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Olms in Postojna Cave of Slovenia

Why in News Recently, three Olms have been put on display in Slovenia’s Postojna Cave, where they hatched in 2016 in a rare successful...

18 Jun 2020 News Analysis
World Crocodile Day

Why in News World Crocodile Day is celebrated on 17th June. The day is a global awareness campaign to highlight the plight of endangered crocodiles...

18 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Axone: Ethnic Cuisine of Northeast India

Why in News Recently, Axone or fermented soya bean has become popular, which is eaten by many tribal communities in different parts of Northeast...

18 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Largest Decline in Arctic Sea Ice

Why in News The National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) has observed the largest decline in the Arctic Sea ice in the last 41...

18 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Earth’s Mantle and Evolution of Life

Why in News According to a study published in the journal ‘Nature Communications’, an evolution of the Mantle of the Earth could have...

18 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Growth Models for Rural India

This article is based on “Lessons for Yogi from Gandhi and Lee” which was published in The Hindu on 16/06/2020. It talks about the...

17 Jun 2020 News Editorials
Jal Jeevan Mission

Why in News Recently, the Jal Shakti Ministry has announced that the labourers returning to their home states due to covid-19, will be deployed for...

17 Jun 2020 News Analysis
India’s Assistance for Pashupatinath Temple

Why in News Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Nepal for the construction of a sanitation facility at the...

17 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Elections for Non-permanent Members of the UNSC

Why in News Election for five non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is being held on 17th June, 2020. Key...

17 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Land Use Changes

Why in News According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the land use change, which prepares the ground for...

17 Jun 2020 News Analysis
First Bell: Kerala

Why in News Recently, the Kerala Government has started a virtual class initiative called ‘First Bell’. The virtual classes for state...

17 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Social Media And Democracy

This article is based on “Facebook is weakening democracy” which was published in The Hindustan Times on 12/06/2020. It talks about the...

16 Jun 2020 News Editorials
USA Sanctions Against the International Criminal Court

Why in News Recently, the USA has authorised sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials involved in investigations into possible...

16 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Talamaddale

Why in News The traditional art of ‘talamaddale’, a variant of Yakshagana theatre, has gone virtual in times of Covid-19. Key...

16 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Gateway Lunar Orbiting Outpost

Why in News Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has finalised the contract to design the Habitation and Logistics...

16 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence

Why in News India has joined the 'Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)' as a founding member to support the responsible and...

16 Jun 2020 News Analysis
GovTech 3.0

This article is based on “Covid-19 has opened the doors for Gov Tech 3.0” which was published in the Hindustan Times on 11/06/2020. It...

15 Jun 2020 News Editorials
Malabar Gliding Frog

Why in News Recently, a rare amphibian i.e. Malabar Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) was spotted in Pullad, Kerala. The amphibian is...

15 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Indian Naval LOs at Madagascar and Abu Dhabi

Why in News India is planning to post Naval Liaison Officers (LOs) at the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar and the...

15 Jun 2020 News Analysis
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Why in News The Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic plants (CIMAP) has announced a photography competition on medicinal and aromatic...

15 Jun 2020 News Analysis

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			'title' => 'Olms in Postojna Cave of Slovenia',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, three <strong>Olms</strong> have been put on display in <strong>Slovenia&rsquo;s Postojna Cave,</strong> where they hatched in 2016 in a rare successful breeding.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Olms are <strong>eyeless (skin covered eyes) pink salamanders</strong>&nbsp;also known as the <strong>"baby dragon"</strong> and <strong>"human fish"</strong> for its pale skin-like colour.</li>
<li>They feed on <strong>detritus and endemic cave vertebrates</strong> and hide in crevices or bottom sediment when disturbed. They <strong>can survive without food</strong> for<strong> up to 10 years.</strong></li>
<li>A long-lived species that only matures to a sexual stage after the age of 12-15 years and<strong> reproduces very slowly.</strong></li>
<li>It can live a century and breeds only once a decade usually in laboratories throughout Europe or deep in caves away from people.</li>
<li>They have a <strong>powerful sensory system</strong> of smell, taste, hearing and electrosensitivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The olm requires <strong>clean water,</strong> and is therefore<strong> vulnerable to water pollution.</strong></li>
<li>Consequently, the major threats to the olm are pollution and habitat disturbance from land use changes occurring above the cave systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are found in large subterranean <strong>aquatic karst systems</strong> formed in <strong>limestone and dolomite rocks,</strong> and may be found in cave entrances.</li>
<li>They are an entirely aquatic species and prefer waters ranging from 5-15&deg;C.</li>
<li>Found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and France.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592473158_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592473158_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Karst Topography</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Any <strong>limestone or dolomitic region</strong> showing typical landforms produced by the action of groundwater through the processes of solution and deposition is called Karst topography.</li>
<li>It is named after the typical topography developed in limestone rocks of Karst region in the <strong>Balkans adjacent to Adriatic sea.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The name of this type of topography comes from the <strong>Karst region in Yugoslavia,</strong> karst topography can be found all over the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The karst topography is also characterised by <strong>erosional and depositional landforms.</strong> Karst landscapes feature <strong>caves, underground streams and sinkholes</strong> on the surface. Where erosion has worn away the land above ground, steep rocky cliffs are visible.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592473136_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592473136_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/rare-cave-dwelling-baby-dragons-go-on-display-in-slovenia/story-tS7GUpLGN1FHoQPdijqQaI.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'World Crocodile Day',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>World Crocodile Day is celebrated on <strong>17<sup>th</sup> June.</strong> The day is a <strong>global awareness campaign</strong> to highlight the plight of endangered crocodiles and alligators around the world.</p>
<h3>Crocodilian Species in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mugger or Marsh Crocodile:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469734_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469734_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ghodahada-reservoir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mugger</strong> </a>is an egg-laying and hole-nesting species.</li>
<li>The mugger is also known to be dangerous.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is mainly restricted to the Indian subcontinent where it may be found in a number of freshwater habitat types including rivers, lakes and marshes. However, it can even be found in coastal saltwater lagoons and estuaries.</li>
<li>It is already <strong>extinct in Bhutan and Myanmar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and transformation, fishing activities and use of crocodile parts for medicinal purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IUCN List of Threatened Species: <strong>Vulnerable</strong></li>
<li>CITES : <strong>Appendix I</strong></li>
<li>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 :<strong> Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469752_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469752_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is considered as the Earth&rsquo;s largest living crocodile species.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>estuarine crocodile</strong></a> is infamous globally as a known <strong>maneater.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is found in Odisha&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bhitarkanika National Park</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sundarban-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sundarbans</strong></a> in West Bengal and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands.</li>
<li>It is also found across Southeast Asia and northern Australia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Illegal hunting, habitat loss, and antipathy toward the species because of its reputation as a man-eater continue to put pressure on the population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IUCN List of Threatened Species: <strong>Least Concern</strong></li>
<li>CITES : <strong>Appendix I</strong> (except the populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, which are included in Appendix II).</li>
<li>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 :<strong> Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gharial<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469769_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469769_image3.jpg" width="300" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/release-of-gharials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gharials</strong></a>, sometimes called gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts which resembles a pot (ghara in Hindi).</li>
<li>Gharials are a type of Crocodilians that also includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, etc.</li>
<li>The population of Gharials are a good indicator of clean river water.</li>
<li>The gharial is known to be a relatively harmless, fish-eating species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The gharials are mostly found in fresh waters of the himalayan rivers.</li>
<li>The <strong>chambal river</strong> in the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains ( Madhya Pradesh) is known as the primary habitat of gharials.</li>
<li>Other himalayan rivers like ghagra, gandak river, Girwa river, Ramganga river and the Sone river are secondary habitats for gharials.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Illegal sand mining, poaching, increased river pollution, dam construction, massive-scale fishing operations and floods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IUCN List of Threatened Species: <strong>Critically Endangered</strong></li>
<li>CITES : <strong>Appendix I</strong></li>
<li>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 : <strong>Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Human-Crocodile Conflict</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An encroachment of humans on the river banks and marshy areas with an increased urbanisation is one of the foremost reasons for increasing human-crocodile conflict in these areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hotspots:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vadodara in Gujarat, Kota in Rajasthan, Bhitarkanika in Odisha and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are considered as the human-crocodile conflict hotspots in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Considering the importance of crocodiles in maintaining the balance in the ecosystem, <strong>raising awareness among local people</strong> with the <strong>possible relocation</strong> of crocodiles are some of the feasible options for the protection of the species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Crocodile Conservation Project</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Crocodile Conservation Project was launched in <strong>1975</strong> in different States.</li>
<li>The Gharial and Saltwater crocodile conservation programme was first implemented in Odisha in early 1975 and subsequently the Mugger conservation programme was initiated.</li>
<li>As a result of the programme, the estimated number of the saltwater crocodiles <strong>increased from 96 in 1976 to 1,640 in 2012</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to utilise manpower, modern technology and funds to conduct a proper survey to find the real time status of the crocodile population in the country.</li>
<li>It can be done through geo-tagging the animals so that their movements can be monitored to prevent human-crocodile conflicts.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/world-crocodile-day-experts-call-for-patience-regarding-human-croc-conflict-71809" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'Axone: Ethnic Cuisine of Northeast India',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Axone or fermented soya bean</strong> has become popular, which is eaten by many<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-for-tribal-communities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tribal communities</strong></a> in different parts of Northeast India especially in <strong>Nagaland.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Axone &mdash;<strong> also called as akhuni &mdash;</strong> is a fermented soya bean of Nagaland, known for its distinctive flavour and smell. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>condiment</strong> (a spice, sauce, or preparation that is added to food) used to make pickles, chutney or curries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is prepared and eaten across <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/naga-and-kuki-tribes-signs-for-truce" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagaland mainly by the Sumi (also Sema) tribe</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It belongs to the broader <strong>phenomena of fermentation</strong> necessary for food preservation in certain ecological contexts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fermentation gives it a distinct smell and taste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fermented soya bean is known by different names</strong> in different parts of Northeast India, including Meghalaya and Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur as well in other South, Southeast and East Asian countries of Nepal, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, China, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the one food that <strong>connects the Eastern Himalayas</strong> as a <strong>culturally cross-cutting cuisine.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food Fermentation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Food fermentation is a food processing technology that utilizes the growth and metabolic activity of microorganisms for the stabilization and transformation of food materials.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fermentation was primarily developed for the stabilization of perishable agricultural produce.</li>
<li>It is a process through which microorganisms like yeast and bacteria convert carbs- such as starch and sugar- into alcohol or acids.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Uses:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The production of carbon dioxide is used to make bread.</li>
<li>The production of organic acids is exploited to preserve and flavor vegetables and dairy products.</li>
<li>The production of alcohol is utilised to convert fruit juices to wine, grains into beer, and foods rich in starch, such as potatoes, are fermented and then distilled to make spirits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Soya Bean</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> soya bean <em>(Glycine max)</em></strong> is a <strong>species of legume</strong> native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean, which has numerous uses e.g. soya milk, soya food etc.</li>
<li>It is a significant and cheap<strong> source of protein</strong> apart from dietary minerals and B vitamins.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sumi Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 'Sumi Naga' is one of the major<strong> ethnic groups in Nagaland.</strong></li>
<li>Sumi Nagas mostly inhabit the <strong>central and southern regions</strong> of Nagaland.</li>
<li>There are also seven Sumi villages in <strong>Tinsukia District of Assam.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tuluni and Ahuna</strong> are the major festivals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been seen often that people from Northeast are being refrained from cooking axone and other fermented foods. This has often led to relegating the food of <strong>particular social groups to a remote and primitive</strong> position and giving birth to <strong>racial politics</strong> and<strong> experiences of exclusion.</strong></li>
<li>Here, <strong>the fermented food</strong> is connected to a<strong> specific community and its dignity.</strong> Such food habits lead to strengthening of sentiments towards one&rsquo;s own community and express a <strong>sense of identity, comfort and familiarity.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-axone-fermented-soya-bean-nagaland-6463008/#:~:text=Axone%20%E2%80%94%20also%20spelled%20akhuni%20%E2%80%94%20is%20a%20fermented%20soya%20bean%20of,fish%2C%20chicken%2C%20beef%20etc." 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/axone-ethnic-cuisine-of-northeast-india'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Largest Decline in Arctic Sea Ice',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-polar-and-ocean-research-ncpor-#:~:text=National%20Centre%20for%20Polar%20and%20Ocean%20Research%20(NCPOR),-It%20was%20established&amp;text=Earlier%20known%20as%20National%20Centre,Polar%20and%20Southern%20Ocean%20realms." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)</strong> </a>has observed the <strong>largest decline in the Arctic Sea ice in the last 41 years.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decline in the Arctic Sea ice is due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming</strong></a> &mdash; leading to<strong> localised increase in evaporation, air humidity, cloud cover and rainfall.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sea Ice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sea ice arises as seawater freezes. Because <strong>ice is less dense than water,</strong> it floats on the ocean's surface.</li>
<li>Sea ice covers about 7% of the Earth's surface and about 12% of the world's oceans.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increased Rate of Sea Ice Decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the last 40 years (1979-2018), the sea ice has been declining at <strong>4.7% per decade,</strong> while the current declining rate was found to be <strong>13% in July 2019.</strong></li>
<li>Thus, it has been noted that the volume of ice formation during winters is <strong>unable to keep pace</strong> with the volume of ice loss during summers.</li>
<li>Additionally, it has been predicted that if this trend continues, there would be<strong> no ice left in the Arctic Sea</strong> by<strong> 2050.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impacts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decrease of the Arctic Sea ice area and the increase in the duration of summer and autumn seasons <strong>affected the local weather and climate</strong> over the Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas.</li>
<li>Being a sensitive indicator of climate change, the loss of ice cover in the Arctic Sea may affect <strong>other components of the climate system</strong> such as reduction of heat, water vapour, and other material exchange between the atmosphere and the sea.</li>
<li>The northern hemisphere experienced <strong>record high-temperature rise,</strong> especially during the spring and summer months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> in 1998.</li>
<li>It is located in <strong>Goa.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier known as National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), NCPOR is India&rsquo;s premier R&amp;D institution responsible for the country&rsquo;s research activities in the<strong> Polar and Southern Ocean realms.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>nodal agency</strong> for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of <strong>polar and southern ocean scientific research</strong> in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The sea-ice loss at such a high rate is a matter of concern for all the lives on Earth.</li>
<li>Thus, maintaining the balance between anthropological activities and carrying capacity of the environment is one of the foremost steps that can be taken at this point of time.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/arctic-sea-ice-saw-largest-decline-in-41-years-in-july-2019-ncpor-71801" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/largest-decline-in-arctic-sea-ice'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Earth’s Mantle and Evolution of Life',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a study published in the journal &lsquo;Nature Communications&rsquo;, an evolution of the Mantle of the Earth could have not only controlled evolution of the atmosphere, but also evolution of life.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of Earth&rsquo;s Mantle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the study, although there were amounts of oxygen before the <strong>Great Oxidation Event (GOE)</strong>, it could not concentrate in the atmosphere.</li>
<li>This was because of the reaction of oxygen with the large amount of gases ejected by Volcanoes. The oxygen produced by the early life-forms combined with things like hydrogen ( for example), and was removed from the atmosphere.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When volcanoes are active, they send large amounts of gases into the atmosphere. The nature of these gases depends on the nature of the materials in the Earth&rsquo;s mantle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As volcanic activity continued, it produced less material that would readily combine with oxygen. Earth&rsquo;s mantle was becoming more and more oxidized.</li>
<li>With time, the oxygen produced by life-forms could accumulate in the atmosphere. This started the<strong> Great Oxidation Event,</strong> paving the way for complex life.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Great Oxidation Event:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The atmosphere of the early Earth lacked oxygen. This began to change during what is known as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE).</li>
<li>It refers to a<strong> series of chemical changes</strong> that geologists and geochemists have observed in rocks that are between <strong>2.5 and 2.3 billion years old.</strong></li>
<li>These changes were the result of <strong>oxygen given off by ancient cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).</strong> Communities of this bacteria lived in shallow seawater and were preserved in rocks as structures called <strong>stromatolites.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Stromatolite means <strong>&lsquo;layered rock&rsquo;.</strong> It is a rocky structure created by the activity of colonies of single-celled bacteria, mostly cyanobacteria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Oxygen first accumulated in Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere at this time and has been present ever since.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Boom of Cyanobacteria and Carbonates:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prior to the GOE, an increase in tectonic activity produced <strong>new volcanoes</strong> which pumped<strong> big amounts of carbon dioxide</strong> in the air which led to the warming of the climate, increased rainfall, and leading to more minerals washed into the ocean.</li>
<li>These phenomena led to the <strong>boom of cyanobacteria and carbonates.</strong> The increase in photosynthesis is attributed to the rise in the population of cyanobacteria and in turn, the carbon present in the atmosphere was buried underground.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Earth&rsquo;s Mantle</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mantle is the mostly-solid bulk of Earth's interior. It lies between Earth's dense, super-heated core and its thin outer layer, the crust.</li>
<li>It is about 2,900 kilometers thick and makes up 84% of Earth&rsquo;s total volume.</li>
<li>The upper portion of the mantle is called the <strong>asthenosphere.</strong> The word astheno means weak. It is considered to be extending upto 400 km. It is the <strong>main source of magma that finds its way to the surface during volcanic eruptions.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>crust and the uppermost part of the mantle are called lithosphere.</strong> Its thickness ranges from 10-200 km.</li>
<li>The lower mantle extends beyond the asthenosphere. It is in solid state.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cyanobacteria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic, that is, they live in the water, and can manufacture their own food. Because they are bacteria, they are quite small and usually unicellular, though they often grow in colonies large enough to see.</li>
<li>They have the distinction of being the<strong> oldest known fossils,</strong> more than 3.5 billion years old.</li>
<li>They are important providers of <strong>nitrogen fertilizer</strong> in the cultivation of rice and beans.</li>
<li>The oxygen atmosphere that we depend on was generated by numerous cyanobacteria during the Archaean and Proterozoic Eras (4.6 billion to 541 million years ago).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study indicates that one cannot exclude the mantle of the planet when considering the evolution of the surface and life of the planet.</li>
<li>It not only affects understanding of earth and the emergence of complex life here, but also that of exoplanets, and their potential to support life.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-s-mantle-and-evolution-of-life'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Growth Models for Rural India',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/lessons-for-yogi-from-gandhi-and-lee/article31835579.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Lessons for Yogi from Gandhi and Lee&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 16/06/2020. It talks about the relevance of ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Lee Kuan Yew for contemporary India.</p>
</div>
<p>Globalisation has made life easy for migrant capital (foreign investments like FDI, FII, etc.), not for migrant labour. This can be reflected in the recent migrant crisis that emanated from Covid-19 pandemic. Also, the pull factor for migration i.e employment opportunities has been severely affected due to such pandemic.</p>
<p>Therefore, the need is to attain self-reliance, especially in rural areas. Rural areas are the main source of providing migrant labourers. In this context, India can take some lessons from Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, and from Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation.</p>
<h3>Singapore Model of Development</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lee Kuan Yew is known as the founder of modern Singapore, which was founded in 1965.</li>
<li>Under three decades of his leadership (1965 to 1990), the former British colony of Singapore got transformed from a poor fishing hamlet into a global financial hub and economic powerhouse.</li>
<li>A key plank of Lee&rsquo;s model from the beginning was to <strong>attract foreign investment by assuring investors world-class infrastructure, an efficient administration, and low taxes</strong>.</li>
<li>In return, he did not want multinational companies to merely set up labour-intensive assembly factories, rather he wanted the companies to train Singaporeans to do higher-value work.</li>
<li>According to Lee, humans are not tools to produce returns for investors; rather, money is a tool to produce benefits for humans. Thereby, people of Singapore would earn more and the country would become fully &lsquo;developed&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ultimate measure of Singapore becoming fully developed was not the size of its GDP, but the incomes of its citizens.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to address the roadblocks (crony capitalism, corruption, political interference etc) to an efficient market economy, he established mechanisms to ensure honest and accountable governance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gandhian Economics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Issues related to rural areas in India are more complex than Singapore. The Gandhian vision of Poorna Swaraj becomes important in this context.</li>
<li>According to the Gandhian idea of Poorna Swaraj, in order to become fully independent, people in India&rsquo;s villages need to have economic and social freedom.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gandhi believed that the economy must serve human needs, rather than human beings becoming fodder for the GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The major principles of Gandhian economics that can be applied in the Indian economy:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Enabling Gram Swaraj:</strong> According to Gandhi, the progress of human beings and local communities must be the means for economic growth.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the governments must be strengthened at the local level, in villages and cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concept of Trusteeship:</strong> The concept of trusteeship as enunciated by Gandhi, demands non-possession. It seeks individuals to dispossess their wealth and income beyond their requirements so that the economic welfare of the less capable is realized.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to him, wealth is good, but wealthy people must be only trustees of a community&rsquo;s wealth and not its owners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Formation of Co-operatives:</strong> The alienation of owners from workers must be reduced with the creation of new models of cooperative capitalist enterprises, where the workers, not remote capitalists, or the state, are owners of the enterprises.</li>
<li><strong>Focus of Sarvodaya:</strong> The government must focus on the well-being of the poorest and weakest member of society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>The health crisis and the economic crisis emanating from Covid-19 have prompted governments at all levels, whether international, national or state, to strive for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/in-pursuance-of-self-reliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-reliance</a>. India, under recently launched, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan</a> envisages self-reliance. This can be achieved by the confluence of ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Lee Kuan Yew. Following factors become significant in this context:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Syncing Skills with Business:</strong> The government must encourage private investors to play a critical role in skill up-gradation and subsequent employment of India&rsquo;s Youth.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Giving tax incentives for those firms who help in skill up-gradation may be a step in the right direction.</li>
<li>This will not only help in making the trickle-down effect possible but also leverage India&rsquo;s demographic dividend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Democratic Decentralization:</strong> There is a strong need for providing functional autonomy to grassroots democracy at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/panchayati-raj-institutions-and-participative-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panchayati raj institutions</a> and urban local government.</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Accountability:</strong> The government should initiate reforms under Part XIVth <strong>(Services Under the Union and the States)</strong> of the Indian Constitution which makes it difficult to dismiss corrupt officials.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, governance policy must be committed to implementing systems that continuously attract the best talent to politics and governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>One thing of course, that India can reject from the teachings of Lee Kuan Yew is the limits to freedom of expression and its limited democracy that depended critically on having one good person at the helm. Also, Gandhi&rsquo;s averseness to technology which very much defines the past, present and future, is much debated today.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Gandhian Concept of Swaraj</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592396543_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592396543_image1.png" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;" height="80">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1442px; background-color: #c7dffc; border-color: #125db8; border-style: dotted;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></p>
<p>"Covid-19 pandemic has shown the lacunae associated with the current economic model that focuses more on GDP rather than human and local economics". In light of this statement, discuss the growth model that can be adopted for self-reliant rural India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TDC4SKEJ4Hc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/too-many-taxes-roti-vs-parota-gst-6460650/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Too Many Taxes&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Indian Express on June 16th, 2020. Now watch it on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/growth-models-for-rural-india'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Jal Jeevan Mission',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Shakti Ministry</strong></a> has announced that the labourers returning to their home states due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>covid-19</strong></a>, will be deployed for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Jal Jeevan Mission aims for providing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/piped-water-connection-by-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>piped drinking water to all rural households by 2024</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Jal Shakti Ministry</strong> is the nodal ministry for the implementation of the scheme.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Jal Shakti Ministry has directed various States that returning labour, <strong>especially those working in the construction sector (skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled)</strong>, may be deployed to expedite the completion of works under the scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an arrangement that could provide <strong>employment</strong> to the currently <strong>unemployed workers</strong>.</li>
<li>The mission is being used as a way to ameliorate some of the effects of the <strong>mass <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-migrants-and-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">migration</a> of inter-State workers</strong> back to their home States in the wake of the Covid -19 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Huge Demand for Work:</strong> It has been created because of <strong>workers returning</strong> to their home states from different parts of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is clear from the fact that allocations under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)</strong></a> have already been hiked by ₹40,000 crore over and above the ₹60,000 crore already allocated.</li>
<li>While the MGNREGA is an old programme, the new Jal Jeevan Mission also has funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tap Water Connections:</strong> There is a need for tap water connections in several households under the mission.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A revalidation exercise of households and status of tap water found that out of <strong>19.04 crore rural households in the country, 3.23 crore households</strong> had tap connections and <strong>15.81 crore households</strong> have to be provided functional tap connections.</li>
<li>Apart from the ₹11,000 crore in the budget, ₹12,000 crore has been allocated from extra budgetary allowances, and <strong>50% of the ₹60,750 crore allocated by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</a></strong> for rural local bodies is tied to grants for <strong>water bodies and sanitation</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Construction Sector:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swades-skill-mapping-exercise-for-returning-citizens" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Skill mapping</strong></a> by various State governments has shown that a majority of inter-State workers returning home are from the <strong>construction sector</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Uttar Pradesh alone, 16 lakh out of the <strong>18 lakh migrant labour</strong> mapped till now are from this sector.</li>
<li>The State has assured funding of ₹3,382 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission which would be utilised in providing employment in rural areas to returning migrants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong> envisages supply of <strong>55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024</strong>.</li>
<li>JJM focuses on <strong>integrated demand and supply-side management of water</strong> at the local level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like <strong>rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse</strong>, would be undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Mission is based on a <strong>community approach to water</strong> and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission.</li>
<li>JJM looks to <strong>create a jan andolan for water</strong>, thereby making it everyone&rsquo;s priority.</li>
<li><strong>Funding Pattern:</strong> The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories.</li>
<li>The total allocation to the scheme is over ₹3 lakh crore.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Jal Shakti Ministry</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has created a <strong>new ministry called &lsquo;Jal Shakti&rsquo;</strong> 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 <strong>encompass issues ranging from providing clean drinking water, international and inter-states water disputes, to the Namami Gange project</strong> aimed at cleaning Ganga and its tributaries, and sub-tributaries.</li>
<li>The ministry will roll out the government&rsquo;s ambitious plan <strong>(&lsquo;Nal se Jal&rsquo; scheme under Jal Jeevan Plan)</strong> to provide piped water connection to every household in India by 2024.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-skill-development-and-entrepreneurship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Skill Development Mission</strong></a> was successful to create a pool of manpower skilled in masonry, plumbing, fitting, electricity etc, there is a growing realisation that <strong>returning inter-State labour could be deployed</strong> in different sectors due to the prevailing situation of Covid -19.</li>
<li>There is a need to encourage all States to consider the existing skill development plans and provide employment to migrant workers.</li>
<li>There is a requirement of a <strong>strategic framework</strong> to provide the returning citizens with suitable employment opportunities through discussions with key stakeholders including State Governments, Industry Associations and Employers.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/returning-labourers-may-be-deployed-for-jal-jeevan-mission-work-jal-shakti-ministry-tells-states/article31819391.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/jal-jeevan-mission-2'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'India’s Assistance for Pashupatinath Temple',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Nepal for the construction of a sanitation facility at the Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This comes amid a raging <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-nepal-border-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>border row between the two countries</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The facility will be constructed under the <strong>Nepal-Bharat Maitri: Development Partnership</strong> as a high impact community development scheme by India.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong> India has pledged to extend financial assistance amounting to Rs. 2.33 crore.</li>
<li><strong>Implemented by:</strong> Kathmandu Metropolitan City.</li>
<li><strong>Norms and Completion:</strong> Norms to be laid out by the Government of Nepal and completion within 15 months.</li>
<li>Earlier in 2018, <strong>Nepal-Bharat Maitri Pashupati Dharmashala</strong> was also inaugurated in Kathmandu, Nepal.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> This initiative is another milestone in strengthening cultural ties and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pashupatinath Temple</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Dedicated to <strong>Lord Shiva</strong>, Pashupatinath is one of the most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva.</li>
<li>It is the largest temple complex in Nepal and stretches on both sides of the <strong>Bagmati River</strong>.</li>
<li>Temples dedicated to several other Hindu and Buddhist deities surround the temple of Pashupatinath.</li>
<li>Only Hindus are allowed through the gates of the main temple.</li>
<li>It was conferred the status of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Site</strong></a> in 1979 by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-pledges-to-construct-sanitation-facility-at-nepals-iconic-pashupatinath-temple/article31839092.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/indias-assistance-for-pashupatinath-temple'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Elections for Non-permanent Members of the UNSC',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Election for five non-permanent members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council (UNSC)</strong></a> is being held on 17<sup>th</sup> June, 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Election:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is standing unopposed</strong> as the nominee for the <strong>Asia-Pacific seat</strong>, for the 2021-22 term and needs the vote of two-thirds of UNGA members (129 votes) to be confirmed.</li>
<li>In 2019, the candidature of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-non-permanent-seat-at-the-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping</strong></a>, which also included China and Pakistan.</li>
<li>This would be India's eighth term in the UNSC which will begin from January 2021.</li>
<li>Contenders for Other Seats:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Mexico</strong> is expected to be elected unopposed for the <strong>Latin American group</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Canada, Ireland and Norway</strong> will contend for two seats of the <strong>West European and Others Group (WEOG)</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Kenya</strong> and <strong>Djibouti</strong> will contend for an African seat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Commitment at UNSC:</strong> In its campaign brochure, India had highlighted:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its <strong>commitment to multilateralism</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s objective will be the achievement of <strong>N.O.R.M.S: a New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System</strong>.</li>
<li>A reformed multilateralism and multilateral system is essential to ensure that the international system is inclusive and caters to the requirements of all countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Demand for <strong>transparency in mandates for UN peacekeeping missions</strong>.</li>
<li>Push for the Indian-led <a href="/printpdf/at-unga-india-call-for-early-adoption-of-ccit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention for International Terrorism (CCIT)</strong></a>. CCIT includes the following major objectives:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To have a universal definition of terrorism that all 193-members of the UNGA will adopt into their own criminal law.</li>
<li>To ban all terror groups and shut down terror camps.</li>
<li>To prosecute all terrorists under special laws.</li>
<li>To make cross-border terrorism an extraditable offense worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Joint efforts for <strong>UN reform and the expansion of the UNSC</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has been at the forefront to reform the UNSC, saying it rightly deserves a place as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-permanent-seat-in-unsc#:~:text=India%20is%20the%20undisputed%20leader,in%20making%20UNSC%20more%20democratic." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>permanent member of the UNSC</strong></a>, which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the 21st century.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of India&rsquo;s Membership at UNSC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s presence in the UNSC will <strong>ensure that the voice of the largest democracy in the world</strong> (with strong multilateral credentials) will be heard in an important organ of the United Nations.</li>
<li>India has always had a global voice and this will give India a greater opportunity <strong>to participate actively and shape the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> and post-Covid scenario</strong>.</li>
<li>Its presence in the UNSC will help bring to the world <strong>its ethos of &lsquo;Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam&rsquo;-the world is one family</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Global South has its development and security aspirations and India will help articulate these aspirations in the Council</strong> across different issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Winning the maximum votes at the General Assembly this time will be a little hard for India due to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rising tensions in relations with both Pakistan and China.</li>
<li>Criticism from Turkey, Malaysia and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20collective%20voice,various%20people%20of%20the%20world." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</strong></a> (OIC) over the government&rsquo;s decision on <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-article-370" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>scrapping Article 370</strong></a> as well as the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Amendment Act</strong></a> (CAA) 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nation Security Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Article 23 of the UN Charter concerns the composition of the UNSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The UNSC has been given <strong>primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security to the Security Council,</strong> which may meet whenever peace is threatened.</li>
<li>While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, <strong>only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Permanent and Non-Permanent Members</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UNSC is composed of 15 Members:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Five permanent members:</strong> China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.</li>
<li><strong>Ten non-permanent members</strong> elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Selection of Non-permanent Members of Security Council</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Five for African and Asian countries.</li>
<li>One for Eastern European countries.</li>
<li>Two for Latin American and Caribbean countries.</li>
<li>Two for Western European and other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-expects-to-sail-through-unsc-vote/article31845329.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/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'Land Use Changes',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-land-1#:~:text=Land%20Use%20and%20Climate%20change&amp;text=Land%20degradation%20is%20both%20cause%20and%20consequence%20of%20climate%20change.&amp;text=This%20exacerbates%20climate%20change%2C%20while,absorb%20carbon%20from%20the%20atmosphere." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>land use change</strong></a>, which prepares the ground for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zoonoses</strong></a> like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, should be reversed.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Land use change promotes zoonoses like Covid-19 as the interaction and physical distance between animals and humans get closer.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Land Use Change:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Land use change</strong> is a process which <strong>transforms the natural landscape</strong> by direct human-induced land use <strong>such as settlements, commercial and economic uses and forestry activities</strong>.</li>
<li>It impacts the overall environment in terms of <strong><a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenhouse gas</a> emission, land degradation and</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Land use change can be a <strong>factor in CO<sub>2</sub> (carbon dioxide) atmospheric concentration,</strong> and is thus a contributor to <strong>global climate change</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>represents almost 25%</strong> of total global emissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), over <strong>70% of all natural, ice-free land</strong> in the world is affected by human use.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This could further rise to <strong>90% by 2050</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The land degradation affects <strong>3.2 billion people</strong> worldwide.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-valuation-of-tiger-reserves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ecosystem services</strong></a> e.g. forest, agriculture, grassland tourism etc. worth $10.6 trillion are lost due to land degradation annually.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deforestation-rate-declined" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization</strong></a> of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a>, by 2050, over 500 million hectare area of new agricultural land will be needed to meet the global food demand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Population Growth:</strong> Fast population growth and the consequent high pressure on resources have an adverse effect on the existing natural resources of the land area.</li>
<li><strong>Encroachment of Land:</strong> Substantial increase in demand for food has resulted in an expansion of croplands by encroaching on uncultivated areas including forest, shrub and wetlands. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> (IPCC)</strong> report on climate change and land, agricultural land for food, animal feed and fibre is behind the land use change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Forest Resource:</strong> Continuous and exhaustive thinning of forestry resources for diverse uses, particularly for construction, firewood and agricultural tools led to the degradation of forest cultivated land.</li>
<li><strong>Grazing at Cultivated Land:</strong> Farmers often abandon and leave the cultivated land for grazing purposes due to the declining of its <strong>soil fertility status</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Destruction of Wetlands:</strong> The conversion of the wetland to the cultivated and settlement land leads to the destruction of wetlands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Climate Smart Land Management Practices:</strong> According to a report by IPCC on land use, <strong>increased food productivity, improved cropland management, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/animal-rearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">livestock management</a>, <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-212" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agroforestry</a>, increased soil organic carbon content and reduced post-harvest losses</strong> would help in ecosystem conservation and land restoration .<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These management practices could deliver up to $1.4 trillion in increased crop production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forest Management:</strong> Improved fire management and improved grazing land can help in land restoration.</li>
<li><strong>Restore and Rehabilitate:</strong> To achieve <strong>Land Degradation Neutrality (Sustainable Development Goal target 15.3)</strong>, additional commitments in the land use sector, namely to restore and rehabilitate 12 million hectares of degraded land per year could help close the emissions gap by up to 25% in the year 2030.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The restoration of these <strong>areas as part of building back better to avoid future zoonoses</strong> would bring other crucial benefits, particularly mitigating climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Established in 1994,</strong> the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.</li>
<li>It is the only convention stemming from a direct recommendation of the Rio Conference&rsquo;s Agenda 21.</li>
<li><strong>Focus Areas:</strong> The Convention <strong>addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas,</strong> known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.</li>
<li>From India, <strong>the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> is the nodal Ministry for this Convention.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2020</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>June 17 is observed worldwide as <strong>World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Theme: Food, Feed, Fibre</strong> which seeks to educate individuals on how to reduce the impact of food consumption.</li>
<li>According to the United Nations, 2020 Desertification and Drought Day focuses on the links between consumption and land.</li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s &lsquo;global observance event&rsquo; is being hosted virtually by the Korea Forest Service.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Zoonoses</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans.</li>
<li>Animals thus play an essential role in maintaining zoonotic infections in nature.</li>
<li>Zoonoses may be bacterial, viral, or parasitic.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The urgency to<strong> slow down and reverse land use change</strong> cannot be overstated as <strong>land is a critical component of biodiversity</strong>.</li>
<li>The land use sector is critical to achieving the aim of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 2&deg;C.</li>
<li><strong>Responsible land governance</strong> is key to provide an enabling environment for ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, land use-based adaptation and for improving the livelihoods of many small-scale farmers.</li>
<li>Parties to the <strong>UNCCD</strong> have the opportunity to adopt an ambitious resolution on land holdings for Land Degradation Neutrality. They must use this opportunity to empower communities to better adapt to the impacts of the climate emergency.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/reverse-land-use-change-to-prevent-zoonoses-like-covid-19-unccd-71793" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/land-use-changes'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'First Bell: Kerala',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Kerala Government has started a <strong>virtual class initiative</strong> called <strong>&lsquo;First Bell&rsquo;</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/online-classes-due-to-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">virtual classes</a> for state school students are being organised so that education is imparted amid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> crisis.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Classes are being streamed on a free, public-run television channel available on cable networks, direct-to-home services and over the internet. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government is <strong>using KITE VICTERS channel</strong>.</li>
<li>Further, almost all villages in Kerala have at least one common centre, be it <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lack-of-anganwadis-in-urban-areas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anganwadi</a>, a reading room or sports club, for the education department to set up a classroom.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE)</strong> has brought out the timetable for conducting the classes.</li>
<li>The <strong>modules</strong> for different classes have been prepared by agencies under the General Education Department such as the State Council of Educational Research and Training, KITE, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/samagra-shiksha" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Samagra Shiksha</a> Kerala (SSK), and the State Institute of Educational Technology.</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong> The classes were <strong>started on trial mode from 1<sup>st</sup> June, 2020</strong>. The online classes brought to focus the <strong>digital divide</strong> in the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kerala has around 45 lakh students following state board syllabus. However, a survey revealed that <strong>2.61 lakh students don&rsquo;t have access to TV or smartphone</strong>, making them out of the network of online classes. Such students were in most destitute families mainly in remote villages and tribal areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Interventions:</strong> With the <strong>government and civil society interventions,</strong> the 2.61 lakh number has reduced to 1.20 lakh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Local businessman provided TV sets as part of a <strong>&lsquo;TV challenge&rsquo;</strong> launched by the State&rsquo;s Industries department.</li>
<li>MLAs were allowed to use their local development fund to buy TVs and laptops for students.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The [email protected] Project was started in 2001-02 to promote ICT enabled education in the schools in the State. [email protected] was transformed into KITE in August 2017.</li>
<li>The <strong>VICTERS (Versatile ICT Enabled Resource for Students) channel under KITE was set up in 2005</strong> and it is the first complete educational Channel in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It strongly reflects India's commitment to use space technology (EDUSAT) for national development, especially for the development of the population in remote and rural locations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/first-bell-new-classes-from-tomorrow/article31822826.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/first-bell-kerala'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'Social Media And Democracy',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/facebook-is-weakening-democracy/story-8558QbG80JT10QP2VXkbqK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Facebook is weakening democracy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on 12/06/2020. It talks about the impact of social media on democracy.</p>
</div>
<p>The introduction of the printing press in 15<sup>th</sup> century Europe revolutionised the social landscape, helping information spread further and faster than ever before. This had a deep link with the spread idea of democracy all over the world. In the present era, social media represents a similar paradigm shift.</p>
<p>Today, social media plays a crucial role in facilitating and distributing content related to all the matters that have a larger influence on public opinion and subsequently on democracy.</p>
<p>Although social media helps in the deepening of democracy, it also tends to weaken the concept of democracy and the emergence of anarchy, because of its unregulated nature and its role in the spread of fake news.</p>
<h3>Social Media and Deepening of Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aiding C-Governance:</strong> Social media has led to the emergence of<strong> citizen-led governance (C&ndash;governance)</strong> in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Social media platforms help to create awareness from one another to a million and be united for any social cause. In the process, the existence of social media can nudge citizens to seek solutions.</li>
<li>Also for C-governance, people need to have information and be able to convey it to others. Social media platforms make that ton easier.</li>
<li>Given this, social media is gradually being accepted as the fifth estate of democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Democratization of Expression:</strong> Social media has made Indian politics more inclusive by allowing citizens, who were traditionally excluded from politics due to geography and demography, to gain direct entry into the political process.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has also allowed for a diversity of viewpoints and public engagement on an unprecedented scale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Instrument for Bringing Behavioural Change:</strong> Use of social media for policy crowdsourcing and publicity is evident in the success of pan-India campaigns such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swacch Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a> and the recently-launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fit-india-movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fit India Movement.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Making political communication people-centric:</strong> Social media has been increasingly used by Indian political actors for routine political communication between elections to provide unmediated and direct communication to connect citizenry.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, social media has changed the power of political messaging and has moved away from the mass media model and places it firmly into peer-to-peer, public discourse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ill-effects of Social Media On Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Widening Social Fault Lines:</strong> Social media has enabled a style of populist politics, which on the negative side allows hate speech and extreme speech to thrive in digital spaces that are unregulated, particularly in regional languages.</li>
<li><strong>Formation of Information Cocoons:</strong> Social Media, due to its technological capacity has enabled self-sorting and personalization of information one perceives.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leads to the phenomenon of group polarization &mdash; which takes hold when like-minded people talk to one another and end up thinking a more extreme version of what they thought before they started to talk.</li>
<li>This is not in sync with the ethos of democracy which is based on debate, dissent and discussion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Menace of Fake News:</strong> The rise of polarizing and divisive content has been a defining moment of modern politics, which is fed by fake news propagation through social media channels.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, dissemination of fake news through social media, among populations with low-to-no levels of critical digital literacy is a big challenge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyberbullying or Trolling:</strong> Another dangerous element is the labelling and trolling of more rational voices or those who disagreed with the government&rsquo;s actions or dominant public discourse as &ldquo;anti-national.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Social media awareness is needed which may enable citizens to be in a position to distinguish between truth and falsehood &ndash; and to know when democratic processes are being manipulated.</li>
<li>Social Media Platforms can provide safeguards in the event that democratic processes are being intentionally disrupted or harmful falsehoods are spreading; it can help people find out what is true.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592308307_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592308307_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #edf5ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Social media enables greater democratisation of governance. Critically examine.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_clauf-iDws" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/no-longer-special-the-hindu-editorial-on-india-nepal-ties/article31828365.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;No longer special&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on June 15<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/social-media-and-democracy'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'USA Sanctions Against the International Criminal Court',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the USA</strong> has <strong>authorised sanctions</strong> against <strong>International Criminal Court (ICC)</strong> officials involved in investigations into possible war crimes by USA troops and its allies.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Sanction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under it, <strong>any individuals</strong> who have directly engaged in any effort by the ICC to <strong>investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any United States</strong> personnel without the consent of the United States or have attempted the same against the USA ally <strong>may be subject to sanctions.</strong></li>
<li>It has <strong>broadened the visa restrictions on ICC officials</strong> or anyone who has sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support to them.</li>
<li>The restrictions also extend to the <strong>officials&rsquo; family members.</strong></li>
<li>The economic sanctions would be decided on a case-by-case basis.</li>
<li>Israel supported the decision as it accused the ICC of fabricating charges against the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The USA&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The USA has considered the <strong>ICC a threat to USA sovereignty,</strong> and announced the<strong> strict punitive measures</strong> that are generally reserved for use against <strong>terror groups and those accused of abusing human rights.</strong></li>
<li>It has called the 123 nations-strong tribunal a &ldquo;kangaroo court&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It blamed the ICC office for financial corruption and maladministration.</li>
<li>It has also blamed Russia for manipulating the ICC in its favour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The ICC&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ICC supported its officials, and called the sanction as an <strong>unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law.</strong></li>
<li>It said the <strong>sanction represents an attack against the interests of victims</strong> of atrocity crimes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reactions Against the Sanction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United Nations had taken serious note about the USA order.</li>
<li>The European Union called the USA decision a matter of serious concern.</li>
<li><strong>The international NGO Human Rights Watch</strong> has observed that by penalising war crimes investigators, the USA is openly siding with those who commit and cover up human rights abuses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill Clinton administration (1993-2001) was involved in <strong>Rome Statute negotiations,</strong> and signed the <strong>document in 2000.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Rome Statute</strong> of the International Criminal Court (International Criminal Court Statute) is the<strong> treaty</strong> that established the International Criminal Court (ICC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the next president, <strong>George W. Bush in 2002 had unsigned</strong> the Statute and signed into law the <strong>American Service-Members&rsquo; Protection Act</strong> to protect the <strong>USA nationals from the ICC&rsquo;s reach.</strong></li>
<li>The USA adopted a positive approach towards the forum during several instances&ndash; in 2005 it did not veto a UN Security Council request to the ICC to investigate crimes during the Darfur crisis (Sudan) and in 2011 voted for Libya&rsquo;s referral to the court. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also provided critical support in transferring suspects from Africa to the ICC for trial.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, in the UN General Assembly in 2018, the USA decided that it would not support or recognize the International Criminal Court.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to it, the ICC has no jurisdiction, no legitimacy, and no authority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2020,<strong> the ICC asked for a formal probe</strong> into alleged <strong>atrocities committed during the Afghanistan War between 2003 and 2014&ndash;</strong> leading to possible charge against the USA military and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA-USA&rsquo;s agency) officials.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The International Criminal Court</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>permanent judicial body created by the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court</strong> (its founding and governing document), and began functioning on 1<sup>st</sup> July 2002 when the Statute came into force.</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> The Hague, Netherlands</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>123 nations are States Parties to the Rome Statute and recognise the ICC&rsquo;s authority.</li>
<li>The<strong> USA, China, Russia, and India</strong> are not the members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The forum was <strong>established as a court of last resort to prosecute offences</strong> that would otherwise go unpunished, and has jurisdiction over <strong>four main crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Difference between ICC and ICJ:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike the <strong>International Court of Justice (ICJ),</strong> the <strong>ICC is not part of the United Nations system,</strong> with the UN-ICC relationship being governed by a separate agreement.</li>
<li>The <strong>ICJ,</strong> which is among the UN&rsquo;s 6 principal organs, mainly <strong>hears disputes between nations.</strong> It was established in 1945 and is seated at The Hague (Netherlands). Judge Dalveer Bhandari (India) is a member of the Court.</li>
<li><strong>The ICC,</strong> on the other hand,<strong> prosecutes individuals&ndash;</strong> its authority extending to offences committed in a member state or by a national of such a state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Way Forward</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several countries have expressed that the sanction is a challenge to multilateralism and judicial independence of the ICC.</li>
<li>The independence of the ICC and its<strong> ability to operate without interference</strong> must be guaranteed so that it can decide matters without any influence or pressures.</li>
<li>Earlier, the ICC has been criticised for not pursuing investigations in Western countries as well as for working inefficiently. There is a need for an independent expert review of its own functioning to address these concerns.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-us-has-approved-sanctions-against-international-criminal-court-6460199/" 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/usa-sanctions-against-the-international-criminal-court'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Talamaddale',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The traditional art of &lsquo;talamaddale&rsquo;, a variant of Yakshagana theatre, has gone virtual in times of Covid-19.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the conventional &lsquo;talamaddale,&rsquo; the artists sit across in a place without any costumes and engage in testing their oratory skills based on the episode chosen.</li>
<li>It has only spoken words without any dance or costumes. Hence it is <strong>Yakshagana minus dance, costumes and stage conventions.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Yakshagana<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592299222_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592299222_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Yakshagaana, traditional theatre form of Karnataka, is based on mythological stories and Puranas.</li>
<li>The most popular episodes are from the <strong>Mahabharata</strong> i.e. Draupadi swayamvar, Subhadra vivah, Abhimanyu vadh, Karna-Arjun yuddh and from <strong>Ramayana</strong> i.e. Rajyabhishek, Lav-Kush yuddh, Baali-Sugreeva yuddh and Panchavati.</li>
<li><strong>Gombeyatta puppet theatre</strong> closely follows Yakshagana.</li>
<li>Other important forms of theatre in India: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nautanki (Uttar Pradesh)</strong> which often draws on romantic Persian literature for its themes,</li>
<li><strong>Tamasha (Maharashtra), </strong></li>
<li><strong>Bhavai (Gujarat), </strong></li>
<li><strong>Jatra (West Bengal),</strong></li>
<li><strong>Koodiyaattam,</strong> one of the oldest traditional theatre forms of <strong>Kerala,</strong> is based on Sanskrit theatre traditions,</li>
<li><strong>Mudiyettu,</strong> traditional folk theatre form of<strong> Kerala,</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bhaona, Assam,</strong></li>
<li><strong>Maach,</strong> Madhya Pradesh,</li>
<li><strong>Bhand Pather,</strong> the traditional theatre form of <strong>Kashmir, etc.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/amid-pandemic-traditional-art-of-talamaddale-goes-digital/article31836303.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/talamaddale'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'Gateway Lunar Orbiting Outpost',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong></a> has finalised the contract to design the <strong>Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO)</strong> for its Gateway Lunar Orbiting Outpost.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Habitation and Logistics (HALO) support</strong> for the Gateway, is a part of<strong> NASA&rsquo;s Artemis program</strong> that <strong>aims</strong> to send the <strong>first woman</strong> and the next man to the <strong>Moon by 2024.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Habitation and Logistics (HALO)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It refers to the <strong>pressurised living quarters where astronauts will spend their time</strong> while visiting the Gateway.</li>
<li>These quarters will be <strong>about the size of a small apartment and will provide augmented life support</strong> together with Orion spacecraft.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Gateway:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NASA has targeted the <strong>completion of the Gateway for 2026,</strong> while work on the spaceship is already underway.</li>
<li>The <strong>Gateway can be used at least once per year</strong> and astronauts can not stay around the year like they do on the International Space Station (ISS).</li>
<li>Once docked to the Gateway, astronauts will be able to <strong>stay there for three months at a time.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Compared to the ISS,<strong> the Gateway is much smaller.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will act<strong> as an airport,</strong> where <strong>spacecraft bound for the lunar surface of Mars can refuel or replace parts</strong> and resupply things like food and oxygen, allowing astronauts to <strong>take multiple trips</strong> to the <strong>Lunar surface and exploration</strong> of new locations across the Moon.</li>
<li>By studying the <strong>geology of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars &ndash;</strong> the three planetary bodies and the ways in which they are similar and different from each other, it would give a<strong> sight about how planets and planetary systems form.</strong></li>
<li>Significantly, Gateway <strong>would work as a science platform to look back</strong> at the Earth, observe the Sun, and get unobstructed views of the vast universe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gateway Lunar Orbit Outpost</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gateway is a <strong>small spaceship that will orbit the Moon,</strong> meant for astronaut missions to the Moon and later, for <strong>expeditions to Mars.</strong></li>
<li>It will act as a<strong> temporary office and living quarters for astronauts,</strong> distanced at about 250,000 miles from Earth.</li>
<li>The spaceship will have <strong>living quarters, laboratories for science and research and docking ports</strong> for visiting spacecraft.</li>
<li>One of the most <strong>unique features</strong> of the Gateway is that it can be <strong>moved to other orbits around the Moon</strong> to conduct more research.</li>
<li>It is expected to play a major role in NASA's Artemis program, after 2024.</li>
<li>While the project is led by NASA, the Gateway is meant to be developed, serviced, and utilized in collaboration with commercial and international partners: Canada <strong>(Canadian Space Agency)</strong>, Europe <strong>(European Space Agency)</strong>, and Japan <strong>(JAXA)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Artemis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a crewed spaceflight program of NASA that has the goal of landing <strong>"the first woman and the next man" on the Moon,</strong> specifically at the <strong>lunar south pole</strong> region by 2024.</li>
<li>It is a key step towards the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon, laying the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy, and eventually sending humans to Mars.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Orion Spacecraft</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is being developed by <strong>NASA.</strong></li>
<li>It is a<strong> powerful, advanced launch vehicle</strong> for a new era of human exploration beyond Earth&rsquo;s orbit.</li>
<li>It is designed to take astronauts to deep space destinations such as the Moon and Mars.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As NASA sets its sights on returning to the Moon, and preparing for Mars, it is developing<strong> new opportunities in lunar orbit</strong> to provide the <strong>foundation for human exploration deeper into the solar system.</strong></li>
<li>It would also support the <strong>technology maturation and development of operating concepts</strong> needed for missions beyond the Earth and Moon system.</li>
<li>Building the Gateway with<strong> commercial and international partners</strong> is a critical component of sustainable lunar exploration and the Artemis program.</li>
<li>So, the partnership would give a <strong>strategic presence of humans</strong> in space.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-nasas-gateway-lunar-orbiting-outpost-6460219/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20Gateway%20Lunar,about%20250%2C000%20miles%20from%20Earth." 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/gateway-lunar-orbiting-outpost'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has joined the <strong>'Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)'</strong> as a founding member to support the<strong> responsible and human-centric development</strong> and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> GPAI is an international and multi-stakeholder initiative to guide the responsible development and use of AI, based on human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth.</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An example would be looking at how AI could help societies respond to and recover from the Covid-19 crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bring together leading experts from industry, civil society, governments, and academia to conduct research and pilot projects on AI.</li>
<li>It will initially <strong>comprise four working groups</strong> focused on responsible AI, data governance, the future of work, and innovation and commercialisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Founding Members:</strong> Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States.</li>
<li><strong>Organisation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GPAI will be supported by a Secretariat, to be hosted by <strong>Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)</strong> in Paris, as well as by two Centers of Expertise- one each in Montreal (Canada) and Paris (France).</li>
<li>GPAI will be able to take advantage of the OECD&rsquo;s expertise on AI policy and its leadership in setting out the first international standard for trustworthy AI &ndash; the OECD Principles on Artificial Intelligence.</li>
<li>The OECD will also be a Permanent Observer to the GPAI&rsquo;s governing bodies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> Born out of the Canadian and French G7 Presidencies in 2018 and 2019, GPAI was officially proposed by France and Canada at the Biarritz Summit in August 2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It describes the action of machines accomplishing tasks that have historically required human intelligence.</li>
<li>It includes technologies like machine learning, pattern recognition, big data, neural networks, self algorithms etc.</li>
<li><strong>Example:</strong> Facebook&rsquo;s list of suggested friends for its users, self-driving cars, etc.</li>
<li>AI automates processes and reduces human error but the principal limitation of AI is that it learns from the data. This means any inaccuracies in the data will be reflected in the results.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was formed in<strong> 1961.</strong> It has<strong> 37 member countries. India is not a member but one of the key partners</strong> of the organisation.</li>
<li>It is an international organisation, having a goal to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all.</li>
<li><strong>PISA</strong> is the OECD&rsquo;s programme for international student assessment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will participate in the PISA test 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is<strong> headquartered at Paris, France.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF)</strong> Secretariat is located at OECD headquarters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>G7</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a bloc of<strong> industrialised democracies -</strong> Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Recent Initiatives by India in the Field of AI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has recently launched National AI Strategy and National AI Portal and have also started leveraging AI across various sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare, e-commerce, finance, telecommunications, etc.</li>
<li>The <strong>National AI strategy</strong> was released in 2018 by NITI Aayog. It is termed<strong> &lsquo;AIForAll&rsquo;</strong> as it is focused on leveraging AI for inclusive growth in line with the Government policy of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Role of the Government has been clearly delineated to develop the research ecosystem, promote adoption and address skilling challenges.</li>
<li>The strategy also flags important issues like ethics, bias and privacy issues relating to AI and envisions Government promoting research in technology to address these concerns.</li>
<li>The focus is on sectors like agriculture, health and education where public investment and lead would be necessary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National AI Portal:</strong> It has been developed jointly by the National e-Governance Division of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom). The portal is meant to work as a <strong>&ldquo;one stop digital platform"</strong> for all AI related developments in India.</li>
<li><strong>Responsible AI for Youth Programme:</strong> It is aimed at imparting education and skills in AI to students in government schools.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By joining GPAI as a founding member, India will actively participate in the global development of Artificial Intelligence, leveraging its experience around use of digital technologies for inclusive growth.</li>
<li>AI is rapidly penetrating into all the sectors of economy, if used empathetically and reasonably, it has the potential to change global social and economic interactions for the better.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1631676" 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/global-partnership-on-artificial-intelligence'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'GovTech 3.0',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/covid-19-has-opened-the-doors-for-gov-tech-3-0/story-Gogbtg00bYrwyrxreMKUQI.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Covid-19 has opened the doors for Gov Tech 3.0&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Hindustan Times on 11/06/2020. It talks about the challenges and Utility of the National Open Digital Ecosystem.</p>
</div>
<p>As India looks to adopt the maxim of &ldquo;minimum government and maximum governance&rdquo;, the role of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital ecosystems</strong></a> has become paramount. In this context, recently, the Ministry of Electronics of Information Technology (MeITY) has released a consultation paper on Strategy for<strong> National Open Digital Ecosystem (NODE).</strong></p>
<p>NODE or GovTech 3.0 defined as &ldquo;Open and secure delivery platforms, anchored by transparent governance mechanisms, which enable a technology collaboration among citizens, businesses and governments to transform societal outcomes.</p>
<p>The key objectives Govtech 3.0 include the need to optimise service delivery, integrate data across departments and ministries, create inter-operable and modular platforms and include the private sector by allowing them to build solutions on top of Government architecture.</p>
<p>While the Open Digital Ecosystem (ODE) empowers and enable collaboration in unprecedented ways, there are many underlying challenges emanating from such interconnected digital networks that need to be addressed.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221148_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221148_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>Note: Evolution of GovTech (Use of Technology in Governance)</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gov Tech1.0 was the era of &ldquo;computerisation&rdquo; of manual processes such as putting income tax forms online.</li>
<li>Gov Tech 2.0 was about building systems which digitised end-to-end processes, for example, the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;e-office&rdquo; file management system.</li>
<li>GovTech 3.0 is focussed on Open Digital Ecosystems (ODEs), the underlying philosophy suggests that the government should focus on creating the &ldquo;digital commons&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It envisages the government becoming a facilitator by creating digital infrastructure on which innovators can collaboratively build solutions for the public good.</li>
<li>For Examples, deployment of contact tracing apps (Aarogya Setu) developed through public-private partnerships, to prevent the spread of the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221196_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221196_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Advantages of GovTech 3.0</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integration of Government Services:</strong> The advantages of building NODE is illustrated citing the example of e-Transport project of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ministry helped digitize issuing vehicle registrations and driver&rsquo;s licenses making it easier for citizens to obtain them, creating dashboards with analytics.</li>
<li>It now integrates a National Vehicle Register and State Vehicle Registers with data interlinked across databases with access to government institutions like Police, National Crime Records Bureau and private institutions like banks and insurance companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enhancing Social Security:</strong> Several path-breaking ODEs are already in play in India. For example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unified Payments Interface (UPI)</strong></a> in the financial services space has played an instrumental role in increasing financial inclusion.</li>
<li>The National Digital Infrastructure for Teachers called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/classes-in-distance-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DIKSHA</strong></a> will play a crucial role in education reforms.</li>
<li>The National Urban Innovation Stack which is enabling the more efficient provision of municipal services.</li>
<li>Similarly, a digital ecosystem for agriculture which is being designed by an inter-ministerial committee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Underlying Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Privacy Issues:</strong> Potential violations of privacy and possible weaponization of data is a primary issue related to such digital initiatives.</li>
<li><strong>Federal Issues:</strong> The apps under Govtech 3.0 may end up gathering information which falls under the domain of State subject.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For Example, the e-transport project has centralized governance of transport which is a state subject according to the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>May Increase Inequalities:</strong> Success in the digital provision of services is dependent on many underlying factors, including digital literacy, education and access to stable and fast telecommunication services.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this setting, undertaking large-scale digitisation of services without bridging these digital divides could result in increasing existing inequalities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security Issues:</strong> Another cybersecurity challenge is ensuring end-to-end protection of data throughout the whole ecosystem. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While channels and databases used by the Government for transmission and storage are usually secure, other players in the ecosystem may not possess the requisite expertise or security to prevent and respond to breaches.</li>
<li>The alleged breach of Aadhar database is a case in point.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Addressing Privacy Issues:</strong> Designing privacy-protection and secure databases is critical. It is, therefore, imperative, that regulations governing the GovTech 3.0 take into account provisions of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Inclusivity:</strong> Digital ecosystems should be guided by factors of availability, accessibility, affordability, value and trust.</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Transparency:</strong> The invisible rules that are coded into &ldquo;tech&rdquo; need to be made transparent through thoughtful design principles, legislation, governance frameworks and public engagement.</li>
<li><strong>Citizen-Centric Design:</strong> There is a need to ensure the design is citizen-centric and ensures inclusive access to services at the last mile will help drive adoption and sustain these ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The push to create digital ecosystems is a welcome step as it can prove to be an effective tool in overcoming governance deficit and improving the quality of life for individuals. However, it is essential to adapt such ecosystems to the peculiarities of India.</p>
<p>In this context, design choices should be made not just in terms of the technology and data architecture, but also in terms of governance architecture and community engagement around ODEs, will determine how we collaborate to build a more resilient and empowered India.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221220_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221220_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e6ffe8;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;In pursuit of the maxim of &ldquo;minimum government and maximum governance&rdquo;, the role of digital ecosystems has become paramount&rdquo;. In light this statement, discuss the role and challenges of the National Open Digital Ecosystem.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SL-JI0tyNuA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/tamil-nadu-coimbatore-koyampuththoor-6456137/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Much in a Rename&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Indian express in The Indian Express on 13/06/2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Malabar Gliding Frog',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a rare amphibian i.e. <strong>Malabar Gliding Frog <em>(Rhacophorus malabaricus)</em></strong> was spotted in Pullad, Kerala.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amphibian is <strong>endemic</strong> to the rainforest of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>western ghats</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Endemic species</strong> are those plants and animals that exist only in one geographical region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Characteristics:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592213374_Image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img width="250" class="content-img" style="float: right;" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592213374_Image1.jpg" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> green frog</strong> with <strong>slender body, webbed feet, unusual body positions</strong> and very well <strong>camouflaged.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Camouflage,</strong> also called <strong>cryptic coloration,</strong> is a defense mechanism or tactic that organisms use to disguise their appearance, usually to blend in with their surroundings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The fingers and toes are like sticks to attach and walk through tree branches.</li>
<li>It has a <strong>high gliding abilities,</strong> with the long skin between the fingers which helps to cover <strong>10 to 12 feet</strong> in one leap.</li>
<li>It has a<strong> body length of 10 cm,</strong> making it one of the <strong>largest mossy frogs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Mossy Frogs:</strong> These frogs have the skin which is green in colour and resembles moss growing on the rock.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The breeding period is during the monsoon and usually, the females choose to spawn on the lush green leaves overhanging a waterbody.</li>
<li>As their body is so soft, they can live only in moist forests with streams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foam Nests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They built<strong> foam nests</strong> above small pools of water, into which the tadpoles drop after hatching. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Behaviour like<strong> cannibalism</strong> has been found among tadpoles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list#:~:text=IUCN%20is%20a%20membership%20union,It%20is%20headquartered%20in%20Switzerland." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List</strong></a> , it is placed in the <strong>Least Concern</strong> category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concern:</strong> The Malabar gliding frog population is declining<strong> due to deforestation, climate change, developmental activities, </strong>and <strong>toxic chemicals.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Western Ghats</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are the mountain ranges running parallel along the <strong>western coast of India starting from Gujarat and ending in Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala</strong> are the six Indian states covered by Western Ghats.</li>
<li>The mountain range is also a <strong>&ldquo;Hottest Hotspot&rdquo; of biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>The Ghats are often called the <strong>Great Escarpment of India</strong> and are also a <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>High Biodiversity and Endemism</strong> are special features of Western Ghats along with the presence of <strong>Evergreen Forests.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Amphibia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They fall under the <strong>Chordata phylum</strong> of the kingdom Animalia, Eg.,<strong> Frogs, Salamanders etc.</strong></li>
<li>These are <strong>multicellular vertebrates</strong> that live both on<strong> land and water.</strong></li>
<li>They are the<strong> first cold-blooded animals</strong> to have appeared on land.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cold-blooded animals</strong> can be defined as the animals which cannot regulate their internal body temperature with the change in the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They respire through the lungs and skin.</li>
<li>They have <strong>three chambered</strong> hearts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/malabar-gliding-frog-spotted-at-
pullad/article31827553.ece#:~:text=The%20amphibian%20is%20endemic%20to%20rain%20forests%20of%20Western%20Ghats&amp;text=This%20was%20how%20a%20juvenile,%2C%20near%20Kozhencherry%2C%20on%20Saturday." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Indian Naval LOs at Madagascar and Abu Dhabi',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India is planning to post <strong>Naval Liaison Officers</strong> (LOs) at the <strong>Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre</strong> (RMIFC) in <strong>Madagascar</strong> and the <strong>European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz</strong> (EMASOH) in <strong>Abu Dhabi</strong> for improved <strong>Maritime Domain Awareness</strong> (MDA).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This move comes after <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India joined the Indian Ocean Commission</strong></a> (IOC) as Observer in <strong>March 2020</strong> along with <strong>Japan and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move <strong>aims</strong> to <strong>improve linkages</strong> of the Navy&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/information-fusion-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region</strong> </a>(IFC-IOR) in <strong>Gurugram with other IFCs</strong> and become the <strong>repository for all maritime data</strong> in the IOR.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-france-joint-patrolling" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India is working closely with France</strong></a>, who is a pre-eminent member of IOC, to post a Naval LO at the RMIFC in Madagascar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> RMFIC functions under the aegis of the IOC</strong> and is designed to deepen maritime domain awareness by monitoring maritime activities and promoting information sharing and exchange.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Navy LO is expected to be posted at <strong>EMASOH by July</strong> and at the <strong>RMIFC by September or October 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a LO at the IFC in Singapore for over four years now.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Commission</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental body and regional forum</strong> created in <strong>1984</strong> to protect the interests of the <strong>western Indian Ocean islands.</strong></li>
<li>It consists of <strong>Madagascar, Comoros, La R&eacute;union</strong> (French overseas territory), <strong>Mauritius</strong> and <strong>Seychelles.</strong></li>
<li>IOC has<strong> five observers</strong> which are <strong>China, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a></strong> (EU), <strong>Malta</strong> and <strong>International Organisation of La Francophonie</strong> (OIF),<strong> India, Japan</strong> and <strong>the UN.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>OIF is a 54 french speaking nations collective.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France started EMASOH with the aim to monitor maritime activity and guarantee freedom of navigation in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Persian Gulf</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strait-of-hormuz-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strait of Hormuz</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It is <strong>based at the French naval base in Abu Dhabi</strong> (UAE).</li>
<li>It was declared operational by the French Ministry of Armed Forces in February 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To strengthen the naval forces and surveillance, India has signed a series of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-france" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>white shipping agreements</strong></a>, <strong>Logistics Support Agreements</strong> (LSA) and <strong>maritime cooperation agreements</strong> with several countries, recently.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Australia Virtual Summit</strong></a> announced a joint declaration on a shared vision for maritime cooperation in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific</strong> </a>in which they agreed to deepen navy-to-navy cooperation and strengthen MDA in the Indo-Pacific region through enhanced exchange of information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In<strong> 2015,</strong> India unveiled it's strategic vision for the Indian Ocean i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Security and Growth for All in the Region</strong></a> (SAGAR). It is an increasing recognition of the increasing importance of maritime security, maritime commons and cooperation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Through SAGAR, India seeks to <strong>deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours </strong>and <strong>assist in building their maritime security capabilities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Indian Navy</strong> set up the IFC-IOR in <strong>December 2018</strong> within the premises of the <strong>Information Management and Analysis Centre</strong> (IMAC) in Gurugram to track maritime movements in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IMAC is located in <strong>Gurugram</strong> and is the main centre of the Indian Navy for <strong>coastal surveillance and monitoring.</strong></li>
<li>IMAC is a <strong>joint initiative of Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Bharat Electronics Ltd</strong> and functions under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unified-commanders-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Security Adviser</strong></a> (NSA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IFC is the<strong> single point centre linking all the coastal radar chains</strong> to generate a seamless real-time picture of the nearly 7,500 km coastline.</li>
<li><strong>France</strong> became the <strong>first country to deploy</strong> a LO at the IFC-IOR <strong>followed by the USA</strong> and several other countries including Australia, Japan and the UK have announced their intention to post LOs.</li>
<li>It <strong>coordinates with similar centres</strong> across the globe which include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Virtual Regional Maritime Traffic Centre (VRMTC)</li>
<li>Maritime Security Centre-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-peace-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Horn of Africa</strong></a> (MSCHOA)</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/recaap-isc-capacity-building-workshop" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery</strong> </a>(ReCAAP)</li>
<li>Information Fusion Centre-Singapore (IFC-SG)</li>
<li>International Maritime Bureau-Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB-PRC)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s engagement with the Western Indian Ocean will facilitate collective engagement with the islands there, which are becoming strategically significant.</li>
<li>Given China&rsquo;s growing presence in the region, India will be able to increase its naval presence and gain support for its maritime projects across the Indo-Pacific.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s consultative, democratic and equitable leadership can help achieve the security and sustainable growth to all in the region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-looks-to-deploy-naval-liaisons-at-madagascar-abu-dhabi-for-information-exchange/article31828272.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic plants (CIMAP)</strong> has announced a photography competition on medicinal and aromatic plants to convey the message of conservation of these medicinal plants.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of the competition is<strong> &lsquo;Know your Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Established:</strong> Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, popularly known as CIMAP, was established originally as Central Indian Medicinal Plants Organisation (CIMPO) in 1959. It was rechristened as Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) in 1978.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> It is a frontier plant research laboratory of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)</strong></a>. It focuses on high quality research in biological and chemical sciences and extending technologies and services to the farmers and entrepreneurs of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs).</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Lucknow, U.P.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CIMAP, Lucknow houses the <strong>National Gene Bank of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,</strong> in addition to seed gene bank, tissue and DNA bank.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research Centres:</strong> Bangalore (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Telangana), Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) and Purara (Uttarakhand).</li>
<li>CIPAM is presently accredited by <strong>International Centre for Science and High Technology- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (ICS-UNIDO)</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA)</strong></a> as a focal point for research and training on Medicinal Plants among participating member countries.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Centre for Science and High Technology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICS was <strong>established in 1988</strong> and operates under the<strong> legal framework of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-thermal-energy-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)</a>.</strong> It focuses on the transfer of know-how and technology from industrialized to developing countries.</li>
<li>The Centre focuses its activities on <strong>four core scientific programmes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rational drug design and development</li>
<li>Next generation biofuels and bio-based chemicals</li>
<li>Geothermal energy</li>
<li>Nanotechnologies</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Trieste, Italy.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1631499#:~:text=In%20an%20effort%20to%20create,conservation%20of%20these%20medicinal%20plants." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Olms in Postojna Cave of Slovenia',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, three <strong>Olms</strong> have been put on display in <strong>Slovenia&rsquo;s Postojna Cave,</strong> where they hatched in 2016 in a rare successful breeding.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Olms are <strong>eyeless (skin covered eyes) pink salamanders</strong>&nbsp;also known as the <strong>"baby dragon"</strong> and <strong>"human fish"</strong> for its pale skin-like colour.</li>
<li>They feed on <strong>detritus and endemic cave vertebrates</strong> and hide in crevices or bottom sediment when disturbed. They <strong>can survive without food</strong> for<strong> up to 10 years.</strong></li>
<li>A long-lived species that only matures to a sexual stage after the age of 12-15 years and<strong> reproduces very slowly.</strong></li>
<li>It can live a century and breeds only once a decade usually in laboratories throughout Europe or deep in caves away from people.</li>
<li>They have a <strong>powerful sensory system</strong> of smell, taste, hearing and electrosensitivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The olm requires <strong>clean water,</strong> and is therefore<strong> vulnerable to water pollution.</strong></li>
<li>Consequently, the major threats to the olm are pollution and habitat disturbance from land use changes occurring above the cave systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are found in large subterranean <strong>aquatic karst systems</strong> formed in <strong>limestone and dolomite rocks,</strong> and may be found in cave entrances.</li>
<li>They are an entirely aquatic species and prefer waters ranging from 5-15&deg;C.</li>
<li>Found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and France.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592473158_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592473158_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Karst Topography</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Any <strong>limestone or dolomitic region</strong> showing typical landforms produced by the action of groundwater through the processes of solution and deposition is called Karst topography.</li>
<li>It is named after the typical topography developed in limestone rocks of Karst region in the <strong>Balkans adjacent to Adriatic sea.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The name of this type of topography comes from the <strong>Karst region in Yugoslavia,</strong> karst topography can be found all over the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The karst topography is also characterised by <strong>erosional and depositional landforms.</strong> Karst landscapes feature <strong>caves, underground streams and sinkholes</strong> on the surface. Where erosion has worn away the land above ground, steep rocky cliffs are visible.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592473136_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592473136_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/rare-cave-dwelling-baby-dragons-go-on-display-in-slovenia/story-tS7GUpLGN1FHoQPdijqQaI.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olms-in-postojna-cave-of-slovenia'
	],
	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'World Crocodile Day',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>World Crocodile Day is celebrated on <strong>17<sup>th</sup> June.</strong> The day is a <strong>global awareness campaign</strong> to highlight the plight of endangered crocodiles and alligators around the world.</p>
<h3>Crocodilian Species in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Mugger or Marsh Crocodile:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469734_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469734_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ghodahada-reservoir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mugger</strong> </a>is an egg-laying and hole-nesting species.</li>
<li>The mugger is also known to be dangerous.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is mainly restricted to the Indian subcontinent where it may be found in a number of freshwater habitat types including rivers, lakes and marshes. However, it can even be found in coastal saltwater lagoons and estuaries.</li>
<li>It is already <strong>extinct in Bhutan and Myanmar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and transformation, fishing activities and use of crocodile parts for medicinal purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IUCN List of Threatened Species: <strong>Vulnerable</strong></li>
<li>CITES : <strong>Appendix I</strong></li>
<li>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 :<strong> Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469752_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469752_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is considered as the Earth&rsquo;s largest living crocodile species.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>estuarine crocodile</strong></a> is infamous globally as a known <strong>maneater.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is found in Odisha&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bhitarkanika National Park</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sundarban-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sundarbans</strong></a> in West Bengal and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands.</li>
<li>It is also found across Southeast Asia and northern Australia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Illegal hunting, habitat loss, and antipathy toward the species because of its reputation as a man-eater continue to put pressure on the population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IUCN List of Threatened Species: <strong>Least Concern</strong></li>
<li>CITES : <strong>Appendix I</strong> (except the populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, which are included in Appendix II).</li>
<li>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 :<strong> Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gharial<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469769_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592469769_image3.jpg" width="300" caption="false" style="float: right;" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/release-of-gharials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gharials</strong></a>, sometimes called gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts which resembles a pot (ghara in Hindi).</li>
<li>Gharials are a type of Crocodilians that also includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, etc.</li>
<li>The population of Gharials are a good indicator of clean river water.</li>
<li>The gharial is known to be a relatively harmless, fish-eating species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The gharials are mostly found in fresh waters of the himalayan rivers.</li>
<li>The <strong>chambal river</strong> in the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains ( Madhya Pradesh) is known as the primary habitat of gharials.</li>
<li>Other himalayan rivers like ghagra, gandak river, Girwa river, Ramganga river and the Sone river are secondary habitats for gharials.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Illegal sand mining, poaching, increased river pollution, dam construction, massive-scale fishing operations and floods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IUCN List of Threatened Species: <strong>Critically Endangered</strong></li>
<li>CITES : <strong>Appendix I</strong></li>
<li>Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 : <strong>Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Human-Crocodile Conflict</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>An encroachment of humans on the river banks and marshy areas with an increased urbanisation is one of the foremost reasons for increasing human-crocodile conflict in these areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hotspots:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Vadodara in Gujarat, Kota in Rajasthan, Bhitarkanika in Odisha and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are considered as the human-crocodile conflict hotspots in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Considering the importance of crocodiles in maintaining the balance in the ecosystem, <strong>raising awareness among local people</strong> with the <strong>possible relocation</strong> of crocodiles are some of the feasible options for the protection of the species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indian Crocodile Conservation Project</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Crocodile Conservation Project was launched in <strong>1975</strong> in different States.</li>
<li>The Gharial and Saltwater crocodile conservation programme was first implemented in Odisha in early 1975 and subsequently the Mugger conservation programme was initiated.</li>
<li>As a result of the programme, the estimated number of the saltwater crocodiles <strong>increased from 96 in 1976 to 1,640 in 2012</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need to utilise manpower, modern technology and funds to conduct a proper survey to find the real time status of the crocodile population in the country.</li>
<li>It can be done through geo-tagging the animals so that their movements can be monitored to prevent human-crocodile conflicts.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/world-crocodile-day-experts-call-for-patience-regarding-human-croc-conflict-71809" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-crocodile-day'
	],
	(int) 2 => [
		'title' => 'Axone: Ethnic Cuisine of Northeast India',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Axone or fermented soya bean</strong> has become popular, which is eaten by many<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-for-tribal-communities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tribal communities</strong></a> in different parts of Northeast India especially in <strong>Nagaland.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Axone &mdash;<strong> also called as akhuni &mdash;</strong> is a fermented soya bean of Nagaland, known for its distinctive flavour and smell. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>condiment</strong> (a spice, sauce, or preparation that is added to food) used to make pickles, chutney or curries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is prepared and eaten across <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/naga-and-kuki-tribes-signs-for-truce" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagaland mainly by the Sumi (also Sema) tribe</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It belongs to the broader <strong>phenomena of fermentation</strong> necessary for food preservation in certain ecological contexts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fermentation gives it a distinct smell and taste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fermented soya bean is known by different names</strong> in different parts of Northeast India, including Meghalaya and Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur as well in other South, Southeast and East Asian countries of Nepal, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, China, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the one food that <strong>connects the Eastern Himalayas</strong> as a <strong>culturally cross-cutting cuisine.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food Fermentation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Food fermentation is a food processing technology that utilizes the growth and metabolic activity of microorganisms for the stabilization and transformation of food materials.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fermentation was primarily developed for the stabilization of perishable agricultural produce.</li>
<li>It is a process through which microorganisms like yeast and bacteria convert carbs- such as starch and sugar- into alcohol or acids.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Uses:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The production of carbon dioxide is used to make bread.</li>
<li>The production of organic acids is exploited to preserve and flavor vegetables and dairy products.</li>
<li>The production of alcohol is utilised to convert fruit juices to wine, grains into beer, and foods rich in starch, such as potatoes, are fermented and then distilled to make spirits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Soya Bean</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> soya bean <em>(Glycine max)</em></strong> is a <strong>species of legume</strong> native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean, which has numerous uses e.g. soya milk, soya food etc.</li>
<li>It is a significant and cheap<strong> source of protein</strong> apart from dietary minerals and B vitamins.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sumi Tribe</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 'Sumi Naga' is one of the major<strong> ethnic groups in Nagaland.</strong></li>
<li>Sumi Nagas mostly inhabit the <strong>central and southern regions</strong> of Nagaland.</li>
<li>There are also seven Sumi villages in <strong>Tinsukia District of Assam.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tuluni and Ahuna</strong> are the major festivals.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been seen often that people from Northeast are being refrained from cooking axone and other fermented foods. This has often led to relegating the food of <strong>particular social groups to a remote and primitive</strong> position and giving birth to <strong>racial politics</strong> and<strong> experiences of exclusion.</strong></li>
<li>Here, <strong>the fermented food</strong> is connected to a<strong> specific community and its dignity.</strong> Such food habits lead to strengthening of sentiments towards one&rsquo;s own community and express a <strong>sense of identity, comfort and familiarity.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-axone-fermented-soya-bean-nagaland-6463008/#:~:text=Axone%20%E2%80%94%20also%20spelled%20akhuni%20%E2%80%94%20is%20a%20fermented%20soya%20bean%20of,fish%2C%20chicken%2C%20beef%20etc." 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/axone-ethnic-cuisine-of-northeast-india'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Largest Decline in Arctic Sea Ice',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-polar-and-ocean-research-ncpor-#:~:text=National%20Centre%20for%20Polar%20and%20Ocean%20Research%20(NCPOR),-It%20was%20established&amp;text=Earlier%20known%20as%20National%20Centre,Polar%20and%20Southern%20Ocean%20realms." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)</strong> </a>has observed the <strong>largest decline in the Arctic Sea ice in the last 41 years.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decline in the Arctic Sea ice is due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming</strong></a> &mdash; leading to<strong> localised increase in evaporation, air humidity, cloud cover and rainfall.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Sea Ice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sea ice arises as seawater freezes. Because <strong>ice is less dense than water,</strong> it floats on the ocean's surface.</li>
<li>Sea ice covers about 7% of the Earth's surface and about 12% of the world's oceans.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Increased Rate of Sea Ice Decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the last 40 years (1979-2018), the sea ice has been declining at <strong>4.7% per decade,</strong> while the current declining rate was found to be <strong>13% in July 2019.</strong></li>
<li>Thus, it has been noted that the volume of ice formation during winters is <strong>unable to keep pace</strong> with the volume of ice loss during summers.</li>
<li>Additionally, it has been predicted that if this trend continues, there would be<strong> no ice left in the Arctic Sea</strong> by<strong> 2050.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impacts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decrease of the Arctic Sea ice area and the increase in the duration of summer and autumn seasons <strong>affected the local weather and climate</strong> over the Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas.</li>
<li>Being a sensitive indicator of climate change, the loss of ice cover in the Arctic Sea may affect <strong>other components of the climate system</strong> such as reduction of heat, water vapour, and other material exchange between the atmosphere and the sea.</li>
<li>The northern hemisphere experienced <strong>record high-temperature rise,</strong> especially during the spring and summer months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> in 1998.</li>
<li>It is located in <strong>Goa.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier known as National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), NCPOR is India&rsquo;s premier R&amp;D institution responsible for the country&rsquo;s research activities in the<strong> Polar and Southern Ocean realms.</strong></li>
<li>It is the <strong>nodal agency</strong> for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of <strong>polar and southern ocean scientific research</strong> in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The sea-ice loss at such a high rate is a matter of concern for all the lives on Earth.</li>
<li>Thus, maintaining the balance between anthropological activities and carrying capacity of the environment is one of the foremost steps that can be taken at this point of time.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/arctic-sea-ice-saw-largest-decline-in-41-years-in-july-2019-ncpor-71801" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/largest-decline-in-arctic-sea-ice'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Earth’s Mantle and Evolution of Life',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a study published in the journal &lsquo;Nature Communications&rsquo;, an evolution of the Mantle of the Earth could have not only controlled evolution of the atmosphere, but also evolution of life.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of Earth&rsquo;s Mantle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the study, although there were amounts of oxygen before the <strong>Great Oxidation Event (GOE)</strong>, it could not concentrate in the atmosphere.</li>
<li>This was because of the reaction of oxygen with the large amount of gases ejected by Volcanoes. The oxygen produced by the early life-forms combined with things like hydrogen ( for example), and was removed from the atmosphere.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When volcanoes are active, they send large amounts of gases into the atmosphere. The nature of these gases depends on the nature of the materials in the Earth&rsquo;s mantle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As volcanic activity continued, it produced less material that would readily combine with oxygen. Earth&rsquo;s mantle was becoming more and more oxidized.</li>
<li>With time, the oxygen produced by life-forms could accumulate in the atmosphere. This started the<strong> Great Oxidation Event,</strong> paving the way for complex life.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Great Oxidation Event:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The atmosphere of the early Earth lacked oxygen. This began to change during what is known as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE).</li>
<li>It refers to a<strong> series of chemical changes</strong> that geologists and geochemists have observed in rocks that are between <strong>2.5 and 2.3 billion years old.</strong></li>
<li>These changes were the result of <strong>oxygen given off by ancient cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).</strong> Communities of this bacteria lived in shallow seawater and were preserved in rocks as structures called <strong>stromatolites.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Stromatolite means <strong>&lsquo;layered rock&rsquo;.</strong> It is a rocky structure created by the activity of colonies of single-celled bacteria, mostly cyanobacteria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Oxygen first accumulated in Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere at this time and has been present ever since.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Boom of Cyanobacteria and Carbonates:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prior to the GOE, an increase in tectonic activity produced <strong>new volcanoes</strong> which pumped<strong> big amounts of carbon dioxide</strong> in the air which led to the warming of the climate, increased rainfall, and leading to more minerals washed into the ocean.</li>
<li>These phenomena led to the <strong>boom of cyanobacteria and carbonates.</strong> The increase in photosynthesis is attributed to the rise in the population of cyanobacteria and in turn, the carbon present in the atmosphere was buried underground.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Earth&rsquo;s Mantle</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The mantle is the mostly-solid bulk of Earth's interior. It lies between Earth's dense, super-heated core and its thin outer layer, the crust.</li>
<li>It is about 2,900 kilometers thick and makes up 84% of Earth&rsquo;s total volume.</li>
<li>The upper portion of the mantle is called the <strong>asthenosphere.</strong> The word astheno means weak. It is considered to be extending upto 400 km. It is the <strong>main source of magma that finds its way to the surface during volcanic eruptions.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>crust and the uppermost part of the mantle are called lithosphere.</strong> Its thickness ranges from 10-200 km.</li>
<li>The lower mantle extends beyond the asthenosphere. It is in solid state.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cyanobacteria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic, that is, they live in the water, and can manufacture their own food. Because they are bacteria, they are quite small and usually unicellular, though they often grow in colonies large enough to see.</li>
<li>They have the distinction of being the<strong> oldest known fossils,</strong> more than 3.5 billion years old.</li>
<li>They are important providers of <strong>nitrogen fertilizer</strong> in the cultivation of rice and beans.</li>
<li>The oxygen atmosphere that we depend on was generated by numerous cyanobacteria during the Archaean and Proterozoic Eras (4.6 billion to 541 million years ago).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study indicates that one cannot exclude the mantle of the planet when considering the evolution of the surface and life of the planet.</li>
<li>It not only affects understanding of earth and the emergence of complex life here, but also that of exoplanets, and their potential to support life.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earth-s-mantle-and-evolution-of-life'
	],
	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Growth Models for Rural India',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/lessons-for-yogi-from-gandhi-and-lee/article31835579.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Lessons for Yogi from Gandhi and Lee&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 16/06/2020. It talks about the relevance of ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Lee Kuan Yew for contemporary India.</p>
</div>
<p>Globalisation has made life easy for migrant capital (foreign investments like FDI, FII, etc.), not for migrant labour. This can be reflected in the recent migrant crisis that emanated from Covid-19 pandemic. Also, the pull factor for migration i.e employment opportunities has been severely affected due to such pandemic.</p>
<p>Therefore, the need is to attain self-reliance, especially in rural areas. Rural areas are the main source of providing migrant labourers. In this context, India can take some lessons from Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, and from Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation.</p>
<h3>Singapore Model of Development</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lee Kuan Yew is known as the founder of modern Singapore, which was founded in 1965.</li>
<li>Under three decades of his leadership (1965 to 1990), the former British colony of Singapore got transformed from a poor fishing hamlet into a global financial hub and economic powerhouse.</li>
<li>A key plank of Lee&rsquo;s model from the beginning was to <strong>attract foreign investment by assuring investors world-class infrastructure, an efficient administration, and low taxes</strong>.</li>
<li>In return, he did not want multinational companies to merely set up labour-intensive assembly factories, rather he wanted the companies to train Singaporeans to do higher-value work.</li>
<li>According to Lee, humans are not tools to produce returns for investors; rather, money is a tool to produce benefits for humans. Thereby, people of Singapore would earn more and the country would become fully &lsquo;developed&rsquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ultimate measure of Singapore becoming fully developed was not the size of its GDP, but the incomes of its citizens.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to address the roadblocks (crony capitalism, corruption, political interference etc) to an efficient market economy, he established mechanisms to ensure honest and accountable governance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gandhian Economics</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Issues related to rural areas in India are more complex than Singapore. The Gandhian vision of Poorna Swaraj becomes important in this context.</li>
<li>According to the Gandhian idea of Poorna Swaraj, in order to become fully independent, people in India&rsquo;s villages need to have economic and social freedom.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gandhi believed that the economy must serve human needs, rather than human beings becoming fodder for the GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The major principles of Gandhian economics that can be applied in the Indian economy:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Enabling Gram Swaraj:</strong> According to Gandhi, the progress of human beings and local communities must be the means for economic growth.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the governments must be strengthened at the local level, in villages and cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concept of Trusteeship:</strong> The concept of trusteeship as enunciated by Gandhi, demands non-possession. It seeks individuals to dispossess their wealth and income beyond their requirements so that the economic welfare of the less capable is realized.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to him, wealth is good, but wealthy people must be only trustees of a community&rsquo;s wealth and not its owners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Formation of Co-operatives:</strong> The alienation of owners from workers must be reduced with the creation of new models of cooperative capitalist enterprises, where the workers, not remote capitalists, or the state, are owners of the enterprises.</li>
<li><strong>Focus of Sarvodaya:</strong> The government must focus on the well-being of the poorest and weakest member of society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>The health crisis and the economic crisis emanating from Covid-19 have prompted governments at all levels, whether international, national or state, to strive for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/in-pursuance-of-self-reliance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-reliance</a>. India, under recently launched, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan</a> envisages self-reliance. This can be achieved by the confluence of ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Lee Kuan Yew. Following factors become significant in this context:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Syncing Skills with Business:</strong> The government must encourage private investors to play a critical role in skill up-gradation and subsequent employment of India&rsquo;s Youth.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Giving tax incentives for those firms who help in skill up-gradation may be a step in the right direction.</li>
<li>This will not only help in making the trickle-down effect possible but also leverage India&rsquo;s demographic dividend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Democratic Decentralization:</strong> There is a strong need for providing functional autonomy to grassroots democracy at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/panchayati-raj-institutions-and-participative-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Panchayati raj institutions</a> and urban local government.</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Accountability:</strong> The government should initiate reforms under Part XIVth <strong>(Services Under the Union and the States)</strong> of the Indian Constitution which makes it difficult to dismiss corrupt officials.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, governance policy must be committed to implementing systems that continuously attract the best talent to politics and governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>One thing of course, that India can reject from the teachings of Lee Kuan Yew is the limits to freedom of expression and its limited democracy that depended critically on having one good person at the helm. Also, Gandhi&rsquo;s averseness to technology which very much defines the past, present and future, is much debated today.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Gandhian Concept of Swaraj</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592396543_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592396543_image1.png" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;" height="80">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 1442px; background-color: #c7dffc; border-color: #125db8; border-style: dotted;">
<p><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></p>
<p>"Covid-19 pandemic has shown the lacunae associated with the current economic model that focuses more on GDP rather than human and local economics". In light of this statement, discuss the growth model that can be adopted for self-reliant rural India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TDC4SKEJ4Hc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/too-many-taxes-roti-vs-parota-gst-6460650/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Too Many Taxes&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Indian Express on June 16th, 2020. Now watch it on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/growth-models-for-rural-india'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Jal Jeevan Mission',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-shakti-mantralaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Shakti Ministry</strong></a> has announced that the labourers returning to their home states due to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>covid-19</strong></a>, will be deployed for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Jal Jeevan Mission aims for providing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/piped-water-connection-by-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>piped drinking water to all rural households by 2024</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Jal Shakti Ministry</strong> is the nodal ministry for the implementation of the scheme.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Jal Shakti Ministry has directed various States that returning labour, <strong>especially those working in the construction sector (skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled)</strong>, may be deployed to expedite the completion of works under the scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an arrangement that could provide <strong>employment</strong> to the currently <strong>unemployed workers</strong>.</li>
<li>The mission is being used as a way to ameliorate some of the effects of the <strong>mass <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-migrants-and-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">migration</a> of inter-State workers</strong> back to their home States in the wake of the Covid -19 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Huge Demand for Work:</strong> It has been created because of <strong>workers returning</strong> to their home states from different parts of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is clear from the fact that allocations under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)</strong></a> have already been hiked by ₹40,000 crore over and above the ₹60,000 crore already allocated.</li>
<li>While the MGNREGA is an old programme, the new Jal Jeevan Mission also has funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tap Water Connections:</strong> There is a need for tap water connections in several households under the mission.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A revalidation exercise of households and status of tap water found that out of <strong>19.04 crore rural households in the country, 3.23 crore households</strong> had tap connections and <strong>15.81 crore households</strong> have to be provided functional tap connections.</li>
<li>Apart from the ₹11,000 crore in the budget, ₹12,000 crore has been allocated from extra budgetary allowances, and <strong>50% of the ₹60,750 crore allocated by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-k-and-15th-finance-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission</a></strong> for rural local bodies is tied to grants for <strong>water bodies and sanitation</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Construction Sector:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swades-skill-mapping-exercise-for-returning-citizens" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Skill mapping</strong></a> by various State governments has shown that a majority of inter-State workers returning home are from the <strong>construction sector</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Uttar Pradesh alone, 16 lakh out of the <strong>18 lakh migrant labour</strong> mapped till now are from this sector.</li>
<li>The State has assured funding of ₹3,382 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission which would be utilised in providing employment in rural areas to returning migrants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)</strong> envisages supply of <strong>55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024</strong>.</li>
<li>JJM focuses on <strong>integrated demand and supply-side management of water</strong> at the local level.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like <strong>rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse</strong>, would be undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Mission is based on a <strong>community approach to water</strong> and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission.</li>
<li>JJM looks to <strong>create a jan andolan for water</strong>, thereby making it everyone&rsquo;s priority.</li>
<li><strong>Funding Pattern:</strong> The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories.</li>
<li>The total allocation to the scheme is over ₹3 lakh crore.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Jal Shakti Ministry</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government has created a <strong>new ministry called &lsquo;Jal Shakti&rsquo;</strong> 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 <strong>encompass issues ranging from providing clean drinking water, international and inter-states water disputes, to the Namami Gange project</strong> aimed at cleaning Ganga and its tributaries, and sub-tributaries.</li>
<li>The ministry will roll out the government&rsquo;s ambitious plan <strong>(&lsquo;Nal se Jal&rsquo; scheme under Jal Jeevan Plan)</strong> to provide piped water connection to every household in India by 2024.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-skill-development-and-entrepreneurship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Skill Development Mission</strong></a> was successful to create a pool of manpower skilled in masonry, plumbing, fitting, electricity etc, there is a growing realisation that <strong>returning inter-State labour could be deployed</strong> in different sectors due to the prevailing situation of Covid -19.</li>
<li>There is a need to encourage all States to consider the existing skill development plans and provide employment to migrant workers.</li>
<li>There is a requirement of a <strong>strategic framework</strong> to provide the returning citizens with suitable employment opportunities through discussions with key stakeholders including State Governments, Industry Associations and Employers.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/returning-labourers-may-be-deployed-for-jal-jeevan-mission-work-jal-shakti-ministry-tells-states/article31819391.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/jal-jeevan-mission-2'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'India’s Assistance for Pashupatinath Temple',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Nepal for the construction of a sanitation facility at the Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This comes amid a raging <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-nepal-border-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>border row between the two countries</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The facility will be constructed under the <strong>Nepal-Bharat Maitri: Development Partnership</strong> as a high impact community development scheme by India.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong> India has pledged to extend financial assistance amounting to Rs. 2.33 crore.</li>
<li><strong>Implemented by:</strong> Kathmandu Metropolitan City.</li>
<li><strong>Norms and Completion:</strong> Norms to be laid out by the Government of Nepal and completion within 15 months.</li>
<li>Earlier in 2018, <strong>Nepal-Bharat Maitri Pashupati Dharmashala</strong> was also inaugurated in Kathmandu, Nepal.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> This initiative is another milestone in strengthening cultural ties and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pashupatinath Temple</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Dedicated to <strong>Lord Shiva</strong>, Pashupatinath is one of the most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva.</li>
<li>It is the largest temple complex in Nepal and stretches on both sides of the <strong>Bagmati River</strong>.</li>
<li>Temples dedicated to several other Hindu and Buddhist deities surround the temple of Pashupatinath.</li>
<li>Only Hindus are allowed through the gates of the main temple.</li>
<li>It was conferred the status of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Site</strong></a> in 1979 by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-pledges-to-construct-sanitation-facility-at-nepals-iconic-pashupatinath-temple/article31839092.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/indias-assistance-for-pashupatinath-temple'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Elections for Non-permanent Members of the UNSC',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Election for five non-permanent members of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council (UNSC)</strong></a> is being held on 17<sup>th</sup> June, 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Election:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is standing unopposed</strong> as the nominee for the <strong>Asia-Pacific seat</strong>, for the 2021-22 term and needs the vote of two-thirds of UNGA members (129 votes) to be confirmed.</li>
<li>In 2019, the candidature of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-non-permanent-seat-at-the-unsc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping</strong></a>, which also included China and Pakistan.</li>
<li>This would be India's eighth term in the UNSC which will begin from January 2021.</li>
<li>Contenders for Other Seats:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Mexico</strong> is expected to be elected unopposed for the <strong>Latin American group</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Canada, Ireland and Norway</strong> will contend for two seats of the <strong>West European and Others Group (WEOG)</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Kenya</strong> and <strong>Djibouti</strong> will contend for an African seat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Commitment at UNSC:</strong> In its campaign brochure, India had highlighted:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its <strong>commitment to multilateralism</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s objective will be the achievement of <strong>N.O.R.M.S: a New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System</strong>.</li>
<li>A reformed multilateralism and multilateral system is essential to ensure that the international system is inclusive and caters to the requirements of all countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Demand for <strong>transparency in mandates for UN peacekeeping missions</strong>.</li>
<li>Push for the Indian-led <a href="/printpdf/at-unga-india-call-for-early-adoption-of-ccit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention for International Terrorism (CCIT)</strong></a>. CCIT includes the following major objectives:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To have a universal definition of terrorism that all 193-members of the UNGA will adopt into their own criminal law.</li>
<li>To ban all terror groups and shut down terror camps.</li>
<li>To prosecute all terrorists under special laws.</li>
<li>To make cross-border terrorism an extraditable offense worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Joint efforts for <strong>UN reform and the expansion of the UNSC</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has been at the forefront to reform the UNSC, saying it rightly deserves a place as a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-permanent-seat-in-unsc#:~:text=India%20is%20the%20undisputed%20leader,in%20making%20UNSC%20more%20democratic." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>permanent member of the UNSC</strong></a>, which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the 21st century.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of India&rsquo;s Membership at UNSC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s presence in the UNSC will <strong>ensure that the voice of the largest democracy in the world</strong> (with strong multilateral credentials) will be heard in an important organ of the United Nations.</li>
<li>India has always had a global voice and this will give India a greater opportunity <strong>to participate actively and shape the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> and post-Covid scenario</strong>.</li>
<li>Its presence in the UNSC will help bring to the world <strong>its ethos of &lsquo;Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam&rsquo;-the world is one family</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Global South has its development and security aspirations and India will help articulate these aspirations in the Council</strong> across different issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Winning the maximum votes at the General Assembly this time will be a little hard for India due to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rising tensions in relations with both Pakistan and China.</li>
<li>Criticism from Turkey, Malaysia and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20collective%20voice,various%20people%20of%20the%20world." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</strong></a> (OIC) over the government&rsquo;s decision on <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-article-370" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>scrapping Article 370</strong></a> as well as the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Amendment Act</strong></a> (CAA) 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nation Security Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Article 23 of the UN Charter concerns the composition of the UNSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The UNSC has been given <strong>primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security to the Security Council,</strong> which may meet whenever peace is threatened.</li>
<li>While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, <strong>only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Permanent and Non-Permanent Members</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UNSC is composed of 15 Members:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Five permanent members:</strong> China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.</li>
<li><strong>Ten non-permanent members</strong> elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Selection of Non-permanent Members of Security Council</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Five for African and Asian countries.</li>
<li>One for Eastern European countries.</li>
<li>Two for Latin American and Caribbean countries.</li>
<li>Two for Western European and other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-expects-to-sail-through-unsc-vote/article31845329.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/elections-for-non-permanent-members-of-the-unsc'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'Land Use Changes',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</strong></a>, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-land-1#:~:text=Land%20Use%20and%20Climate%20change&amp;text=Land%20degradation%20is%20both%20cause%20and%20consequence%20of%20climate%20change.&amp;text=This%20exacerbates%20climate%20change%2C%20while,absorb%20carbon%20from%20the%20atmosphere." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>land use change</strong></a>, which prepares the ground for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zoonoses</strong></a> like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, should be reversed.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Land use change promotes zoonoses like Covid-19 as the interaction and physical distance between animals and humans get closer.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Land Use Change:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Land use change</strong> is a process which <strong>transforms the natural landscape</strong> by direct human-induced land use <strong>such as settlements, commercial and economic uses and forestry activities</strong>.</li>
<li>It impacts the overall environment in terms of <strong><a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenhouse gas</a> emission, land degradation and</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Land use change can be a <strong>factor in CO<sub>2</sub> (carbon dioxide) atmospheric concentration,</strong> and is thus a contributor to <strong>global climate change</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>represents almost 25%</strong> of total global emissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), over <strong>70% of all natural, ice-free land</strong> in the world is affected by human use.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This could further rise to <strong>90% by 2050</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The land degradation affects <strong>3.2 billion people</strong> worldwide.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-valuation-of-tiger-reserves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ecosystem services</strong></a> e.g. forest, agriculture, grassland tourism etc. worth $10.6 trillion are lost due to land degradation annually.</li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deforestation-rate-declined" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization</strong></a> of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a>, by 2050, over 500 million hectare area of new agricultural land will be needed to meet the global food demand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Population Growth:</strong> Fast population growth and the consequent high pressure on resources have an adverse effect on the existing natural resources of the land area.</li>
<li><strong>Encroachment of Land:</strong> Substantial increase in demand for food has resulted in an expansion of croplands by encroaching on uncultivated areas including forest, shrub and wetlands. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-report-on-climate-change-ipcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> (IPCC)</strong> report on climate change and land, agricultural land for food, animal feed and fibre is behind the land use change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Forest Resource:</strong> Continuous and exhaustive thinning of forestry resources for diverse uses, particularly for construction, firewood and agricultural tools led to the degradation of forest cultivated land.</li>
<li><strong>Grazing at Cultivated Land:</strong> Farmers often abandon and leave the cultivated land for grazing purposes due to the declining of its <strong>soil fertility status</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Destruction of Wetlands:</strong> The conversion of the wetland to the cultivated and settlement land leads to the destruction of wetlands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Climate Smart Land Management Practices:</strong> According to a report by IPCC on land use, <strong>increased food productivity, improved cropland management, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/animal-rearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">livestock management</a>, <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-212" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agroforestry</a>, increased soil organic carbon content and reduced post-harvest losses</strong> would help in ecosystem conservation and land restoration .<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These management practices could deliver up to $1.4 trillion in increased crop production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forest Management:</strong> Improved fire management and improved grazing land can help in land restoration.</li>
<li><strong>Restore and Rehabilitate:</strong> To achieve <strong>Land Degradation Neutrality (Sustainable Development Goal target 15.3)</strong>, additional commitments in the land use sector, namely to restore and rehabilitate 12 million hectares of degraded land per year could help close the emissions gap by up to 25% in the year 2030.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The restoration of these <strong>areas as part of building back better to avoid future zoonoses</strong> would bring other crucial benefits, particularly mitigating climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Established in 1994,</strong> the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.</li>
<li>It is the only convention stemming from a direct recommendation of the Rio Conference&rsquo;s Agenda 21.</li>
<li><strong>Focus Areas:</strong> The Convention <strong>addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas,</strong> known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.</li>
<li>From India, <strong>the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> is the nodal Ministry for this Convention.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2020</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>June 17 is observed worldwide as <strong>World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Theme: Food, Feed, Fibre</strong> which seeks to educate individuals on how to reduce the impact of food consumption.</li>
<li>According to the United Nations, 2020 Desertification and Drought Day focuses on the links between consumption and land.</li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s &lsquo;global observance event&rsquo; is being hosted virtually by the Korea Forest Service.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Zoonoses</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans.</li>
<li>Animals thus play an essential role in maintaining zoonotic infections in nature.</li>
<li>Zoonoses may be bacterial, viral, or parasitic.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The urgency to<strong> slow down and reverse land use change</strong> cannot be overstated as <strong>land is a critical component of biodiversity</strong>.</li>
<li>The land use sector is critical to achieving the aim of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 2&deg;C.</li>
<li><strong>Responsible land governance</strong> is key to provide an enabling environment for ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, land use-based adaptation and for improving the livelihoods of many small-scale farmers.</li>
<li>Parties to the <strong>UNCCD</strong> have the opportunity to adopt an ambitious resolution on land holdings for Land Degradation Neutrality. They must use this opportunity to empower communities to better adapt to the impacts of the climate emergency.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/reverse-land-use-change-to-prevent-zoonoses-like-covid-19-unccd-71793" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/land-use-changes'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'First Bell: Kerala',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Kerala Government has started a <strong>virtual class initiative</strong> called <strong>&lsquo;First Bell&rsquo;</strong>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/online-classes-due-to-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">virtual classes</a> for state school students are being organised so that education is imparted amid <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> crisis.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Classes are being streamed on a free, public-run television channel available on cable networks, direct-to-home services and over the internet. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government is <strong>using KITE VICTERS channel</strong>.</li>
<li>Further, almost all villages in Kerala have at least one common centre, be it <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lack-of-anganwadis-in-urban-areas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anganwadi</a>, a reading room or sports club, for the education department to set up a classroom.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE)</strong> has brought out the timetable for conducting the classes.</li>
<li>The <strong>modules</strong> for different classes have been prepared by agencies under the General Education Department such as the State Council of Educational Research and Training, KITE, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/samagra-shiksha" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Samagra Shiksha</a> Kerala (SSK), and the State Institute of Educational Technology.</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong> The classes were <strong>started on trial mode from 1<sup>st</sup> June, 2020</strong>. The online classes brought to focus the <strong>digital divide</strong> in the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kerala has around 45 lakh students following state board syllabus. However, a survey revealed that <strong>2.61 lakh students don&rsquo;t have access to TV or smartphone</strong>, making them out of the network of online classes. Such students were in most destitute families mainly in remote villages and tribal areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Interventions:</strong> With the <strong>government and civil society interventions,</strong> the 2.61 lakh number has reduced to 1.20 lakh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Local businessman provided TV sets as part of a <strong>&lsquo;TV challenge&rsquo;</strong> launched by the State&rsquo;s Industries department.</li>
<li>MLAs were allowed to use their local development fund to buy TVs and laptops for students.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The [email protected] Project was started in 2001-02 to promote ICT enabled education in the schools in the State. [email protected] was transformed into KITE in August 2017.</li>
<li>The <strong>VICTERS (Versatile ICT Enabled Resource for Students) channel under KITE was set up in 2005</strong> and it is the first complete educational Channel in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It strongly reflects India's commitment to use space technology (EDUSAT) for national development, especially for the development of the population in remote and rural locations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/first-bell-new-classes-from-tomorrow/article31822826.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/first-bell-kerala'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'Social Media And Democracy',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/facebook-is-weakening-democracy/story-8558QbG80JT10QP2VXkbqK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Facebook is weakening democracy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on 12/06/2020. It talks about the impact of social media on democracy.</p>
</div>
<p>The introduction of the printing press in 15<sup>th</sup> century Europe revolutionised the social landscape, helping information spread further and faster than ever before. This had a deep link with the spread idea of democracy all over the world. In the present era, social media represents a similar paradigm shift.</p>
<p>Today, social media plays a crucial role in facilitating and distributing content related to all the matters that have a larger influence on public opinion and subsequently on democracy.</p>
<p>Although social media helps in the deepening of democracy, it also tends to weaken the concept of democracy and the emergence of anarchy, because of its unregulated nature and its role in the spread of fake news.</p>
<h3>Social Media and Deepening of Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aiding C-Governance:</strong> Social media has led to the emergence of<strong> citizen-led governance (C&ndash;governance)</strong> in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Social media platforms help to create awareness from one another to a million and be united for any social cause. In the process, the existence of social media can nudge citizens to seek solutions.</li>
<li>Also for C-governance, people need to have information and be able to convey it to others. Social media platforms make that ton easier.</li>
<li>Given this, social media is gradually being accepted as the fifth estate of democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Democratization of Expression:</strong> Social media has made Indian politics more inclusive by allowing citizens, who were traditionally excluded from politics due to geography and demography, to gain direct entry into the political process.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has also allowed for a diversity of viewpoints and public engagement on an unprecedented scale.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Instrument for Bringing Behavioural Change:</strong> Use of social media for policy crowdsourcing and publicity is evident in the success of pan-India campaigns such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swacch Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a> and the recently-launched <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fit-india-movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fit India Movement.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Making political communication people-centric:</strong> Social media has been increasingly used by Indian political actors for routine political communication between elections to provide unmediated and direct communication to connect citizenry.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, social media has changed the power of political messaging and has moved away from the mass media model and places it firmly into peer-to-peer, public discourse.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ill-effects of Social Media On Democracy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Widening Social Fault Lines:</strong> Social media has enabled a style of populist politics, which on the negative side allows hate speech and extreme speech to thrive in digital spaces that are unregulated, particularly in regional languages.</li>
<li><strong>Formation of Information Cocoons:</strong> Social Media, due to its technological capacity has enabled self-sorting and personalization of information one perceives.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This leads to the phenomenon of group polarization &mdash; which takes hold when like-minded people talk to one another and end up thinking a more extreme version of what they thought before they started to talk.</li>
<li>This is not in sync with the ethos of democracy which is based on debate, dissent and discussion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Menace of Fake News:</strong> The rise of polarizing and divisive content has been a defining moment of modern politics, which is fed by fake news propagation through social media channels.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, dissemination of fake news through social media, among populations with low-to-no levels of critical digital literacy is a big challenge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyberbullying or Trolling:</strong> Another dangerous element is the labelling and trolling of more rational voices or those who disagreed with the government&rsquo;s actions or dominant public discourse as &ldquo;anti-national.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Social media awareness is needed which may enable citizens to be in a position to distinguish between truth and falsehood &ndash; and to know when democratic processes are being manipulated.</li>
<li>Social Media Platforms can provide safeguards in the event that democratic processes are being intentionally disrupted or harmful falsehoods are spreading; it can help people find out what is true.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592308307_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592308307_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #edf5ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Social media enables greater democratisation of governance. Critically examine.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_clauf-iDws" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/no-longer-special-the-hindu-editorial-on-india-nepal-ties/article31828365.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;No longer special&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on June 15<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/social-media-and-democracy'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'USA Sanctions Against the International Criminal Court',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the USA</strong> has <strong>authorised sanctions</strong> against <strong>International Criminal Court (ICC)</strong> officials involved in investigations into possible war crimes by USA troops and its allies.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Sanction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under it, <strong>any individuals</strong> who have directly engaged in any effort by the ICC to <strong>investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any United States</strong> personnel without the consent of the United States or have attempted the same against the USA ally <strong>may be subject to sanctions.</strong></li>
<li>It has <strong>broadened the visa restrictions on ICC officials</strong> or anyone who has sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support to them.</li>
<li>The restrictions also extend to the <strong>officials&rsquo; family members.</strong></li>
<li>The economic sanctions would be decided on a case-by-case basis.</li>
<li>Israel supported the decision as it accused the ICC of fabricating charges against the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The USA&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The USA has considered the <strong>ICC a threat to USA sovereignty,</strong> and announced the<strong> strict punitive measures</strong> that are generally reserved for use against <strong>terror groups and those accused of abusing human rights.</strong></li>
<li>It has called the 123 nations-strong tribunal a &ldquo;kangaroo court&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It blamed the ICC office for financial corruption and maladministration.</li>
<li>It has also blamed Russia for manipulating the ICC in its favour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The ICC&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ICC supported its officials, and called the sanction as an <strong>unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law.</strong></li>
<li>It said the <strong>sanction represents an attack against the interests of victims</strong> of atrocity crimes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reactions Against the Sanction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United Nations had taken serious note about the USA order.</li>
<li>The European Union called the USA decision a matter of serious concern.</li>
<li><strong>The international NGO Human Rights Watch</strong> has observed that by penalising war crimes investigators, the USA is openly siding with those who commit and cover up human rights abuses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill Clinton administration (1993-2001) was involved in <strong>Rome Statute negotiations,</strong> and signed the <strong>document in 2000.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Rome Statute</strong> of the International Criminal Court (International Criminal Court Statute) is the<strong> treaty</strong> that established the International Criminal Court (ICC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, the next president, <strong>George W. Bush in 2002 had unsigned</strong> the Statute and signed into law the <strong>American Service-Members&rsquo; Protection Act</strong> to protect the <strong>USA nationals from the ICC&rsquo;s reach.</strong></li>
<li>The USA adopted a positive approach towards the forum during several instances&ndash; in 2005 it did not veto a UN Security Council request to the ICC to investigate crimes during the Darfur crisis (Sudan) and in 2011 voted for Libya&rsquo;s referral to the court. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also provided critical support in transferring suspects from Africa to the ICC for trial.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, in the UN General Assembly in 2018, the USA decided that it would not support or recognize the International Criminal Court.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to it, the ICC has no jurisdiction, no legitimacy, and no authority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2020,<strong> the ICC asked for a formal probe</strong> into alleged <strong>atrocities committed during the Afghanistan War between 2003 and 2014&ndash;</strong> leading to possible charge against the USA military and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA-USA&rsquo;s agency) officials.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The International Criminal Court</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>permanent judicial body created by the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court</strong> (its founding and governing document), and began functioning on 1<sup>st</sup> July 2002 when the Statute came into force.</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> The Hague, Netherlands</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>123 nations are States Parties to the Rome Statute and recognise the ICC&rsquo;s authority.</li>
<li>The<strong> USA, China, Russia, and India</strong> are not the members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The forum was <strong>established as a court of last resort to prosecute offences</strong> that would otherwise go unpunished, and has jurisdiction over <strong>four main crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Difference between ICC and ICJ:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike the <strong>International Court of Justice (ICJ),</strong> the <strong>ICC is not part of the United Nations system,</strong> with the UN-ICC relationship being governed by a separate agreement.</li>
<li>The <strong>ICJ,</strong> which is among the UN&rsquo;s 6 principal organs, mainly <strong>hears disputes between nations.</strong> It was established in 1945 and is seated at The Hague (Netherlands). Judge Dalveer Bhandari (India) is a member of the Court.</li>
<li><strong>The ICC,</strong> on the other hand,<strong> prosecutes individuals&ndash;</strong> its authority extending to offences committed in a member state or by a national of such a state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Way Forward</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several countries have expressed that the sanction is a challenge to multilateralism and judicial independence of the ICC.</li>
<li>The independence of the ICC and its<strong> ability to operate without interference</strong> must be guaranteed so that it can decide matters without any influence or pressures.</li>
<li>Earlier, the ICC has been criticised for not pursuing investigations in Western countries as well as for working inefficiently. There is a need for an independent expert review of its own functioning to address these concerns.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-us-has-approved-sanctions-against-international-criminal-court-6460199/" 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/usa-sanctions-against-the-international-criminal-court'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Talamaddale',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The traditional art of &lsquo;talamaddale&rsquo;, a variant of Yakshagana theatre, has gone virtual in times of Covid-19.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the conventional &lsquo;talamaddale,&rsquo; the artists sit across in a place without any costumes and engage in testing their oratory skills based on the episode chosen.</li>
<li>It has only spoken words without any dance or costumes. Hence it is <strong>Yakshagana minus dance, costumes and stage conventions.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Yakshagana<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592299222_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592299222_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Yakshagaana, traditional theatre form of Karnataka, is based on mythological stories and Puranas.</li>
<li>The most popular episodes are from the <strong>Mahabharata</strong> i.e. Draupadi swayamvar, Subhadra vivah, Abhimanyu vadh, Karna-Arjun yuddh and from <strong>Ramayana</strong> i.e. Rajyabhishek, Lav-Kush yuddh, Baali-Sugreeva yuddh and Panchavati.</li>
<li><strong>Gombeyatta puppet theatre</strong> closely follows Yakshagana.</li>
<li>Other important forms of theatre in India: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nautanki (Uttar Pradesh)</strong> which often draws on romantic Persian literature for its themes,</li>
<li><strong>Tamasha (Maharashtra), </strong></li>
<li><strong>Bhavai (Gujarat), </strong></li>
<li><strong>Jatra (West Bengal),</strong></li>
<li><strong>Koodiyaattam,</strong> one of the oldest traditional theatre forms of <strong>Kerala,</strong> is based on Sanskrit theatre traditions,</li>
<li><strong>Mudiyettu,</strong> traditional folk theatre form of<strong> Kerala,</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bhaona, Assam,</strong></li>
<li><strong>Maach,</strong> Madhya Pradesh,</li>
<li><strong>Bhand Pather,</strong> the traditional theatre form of <strong>Kashmir, etc.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/amid-pandemic-traditional-art-of-talamaddale-goes-digital/article31836303.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/talamaddale'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'Gateway Lunar Orbiting Outpost',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</strong></a> has finalised the contract to design the <strong>Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO)</strong> for its Gateway Lunar Orbiting Outpost.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Habitation and Logistics (HALO) support</strong> for the Gateway, is a part of<strong> NASA&rsquo;s Artemis program</strong> that <strong>aims</strong> to send the <strong>first woman</strong> and the next man to the <strong>Moon by 2024.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Habitation and Logistics (HALO)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It refers to the <strong>pressurised living quarters where astronauts will spend their time</strong> while visiting the Gateway.</li>
<li>These quarters will be <strong>about the size of a small apartment and will provide augmented life support</strong> together with Orion spacecraft.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Gateway:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NASA has targeted the <strong>completion of the Gateway for 2026,</strong> while work on the spaceship is already underway.</li>
<li>The <strong>Gateway can be used at least once per year</strong> and astronauts can not stay around the year like they do on the International Space Station (ISS).</li>
<li>Once docked to the Gateway, astronauts will be able to <strong>stay there for three months at a time.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Compared to the ISS,<strong> the Gateway is much smaller.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will act<strong> as an airport,</strong> where <strong>spacecraft bound for the lunar surface of Mars can refuel or replace parts</strong> and resupply things like food and oxygen, allowing astronauts to <strong>take multiple trips</strong> to the <strong>Lunar surface and exploration</strong> of new locations across the Moon.</li>
<li>By studying the <strong>geology of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars &ndash;</strong> the three planetary bodies and the ways in which they are similar and different from each other, it would give a<strong> sight about how planets and planetary systems form.</strong></li>
<li>Significantly, Gateway <strong>would work as a science platform to look back</strong> at the Earth, observe the Sun, and get unobstructed views of the vast universe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gateway Lunar Orbit Outpost</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Gateway is a <strong>small spaceship that will orbit the Moon,</strong> meant for astronaut missions to the Moon and later, for <strong>expeditions to Mars.</strong></li>
<li>It will act as a<strong> temporary office and living quarters for astronauts,</strong> distanced at about 250,000 miles from Earth.</li>
<li>The spaceship will have <strong>living quarters, laboratories for science and research and docking ports</strong> for visiting spacecraft.</li>
<li>One of the most <strong>unique features</strong> of the Gateway is that it can be <strong>moved to other orbits around the Moon</strong> to conduct more research.</li>
<li>It is expected to play a major role in NASA's Artemis program, after 2024.</li>
<li>While the project is led by NASA, the Gateway is meant to be developed, serviced, and utilized in collaboration with commercial and international partners: Canada <strong>(Canadian Space Agency)</strong>, Europe <strong>(European Space Agency)</strong>, and Japan <strong>(JAXA)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The Artemis</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a crewed spaceflight program of NASA that has the goal of landing <strong>"the first woman and the next man" on the Moon,</strong> specifically at the <strong>lunar south pole</strong> region by 2024.</li>
<li>It is a key step towards the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon, laying the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy, and eventually sending humans to Mars.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Orion Spacecraft</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is being developed by <strong>NASA.</strong></li>
<li>It is a<strong> powerful, advanced launch vehicle</strong> for a new era of human exploration beyond Earth&rsquo;s orbit.</li>
<li>It is designed to take astronauts to deep space destinations such as the Moon and Mars.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As NASA sets its sights on returning to the Moon, and preparing for Mars, it is developing<strong> new opportunities in lunar orbit</strong> to provide the <strong>foundation for human exploration deeper into the solar system.</strong></li>
<li>It would also support the <strong>technology maturation and development of operating concepts</strong> needed for missions beyond the Earth and Moon system.</li>
<li>Building the Gateway with<strong> commercial and international partners</strong> is a critical component of sustainable lunar exploration and the Artemis program.</li>
<li>So, the partnership would give a <strong>strategic presence of humans</strong> in space.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-nasas-gateway-lunar-orbiting-outpost-6460219/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20Gateway%20Lunar,about%20250%2C000%20miles%20from%20Earth." 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/gateway-lunar-orbiting-outpost'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India has joined the <strong>'Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)'</strong> as a founding member to support the<strong> responsible and human-centric development</strong> and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> GPAI is an international and multi-stakeholder initiative to guide the responsible development and use of AI, based on human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth.</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An example would be looking at how AI could help societies respond to and recover from the Covid-19 crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bring together leading experts from industry, civil society, governments, and academia to conduct research and pilot projects on AI.</li>
<li>It will initially <strong>comprise four working groups</strong> focused on responsible AI, data governance, the future of work, and innovation and commercialisation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Founding Members:</strong> Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States.</li>
<li><strong>Organisation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GPAI will be supported by a Secretariat, to be hosted by <strong>Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)</strong> in Paris, as well as by two Centers of Expertise- one each in Montreal (Canada) and Paris (France).</li>
<li>GPAI will be able to take advantage of the OECD&rsquo;s expertise on AI policy and its leadership in setting out the first international standard for trustworthy AI &ndash; the OECD Principles on Artificial Intelligence.</li>
<li>The OECD will also be a Permanent Observer to the GPAI&rsquo;s governing bodies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong> Born out of the Canadian and French G7 Presidencies in 2018 and 2019, GPAI was officially proposed by France and Canada at the Biarritz Summit in August 2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It describes the action of machines accomplishing tasks that have historically required human intelligence.</li>
<li>It includes technologies like machine learning, pattern recognition, big data, neural networks, self algorithms etc.</li>
<li><strong>Example:</strong> Facebook&rsquo;s list of suggested friends for its users, self-driving cars, etc.</li>
<li>AI automates processes and reduces human error but the principal limitation of AI is that it learns from the data. This means any inaccuracies in the data will be reflected in the results.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was formed in<strong> 1961.</strong> It has<strong> 37 member countries. India is not a member but one of the key partners</strong> of the organisation.</li>
<li>It is an international organisation, having a goal to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all.</li>
<li><strong>PISA</strong> is the OECD&rsquo;s programme for international student assessment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will participate in the PISA test 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is<strong> headquartered at Paris, France.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF)</strong> Secretariat is located at OECD headquarters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>G7</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a bloc of<strong> industrialised democracies -</strong> Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Recent Initiatives by India in the Field of AI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has recently launched National AI Strategy and National AI Portal and have also started leveraging AI across various sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare, e-commerce, finance, telecommunications, etc.</li>
<li>The <strong>National AI strategy</strong> was released in 2018 by NITI Aayog. It is termed<strong> &lsquo;AIForAll&rsquo;</strong> as it is focused on leveraging AI for inclusive growth in line with the Government policy of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Role of the Government has been clearly delineated to develop the research ecosystem, promote adoption and address skilling challenges.</li>
<li>The strategy also flags important issues like ethics, bias and privacy issues relating to AI and envisions Government promoting research in technology to address these concerns.</li>
<li>The focus is on sectors like agriculture, health and education where public investment and lead would be necessary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National AI Portal:</strong> It has been developed jointly by the National e-Governance Division of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom). The portal is meant to work as a <strong>&ldquo;one stop digital platform"</strong> for all AI related developments in India.</li>
<li><strong>Responsible AI for Youth Programme:</strong> It is aimed at imparting education and skills in AI to students in government schools.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By joining GPAI as a founding member, India will actively participate in the global development of Artificial Intelligence, leveraging its experience around use of digital technologies for inclusive growth.</li>
<li>AI is rapidly penetrating into all the sectors of economy, if used empathetically and reasonably, it has the potential to change global social and economic interactions for the better.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1631676" 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/global-partnership-on-artificial-intelligence'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'GovTech 3.0',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/covid-19-has-opened-the-doors-for-gov-tech-3-0/story-Gogbtg00bYrwyrxreMKUQI.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Covid-19 has opened the doors for Gov Tech 3.0&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Hindustan Times on 11/06/2020. It talks about the challenges and Utility of the National Open Digital Ecosystem.</p>
</div>
<p>As India looks to adopt the maxim of &ldquo;minimum government and maximum governance&rdquo;, the role of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital ecosystems</strong></a> has become paramount. In this context, recently, the Ministry of Electronics of Information Technology (MeITY) has released a consultation paper on Strategy for<strong> National Open Digital Ecosystem (NODE).</strong></p>
<p>NODE or GovTech 3.0 defined as &ldquo;Open and secure delivery platforms, anchored by transparent governance mechanisms, which enable a technology collaboration among citizens, businesses and governments to transform societal outcomes.</p>
<p>The key objectives Govtech 3.0 include the need to optimise service delivery, integrate data across departments and ministries, create inter-operable and modular platforms and include the private sector by allowing them to build solutions on top of Government architecture.</p>
<p>While the Open Digital Ecosystem (ODE) empowers and enable collaboration in unprecedented ways, there are many underlying challenges emanating from such interconnected digital networks that need to be addressed.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221148_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221148_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p>Note: Evolution of GovTech (Use of Technology in Governance)</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gov Tech1.0 was the era of &ldquo;computerisation&rdquo; of manual processes such as putting income tax forms online.</li>
<li>Gov Tech 2.0 was about building systems which digitised end-to-end processes, for example, the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;e-office&rdquo; file management system.</li>
<li>GovTech 3.0 is focussed on Open Digital Ecosystems (ODEs), the underlying philosophy suggests that the government should focus on creating the &ldquo;digital commons&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It envisages the government becoming a facilitator by creating digital infrastructure on which innovators can collaboratively build solutions for the public good.</li>
<li>For Examples, deployment of contact tracing apps (Aarogya Setu) developed through public-private partnerships, to prevent the spread of the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221196_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221196_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Advantages of GovTech 3.0</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Integration of Government Services:</strong> The advantages of building NODE is illustrated citing the example of e-Transport project of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ministry helped digitize issuing vehicle registrations and driver&rsquo;s licenses making it easier for citizens to obtain them, creating dashboards with analytics.</li>
<li>It now integrates a National Vehicle Register and State Vehicle Registers with data interlinked across databases with access to government institutions like Police, National Crime Records Bureau and private institutions like banks and insurance companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enhancing Social Security:</strong> Several path-breaking ODEs are already in play in India. For example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unified Payments Interface (UPI)</strong></a> in the financial services space has played an instrumental role in increasing financial inclusion.</li>
<li>The National Digital Infrastructure for Teachers called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/classes-in-distance-mode" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DIKSHA</strong></a> will play a crucial role in education reforms.</li>
<li>The National Urban Innovation Stack which is enabling the more efficient provision of municipal services.</li>
<li>Similarly, a digital ecosystem for agriculture which is being designed by an inter-ministerial committee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Underlying Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Privacy Issues:</strong> Potential violations of privacy and possible weaponization of data is a primary issue related to such digital initiatives.</li>
<li><strong>Federal Issues:</strong> The apps under Govtech 3.0 may end up gathering information which falls under the domain of State subject.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For Example, the e-transport project has centralized governance of transport which is a state subject according to the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>May Increase Inequalities:</strong> Success in the digital provision of services is dependent on many underlying factors, including digital literacy, education and access to stable and fast telecommunication services.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this setting, undertaking large-scale digitisation of services without bridging these digital divides could result in increasing existing inequalities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security Issues:</strong> Another cybersecurity challenge is ensuring end-to-end protection of data throughout the whole ecosystem. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While channels and databases used by the Government for transmission and storage are usually secure, other players in the ecosystem may not possess the requisite expertise or security to prevent and respond to breaches.</li>
<li>The alleged breach of Aadhar database is a case in point.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Addressing Privacy Issues:</strong> Designing privacy-protection and secure databases is critical. It is, therefore, imperative, that regulations governing the GovTech 3.0 take into account provisions of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Inclusivity:</strong> Digital ecosystems should be guided by factors of availability, accessibility, affordability, value and trust.</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Transparency:</strong> The invisible rules that are coded into &ldquo;tech&rdquo; need to be made transparent through thoughtful design principles, legislation, governance frameworks and public engagement.</li>
<li><strong>Citizen-Centric Design:</strong> There is a need to ensure the design is citizen-centric and ensures inclusive access to services at the last mile will help drive adoption and sustain these ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The push to create digital ecosystems is a welcome step as it can prove to be an effective tool in overcoming governance deficit and improving the quality of life for individuals. However, it is essential to adapt such ecosystems to the peculiarities of India.</p>
<p>In this context, design choices should be made not just in terms of the technology and data architecture, but also in terms of governance architecture and community engagement around ODEs, will determine how we collaborate to build a more resilient and empowered India.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221220_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592221220_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e6ffe8;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;In pursuit of the maxim of &ldquo;minimum government and maximum governance&rdquo;, the role of digital ecosystems has become paramount&rdquo;. In light this statement, discuss the role and challenges of the National Open Digital Ecosystem.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SL-JI0tyNuA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/tamil-nadu-coimbatore-koyampuththoor-6456137/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Much in a Rename&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Indian express in The Indian Express on 13/06/2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/govtech-3-0'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Malabar Gliding Frog',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a rare amphibian i.e. <strong>Malabar Gliding Frog <em>(Rhacophorus malabaricus)</em></strong> was spotted in Pullad, Kerala.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amphibian is <strong>endemic</strong> to the rainforest of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>western ghats</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Endemic species</strong> are those plants and animals that exist only in one geographical region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Characteristics:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592213374_Image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img width="250" class="content-img" style="float: right;" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1592213374_Image1.jpg" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> green frog</strong> with <strong>slender body, webbed feet, unusual body positions</strong> and very well <strong>camouflaged.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Camouflage,</strong> also called <strong>cryptic coloration,</strong> is a defense mechanism or tactic that organisms use to disguise their appearance, usually to blend in with their surroundings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The fingers and toes are like sticks to attach and walk through tree branches.</li>
<li>It has a <strong>high gliding abilities,</strong> with the long skin between the fingers which helps to cover <strong>10 to 12 feet</strong> in one leap.</li>
<li>It has a<strong> body length of 10 cm,</strong> making it one of the <strong>largest mossy frogs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Mossy Frogs:</strong> These frogs have the skin which is green in colour and resembles moss growing on the rock.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The breeding period is during the monsoon and usually, the females choose to spawn on the lush green leaves overhanging a waterbody.</li>
<li>As their body is so soft, they can live only in moist forests with streams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Foam Nests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They built<strong> foam nests</strong> above small pools of water, into which the tadpoles drop after hatching. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Behaviour like<strong> cannibalism</strong> has been found among tadpoles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list#:~:text=IUCN%20is%20a%20membership%20union,It%20is%20headquartered%20in%20Switzerland." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List</strong></a> , it is placed in the <strong>Least Concern</strong> category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concern:</strong> The Malabar gliding frog population is declining<strong> due to deforestation, climate change, developmental activities, </strong>and <strong>toxic chemicals.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Western Ghats</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are the mountain ranges running parallel along the <strong>western coast of India starting from Gujarat and ending in Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala</strong> are the six Indian states covered by Western Ghats.</li>
<li>The mountain range is also a <strong>&ldquo;Hottest Hotspot&rdquo; of biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>The Ghats are often called the <strong>Great Escarpment of India</strong> and are also a <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>High Biodiversity and Endemism</strong> are special features of Western Ghats along with the presence of <strong>Evergreen Forests.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Amphibia</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They fall under the <strong>Chordata phylum</strong> of the kingdom Animalia, Eg.,<strong> Frogs, Salamanders etc.</strong></li>
<li>These are <strong>multicellular vertebrates</strong> that live both on<strong> land and water.</strong></li>
<li>They are the<strong> first cold-blooded animals</strong> to have appeared on land.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cold-blooded animals</strong> can be defined as the animals which cannot regulate their internal body temperature with the change in the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They respire through the lungs and skin.</li>
<li>They have <strong>three chambered</strong> hearts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/malabar-gliding-frog-spotted-at-
pullad/article31827553.ece#:~:text=The%20amphibian%20is%20endemic%20to%20rain%20forests%20of%20Western%20Ghats&amp;text=This%20was%20how%20a%20juvenile,%2C%20near%20Kozhencherry%2C%20on%20Saturday." 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/malabar-gliding-frog'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Indian Naval LOs at Madagascar and Abu Dhabi',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India is planning to post <strong>Naval Liaison Officers</strong> (LOs) at the <strong>Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre</strong> (RMIFC) in <strong>Madagascar</strong> and the <strong>European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz</strong> (EMASOH) in <strong>Abu Dhabi</strong> for improved <strong>Maritime Domain Awareness</strong> (MDA).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This move comes after <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India joined the Indian Ocean Commission</strong></a> (IOC) as Observer in <strong>March 2020</strong> along with <strong>Japan and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move <strong>aims</strong> to <strong>improve linkages</strong> of the Navy&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/information-fusion-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region</strong> </a>(IFC-IOR) in <strong>Gurugram with other IFCs</strong> and become the <strong>repository for all maritime data</strong> in the IOR.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-france-joint-patrolling" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India is working closely with France</strong></a>, who is a pre-eminent member of IOC, to post a Naval LO at the RMIFC in Madagascar.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> RMFIC functions under the aegis of the IOC</strong> and is designed to deepen maritime domain awareness by monitoring maritime activities and promoting information sharing and exchange.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Navy LO is expected to be posted at <strong>EMASOH by July</strong> and at the <strong>RMIFC by September or October 2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has a LO at the IFC in Singapore for over four years now.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Commission</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental body and regional forum</strong> created in <strong>1984</strong> to protect the interests of the <strong>western Indian Ocean islands.</strong></li>
<li>It consists of <strong>Madagascar, Comoros, La R&eacute;union</strong> (French overseas territory), <strong>Mauritius</strong> and <strong>Seychelles.</strong></li>
<li>IOC has<strong> five observers</strong> which are <strong>China, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a></strong> (EU), <strong>Malta</strong> and <strong>International Organisation of La Francophonie</strong> (OIF),<strong> India, Japan</strong> and <strong>the UN.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>OIF is a 54 french speaking nations collective.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France started EMASOH with the aim to monitor maritime activity and guarantee freedom of navigation in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Persian Gulf</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strait-of-hormuz-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strait of Hormuz</strong></a>.</li>
<li>It is <strong>based at the French naval base in Abu Dhabi</strong> (UAE).</li>
<li>It was declared operational by the French Ministry of Armed Forces in February 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To strengthen the naval forces and surveillance, India has signed a series of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-france" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>white shipping agreements</strong></a>, <strong>Logistics Support Agreements</strong> (LSA) and <strong>maritime cooperation agreements</strong> with several countries, recently.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India Australia Virtual Summit</strong></a> announced a joint declaration on a shared vision for maritime cooperation in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific</strong> </a>in which they agreed to deepen navy-to-navy cooperation and strengthen MDA in the Indo-Pacific region through enhanced exchange of information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In<strong> 2015,</strong> India unveiled it's strategic vision for the Indian Ocean i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Security and Growth for All in the Region</strong></a> (SAGAR). It is an increasing recognition of the increasing importance of maritime security, maritime commons and cooperation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Through SAGAR, India seeks to <strong>deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours </strong>and <strong>assist in building their maritime security capabilities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Indian Navy</strong> set up the IFC-IOR in <strong>December 2018</strong> within the premises of the <strong>Information Management and Analysis Centre</strong> (IMAC) in Gurugram to track maritime movements in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IMAC is located in <strong>Gurugram</strong> and is the main centre of the Indian Navy for <strong>coastal surveillance and monitoring.</strong></li>
<li>IMAC is a <strong>joint initiative of Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Bharat Electronics Ltd</strong> and functions under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unified-commanders-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Security Adviser</strong></a> (NSA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IFC is the<strong> single point centre linking all the coastal radar chains</strong> to generate a seamless real-time picture of the nearly 7,500 km coastline.</li>
<li><strong>France</strong> became the <strong>first country to deploy</strong> a LO at the IFC-IOR <strong>followed by the USA</strong> and several other countries including Australia, Japan and the UK have announced their intention to post LOs.</li>
<li>It <strong>coordinates with similar centres</strong> across the globe which include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Virtual Regional Maritime Traffic Centre (VRMTC)</li>
<li>Maritime Security Centre-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-peace-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Horn of Africa</strong></a> (MSCHOA)</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/recaap-isc-capacity-building-workshop" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery</strong> </a>(ReCAAP)</li>
<li>Information Fusion Centre-Singapore (IFC-SG)</li>
<li>International Maritime Bureau-Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB-PRC)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s engagement with the Western Indian Ocean will facilitate collective engagement with the islands there, which are becoming strategically significant.</li>
<li>Given China&rsquo;s growing presence in the region, India will be able to increase its naval presence and gain support for its maritime projects across the Indo-Pacific.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s consultative, democratic and equitable leadership can help achieve the security and sustainable growth to all in the region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-looks-to-deploy-naval-liaisons-at-madagascar-abu-dhabi-for-information-exchange/article31828272.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic plants (CIMAP)</strong> has announced a photography competition on medicinal and aromatic plants to convey the message of conservation of these medicinal plants.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of the competition is<strong> &lsquo;Know your Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Established:</strong> Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, popularly known as CIMAP, was established originally as Central Indian Medicinal Plants Organisation (CIMPO) in 1959. It was rechristened as Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) in 1978.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> It is a frontier plant research laboratory of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)</strong></a>. It focuses on high quality research in biological and chemical sciences and extending technologies and services to the farmers and entrepreneurs of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs).</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Lucknow, U.P.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CIMAP, Lucknow houses the <strong>National Gene Bank of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,</strong> in addition to seed gene bank, tissue and DNA bank.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research Centres:</strong> Bangalore (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Telangana), Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) and Purara (Uttarakhand).</li>
<li>CIPAM is presently accredited by <strong>International Centre for Science and High Technology- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (ICS-UNIDO)</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA)</strong></a> as a focal point for research and training on Medicinal Plants among participating member countries.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Centre for Science and High Technology</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICS was <strong>established in 1988</strong> and operates under the<strong> legal framework of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-thermal-energy-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)</a>.</strong> It focuses on the transfer of know-how and technology from industrialized to developing countries.</li>
<li>The Centre focuses its activities on <strong>four core scientific programmes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Rational drug design and development</li>
<li>Next generation biofuels and bio-based chemicals</li>
<li>Geothermal energy</li>
<li>Nanotechnologies</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Trieste, Italy.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1631499#:~:text=In%20an%20effort%20to%20create,conservation%20of%20these%20medicinal%20plants." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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