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UNGA Resolution on Covid-19

Why in News Recently, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution, calling for global cooperation to ensure ‘equitable and...

22 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Human Activities Responsible for Zoonoses

Why in News According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), 60% of human infectious diseases originate from animals. Key Points Zoonoses It...

22 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Earth Day

Why in News Every year, April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day to raise public awareness about the environment and inspire people to save and protect...

22 Apr 2020 News Analysis
India’s Urban Centers and Infections

This article is based on Skewed Urbanisation and the Contagion which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 18/04/2020. It talks about...

21 Apr 2020 News Editorials
SWAYAM and SWAYAM Prabha

Why in News Recently, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development held a detailed review of the National online education platform SWAYAM and...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Daporijo Bridge

Why in News The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed the Daporijo bridge over Subansiri river in Arunachal Pradesh in a record span of just...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Unified Commanders Conference

Why in News The Unified Commanders Conference (UCC) which was scheduled to be held on 22nd-23rd April, 2020 has been postponed in the wake of the...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
The Big Picture - Road Ahead for Tourism & Hospitality Industry

The cascading effect of the global Coronavirus pandemic has crippled down the tourism and hospitality industry of the country at an astonishing...

21 Apr 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Water Quality Improves in Yamuna

Why in News According to a report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the quality of water in the river Yamuna has improved along the...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
India’s New FDI Norms Violate WTO: China

Recently, China has accused India of violating the World Trade Organization WTO’s “principle of non-discrimination” after the India...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Civil Services Day

Every year, 21st April is celebrated as the Civil Services Day by the Government of India. It is celebrated as an occasion for the civil servants...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Social Vaccine

Why in News The Union Health Minister has recently asserted that lockdowns and social distancing are the most effective “social...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Currency Exchange Rate Index

Why in News The rupee has been losing value (or depreciating or weakening) against the dollar over the past few months. The exchange rate of...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Blood Shortage Due to Lockdown

Why in News Due to Covid-19 lockdown hospitals across India are facing acute shortage of blood and have started contacting individual blood donors...

21 Apr 2020 News Analysis
New FDI Rule

Why in News The Government of India has made its approval for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by neighbouring countries mandatory. This revised...

20 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Review of FDI Norms

This article is based on “Resetting balance”, “India is right to impose barriers on China. But there is a price tag”,...

20 Apr 2020 News Editorials
Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Jal Shakti

Important Schemes and Policies Ministry of Jal Shakti The government has created a new Ministry called ‘Jal Shakti’ after merging...

20 Apr 2020 Paper 2
Lithium Abundance in Interstellar Space

Why in News Recently, the researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have discovered hundreds of Lithium (Li) rich giant stars which...

20 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Temporary Ration Cards to Access PDS Foodgrain

Why in News Recently, the Pune Zilla Parishad has decided to provide temporary ‘ration cards’ to more than 80,000 undocumented people in...

20 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Rise in Digital Transactions

Why in News According to the recent Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the month of March 2020 (when Covid-19 lockdown began) saw a sharp rise in...

20 Apr 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'UNGA Resolution on Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></a> has adopted a resolution, calling for global cooperation to ensure <strong>&lsquo;equitable and fair&rsquo;</strong> access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment for all nations to battle the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UNGA resolution which was <strong>drafted by Mexico</strong> was adopted through consensus.</li>
<li>The resolution: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Prevent any undue stockpiling</strong> of essential medical supplies.</li>
<li><strong>Recognised the importance of international cooperation</strong> and <strong>effective multilateralism</strong> to ensure that all States have in place effective national protective measures, access to and flow of vital medical supplies, medicines and vaccines.</li>
<li>Encourages member states<strong> to work in partnership</strong> with all relevant stakeholders to increase research and development funding for vaccines and medicines.</li>
<li>Called to<strong> bolster coordination with the private sector</strong> towards rapid development, manufacturing and distribution of diagnostics, antiviral medicines, personal protective equipment and vaccines, adhering to the objectives of efficacy, safety, equity, accessibility, and affordability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Earlier, the United Nations General Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution, <strong>calling for intensified international cooperation</strong> to defeat the pandemic that is causing severe disruption to societies and economies.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The General Assembly is the <strong>main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.</strong></li>
<li><strong>All 193 Member States</strong> of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.</li>
<li>Each year, in<strong> September,</strong> the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in <strong>New York</strong> for the <strong>annual General Assembly session,</strong> and general debate, which many heads of state attend and address.</li>
<li>Decisions on important questions, such as those on<strong> peace and security, admission of new members</strong> and budgetary matters, require<strong> a two-thirds majority</strong> of the General Assembly.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Decisions on other questions are <strong>by simple majority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The President</strong> of the General Assembly is elected each year by assembly to serve a one-year term of office.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/un-calls-for-equitable-and-fair-access-to-medicines-vaccines-in-covid-19-fight-6372883/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
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		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Human Activities Responsible for Zoonoses',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cms-cop-13-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Environment Programme (UNEP)</strong></a><strong>, 60% of human infectious diseases originate from animals.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Zoonoses</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the name given to <strong>diseases transmitted from animals to humans.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>based on the Greek words</strong> for &ldquo;animal&rdquo; and &ldquo;sickness&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Examples: Rabies</strong>&nbsp;(rabid dogs), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-death-in-democratic-republic-of-congo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ebola</strong></a> (fruit bats), West Nile virus (infected mosquitoes), the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika virus</strong></a> (infected Aedes species mosquito)&shy;&ndash;and the most recent - the novel coronavirus <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 (bat/pangolin)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Related to Zoonoses</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On an average,<strong> one new infectious disease emerges in humans every four months.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A study by American researchers that was completed before the new coronavirus outbreak identifies <strong>rodents, primates and bats as hosts of three-quarters of viruses transmitted to humans.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Domestic animals</strong> also carry about<strong> 50% of the zoonoses</strong> identified.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2016, the UNEP pointed out that <strong>75% of all emerging infectious diseases</strong> (such as Ebola, HIV, avian flu, Zika, or SARS) in humans are zoonotic (pertaining to zoonoses).</li>
<li>According to it, these zoonotic diseases are<strong> closely interlinked with the health of ecosystems.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Deaths due to Zoonoses:</strong> Beyond the current outbreak of coronavirus, the <strong>Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)</strong> estimates that zoonoses <strong>kill some 700,000 people a year.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changed Ecosystems</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Zoonoses are opportunistic and thrive where there are changes in the <strong>environment,</strong> changes in <strong>animal or human populations</strong> that serve as hosts for certain pathogens, or <strong>changes in the pathogen</strong> (disease causing microorganisms), itself.</li>
<li>In the last century, a combination of <strong>population growth and reduction in ecosystems and biodiversity</strong> has culminated in unprecedented opportunities for pathogens to pass between animals and people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Humans-led Changes in the Environment</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>By altering land use&ndash;</strong>for settlement, agriculture, logging, extractive or other industries and their associated infrastructure&ndash;humans fragment and encroach into animal habitats.</li>
<li><strong>Destruction of natural buffer zones</strong> that would normally separate humans from animals, thus creating opportunities for pathogens to spill over from wild animals to people.</li>
<li><strong>Climate change&shy;&shy;&ndash;&nbsp;</strong>primarily the result of greenhouse gas emissions&ndash;exacerbates the situation. Changes in temperature, humidity and seasonality directly<strong> affect the survival of microbes in the environment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Proximity to different species</strong> through wet markets (live animal market) or consumption of wild animals can also facilitate animal to human transmission.</li>
<li><strong>Resistance to Drugs:</strong> One example of this is the emerging resistance of pathogens to antimicrobial drugs&ndash;such as antibiotics, antifungals, antiretrovirals and antimalarials&ndash;often resulting from the misuse of the drugs, either by people or in veterinary medicine.</li>
<li><strong>Domesticated animals</strong> are often a &ldquo;bridge&rdquo; between pathogens from the wild and humans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Action</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNEP, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and hundreds of partners across the planet have launched a 10-year effort to prevent, halt and <strong>reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Known as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030,</strong> this globally-coordinated response to the loss and degradation of habitats will focus on building political will and capacity to restore humankind&rsquo;s relation with nature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Addressing</strong> zoonotic disease emergence requires addressing its root cause&ndash;primarily, the<strong> impact of human activities on ecosystems.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ecosystems are inherently resilient and adaptable and, by supporting diverse species, they help to regulate diseases. The <strong>more biodiverse an ecosystem</strong> is, the <strong>more difficult</strong> it is for one pathogen to spread rapidly or dominate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to recognise the close relationships between human, animal and environmental health. It calls for collaborative, multisectoral, transdisciplinary and international efforts, as encapsulated by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/onehealth-approach" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>One Health approach</strong></a>. At last, a <strong>strong will</strong> is necessary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IPBES is an <strong>independent intergovernmental body</strong> established to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.</li>
<li>It was <strong>established in Panama City (US),</strong> in April 2012.</li>
<li>It is <strong>not a United Nations body.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587542873_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587542873_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-humans-to-blame-for-pandemic/article31399831.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Earth Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every year, <strong>April 22</strong> is celebrated as <strong>Earth Day</strong> to raise public awareness about the environment and inspire people to save and protect it.</li>
<li>The year 2020 marks 50 years since the start of this <strong>modern environmental movement in 1970.</strong></li>
<li>The theme of Earth Day 2020 is<strong> &ldquo;Climate Action&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the <strong>Earth Day Network</strong> and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.</li>
<li>The idea of commemorating such a day was propounded by<strong> Gaylord Nelson,</strong> an American environmentalist and politician.</li>
<li>The Earth Day also recognizes a <strong>collective responsibility,</strong> as called for in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>1992 Rio Declaration (Earth Summit)</strong></a>, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.</li>
<li>The <strong>Paris Agreement</strong> was also opened for signature on <strong>22 April 2016 &ndash; Earth Day &ndash; at UN Headquarters in New York.</strong></li>
<li>World Earth Day encourages people to take more steps for the protection of nature and to thank mother earth for the rich environment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>World Earth day 2020: Digital Celebration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Google marked the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Earth Day with a special interactive doodle dedicated to one of the smallest and most critical organisms -<strong> the bees.</strong></li>
<li>As people have to stay inside their homes amid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 lockdown</strong></a>, World Earth Day 2020 is all set to be celebrated digitally. People who plan on participating can join<strong> &rsquo;24 hours of action&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>One can also take 22 challenges that include measuring your carbon footprint, doing a plastic audit, skype a scientist, work for the earth, zero waste for one day and consume 1 meal per day this week on a plant-based diet.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Earth Day Network</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earth Day Network is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.</li>
<li>EDN main office is located in Washington DC, USA.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>22 March: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-water-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Water Day</strong></a></li>
<li>22 April: Earth Day</li>
<li>22 May : <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-biodiversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Biodiversity Day</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-hour" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Earth Hour</strong></a> was observed on 28<sup>th</sup> March, 2020. It encourages people to switch off the lights from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm as per their local time.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/google-doodle-celebrates-bees-on-earth-day/article31402205.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'India’s Urban Centers and Infections',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/16/commentary/skewed-urbanisation-and-contagion.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Skewed Urbanisation and the Contagion</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 18/04/2020. It talks about susceptibility of India's urban areas to infections because of the dearth of healthcare infrastructure, unplanned and market-driven urbanisation.</p>
</div>
<p>Global evidence pertaining to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, suggest that with more opportunities for contact and exposure, <strong>urban areas are more susceptible to the infection.</strong></p>
<p>The spread of infectious diseases, especially in the urban areas, cannot be explained as a biological process only, but many other factors contribute to the spread of the infection. For example, mobility of people, physical connecti&shy;vity and living conditions in the areas are critical determinants in the spread of contagious diseases</p>
<p>Moreover, India&rsquo;s urbanization is marred by challenges like haphazard planning, lack of basic civic amenities and healthcare. This dismal state of India&rsquo;s urban centres makes them more susceptible to infections. This can be seen in the spread of Covid-19 in Indian cities like New Delhi, Pune, Mumbai etc.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Urbanisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The process of urbanisation refers to a societal transformation taking place with the increased mobility and settling of people in urban surroundings.</li>
<li>It is a process of geographic transformation that may be explained by the migration of people from rural to urban, suburban and peri-urban areas with the perception of a better quality of life that includes better employment, education, healthcare, transportation, communication, housing, entertainment, etc.</li>
<li>In India, 34% of the total population is urban. According to the 2011 Census, the geographical areas with a minimum population of 5,000 or a population density of 400 per square kilometre (km) area, in which 75% of the male population are engaged in non-agricultural activities, are identified as urban.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Vicious Cycle Between India's Urbanization and Infection</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mobility driven Contamination:</strong> Millions of passengers use local train services for daily commuting in the metro cities of India. Moreover, these coaches travel with a passenger density that is much higher than the recommended density.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lower operating speed and the alarmingly higher passenger density in public transport are the major reasons behind the <strong>higher probability of contact-based infection</strong> due to increased proximity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Problem of Slums:</strong> A key aspect of the urban population distribution in India is its non-uniformity across space.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, in Mumbai and Kolkata, 54% and 32% of the city population, respectively, are in slum areas where the actual population density is much higher than the average population density of these cities.</li>
<li>Infection can easily and rapidly spread in the slum due to high pop density and lack of proper living conditions and den to the other parts of the cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor Civic Amenities:</strong> Indian cities have developed skewed distributions of urban essential services. For example, many of the city slums have inadequate pipeline water supply and sanitation facilitates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This unhygienic living condition acts as a breeding ground for many infections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dismal State of Public Health Infrastructure:</strong> Despite the huge growth in urban population density during the last two decades, there has been no commensurate improvement in the healthcare infrastructure.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended doctor&ndash;patient ratio of 1: 1,000, India currently exhibits a ratio of 1: 10,189, thereby indicating a shortfall of about 6 lakh doctors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unplanned and Haphazard Planning:</strong> The buildings are allowed to be built first and then the other basic municipal services follow from the demand generated from the increased population density, without any feasibility study being conducted. This makes urban growth in India to be predominantly unplanned and market-driven.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, the latest development of most of the cities in India is occurring around the peripheral areas either by filling up low marshy lands and water bodies, or through deforestation.</li>
<li>This makes the new human occupant exposed to the diseases that are vector-borne (e.g. Dengue and Chikengunia).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Level of Pollution:</strong> The growing rate of air pollution due to vehicular traffic and huge construction and demolitions waste increase morbidity amongst the people living the cities. This makes them more vulnerable to infections.</li>
<li><strong>Prevalence of Individualism In Urban Areas:</strong> The self-centric urban life, with a higher access to state power, often makes a section of the people move in a &ldquo;go as you like&rdquo; manner.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, absence or little presence of community life makes it easier for people to be less accountable to the society, thereby posing a challenge in mitigating the disaster of infectious disease at the community level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for revision of the <strong>land use plan</strong> corresponding to the city characteristics to be made with the long-term perspectives.</li>
<li>Urban centers should be made financial autonomous, so that they can take care of maintenance of basic civic amenities and cleanliness.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this pursuit, the idea of municipal bonds should be realised in major urban centers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to check blind migration towards cities, there is a need for providing employment opportunities in rural areas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shyama-prasad-mukherji-rurban-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission</strong></a> is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AMRUT Mission</strong></a> along with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Smart Cities Mission</strong></a> lays major emphasis on institutional reforms which aim to improve governance and institutional capacities of Urban local bodies..</li>
<li>There is a need for national urbanisation policy, that should address the problems associated with slums.</li>
<li><strong>Mission Indradhanush 2.0</strong> reiterates India's commitment to vaccines for all, as it aims to achieve 90% Full Immunisation Coverage with focus towards districts and urban areas with persistent low levels of immunization.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p><strong>Urban reform p</strong>rocess in India started in early 1990s with the enactment of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. Though progress has been made in developing the framework for reform linked investment in urban infrastructure, a lot needs to be done to make Indian cities more sustainable.</p>
<p>In this context, India&rsquo;s future urban strategy should improve urban governance, delivery of public services, inter-government transfers and capacity building.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587471528_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587471528_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="774" height="1407" /></a></p>
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<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #dce5fc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>India&rsquo;s urban centers are more susceptible to infectious diseases. Discuss</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rV9ANl3JkPw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Follow editorial analysis on our youtube channel. This editorial is based on <strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/economy-in-lockdown-the-hindu-editorial-on-indias-worst-case-scenario-post-lockdown/article31383177.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Economy in Lockdown&rdquo;</a></strong>, published in The Hindu on April 20, 2020.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-urban-centers-and-infections'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'SWAYAM and SWAYAM Prabha',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development held a detailed <strong>review</strong> of the National online education platform<strong> SWAYAM</strong> and the 32 Direct-to-Home (DTH) Television Education Channels <strong>SWAYAM Prabha.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Translation to Regional Language:</strong> All the SWAYAM Courses and SWAYAM Prabha videos to be translated to ten regional languages in a time-bound manner.</li>
<li><strong>Acceptance of SWAYAM Credits:</strong> It has also been decided that <strong>University Grants Commission (UGC)</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-of-aicte" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)</strong> </a>will follow up with Universities and institutions to accept SWAYAM credits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will enable students to do part of their course through Massive open online courses (MOOC) and part in various colleges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Incentives to Faculties:</strong> To encourage faculty to provide more courses under SWAYAM, it has been decided to provide appropriate incentives for their career.</li>
</ul>
<h3>SWAYAM</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM),</strong> was launched on July 9, 2017 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development<strong> to provide one integrated platform and portal for online courses.</strong></li>
<li>This covers all higher education subjects and skill sector courses.</li>
<li>The objective is <strong>to ensure that every student in the country has access to the best quality higher education at the affordable cost.</strong></li>
<li>Academicians from hundreds of institutions throughout the country are involved in developing &amp; delivering <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/massive-open-online-courses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Massive open online courses (MOOCs)</strong></a> through SWAYAM in almost all disciplines from senior schooling to Post Graduation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>SWAYAM Prabha</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Human Resources Development</strong> to provide <strong>32 High Quality Educational Channels</strong> through DTH across the length and breadth of the country on 24X7 basis.</li>
<li>It has <strong>curriculum-based course content</strong> covering diverse disciplines.</li>
<li>This is primarily <strong>aimed</strong> at making <strong>quality learning resources</strong> accessible to remote areas where internet availability is still a challenge.</li>
<li>The DTH channels are using the <strong>GSAT-15 satellite</strong> for programme telecasts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>University Grants Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It came into existence on 28<sup>th</sup> December, <strong>1953</strong> and became a <strong>statutory</strong> body by an <strong>Act of Parliament in 1956,</strong> for the <strong>coordination, determination and maintenance of standards</strong> of teaching, examination and research in university education.</li>
<li>The head office of the UGC is located in<strong> New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=202421" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swayam-and-swayam-prabha'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Daporijo Bridge',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Border Roads Organisation (BRO)</strong> constructed the <strong>Daporijo bridge</strong> over <strong>Subansiri river</strong> in <strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong> in a<strong> record span of just 27 days.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587464020_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587464020_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bridge is of utmost importance in strategic connectivity as it <strong>links roads leading upto the Line of Actual Control (LAC)</strong> between India and China.</li>
<li><strong>Subansiri River</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Subansiri River<strong> (gold river),</strong> originates in the <strong>Tibet Plateau</strong> and <strong>enters India through Miri hills in Arunachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>largest tributary of Brahmaputra River.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Border Roads Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>conceived and raised in 1960</strong> by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for coordinating the speedy development of a network of roads in the North and the North Eastern border regions of the country.</li>
<li>It works under the administrative control of the <strong>Ministry of Defence.</strong></li>
<li>BRO is regarded as a symbol of nation-building, national integration and an inseparable component in maintaining the security and integrity of the country.</li>
<li>It has diversified into a large spectrum of construction and development works comprising airfields, building projects, defence works and tunneling and has endeared itself to the people.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/key-bridge-in-arunachal-completed-in-record-time/article31392370.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/daporijo-bridge'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Unified Commanders Conference',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Unified Commanders Conference</strong> (UCC) which was scheduled to be held on 22<sup>nd</sup>-23<sup>rd</sup> April, 2020 has been postponed in the wake of the<strong> Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> annual meeting of three armed force services</strong> (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the <strong>Ministry of Defence</strong> to plan India&rsquo;s <strong>long term security.</strong></li>
<li>It provides a <strong>platform for discussions at the apex Level on all the Joint Issues</strong> and <strong>enables stock taking of the previous year</strong> and <strong>planning the way ahead for the next year.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>chaired by the Defence Minister, Minister of State (Defence)</strong> and also <strong>attended by</strong> the ministry top officials,<strong> National Security Advisor</strong> (NSA), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/chief-of-defence-staff-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chief of Defence Staff</strong></a> (CDS), service chiefs and senior officers of the three services.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Security Advisor</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Security Advisor <strong>acts as the secretary of the National Security Council (NSC)</strong> of India and is also the <strong>primary advisor to the Prime Minister.</strong></li>
<li>The current National Security Advisor is<strong> Ajit Doval.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Security Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>three-tiered organization</strong> that <strong>oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern.</strong></li>
<li>India formed it in<strong> 1999,</strong> where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon by it.</li>
<li>NSC acts as the<strong> apex body, headed by the Prime Minister.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It operates <strong>within the executive office of the Prime Minister of India,</strong> liaising between the government&rsquo;s executive branch and the intelligence services, advising leadership on intelligence and security issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs and Finance are its <strong>members.</strong></li>
<li>NSC comprises of the three tier structure- <strong>Strategic Policy Group</strong> (SPG), the <strong>National Security Advisory Board</strong> (NSAB) and the <strong>National Security Council Secretariat.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SPG chaired by the Cabinet Secretary is the principal forum for <strong>inter-ministerial coordination and integration</strong> of the relevant inputs.</li>
<li>The NSAB <strong>undertakes long-term analysis and provides perspectives</strong> on issues of national security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unified-commanders-conference'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture - Road Ahead for Tourism & Hospitality Industry',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tSOnWfKrRPU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The cascading effect of the global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronavirus pandemic</strong></a> has crippled down the tourism and hospitality industry of the country at an astonishing pace. According to the media reports, the <strong>Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA)</strong> in India have come down by around 67% annually in the January&ndash;March quarter, while for the domestic tourists, the figure lowered by nearly 40%.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Coronavirus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronavirus</strong></a> is a large family of viruses that are often the source of <strong>respiratory infections,</strong> causing illness ranging from the common cold to severe diseases like <strong>Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>&lsquo;Corona&rsquo; is a Latin word which means<strong> &lsquo;Crown&rsquo;.</strong> It is named so, because of the presence of <strong>crown-like spikes</strong> on its surface. Under an electron microscope, the image of the virus looks like a<strong> solar corona.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is an <strong>RNA (RiboNucleic Acid) virus</strong> because of which it <strong>mutates at a faster rate.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronaviruses</strong></a> are<strong> &lsquo;zoonotic&rsquo;,</strong> i.e., they are transmitted between<strong> animals and people</strong> (spread from non-human animals (usually vertebrates) to humans).</li>
<li><strong>Incubation Period of Covid-19:</strong> Amount of time between catching the infection and onset of symptoms ranges from <strong>1-12 days</strong> (usually within 5-6 days).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Present State of Tourism and Hospitality Industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of Tourism:</strong> It can be seen in terms of getting foreign exchange, creating employment (directly and indirectly, such as, for service providers, taxi drivers, etc.), building character, tolerance, awareness, etc.</li>
<li><strong>World GDP:</strong> 10% of the world&rsquo;s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) comes from <strong>coastal tourism.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Contribution in India:</strong> India is one of the most digitally advanced traveller nations in terms of <strong>digital tools</strong> being used for <strong>planning, booking and experiencing</strong> a journey.</li>
<li><strong>Job Creation:</strong> These sectors are one of the crucial sectors for the Indian economy which are closely linked to<strong> employment and job creation.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>travel and tourism sector</strong> alone accounted for <strong>9.2%</strong> of India&rsquo;s GDP in 2018 and generated <strong>26.7 million jobs</strong> in that year.</li>
<li>12.75% of the total jobs in the country (directly or indirectly) come from the tourism and hospitality sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Covid-19</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tourism, hospitality and transportation are the three crucial sectors which have come to a standstill because of the <strong>complete lockdown of international borders</strong> and borders within the country and the states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, it has also affected<strong> shipping, freight &amp; container services</strong> along with the industrial, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-cruise-ship-diamond-princess-coronavirus-sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>education sector</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The events in the past like tsunamis, 9/11 attack in USA (2001), subprime crisis (2008), etc., impacted one part or region of the world, but this is for the first time that the entire world has come under the influence of a viral pandemic.</li>
<li>Since the lockdown has been announced in India, the<strong> revenues</strong> from the travel and tourism sector have almost come down to<strong> zero.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even, internationally, after the shutdown was announced in New York, London, South Africa etc., the hospitality business suffered a setback.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Tourism creates a large number of <strong>semi-skilled jobs</strong> for the local population in not only local hotels and catering trades, but also in other fields like transport, retailing, heritage interpretation, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The hospitality sector is entirely dependent on travel, trade, and tourism for its sustenance. The massive spate of cancellations in the recent weeks have largely eroded the ability of hotels across India to remain operational (without piling up worrisome losses).</li>
<li>It is believed that around 70% out of a total 5.5 crore workforce could get unemployed due to this lockdown. <strong>Job losses and layoffs</strong> have already begun throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Underlying Challenges &amp; Government Interventions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Even though the share of the hospitality and tourism sector in the total GDP is around 8-9%, the biggest impact due to the Coronavirus pandemic is expected on the<strong> jobs.</strong> Job losses or the salary cuts pose a serious concern.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Tourism</strong> is closely working with the industry in order to deal with the issue of survival, payment of salaries in the time of liquidity crunch, etc.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Finance</strong> is also taking into account the current situation, so that appropriate relief measures could be undertaken in a time-bound manner. For instance, the ministry recently announced the moratorium on the term loans, liquidity being given, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, some issues need urgent redressal, like, how to give the fixed-term loans in a better way, provide liquidity and support to the unorganized workforce, EPF (Employees' Provident Fund) and ESI (Employees' State Insurance) benefits, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Role:</strong> These sectors can play a major national role where hospital bases/quarantine centres can be set up in hotels or in the railway coaches.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, certain measures have to be kept in mind while using them for quarantine like, the air conditioning duct in them can become a carrier of the virus thereby <strong>protective gears</strong> have to be used.</li>
<li>Proper training needs to be given to the hotel staff in order to carefully deal with &amp; dispose off the medical waste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Keeping Functional:</strong> Once the enterprise shuts down, it becomes difficult to revive it. Hence, it is better to keep it in functional mode, so that the growth can come back once the situation comes under control.</li>
<li><strong>Tax Concessions:</strong> There is a need to <strong>provide concessions</strong> and build a system which does not cost anyone money but helps to induce the demand. For instance, certain facilities if remain unused because of the government&rsquo;s directive, then they should not be charged with excise duty, property tax, license or lease. This would bring a big relief &amp; support to the affected sectors in the short term.</li>
<li><strong>Incentivizing &amp; Subsidies:</strong> Measures should be undertaken to <strong>incentivize tourism</strong> whether domestic or international. Also, some form of <strong>subsidy</strong> can be given to keep the people employed as done in the United Kingdom (UK).</li>
<li><strong>Re-engineer Business Model:</strong> Hospitality sector, apart from relying on the government interventions, should focus on reengineering their business models, in the light of change in social behavior of the public due to the Covid outbreak, so that people feel more<strong> safe &amp; secure</strong> while using their services. For example, the aviation sector&rsquo;s idea of keeping the middle seats or alternative rows empty, is a welcome move.</li>
</ul>
<p>India&rsquo;s travel and tourism industry has huge growth potential, which can be achieved by providing higher budgetary allocations and low-cost healthcare facilities. Once the outbreak of the virus will be contained, the world will be ready to travel again. Hence, we need to ensure that India acts like a<strong> safe destination,</strong> by focusing &amp; relying upon <strong>&lsquo;Dekho Apna Desh&rsquo;</strong> message to promote domestic tourism.</p>',
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			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-road-ahead-for-tourism-hospitality-industry'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Water Quality Improves in Yamuna',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a report by the <strong>Delhi Pollution Control Committee</strong> (DPCC), the <strong>quality of water in the river Yamuna has improved</strong> along the Delhi stretch, compared to April 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DPCC, along with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reducing-so2-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong> </a>(CPCB) carried out the study after being asked by a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> (NGT) appointed monitoring committee.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-lockdown-improved-air-quality" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>less air pollution and improved air quality</strong></a> were also noticed in various cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DPCC collected <strong>water samples from nine locations</strong> along the Yamuna and <strong>twenty locations of drains</strong> and compared the different parameters with values from April 2019.</li>
<li>According to the report, the <strong>pollution has reduced between 18% to 21%</strong> at various places.</li>
<li>Five locations have shown <strong>18%-33% reduction</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/analysis-of-water-in-ulsoor-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biochemical Oxygen Demand</a> <strong>(BOD) levels.</strong> The rest of the locations have shown slight to considerable increase in BOD levels.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Four of the nine locations where <strong>dissolved oxygen (DO)</strong> was <strong>nil in 2019</strong> showed<strong> DO levels of 2.3-4.8 mg/l</strong> in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the <strong>Yamuna has still not met</strong> the <strong>&ldquo;water quality criteria&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Lockdown:</strong> Earlier, a <strong>Delhi Jal Board</strong> (DJB) <strong>report</strong> had also highlighted the improved quality of water due to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lockdown</strong> </a>(to curb the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>).</li>
<li><strong>Increased Flow: Haryana has increased the discharge of water</strong> which has also contributed to less pollution<strong> due to dilution of fresh water.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Biochemical Oxygen Demand</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the amount of <strong>dissolved oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose organic matter</strong> (waste or pollutants) under <strong>aerobic reaction</strong> (in the presence of oxygen).</li>
<li>The <strong>more organic matter</strong> there is (e.g., in sewage and polluted bodies of water), the <strong>greater is the BOD;</strong> and the <strong>greater the BOD,</strong> the <strong>lower the amount of dissolved oxygen</strong> available for higher animals such as fishes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>higher BOD level means that more oxygen is needed</strong> to decompose a large quantity of organic matter present in the water.</li>
<li>So, a <strong>higher value</strong> of BOD means that the <strong>water is more polluted.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The BOD is therefore a <strong>reliable gauge of the organic pollution</strong> of a water body.</li>
<li>One of the main reasons for <strong>treating wastewater prior to its discharge into a water resource</strong> is to<strong> lower its BOD</strong> i.e. to reduce its need of oxygen and thereby lessen its demand from the streams, lakes, rivers, or estuaries into which it is released.</li>
<li><strong>Dissolved Oxygen:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water</strong> which is needed for aquatic life to survive. The <strong>quality of water increases with an increase in DO levels.</strong></li>
<li>A DO level of <strong>5 mg/l or above</strong> is the recommended level for <strong>bathing in a river.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Yamuna</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The river Yamuna, a <strong>major tributary of river Ganges,</strong> originates from the <strong>Yamunotri glacier</strong> near <strong>Bandarpoonch peaks</strong> in the <strong>Mussoorie range of the lower Himalayas</strong> at an<strong> elevation of about 6387 meters above mean sea level</strong> in <strong>Uttarkashi</strong> district of <strong>Uttarakhand.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>meets the Ganges</strong> at the <strong>Sangam (where <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kumbh</a> mela is held) in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prayagraj-on-the-verge-of-an-epidemic-after-kumbh-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prayagraj</a>, <a href="/know-your-state/know-your-state-uttar-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uttar Pradesh</a></strong> after flowing through <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gairsain-summer-capital-of-uttarakhand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uttarakhand</a>, Himachal Pradesh, <a href="/know-your-state/haryana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Haryana</a> and Delhi.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Length:</strong> 1376 km</li>
<li><strong>Important Dam:</strong> Lakhwar-Vyasi Dam (Uttarakhand), Tajewala Barrage Dam (Haryana) etc.</li>
<li><strong>Important Tributaries: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ramgarh-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chambal</a>,</strong> Sindh, <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/ken-betwa-interlink-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Betwa and Ken</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587462868_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587462868_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="618" height="516" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/yamuna-water-quality-improves-during-lockdown-govt-report/article31392030.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/water-quality-improves-in-yamuna'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'India’s New FDI Norms Violate WTO: China',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently, China has accused India of violating the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organization WTO&rsquo;s</strong></a> <strong>&ldquo;principle of non-discrimination&rdquo;</strong> after the<strong> India tweaked its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)</strong> policy to make its<strong> approval mandatory for firms in neighbouring countries</strong> to invest in Indian companies.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-fdi-rule" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> tweaked its FDI policy, 2017</a></strong> days after China&rsquo;s central bank, the People&rsquo;s Bank of China <strong>(PBoC), raised its shareholding in Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) to over 1%</strong> during the recent stock market slump.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> The <strong>additional barriers</strong> for investors <strong>from neighbouring countries violate WTO&rsquo;s principle of non-discrimination,</strong> and go against the general trend of liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s decision <strong>do not conform to the consensus of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20</a> leaders and trade ministers</strong> to realize a free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable, and stable trade and investment environment, and to keep markets open.</li>
<li>The <strong>principle of non-discrimination</strong> stipulates that a member <strong>shall not discriminate between products from different trading partners</strong> (giving them equally <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/generalized-system-of-preference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;most favoured-nation&rdquo;</strong></a> or MFN status); and between its own and foreign products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand: The amendments are not prohibiting investments,</strong> It has just <strong>changed the approval route</strong> for these investments. There are <strong>many sectors</strong> in India that are already subject to this approval route.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India said countries like <strong>Germany, Australia and Spain</strong> have also tightened their foreign investment policies to <strong>prevent hostile takeovers by overseas investors.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s move is seen as <strong>checking &ldquo;opportunistic takeovers&rdquo;</strong> of Indian firms hit by the ongoing Covid outbreak and lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s new amendments to foreign investment <strong>do not apply to all countries</strong> but just those which <strong>share borders with India.</strong></li>
<li>There will be <strong>different sets of procedures for the same set of investments</strong> based on which country the company is investing from.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign direct investment (FDI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an investment from a party in one country into a business or corporation in another country with the intention of <strong>establishing a lasting interest.</strong></li>
<li>Lasting interest differentiates <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FDI</strong></a> from <strong>foreign portfolio investments,</strong> where investors passively hold securities from a foreign country.</li>
<li>Foreign direct investment can be made by expanding one&rsquo;s business into a foreign country or by becoming the owner of a company in another country.</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s FDI in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China&rsquo;s FDI has grown five-fold since 2014 and, as of December 2019, its cumulative investment in India has exceeded $8 billion.</li>
<li>A Brookings India paper pegs the total current and planned Chinese investment in India as being over $26 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>World Trade Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.</li>
<li>The Uruguay Round of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-moved-to-wto-on-us-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)</strong></a>, conducted from 1987 to 1994 culminated in the <strong>Marrakesh agreement,</strong> which established the WTO.</li>
<li>The WTO has 164 members (including European Union) and 23 observer governments (like Iran, Iraq, Bhutan, Libya etc).</li>
<li>The WTO&rsquo;s global system lowers trade barriers through <strong>negotiation</strong> and operates under the <strong>principle of non-discrimination.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/china-says-new-fdi-norms-violate-wto-officials-say-others-put-firewalls-too-6371743/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-new-fdi-norms-violate-wto-china'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Civil Services Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every year,<strong> 21<sup>st</sup> April</strong> is celebrated as the <strong>Civil Services Day</strong> by the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is celebrated as an <strong>occasion for the civil servants</strong> to rededicate themselves to the causes of citizens and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.</li>
<li>The <strong>date is chosen to commemorate</strong> the day when the first Home Minister of Independent India, <strong>Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He referred to <strong>civil servants as</strong> the <strong>&lsquo;Steel Frame of India&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> first function on civil services day</strong> was held in <strong>Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in 2006.</strong></li>
<li>On this day, the<strong> Prime Minister&rsquo;s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration</strong> are presented to Districts/Implementing Units for implementation of Priority programme and innovation categories.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These awards bring together civil servants to connect with each other and learn the good practices being implemented across the nation in the field of public grievance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He was born on <strong>31<sup>st</sup> October, 1875</strong> in <strong>Nadiad, Gujarat.</strong></li>
<li>He was the<strong> first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister</strong> of independent India.</li>
<li>He played an important role in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/integration-of-princely-states-after-independence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>integration of many Indian princely states</strong></a> to make an<strong> Indian federation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the time of independence, he played a key role in convincing several princely states to align with the Indian Union.</li>
<li>He also worked hard as a <strong>social leader for the independence</strong> of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Women of Bardoli</strong> bestowed the title <strong>&lsquo;Sardar&rsquo;</strong> on Vallabhbhai Patel, which means &lsquo;a Chief or a Leader&rsquo;.</li>
<li>He is recognized as the real unifier of India for his colossal contribution to integrate and make India a united <strong>(Ek Bharat)</strong> and an independent nation.</li>
<li>He requested the people of India to live together by uniting in order to create <strong>Shresth Bharat</strong> (Foremost India).</li>
<li>He is also remembered as the <strong>&lsquo;Patron saint of India&rsquo;s civil servants&rsquo;</strong> as he <strong>established the modern all-India services system</strong>.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statue-of-unity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Statue of Unity</strong></a> at Kevadiya in Narmada district of Gujarat was built in his honour.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/civil-services-day'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Social Vaccine',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Health Minister has recently asserted that <strong>lockdowns</strong> and <strong>social distancing</strong> are the most effective <strong>&ldquo;social vaccines&rdquo;</strong> available to fight the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic (Covid-19).</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Social Vaccine</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a metaphor for a <strong>series of social and behavioural measures</strong> that governments can use to <strong>raise public consciousness about unhealthy situations.</strong></li>
<li>This is made possible through social mobilisation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Social mobilisation</strong> is a process whereby people are organized in order to enable them to collectively think and act upon their development.</li>
<li>It can <strong>empower populations</strong> to resist unhealthy practices, increase resilience, and foster advocacy for change. This can ultimately <strong>drive political will</strong> to take action in the interests of society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A social vaccine<strong> addresses barriers and facilitators of behaviour change</strong> (attitudinal, social, cultural, or economic) and supplements <strong>Information, Education, and Communication (IEC)</strong> with targeted <strong>Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)</strong> strategies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>SBCC</strong> is the strategic use of communication approaches to promote changes in knowledge, attitudes, norms, beliefs and behaviors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effectiveness of a social vaccine during Pandemic</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When applied to pandemics, the effectiveness of a social vaccine is<strong> determined by the extent of dissemination and uptake of accurate information</strong> about personal infection risk and methods to reduce the risk.</li>
<li><strong>Uganda and Thailand used SBCC strategies effectively during the HIV/AIDS pandemic</strong> to bring down the incidence of HIV infection, <strong>before Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART) was introduced</strong> in 1995.&nbsp;</li>
<li>These countries demonstrated how an effective social vaccine helped <strong>&ldquo;flatten the curve&rdquo;</strong> till effective treatments were discovered that dramatically reduced mortality, viral loads and infection transmission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Vaccine amidst Covid-19</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The skills and experiences from controlling HIV/AIDS pandemic can be innovatively adapted for the current pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Use of IEC and SBCC strategies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Maintaining physical distancing in social situations and wearing cloth masks or facial coverings in public by 100% of people is key to preventing infection along with regular disinfection of oneself and one&rsquo;s surroundings.</li>
<li><strong>People are more likely to practise these behaviours if all leaders (without exception) promote them</strong> publicly and consistently, the whole community believes in their importance, and if proper information, support, and materials are available and accessible.</li>
<li><strong>Building trust</strong> is key if government-imposed mitigation strategies are to be embraced by the population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Practising Social Mobilisation</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will make people to hold leaders accountable to invest in: rapidly scaling-up testing; meeting the basic needs of vulnerable sections; not communalising or politicising the pandemic; providing adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to front-line workers in health, etc. and not compromising the privacy and dignity of infected individuals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Role of Social Vaccine in Controlling HIV/AIDS Pandemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Outbreak of the Disease:</strong> The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)</strong></a> that causes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/round-table-of-unaids" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)</strong></a> is believed to have made the zoonotic jump through chimpanzees on humans in Africa as early as the 1920s, but the HIV/AIDS epidemic was detected in 1981 and was a pandemic by 1985.</li>
<li><strong>Panic Situation:</strong> The cause was unknown (till 1984) and diagnostic tests were unavailable (till 1985). Since there was no treatment, a diagnosis of HIV infection was a death sentence.</li>
<li><strong>Impact</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Widespread fears</strong> of infection rendered many infected people homeless and unemployed. Many were denied access to care.</li>
<li><strong>Stigma, discrimination and violence</strong> towards infected individuals, their families, social groups (sex-workers, gay men, drug users, truck drivers, migrants), and even health workers, were common.</li>
<li><strong>Conspiracy theories, misinformation and unproven remedies</strong> were widely propagated.</li>
<li><strong>The unpreparedness of health systems,</strong> societal prejudices and socio-economic inequities were starkly exposed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Social Vaccine</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reducing HIV transmission centred on acknowledging that everybody was potentially infected &mdash; even those apparently healthy &mdash; and that infection occurred predominantly through sexual transmission and intravenous drug use.</li>
<li>The <strong>core preventive messages</strong> involved being faithful to one sexual partner or having safe sex, etc.These measures conflicted with prevailing cultural, social, religious, behavioural and legal norms.</li>
<li>However, IEC and SBCC activities targeted (and partnered) individuals, families, community leaders, and social and health systems to change attitudes and behaviours. Religious and community leaders were key change agents. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thailand used humour to defuse social taboos about publicly discussing sex.</li>
<li>Coercive or punitive methods acted counter-productive in controlling HIV/AIDS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These strategies and advocacy against stigma and discrimination were also successfully adapted in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is still no biomedical vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Considering the limited efficacy and uptake of influenza vaccines, vaccines for SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 may not provide a panacea.</li>
<li>Effective treatments to reduce deaths with Covid-19 may emerge, but till then, and even afterwards, <strong>a social vaccine is needed.</strong></li>
<li>A social vaccine <strong>can build societal immunity</strong> to the devastating effects of future pandemics by the lessons learned about addressing the root causes, and our responses to the current one.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-shot-of-hope-with-a-game-changing-vaccine/article31383184.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/social-vaccine'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'Currency Exchange Rate Index',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>rupee has been losing value (or depreciating or weakening) against the dollar</strong> over the past few months.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The exchange rate of rupee is one of the markers to compare <strong>Indian economy&rsquo;s competitiveness vis-a-vis other economies</strong> (also amid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> outbreak).</li>
<li><strong>Another measure</strong> for comparison is looking at the <strong>growth rates of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</a> and Gross Value Added (GVA).</strong></li>
<li><strong>High-frequency data like sales of automobiles</strong> etc. can also be used as a proxy to compare economies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exchange Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>price of one currency in terms of the other</strong> is known as the exchange rate.</li>
<li>A currency&rsquo;s exchange rate vis-a-vis another currency reflects the relative demand among the holders of the two currencies.</li>
<li><strong>For e.g.</strong> If the US dollar is stronger than the rupee (implying value of dollar is higher with respect to rupee), then it shows that the demand for dollars (by those holding rupee) is more than the demand for rupees (by those holding dollars).</li>
<li>This demand in turn <strong>depends on the relative demand for the goods and services</strong> of the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Index for Exchange Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since a country interacts with many countries, it wants to <strong>see the movement of the domestic currency relative to all other currencies in a single number</strong> rather than by looking at bilateral rates.</li>
<li>That is, it would want an index for the exchange rate against other currencies, <strong>just as it uses a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">price index (CPI or WPI)</a></strong> to show how the prices of goods in general have changed.</li>
<li>The Reserve Bank of India tabulates the <strong>rupee&rsquo;s Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER)</strong> in relation to the currencies of 36 trading partner countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is a<strong> weighted index &mdash;</strong> that is, countries with <strong>which India trades more are given a greater weight in the index.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>decrease</strong> in this index denotes <strong>depreciation in rupee&rsquo;s value</strong> whereas an increase reflects appreciation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is one more measure that is even better at capturing the actual change. This is called the <strong>Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER)</strong> and is essentially an <strong>improvement over the NEER</strong> because it also <strong>takes into account the domestic inflation in the various economies.</strong></li>
<li>The REER is the <strong>weighted average of NEER adjusted by the ratio of domestic prices to foreign price.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Inflation on Exchange Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Many factors affect the exchange rate</strong> between any two currencies ranging from the interest rates to political stability (less of either results in a weaker currency). Inflation is one of the most important factors.</li>
<li><strong>Illustration</strong>: Imagine that the Rupee-Dollar exchange rate was exactly 1 in the first year. This means that with Rs 100, one could buy something that was priced at $100 in the US. But suppose the Indian inflation is 20% and the US inflation is zero. Then, in the second year, an Indian would need Rs 120 to buy the same item priced at $100, and the rupee&rsquo;s exchange rate would depreciate (reduce in value) to 1.20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison between NEER and REER</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587454106_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587454106_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="460" height="367" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the chart shows, in <strong>NEER terms,</strong> the rupee has depreciated to its lowest level since November 2018. The rupee has been steadily losing value &mdash; <strong>showing the Indian economy&rsquo;s reducing competitiveness&mdash;</strong> since July 2019.</li>
<li>In <strong>REER terms</strong> also, the<strong> rupee has depreciated</strong> in March and fallen to its lowest level since September 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>difference</strong> between trends of NEER and REER was<strong> due to India&rsquo;s domestic retail inflation being lower relative to the other 36 countries.</strong> As domestic inflation started rising, the REER, too, started depreciating like the NEER.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong> is a measure of economic activity in a country. It is the total value of a country&rsquo;s annual output of goods and services. It gives the economic output from the consumers&rsquo; side.</li>
<li><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA)</strong> is the sum of a country&rsquo;s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy. It provides the rupee value for the amount of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have gone into the production of those goods and services.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-covid-19-is-hurting-the-rupees-exchange-rate-with-other-currencies-6371536/" 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/currency-exchange-rate-index'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Blood Shortage Due to Lockdown',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 lockdown</strong></a> hospitals across India are <strong>facing acute shortage of blood</strong> and have started contacting individual blood donors to meet the demand.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hospitals are calling listed donors and those with rare blood groups to come in and donate.</li>
<li>The <strong>Indian Red Cross Society Blood Bank</strong> has also noted that there is a drop in blood collection. The crisis is such that there is a shortage of the most <strong>commonly seen B-positive blood group.</strong></li>
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> <strong>(WHO)</strong> recommendation, <strong>blood requirement of 1% of a country&rsquo;s population</strong> be used as an estimate of its <strong>blood needs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By this measure, <strong>India was short of 1.9 million units of blood</strong> as per data presented to the Lok Sabha <strong>in 2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Worst Hit Due to Blood Shortage:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Patients requiring <strong>dialysis, having blood disorders, and pregnant women</strong> are the worst hit due to blood shortage.</li>
<li>Patients from<strong> small cities and villages</strong> are also the worst hit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Thalassemics Fearful</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thalassemia patients need repeated blood transfusions to survive. Many thalassemics take blood for their transfusions from the Indian Red Cross Society Blood Bank, whose camps are being cancelled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the <strong>National Blood Transfusion Council,</strong> there are 2,023 blood banks in India, which receive 78% of their blood supply from voluntary donors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Due to lockdown <strong>blood banks collection camps are cancelled.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Donors are hesitant to travel</strong> to hospitals to donate blood amid strict lockdown. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, <strong>donor passes had not been made</strong> by some hospitals, which is adding to the problem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transportation almost closed</strong> due to lockdown.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiative</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Health Ministry</strong> has asked hospitals to start working on<strong> ensuring sufficient stock of blood for transfusion</strong> by promoting voluntary blood donors and utilising various services like mobile blood collection vans with the help of the Indian Red Cross Society.</li>
<li>It has asked the Indian Red Cross Society to <strong>send mobile blood collection vans to the premises of regular blood donors</strong> to facilitate them for blood donation.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Thalassemia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>blood disorder passed down through families (inherited)</strong> in which the body makes an <strong>abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin.</strong></li>
<li>Thalassemia is caused by mutations in the gene that make hemoglobin.</li>
<li>The disorder results in large numbers of red blood cells being destroyed, which leads to <strong>anemia.</strong></li>
<li>Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Red Cross Society</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) was established in 1920 under the <strong>Indian Red Cross Society Act.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>President of India is the President</strong> and the <strong>Union Health Minister is the Chairman of the Society.</strong></li>
<li>The Indian Red Cross is a <strong>voluntary humanitarian organization</strong> providing relief in times of disasters/emergencies and promotes health &amp; care of the vulnerable people and communities.</li>
<li>The <strong>Mission</strong> of the Indian Red Cross is to inspire, encourage and initiate at all times all forms of humanitarian activities so that human suffering can be minimized and even prevented and thus contribute to creating more congenial climate for peace.</li>
<li>It is a leading member of the largest independent humanitarian organization in the world, the <strong>International Red Cross &amp; Red Crescent Movement.</strong></li>
<li>The movement has three main components, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC),</li>
<li>192 National Societies and International Federation of Red Cross</li>
<li>Red Crescent Societies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Blood Transfusion Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) was constituted in <strong>1996 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To <strong>promote voluntary blood donation, ensure safe blood transfusion, provide infrastructure</strong> to blood centres,<strong> develop human resources</strong> and<strong> formulate </strong>and<strong> implement the Blood Policy.</strong></li>
<li>NBTC is the <strong>apex body</strong> in relation to all matters pertaining to<strong> operation of blood centres.</strong></li>
<li>The NBTC is the central body that coordinates the State Blood Transfusion Councils (SBTCs) and also ensures involvement of other Ministries and other health programmes for various activities related to <strong>Blood Transfusion Services</strong> (BTS).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/blood-banks-running-on-low-reserves-seek-urgent-help/article31389707.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/blood-shortage-due-to-lockdown'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'New FDI Rule',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Government of India has made its approval for<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)</strong></a> by neighbouring countries mandatory.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This revised FDI policy aims to curb opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of Indian companies due to the current<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>FDI in India:</strong> FDI is allowed under two modes - either through the <strong>automatic route,</strong> for which companies don't need <strong>government approval,</strong> or through the government route, for which companies need a go-ahead from the centre.</li>
<li><strong>According to the new FDI policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An entity of a country, which shares a land border with India or where the beneficial owner of an investment into India is situated in or is a citizen of any such country, <strong>can invest only under the Government route.</strong></li>
<li>A transfer of ownership in an FDI deal that benefits any country that shares a border with India will also need government approval.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India shares land borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Investors from countries not covered by the new policy only have to<strong> inform the RBI after a transaction</strong> rather than asking for prior permission from the relevant government department.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>earlier FDI policy was limited to allowing only Bangladesh and Pakistan via the government route</strong> in all sectors. The revised rule has now brought companies from China under the government route filter.</li>
<li>China's footprint in the Indian business space has been expanding rapidly, especially since 2014.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese investment in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The net Chinese investment in India, <strong>which was $1.6 billion in 2014, shot up five-folds to at least $8 billion (Rs 60,800 crore) in the next three years &mdash;</strong> with a noticeable shift from state-driven to market-driven investment from the Chinese private sector.</li>
<li><strong>Official figures underestimate the amount of investment:</strong> They neither account for all Chinese companies&rsquo; acquisitions of stakes in the technology sector nor investments from China routed through third-party countries, such as Singapore. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For instance, a $ 504-million investment from the Singapore arm of the mobile firm Xiaomi would not figure in official statistics because of how investments are measured.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has been seen that the <strong>Chinese firms have escaped the kind of scrutiny in India</strong> that their investments have attracted in the West despite several high-profile investments and acquisitions.</li>
<li>Another concern is that there is <strong>no clear separation between the Chinese state and private business.</strong> They work closely in pursuing many goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587386611_image2.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587386611_image2.PNG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="611" height="206" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI is an<strong> investment from a party in one country into a business or corporation in another country</strong> with the intention of establishing a lasting interest.</li>
<li>Lasting interest differentiates FDI from <strong>foreign portfolio investments, where investors passively hold securities from a foreign country.</strong></li>
<li>Foreign direct investment can be made by<strong> expanding one&rsquo;s business into a foreign country or by becoming the owner of a company in another country.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/china-investment-in-india-govt-norms-fdi-6369941/" 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/new-fdi-rule'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Review of FDI Norms',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on &ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/fdi-from-china-coronavirus-bse-sensex-6369940/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Resetting balance</strong></a>&rdquo;, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/india-is-right-to-impose-barriers-on-china-but-there-is-a-price-tag/story-p7UwGH2tstQuOUcin4QZhN.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India is right to impose barriers on China. But there is a price tag</strong></a>&rdquo;, &ldquo;<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/boost-not-restrict-foreign-investment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Boost, not restrict, foreign investment</strong></a>&rdquo;. It talks about the implications of a recent change in FDI norms for India economy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, India has revised its FDI rules amid the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>. Under the revised norms, the <strong>automatic route is now closed to investors from India&rsquo;s land neighbours,</strong> with special reference to China.</p>
<p>This new regulation is based on the fear that China may take advantage of the <strong>rock-bottom valuations</strong> of the firms of national importance in the backdrop of the lockdown. For example, recently <strong>People&rsquo;s Bank of China purchased shares of HDFC Bank at a very low price.</strong></p>
<p>However, India is facing a <strong>dilemma on this front,</strong> as the<strong> foreign capital remains crucial to the country&rsquo;s economic success,</strong> and will be doubly important as India tries to revive its economy.</p>
<p><strong>Thus, India needs to balance between its economic needs and combating neo-imperialist tendencies of China.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Revised FDI Rules</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Companies in any country that shares a border with India will have to approach the government for investing in India and not go via the automatic route.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Automatic Route</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the Automatic route, companies only need to inform the authorities after the investment is made</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Government Approval route</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As per the Government route, prior approval is mandatory before investment.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Neo-Imperialism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the new wave of imperialism reflected by use of power and economic influence to dominate smaller countries.</li>
<li>Modern imperialistic practices like the economic desire for new resources and markets, and a "civilizing mission" ethos can be termed as neo-imperialist strategies.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Neo-Imperialist Trade Practices of China</h3>
<p>The overt objective of revision of this FDI policy, is to guard against<strong> &ldquo;opportunistic takeovers and acquisitions&rdquo;</strong> of Indian companies brought about by low valuations amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. However, India is also apprehensive about Chinese investment on the following accounts:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China has alleged by both the developing and developed world of its efforts to control infrastructural, industrial and technological assets in these countries. Thereby, seeking to have a<strong> strategic advantage through economic interdependence.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ever since China became central to global supply chains, it has used perverse industrial tools to climb the value chain, <strong>exacerbate trade imbalances and undermine global competition.</strong></li>
<li>For example, cheap imports backed by <strong>China's state capitalism</strong> have <strong>undermined India&rsquo;s manufacturing sector</strong> and led to a massive trade deficit..</li>
<li>China has also <strong>blocked market access</strong> to Indian companies in pharmaceuticals, dairy products and IT services.</li>
<li>This unfavourable balance of trade was one of the main reasons for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-exits-rcep" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India to walk out of the RCEP negotiations.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>State Capitalism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The heads of the major companies become subordinate government agencies.</li>
<li>Through forceful control of the state, worker organizations are robbed of their rights to the representation of their interests and forcibly incorporated into the planned system.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China is using the <strong>Digital Silk Road,</strong> a subset of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)</strong></a> to enhance digital connectivity abroad, extend its influence, and further China&rsquo;s ascendance as a technological superpower.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has been able to do this by monopolising strategic industrial technology through the<strong> &lsquo;Made in China 2025&rsquo; initiative.</strong> One such example of this technology can be stated as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/5g-is-india-prepared" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5G</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the past few years, Chinese investors have had big stakes in 18 of India&rsquo;s 23 unicorns (startups with over $1 billion). For example, Ola, PayTM, Byju&rsquo;s etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will hamper the prospect of Indian unicorns becoming global giants like Amazon, Uber etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Chinese Investments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Greater FDI is welcome, especially during the economic slowdown and China has been the fastest-growing source of foreign investment in the last five years.</li>
<li>If India is to make its way to a <strong>$5 trillion economy by 2025,</strong> it may find it difficult to do so without a more robust trade and investment relationship with China.</li>
<li>FDI from China will help in mitigating the growing disadvantage against trade deficit with China.</li>
<li>The recent changes in FDI norms would be a setback to India&rsquo;s decades-long attempt to be more attractive to investors from all countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal trade</strong> should work out a <strong>clear process and precise regulations</strong> to decide what is an acceptable investment. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India should welcome investment in enhancing the country&rsquo;s <strong>productive capacity</strong> regardless of where it comes from, except, of course, in sectors where control of that production capacity has a bearing on national security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need for India to develop <strong>new legal and institutional tools.</strong> As the ones employed by US and EU member states such as data protection laws or revised mergers and acquisitions rules, and institutional bodies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Without the appropriate legal and regulatory sanction, India might experience reciprocal measures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to protect India&rsquo;s unicorn, there is need to devise a <strong>scheme of preferential or special shares</strong> which a unicorn can issue to foriegn investor.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These shares will preserve the decision making by Indian innovators, while also providing them access to foreign capital.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>At this crucial juncture of <strong>economics,</strong> where the world is witnessing another economic crisis, India needs to expand its overseas economic engagements, even while remaining sensitive to its overall economic sustainability needs.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587386235_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587386235_image5.jpg" caption="false" width="406" height="491" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0808; background-color: #dbebff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>India needs to balance between its economic needs and combating neo-imperialist tendencies of China. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pSvhGGpf1Aw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Follow editorial analysis on our youtube channel. This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/institutional-fixes-and-the-need-for-ethical-politics/article31370475.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Institutional fixes and the need for ethical politics</strong></a>, published in The Hindu on April 18, 2020.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/review-of-fdi-norms'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Jal Shakti',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has created a new Ministry called &lsquo;Jal Shakti&rsquo; after merging Ministries of Water Resources, River Development &amp; Ganga Rejuvenation along with Drinking Water and Sanitation.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Jal Shakti&rsquo; ministry will encompass issues ranging from providing clean drinking water, international and inter-states water disputes, to the Namami Gange project aimed at cleaning Ganga and its tributaries, and sub-tributaries.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ganga-vriksharopan-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Namami Gange</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as &lsquo;Flagship Programme&rsquo; by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.</li>
<li>The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program ManagementGroups (SPMGs).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aims to provide <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-ensuring-water-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>individual household water tap connection</strong></a> to every rural household in the country by 2024.</li>
<li>It envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.</li>
<li>The Scheme will be <strong>implemented</strong> through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/piped-water-connection-by-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>institutional mechanism</strong></a> <strong>at four levels-</strong> National, State, District, and Gram Panchayat, in which a major role will be played by <strong>women and the Paani Samitis</strong> or the user group.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587381868_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587381868_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="555" height="675" /></a></p>
<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-ensuring-water-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Read More: The Big Picture- Ensuring Water Security</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Shakti Abhiyan</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a collaborative effort of the Central and State Governments to accelerate progress on water conservation activities in the most water stressed blocks and districts of India.</li>
<li>The campaign aims to promote focused interventions for water collection and conservation, including restoration and renovation of traditional water bodies.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rural-sanitation-strategy-2019-2029" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>10 Year Rural Sanitation Strategy (2019-2029)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, has launched the 10 Year Rural Sanitation Strategy (2019-2029).</li>
<li>It focuses on sustaining the sanitation behavior change that has been achieved under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G), and <strong>increasing access to solid and liquid waste management.</strong></li>
<li>The 10 year strategy focuses on the need for States/UTs to continue their efforts to sustain the gains of the mission through capacity strengthening, IEC (Information, education and communication), organic waste management, plastic waste management, grey water management and black water management.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Prime Minister chaired the first meeting of the National Ganga Council in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh in December 2019.</li>
<li>The meeting was aimed at reinforcing the importance of a &lsquo;Ganga-centric&rsquo; approach in all departments of the concerned states as well as relevant Central Ministries.</li>
<li>The Council has been given overall responsibility for superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including Ganga and its tributaries.</li>
<li>The Government has set up the Clean Ganga Fund (CGF) to facilitate contributions from individuals, NRIs, corporate entities for funding Ganga rejuvenation projects.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587381900_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587381900_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="636" height="477" /></a></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NMCG is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).</li>
<li>It is a registered society, originally formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 12<sup>th</sup> August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.</li>
<li>However, both NGRBA and NMCG function under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.</li>
<li>Main pillars of the programme include sewerage treatment infrastructure, river-front development, river-surface cleaning, bio-diversity, afforestation, public awareness industrial effluent monitoring, and ganga gram.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/flood-management-and-border-areas-programme-fmbap-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FMBAP has been approved by the Union Cabinet.</li>
<li>The FMBAP Scheme will be implemented throughout the country for effective flood management, erosion control and anti-sea erosion.</li>
<li>The proposal will benefit towns, villages, industrial establishments, communication links, agricultural fields, infrastructure etc. from floods and erosion in the country.</li>
<li>The catchment area treatment works will help in reduction of sediment load into rivers.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-bhujal-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Bhujal Yojana</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a central sector scheme for sustainable management of groundwater with community participation.</li>
<li>It envisages people's participation through the formation of &lsquo;Water User Associations&rsquo;, water budgeting, preparation &amp; implementation of Gram-panchayat-wise water security plans, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By alleviating 60% of the world&rsquo;s share of people defecating in the open, India has significantly contributed to the global achievement of SDG 6.</li>
<li>The 6<sup>th</sup> India Water Week-2019 was observed from September 24, 2019. The theme of the India Water Week-2019 was &lsquo;Water Cooperation &ndash; Coping with 21st Century Challenges.&rsquo;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been organizing India Water Week since 2012 as an international event to focus on water related issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>First HAM project in sewerage sector:</strong> Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Sarai in Haridwar has become the first Hybrid Annuity (HAM) Based Public Private Partnership Model STP.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>Under<strong> Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM),</strong> the central government bears 40% of the project cost and the remaining amount is arranged by the developer. As per the design, the government contributes 40% of the project cost in the first five years through annual payments (annuity). The remaining payment is made on the basis of the assets created and the performance of the developer.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan&rsquo;</strong> is an open-water rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga River held in October-November 2019. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Starting at Devprayag and culminating at Ganga Sagar, the expedition covered<strong> the entire stretch of over 2500 kms of the Ganga River.</strong></li>
<li>This is the <strong>longest ever social campaign undertaken through an adventure sporting activity</strong> to spread the message of River Rejuvenation and Water Conservation on a massive scale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>MARVI Project: </strong>The Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention (MARVI) project has developed a village-level participatory approach for measuring groundwater levels and improving water-use efficiency in groundwater-stressed regions of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers and other stakeholders are directly involved in the process. A unique feature of MARVI is the engagement of <strong>Bhujal Jankaars (BJs) meaning &ldquo;groundwater informed&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>These are volunteers who, with appropriate training and capacity building by the project team, monitor rainfall, groundwater levels and quality, and water levels of managed aquifer recharge infiltration basins (called check dams).</li>
<li>They also make sense of the data from a village perspective and infer what can be done to improve the groundwater situation and household livelihoods, which are often based on growing crops with groundwater irrigation.</li>
<li>Importantly, the BJs inform and guide villagers on the groundwater situation and how best to use groundwater in response to seasonal or long-term variability in resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-jal-shakti'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Lithium Abundance in Interstellar Space',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the researchers at the <strong>Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)</strong> have discovered hundreds of<strong> Lithium (Li) rich giant stars</strong> which indicate that <strong>lithium is being produced in the stars</strong> and <strong>accounts for its abundance</strong> in the interstellar (between stars) medium.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study was published in the <strong>Astrophysical Journal Letters and Monthly Notices of Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scientists have discovered a <strong>number of super Li-rich giants</strong> with the <strong>Li quantity equal</strong> to or in some cases, <strong>more than 10 times the present value, A(Li) = 3.2 dex</strong> (measured in logarithmic scale relative to hydrogen).</li>
<li>Scientists followed a <strong>two-fold strategy</strong> of <strong>systematically searching for high Li among low mass evolved stars</strong> in the Galaxy and <strong>determining the exact evolutionary phase of these high Li abundance stars.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hundreds of Li-rich giants were discovered by employing data from large scale ground and space missions.</li>
<li>However, <strong>Li-rich giants still account for only about 1 in 100 in the Galaxy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>evolutionary phase</strong> of these giants was determined by <strong>analyzing relative positions of thousands of stars</strong> using their <strong>temperature</strong> and <strong>luminosity</strong> and also <strong>subjecting their independent data set to atmospheric oscillations analysis</strong> using data from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-1st-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kepler Space Telescope.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For the first time, it was shown that the<strong> Li enhancement in giants is associated only with central He-burning stars</strong> (also known as the <strong>Red Clump Giants</strong>)<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This discovery will <strong>help to eliminate or validate many proposed theories</strong> such as <strong>planet engulfment</strong> or <strong>Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN)</strong> during the red giant evolution in which <strong>helium at the center is not burning.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lithium (Li),</strong> is one of the <strong>three primordial elements,</strong> apart from <strong>Hydrogen (H)</strong> and <strong>Helium (He),</strong> produced in the BBN.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This model <strong>predicts primordial Li abundance</strong> [A(Li) ~2.7~dex].</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stars</strong> are also proposed as a<strong> likely Li source</strong> in the Galaxy and are considered as <strong>Li sinks.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The original Li, with which stars are born, only <strong>gets depleted over stars&rsquo; life-time as Li burns at relatively very low temperatures</strong> of about <strong>2.5x106 Kelvin</strong> (a range which is easily encountered in stars).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Planetary Engulfment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the universe, planets <strong>accompany host stars</strong> (like the Sun is the host star for the planets of the Solar system).</li>
<li>As the <strong>host star evolves off the main sequence to become a white dwarf,</strong> the planets with<strong> sufficiently close orbits</strong> can be <strong>engulfed</strong> during the giant phase.</li>
<li>Planetary engulfment events<strong> involve the chemical assimilation of a planet into a star's external layer.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can cause a change in the chemical pattern of the stellar atmosphere in a way that mirrors the composition of the rocky object engulfed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Big Bang Nucleosynthesis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>leading explanation about how the universe began.</strong> At its simplest, it says that the universe <strong>started with a small singularity</strong> and then <strong>inflated over the next 13.8 billion years</strong> to the cosmos currently observed.</li>
<li>The <strong>Universe's light-element abundance</strong> is another important criterion by which this theory is verified.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is now known that the elements observed in the Universe were <strong>created in either of two ways.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Light elements</strong> (namely deuterium, helium, and lithium) <strong>were produced in the first few minutes of the Big Bang,</strong> while elements<strong> heavier than helium</strong> are thought to have their <strong>origins in the interiors of stars which formed much later in the history of the Universe.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The theory predicts that <strong>roughly 25% the mass of the Universe consists of Helium.</strong> It also predicts <strong>about 0.01% deuterium,</strong> and <strong>even smaller quantities of lithium.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1616003" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Temporary Ration Cards to Access PDS Foodgrain',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Pune Zilla Parishad has decided to provide<strong> temporary &lsquo;ration cards&rsquo;</strong> to more than 80,000 <strong>undocumented people</strong> in the district, so they can receive foodgrains under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System (PDS).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The delivery of benefits including <strong>PDS grain to migrants</strong> trapped by the lockdown, and to those who are<strong> unable to provide documents,</strong> has been a major concern across states.</li>
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/measures-to-deal-with-economic-hardship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Laureates Amartya Sen and Abhijit Banerjee, and former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan</strong></a> had suggested that <strong>temporary ration cards</strong> should be issued to enable the undocumented to draw rations through the PDS system.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>first innovation</strong> of its kind to help larger numbers of people access government benefits during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 lockdown</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Use of Aadhaar:</strong> The Pune scheme will use one-time <strong>Aadhaar authentication</strong> to open accounts for the people with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-minister-launched-india-post-payments-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Post Payments Bank.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Once the biometric Aadhaar-based link is established and the account is opened, this would serve as the only authentication that will be needed for these undocumented people to draw rations from the PDS system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Home Delivery:</strong> It will enable the home delivery of grains at the gram panchayat level to avoid crowds and maintain physical distancing.</li>
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> It will also include individuals belonging to the <strong>Primitive Tribes</strong> and the <strong>transgender community</strong> who are often left out of the ambit of such benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Identification:</strong> The job of identifying the beneficiaries has been given to the <strong>village police patil,</strong> who maintains records of outsiders in a register.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Act</strong> </a>(NFSA), 2013, the gram sabha has the right to identify beneficiaries &mdash; however, in the current situation when the gram sabha is not functional, <strong>a committee of three viz., the gram panchayat&rsquo;s sarpanch, a member of the gram sabha, and the local police patil will identify them.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Verification:</strong> The only verification that will be carried out is that of the kitchen of the beneficiary to prove that they qualify for the scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Boost to Sharad Bhojan Yojana:</strong> The scheme will widen and deepen the scope and reach of the Sharad Bhojan Yojana, under which cooked meals are provided to people in Pune district at concessional rates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Sharad Bhojan Yojana is modelled after the Maharashtra government&rsquo;s flagship <strong>Shiv Bhojan Yojana,</strong> which serves subsidised meals to the poor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Involvement of a Corporate:</strong> The<strong> Janakidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sansthan,</strong> the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corporate-social-responsibility-csr-expenditure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Corporate Social Responsibility</a> (CSR) wing of the Bajaj Group</strong>, will be the corporate CSR partner of the Pune Zilla Parishad for the scheme.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Public distribution system (PDS)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>PDS is an Indian food Security System</strong> established<strong> under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.</strong></li>
<li>PDS evolved as a <strong>system of management of scarcity</strong> through distribution of food grains at affordable prices.</li>
<li>PDS is operated under the <strong>joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Central Government,</strong> through Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for <strong>procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation</strong> of food grains to the State Governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>operational responsibilities</strong> including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families,<strong> issue of Ration Cards</strong> and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with the <strong>State Governments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely <strong>wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene</strong> are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Food Security Act (NFSA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NFSA, 2013 legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.</li>
<li>The eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above is mandated to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/in-pune-zilla-parishad-temporary-cards-to-help-80000-people-access-pds-foodgrain-6370142/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Rise in Digital Transactions',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the recent <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> data, the month of March 2020 (when <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> lockdown began) saw a sharp rise in digital financial transactions countrywide.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The total value of <strong>Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)</strong> transactions rose by 34% across banks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the biggest <strong>online payment method</strong> offered by RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong>-run <strong>Unified Payments Interface&nbsp;(UPI)</strong>, registered more than 125 crore transactions in March.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The numbers, however, dipped slightly compared to February as there was a dip in economic activity due to lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recharges and bill payments</strong> as well as retail <strong>banking transactions,</strong> accounted for the majority of the volume of all the transactions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NPCI-run <strong>Bharat Bill Pay</strong> was one of the beneficiaries, as it recorded 1.58 crore transactions in March as against 1.49 crore in February.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the data, the usage of cash and other cash-based services dipped during the period.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cash withdrawals from ATMs as well as usage of various cards (debit, credit) have also gone down significantly.</li>
<li>This could be because people&rsquo;s requirements for cash have fallen since the spending is mainly on essentials and necessities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s <strong>Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS)</strong> also saw a decline of 16.1 % in the number of transactions, in March.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government uses AePS mostly for direct benefit transfer schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Real Time Gross Settlement&nbsp;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RTGS is an <strong>electronic fund transfer method</strong> through which money is sent on a<strong> &lsquo;real time&rsquo;</strong> basis without any delays.</li>
<li>RTGS allows the money sent by the remitter to immediately reach the beneficiary as and when the money transfer transaction is initiated.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Gross Settlement&rsquo; refers to the processing of transactions on an <strong>individual basis</strong> and not in a batch wise system.</li>
<li>Minimum amount that can be sent via RTGS mode is <strong>Rs.2 lakh</strong> and has no maximum limit.</li>
<li><strong>RTGS is not a 24x7 facility</strong> and is available only during <strong>working hours of banks.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Unified Payments Interface&nbsp;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an advanced version of<strong> Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)-</strong> round&ndash;the-clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments <strong>faster, easier and smoother.</strong></li>
<li>UPI is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing &amp; merchant payments into one hood.</li>
<li><strong>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong> launched UPI with 21 member banks in 2016.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bharat Bill Payment System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bharat bill payment system is driven by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).</li>
<li>It is a <strong>one-stop ecosystem for payment of all bills</strong> providing an interoperable and accessible <strong>&ldquo;Anytime Anywhere&rdquo; bill payment service</strong> to all customers across India with certainty, reliability and safety of transactions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Aadhaar enabled Payment System&nbsp;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AePS is developed by the<strong> National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong> that <strong>allows people to carry out financial transactions on a Micro-ATM</strong> by furnishing just their <strong>Aadhaar number</strong> and verifying it with the help of their fingerprint/iris scan.</li>
<li>With the help of this payment system, funds can be transferred from one bank account to another simply through their Aadhaar numbers.</li>
<li>This system adds another layer of security to financial transactions as <strong>bank details would no longer be required</strong> to be furnished while carrying out these transactions.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Payments Corporation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NPCI is an <strong>umbrella organization</strong> for all <strong>retail payments systems</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It was set up with the guidance and support of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks&rsquo; Association (IBA).</li>
<li>NPCI was established with following <strong>objectives -</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>consolidate and integrate the existing multiple systems into a nation-wide uniform</strong> and standard business process <strong>for all retail payment systems.</strong></li>
<li>To <strong>facilitate an affordable payment mechanism</strong> to benefit the common man across the country and propel financial inclusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/digital-transactions-rise-real-time-gross-settlement-rbi-6370110/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'UNGA Resolution on Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></a> has adopted a resolution, calling for global cooperation to ensure <strong>&lsquo;equitable and fair&rsquo;</strong> access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment for all nations to battle the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UNGA resolution which was <strong>drafted by Mexico</strong> was adopted through consensus.</li>
<li>The resolution: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Prevent any undue stockpiling</strong> of essential medical supplies.</li>
<li><strong>Recognised the importance of international cooperation</strong> and <strong>effective multilateralism</strong> to ensure that all States have in place effective national protective measures, access to and flow of vital medical supplies, medicines and vaccines.</li>
<li>Encourages member states<strong> to work in partnership</strong> with all relevant stakeholders to increase research and development funding for vaccines and medicines.</li>
<li>Called to<strong> bolster coordination with the private sector</strong> towards rapid development, manufacturing and distribution of diagnostics, antiviral medicines, personal protective equipment and vaccines, adhering to the objectives of efficacy, safety, equity, accessibility, and affordability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Earlier, the United Nations General Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution, <strong>calling for intensified international cooperation</strong> to defeat the pandemic that is causing severe disruption to societies and economies.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The General Assembly is the <strong>main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.</strong></li>
<li><strong>All 193 Member States</strong> of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.</li>
<li>Each year, in<strong> September,</strong> the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in <strong>New York</strong> for the <strong>annual General Assembly session,</strong> and general debate, which many heads of state attend and address.</li>
<li>Decisions on important questions, such as those on<strong> peace and security, admission of new members</strong> and budgetary matters, require<strong> a two-thirds majority</strong> of the General Assembly.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Decisions on other questions are <strong>by simple majority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The President</strong> of the General Assembly is elected each year by assembly to serve a one-year term of office.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/un-calls-for-equitable-and-fair-access-to-medicines-vaccines-in-covid-19-fight-6372883/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Human Activities Responsible for Zoonoses',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cms-cop-13-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Environment Programme (UNEP)</strong></a><strong>, 60% of human infectious diseases originate from animals.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Zoonoses</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the name given to <strong>diseases transmitted from animals to humans.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>based on the Greek words</strong> for &ldquo;animal&rdquo; and &ldquo;sickness&rdquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Examples: Rabies</strong>&nbsp;(rabid dogs), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ebola-death-in-democratic-republic-of-congo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ebola</strong></a> (fruit bats), West Nile virus (infected mosquitoes), the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika virus</strong></a> (infected Aedes species mosquito)&shy;&ndash;and the most recent - the novel coronavirus <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 (bat/pangolin)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Related to Zoonoses</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On an average,<strong> one new infectious disease emerges in humans every four months.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A study by American researchers that was completed before the new coronavirus outbreak identifies <strong>rodents, primates and bats as hosts of three-quarters of viruses transmitted to humans.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Domestic animals</strong> also carry about<strong> 50% of the zoonoses</strong> identified.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2016, the UNEP pointed out that <strong>75% of all emerging infectious diseases</strong> (such as Ebola, HIV, avian flu, Zika, or SARS) in humans are zoonotic (pertaining to zoonoses).</li>
<li>According to it, these zoonotic diseases are<strong> closely interlinked with the health of ecosystems.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Deaths due to Zoonoses:</strong> Beyond the current outbreak of coronavirus, the <strong>Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)</strong> estimates that zoonoses <strong>kill some 700,000 people a year.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changed Ecosystems</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Zoonoses are opportunistic and thrive where there are changes in the <strong>environment,</strong> changes in <strong>animal or human populations</strong> that serve as hosts for certain pathogens, or <strong>changes in the pathogen</strong> (disease causing microorganisms), itself.</li>
<li>In the last century, a combination of <strong>population growth and reduction in ecosystems and biodiversity</strong> has culminated in unprecedented opportunities for pathogens to pass between animals and people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Humans-led Changes in the Environment</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>By altering land use&ndash;</strong>for settlement, agriculture, logging, extractive or other industries and their associated infrastructure&ndash;humans fragment and encroach into animal habitats.</li>
<li><strong>Destruction of natural buffer zones</strong> that would normally separate humans from animals, thus creating opportunities for pathogens to spill over from wild animals to people.</li>
<li><strong>Climate change&shy;&shy;&ndash;&nbsp;</strong>primarily the result of greenhouse gas emissions&ndash;exacerbates the situation. Changes in temperature, humidity and seasonality directly<strong> affect the survival of microbes in the environment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Proximity to different species</strong> through wet markets (live animal market) or consumption of wild animals can also facilitate animal to human transmission.</li>
<li><strong>Resistance to Drugs:</strong> One example of this is the emerging resistance of pathogens to antimicrobial drugs&ndash;such as antibiotics, antifungals, antiretrovirals and antimalarials&ndash;often resulting from the misuse of the drugs, either by people or in veterinary medicine.</li>
<li><strong>Domesticated animals</strong> are often a &ldquo;bridge&rdquo; between pathogens from the wild and humans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Action</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNEP, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and hundreds of partners across the planet have launched a 10-year effort to prevent, halt and <strong>reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Known as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030,</strong> this globally-coordinated response to the loss and degradation of habitats will focus on building political will and capacity to restore humankind&rsquo;s relation with nature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Addressing</strong> zoonotic disease emergence requires addressing its root cause&ndash;primarily, the<strong> impact of human activities on ecosystems.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ecosystems are inherently resilient and adaptable and, by supporting diverse species, they help to regulate diseases. The <strong>more biodiverse an ecosystem</strong> is, the <strong>more difficult</strong> it is for one pathogen to spread rapidly or dominate.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to recognise the close relationships between human, animal and environmental health. It calls for collaborative, multisectoral, transdisciplinary and international efforts, as encapsulated by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/onehealth-approach" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>One Health approach</strong></a>. At last, a <strong>strong will</strong> is necessary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IPBES is an <strong>independent intergovernmental body</strong> established to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.</li>
<li>It was <strong>established in Panama City (US),</strong> in April 2012.</li>
<li>It is <strong>not a United Nations body.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587542873_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587542873_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-humans-to-blame-for-pandemic/article31399831.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/human-activities-responsible-for-zoonoses'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Earth Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every year, <strong>April 22</strong> is celebrated as <strong>Earth Day</strong> to raise public awareness about the environment and inspire people to save and protect it.</li>
<li>The year 2020 marks 50 years since the start of this <strong>modern environmental movement in 1970.</strong></li>
<li>The theme of Earth Day 2020 is<strong> &ldquo;Climate Action&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the <strong>Earth Day Network</strong> and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.</li>
<li>The idea of commemorating such a day was propounded by<strong> Gaylord Nelson,</strong> an American environmentalist and politician.</li>
<li>The Earth Day also recognizes a <strong>collective responsibility,</strong> as called for in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>1992 Rio Declaration (Earth Summit)</strong></a>, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.</li>
<li>The <strong>Paris Agreement</strong> was also opened for signature on <strong>22 April 2016 &ndash; Earth Day &ndash; at UN Headquarters in New York.</strong></li>
<li>World Earth Day encourages people to take more steps for the protection of nature and to thank mother earth for the rich environment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>World Earth day 2020: Digital Celebration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Google marked the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Earth Day with a special interactive doodle dedicated to one of the smallest and most critical organisms -<strong> the bees.</strong></li>
<li>As people have to stay inside their homes amid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 lockdown</strong></a>, World Earth Day 2020 is all set to be celebrated digitally. People who plan on participating can join<strong> &rsquo;24 hours of action&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>One can also take 22 challenges that include measuring your carbon footprint, doing a plastic audit, skype a scientist, work for the earth, zero waste for one day and consume 1 meal per day this week on a plant-based diet.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Earth Day Network</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earth Day Network is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.</li>
<li>EDN main office is located in Washington DC, USA.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>22 March: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-water-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Water Day</strong></a></li>
<li>22 April: Earth Day</li>
<li>22 May : <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-biodiversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Biodiversity Day</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-hour" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Earth Hour</strong></a> was observed on 28<sup>th</sup> March, 2020. It encourages people to switch off the lights from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm as per their local time.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/google-doodle-celebrates-bees-on-earth-day/article31402205.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/earth-day-1'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'India’s Urban Centers and Infections',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/16/commentary/skewed-urbanisation-and-contagion.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Skewed Urbanisation and the Contagion</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 18/04/2020. It talks about susceptibility of India's urban areas to infections because of the dearth of healthcare infrastructure, unplanned and market-driven urbanisation.</p>
</div>
<p>Global evidence pertaining to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, suggest that with more opportunities for contact and exposure, <strong>urban areas are more susceptible to the infection.</strong></p>
<p>The spread of infectious diseases, especially in the urban areas, cannot be explained as a biological process only, but many other factors contribute to the spread of the infection. For example, mobility of people, physical connecti&shy;vity and living conditions in the areas are critical determinants in the spread of contagious diseases</p>
<p>Moreover, India&rsquo;s urbanization is marred by challenges like haphazard planning, lack of basic civic amenities and healthcare. This dismal state of India&rsquo;s urban centres makes them more susceptible to infections. This can be seen in the spread of Covid-19 in Indian cities like New Delhi, Pune, Mumbai etc.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Urbanisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The process of urbanisation refers to a societal transformation taking place with the increased mobility and settling of people in urban surroundings.</li>
<li>It is a process of geographic transformation that may be explained by the migration of people from rural to urban, suburban and peri-urban areas with the perception of a better quality of life that includes better employment, education, healthcare, transportation, communication, housing, entertainment, etc.</li>
<li>In India, 34% of the total population is urban. According to the 2011 Census, the geographical areas with a minimum population of 5,000 or a population density of 400 per square kilometre (km) area, in which 75% of the male population are engaged in non-agricultural activities, are identified as urban.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Vicious Cycle Between India's Urbanization and Infection</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mobility driven Contamination:</strong> Millions of passengers use local train services for daily commuting in the metro cities of India. Moreover, these coaches travel with a passenger density that is much higher than the recommended density.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lower operating speed and the alarmingly higher passenger density in public transport are the major reasons behind the <strong>higher probability of contact-based infection</strong> due to increased proximity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Problem of Slums:</strong> A key aspect of the urban population distribution in India is its non-uniformity across space.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, in Mumbai and Kolkata, 54% and 32% of the city population, respectively, are in slum areas where the actual population density is much higher than the average population density of these cities.</li>
<li>Infection can easily and rapidly spread in the slum due to high pop density and lack of proper living conditions and den to the other parts of the cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor Civic Amenities:</strong> Indian cities have developed skewed distributions of urban essential services. For example, many of the city slums have inadequate pipeline water supply and sanitation facilitates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This unhygienic living condition acts as a breeding ground for many infections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dismal State of Public Health Infrastructure:</strong> Despite the huge growth in urban population density during the last two decades, there has been no commensurate improvement in the healthcare infrastructure.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended doctor&ndash;patient ratio of 1: 1,000, India currently exhibits a ratio of 1: 10,189, thereby indicating a shortfall of about 6 lakh doctors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unplanned and Haphazard Planning:</strong> The buildings are allowed to be built first and then the other basic municipal services follow from the demand generated from the increased population density, without any feasibility study being conducted. This makes urban growth in India to be predominantly unplanned and market-driven.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, the latest development of most of the cities in India is occurring around the peripheral areas either by filling up low marshy lands and water bodies, or through deforestation.</li>
<li>This makes the new human occupant exposed to the diseases that are vector-borne (e.g. Dengue and Chikengunia).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Level of Pollution:</strong> The growing rate of air pollution due to vehicular traffic and huge construction and demolitions waste increase morbidity amongst the people living the cities. This makes them more vulnerable to infections.</li>
<li><strong>Prevalence of Individualism In Urban Areas:</strong> The self-centric urban life, with a higher access to state power, often makes a section of the people move in a &ldquo;go as you like&rdquo; manner.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, absence or little presence of community life makes it easier for people to be less accountable to the society, thereby posing a challenge in mitigating the disaster of infectious disease at the community level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for revision of the <strong>land use plan</strong> corresponding to the city characteristics to be made with the long-term perspectives.</li>
<li>Urban centers should be made financial autonomous, so that they can take care of maintenance of basic civic amenities and cleanliness.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this pursuit, the idea of municipal bonds should be realised in major urban centers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to check blind migration towards cities, there is a need for providing employment opportunities in rural areas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shyama-prasad-mukherji-rurban-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission</strong></a> is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-december-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AMRUT Mission</strong></a> along with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Smart Cities Mission</strong></a> lays major emphasis on institutional reforms which aim to improve governance and institutional capacities of Urban local bodies..</li>
<li>There is a need for national urbanisation policy, that should address the problems associated with slums.</li>
<li><strong>Mission Indradhanush 2.0</strong> reiterates India's commitment to vaccines for all, as it aims to achieve 90% Full Immunisation Coverage with focus towards districts and urban areas with persistent low levels of immunization.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p><strong>Urban reform p</strong>rocess in India started in early 1990s with the enactment of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. Though progress has been made in developing the framework for reform linked investment in urban infrastructure, a lot needs to be done to make Indian cities more sustainable.</p>
<p>In this context, India&rsquo;s future urban strategy should improve urban governance, delivery of public services, inter-government transfers and capacity building.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587471528_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587471528_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="774" height="1407" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #dce5fc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>India&rsquo;s urban centers are more susceptible to infectious diseases. Discuss</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rV9ANl3JkPw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Follow editorial analysis on our youtube channel. This editorial is based on <strong><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/economy-in-lockdown-the-hindu-editorial-on-indias-worst-case-scenario-post-lockdown/article31383177.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Economy in Lockdown&rdquo;</a></strong>, published in The Hindu on April 20, 2020.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-urban-centers-and-infections'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'SWAYAM and SWAYAM Prabha',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development held a detailed <strong>review</strong> of the National online education platform<strong> SWAYAM</strong> and the 32 Direct-to-Home (DTH) Television Education Channels <strong>SWAYAM Prabha.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Translation to Regional Language:</strong> All the SWAYAM Courses and SWAYAM Prabha videos to be translated to ten regional languages in a time-bound manner.</li>
<li><strong>Acceptance of SWAYAM Credits:</strong> It has also been decided that <strong>University Grants Commission (UGC)</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-of-aicte" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)</strong> </a>will follow up with Universities and institutions to accept SWAYAM credits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will enable students to do part of their course through Massive open online courses (MOOC) and part in various colleges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Incentives to Faculties:</strong> To encourage faculty to provide more courses under SWAYAM, it has been decided to provide appropriate incentives for their career.</li>
</ul>
<h3>SWAYAM</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM),</strong> was launched on July 9, 2017 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development<strong> to provide one integrated platform and portal for online courses.</strong></li>
<li>This covers all higher education subjects and skill sector courses.</li>
<li>The objective is <strong>to ensure that every student in the country has access to the best quality higher education at the affordable cost.</strong></li>
<li>Academicians from hundreds of institutions throughout the country are involved in developing &amp; delivering <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/massive-open-online-courses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Massive open online courses (MOOCs)</strong></a> through SWAYAM in almost all disciplines from senior schooling to Post Graduation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>SWAYAM Prabha</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an initiative of the <strong>Ministry of Human Resources Development</strong> to provide <strong>32 High Quality Educational Channels</strong> through DTH across the length and breadth of the country on 24X7 basis.</li>
<li>It has <strong>curriculum-based course content</strong> covering diverse disciplines.</li>
<li>This is primarily <strong>aimed</strong> at making <strong>quality learning resources</strong> accessible to remote areas where internet availability is still a challenge.</li>
<li>The DTH channels are using the <strong>GSAT-15 satellite</strong> for programme telecasts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>University Grants Commission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It came into existence on 28<sup>th</sup> December, <strong>1953</strong> and became a <strong>statutory</strong> body by an <strong>Act of Parliament in 1956,</strong> for the <strong>coordination, determination and maintenance of standards</strong> of teaching, examination and research in university education.</li>
<li>The head office of the UGC is located in<strong> New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=202421" 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/swayam-and-swayam-prabha'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Daporijo Bridge',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Border Roads Organisation (BRO)</strong> constructed the <strong>Daporijo bridge</strong> over <strong>Subansiri river</strong> in <strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong> in a<strong> record span of just 27 days.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587464020_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587464020_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The bridge is of utmost importance in strategic connectivity as it <strong>links roads leading upto the Line of Actual Control (LAC)</strong> between India and China.</li>
<li><strong>Subansiri River</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Subansiri River<strong> (gold river),</strong> originates in the <strong>Tibet Plateau</strong> and <strong>enters India through Miri hills in Arunachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>largest tributary of Brahmaputra River.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Border Roads Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>conceived and raised in 1960</strong> by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for coordinating the speedy development of a network of roads in the North and the North Eastern border regions of the country.</li>
<li>It works under the administrative control of the <strong>Ministry of Defence.</strong></li>
<li>BRO is regarded as a symbol of nation-building, national integration and an inseparable component in maintaining the security and integrity of the country.</li>
<li>It has diversified into a large spectrum of construction and development works comprising airfields, building projects, defence works and tunneling and has endeared itself to the people.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/key-bridge-in-arunachal-completed-in-record-time/article31392370.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/daporijo-bridge'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Unified Commanders Conference',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Unified Commanders Conference</strong> (UCC) which was scheduled to be held on 22<sup>nd</sup>-23<sup>rd</sup> April, 2020 has been postponed in the wake of the<strong> Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> annual meeting of three armed force services</strong> (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the <strong>Ministry of Defence</strong> to plan India&rsquo;s <strong>long term security.</strong></li>
<li>It provides a <strong>platform for discussions at the apex Level on all the Joint Issues</strong> and <strong>enables stock taking of the previous year</strong> and <strong>planning the way ahead for the next year.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>chaired by the Defence Minister, Minister of State (Defence)</strong> and also <strong>attended by</strong> the ministry top officials,<strong> National Security Advisor</strong> (NSA), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/chief-of-defence-staff-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chief of Defence Staff</strong></a> (CDS), service chiefs and senior officers of the three services.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Security Advisor</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Security Advisor <strong>acts as the secretary of the National Security Council (NSC)</strong> of India and is also the <strong>primary advisor to the Prime Minister.</strong></li>
<li>The current National Security Advisor is<strong> Ajit Doval.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Security Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>three-tiered organization</strong> that <strong>oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern.</strong></li>
<li>India formed it in<strong> 1999,</strong> where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon by it.</li>
<li>NSC acts as the<strong> apex body, headed by the Prime Minister.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It operates <strong>within the executive office of the Prime Minister of India,</strong> liaising between the government&rsquo;s executive branch and the intelligence services, advising leadership on intelligence and security issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs and Finance are its <strong>members.</strong></li>
<li>NSC comprises of the three tier structure- <strong>Strategic Policy Group</strong> (SPG), the <strong>National Security Advisory Board</strong> (NSAB) and the <strong>National Security Council Secretariat.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SPG chaired by the Cabinet Secretary is the principal forum for <strong>inter-ministerial coordination and integration</strong> of the relevant inputs.</li>
<li>The NSAB <strong>undertakes long-term analysis and provides perspectives</strong> on issues of national security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unified-commanders-conference'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture - Road Ahead for Tourism & Hospitality Industry',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tSOnWfKrRPU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The cascading effect of the global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronavirus pandemic</strong></a> has crippled down the tourism and hospitality industry of the country at an astonishing pace. According to the media reports, the <strong>Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA)</strong> in India have come down by around 67% annually in the January&ndash;March quarter, while for the domestic tourists, the figure lowered by nearly 40%.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Coronavirus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronavirus</strong></a> is a large family of viruses that are often the source of <strong>respiratory infections,</strong> causing illness ranging from the common cold to severe diseases like <strong>Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>&lsquo;Corona&rsquo; is a Latin word which means<strong> &lsquo;Crown&rsquo;.</strong> It is named so, because of the presence of <strong>crown-like spikes</strong> on its surface. Under an electron microscope, the image of the virus looks like a<strong> solar corona.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is an <strong>RNA (RiboNucleic Acid) virus</strong> because of which it <strong>mutates at a faster rate.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronaviruses</strong></a> are<strong> &lsquo;zoonotic&rsquo;,</strong> i.e., they are transmitted between<strong> animals and people</strong> (spread from non-human animals (usually vertebrates) to humans).</li>
<li><strong>Incubation Period of Covid-19:</strong> Amount of time between catching the infection and onset of symptoms ranges from <strong>1-12 days</strong> (usually within 5-6 days).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Present State of Tourism and Hospitality Industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of Tourism:</strong> It can be seen in terms of getting foreign exchange, creating employment (directly and indirectly, such as, for service providers, taxi drivers, etc.), building character, tolerance, awareness, etc.</li>
<li><strong>World GDP:</strong> 10% of the world&rsquo;s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) comes from <strong>coastal tourism.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Contribution in India:</strong> India is one of the most digitally advanced traveller nations in terms of <strong>digital tools</strong> being used for <strong>planning, booking and experiencing</strong> a journey.</li>
<li><strong>Job Creation:</strong> These sectors are one of the crucial sectors for the Indian economy which are closely linked to<strong> employment and job creation.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>travel and tourism sector</strong> alone accounted for <strong>9.2%</strong> of India&rsquo;s GDP in 2018 and generated <strong>26.7 million jobs</strong> in that year.</li>
<li>12.75% of the total jobs in the country (directly or indirectly) come from the tourism and hospitality sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Covid-19</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tourism, hospitality and transportation are the three crucial sectors which have come to a standstill because of the <strong>complete lockdown of international borders</strong> and borders within the country and the states.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, it has also affected<strong> shipping, freight &amp; container services</strong> along with the industrial, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-cruise-ship-diamond-princess-coronavirus-sos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>education sector</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The events in the past like tsunamis, 9/11 attack in USA (2001), subprime crisis (2008), etc., impacted one part or region of the world, but this is for the first time that the entire world has come under the influence of a viral pandemic.</li>
<li>Since the lockdown has been announced in India, the<strong> revenues</strong> from the travel and tourism sector have almost come down to<strong> zero.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even, internationally, after the shutdown was announced in New York, London, South Africa etc., the hospitality business suffered a setback.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Tourism creates a large number of <strong>semi-skilled jobs</strong> for the local population in not only local hotels and catering trades, but also in other fields like transport, retailing, heritage interpretation, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The hospitality sector is entirely dependent on travel, trade, and tourism for its sustenance. The massive spate of cancellations in the recent weeks have largely eroded the ability of hotels across India to remain operational (without piling up worrisome losses).</li>
<li>It is believed that around 70% out of a total 5.5 crore workforce could get unemployed due to this lockdown. <strong>Job losses and layoffs</strong> have already begun throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Underlying Challenges &amp; Government Interventions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Even though the share of the hospitality and tourism sector in the total GDP is around 8-9%, the biggest impact due to the Coronavirus pandemic is expected on the<strong> jobs.</strong> Job losses or the salary cuts pose a serious concern.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Tourism</strong> is closely working with the industry in order to deal with the issue of survival, payment of salaries in the time of liquidity crunch, etc.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Finance</strong> is also taking into account the current situation, so that appropriate relief measures could be undertaken in a time-bound manner. For instance, the ministry recently announced the moratorium on the term loans, liquidity being given, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, some issues need urgent redressal, like, how to give the fixed-term loans in a better way, provide liquidity and support to the unorganized workforce, EPF (Employees' Provident Fund) and ESI (Employees' State Insurance) benefits, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>National Role:</strong> These sectors can play a major national role where hospital bases/quarantine centres can be set up in hotels or in the railway coaches.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, certain measures have to be kept in mind while using them for quarantine like, the air conditioning duct in them can become a carrier of the virus thereby <strong>protective gears</strong> have to be used.</li>
<li>Proper training needs to be given to the hotel staff in order to carefully deal with &amp; dispose off the medical waste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Keeping Functional:</strong> Once the enterprise shuts down, it becomes difficult to revive it. Hence, it is better to keep it in functional mode, so that the growth can come back once the situation comes under control.</li>
<li><strong>Tax Concessions:</strong> There is a need to <strong>provide concessions</strong> and build a system which does not cost anyone money but helps to induce the demand. For instance, certain facilities if remain unused because of the government&rsquo;s directive, then they should not be charged with excise duty, property tax, license or lease. This would bring a big relief &amp; support to the affected sectors in the short term.</li>
<li><strong>Incentivizing &amp; Subsidies:</strong> Measures should be undertaken to <strong>incentivize tourism</strong> whether domestic or international. Also, some form of <strong>subsidy</strong> can be given to keep the people employed as done in the United Kingdom (UK).</li>
<li><strong>Re-engineer Business Model:</strong> Hospitality sector, apart from relying on the government interventions, should focus on reengineering their business models, in the light of change in social behavior of the public due to the Covid outbreak, so that people feel more<strong> safe &amp; secure</strong> while using their services. For example, the aviation sector&rsquo;s idea of keeping the middle seats or alternative rows empty, is a welcome move.</li>
</ul>
<p>India&rsquo;s travel and tourism industry has huge growth potential, which can be achieved by providing higher budgetary allocations and low-cost healthcare facilities. Once the outbreak of the virus will be contained, the world will be ready to travel again. Hence, we need to ensure that India acts like a<strong> safe destination,</strong> by focusing &amp; relying upon <strong>&lsquo;Dekho Apna Desh&rsquo;</strong> message to promote domestic tourism.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-road-ahead-for-tourism-hospitality-industry'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Water Quality Improves in Yamuna',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a report by the <strong>Delhi Pollution Control Committee</strong> (DPCC), the <strong>quality of water in the river Yamuna has improved</strong> along the Delhi stretch, compared to April 2019.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>DPCC, along with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reducing-so2-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong> </a>(CPCB) carried out the study after being asked by a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal</strong></a> (NGT) appointed monitoring committee.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-lockdown-improved-air-quality" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>less air pollution and improved air quality</strong></a> were also noticed in various cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>DPCC collected <strong>water samples from nine locations</strong> along the Yamuna and <strong>twenty locations of drains</strong> and compared the different parameters with values from April 2019.</li>
<li>According to the report, the <strong>pollution has reduced between 18% to 21%</strong> at various places.</li>
<li>Five locations have shown <strong>18%-33% reduction</strong> in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/analysis-of-water-in-ulsoor-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biochemical Oxygen Demand</a> <strong>(BOD) levels.</strong> The rest of the locations have shown slight to considerable increase in BOD levels.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Four of the nine locations where <strong>dissolved oxygen (DO)</strong> was <strong>nil in 2019</strong> showed<strong> DO levels of 2.3-4.8 mg/l</strong> in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the <strong>Yamuna has still not met</strong> the <strong>&ldquo;water quality criteria&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Lockdown:</strong> Earlier, a <strong>Delhi Jal Board</strong> (DJB) <strong>report</strong> had also highlighted the improved quality of water due to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lockdown</strong> </a>(to curb the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>).</li>
<li><strong>Increased Flow: Haryana has increased the discharge of water</strong> which has also contributed to less pollution<strong> due to dilution of fresh water.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Biochemical Oxygen Demand</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the amount of <strong>dissolved oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose organic matter</strong> (waste or pollutants) under <strong>aerobic reaction</strong> (in the presence of oxygen).</li>
<li>The <strong>more organic matter</strong> there is (e.g., in sewage and polluted bodies of water), the <strong>greater is the BOD;</strong> and the <strong>greater the BOD,</strong> the <strong>lower the amount of dissolved oxygen</strong> available for higher animals such as fishes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>higher BOD level means that more oxygen is needed</strong> to decompose a large quantity of organic matter present in the water.</li>
<li>So, a <strong>higher value</strong> of BOD means that the <strong>water is more polluted.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The BOD is therefore a <strong>reliable gauge of the organic pollution</strong> of a water body.</li>
<li>One of the main reasons for <strong>treating wastewater prior to its discharge into a water resource</strong> is to<strong> lower its BOD</strong> i.e. to reduce its need of oxygen and thereby lessen its demand from the streams, lakes, rivers, or estuaries into which it is released.</li>
<li><strong>Dissolved Oxygen:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water</strong> which is needed for aquatic life to survive. The <strong>quality of water increases with an increase in DO levels.</strong></li>
<li>A DO level of <strong>5 mg/l or above</strong> is the recommended level for <strong>bathing in a river.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Yamuna</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The river Yamuna, a <strong>major tributary of river Ganges,</strong> originates from the <strong>Yamunotri glacier</strong> near <strong>Bandarpoonch peaks</strong> in the <strong>Mussoorie range of the lower Himalayas</strong> at an<strong> elevation of about 6387 meters above mean sea level</strong> in <strong>Uttarkashi</strong> district of <strong>Uttarakhand.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>meets the Ganges</strong> at the <strong>Sangam (where <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-fact-for-prelims-4th-march-2019-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kumbh</a> mela is held) in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prayagraj-on-the-verge-of-an-epidemic-after-kumbh-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prayagraj</a>, <a href="/know-your-state/know-your-state-uttar-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uttar Pradesh</a></strong> after flowing through <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gairsain-summer-capital-of-uttarakhand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uttarakhand</a>, Himachal Pradesh, <a href="/know-your-state/haryana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Haryana</a> and Delhi.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Length:</strong> 1376 km</li>
<li><strong>Important Dam:</strong> Lakhwar-Vyasi Dam (Uttarakhand), Tajewala Barrage Dam (Haryana) etc.</li>
<li><strong>Important Tributaries: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ramgarh-dam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chambal</a>,</strong> Sindh, <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/ken-betwa-interlink-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Betwa and Ken</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587462868_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587462868_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="618" height="516" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/yamuna-water-quality-improves-during-lockdown-govt-report/article31392030.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/water-quality-improves-in-yamuna'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'India’s New FDI Norms Violate WTO: China',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently, China has accused India of violating the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organization WTO&rsquo;s</strong></a> <strong>&ldquo;principle of non-discrimination&rdquo;</strong> after the<strong> India tweaked its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)</strong> policy to make its<strong> approval mandatory for firms in neighbouring countries</strong> to invest in Indian companies.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-fdi-rule" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> tweaked its FDI policy, 2017</a></strong> days after China&rsquo;s central bank, the People&rsquo;s Bank of China <strong>(PBoC), raised its shareholding in Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) to over 1%</strong> during the recent stock market slump.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> The <strong>additional barriers</strong> for investors <strong>from neighbouring countries violate WTO&rsquo;s principle of non-discrimination,</strong> and go against the general trend of liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s decision <strong>do not conform to the consensus of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20</a> leaders and trade ministers</strong> to realize a free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable, and stable trade and investment environment, and to keep markets open.</li>
<li>The <strong>principle of non-discrimination</strong> stipulates that a member <strong>shall not discriminate between products from different trading partners</strong> (giving them equally <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/generalized-system-of-preference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;most favoured-nation&rdquo;</strong></a> or MFN status); and between its own and foreign products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand: The amendments are not prohibiting investments,</strong> It has just <strong>changed the approval route</strong> for these investments. There are <strong>many sectors</strong> in India that are already subject to this approval route.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India said countries like <strong>Germany, Australia and Spain</strong> have also tightened their foreign investment policies to <strong>prevent hostile takeovers by overseas investors.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s move is seen as <strong>checking &ldquo;opportunistic takeovers&rdquo;</strong> of Indian firms hit by the ongoing Covid outbreak and lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s new amendments to foreign investment <strong>do not apply to all countries</strong> but just those which <strong>share borders with India.</strong></li>
<li>There will be <strong>different sets of procedures for the same set of investments</strong> based on which country the company is investing from.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign direct investment (FDI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an investment from a party in one country into a business or corporation in another country with the intention of <strong>establishing a lasting interest.</strong></li>
<li>Lasting interest differentiates <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FDI</strong></a> from <strong>foreign portfolio investments,</strong> where investors passively hold securities from a foreign country.</li>
<li>Foreign direct investment can be made by expanding one&rsquo;s business into a foreign country or by becoming the owner of a company in another country.</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s FDI in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China&rsquo;s FDI has grown five-fold since 2014 and, as of December 2019, its cumulative investment in India has exceeded $8 billion.</li>
<li>A Brookings India paper pegs the total current and planned Chinese investment in India as being over $26 billion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>World Trade Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.</li>
<li>The Uruguay Round of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-moved-to-wto-on-us-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)</strong></a>, conducted from 1987 to 1994 culminated in the <strong>Marrakesh agreement,</strong> which established the WTO.</li>
<li>The WTO has 164 members (including European Union) and 23 observer governments (like Iran, Iraq, Bhutan, Libya etc).</li>
<li>The WTO&rsquo;s global system lowers trade barriers through <strong>negotiation</strong> and operates under the <strong>principle of non-discrimination.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/china-says-new-fdi-norms-violate-wto-officials-say-others-put-firewalls-too-6371743/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-new-fdi-norms-violate-wto-china'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Civil Services Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Every year,<strong> 21<sup>st</sup> April</strong> is celebrated as the <strong>Civil Services Day</strong> by the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is celebrated as an <strong>occasion for the civil servants</strong> to rededicate themselves to the causes of citizens and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.</li>
<li>The <strong>date is chosen to commemorate</strong> the day when the first Home Minister of Independent India, <strong>Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He referred to <strong>civil servants as</strong> the <strong>&lsquo;Steel Frame of India&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> first function on civil services day</strong> was held in <strong>Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in 2006.</strong></li>
<li>On this day, the<strong> Prime Minister&rsquo;s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration</strong> are presented to Districts/Implementing Units for implementation of Priority programme and innovation categories.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These awards bring together civil servants to connect with each other and learn the good practices being implemented across the nation in the field of public grievance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He was born on <strong>31<sup>st</sup> October, 1875</strong> in <strong>Nadiad, Gujarat.</strong></li>
<li>He was the<strong> first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister</strong> of independent India.</li>
<li>He played an important role in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/integration-of-princely-states-after-independence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>integration of many Indian princely states</strong></a> to make an<strong> Indian federation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the time of independence, he played a key role in convincing several princely states to align with the Indian Union.</li>
<li>He also worked hard as a <strong>social leader for the independence</strong> of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Women of Bardoli</strong> bestowed the title <strong>&lsquo;Sardar&rsquo;</strong> on Vallabhbhai Patel, which means &lsquo;a Chief or a Leader&rsquo;.</li>
<li>He is recognized as the real unifier of India for his colossal contribution to integrate and make India a united <strong>(Ek Bharat)</strong> and an independent nation.</li>
<li>He requested the people of India to live together by uniting in order to create <strong>Shresth Bharat</strong> (Foremost India).</li>
<li>He is also remembered as the <strong>&lsquo;Patron saint of India&rsquo;s civil servants&rsquo;</strong> as he <strong>established the modern all-India services system</strong>.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/statue-of-unity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Statue of Unity</strong></a> at Kevadiya in Narmada district of Gujarat was built in his honour.</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/civil-services-day'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Social Vaccine',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Health Minister has recently asserted that <strong>lockdowns</strong> and <strong>social distancing</strong> are the most effective <strong>&ldquo;social vaccines&rdquo;</strong> available to fight the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic (Covid-19).</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Social Vaccine</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a metaphor for a <strong>series of social and behavioural measures</strong> that governments can use to <strong>raise public consciousness about unhealthy situations.</strong></li>
<li>This is made possible through social mobilisation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Social mobilisation</strong> is a process whereby people are organized in order to enable them to collectively think and act upon their development.</li>
<li>It can <strong>empower populations</strong> to resist unhealthy practices, increase resilience, and foster advocacy for change. This can ultimately <strong>drive political will</strong> to take action in the interests of society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A social vaccine<strong> addresses barriers and facilitators of behaviour change</strong> (attitudinal, social, cultural, or economic) and supplements <strong>Information, Education, and Communication (IEC)</strong> with targeted <strong>Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)</strong> strategies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>SBCC</strong> is the strategic use of communication approaches to promote changes in knowledge, attitudes, norms, beliefs and behaviors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effectiveness of a social vaccine during Pandemic</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When applied to pandemics, the effectiveness of a social vaccine is<strong> determined by the extent of dissemination and uptake of accurate information</strong> about personal infection risk and methods to reduce the risk.</li>
<li><strong>Uganda and Thailand used SBCC strategies effectively during the HIV/AIDS pandemic</strong> to bring down the incidence of HIV infection, <strong>before Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART) was introduced</strong> in 1995.&nbsp;</li>
<li>These countries demonstrated how an effective social vaccine helped <strong>&ldquo;flatten the curve&rdquo;</strong> till effective treatments were discovered that dramatically reduced mortality, viral loads and infection transmission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Vaccine amidst Covid-19</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The skills and experiences from controlling HIV/AIDS pandemic can be innovatively adapted for the current pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Use of IEC and SBCC strategies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Maintaining physical distancing in social situations and wearing cloth masks or facial coverings in public by 100% of people is key to preventing infection along with regular disinfection of oneself and one&rsquo;s surroundings.</li>
<li><strong>People are more likely to practise these behaviours if all leaders (without exception) promote them</strong> publicly and consistently, the whole community believes in their importance, and if proper information, support, and materials are available and accessible.</li>
<li><strong>Building trust</strong> is key if government-imposed mitigation strategies are to be embraced by the population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Practising Social Mobilisation</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will make people to hold leaders accountable to invest in: rapidly scaling-up testing; meeting the basic needs of vulnerable sections; not communalising or politicising the pandemic; providing adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to front-line workers in health, etc. and not compromising the privacy and dignity of infected individuals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Role of Social Vaccine in Controlling HIV/AIDS Pandemic</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Outbreak of the Disease:</strong> The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/hiv-new-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)</strong></a> that causes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/round-table-of-unaids" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)</strong></a> is believed to have made the zoonotic jump through chimpanzees on humans in Africa as early as the 1920s, but the HIV/AIDS epidemic was detected in 1981 and was a pandemic by 1985.</li>
<li><strong>Panic Situation:</strong> The cause was unknown (till 1984) and diagnostic tests were unavailable (till 1985). Since there was no treatment, a diagnosis of HIV infection was a death sentence.</li>
<li><strong>Impact</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Widespread fears</strong> of infection rendered many infected people homeless and unemployed. Many were denied access to care.</li>
<li><strong>Stigma, discrimination and violence</strong> towards infected individuals, their families, social groups (sex-workers, gay men, drug users, truck drivers, migrants), and even health workers, were common.</li>
<li><strong>Conspiracy theories, misinformation and unproven remedies</strong> were widely propagated.</li>
<li><strong>The unpreparedness of health systems,</strong> societal prejudices and socio-economic inequities were starkly exposed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Social Vaccine</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reducing HIV transmission centred on acknowledging that everybody was potentially infected &mdash; even those apparently healthy &mdash; and that infection occurred predominantly through sexual transmission and intravenous drug use.</li>
<li>The <strong>core preventive messages</strong> involved being faithful to one sexual partner or having safe sex, etc.These measures conflicted with prevailing cultural, social, religious, behavioural and legal norms.</li>
<li>However, IEC and SBCC activities targeted (and partnered) individuals, families, community leaders, and social and health systems to change attitudes and behaviours. Religious and community leaders were key change agents. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thailand used humour to defuse social taboos about publicly discussing sex.</li>
<li>Coercive or punitive methods acted counter-productive in controlling HIV/AIDS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These strategies and advocacy against stigma and discrimination were also successfully adapted in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is still no biomedical vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Considering the limited efficacy and uptake of influenza vaccines, vaccines for SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 may not provide a panacea.</li>
<li>Effective treatments to reduce deaths with Covid-19 may emerge, but till then, and even afterwards, <strong>a social vaccine is needed.</strong></li>
<li>A social vaccine <strong>can build societal immunity</strong> to the devastating effects of future pandemics by the lessons learned about addressing the root causes, and our responses to the current one.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-shot-of-hope-with-a-game-changing-vaccine/article31383184.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/social-vaccine'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'Currency Exchange Rate Index',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>rupee has been losing value (or depreciating or weakening) against the dollar</strong> over the past few months.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The exchange rate of rupee is one of the markers to compare <strong>Indian economy&rsquo;s competitiveness vis-a-vis other economies</strong> (also amid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> outbreak).</li>
<li><strong>Another measure</strong> for comparison is looking at the <strong>growth rates of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</a> and Gross Value Added (GVA).</strong></li>
<li><strong>High-frequency data like sales of automobiles</strong> etc. can also be used as a proxy to compare economies.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Exchange Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>price of one currency in terms of the other</strong> is known as the exchange rate.</li>
<li>A currency&rsquo;s exchange rate vis-a-vis another currency reflects the relative demand among the holders of the two currencies.</li>
<li><strong>For e.g.</strong> If the US dollar is stronger than the rupee (implying value of dollar is higher with respect to rupee), then it shows that the demand for dollars (by those holding rupee) is more than the demand for rupees (by those holding dollars).</li>
<li>This demand in turn <strong>depends on the relative demand for the goods and services</strong> of the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Index for Exchange Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since a country interacts with many countries, it wants to <strong>see the movement of the domestic currency relative to all other currencies in a single number</strong> rather than by looking at bilateral rates.</li>
<li>That is, it would want an index for the exchange rate against other currencies, <strong>just as it uses a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/retail-inflation-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">price index (CPI or WPI)</a></strong> to show how the prices of goods in general have changed.</li>
<li>The Reserve Bank of India tabulates the <strong>rupee&rsquo;s Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER)</strong> in relation to the currencies of 36 trading partner countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is a<strong> weighted index &mdash;</strong> that is, countries with <strong>which India trades more are given a greater weight in the index.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>decrease</strong> in this index denotes <strong>depreciation in rupee&rsquo;s value</strong> whereas an increase reflects appreciation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is one more measure that is even better at capturing the actual change. This is called the <strong>Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER)</strong> and is essentially an <strong>improvement over the NEER</strong> because it also <strong>takes into account the domestic inflation in the various economies.</strong></li>
<li>The REER is the <strong>weighted average of NEER adjusted by the ratio of domestic prices to foreign price.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Inflation on Exchange Rate</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Many factors affect the exchange rate</strong> between any two currencies ranging from the interest rates to political stability (less of either results in a weaker currency). Inflation is one of the most important factors.</li>
<li><strong>Illustration</strong>: Imagine that the Rupee-Dollar exchange rate was exactly 1 in the first year. This means that with Rs 100, one could buy something that was priced at $100 in the US. But suppose the Indian inflation is 20% and the US inflation is zero. Then, in the second year, an Indian would need Rs 120 to buy the same item priced at $100, and the rupee&rsquo;s exchange rate would depreciate (reduce in value) to 1.20.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison between NEER and REER</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587454106_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587454106_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="460" height="367" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the chart shows, in <strong>NEER terms,</strong> the rupee has depreciated to its lowest level since November 2018. The rupee has been steadily losing value &mdash; <strong>showing the Indian economy&rsquo;s reducing competitiveness&mdash;</strong> since July 2019.</li>
<li>In <strong>REER terms</strong> also, the<strong> rupee has depreciated</strong> in March and fallen to its lowest level since September 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>difference</strong> between trends of NEER and REER was<strong> due to India&rsquo;s domestic retail inflation being lower relative to the other 36 countries.</strong> As domestic inflation started rising, the REER, too, started depreciating like the NEER.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong> is a measure of economic activity in a country. It is the total value of a country&rsquo;s annual output of goods and services. It gives the economic output from the consumers&rsquo; side.</li>
<li><strong>Gross Value Added (GVA)</strong> is the sum of a country&rsquo;s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy. It provides the rupee value for the amount of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have gone into the production of those goods and services.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-covid-19-is-hurting-the-rupees-exchange-rate-with-other-currencies-6371536/" 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/currency-exchange-rate-index'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Blood Shortage Due to Lockdown',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 lockdown</strong></a> hospitals across India are <strong>facing acute shortage of blood</strong> and have started contacting individual blood donors to meet the demand.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hospitals are calling listed donors and those with rare blood groups to come in and donate.</li>
<li>The <strong>Indian Red Cross Society Blood Bank</strong> has also noted that there is a drop in blood collection. The crisis is such that there is a shortage of the most <strong>commonly seen B-positive blood group.</strong></li>
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> <strong>(WHO)</strong> recommendation, <strong>blood requirement of 1% of a country&rsquo;s population</strong> be used as an estimate of its <strong>blood needs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By this measure, <strong>India was short of 1.9 million units of blood</strong> as per data presented to the Lok Sabha <strong>in 2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Worst Hit Due to Blood Shortage:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Patients requiring <strong>dialysis, having blood disorders, and pregnant women</strong> are the worst hit due to blood shortage.</li>
<li>Patients from<strong> small cities and villages</strong> are also the worst hit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Thalassemics Fearful</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thalassemia patients need repeated blood transfusions to survive. Many thalassemics take blood for their transfusions from the Indian Red Cross Society Blood Bank, whose camps are being cancelled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the <strong>National Blood Transfusion Council,</strong> there are 2,023 blood banks in India, which receive 78% of their blood supply from voluntary donors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Due to lockdown <strong>blood banks collection camps are cancelled.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Donors are hesitant to travel</strong> to hospitals to donate blood amid strict lockdown. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, <strong>donor passes had not been made</strong> by some hospitals, which is adding to the problem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transportation almost closed</strong> due to lockdown.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiative</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Health Ministry</strong> has asked hospitals to start working on<strong> ensuring sufficient stock of blood for transfusion</strong> by promoting voluntary blood donors and utilising various services like mobile blood collection vans with the help of the Indian Red Cross Society.</li>
<li>It has asked the Indian Red Cross Society to <strong>send mobile blood collection vans to the premises of regular blood donors</strong> to facilitate them for blood donation.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Thalassemia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>blood disorder passed down through families (inherited)</strong> in which the body makes an <strong>abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin.</strong></li>
<li>Thalassemia is caused by mutations in the gene that make hemoglobin.</li>
<li>The disorder results in large numbers of red blood cells being destroyed, which leads to <strong>anemia.</strong></li>
<li>Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Red Cross Society</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) was established in 1920 under the <strong>Indian Red Cross Society Act.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>President of India is the President</strong> and the <strong>Union Health Minister is the Chairman of the Society.</strong></li>
<li>The Indian Red Cross is a <strong>voluntary humanitarian organization</strong> providing relief in times of disasters/emergencies and promotes health &amp; care of the vulnerable people and communities.</li>
<li>The <strong>Mission</strong> of the Indian Red Cross is to inspire, encourage and initiate at all times all forms of humanitarian activities so that human suffering can be minimized and even prevented and thus contribute to creating more congenial climate for peace.</li>
<li>It is a leading member of the largest independent humanitarian organization in the world, the <strong>International Red Cross &amp; Red Crescent Movement.</strong></li>
<li>The movement has three main components, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC),</li>
<li>192 National Societies and International Federation of Red Cross</li>
<li>Red Crescent Societies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>National Blood Transfusion Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) was constituted in <strong>1996 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To <strong>promote voluntary blood donation, ensure safe blood transfusion, provide infrastructure</strong> to blood centres,<strong> develop human resources</strong> and<strong> formulate </strong>and<strong> implement the Blood Policy.</strong></li>
<li>NBTC is the <strong>apex body</strong> in relation to all matters pertaining to<strong> operation of blood centres.</strong></li>
<li>The NBTC is the central body that coordinates the State Blood Transfusion Councils (SBTCs) and also ensures involvement of other Ministries and other health programmes for various activities related to <strong>Blood Transfusion Services</strong> (BTS).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/blood-banks-running-on-low-reserves-seek-urgent-help/article31389707.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/blood-shortage-due-to-lockdown'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'New FDI Rule',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Government of India has made its approval for<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revised-fdi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)</strong></a> by neighbouring countries mandatory.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This revised FDI policy aims to curb opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of Indian companies due to the current<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>FDI in India:</strong> FDI is allowed under two modes - either through the <strong>automatic route,</strong> for which companies don't need <strong>government approval,</strong> or through the government route, for which companies need a go-ahead from the centre.</li>
<li><strong>According to the new FDI policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An entity of a country, which shares a land border with India or where the beneficial owner of an investment into India is situated in or is a citizen of any such country, <strong>can invest only under the Government route.</strong></li>
<li>A transfer of ownership in an FDI deal that benefits any country that shares a border with India will also need government approval.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India shares land borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Investors from countries not covered by the new policy only have to<strong> inform the RBI after a transaction</strong> rather than asking for prior permission from the relevant government department.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>earlier FDI policy was limited to allowing only Bangladesh and Pakistan via the government route</strong> in all sectors. The revised rule has now brought companies from China under the government route filter.</li>
<li>China's footprint in the Indian business space has been expanding rapidly, especially since 2014.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese investment in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The net Chinese investment in India, <strong>which was $1.6 billion in 2014, shot up five-folds to at least $8 billion (Rs 60,800 crore) in the next three years &mdash;</strong> with a noticeable shift from state-driven to market-driven investment from the Chinese private sector.</li>
<li><strong>Official figures underestimate the amount of investment:</strong> They neither account for all Chinese companies&rsquo; acquisitions of stakes in the technology sector nor investments from China routed through third-party countries, such as Singapore. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For instance, a $ 504-million investment from the Singapore arm of the mobile firm Xiaomi would not figure in official statistics because of how investments are measured.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has been seen that the <strong>Chinese firms have escaped the kind of scrutiny in India</strong> that their investments have attracted in the West despite several high-profile investments and acquisitions.</li>
<li>Another concern is that there is <strong>no clear separation between the Chinese state and private business.</strong> They work closely in pursuing many goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587386611_image2.PNG" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587386611_image2.PNG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="611" height="206" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Foreign Direct Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FDI is an<strong> investment from a party in one country into a business or corporation in another country</strong> with the intention of establishing a lasting interest.</li>
<li>Lasting interest differentiates FDI from <strong>foreign portfolio investments, where investors passively hold securities from a foreign country.</strong></li>
<li>Foreign direct investment can be made by<strong> expanding one&rsquo;s business into a foreign country or by becoming the owner of a company in another country.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/china-investment-in-india-govt-norms-fdi-6369941/" 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/new-fdi-rule'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Review of FDI Norms',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on &ldquo;<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/fdi-from-china-coronavirus-bse-sensex-6369940/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Resetting balance</strong></a>&rdquo;, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/india-is-right-to-impose-barriers-on-china-but-there-is-a-price-tag/story-p7UwGH2tstQuOUcin4QZhN.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India is right to impose barriers on China. But there is a price tag</strong></a>&rdquo;, &ldquo;<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/boost-not-restrict-foreign-investment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Boost, not restrict, foreign investment</strong></a>&rdquo;. It talks about the implications of a recent change in FDI norms for India economy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, India has revised its FDI rules amid the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>. Under the revised norms, the <strong>automatic route is now closed to investors from India&rsquo;s land neighbours,</strong> with special reference to China.</p>
<p>This new regulation is based on the fear that China may take advantage of the <strong>rock-bottom valuations</strong> of the firms of national importance in the backdrop of the lockdown. For example, recently <strong>People&rsquo;s Bank of China purchased shares of HDFC Bank at a very low price.</strong></p>
<p>However, India is facing a <strong>dilemma on this front,</strong> as the<strong> foreign capital remains crucial to the country&rsquo;s economic success,</strong> and will be doubly important as India tries to revive its economy.</p>
<p><strong>Thus, India needs to balance between its economic needs and combating neo-imperialist tendencies of China.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Revised FDI Rules</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Companies in any country that shares a border with India will have to approach the government for investing in India and not go via the automatic route.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Automatic Route</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the Automatic route, companies only need to inform the authorities after the investment is made</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Government Approval route</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As per the Government route, prior approval is mandatory before investment.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Neo-Imperialism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the new wave of imperialism reflected by use of power and economic influence to dominate smaller countries.</li>
<li>Modern imperialistic practices like the economic desire for new resources and markets, and a "civilizing mission" ethos can be termed as neo-imperialist strategies.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Neo-Imperialist Trade Practices of China</h3>
<p>The overt objective of revision of this FDI policy, is to guard against<strong> &ldquo;opportunistic takeovers and acquisitions&rdquo;</strong> of Indian companies brought about by low valuations amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. However, India is also apprehensive about Chinese investment on the following accounts:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China has alleged by both the developing and developed world of its efforts to control infrastructural, industrial and technological assets in these countries. Thereby, seeking to have a<strong> strategic advantage through economic interdependence.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ever since China became central to global supply chains, it has used perverse industrial tools to climb the value chain, <strong>exacerbate trade imbalances and undermine global competition.</strong></li>
<li>For example, cheap imports backed by <strong>China's state capitalism</strong> have <strong>undermined India&rsquo;s manufacturing sector</strong> and led to a massive trade deficit..</li>
<li>China has also <strong>blocked market access</strong> to Indian companies in pharmaceuticals, dairy products and IT services.</li>
<li>This unfavourable balance of trade was one of the main reasons for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-exits-rcep" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India to walk out of the RCEP negotiations.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>State Capitalism</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The heads of the major companies become subordinate government agencies.</li>
<li>Through forceful control of the state, worker organizations are robbed of their rights to the representation of their interests and forcibly incorporated into the planned system.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China is using the <strong>Digital Silk Road,</strong> a subset of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)</strong></a> to enhance digital connectivity abroad, extend its influence, and further China&rsquo;s ascendance as a technological superpower.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has been able to do this by monopolising strategic industrial technology through the<strong> &lsquo;Made in China 2025&rsquo; initiative.</strong> One such example of this technology can be stated as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/5g-is-india-prepared" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5G</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the past few years, Chinese investors have had big stakes in 18 of India&rsquo;s 23 unicorns (startups with over $1 billion). For example, Ola, PayTM, Byju&rsquo;s etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will hamper the prospect of Indian unicorns becoming global giants like Amazon, Uber etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of Chinese Investments</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Greater FDI is welcome, especially during the economic slowdown and China has been the fastest-growing source of foreign investment in the last five years.</li>
<li>If India is to make its way to a <strong>$5 trillion economy by 2025,</strong> it may find it difficult to do so without a more robust trade and investment relationship with China.</li>
<li>FDI from China will help in mitigating the growing disadvantage against trade deficit with China.</li>
<li>The recent changes in FDI norms would be a setback to India&rsquo;s decades-long attempt to be more attractive to investors from all countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal trade</strong> should work out a <strong>clear process and precise regulations</strong> to decide what is an acceptable investment. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India should welcome investment in enhancing the country&rsquo;s <strong>productive capacity</strong> regardless of where it comes from, except, of course, in sectors where control of that production capacity has a bearing on national security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need for India to develop <strong>new legal and institutional tools.</strong> As the ones employed by US and EU member states such as data protection laws or revised mergers and acquisitions rules, and institutional bodies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Without the appropriate legal and regulatory sanction, India might experience reciprocal measures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to protect India&rsquo;s unicorn, there is need to devise a <strong>scheme of preferential or special shares</strong> which a unicorn can issue to foriegn investor.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These shares will preserve the decision making by Indian innovators, while also providing them access to foreign capital.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>At this crucial juncture of <strong>economics,</strong> where the world is witnessing another economic crisis, India needs to expand its overseas economic engagements, even while remaining sensitive to its overall economic sustainability needs.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587386235_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587386235_image5.jpg" caption="false" width="406" height="491" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0808; background-color: #dbebff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>India needs to balance between its economic needs and combating neo-imperialist tendencies of China. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pSvhGGpf1Aw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Follow editorial analysis on our youtube channel. This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/institutional-fixes-and-the-need-for-ethical-politics/article31370475.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Institutional fixes and the need for ethical politics</strong></a>, published in The Hindu on April 18, 2020.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/review-of-fdi-norms'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Jal Shakti',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Jal Shakti</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has created a new Ministry called &lsquo;Jal Shakti&rsquo; after merging Ministries of Water Resources, River Development &amp; Ganga Rejuvenation along with Drinking Water and Sanitation.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Jal Shakti&rsquo; ministry will encompass issues ranging from providing clean drinking water, international and inter-states water disputes, to the Namami Gange project aimed at cleaning Ganga and its tributaries, and sub-tributaries.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ganga-vriksharopan-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Namami Gange</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as &lsquo;Flagship Programme&rsquo; by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.</li>
<li>The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program ManagementGroups (SPMGs).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aims to provide <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-ensuring-water-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>individual household water tap connection</strong></a> to every rural household in the country by 2024.</li>
<li>It envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.</li>
<li>The Scheme will be <strong>implemented</strong> through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/piped-water-connection-by-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>institutional mechanism</strong></a> <strong>at four levels-</strong> National, State, District, and Gram Panchayat, in which a major role will be played by <strong>women and the Paani Samitis</strong> or the user group.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587381868_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587381868_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="555" height="675" /></a></p>
<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-ensuring-water-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Read More: The Big Picture- Ensuring Water Security</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Shakti Abhiyan</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a collaborative effort of the Central and State Governments to accelerate progress on water conservation activities in the most water stressed blocks and districts of India.</li>
<li>The campaign aims to promote focused interventions for water collection and conservation, including restoration and renovation of traditional water bodies.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rural-sanitation-strategy-2019-2029" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>10 Year Rural Sanitation Strategy (2019-2029)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, has launched the 10 Year Rural Sanitation Strategy (2019-2029).</li>
<li>It focuses on sustaining the sanitation behavior change that has been achieved under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G), and <strong>increasing access to solid and liquid waste management.</strong></li>
<li>The 10 year strategy focuses on the need for States/UTs to continue their efforts to sustain the gains of the mission through capacity strengthening, IEC (Information, education and communication), organic waste management, plastic waste management, grey water management and black water management.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-meeting-of-national-ganga-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Ganga Council</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Prime Minister chaired the first meeting of the National Ganga Council in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh in December 2019.</li>
<li>The meeting was aimed at reinforcing the importance of a &lsquo;Ganga-centric&rsquo; approach in all departments of the concerned states as well as relevant Central Ministries.</li>
<li>The Council has been given overall responsibility for superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including Ganga and its tributaries.</li>
<li>The Government has set up the Clean Ganga Fund (CGF) to facilitate contributions from individuals, NRIs, corporate entities for funding Ganga rejuvenation projects.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587381900_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1587381900_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="636" height="477" /></a></p>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/15-point-directive-to-clean-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NMCG is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).</li>
<li>It is a registered society, originally formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 12<sup>th</sup> August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.</li>
<li>However, both NGRBA and NMCG function under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.</li>
<li>Main pillars of the programme include sewerage treatment infrastructure, river-front development, river-surface cleaning, bio-diversity, afforestation, public awareness industrial effluent monitoring, and ganga gram.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/flood-management-and-border-areas-programme-fmbap-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FMBAP has been approved by the Union Cabinet.</li>
<li>The FMBAP Scheme will be implemented throughout the country for effective flood management, erosion control and anti-sea erosion.</li>
<li>The proposal will benefit towns, villages, industrial establishments, communication links, agricultural fields, infrastructure etc. from floods and erosion in the country.</li>
<li>The catchment area treatment works will help in reduction of sediment load into rivers.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atal-bhujal-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Bhujal Yojana</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a central sector scheme for sustainable management of groundwater with community participation.</li>
<li>It envisages people's participation through the formation of &lsquo;Water User Associations&rsquo;, water budgeting, preparation &amp; implementation of Gram-panchayat-wise water security plans, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By alleviating 60% of the world&rsquo;s share of people defecating in the open, India has significantly contributed to the global achievement of SDG 6.</li>
<li>The 6<sup>th</sup> India Water Week-2019 was observed from September 24, 2019. The theme of the India Water Week-2019 was &lsquo;Water Cooperation &ndash; Coping with 21st Century Challenges.&rsquo;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been organizing India Water Week since 2012 as an international event to focus on water related issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>First HAM project in sewerage sector:</strong> Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Sarai in Haridwar has become the first Hybrid Annuity (HAM) Based Public Private Partnership Model STP.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>Under<strong> Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM),</strong> the central government bears 40% of the project cost and the remaining amount is arranged by the developer. As per the design, the government contributes 40% of the project cost in the first five years through annual payments (annuity). The remaining payment is made on the basis of the assets created and the performance of the developer.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan&rsquo;</strong> is an open-water rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga River held in October-November 2019. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Starting at Devprayag and culminating at Ganga Sagar, the expedition covered<strong> the entire stretch of over 2500 kms of the Ganga River.</strong></li>
<li>This is the <strong>longest ever social campaign undertaken through an adventure sporting activity</strong> to spread the message of River Rejuvenation and Water Conservation on a massive scale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>MARVI Project: </strong>The Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention (MARVI) project has developed a village-level participatory approach for measuring groundwater levels and improving water-use efficiency in groundwater-stressed regions of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers and other stakeholders are directly involved in the process. A unique feature of MARVI is the engagement of <strong>Bhujal Jankaars (BJs) meaning &ldquo;groundwater informed&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>These are volunteers who, with appropriate training and capacity building by the project team, monitor rainfall, groundwater levels and quality, and water levels of managed aquifer recharge infiltration basins (called check dams).</li>
<li>They also make sense of the data from a village perspective and infer what can be done to improve the groundwater situation and household livelihoods, which are often based on growing crops with groundwater irrigation.</li>
<li>Importantly, the BJs inform and guide villagers on the groundwater situation and how best to use groundwater in response to seasonal or long-term variability in resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-jal-shakti'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Lithium Abundance in Interstellar Space',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the researchers at the <strong>Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)</strong> have discovered hundreds of<strong> Lithium (Li) rich giant stars</strong> which indicate that <strong>lithium is being produced in the stars</strong> and <strong>accounts for its abundance</strong> in the interstellar (between stars) medium.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study was published in the <strong>Astrophysical Journal Letters and Monthly Notices of Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS).</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scientists have discovered a <strong>number of super Li-rich giants</strong> with the <strong>Li quantity equal</strong> to or in some cases, <strong>more than 10 times the present value, A(Li) = 3.2 dex</strong> (measured in logarithmic scale relative to hydrogen).</li>
<li>Scientists followed a <strong>two-fold strategy</strong> of <strong>systematically searching for high Li among low mass evolved stars</strong> in the Galaxy and <strong>determining the exact evolutionary phase of these high Li abundance stars.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hundreds of Li-rich giants were discovered by employing data from large scale ground and space missions.</li>
<li>However, <strong>Li-rich giants still account for only about 1 in 100 in the Galaxy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>evolutionary phase</strong> of these giants was determined by <strong>analyzing relative positions of thousands of stars</strong> using their <strong>temperature</strong> and <strong>luminosity</strong> and also <strong>subjecting their independent data set to atmospheric oscillations analysis</strong> using data from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-1st-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kepler Space Telescope.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For the first time, it was shown that the<strong> Li enhancement in giants is associated only with central He-burning stars</strong> (also known as the <strong>Red Clump Giants</strong>)<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This discovery will <strong>help to eliminate or validate many proposed theories</strong> such as <strong>planet engulfment</strong> or <strong>Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN)</strong> during the red giant evolution in which <strong>helium at the center is not burning.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lithium (Li),</strong> is one of the <strong>three primordial elements,</strong> apart from <strong>Hydrogen (H)</strong> and <strong>Helium (He),</strong> produced in the BBN.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This model <strong>predicts primordial Li abundance</strong> [A(Li) ~2.7~dex].</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stars</strong> are also proposed as a<strong> likely Li source</strong> in the Galaxy and are considered as <strong>Li sinks.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The original Li, with which stars are born, only <strong>gets depleted over stars&rsquo; life-time as Li burns at relatively very low temperatures</strong> of about <strong>2.5x106 Kelvin</strong> (a range which is easily encountered in stars).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Planetary Engulfment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the universe, planets <strong>accompany host stars</strong> (like the Sun is the host star for the planets of the Solar system).</li>
<li>As the <strong>host star evolves off the main sequence to become a white dwarf,</strong> the planets with<strong> sufficiently close orbits</strong> can be <strong>engulfed</strong> during the giant phase.</li>
<li>Planetary engulfment events<strong> involve the chemical assimilation of a planet into a star's external layer.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can cause a change in the chemical pattern of the stellar atmosphere in a way that mirrors the composition of the rocky object engulfed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Big Bang Nucleosynthesis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>leading explanation about how the universe began.</strong> At its simplest, it says that the universe <strong>started with a small singularity</strong> and then <strong>inflated over the next 13.8 billion years</strong> to the cosmos currently observed.</li>
<li>The <strong>Universe's light-element abundance</strong> is another important criterion by which this theory is verified.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is now known that the elements observed in the Universe were <strong>created in either of two ways.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Light elements</strong> (namely deuterium, helium, and lithium) <strong>were produced in the first few minutes of the Big Bang,</strong> while elements<strong> heavier than helium</strong> are thought to have their <strong>origins in the interiors of stars which formed much later in the history of the Universe.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The theory predicts that <strong>roughly 25% the mass of the Universe consists of Helium.</strong> It also predicts <strong>about 0.01% deuterium,</strong> and <strong>even smaller quantities of lithium.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1616003" 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/lithium-abundance-in-interstellar-space'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Temporary Ration Cards to Access PDS Foodgrain',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Pune Zilla Parishad has decided to provide<strong> temporary &lsquo;ration cards&rsquo;</strong> to more than 80,000 <strong>undocumented people</strong> in the district, so they can receive foodgrains under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System (PDS).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The delivery of benefits including <strong>PDS grain to migrants</strong> trapped by the lockdown, and to those who are<strong> unable to provide documents,</strong> has been a major concern across states.</li>
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/measures-to-deal-with-economic-hardship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Laureates Amartya Sen and Abhijit Banerjee, and former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan</strong></a> had suggested that <strong>temporary ration cards</strong> should be issued to enable the undocumented to draw rations through the PDS system.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>first innovation</strong> of its kind to help larger numbers of people access government benefits during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 lockdown</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Use of Aadhaar:</strong> The Pune scheme will use one-time <strong>Aadhaar authentication</strong> to open accounts for the people with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-minister-launched-india-post-payments-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Post Payments Bank.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Once the biometric Aadhaar-based link is established and the account is opened, this would serve as the only authentication that will be needed for these undocumented people to draw rations from the PDS system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Home Delivery:</strong> It will enable the home delivery of grains at the gram panchayat level to avoid crowds and maintain physical distancing.</li>
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> It will also include individuals belonging to the <strong>Primitive Tribes</strong> and the <strong>transgender community</strong> who are often left out of the ambit of such benefits.</li>
<li><strong>Identification:</strong> The job of identifying the beneficiaries has been given to the <strong>village police patil,</strong> who maintains records of outsiders in a register.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Act</strong> </a>(NFSA), 2013, the gram sabha has the right to identify beneficiaries &mdash; however, in the current situation when the gram sabha is not functional, <strong>a committee of three viz., the gram panchayat&rsquo;s sarpanch, a member of the gram sabha, and the local police patil will identify them.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Verification:</strong> The only verification that will be carried out is that of the kitchen of the beneficiary to prove that they qualify for the scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Boost to Sharad Bhojan Yojana:</strong> The scheme will widen and deepen the scope and reach of the Sharad Bhojan Yojana, under which cooked meals are provided to people in Pune district at concessional rates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Sharad Bhojan Yojana is modelled after the Maharashtra government&rsquo;s flagship <strong>Shiv Bhojan Yojana,</strong> which serves subsidised meals to the poor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Involvement of a Corporate:</strong> The<strong> Janakidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sansthan,</strong> the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corporate-social-responsibility-csr-expenditure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Corporate Social Responsibility</a> (CSR) wing of the Bajaj Group</strong>, will be the corporate CSR partner of the Pune Zilla Parishad for the scheme.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Public distribution system (PDS)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>PDS is an Indian food Security System</strong> established<strong> under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.</strong></li>
<li>PDS evolved as a <strong>system of management of scarcity</strong> through distribution of food grains at affordable prices.</li>
<li>PDS is operated under the <strong>joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Central Government,</strong> through Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for <strong>procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation</strong> of food grains to the State Governments.</li>
<li>The <strong>operational responsibilities</strong> including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families,<strong> issue of Ration Cards</strong> and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with the <strong>State Governments.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely <strong>wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene</strong> are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Food Security Act (NFSA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NFSA, 2013 legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.</li>
<li>The eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above is mandated to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/in-pune-zilla-parishad-temporary-cards-to-help-80000-people-access-pds-foodgrain-6370142/" 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/temporary-ration-cards-to-access-pds-foodgrain'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Rise in Digital Transactions',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the recent <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> data, the month of March 2020 (when <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> lockdown began) saw a sharp rise in digital financial transactions countrywide.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The total value of <strong>Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)</strong> transactions rose by 34% across banks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the biggest <strong>online payment method</strong> offered by RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong>-run <strong>Unified Payments Interface&nbsp;(UPI)</strong>, registered more than 125 crore transactions in March.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The numbers, however, dipped slightly compared to February as there was a dip in economic activity due to lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recharges and bill payments</strong> as well as retail <strong>banking transactions,</strong> accounted for the majority of the volume of all the transactions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NPCI-run <strong>Bharat Bill Pay</strong> was one of the beneficiaries, as it recorded 1.58 crore transactions in March as against 1.49 crore in February.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the data, the usage of cash and other cash-based services dipped during the period.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cash withdrawals from ATMs as well as usage of various cards (debit, credit) have also gone down significantly.</li>
<li>This could be because people&rsquo;s requirements for cash have fallen since the spending is mainly on essentials and necessities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government&rsquo;s <strong>Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS)</strong> also saw a decline of 16.1 % in the number of transactions, in March.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government uses AePS mostly for direct benefit transfer schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Real Time Gross Settlement&nbsp;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RTGS is an <strong>electronic fund transfer method</strong> through which money is sent on a<strong> &lsquo;real time&rsquo;</strong> basis without any delays.</li>
<li>RTGS allows the money sent by the remitter to immediately reach the beneficiary as and when the money transfer transaction is initiated.</li>
<li>&lsquo;Gross Settlement&rsquo; refers to the processing of transactions on an <strong>individual basis</strong> and not in a batch wise system.</li>
<li>Minimum amount that can be sent via RTGS mode is <strong>Rs.2 lakh</strong> and has no maximum limit.</li>
<li><strong>RTGS is not a 24x7 facility</strong> and is available only during <strong>working hours of banks.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Unified Payments Interface&nbsp;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an advanced version of<strong> Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)-</strong> round&ndash;the-clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments <strong>faster, easier and smoother.</strong></li>
<li>UPI is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing &amp; merchant payments into one hood.</li>
<li><strong>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong> launched UPI with 21 member banks in 2016.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Bharat Bill Payment System</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bharat bill payment system is driven by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).</li>
<li>It is a <strong>one-stop ecosystem for payment of all bills</strong> providing an interoperable and accessible <strong>&ldquo;Anytime Anywhere&rdquo; bill payment service</strong> to all customers across India with certainty, reliability and safety of transactions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Aadhaar enabled Payment System&nbsp;</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AePS is developed by the<strong> National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong> that <strong>allows people to carry out financial transactions on a Micro-ATM</strong> by furnishing just their <strong>Aadhaar number</strong> and verifying it with the help of their fingerprint/iris scan.</li>
<li>With the help of this payment system, funds can be transferred from one bank account to another simply through their Aadhaar numbers.</li>
<li>This system adds another layer of security to financial transactions as <strong>bank details would no longer be required</strong> to be furnished while carrying out these transactions.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Payments Corporation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NPCI is an <strong>umbrella organization</strong> for all <strong>retail payments systems</strong> in India.</li>
<li>It was set up with the guidance and support of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks&rsquo; Association (IBA).</li>
<li>NPCI was established with following <strong>objectives -</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>consolidate and integrate the existing multiple systems into a nation-wide uniform</strong> and standard business process <strong>for all retail payment systems.</strong></li>
<li>To <strong>facilitate an affordable payment mechanism</strong> to benefit the common man across the country and propel financial inclusion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/digital-transactions-rise-real-time-gross-settlement-rbi-6370110/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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