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005)</li>
<li>The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)</li>
<li>The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001)</li>
<li>The Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001)</li>
<li>The Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)</li>
<li>The Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Traffic of Cultural Property (1970)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Science for a Sustainable Future</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Science equips us to find solutions to today&rsquo;s acute economic, social and environmental challenges and to achieving sustainable development and greener societies.</li>
<li>UNESCO works to assist countries to invest in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), to develop national science policies, to reform their science systems and to build capacity to monitor and evaluate performance through STI indicators..</li>
<li>Also, UNESCO works with its member states to foster informed decisions about the use of science and technology, in particular in the field of bioethics.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Social and Human Sciences</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO helps to enable people to create and use knowledge for just and inclusive societies, support them in understanding each other and working together to build lasting peace.</li>
<li>It promotes mutual understanding among member states through its intergovernmental Programme like <strong>Management of Social Transformations (MOST),</strong> its <strong>Youth Programme</strong> and the<strong> Culture of Peace and Non-Violence Programme</strong> which include initiatives for democracy and global citizenship, intercultural dialogue, peace-building.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Communication and Information</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO <strong>advances freedom of expression</strong> and the safety of journalists, combats online hate speech, as well as disinformation and misinformation through awareness raising initiatives.</li>
<li>It also supports universal access to information and knowledge through promoting Open Solutions, including Open Educational Resources, access for marginalized people, and multilingualism in Cyberspace.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Global Priorities Of UNESCO - &lsquo;Africa&rsquo; and &lsquo;Gender Equality&rsquo;</h3>
<p><strong>Africa</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO is attentive to 54 African countries with a stronger and better-targeted strategy.</li>
<li>The adoption of the <strong>African Union Agenda 2063</strong> and the <strong>2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development</strong> paving the ground for the African Economic Community and the African Renaissance.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Gender Equality</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO holds that women and men must enjoy equal opportunities, choices, capabilities, power and knowledge as equal citizens.</li>
<li>Equipping girls and boys, women and men with the knowledge, values, attitudes and skills to tackle gender disparities is a precondition to building a sustainable future for all.</li>
<li>Some important initiatives to achieve the objective of Gender equality are: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNESCO Priority Gender Equality Action Plan</li>
<li>Gender Equality Tools</li>
<li>Gender Views</li>
<li>Gender-related UNESCO Chairs and Networks</li>
<li>UNESCO Prize for Girls&rsquo; and Women&rsquo;s Education</li>
<li>UNESCO Youth Mobile</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Some of the Important Initiatives of UNESCO</h3>
<p><strong>World Heritage Convention and List</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>World Heritage Convention -1972 links together the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties.</li>
<li>The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites (World Heritage Sites) which can be considered for inscription on the <strong>World Heritage List.</strong></li>
<li>The States Parties of convention are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research.</li>
<li>It explains how the <strong>World Heritage Fund</strong> is to be used and managed.</li>
<li>Globally there are 1121 World Heritage sites in the 167 countries. Meanwhile, India has 38 <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Sites</strong></a> that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental scientific programme</strong> that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.</li>
<li>It promotes innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable.</li>
<li>The <strong>World Network of Biosphere Reserves</strong> currently counts 701 sites in 124 countries all over the world, including 21 transboundary sites.</li>
<li>India has <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biosphere-reserves-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>18 Biosphere reserves</strong></a> out of which 11 have been recognized internationally under Man and Biosphere (MAB) program:</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Geoscience and Global Geoparks Programme (IGGP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>International Geoscience Programme (IGCP)</strong> harnesses the intellectual capacity of a worldwide network of geoscientists to lay the foundation for our planet&rsquo;s future, focusing on responsible resource extraction, natural hazard resilience and preparedness, and adaptability in the era of a changing climate.</li>
<li><strong>UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp)</strong> are laboratories for sustainable development which promote the recognition and management of Earth heritage, and the sustainability of local communities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As of April 2019, there are 147 UNESCO Global Geoparks within 41 Member States, covering a total area of 288,000 km&sup2;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Hydrological Programme (IHP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) is the only intergovernmental programme of the United Nations system devoted to water research and management, and related education and capacity development</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The growing global water crisis threatens the security, stability and environmental sustainability of developing nations.</li>
<li>The programme focuses on assessing the developing situation of freshwater throughout the world. It also coordinates the work of 31 UN-Water members and partners in the <strong>World Water Development Report (WWDR).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an international multidisciplinary programme established by UNESCO Member States in order to reinforce intergovernmental cooperation in science to strengthen national capacities in the basic sciences and science education.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Reports of UNESCO</h3>
<p><strong>UNESCO Science Report</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UNESCO Science Report maps Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) governance around the world on a regular basis. The report is published every five years, on 10 November, to mark <strong>World Science Day for Peace and Development.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Global Education Monitoring Report</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report carries out its assessment of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal on education (SDG4) and its 10 targets, as well as other related education targets in the SDG agenda.</li>
<li>The report examines different accountability mechanisms that are used to hold governments, schools, teachers, parents, the international community, and the private sector accountable for inclusive, equitable and quality education.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>McBride Report of 1980</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The comprehensive report of the MacBride Commission is also named<strong> &ldquo;Many Voices, OneWorld&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It analyzed communication problems in modern societies, particularly relating to mass media and news, consider the emergence of new technologies, and to suggest a kind of communication order (<strong>New World Information and Communication Order</strong>) to diminish these problems to further peace and human development</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>UNESCO State of the Education Report for India: Children With Disabilities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2019 report is the first edition of the annual report to be published by UNESCO in India.</li>
<li>It highlights accomplishments and challenges with regards to the right to education of children with disabilities (CWDs).</li>
<li>UNESCO&rsquo;s State of the Education Report 2019 is expected to help the education system better respond to the learning needs of CWDs. This will enable significant progress towards our collective objective of leaving no one behind and provide to all children and youth equitable opportunities for quality learning.</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNESCO And INDIA</h3>
<p><strong>Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has been a member of the UNESCO since its inception in 1946.</li>
<li>UNESCO constitution requires that each Member State should have a principle body that shall work with the Organization. Thus, in India, <strong>Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU)</strong> was commissioned.</li>
<li>UNESCO has two Offices in India<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> New Delhi cluster office</strong> for eleven countries in South and Central Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)</li>
<li>The <strong>MGIEP &ndash; the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace</strong> and Sustainable Development fully supported and funded by the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>UNESCO&rsquo;s International Prizes and India</h3>
<p><strong>UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is established through the generous donation of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Indian artist, writer and diplomat Mr Madanjeet Singh, the prize honors his lifelong commitment to the cause of peace and tolerance.</li>
<li>The creation of the Prize in 1995 marked the United Nations Year for Tolerance and the 125<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.</li>
<li>Since 1996, the Prize has been awarded every two years and, since 2002, it amounts to US $ 100,000.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an international distinction created by UNESCO in 1951 following a donation from Mr Bijoyanand Patnaik, Founder and President of the Kalinga Foundation Trust in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588248520_Image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588248520_Image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588248541_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588248541_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="800" caption="false" /></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Aero India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Defence has announced that the <strong>13<sup>th</sup> edition of Aero India</strong> will be held from February 3 to 7, 2021 at Air Force Station Yelahanka (Karnataka).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aero India is a<strong> biennial international military and civil airshow.</strong></li>
<li>It is a premier event that draws<strong> international and Indian military and civil aircraft makers,</strong> their support industries, military brass and government dignitaries, and business visitors.</li>
<li>The Yelahanka air base, about 30 km from the city centre Bangluru has been hosting the air show in February<strong> since it was started in 1996.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2021 Aero India will be organised by the <strong>Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019 it was organised by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Defence Exhibition Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>autonomous organisation of the Indian Government</strong> established in 1981.</li>
<li>The organisation was<strong> established to promote export potential of the Indian defence industry.</strong></li>
<li>The agency is responsible for <strong>organising international exhibitions such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defexpo-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEFEXPO</a></strong> and Indian participation at overseas exhibitions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/aero-india-2021-is-on-at-the-same-time-and-place/article31465885.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/aero-india'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Final Report on National Infrastructure Pipeline',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> task force headed by Atanu Chakraborty</strong> (economic affairs secretary) on <strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)</strong> submitted its final report to the Finance Minister.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Revised Investment Need:</strong> The taskforce has <strong>forecast an investment need of ₹111 lakh crore</strong> over the<strong> next five years (2020-2025)</strong> to build infrastructure projects and drive economic growth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The final report has revised up NIP from earlier Rs 100 lakh crore in light of additional data provided by central ministries/state governments since the release of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-infrastructure-pipeline-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>summary NIP report.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bulk Share: Energy, roads, railways and urban projects</strong> are estimated to account for the bulk of projects (around 70%).</li>
<li><strong>Measures Suggested:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aggressive push towards asset sales</li>
<li>Monetisation of infrastructure assets</li>
<li>Setting up of development finance institutions</li>
<li>Strengthening the municipal bond market</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Streamlining Process:</strong> The task force<strong> has also recommended to set up of three committees:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Timely Execution:</strong> Panel to monitor NIP progress and eliminate delays.</li>
<li><strong>Follow Up:</strong> Steering committee in each infrastructure ministry for following up implementation</li>
<li><strong>Raising Financial Resources:</strong> Committee in the Department of Economic Affairs for raising financial resources for the NIP</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> task force was set up</strong> after the Prime Minister, in his Independence Day speech of 2019, promised to roll out an <strong>infrastructure push worth ₹100 trillion</strong> over five years to make India a $5 trillion economy.</li>
<li>The summary report for, National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), 2020-25 was released by the finance minister on 31 December, 2019.</li>
<li>Out of the total expected capital expenditure of Rs 111 lakh crore<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Projects worth Rs 44 lakh crore (40 % of NIP) are<strong> under implementation.</strong></li>
<li>Projects worth Rs 33 lakh crore (30 % of NIP) are at <strong>conceptual stage.</strong></li>
<li>Projects worth Rs 22 lakh crore (20 % of NIP) are <strong>under development.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Infrastructure Pipeline</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NIP will enable a forward outlook on<strong> infrastructure projects which will create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure</strong> for all, thereby making growth more inclusive.</li>
<li>NIP includes <strong>economic and social infrastructure</strong> projects.</li>
<li>It also includes both<strong> greenfield and brownfield projects.</strong></li>
<li>It will help in stepping-up annual infrastructure investment<strong> to achieve the Gross Domestic Product <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2018-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(GDP) of $5 trillion by 2024-25</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The Centre and states are expected to have almost equal share in implementing NIP, while the private sector contribution is expected to be around 21%.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/2020-25-infra-funding-pegged-at-rs-111l-crore-energy-roads-railways-to-get-lions-share-6385402/" 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/final-report-on-national-infrastructure-pipeline'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'International Financial Services Centres Authority',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The central government has established <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-financial-services-centres-authority-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Financial Services Centres Authority</strong></a> to regulate all financial services in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) with headquarters in <strong>Gandhinagar (Gujarat).</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The authority will <strong>regulate financial products</strong> such as securities, deposits or contracts of insurance, financial services, and financial institutions which have been <strong>previously approved by any appropriate regulator such as <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</a></strong>, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)</strong></a> etc., in an IFSC.</li>
<li>It will also regulate any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions in an IFSC, which may be <strong>notified by the central government.</strong></li>
<li>It may also <strong>recommend to the central government</strong> any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions, which may be permitted in an IFSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The International Financial Services Centres Authority will consist of <strong>nine members, appointed by the central government.</strong></li>
<li>They will include<strong> chairperson</strong> of the authority, <strong>a member each from the RBI, SEBI, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sandbox-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)</a>, and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/streamlining-of-national-pension-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)</a>;</strong> and<strong> two members from the Ministry of Finance.</strong> In addition, two other members will be appointed on the<strong> recommendation of a Selection Committee.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Term:</strong> All members of the IFSC Authority will have a <strong>term of three years, subject to reappointment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Unification under one authority:</strong> The banking, capital markets and insurance sectors in IFSC which are regulated by multiple regulators - the RBI, SEBI, and IRDAI will be unified under the IFSC authority.</li>
<li>The single window regulatory institution would <strong>accelerate the development of India's first IFSC at GIFT City,</strong> Gandhinagar.</li>
<li><strong>Both national and international institutions</strong> dealing with international financial services would utilise the IFSC platform for <strong>inbound and outbound investments with improved ease of doing business,</strong> thereby making GIFT IFSC a <strong>global financial hub.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Financial Services Centre:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An IFSC enables <strong>bringing back the financial services and transactions that are currently carried out in offshore financial centres</strong> by Indian corporate entities and overseas branches/subsidiaries of Financial Institutions (such as banks, insurance companies, etc.) to India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It offers a <strong>business and regulatory environment </strong>that is<strong> comparable to other leading international financial centres</strong> in the world like London and Singapore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IFSCs are intended to provide Indian corporates with<strong> easier access to global financial markets,</strong> and to complement and promote further development of financial markets in India.</li>
<li>The first IFSC in India has been set up at the<strong> Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/ifsc-authority-hq-will-be-in-gandhinagar/articleshow/75437351.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: ToI</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-financial-services-centres-authority-1'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Natural Product Based Alzheimer Inhibitor',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Scientists from<strong> Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)</strong> have modified the structure of <strong>Berberine</strong> into Ber-D to use as an Alzheimer's <strong>inhibitor.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>JNCASR is an<strong> autonomous institute under the Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST),</strong> Govt. of India.</li>
<li>Berberine is a chemical found in several plants. It is a natural and cheap product similar to curcumin (a substance in turmeric). It is found in India and China and used in traditional medicine and other applications.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Berberine is poorly soluble and toxic to cells. So scientists modified berberine to <strong>Ber-D,</strong> which is a soluble (aqueous), antioxidant. They found it to be a multifunctional inhibitor of multifaceted amyloid toxicity of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Amyloid</strong> is a protein that is deposited in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other tissues in certain diseases.</li>
<li>In case of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, <strong>Amyloid beta (A&beta;) accumulates in the brain.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ber-D inhibits aggregations of metal-dependent and -independent Amyloid beta (A&beta;).</strong> Further, Ber-D treatment averts mitochondrial dysfunction and corresponding neuronal toxicity contributing to premature apoptosis (cell death).</li>
<li>These multifunctional attributes make Ber-D a promising candidate for developing effective therapeutics to treat multifaceted toxicity of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Alzheimer's disease is a <strong>progressive disorder</strong> that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate) and die.</li>
<li>It is the most prevalent <strong>neurodegenerative disorder</strong> and accounts for <strong>more than 70% of all dementia.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills that affect a person's ability to perform everyday activities.</li>
<li>Memory loss is an example.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588232765_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588232765_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=202639" 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/natural-product-based-alzheimer-inhibitor'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'U.S. Priority Watch List for IPR',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India continues to be on the &lsquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Priority Watch List</strong></a>&rsquo; of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ustr-takes-india-off-developing-country-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United States Trade Representative (USTR)</strong></a> for lack of adequate <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intellectual Property (IP) rights</strong></a> <strong>protection and enforcement,</strong> according to the USTRs<strong> Annual Special 301 Report.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Copyright laws not incentivising the creation and commercialisation of content.</li>
<li>An outdated trade secrets framework.</li>
<li>India <strong>restricted the transparency of information</strong> provided on state-issued pharmaceutical manufacturing licenses.</li>
<li>India continues to apply<strong> restrictive patentability criteria</strong> to reject pharmaceutical patents.</li>
<li>Absence of an effective system for protecting against the<strong> unfair means</strong> to obtain marketing approval for <strong>pharmaceuticals and certain agricultural chemical products.</strong></li>
<li>India maintains extremely <strong>high customs duties</strong> directed to IP-intensive products such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products, solar energy equipment, and capital goods.</li>
<li>India was ranked among the<strong> top five source countries for fake goods</strong> by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organization of Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD)</strong></a> in 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>government&rsquo;s 2019 draft Copyright Amendment Rules,</strong> if implemented, would have &ldquo;severe&rdquo; consequences for Internet-content rights holders as the proposed rules broadened the scope of compulsory licensing <strong>from radio and television broadcasting to online broadcasting.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Trademarks:</strong> Trademark counterfeiting levels were &ldquo;problematic&rdquo; and there were &ldquo;excessive delays&rdquo; in obtaining trademarks due to a <strong>lack of examination quality.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It urged India to join the<strong> Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks,</strong> a treaty that harmonises trademark registration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Progress Noted</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India had made<strong> &ldquo;meaningful progress&rdquo;</strong> to enhance IP protection and enforcement in some areas in 2019 and had acceded to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institutions-international-world-intellectual-property-organisation-wipo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)</strong></a> Internet Treaties and the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-proposal-to-align-with-global-trademark-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Nice Agreement</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Nice Agreement establishes a classification of goods and services for the purposes of registering trademarks and service marks (the Nice Classification).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Online IP enforcement:</strong> Online IP enforcement in India has improved but progress is undercut by factors including :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Weak enforcement by courts and the police.</li>
<li>Lack of familiarity with investigative techniques.</li>
<li>No centralised IP enforcement agency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Special 301 Report</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Special 301 Report identifies trading partners that <strong>do not adequately or effectively protect and enforce Intellectual Property (IP) rights</strong> or otherwise <strong>deny market access to U.S. innovators and creators that rely on protection of their IP rights.</strong></li>
<li>The report is released<strong> annually by the United States Trade Representative (USTR).</strong></li>
<li>Trading partners that currently present the most significant concerns regarding IP rights<strong> are placed on the Priority Watch List or Watch List.</strong> USTR identified <strong>33 countries for these lists in the Special 301 Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Venezuela are on the <strong>Priority Watch List.</strong></li>
<li>Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Thailand, Trinidad &amp; Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are on the <strong>Watch List.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/intellectual-property-rights-india-remains-on-us-priority-watch-list/article31467719.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/u-s-priority-watch-list-for-ipr'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => '1.6 Billion Risk Losing Jobs: ILO',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organization (ILO)</strong></a> has warned that nearly half of the entire global workforce is in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Informal workers at risk:</strong> Due to Covid-19 lockdown, three-quarters of workers (some 1.6 billion people) engaged in the informal economy have suffered massive damage to their capacity to earn a living.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, without alternative income, these workers and their families would have no means to survive.</li>
<li>The global workforce is 3.3 billion people, of which more than two billion people work in the informal economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hard-hit Sectors:</strong> The worst-affected sectors would be <strong>accommodation and food services, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate and business activities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Suggestions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ILO calls for <strong>urgent, targeted and flexible measures to support workers and businesses those in the informal economy</strong> and others who are vulnerable.</li>
<li>Measures for <strong>economic reactivation should follow a job-rich approach,</strong> backed by stronger employment policies and institutions, better-resourced and comprehensive social protection systems.</li>
<li>International coordination on<strong> stimulus packages and debt relief measures</strong> will also be critical to making recovery effective and sustainable. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>International labour standards, which already enjoy tripartite consensus, can provide a framework.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Informal Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The informal sector, also known as the unorganised sector, is the part of any economy that is <strong>neither taxed nor monitored by any form of government.</strong></li>
<li>The informal sector<strong> provides critical economic opportunities</strong> for the poor.</li>
<li>The informal sector is largely <strong>characterized by skills gained outside of a formal education, easy entry, a lack of stable employer-employee relationships, and a small scale of operations.</strong></li>
<li>Unlike the formal economy, the informal sector&rsquo;s components are not included in GDP computations.</li>
<li>The government of India has launched <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-interim-budget-three-big-takeaways" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana</strong></a> as a social security for the unorganised workers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Labour Organization (ILO)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in 1919 by the <strong>Treaty of Versailles</strong> as an affiliated agency of the<strong> League of Nations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>League of Nations was disbanded in 1946 and powers and functions of ILO transferred to United Nations</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Became the first affiliated <strong>specialized agency </strong>of the<strong> United Nations in 1946.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Geneva, Switzerland</li>
<li>Received the <strong>Nobel Peace Prize</strong> in 1969.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For improving peace among classes.</li>
<li>Pursuing decent work and justice for workers.</li>
<li>Providing technical assistance to other developing nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The organization has <strong>played a key role</strong> in<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ensuring labour rights during the Great Depression of 1929.</li>
<li>Decolonization process.</li>
<li>The creation of Solidarność (trade union) in Poland.</li>
<li>The victory over apartheid in South Africa.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is the only<strong> tripartite U.N. agency.</strong> It brings together<strong> governments, employers and workers</strong> of <strong>187 member States,</strong> to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-16-billion-at-the-risk-of-losing-jobs-warns-ilo/article31466782.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/1-6-billion-risk-losing-jobs-ilo'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Localising Globalisation',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5NZYiEWnIjg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The dual supply and demand shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>are expected to cause a global recession</strong></a>. In the last several weeks, global supply chains have been disrupted as workers are locked down, factories shut and closed borders, and terminals block supplies and cargo. Aggregate demand has collapsed. The pandemic threatens to usher in a phase of economic insularity, through efforts at localisation of supply chains and stricter immigration controls.</p>
<h3>Trends in Globalisation in Recent Times</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global financial crisis:</strong> The financial crisis that began in August 2007 and intensified in the fall of 2008 pushed the global economy into a severe downturn that came to be known as the <strong>Great Recession.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>World trade collapsed at a pace unseen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.</li>
<li>The protectionist instincts invariably come to the fore and concerns rose that it may lead to deglobalization&mdash;a reversal of globalization.</li>
<li>With few exceptions, the trend of slowing world trade and growing protectionism has since continued and the pandemic threatens to make it worse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>US-ChinaTariff war:</strong> US President&rsquo;s imposition of tariffs on China resulted in the US-China trade war. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This disrupted the global supply chains and gave birth to the possibility of these supply chains outside of China to more competitive markets.</li>
<li>The pandemic will now ensure further diversification of global supply chains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>COVID-19 induced disruption to global supply chains:</strong> The geopolitical watchdogs at The Spectator Index noted that Japan&rsquo;s government would spend upwards of $2 billion helping its multinationals leave China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>U.S. companies are leaving, too, even though there is no official push to do so.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Globalisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to the economic, social and political integration of nations. It entails the spread of products, technology, information and jobs across national borders and cultures.</li>
<li>In economic terms, it describes an interdependence of nations around the globe, fostered through free trade.</li>
<li>Globalisation can be further divided into subcategories based on its time frame and focus areas:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Globalization 1.0</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was pre-World War I globalization, which was launched by a historic drop in trade costs.</li>
<li>This globalization came with almost no government support and was without global governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Globalization 2.0</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the post-World War II phase where trade in goods was combined with complimentary domestic policies.</li>
<li>The market was in charge of efficiency while the government was in charge of justice.</li>
<li>It saw the establishment of institute-based, rule-based international governance, specifically the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations</strong></a> (UN), <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong></a> (IMF), <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organisation</strong></a> (WTO, earlier GATT), <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labor Organization</strong> </a>(ILO) etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Globalization 3.0</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It created a new world of manufacturing in which high-tech was combined with low wages.</li>
<li>This was achieved through establishment of global supply chains as factories crossed international borders.</li>
<li>It was variously called New globalization, Hyper globalization, Global value chain evolution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Globalization 4.0</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the latest stage of globalization which involves cutting-edge new technologies like <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence</strong></a> (AI) that powers forward with the explosion of information technology.</li>
<li>These technologies shrink distances, open up borders and minds and bring people all across the globe closer together.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Self-Reliance: Possibilities and Challenges</h3>
<p>As the majority of the businesses worldwide face <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disruptions and economic fallout after the COVID-19 pandemic</strong></a>, India will have the opportunity to build an economy that is more resilient, diversified, and attractive to the global manufacturers and services. India with its large population has a big potential to become the manufacturing hub of the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Identify Core Sectors:</strong> Indian companies need to re-look at their supply chain and start building domestic capacity for essential products to reduce dependence on China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a need to identify and enlist core sectors in which India can become self-reliant and design a strategy to replace too much reliance on China for the imports, particularly Pharma APIs.</li>
<li>Shifting the supply chains from China may also offer FDI opportunities.</li>
<li>Such industries where we have to become more independent and where there is too much monopoly for example- APIs, support needs to be provided in the form of limited, sector-specific, and focused protection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Automation:</strong> With COVID-19 every industry will become less labour dependant and more automated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Labor-intensive sectors will take a hit.</li>
<li>Therefore there&rsquo;ll be a need to produce more and more skilled labour force that could handle basic machines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Liquidity crunch:</strong> Businesses have started facing massive working capital/cash flow issues due to lockdown and they will continue even post that because of reduced demand. MSME and startups are the worst hits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The liquidity needs of companies need to be addressed to help them remain solvent. Though the government has started taking steps via SIDBI to help MSMEs, we still need to do more.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High taxes and competitiveness</strong>: The issue of higher taxes, credit risks, and liquidity crunch will be some of the glaring issues that need to be resolved in a time-bound manner. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new policy to offer a reduced corporate tax rate of 15% to new manufacturing facilities set up after October 1, 2019, should attract people to set up manufacturing in India.</li>
<li>Cheaper credits and lesser taxation needs to be provided to ensure the level playing field for manufacturers in India.</li>
<li>India needs more open trade and investment policies to drive competitiveness</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>De-bureaucratisation:</strong> India needs to put in place such policies that improve its competitiveness, de-bureaucratise some sectors such as agriculture, and make labour laws less complicated. A holistic and easily accessible ecosystem, from the procuring of raw materials to the outlet of finished products, must be made available.</li>
<li><strong>People-centric policies:</strong> The only way to trigger employment is to step-up value addition in the local area. There is a need for such people-centric and sector-specific policies in order to accelerate growth.</li>
<li><strong>Alternative global alliance:</strong> India has till now lead by example in its handling of the pandemic. The sudden call for a video-conference by Indian Prime Minister, with SAARC leaders to chalk out a common strategy to fight COVID-19, sets an example to the world. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India needs to now move beyond regional alliances and look forward to a cooperative alliance between like-minded countries in terms of trade such as the USA, EU, and Japan, to figure out an alternative to break the hegemony of China in the global supply chain.</li>
<li>India needs to expand its cooperation programs into a global effort by engaging in the multilateral development of solutions to global policy challenges and share lessons and experiences to progressively strengthen public systems and state institutions worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promote R&amp;D and capacity building:</strong> There&rsquo;s a need to prioritise building capacity and policy framework to become cost-competitive and quality competitive. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhance domestic consumption as well as put thrust to increase exports and promote research to become more independent. India needs to plan now for the next 20 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-localising-globalisation'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Balancing Intellectual Property with Public Health',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/vaccinating-policy-120042701550_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vaccinating policy</strong></a> published in Business Standard on 27/04/2020. It talks about the tradeoff in pharmaceutical innovation i.e. between patents and public health.</p>
</div>
<p>The current response to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> involves the aggressive implementation of <strong>suppression strategies,</strong> such as<strong> case identification, quarantine and isolation, contact tracing, and social distancing.</strong> However, the transmission of infection may quickly rebound if interventions are relaxed. Therefore, the development of Covid-19 vaccines that can be used globally is a priority for ending the pandemic.</p>
<p>This developmental effort for vaccines should be guided by<strong> three imperatives: Speed, Manufacture and Deployment at scale, and Global access.</strong></p>
<p>But the bigger challenge once the vaccines enter the market will be<strong> balancing Intellectual Property (IP) regimes with public health interests.</strong></p>
<h3>Issue: Patent (Intellectual Property Rights) vs Patient (Public Health Interest)</h3>
<p><strong>Provision of IP laws</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The production of vaccines requires high cost, very sophisticated methods and the high level of knowledge.</li>
<li>In order to protect the initial investment, the global pharmaceutical industry exercises <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)</strong></a> like patents and passes on this cost (and leveraging huge profits) to final consumers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, international trade agreements require countries with vaccine manufacturing capabilities to provide patent protection under the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WTO agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property (TRIPS).</strong> </a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In this context, IP laws are required to promote innovation in the R&amp;D of new medicine or vaccines. However, it is due to these IPRs laws only, the global pharmaceutical industry <strong>establishes a monopoly</strong> over <strong>life-saving drugs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This, in turn, generates billions of dollars in revenue and wealth for shareholders.</li>
<li>This also impedes new manufacturers from entering the Pharma research domain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Monopolisation Comes at the Cost of Human Lives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Public-health advocates and scholars have long argued, monopolies kill, by denying access to life-saving medicines. The patents are preventing competition and threatening both the affordability and the supply of new drugs.</li>
<li><strong>PCV13,</strong> the current multi-strain pneumonia vaccine administered to babies, costs hundreds of dollars because it is the monopoly property of Pfizer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, <strong>more than 100,000 preventable infant deaths from pneumonia are recorded every year,</strong> while the vaccine brings in roughly $5 billion in revenue for Pfizer annually.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Monopoly control over the technology has even impacted battle against Covid-19.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rapid rollout of more testing kits, the respirator or N95 masks have made it more difficult for new producers to manufacture medical-grade face masks at scale.</li>
<li>Multiple patents are in force for three of the most promising treatments for Covid-19 <strong>&mdash; Remdesivir, Favipiravir, and Lopinavir/Ritonavir.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward: Intellectual Production without Intellectual Protection</h3>
<p><strong>Leveraging Global Forums</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-against-the-threat-of-influenza" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The World Health Organization&rsquo;s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS)</strong></a> which has remained largely defunct, should be revived.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)</strong></a> is supported by a World Bank financial intermediary fund that brings together public, philanthropic, and private funding to respond to global priorities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Through this fund, CEPI can act as a global mechanism for funding vaccine development until vaccines can be licensed or used under emergency use provisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>GISRS involves experts from a laboratory network in 110 countries funded by governments and some foundations which convene twice a year to analyse the latest data on emerging flu strains.</li>
<li>It decides which strains should be included in each year&rsquo;s vaccine.</li>
<li>This global not-for-profit, knowledge-sharing architecture for the flu vaccines has been around for 50 years and could be a useful template in the quest for the Covid-19 vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Establishing Patent Pool</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Costa Rica&rsquo;s government recently called on the WHO to establish a voluntary pool of IP rights for Covid-19 treatments, which would allow multiple manufacturers to supply new drugs and diagnostics at more affordable prices.</li>
<li>Through the <strong>Medicines Patent Pool,</strong> the United Nations and the WHO have for years sought to increase access to treatments for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis.</li>
<li><strong>Patent pools, prize funds,</strong> and other similar ideas are part of a broader agenda to reform how life-saving drugs are developed and made available. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The goal is to replace a monopoly-driven system with one based on cooperation and shared knowledge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Therefore, the idea of patent pooling should now be expanded to cover vaccines for Covid-19 vaccine and health hazard.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Vaccine Bonds</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Innovative finance mechanisms</strong> have been successful in raising funds for vaccines in the past and should be used to fund the development of Covid-19 vaccines.</li>
<li>The <strong>International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm)</strong> raises funds with vaccine bonds.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These bonds are launched with advanced market commitments, where donors make funding commitments to vaccine manufacturers and, in exchange, companies sign a legally binding commitment to provide the vaccines at a price affordable to low-income and middle-income countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Role of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is among the <strong>largest manufacturers of generic drugs and vaccines</strong> in the world.</li>
<li>It is home to half a dozen major vaccine makers and a host of smaller ones, making doses against <strong>Polio, Meningitis, Pneumonia, Rotavirus, BCG, Measles, Mumps and Rubella,</strong> among other diseases.</li>
<li>India has a state of art R &amp; D facilities in the field of vaccines development. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, the<strong> Serum Institute of India is the world's largest vaccine maker</strong> by the number of doses produced and sold globally.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Following its conventional role of being a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-pharma-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pharmacy to the world</strong></a>, India has already decided to speed up vaccine trials (six firms are in the fray).</li>
<li>The Indian government can deploy the TRIPs-compliant tool of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-removes-price-cap-on-innovative-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>compulsory licensing</strong></a> to enable the vaccine to be produced by third-party manufacturers at affordable prices.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588159157_pasted%20image 4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588159157_pasted image 4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="530" height="452" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #f20000; background-color: #ffeceb;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Intellectual Protection regimes should not outweigh public health interests. In light of the statement, critically analyse the need for Intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AB6y2sWoYFg" 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/virtual-yet-open/article31448593.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Virtual, yet open&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on April, 29th 2020.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/balancing-intellectual-property-with-public-health'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'BRICS Foreign Ministers Meet',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>External Affairs Minister of India attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers meet</strong> through video conferencing.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This<strong> meeting was convened by Russia</strong> to discuss the impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus pandemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BRICS nations have set up a <strong>"special loan instrument"</strong> of <strong>$15 billion fund</strong> for member nations to revive the economy amid Covid-19 pandemic</li>
<li>BRICS nations exchanged views on<strong> possible joint measures to be taken by the member states to counter Covid-19</strong> and overcome the financial, trade, economic and social consequences of the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>India</strong> showcased its<strong> pharmaceutical support to around 85 countries</strong> to deal with the viral infection. It also highlighted the <strong>need for reforms in the multilateral bodies like the United Nations.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Security Council</strong></a> members are currently discussing draft resolutions on the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>BRICS</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>BRICS</strong> is an <strong>acronym</strong> for the grouping of the world&rsquo;s leading emerging economies, namely <strong>Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<strong> 2001,</strong> the British Economist <strong>Jim O&rsquo;Neill coined</strong> the term <strong>BRIC</strong> to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.</li>
<li>The grouping was <strong>formalised</strong> during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers in <strong>2006.</strong></li>
<li>South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It comprises 42% of the world's population, has<strong> 23%</strong> of the<strong> global GDP</strong> and around 17% of the world trade.</li>
<li>The<strong> chairmanship</strong> of the forum is<strong> rotated annually</strong> among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.</li>
<li>The <strong>BRICS Leaders&rsquo; Summit</strong> is convened <strong>annually.</strong></li>
<li>During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the <strong>New Development Bank (NDB).</strong> They also signed the <strong>BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588159508_image.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588159508_image.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/coronavirus-lockdown-no-improvement-in-ganga-water-quality/article31457326.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/brics-foreign-ministers-meet'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => '$1.5 Billion ADB Loan to India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Asian Development Bank (ADB)</strong> has provided a $1.5 billion loan to India to fund India&rsquo;s immediate response to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/adb-assures-covid-19-support-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>had assured Indian government of $2.2 billion (about Rs 16,500 crore)</strong> </a>support to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The loan will help the Central government to focus on immediate priorities such as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Covid-19 containment and prevention.</li>
<li>Social protection for the poor and economically vulnerable sections of the society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The loan has been provided under ADB&rsquo;s <strong>Covid-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program. </strong>The CARES Program&nbsp;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>support the government&rsquo;s stimulus package</strong> geared to expand existing social assistance programs,</li>
<li>boost resources for Covid-19 prevention and control,</li>
<li>safeguard productive sectors and workers from the economic downturn.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CARES Program is <strong>funded through the Covid-19 Pandemic Response Option (CPRO)</strong> under ADB&rsquo;s Countercyclical Support Facility.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CPRO was introduced as part of a $20 billion package approved by ADB on 13<sup>th</sup> April, 2020 to assist its developing member countries in their fight against Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The CARES Program will be<strong> implemented through a country engagement framework</strong> focused on policy dialogue and monitoring of the government&rsquo;s countercyclical strategy and measures.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Asian Development Bank</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ADB is a <strong>regional development bank</strong> established on <strong>19<sup>th</sup> December 1966.</strong></li>
<li>ADB now has <strong>68 members, 49 from within Asia.</strong></li>
<li>As of 31 December 2019, ADB&rsquo;s five largest shareholders are <strong>Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares),</strong> the People&rsquo;s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).</li>
<li>It aims to promote social and economic development in Asia.</li>
<li>ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.</li>
<li>ADB is <strong>headquartered in Manila, Philippines.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/15-billion-adb-loan-to-fund-covid-19-emergency-response/article31457062.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/-1-5-billion-adb-loan-to-india'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Anti-corruption Law Covers Deemed Universities',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court</strong></a> has held that <strong>bribery and corruption in a deemed university</strong> can <strong>be tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has said that<strong> individuals, authorities connected to a deemed university</strong> come under the definition of <strong>&lsquo;public servant&rsquo;</strong> and can be tried and punished under the anti-corruption law.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Supreme Court observed that the <strong>officials of a deemed university do not perform any less of a public duty</strong> than their counterparts in other universities.</li>
<li>Deemed universities come within the ambit of the<strong> term &lsquo;university&rsquo; in Section 2(c)(xi) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A deemed institution under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act of 1956 has the <strong>same common public duty like a university to confer academic degrees,</strong> which are recognised in the society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The object of the PC Act was not only to prevent the social evil of bribery and corruption, <strong>but also to make the same applicable to individuals who might conventionally not be considered public servants.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Section 2(c)(xi) of the Prevention of Corruption Act</strong> states that a<strong> &ldquo;public servant&rdquo;</strong> includes &ldquo;any person who is a vice&shy;-chancellor or member of any governing body, professor, reader, lecturer or any other teacher or employee, by whatever designation called, of any university.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Deemed University</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The status of deemed-to-be-university is awarded in accordance with the <strong>Section 3 of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ukieri-ugc-higher-education-leadership-development-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.</a></strong></li>
<li>An Institution of Higher Education, other than universities, working at a very high standard in a specific area of study, can be declared by the <strong>Central Government on the advice of the UGC</strong> as an Institution &lsquo;deemed-to-be-university&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Institutions that are &lsquo;deemed-to-be-university&rsquo; <strong>enjoy academic status and privileges of a university.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-corruption-law-covers-deemed-varsities-too-supreme-court/article31457413.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/anti-corruption-law-covers-deemed-universities'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'XI Petersberg Climate Dialogue',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> attended the <strong>11<sup>th</sup> Petersberg Climate Dialogue.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The dialogue was <strong>held virtually for the first time</strong> in the wake of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 </a><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Petersberg Climate Dialogue</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been <strong>hosted by Germany since 2010</strong> to provide a<strong> forum for informal high-level political discussions,</strong> focusing both on <strong>international climate negotiations</strong> and the <strong>advancement of climate action.</strong></li>
<li>The virtual XI Petersberg Climate Dialogue was <strong>co-chaired by Germany and the United Kingdom (UK)</strong> and was attended by about 30 countries including India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The UK is the incoming Presidency of the 26<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties (COP 26) to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change</strong></a> (UNFCCC).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-25-ends-without-concrete-outcome" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COP 25</strong></a> was held at <strong>Madrid, Spain in December 2019.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s dialogue was crucial because of the efforts to contain <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus</strong></a> as well as countries preparing to move into the <strong>implementation phase of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris Agreement 2015</a> in the post-2020 period. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Contributions in the Dialogue:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <strong>expressed solidarity with the world</strong> as it combats the Covid-19 pandemic and<strong> emphasised on adopting more sustainable consumption patterns</strong> in line with the requirement of sustainable lifestyles.</li>
<li>India <strong>suggested having climate technology as an open source</strong> available to all countries at affordable prices.</li>
<li>India<strong> stressed on<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/climate-finance-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> climate finance</a></strong> and urged to plan for 1 trillion USD in grants to the developing world immediately.</li>
<li>India <strong>highlighted its <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/11-07-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nationally Determined Contributions</a></strong> spanning a ten-year time frame and in compliance with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> temperature goal</strong></a> of the Paris Agreement.</li>
<li>India <strong>focused on the opportunity to accelerate renewable energy deployment</strong> and create new green jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Paris Agreement 2015</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Parties to UNFCCC</strong> agreed to <strong>strive to limit the rise in global warming</strong> to well <strong>under 2 degrees Celsius,</strong> over <strong>pre-industrial levels, by 2100,</strong> under Paris Agreement 2015.</li>
<li><strong>Nationally determined contributions</strong> (NDCs) were conceived at the Paris summit which require each Party to prepare, communicate and maintain successive NDCs that it intends to achieve.</li>
<li>Parties shall <strong>pursue domestic mitigation measures,</strong> with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions.</li>
<li>Paris Agreement <strong>replaced</strong> earlier agreement to deal with climate change,<strong> Kyoto Protocol.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Kyoto Protocol</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was an <strong>international agreement</strong> linked to the UNFCCC, which committed its parties by<strong> setting internationally binding emission reduction targets.</strong></li>
<li>It was adopted in <strong>Kyoto, Japan in 1997</strong> and entered into <strong>force in 2005.</strong></li>
<li>It recognized that <strong>developed countries are principally responsible for</strong> the current <strong>high levels of <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenhouse gases</a> (GHG) emissions</strong> in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity.</li>
<li>The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at<strong> COP-7 in Marrakesh, in 2001</strong> and are referred to as the <strong>Marrakesh Accords.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Kyoto Protocol Phase-1 (2005-12)</strong> gave the target of cutting down emissions by 5%.</li>
<li><strong>Phase-2 (2013-20)</strong> gave the target of reducing emissions by at least 18% by the industrialized countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=202630" 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/xi-petersberg-climate-dialogue'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'USCIRF Annual Report-2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)</strong> has downgraded India to the lowest ranking of<strong> &ldquo;Countries of Particular Concern&rdquo; (CPC)</strong> in its 2020 report on religious freedom.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>USCIRF has<strong> placed India alongside</strong> China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. India was categorised as a <strong>&ldquo;Tier 2 country&rdquo;</strong> in last year&rsquo;s listing.</li>
<li>This is the first time since 2004 that India has been placed in the CPC category.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Designation of the CPC is the top tier recommendation by the USCIRF when it comes to <strong>violation of international religious freedom.</strong> It is followed by<strong> Special Watch List Countries</strong> for severe violations.</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India took a sharp downward turn in 2019,</strong> which included specific concerns about the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/citizenship-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Amendment Act</strong></a>, the proposed <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register for Citizens</strong></a>, anti-conversion laws and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li>Indian government used its parliamentary majority to institute <strong>national-level policies violating religious freedom of minorities,</strong> especially for Muslims.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Earlier, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/islamophobia-in-india-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had criticised the Indian government</strong></a> for &ldquo;growing Islamophobia&rdquo; in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps suggested to U.S:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The U.S. government should take stringent action against India under the <strong>&ldquo;International Religious Freedom Act&rdquo; (IRFA).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>International Religious Freedom Act of 1998</strong> was passed to promote religious freedom <strong>as a foreign policy of the United States.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>aims to promote greater religious freedom</strong> in countries which engage in or tolerate violations of religious freedom, and to advocate on the behalf of individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs and activities in foreign countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To impose<strong> targeted sanctions</strong> on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s stand:</strong> The <strong>Indian government has rejected</strong> the USCIRF <strong>report</strong> and termed it<strong> &ldquo;biased and tendentious&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>USCIRF is an <strong>independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission,</strong> dedicated to <strong>defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.</strong></li>
<li>The USCIRF is also an <strong>advisory body</strong> to the US Congress.</li>
<li>USCIRF reviews<strong> the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations</strong> and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.</li>
<li>It is <strong>Headquartered at Washington DC.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uscirf-downgrades-india-in-2020-list/article31457624.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/uscirf-annual-report-2020'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'NITI Aayog Questions GTI',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A report compiled 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> has <strong>questioned the methodology</strong> adopted by the <strong>Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP),</strong> to rank <strong>India as the seventh worst terrorism affected country.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IEP is an <strong>Australian based institute</strong> which releases the<strong> annual Global Terrorism Index (GTI).</strong></li>
<li>It is based on <strong>four parameters:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Number of terrorist incidents per year.</li>
<li>Number of fatalities caused by terrorists per year.</li>
<li>Number of injuries caused by terrorists per year.</li>
<li>Total property damage caused by terrorism per year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>GTI 2019,</strong> India has moved to the<strong> seventh</strong> position from the<strong> previous year&rsquo;s eighth</strong> position.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Countries Ahead:</strong> Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan and Somalia. (top 6).</li>
<li><strong>Countries Behind:</strong> Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Palestine and Lebanon. (at different ranks)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NITI Aayog was being asked to<strong> track various global indices.</strong> The<strong> purpose</strong> was to see:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>How they can <strong>help drive reforms and growth.</strong></li>
<li>Which of these <strong>require some amount of engagement with the publishing agency</strong> to make the indices <strong>more relevant.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2017, India challenged at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Labour Organisation</a> (ILO),</strong> the country&rsquo;s ranking in a <strong>Global Slavery Report</strong> published by the <strong>Walk Free Foundation, Australia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of GTI scores in other rankings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Direct Use:</strong> In <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-peace-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Peace Index</strong></a>, the <strong>Global Slavery Report </strong></li>
<li><strong>Indirect Use:</strong> In the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness and Global Competitiveness Indices</strong></a> and compilation of <strong>Safe Cities Index</strong> by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/urbanisation-trends-eiu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economist Intelligence Unit</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The position in the global indices <strong>impact investments and other global opportunities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Highlights of the Report</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NITI Aayog <strong>questioned the rankings</strong> as well as the <strong>funding of the IEP.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The funding source and the list of donors<strong> has not been revealed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The GTD is based <strong>solely on unclassified media articles,</strong> with more than 100 structured variables such as each attack&rsquo;s location, tactics and weapons, perpetrators, casualties and consequences etc.</li>
<li>The organisation has <strong>only 12 full-time staff, 12 full-time equivalent staff and 6 volunteers.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is something to focus on how the organization is able to annually collect, meaningfully analyse and disseminate data about 163 countries in the Global Terrorism and Peace Indices and provide country wise national peace reports with such <strong>minimal resources.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism of the Methodology:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The GTD <strong>lacks mechanisms to engage with Governments</strong> or to further<strong> classify and verify open source media reports</strong> through Government databases in any of the 163 countries it covers.</li>
<li>The <strong>lack of a universally accepted definition of terrorism</strong> leads to<strong> ambiguity.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-international-convention-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism</strong></a> (CCIT) is pending in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>General Assembly</strong> since 2014.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>definition of mass shootings</strong> used in the GTI is <strong>limited</strong> to<strong> indiscriminate rampages in public places resulting in four or more victims killed by the attacker.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>leaves out lone wolf attacks</strong> which may have lesser fatalities and more injuries, and <strong>attacks foiled by security and intelligence agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The NITI Aayog report concluded that the GTI has <strong>low direct value for policymakers </strong>due to the<strong> absence of a robust data collection and analysis methodology</strong> and any engagement with Governments facing the scourge of terrorism.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Given the reasons, it <strong>cannot be used as an aid to understand and alleviate challenges</strong> to countries from domestic and cross border terrorism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/niti-aayog-questions-australian-institutes-terror-ranking-of-india/article31455989.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/niti-aayog-questions-gti'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'South Asia Seasonal Climate Outlook Forum',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> spatial forecast</strong> which shows wide variations in rainfall across India has been <strong>provided by the South Asia Seasonal Climate Outlook Forum.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>South Asian nations, <strong>supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)</strong>, have been conducting the <strong>SASCOF since 2010.</strong></li>
<li>SASCOF is a consortium of meteorologists and hydrological experts from South Asian countries, including <strong>Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Myanmar.</strong></li>
<li>They work collectively to <strong>issue regional forecasts</strong> and the team <strong>releases forecasts for the Southwest and Northeast monsoon seasons, every year.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The experts usually meet ahead of preparing the forecasts, but it <strong>was called off in 2020 in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-s-preparedness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Meteorological Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an <strong>intergovernmental organization</strong> with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories. <strong>India</strong> is a member.</li>
<li>Established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the <strong>specialized agency of the United Nations</strong> for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.</li>
<li>It is <strong>headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/deccan-farmers-may-face-long-dry-spells-in-june-july-like-last-year/article31456735.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/south-asia-seasonal-climate-outlook-forum'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'No Improvement in Ganga Water Quality',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a report published by the <strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),</strong> the pollution in Ganga has not reduced significantly during lockdown.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The CPCB assessed pollution a week before lockdown and weeks after at 36 locations in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Dissolved Oxygen (DO)</strong> concentration <strong>improved marginally.</strong></li>
<li>There is a <strong>gradual increase in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)</strong> levels towards downstream stretches of the river, with the maximum values in West Bengal.</li>
<li>There is <strong>marginal reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)</strong> levels which is attributed due to the stoppage of industrial activities.</li>
<li>The <strong>pollution in Ganga is highest in Uttar Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Causes of Pollution:</strong> Domestic wastewater from 97 towns situated near river Ganga, and industrial effluents, are the main sources of water pollution in the river.</li>
<li>There was <strong>notable<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/water-quality-improves-in-yamuna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> improvement in water quality in the Yamuna</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Dissolved Oxygen</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Dissolved Oxygen is a <strong>measure of the amount of free oxygen available in river systems.</strong></li>
<li>Presence of <strong>organic and inorganic wastes</strong> in water <strong>decreases</strong> the <strong>dissolved oxygen</strong> content of the water.</li>
<li>A number of <strong>factors</strong> like surface turbulence, photosynthetic activity, O2 consumption by organisms and decomposition of organic matter are the factors which determine the amount of DO present in water.</li>
<li>The <strong>quality of water increases</strong> with an<strong> increase in DO levels.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Biochemical Oxygen Demand</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Water pollution by organic wastes</strong> is measured in terms of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).</li>
<li>BOD is the<strong> amount of dissolved oxygen needed by bacteria</strong> in decomposing the organic wastes present in water. It is expressed in milligrams of oxygen per litre of water.</li>
<li>The<strong> higher value of BOD</strong> indicates<strong> low DO</strong> content of water.</li>
<li>Since BOD is <strong>limited to biodegradable materials,</strong> it is not a reliable method of measuring water pollution.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>COD measures the amount of oxygen in parts per million required to oxidise<strong> organic (biodegradable and non-biodegradable)</strong> and <strong>oxidizable inorganic</strong> compounds in the water sample.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Ganga River System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The headwaters of the Ganga called the<strong> &lsquo;Bhagirathi&rsquo;</strong> is fed by the Gangotri Glacier and joined by the <strong>Alaknanda</strong> at Devprayag in Uttarakhand.</li>
<li>At <strong>Haridwar,</strong> Ganga emerges from the mountains to the plains.</li>
<li>The Ganga is joined by many<strong> tributaries</strong> from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi.</li>
<li>The Ganga bifurcates at Farakka Barrage; the <strong>Bhagirathi-Hooghly</strong> (a distributary) flows southwards through the deltaic plains to the Bay of Bengal. The mainstream flows southwards into Bangladesh and is joined by the Brahmaputra leading to the <strong>Sunderbans Delta.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588151687_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588151687_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="638" height="479" /></strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a<strong> statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in 1974 under the <strong>Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</strong></li>
<li>The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/coronavirus-lockdown-no-improvement-in-ganga-water-quality/article31457326.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-improvement-in-ganga-water-quality'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Centre has decided to utilize the forthcoming monsoon season to expand its water conservation efforts under the <strong>Jal Shakti Abhiyan.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Such interventions would <strong>ensure water source sustainability</strong> in rural areas and would strengthen the ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a> being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong></a> in 2019.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>campaign for water conservation</strong> and<strong> water security</strong> in the country through a collaborative effort of various ministries of the Government of India and state governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>focus</strong> of the campaign is on <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/water-leaving-no-one-behind" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>water stressed</strong></a> districts and blocks.</li>
<li>The <strong>important water conservation interventions</strong> are :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Water conservation and rainwater harvesting,</li>
<li>Renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks,</li>
<li>Reuse of water and recharging of structures,</li>
<li>Watershed development and</li>
<li>Intensive afforestation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Last year Jal Shakti Abhiyan covered 256 water stressed districts across the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>More than seventy- five lakh traditional and other water bodies and tanks were renovated and around a crore water conservation &amp; rainwater harvesting structures were created.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Jal Jeevan Mission, a central government initiative under the <strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti,</strong> aims to ensure access of piped water for every household in rural India.</li>
<li>Government of India has <strong>restructured and subsumed </strong>the<strong> National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) into Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong> to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household i.e., <strong>Har Ghar Nal Se Jal (HGNSJ).</strong></li>
<li>The Jal Jeevan Mission is <strong>based on various water conservation efforts</strong> like point recharge, desilting of minor irrigation tanks, use of greywater (wastewater from sinks, kitchen) for agriculture and source sustainability. It will be based on a <strong>community approach</strong> to water.</li>
<li>The Prime Minister has appealed to all states to generate maximum community participation in the form of<strong> &lsquo;Jan Andolan&rsquo;</strong> to achieve the target of functional household tap connection by 2024.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1619025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-abhiyan-1'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Raja Ravi Varma',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>29<sup>th</sup> April</strong> is the<strong> birth anniversary</strong> of the famed <strong>Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma</strong> (1848-1906).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He is remembered for giving Indians their western, classical representations of Hindu gods and goddesses.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Early days and training:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Varma was born into<strong> an aristocratic family in Travancore (Kerala).</strong></li>
<li>At the age of 14, Varma was <strong>patronised by Ayilyam Thirunal,</strong> the then <strong>ruler of Travancore,</strong> and went on to receive training in <strong>watercolours from Ramaswamy Naidu, the royal painter. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Contributions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Made around <strong>7,000 paintings.</strong></li>
<li>Apart from painting Hindu mythological figures, Varma also made <strong>portraits of many Indians as well as Europeans.</strong></li>
<li>Varma worked on both <strong>portrait and landscape paintings,</strong> and is considered<strong> among the first Indian artists to use oil paints.</strong></li>
<li>He continues to be regarded as the most important representative of the <strong>Europeanised school of painting in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lithographic press:</strong> He mastered the<strong> reproduction of his work</strong> on the lithographic press&ndash; through which his paintings spread far and wide. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lithographic press is a method of printing based on the principle that <strong>oil and water do not mix.</strong></li>
<li>Paintings were earlier sent to Germany and Austria to be lithographed.</li>
<li>Varma set up his <strong>own printing press in Maharashtra &mdash;</strong> first in Ghatkopar and eventually in Lonavala in 1894.</li>
<li>Through his printing press, Varma&rsquo;s<strong> paintings travelled into the prayer and living rooms of working-class homes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Famous works:</strong> Damayanti Talking to a Swan, Shakuntala Looking for Dushyanta, Nair Lady Adorning Her Hair, and Shantanu and Matsyagandha.</li>
<li><strong>Awards and Honours:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1904, the British colonial government awarded Varma with the<strong> Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal.</strong></li>
<li>In 2013, a <strong>crater on the planet Mercury</strong> was named in his honour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588143338_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588143338_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="454" height="300" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/raja-ravi-varma-the-painter-who-helped-indians-bring-their-gods-home-6384125/" 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/raja-ravi-varma'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Panchayati Raj Institutions and Participative Democracy',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <strong><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/panchayats-as-instruments-of-social-and-economic-progress/article31421460.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panchayats as instruments of social and economic progress</a></strong> published in The Hindu Business Line on 24/04/2020. It evaluates the functioning of the panchayat raj institution on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day.</p>
</div>
<p>The <strong>National Panchayati Raj Day</strong> is celebrated every year on April 24. The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj Institutions</strong></a> play a major role in the socio and economic development of people at the grassroot level.</p>
<p><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI)</strong></a> as units of local government have been in existence in India for a long time, in one form or another. However, it was only in 1992, on the recommendations of the <strong>LM Singhvi Committee (1986),</strong> that it was granted constitutional status as the third level of India&rsquo;s federal democracy through the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 73<sup>rd</sup> Amendment Act.</strong></a></p>
<p>The primary objective of establishing the third tier of the government (PRI) is to increase <strong>democratic participation,</strong> to better <strong>articulate local needs and priorities,</strong> and <strong>to ensure a more efficient use of local resources</strong> along with greater accountability and transparency.</p>
<p>However, this tier of the government is marred by many problems that need to be sorted out.</p>
<h3>Significance of Panchayati Raj Institution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Promote Democratic Representation</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PRI system generally consists of three level: Gram Panchayat at the village level, Block Panchayat or Panchayat Samiti at the intermediate level and Zilla Panchayat at the district level</li>
<li>This scheme of the PRI system increases cooperation among people, democratic participation and decentralization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effective and Efficient Planning</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country have been entrusted to provide basic services in the villages and plan for local economic development.</li>
<li>The Gram Sabha (GS) discusses the development work plans of the GP called <strong>Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP)</strong> and the elected representatives execute the plans. Formulation of GPDP improves efficiency of public services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ensures Good Governance</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Consensus oriented&rsquo; and &lsquo;Participation&rsquo;</strong> are two important pillars of <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/good-governance-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Good Governance</strong></a> and the PRI helps in ensuring both these pillars.</li>
<li>For example, GS is a channel to include the less privileged section of society and ensure their participation in the village level governance wherein they can advocate their developmental aspirations.</li>
<li>This bottom-up approach is meant to reflect the needs of various stakeholders</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gram sabha</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gram Sabha is a body consisting of all persons whose names are included in the electoral rolls for the Panchayat at the village level. The term is defined in the Constitution of India under <strong>Article 243(b).</strong></li>
<li>The Constitution mentions that Gram Sabha exercises such powers and performs such functions at the village level as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.</li>
<li>All eligible voters of the village can participate in the Gram Sabha.</li>
<li>The decisions taken by the Gram Sabha cannot be annulled by any other body except itself.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges With the PRI System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Effective Devolution</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Local government is a state subject in the Constitution, and consequently, the devolution of power and authority to panchayats has been left to the discretion of states.</li>
<li>Some of the important subjects like fuel and fodder, non-conventional energy sources, rural electrification including distribution of electricity, non-formal education, small scale industries including food processing industries, technical training, and vocational education have not been devolved in certain states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Insufficient Grants/Funds</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite the constitutional empowerment, the local bodies face problems of <strong>inadequate finance</strong> to carry out various activities assigned to them.</li>
<li>Transfers made through the State Finance Commissions are also meagre in most States.</li>
<li>In most of the states, most of the GPs are found reluctant to raise their own source of revenue (OSR). Only a few GPs are able to generate OSR in the form of tax or non-tax revenue by renting shops, house tax and clean water fee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Sarpanch Pati</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On the Panchayati Raj Day in 2015, the Prime Minister called for an end to &lsquo;Sarpanch Pati culture&rsquo;. But it is still very much prevalent in the society, mainly due to gender biases, women illiteracy and patriarchal society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Infrastructural Challenges</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some of the GPs do not have their own building and they share space with schools, anganwadi centre and other places. Some have their own building but without basic facilities like toilets, drinking water, and electricity connection.</li>
<li>While GPs have internet connections, they are not functional in many cases. For any data entry purposes, panchayat officials have to visit Block Development offices which delay the work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Support Staff</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Standing Committee on Rural Development (Chair: Dr. P Venugopal) in July 2018 observed that there is severe lack of support staff and personnel in panchayats, such as secretary, junior engineers, computer operators, and data entry operators. This affects their functioning and delivery of services by them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Convergence of Various Government Programmes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a clear lack of convergence of various development programmes of the Centre and state governments.</li>
<li>For example, roads in two different patches are constructed utilising two different sources of funding (e.g. Fourteenth Finance Commission and MPLAD), but it is difficult to find one large activity with funding from multiple sources.</li>
<li>Different guidelines by different departments are cited as a major constraint for lack of convergence of activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps to be taken</h3>
<p>The recommendations of the <strong>6<sup>th</sup> report of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Administrative Reform Commission</strong> (ARC) can be implemented for a better and effective functioning of the Panchayati Raj institutions.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genuine fiscal federalism</strong> i.e. fiscal autonomy accompanied by fiscal accountability can provide a long term solution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2<sup>nd</sup> ARC had recommended that there should be a clear-cut demarcation of functions of each tier of the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> 2<sup>nd</sup> ARC</strong> also recommended that state Governments should encourage local bodies to <strong>outsource specific functions</strong> to public or private agencies, as may be appropriate, through enabling guidelines and support</li>
<li><strong>The Comprehensive and holistic training</strong> requires expertise and resources from various subject matter specific training institutes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can be best achieved by &lsquo;networking&rsquo; of institutions concerned with various subjects such as financial management, rural development, disaster management and general management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Audit committees</strong> may be constituted by the State Governments at the district level to exercise oversight of the integrity of financial information, adequacy of internal controls, compliance with the applicable laws and ethical conduct of all persons involved in local bodies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Some Positive Steps Taken By Finance Commissions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the context, the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) has substantially increased the grants to the local bodies for the period year 2015-16 to 2019-20</li>
<li>The grants provided are intended to be used to support and strengthen the delivery of important basic public services.</li>
<li>Also, the 15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission has further increased the grants in its interim report for year 2020-21 for rural and urban bodies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The governments should make adequate efforts to devolve funds, functions, and functionaries to panchayats, so that they can effectively plan economic development and social justice schemes. An empowered PRI is the foundation to an ideal &lsquo;Gram Swaraj&rsquo; as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>e-GramSwaraj- A Simplified Work Based Accounting Application for Panchayati Raj.</p>
<p>To strengthen e-Governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the country, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has launched eGramSwaraj, a user friendly web-based portal. eGramSwaraj aims to bring in better transparency in decentralised planning, progress reporting and work-based accounting.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588075313_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1588075313_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="414" height="252" /></a></p>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e6eeff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss how an empowered Panchayati Raj institution is a major intervention to facilitate good governance.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dnyZYurc0vI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/safe-return-the-hindu-editorial-on-migrant-worker-distress/article31439685.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Safe return: On migrant worker distress&rdquo;</a></strong> which was published in The Hindu on 27/04/2020.</p>',
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		'articles.addedby' => 'integer',
		'addedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles.updatedby' => 'integer',
		'updatedby' => 'integer',
		'articles__added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.added' => 'timestamp',
		'added' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles.modified' => 'timestamp',
		'modified' => 'timestamp',
		'articles__whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles.whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'whatsnewid' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'display_printpdf' => 'integer',
		'articles__display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_comments' => 'integer',
		'display_comments' => 'integer',
		'articles__pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles.pdf_name' => 'string',
		'pdf_name' => 'string',
		'articles__display_archive' => 'integer',
		'articles.display_archive' => 'integer',
		'display_archive' => 'integer'
	],
	'decorators' => (int) 0,
	'executed' => false,
	'hydrate' => true,
	'buffered' => true,
	'formatters' => (int) 0,
	'mapReducers' => (int) 0,
	'contain' => [],
	'matching' => [],
	'extraOptions' => [],
	'repository' => object(App\Model\Table\ArticlesTable) {}

}
$page = (int) 84
$search = 'class'
$totalPages = (float) 275
$title = 'Search'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

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

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