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Government Cuts Interest Rates on NSC, PPF

Why in News Recently, the Government of India slashed interest rates on small savings schemes, including National Savings Certificate and Public...

01 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Supreme Court Upholds Right to Discuss Covid-19

Why in News Recently, the Central government appealed in the Supreme Court that media outlets, in the “larger interest of justice”,...

01 Apr 2020 News Analysis
TAIPA Calls for Boosting Telecom Network Capacity

Recently, Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) urged for quickly enhancing the telecom network capacity to cope with the rising...

01 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Chinese Trawlers in South China Sea

Why in News The Chinese fishing fleets have been seen raiding the rich waters of the South China Sea that are internationally recognised as...

01 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020

Why in News Recently, the government has promulgated the 'Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020'. Key...

01 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Covid-19 and the Orphan Drug Act

Why in News Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic. However, the United States Food and Drug...

01 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Fight Against Covid-19

Why in News According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), over 40 vaccines against the Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) are in...

01 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Core Sector Growth at 5.5%

Why in News According to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the eight core sector industries recorded a growth of 5.5% in...

01 Apr 2020 News Analysis
Social Sustainability

This article is based on “Investments for Social Sustainability in India” which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on...

31 Mar 2020 News Editorials
The Big Picture - Multiple State Capitals & Governance

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020. The Bill intends to...

31 Mar 2020 Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions
Earth Hour

Why in News The Earth Hour was observed on 28th March, 2020. Key Points Earth Hour is the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)’s annual...

31 Mar 2020 News Analysis
GPS Data to Map Corona High-risk Zones

Why in News Recently, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to use Global Positioning System (GPS) data to map high-risk zones in...

31 Mar 2020 News Analysis
IIT-B Designs UV Sanitiser

Why in News Recently, the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay has developed a portable UltraViolet (UV)...

31 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Lockdown Made Kaveri and Tributaries Cleaner

Why in News According to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the strict enforcement of 21-day lockdown due to the COVID-19...

31 Mar 2020 News Analysis
NRIs Can Invest in Specified Government Securities

Why in News Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a separate channel called Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to enable non-residents...

31 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Withdrawal from EPF Accounts

Why in News The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified an amendment to the Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme allowing...

31 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Human Resource Development

Important Schemes and Policies Draft National Education Policy, 2019 Seeks to address the challenges of: (i) access, (ii) equity, (iii) quality,...

30 Mar 2020 Paper 2
Covid-19 And Collective Action

This article is based on “The deep void in global leadership” which was published in The Hindu on 30/03/2020. It talks about the lack...

30 Mar 2020 News Editorials
Flexibility Under the FRBM Act

Why in News Recently, the State government of Kerala has sought flexibility under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM)...

30 Mar 2020 News Analysis
Himalayan Ibex a Distinct Species

Why in News A recent study by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has proved that Himalayan Ibex is a distinct species from the...

30 Mar 2020 News Analysis

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		(int) 0 => [
			'title' => 'Government Cuts Interest Rates on NSC, PPF',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Government of India <strong>slashed interest rates on small savings schemes,</strong> including National Savings Certificate and Public Provident Fund <strong>to counter the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The move by the government has followed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India's</a> (RBI) recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">75 bps cut in its key interest rate.</a></strong></li>
<li>Interest rates for small savings schemes are <strong>notified on a quarterly basis.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In the case of the National Savings Certificate,</strong> the government has brought down interest rates by 110<strong> basis points (bps) to 6.8%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Interest rates on Public Provident Funds (PPF)</strong> for the quarter have been brought down by 80 bps to 7.1%.</li>
<li>Interest rates for<strong> Kisan Vikas Patra</strong> have slashed by 70 bps to 6.9%.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Decoding the Rate Cuts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The rate cut is in the line with RBI&rsquo;s recent move to slash key interest rates.</li>
<li>Government&rsquo;s decision is the <strong>part of the Fiscal Policy which is a sister strategy to monetary policy (decided by the Central Bank)</strong> used in different combinations to achieve the country's economic goal.</li>
<li><strong>Small savings schemes are attractive because of higher interest rates and tax benefits,</strong> and that hurts the mobilisation of bank deposits.</li>
<li><strong>It also affects the transmission of policy rate cuts,</strong> which is why the RBI also advocated <strong>rate rationalisation</strong> on small saving.</li>
<li>The move will lead the nation into a<strong> low-interest rate regime.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Small Saving Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The small savings scheme basket comprises 12 instruments.</li>
<li>It includes - National Saving Certificate (NSC), Public Provident Fund (PPF), Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) and Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme.</li>
<li>It also includes Saving Deposit, Monthly Income Deposit, several time and recurring deposits.</li>
<li>The rates for small saving schemes are <strong>announced quarterly.</strong></li>
<li>Theoretically the rate changes is based on yields of government securities of corresponding maturity. However, political factors also influence the rate change.</li>
<li>The <strong>Shyamala Gopinath panel</strong> constituted on the Small Saving Scheme had suggested a market-linked interest rate system for small savings schemes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/government-cuts-interest-rates-on-nsc-ppf/article31222598.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source The Hindu</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-cuts-interest-rates-on-nsc-ppf'
		],
		(int) 1 => [
			'title' => 'Supreme Court Upholds Right to Discuss Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central government appealed in the Supreme Court that media outlets, in the <strong>&ldquo;larger interest of justice&rdquo;,</strong> should only publish or telecast anything on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> after ascertaining the factual position from the government.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the government, <strong>&ldquo;any deliberate or inaccurate&rdquo;</strong> reporting by the media, particularly web portals, in the midst of an unprecedented situation can have<strong> a &ldquo;serious and inevitable potential of causing panic in a larger section of the society&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government blamed <strong>&ldquo;fake and misleading&rdquo; messages</strong> on social media <strong>for creating widespread panic, which led to mass &ldquo;barefoot&rdquo; journeys of migrant workers</strong> from cities to their native villages in rural India.</li>
<li>The mass migration of the poor would defeat the preventive measures taken by the Central government to contain pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme court took a view <strong>balancing free press</strong> and the <strong>need to avoid panic</strong> in society during an unprecedented crisis. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court upheld the <strong>right to free discussion about COVID-19,</strong> and directed the media to refer to and publish the official version of the developments in order to avoid inaccuracies and large-scale panic.</li>
<li>It <strong>ordered the government to start a daily bulletin on COVID-19 developments</strong> through all media avenues in the next 24 hours.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 19(1)(a)</strong> of the Constitution of India states that,<strong> &ldquo;all citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression&rdquo;.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The philosophy behind this Article lies in the Preamble of the Constitution, where a solemn resolve is made to secure to all its citizens, liberty of thought and expression.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exercise of this right is, however, subject to<strong> &ldquo;reasonable restrictions&rdquo;</strong> for certain purposes being imposed under <strong>Article 19(2)</strong> of the Constitution of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These reasonable restrictions are imposed in the interests of the <strong>sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-supreme-court-upholds-right-to-discuss-covid-19/article31218565.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		],
		(int) 2 => [
			'title' => 'TAIPA Calls for Boosting Telecom Network Capacity ',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<p>Recently,<strong> Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) urged for quickly enhancing the telecom network capacity to cope with the rising data traffic</strong> amidst nation-wide lockdown.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The data traffic has surged by 30%</strong> in the last few days as more and more companies are switching to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-work-from-home-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Work-From-Home.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>TAIPA</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association was constituted in 2011 as an industry representative body <strong>registered under the Indian Society registration act, 1860.</strong></li>
<li><strong>All leading independent telecom infrastructure providers</strong> like Bharti Infratel, Indus Towers, ATC India Tower Corp., GTL Infrastructure, Tower Vision and Reliance Infrastructure <strong>are the members of the Society.</strong></li>
<li>The association is dedicated to interact, discuss and deliberate with the Ministries, Policy Makers, Regulators, Financial institutions and Technical bodies etc for promotion of healthy growth in telecom services.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Due to the <strong>&lsquo;work from home&rsquo;</strong> policy for both public and private employees, there has been a <strong>30% rise in data consumption.</strong></li>
<li>Certain metropolitan cities such as Hyderabad and Bengaluru have posted <strong>70% rise in cellular network data.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Telecom services come under essential services</strong> and thereby are exempted from the lockdown.</li>
<li>To maintain data usage and smooth functioning of telecom services 24/7 , the telecom sector needs critical, robust infrastructure.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The states need to align their policies with the <strong>Centre's Right of Way (RoW) 2016 norms.</strong></li>
<li>With more than three years gone, only 16 States out of 36 States/UT&rsquo;s have broadly aligned their policy with RoW Policy 2016.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RoW 2016 Norms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued Right of Way (RoW) rules for rollout of communication networks.</li>
<li>It aims to facilitate the installation of mobile towers, optic fibre and copper cables in a time-bound, non-discretionary manner.</li>
<li>The rules aim to rationalise administrative expenses across the country to a maximum of Rs 1000 per km for fibre, and a maximum of Rs 10,000 per application for overhead towers.</li>
<li>It provides for fast-tracking decisions on RoW permits within 60 days after application.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/taipa-calls-for-boosting-telecom-network-capacity/article31221524.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source The Hindu</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/taipa-calls-for-boosting-telecom-network-capacity'
		],
		(int) 3 => [
			'title' => 'Chinese Trawlers in South China Sea',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Chinese fishing fleets have been seen raiding the rich waters of the South China Sea that are internationally recognised as exclusively Indonesia&rsquo;s to fish.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The fishermen in Natuna Islands (Indonesia) are worried.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Chinese steel trawlers scrape the bottom of the sea and<strong> destroy other marine life.</strong></li>
<li>Chinese trawling aslo<strong> breaches the maritime borders.</strong></li>
<li>Since China is its <strong>largest trading partner,</strong> it has been argued that the <strong>Indonesian government has not taken any steps</strong> to deal with the incursions by Chinese fishing boats.</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s illegal fishing near the Natuna islands carries global consequence, reminding regional governments of Beijing&rsquo;s expanding claims to the South China Sea through which <strong>one-third of the world&rsquo;s maritime trade flows.</strong></li>
<li>China wants to claim the resources such as <strong>oil, natural gas, and fish</strong> in the South China Sea.</li>
<li>The presence of Chinese fishers also helps to <strong>embody China&rsquo;s maritime claims. The nine dash line</strong> (rejected by an international tribunal) asserted by China violates the principle of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>South China Sea</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The South China Sea is an <strong>arm of western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia.</strong></li>
<li>It is south of China,<strong> east &amp; south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines and north of the island of Borneo.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bordering states &amp; territories</strong> (clockwise from north): the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.</li>
<li>It is connected by <strong>Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea </strong>and by<strong> Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea.</strong></li>
<li>It contains numerous shoals, reefs, atolls and islands. The <strong>Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal</strong> are the most important.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Importance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This sea holds tremendous strategic importance for its location as it is the connecting link between the <strong>Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.</strong> (Strait of Malacca)</li>
<li>According to the <strong>United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD)</strong> one-third of the global shipping passes through it, carrying trillions of trade which makes it a significant geopolitical water body.</li>
<li>According to the <strong>Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines,</strong> this sea has one-third of the entire world&rsquo;s marine biodiversity and contains lucrative fisheries providing food security to the Southeast Asian nations.</li>
<li>The South China Sea is believed to have<strong> huge oil and gas reserves</strong> beneath its seabed.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585733093_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585733093_image1.jpg" width="650" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/china-chases-indonesias-fishing-fleets-staking-claim-to-seas-riches/article31222782.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/chinese-trawlers-in-south-china-sea'
		],
		(int) 4 => [
			'title' => 'Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government has promulgated the<strong> 'Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020'.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ordinance brings into effect various tax compliance related measures announced on March 24, 2020 in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-s-preparedness" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> pandemic.</li>
<li>The government has extended the deadline for filing income tax, last dates for making investments in instruments such as National Savings Certificates, Public Provident Fund for claiming income tax benefits, etc.</li>
<li>The last date for<strong> linking PAN with biometric ID Aadhaar</strong> has been extended by three months to June 30.</li>
<li>The Ordinance has also amended the provisions of the Income-tax Act to provide the <strong>same tax treatment to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prime Minister&rsquo;s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund</a> (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PM-CARES Fund</a>) as available to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The donation made to the PM-CARES Fund shall be eligible for 100% deduction under section 80G of the I-T Act.</li>
<li>The government has set up the PM-CARES Fund to deal with any kind of emergency or distress situation like posed by the<strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19 pandemic.</a></strong></li>
<li>PMNRF was<strong> instituted in 1948 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, to assist displaced persons from Pakistan.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The fund is currently used primarily to tackle <strong>natural calamities</strong> like floods, cyclones and earthquakes.</li>
<li>The fund is also used to help with <strong>medical treatment</strong> like kidney transplantation, cancer treatment and acid attack.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ordinance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ordinance is a<strong> decree or law promulgated by a state or national government</strong> without the consent of the legislature.</li>
<li><strong>Article 123</strong> of the Constitution of India <strong>grants the President</strong> certain law-making powers to promulgate ordinances when either of the <strong>two Houses of Parliament is not in session.</strong></li>
<li>The fundamental reason for bestowing the executive with the power to issue ordinance according to Pandit H N Kunzru (involved in framing the Indian Constitution), was <strong>&ldquo;to deal with situations where an emergency in the country necessitated urgent action.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>three limitations</strong> with regard to the ordinance making power of the executive. They are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President can only promulgate an ordinance when <strong>either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session.</strong></li>
<li>The President cannot promulgate an ordinance unless <strong>he is satisfied that there are circumstances that require taking &lsquo;immediate action&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Ordinances must be <strong>approved by Parliament within six weeks of reassembling or they shall cease to operate.</strong> They will also cease to operate in case <strong>resolutions disapproving the ordinance</strong> are passed by both the Houses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/coronavirus-india-lockdown-ordinance-to-give-full-deduction-for-donation-to-pm-cares-promulgated-6341098/" 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/taxation-and-other-laws-relaxation-of-certain-provisions-ordinance-2020'
		],
		(int) 5 => [
			'title' => 'Covid-19 and the Orphan Drug Act',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> declared the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic.</strong></a> However, <strong>the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared Covid-19 an orphan disease,</strong> or a <strong>rare disease.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The FDA granted Gilead Sciences<strong> orphan drug status</strong> for its antiviral drug, <strong>Remdesivir,</strong> on March 23, 2020. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Originally developed to treat Ebola, the drug is now being tested for treating COVID-19. Clinical trials are already in Phase III.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>But on March 25 Gilead announced that it had submitted a request to the FDA to remove its orphan drug designation for Remdesivir. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, Gilead had sought the orphan status to the Remdesivir drug to expedite approval of the drug. However, advocates for global access to medicines, rejected the company&rsquo;s argument.</li>
<li>Gilead&rsquo;s exorbitant pricing of its drug to treat hepatitis C and its drug to treat HIV also attracted attention in the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In recent years, drug companies have been accused of exploiting the law to reap profits, in sales.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Orphan Drug Act, 1983</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rare diseases became known as orphan diseases</strong> because drug companies were not interested in adopting them to develop treatments.</li>
<li>In the U.S., under the Orphan Drug Act, <strong>companies are provided incentives to develop therapies, or orphan drugs,</strong> for rare diseases.</li>
<li>The Act allows <strong>seven years of market exclusivity</strong> and financial incentives <strong>to innovators of these drugs.</strong> As a result, orphan drugs are <strong>often exorbitantly priced.</strong></li>
<li>Privileges under the Act may be conferred to companies for drugs <strong>to treat a disease that affect less than 200,000 people in the U.S., or for a disease that affects more than 200,000 people but for which there is no hope of recovering R &amp; D costs.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The idea is that without these incentives, companies would find it difficult to recover their R&amp;D costs given the small number of people suffering from the rare disease.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Covid-19 not a Rare Disease:</strong> The Orphan Drug Act applies to a potential drug for COVID-19, which is anything but a rare disease, with 800,049 confirmed cases across the world.</li>
<li><strong>Paradox:</strong> The U.S. FDA conferred the status of an orphan drug on Remdesivir proposed to treat COVID-19 a pandemic.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Had Gilead not sought that orphan drug status be rescinded, <strong>generic manufacturers would not have been able to market a drug to treat COVID-19 with the same active ingredient till the seven-year period of market exclusivity</strong> had ended.</li>
<li>This would have given Gilead <strong>free rein on pricing and licensing</strong> which would have had <strong>disastrous consequences on the healthcare system.</strong></li>
<li>However, <strong>orphan drug status of Remdesivir would have no impact on India</strong> as Gilead Sciences holds patents in India and patents are open to challenge.</li>
<li>As far as its patent rights are concerned, <strong>Indian law permits the government to issue a <a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/public_health_faq_e.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compulsory licence</a> in certain circumstances</strong> of a public health crisis under <strong>Section 92 of the Patents Act.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would allow third parties to manufacture a patented drug without permission of the patent holder.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rare Diseases</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A rare disease is a health condition of low prevalence that affects a <strong>small number of people</strong> compared with other prevalent diseases in the general population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is<strong> no universally accepted definition</strong> of rare diseases and the definitions usually vary across different countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Though rare diseases are of low prevalence and individually rare, collectively they affect a considerable proportion of the population.</li>
<li>80% of rare diseases are <strong>genetic in origin and hence disproportionately impact children.</strong></li>
<li>In India there are <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rare-diseases-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>56-72 million people affected by rare diseases.</strong></a></li>
<li>There is also a demand for the <strong>reformulation of National Policy for Treatment of Rare Diseases, 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Policy for Treatment of Rare Diseases, 2017</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The policy highlights the measures and steps, both in the short as well as in the long term, that need to be taken to deal comprehensively with rare diseases.</li>
<li>The policy intends to constitute an Inter-ministerial Consultative Committee to coordinate and steer the initiatives of different ministries and departments on rare diseases.</li>
<li>It also mentions the creation of a corpus fund at Central and State level for funding treatment of rare diseases.</li>
<li>The policy aims to create a patient registry for diseases housed in <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenously-developed-testing-kits-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Medical Research</a> (ICMR).</strong></li>
<li>However, recognizing the higher cost of treatment for rare diseases, the policy also seeks to strike a balance between access to treatment and health system sustainability.</li>
<li>It also aims to create awareness among health professionals, families of patients and the public in general, about rare diseases.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-cost-of-a-cure-for-covid-19/article31221972.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-the-orphan-drug-act'
		],
		(int) 6 => [
			'title' => 'Fight Against Covid-19',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), <strong>over 40 vaccines against the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV2)</a> are in various stages of development</strong> across the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>One</strong> of these vaccines is <strong>being developed by the Serum Institute of India (Pune, Maharashtra).</strong></li>
<li>Out of 40, only<strong> two vaccines are currently in clinical trials.</strong></li>
<li>However, a vaccine against coronavirus <strong>can be available only in the next 12-18 months</strong> at the earliest.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Development of COVID-19 Vaccines</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Clinical trials</strong> are a type of research that studies new tests and treatments and evaluates their effects on human health outcomes.</li>
<li>According to the NEJM article, written by researchers affiliated to the <strong>Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), </strong>there is a<strong> need to speed up the vaccine development.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>CEPI</strong> is an international non-governmental organisation funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Commission, and eight countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Japan, Norway, and the UK).</li>
<li>Launched in 2017, its <strong>mission</strong> is to stimulate and accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and enable access to these vaccines for people during outbreaks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The speed is of essence for millions of people around the world. However, there is also a <strong>business side</strong> to it. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inquiry-into-study-on-bats-and-bat-hunters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika</strong></a> epidemics ended before vaccine development was complete.</li>
<li>As a result, federal funding agencies reallocated funds that had been committed to vaccine development, leaving <strong>manufacturers with financial losses</strong> and setting back other vaccine-development programmes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Alcohol Sanitizers and Coronaviruses</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The novel coronavirus has a <strong>lipid envelope.</strong> Soap being a detergent destroys this envelope. The same is <strong>true for alcohol also. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Structure of Lipid Envelope:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SARS-CoV-2 particles, like other coronaviruses, are spherical and <strong>have proteins called spikes</strong> protruding from their surface.</li>
<li>These spikes <strong>latch onto human cells,</strong> then undergo a structural change that allows the viral membrane to <strong>fuse with the cell membrane.</strong> The viral genes can then enter the host cell to be copied, producing more viruses.</li>
<li>Recent work shows that, like the virus that caused the 2002 SARS outbreak, SARS-CoV-2 spikes bind to receptors on the<strong> human cell surface called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).</strong></li>
<li>All of this is<strong> held together by a fatty layer, called an envelope.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functioning of Alcohol in Sanitizers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Envelope layer is <strong>disrupted when it comes into contact with soap or a hand sanitiser with more than 60% alcohol.</strong></li>
<li>Disruption of the envelope leads to the <strong>killing of the virus.</strong></li>
<li>Handwashing for 20 seconds at least kills the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Government&rsquo;s Move:</strong> The Government has notified <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/masks-and-hand-sanitizers-under-ec-act-1955" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hand sanitizers as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Indian Government&rsquo;s Latest Moves</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Combination of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin against COVID-19 instead of HIV drugs</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the new clinical management guidelines issued on 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2020, a <strong>combination of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) -</strong> used for treatment of auto-immune disorders, and <strong>azithromycin -</strong> the antibiotic has been recommended for use in severe patients.</li>
<li>The earlier guidelines, dated 17<sup>th</sup> March, 2020, which included use of Anti HIV drugs - <strong>Ritonavir and Lopinavir in high risk patients, now stand repealed.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>No specific antivirals have been proven to be effective as per currently available data.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-use-of-hydroxy-chloroquine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>azithromycin-hydroxychloroquine combination</strong></a> is part of an upcoming <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-join-solidarity-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>multi-country trial anchored by the World Health Organization</strong></a> to examine the efficacy of various drug combinations against COVID-19.</li>
<li><strong>India has announced its decision to be part of the WHO global trials,</strong> which are also looking at these two drugs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Portal for Stranded Foreigners in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Tourism</strong> has come up with a portal titled <strong>&lsquo;Stranded in India&rsquo;</strong> to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by foreign tourists who are stuck far away from their home land.</li>
<li>The Portal has information on the Ministry of External Affairs control centres and state-based/regional tourism support infrastructure. It also lists the COVID-19 helpline numbers for tourists.</li>
<li>On 19<sup>th</sup> March, 2020, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) had issued an advisory stating that no international commercial passenger flights will operate here from March 23 to March 29. The advisory was later extended and all international flight operations remain suspended till April 14. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government has announced <strong>visa extensions</strong> for stranded foreigners till flight operations resume.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>IITs Support to the Indian Government</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has offered <strong>a range of inexpensive solutions</strong> developed by their faculty to assist the government in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.</li>
<li>From low-cost ventilators and testing kits to personal protective equipment for health workers, the directors of IIT-Delhi, IIT-Guwahati, IIT-Bombay and IIT-Kanpur shared their institute&rsquo;s work on containing the spread of the virus with the Government.</li>
<li>The institutions have also sought the government&rsquo;s assistance in facilitating tie-up with Public Sector Units (PSUs) to scale up production of prototypes and to mitigate difficulties faced in procuring raw material because of the lockdown.</li>
<li><strong>Example:</strong> IIT-Guwahati has offered to pitch in with its 3D-printed full-face shield and headgear for health workers, robotic cart to deliver food to isolation wards and high-grade sanitiser. It needs the government&rsquo;s help to tie up with a PSU for large-scale manufacturing.</li>
<li>Indian Institutes of Technology are apex institutions for engineering education and research. At present, there are <strong>twenty three Indian</strong> Institutes of Technology (IITs). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All are governed by the <strong>Institutes of Technology Act, 1961</strong> which has declared them as <strong>"Institutions of national importance",</strong> and lays down their powers, duties, framework for governance etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19'
		],
		(int) 7 => [
			'title' => 'Core Sector Growth at 5.5%',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the data released by the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry,</strong> the eight core sector industries <strong>recorded a growth of 5.5% in February, 2020</strong> which is <strong>highest in 11-months.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This spike is because of growth in <strong>refinery products, electricity, fertiliser, cement and coal production.</strong></li>
<li>However, <strong>crude oil, natural gas, and steel</strong> recorded negative growth rate in February.</li>
<li>This was the <strong>fourth consecutive month</strong> when the index of eight core industries reported growth.</li>
<li>The outlook may not be very bright for March 2020, as the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19</strong></a> has disrupted the production process in the country and globally.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585726040_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585726040_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Core Sector Industries</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>eight core sector industries</strong> include coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity</li>
<li>The eight core industries <strong>comprise 40.27% of the weight of items</strong> included in the <strong>Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</strong></li>
<li>The eight Core Industries in <strong>decreasing order</strong> of their weightage: <strong>Refinery Products&gt; Electricity&gt; Steel&gt; Coal&gt; Crude Oil&gt; Natural Gas&gt; Cement&gt; Fertilizers.</strong></li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #90fcc8; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Industry</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #90fcc8; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Weight (In percentage)</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Petroleum &amp; Refinery production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">28.04</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Electricity generation</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">19.85</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Steel production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">17.92</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Coal production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">10.33</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Crude Oil production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">8.98</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Natural Gas production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">6.88</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Cement production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">5.37</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Fertilizers production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">2.63</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which details out the growth of various sectors in an economy such as mineral mining, electricity,manufacturing, etc.</li>
<li>It is compiled and published monthly by the <strong>Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation</strong> six weeks after the reference month ends, i.e a <strong>lag of six weeks.</strong></li>
<li>The Base Year of the Index of Eight Core Industries has been revised from the year 2004-05 to 2011-12 from April, 2017.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/core-sector-grew-55-per-cent-in-february-highest-in-11-months/article31220398.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/core-sector-growth-at-5-5'
		],
		(int) 8 => [
			'title' => 'Social Sustainability',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/8/special-articles/investments-social-sustainability-india.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Investments for Social Sustainability in India&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 22/02/2020. It talks about the need for social sustainability for inclusive growth.</p>
</div>
<p>The <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goals</a></strong> (SDGs) were launched with a transformative approach from earlier <strong>Millennium Development Goals,</strong> as they include the issues of human rights, inequality, gender empowerment and concessional finances (low interest rate loans) for inclusive development. Further, the objective SDGs strongly entwine the dimensions of the <strong>Triple Bottom Line (combining 3Ps: Planet, Profit, People).</strong></p>
<p>They promise a strong commitment to deliver environmental and social sustainability along with economic growth. Social sustainability is the enabling platform for inclusive economic growth. With the rising importance of social sustainability, the <strong>United Nations Commission for Social Development (UNCSD)</strong> decided to prioritise rising inequalities and focus on challenges coming through social protection net, labour market efficiency and fiscal policies.</p>
<p>India has launched many welfare schemes for ensuring social sustainability. However, social infrastructure (skills, education, health, income, etc.) in India is inadequate, which leads to dismal performances in social development.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>United Nations Global Compact</strong> (UNGC) states that &ldquo;social sustainability is about identifying and managing business impacts, both positive and negative, on people.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Social sustainability entails stakeholder engagement, company&ndash;community cooperation, a people-centred approach to business impacts and inclusive social development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Triple Bottom Line</strong> (TBL) is a framework or theory that recommends that companies commit to focus on social and environmental concerns just as they do on profits.</li>
<li><strong>Social development</strong> can be gauged by two parameters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One is the <strong>social allocation ratio,</strong> defined as the ratio of social sector expenditure to the total expenditure.</li>
<li>Second one is a<strong> development expenditure indicator</strong> defined as the ratio of social sector expenditure to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585657389_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585657389_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Some Facts About Social Infrastructure</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The overall public expenditure on social infrastructure, which includes priority areas like health and sanitation, skill development and education, remained <strong>around 6-8% in the past six years.</strong></li>
<li>It is the lowest among the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) nations. In terms of per capita health expenditure, <strong>India has 70% lower expenditure than that of the average of BRICS nations.</strong></li>
<li>Further, there have been conspicuous improvements in quantitative indicators such as physical infrastructure and completion rates, but lack in terms of social impact and qualitative indicators.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, <strong>according to the National Health Profile 2018,</strong> there are some noteworthy improvements in health indicators such as infant and maternal mortality rate.</li>
<li>However, the doctor&ndash;population ratio has remained <strong>10 times less than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations,</strong> and there is also a lack of medical qualifications and quality surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The increasing gap between the growth rates in the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors is widening the inequality between the 44% of the population engaged in agriculture, and the remainder engaged in manufacturing and services.</li>
<li>India is fifth largest economy in the world, but continues to lag behind some of its South Asian neighbours in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-development-index-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Development Index.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues Pertaining to Expenditure in the Social Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pro-cyclical Nature of Fiscal Policies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A procyclical fiscal policy can be summarised simply as governments choosing to increase government spending and reduce taxes during an economic expansion, but reduce spending and increase taxes during a recession.</li>
<li><strong>India tends to follow pro-cyclical fiscal policies. However, it is during the slowdown the welfare schemes are most needed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Vulnerability:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The biggest challenge faced by social sustainability in India is with regard to the fiscal measures.</li>
<li>The increasing vulnerability in fiscal status due to <strong>increasing Current Account Deficit</strong> and high <strong>Fiscal Deficit, are</strong> limiting public spending on social development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Access to Finance for Social Enterprises:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Social enterprises function as the bridge between social development and businesses. There has been growing recognition and creation of social enterprises to address the pressing social challenges.</li>
<li>Social enterprises have the potential to extend India&rsquo;s growth story to the poor and deprived communities. However, such organisations lack adequate finances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biases in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The deployment of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decriminalisation-of-csr-violation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> CSR</strong></a> funds is concentrated to industrial regions mainly; some states and some sectors.</li>
<li>The reasons for this lie in the weak regulatory framework, lack of commitment towards environmental conservation, market pressures and minimal consumer awareness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Social enterprise development means creating and nurturing businesses that aim for positive social or environmental outcomes while generating financial returns.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Promotion of Impact Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) defines impact investments</strong> as the investments made into companies, organisations, and funds with the intention to <strong>generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.</strong></li>
<li>The growing impact investment market provides capital to address the world&rsquo;s most pressing challenges in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, clean energy, microfinance and affordable and accessible basic services including housing, healthcare, and education.</li>
<li>India is one of the <strong>most promising markets globally for impact investment,</strong> as a large population at the bottom of the pyramid with lack of access to basic services and low public spending on the social sector.</li>
<li>Alignment of impact investment with social enterprises is extremely necessary to facilitate sustainable development. Thus, policy advocacy is extremely necessary for increasing the financing for social inclusiveness.</li>
<li>According to UNGC, India has a potential of market <strong>opportunities of $1 trillion for companies</strong> working in sustainable development spaces and will generate employment for around 72 million people by 2030.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Enhanced Role of States:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Fourteenth Finance Commission</strong> has given more discretion to the states to utilise their untied resources from the share of central transfers.</li>
<li>Therefore, the role of states has become more instrumental in financing the priority areas for social sustainability.</li>
<li>Further, to achieve the objectives of social sustainability, India needs to augment public social sector spending with private sector participation.</li>
</ul>
<p>The economic growth story of India is marred by its present environmental and social conditions. Thus, financing of the SDGs will help to reduce the systemic risk and will give a higher financial rate of return. In order to confront the challenges of social sustainability, India needs to complement environmental and social priorities with development finance.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e0ffec;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the importance of social sustainability in India's growth story.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/social-sustainability'
		],
		(int) 9 => [
			'title' => 'The Big Picture - Multiple State Capitals & Governance',
			'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
			'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f7csZaZYdu0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the <strong>AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020.</strong> The Bill intends to give shape to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/three-capitals-for-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>state government's plan of having three capitals</strong></a> &mdash; executive capital in Visakhapatnam, legislative in Amaravati and judicial in Kurnool.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the government, multiple state capitals will allow the development of several regions of the state and hence leading to inclusive growth.</li>
<li>However, previously the Andhra government had acquired around 30 thousand acres of land approximately from the farmers in and around the Amaravati region. So the decision of changing the capital may affect most of the farmers living out there.</li>
</ul>
<p>Apart from it, Andhra Pradesh government has reportedly <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/andhra-pradesh-to-scrap-legislative-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>decided to scrap the state&rsquo;s Legislative Council.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Multiple Capitals in a State</h3>
<p>Several states in India have separate judicial capitals i.e. their High Courts in the different districts rather than in their state capitals because of the historical reasons. For example, in Uttar Pradesh, while the state capital is Lucknow, the High Court is at Prayagraj. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, while the state capital is Bhopal, the High Court is at Jabalpur and in Gujarat, while the state capital is Gandhinagar, the High Court is at Ahmedabad.</p>
<h3>Multiple Capitals: Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Separation of executive and legislative capital can be challenging.</strong> In the Parliamentary system of government, which has been adopted in India, functions of the executive and the legislature are closely connected. For example, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When the legislative assembly is in session, administrative officers are required all the time for the presentation of the bill, for briefing the ministers, etc.</li>
<li>When the legislative assembly is not in session, the decision making by the executive requires a lot of inputs from various sources including the legislators who are the representative of the people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Logistically difficult:</strong> The development of a region can be done through policy interventions like industrial policy. However, separating the capitals can be against the convenience of the administration as well as the people. Also, it will be logistically difficult to implement.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Scrapping of Legislative Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The legislative council of Andhra Pradesh was created in 1957 and was abolished in 1985. The Legislative Council in Andhra Pradesh was again revived in 2007, after the enactment of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Act, 2005.</li>
<li>The present government&rsquo;s argument for abolishing the legislative council, lack of support from the upper house, raises concerns.</li>
<li>The legislative council, like the Rajya Sabha, facilitates the representation of eminent professionals and experts who cannot face direct elections. It checks the hasty decisions on legislations.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note: Article 169:</strong> The Parliament can abolish a legislative council or create it if the legislative assembly of the concerned state passes a resolution by the special majority to that effect.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is not deemed as the amendment of the Constitution under Article 368.</li>
<li>It is passed as an ordinary bill ie it requires only a simple majority in the Parliament.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expenditure should be questioned:</strong> People should be empowered to question the government if the later takes the decision to implement huge capital expenditure which might not be financially prudent.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Having multiple capitals can have huge financial implications. Therefore, people should have the right to question the expenditure of the tax payer's money.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Empowering the local governments:</strong> Decentralization in the State should take place by empowering the local governments i.e. the Panchayats and Municipal Corporations which were constituted after the enactment of the 73<sup>rd</sup> and the 74<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act.</li>
<li><strong>Development through policy interventions:</strong> Multiple capitals should not be used as an instrument for the development of the region. The development of the region can be brought by making an investment in the manufacturing and service sectors, bringing different policies benefiting the farmers and ease of doing business, development of the infrastructure, development of the social-cultural institutions such as universities, hospitals, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Restructuring Legislative Council:</strong> Instead of abolition, the composition of the Upper House in the State should be restructured to include professionals like doctors, engineers, etc other than the teachers. It will help the Legislative Council to become the body of elders which will give professional advice to the government.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-multiple-state-capitals-governance'
		],
		(int) 10 => [
			'title' => 'Earth Hour',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Earth Hour was observed on 28<sup>th</sup> March, 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earth Hour is the<strong> World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)&rsquo;s</strong> annual initiative that began in 2007.</li>
<li>It is held <strong>every year on the last Saturday of March.</strong></li>
<li>It encourages people from more than 180 countries <strong>to switch off the lights from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm as per their local time.</strong></li>
<li>The idea is to <strong>refrain from the use of non-essential lighting to save energy</strong> in a symbolic call for <strong>environmental protection.</strong></li>
<li>Earth Hour has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action.</li>
<li><strong>Examples:</strong> It <strong>helped create</strong> a 3.5 million hectare <strong>marine-protected area in Argentina</strong> and <strong>ban all plastics in the Galapagos</strong> in 2014, <strong>plant</strong> 17 million<strong> trees in Kazakhstan, light up homes with solar power in India</strong> and the Philippines and push new legislation for the protection of seas and forests in Russia.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>WWF</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>world&rsquo;s leading conservation organization</strong> and works in more than 100 countries.</li>
<li>It was established in 1961 and is <strong>headquartered</strong> at Gland, <strong>Switzerland</strong></li>
<li>Its <strong>mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats</strong> to the diversity of life on Earth.</li>
<li>WWF collaborates at every level with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/coronavirus-covid19-pandemic-earth-hour-2020-india-sustainable-living-6335605/" 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/earth-hour'
		],
		(int) 11 => [
			'title' => 'GPS Data to Map Corona High-risk Zones',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation</strong> (BMC) has decided to use <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-visual-positioning-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Positioning System</strong></a> <strong>(GPS) data to map high-risk zones</strong> in the city and the number of positive cases in the wake of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic.</a></strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Till now, BMC had refrained from revealing details pertaining to <strong>COVID-19-afflicted</strong> patients to mitigate fear and prevent stigmatization.</li>
<li>However, with a spike in the numbers, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong></a> and quarantine violations, the civic body has decided to map the high-risk zones to alert citizens to stay away from these areas and follow lockdown instructions.</li>
<li>Ward officers will ensure <strong>mandatory home-delivery of essentials like medicines and grocery</strong> items to restrict citizens movement in these zones.</li>
<li><strong>Other initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>strengthen the healthcare facilities,</strong> final-year medical and nursing students will be drafted into its workforce and given charge of OPDs and administrative duties at various civic-run hospitals.</li>
<li>To <strong>decongest major hospitals</strong> and <strong>effectively use isolation beds</strong> for patients, BMC has decided to categorise patients based on the <strong>three categories-</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>asymptomatic patients below 55 years and without any co-morbidity.</li>
<li>asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients above 55 years.</li>
<li>symptomatic patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Positioning System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> Global Navigation Satellite System</strong> (GNSS), used to determine the ground position of an object.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>US-owned utility</strong> that provides users with <strong>positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Services Provided:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>civilian service </strong>is<strong> freely available</strong> to all users on a continuous, worldwide basis.</li>
<li>The <strong>military service</strong> is available to <strong>US and allied armed forces</strong> as well as<strong> approved Government agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other GNSS include <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union's</a> Galileo, Russia's GLONASS, China&rsquo;s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System </strong>and<strong> India&rsquo;s Navigation in Indian Constellation (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NavIC</a>).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Navigation in Indian Constellation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been developed by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Space Research Organization</strong></a> (ISRO).</li>
<li>The <strong>main objective</strong> is to provide reliable position, navigation and timing services over India and its neighbourhood</li>
<li>It is named after Indian fishermen and navigators and will provide <strong>two types of services-</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Standard Positioning Service</strong> (SPS) is meant for the <strong>general public.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Restricted Service</strong> (RS) is an <strong>encrypted service meant for authorised users and agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Unlike the widely used <strong>GPS which includes 24 satellites, NavIC has 7 satellites</strong> and their range is within India and its adjoining regions extending up to 1,500 km from the country's border.</li>
<li>Technically <strong>satellite systems with more satellites provide more accurate positioning</strong> information.</li>
<li>However, compared to <strong>GPS which has a position accuracy of 20-30 metres,</strong> the <strong>NavIC is able to pinpoint location to an estimated accuracy of under 20 metres.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-civic-body-to-use-gps-data-to-map-corona-high-risk-zones-6339550/" 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/gps-data-to-map-corona-high-risk-zones'
		],
		(int) 12 => [
			'title' => 'IIT-B Designs UV Sanitiser',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Industrial Design Centre</strong> (IDC) of <strong>Indian Institute of Technology</strong> (IIT), <strong>Bombay</strong> has developed a <strong>portable UltraViolet (UV) sanitiser.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It can sterilise wallets, purses and other small items that are passed on from hand to hand.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UV sanitiser has been made <strong>using stainless steel kitchen containers and aluminium mesh</strong> and is in the <strong>proof-of-concept stage</strong> right now.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s design is based on a study published in a journal PubMed, by the US National Library of Medicine.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The study demonstrates how <strong>ultraviolet C Light can inactivate Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coronavirus</a>, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) Virus and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nipah-outbreak-in-kerala" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nipah Virus</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objects might be carriers of the viruses</strong> and sanitising gel cannot be used on every object humans come in contact with like papers, files, currency notes and phones.</li>
<li><strong>Other contributions by IDC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IDC is also working on projects on sanitising bigger surfaces and working on different models.</li>
<li>The institute has also been making its own <strong>cotton masks,</strong> which are <strong>double-layered and washable.</strong></li>
<li>IDC has also<strong> collaborated with a company called Applied Systems</strong> to <strong>manufacture face shields using helmet visors.</strong></li>
<li>IIT also <strong>developed apps</strong> to help<strong> keep quarantine violations in check.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>viral haemorrhagic fever</strong> usually transmitted by ticks.</li>
<li>It can also be<strong> contracted through contact with viraemic animal tissues</strong> (animal tissue where the virus has entered the bloodstream) during and immediately post-slaughter of animals.</li>
<li>CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services as the virus can lead to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>epidemics</strong></a>, with a<strong> high case fatality ratio</strong> (10-40%).</li>
<li>CCHF is endemic in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light).</li>
<li>There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings, confusion, depression and liver enlargement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>General supportive care with treatment of symptoms is the main approach to managing CCHF in people.</li>
<li>The<strong> antiviral drug ribavirin</strong> has been used to treat CCHF infection with apparent benefit. Both oral and intravenous formulations seem to be effective.</li>
<li>There are<strong> no vaccines widely available for human or animal use.</strong> In the absence of a vaccine, the only way to reduce infection in people is by raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/innovations-to-fight-covid-19-iit-b-designs-uv-sanitiser-that-can-sterilise-wallets-purses-small-items-6339606/" 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/iit-b-designs-uv-sanitiser'
		],
		(int) 13 => [
			'title' => 'Lockdown Made Kaveri and Tributaries Cleaner',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the strict enforcement of 21-day lockdown due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> pandemic has <strong>reduced the pollution in Kaveri river and its tributaries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the Board will test the water samples at the regional laboratory in Mysore under the national programme <strong>&lsquo;Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources'</strong> and <strong>Global Environmental Monitoring Scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Untreated sewage</strong> from residential areas;<strong> pollutants from industries; religious waste material</strong> from pilgrims, and <strong>construction debris</strong> had been polluting the rivers.</li>
<li>These rivers were flowing with <strong>hazardous elements such as lead, fluoride, faecal coliform, and some suspended solids</strong> in highly dangerous quantities.</li>
<li>The prohibition of industrial and religious activities has helped in reducing pollution levels in the rivers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Kaveri River</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kaveri is a <strong>sacred river</strong> of southern India. It <strong>rises in the Brahmagiri range of the Western Ghats</strong> and <strong>falls in the Bay of Bengal</strong> south of Cuddalore, in Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>It <strong>forms</strong> the <strong>sacred islands</strong> of <strong>Srirangapatna and Shivanasamudra</strong> and <strong>Shivanasamudra falls</strong> and also<strong> a wide delta.</strong></li>
<li>Total Length of the river is about 760 km.</li>
<li>Its main tributaries are <strong>Amravati, Bhavani, Hemavati, Kabini, Shimsha, and Lakshmana Tirtha.</strong></li>
<li>It's basin drains parts of <strong>Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was introduced in 1975 at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.</li>
<li>It is a global operation that collects information to better understand and protect the Earth&rsquo;s environment.</li>
<li>This effort is made with the cooperation of other countries, who contribute data to the GEMS.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources (MINARS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>MINARS is a National Programme of monitoring national aquatic resources.</li>
<li>It was started in 1984, with a total of 113 stations spread over 10 river basins.</li>
<li>The present network comprises 870 stations on rivers, lentic water bodies and subsurface waters.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/cauvery-tributaries-in-old-mysuru-region-look-cleaner-as-pandemic-keeps-pollution-away/article31210429.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/lockdown-made-kaveri-and-tributaries-cleaner'
		],
		(int) 14 => [
			'title' => 'NRIs Can Invest in Specified Government Securities',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has introduced a separate channel called<strong> Fully Accessible Route (FAR)</strong> to enable non-residents to invest in specified Government of India dated securities with effect from April 1.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move follows the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/union-budget-2020-21-highlights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Union Budget</strong></a> announcement that certain specified categories of government securities would be opened fully for non-resident investors without any restrictions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Specified securities&rsquo;</strong> shall mean Government Securities as periodically notified by the Reserve Bank for investment under the FAR route.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The RBI has said that <strong>all new issuances of Government securities (G-secs)</strong> of 5-year, 10-year, and 30-year tenors will be eligible for investment as specified securities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Non Resident investors can invest in specified government securities <strong>without being subject to any investment ceilings.</strong></li>
<li>This scheme shall operate along with the two existing routes: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Medium Term Framework (MTF)</strong> for Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) in Central Government Securities (G-secs) and State Government Securities (SDLs) was introduced in October 2015.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FPI consists of securities and other financial assets passively held by foreign investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Voluntary Retention Route (VRR)</strong> encourages Foreign Portfolio Investors to undertake long-term investments in Indian debt markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of the Scheme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will <strong>ease the access</strong> of non-residents to Indian government securities markets.</li>
<li>This would facilitate<strong> inclusion in global bond indices.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Being part of the global bond indices would help Indian G-secs <strong>attract large funds from major global investors,</strong> including pension funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This would also facilitate<strong> inflow of stable foreign investment</strong> in government bonds.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Security</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A G-Sec is a<strong> tradable instrument</strong> issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.</li>
<li>It acknowledges the Government&rsquo;s debt obligation. Such securities are <strong>short term</strong> (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year- presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 364 day) or<strong> long term</strong> (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).</li>
<li>In India, the <strong>Central Government issues both treasury bills and bonds or dated securities</strong> while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).</li>
<li>G-Secs carry practically <strong>no risk of default</strong> and, hence, are called risk-free <strong>gilt-edged instruments.</strong></li>
<li>Gilt-edged securities are high-grade investment bonds offered by governments and large corporations as a means of borrowing funds.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/nris-can-now-invest-in-specified-govt-bonds/article31211477.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/nris-can-invest-in-specified-government-securities'
		],
		(int) 15 => [
			'title' => 'Withdrawal from EPF Accounts',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Union Ministry of Labour and Employment</strong> has notified an <strong>amendment to the Employees&rsquo; Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme</strong> allowing members to withdraw non-refundable advance amounts in the wake of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The notification amends the EPF Scheme, 1952 by inserting Sub-Para (3) under Para 68L of the EPF Scheme, 1952.</li>
<li>This permits <strong>withdrawal not exceeding the basic wages and dearness allowance for three months or up to 75% of the PF balance, whichever is lower,</strong> in the event of outbreak of epidemic or pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Earlier, non-refundable advances were permitted only for specified purposes</strong> such as housing and marriage. Even these were permitted only where the employee has put in a minimum service period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since <strong>the outbreak of COVID-19 had been declared a pandemic</strong> for the entire country, all employees of establishments and factories in India who are members of the EPF scheme would be eligible for the amended scheme.</li>
<li>Recently, the Finance Minister &mdash; as part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</strong></a> &mdash; said that the government will bear the<strong> cost of the provident fund contributions, both of the employer and employees&mdash;12% each&mdash;for the next three months</strong> for those establishments which have up to <strong>100 employees </strong>and<strong> 90% of whom are earning less than ₹15,000 per month as salary.</strong> It also relaxed withdrawal conditions from EPF accounts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Funds Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EPF is the main scheme under the <strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Act, 1952.</strong> This scheme offers the institution of provident funds for factory employees and other establishments.</li>
<li>The employee and employer each contribute 12% of the employee&rsquo;s basic salary and dearness allowance towards EPF.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Economic Survey 2016-17</strong> had suggested that employees be allowed to choose whether or not to save 12% of their salary into EPF or keep it as take home pay.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per current laws, a person mandatorily becomes a member of EPF if his monthly <strong>salary does not exceed Rs. 15,000.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rules-for-relaxation-in-withdrawal-criteria-from-epf-accounts-notified-6336761/" 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/withdrawal-from-epf-accounts'
		],
		(int) 16 => [
			'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Human Resource Development',
			'catname' => 'Paper 2',
			'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/draft-education-policy-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Draft National Education Policy, 2019</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Seeks to address the challenges of: (i) access, (ii) equity, (iii) quality, (iv) affordability, and (v) accountability faced by the current education system.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key Highlights</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Extending the RTE Act to include early childhood education and secondary school education, thereby extending the coverage of the Act to all children between the ages of three to eighteen years. Currently, the RTE Act provides for free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of six to fourteen years.</li>
<li>There should be no detention of children till class eight. Instead, schools must ensure that children are achieving age-appropriate learning levels.</li>
<li>State Census Examinations for students of classes three, five and eight to track students&rsquo; progress throughout their school experience.</li>
<li>To reduce the stress levels of students, the Committee recommended restructuring the board examinations to test only core concepts, skills and higher order capacities.</li>
<li>Restructuring of higher education institutions into three types: (i) research universities focusing equally on research and teaching; (ii) teaching universities focusing primarily on teaching but conducting significant research as well; and (iii) colleges focusing only on teaching in undergraduate education.</li>
<li>Setting up of the National Higher Education Regulatory Authority which would replace the existing individual regulators in higher education, including professional education.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-innovative-learning-programme-dhruv" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Program (DHRUV)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nishtha-teachers-training-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NISHTHA &ndash; National Initiative for School Heads&rsquo; and Teachers&rsquo; Holistic Advancement</strong> </a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To improve learning outcomes at the elementary level through an Integrated Teacher Training Programme.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/equip-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A five-year vision plan aiming at ushering transformation in India&rsquo;s higher education system by implementing strategic interventions in the sector over five years (2019-2024).</li>
<li>Sets out to deliver further on principles of Access, Inclusion, Quality, Excellence and enhancing employability in Higher Education.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-higher-education-quality-mandate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Deeksharambh</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a Student Induction Programme aimed to help new students feel comfortable and get accustomed to the new environment by inculcating in them the ethos and culture of the institution.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/paramarsh-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PARAMARSH</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A scheme to mentor institutions seeking National Assessment and Accreditation Council accreditation.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/institutions-of-eminence-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Institutions of Eminence (IoE)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>10 institutions in public sector and 10 institutions in private sector have been declared as IoE.</li>
<li>Each Public institute (IoE) will be eligible to receive Rs. 1000 crore during next 5 years.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Scheme for Transformational and Advanced Research in Sciences (STARS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Launched in February, 2019. To be implemented, monitored and managed by IISc, Bangalore.</li>
<li>For promoting translational, India-centric research in Sciences.</li>
<li>With the key objective of supporting socially relevant research, the following 6 basic thrust domains have been identified: Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Nanosciences, Data Sciences &amp; Mathematics and Earth Sciences.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rashtriya-uchchatar-shiksha-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a centrally<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> sponsored scheme launched</strong></a> in October 2013 that aims at providing strategic funding to higher education institutions throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impactful-policy-research-in-social-science-impress" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Impactful Policy Research in Social Science (IMPRESS)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To support social science research in the higher educational institutions and to enable research to guide policymaking.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>SWAYAM 2.0</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Launch of SWAYAM 2.0 with enhanced features and facilities.</li>
<li>To offer Online Degree Programmes through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SWAYAM</strong></a> by Top Ranking Universities.</li>
<li>SWAYAM 1.0 was Launched in July 2017 with the Objectives of equal access to quality education, increase GER in Higher Education from 26 to 30 in next 5 years.</li>
<li><strong>Key Features of SWAYAM 2.0 &ndash;</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Higher Scalability and Performance</li>
<li>Enhanced features for faculty and students</li>
<li>Improved assessment and evaluation</li>
<li>Internationalisation</li>
<li>Translation to Indian languages</li>
<li>Local chapters and mentors</li>
<li>Offering of On-line Degrees</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SWAYAM PRABHA-</strong> DTH Educational Channels: For telecasting high quality educational programs through 32 DTH channels on 24x7 basis to reach out to student/learners of India with wide reach and minimal cost.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shreyas-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For providing industry apprenticeship opportunities to the general graduates exiting in April 2019 through the National Apprenticeship Promotional Scheme (NAPS).</li>
<li>The program aims to enhance the employability of Indian youth by providing &lsquo;on the job work exposure&rsquo; and earning of stipend.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-educational-alliance-for-technology-neat-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PPP Model between MHRD and EdTech companies for offering Adaptive and personalized learning through Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the students with specific emphasis on students from economically and socially backward regions.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stride" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for India&rsquo;s Developing Economy (STRIDE)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Launched in July 2019 for promoting quality research by faculty and creation of new knowledge.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shagun-integrated-online-junction-for-school-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Online junction for School Education &lsquo;Shagun&rsquo;</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an over-arching initiative to improve school education system by creating a junction for all online portals and websites relating to various activities of the Department of School Education and Literacy in the Government of India and all States and Union Territories.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The GIS based mapping portal gives information about location of more than 15 lakh schools in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) 2.0</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Diksha Portal was launched in 2017 for providing digital platform to teachers giving them an opportunity to learn and train themselves and connect with teacher community. This initiative has been taken forward to enhance coverage and improve the quality of e-content for teachers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Performance Grading Index (PGI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To objectively evaluate the performance of the school education system in the States/UTs, MHRD has designed a 70 indicators based matrix called Performance Grading Index (PGI) to grade the States and UTs.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-digital-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Operation Digital Board (ODB)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The aim is to provide by March 2023, two smart classrooms for every secondary/senior secondary school.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Body</h3>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/higher-education-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Higher Education Financing Agency</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) was incorporated in 2017 as a joint venture of MHRD and Canara Bank with agreed equity participation in the ratio of 91% and 9% respectively.</li>
<li>Its objective is to finance the creation of capital assets in premier educational institutions in India.</li>
<li>HEFA finances for HEIs, KVs, NVs, AIIMS and other educational institutions of the Ministry of Health.</li>
<li>It is registered under Section 8 [ Not-for-profit] under the Companies Act 2013 as a Union Govt company and as Non&ndash;deposit taking NBFC-ND with RBI.</li>
<li>Aims to fund projects to the tune of Rs. 100,000 crore by 2022.</li>
</ul>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-human-resource-development'
		],
		(int) 17 => [
			'title' => 'Covid-19 And Collective Action',
			'catname' => 'News Editorials',
			'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-deep-void-in-global-leadership/article31200881.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The deep void in global leadership&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 30/03/2020. It talks about the lack of global collective action in combating Covid-19.</p>
</div>
<p>Within a few months of inception of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, the virus has affected almost all the countries around the world killing thousands of people. It has caused and will continue to cause severe damages to the global economy.</p>
<p>Moreover, this millennium has already <strong>suffered three pandemics</strong> (Namely Swine Flu in 2009, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)) and Covid-19 may not be the last. Yet, the global community has failed to develop a comprehensive, concerted plan of action, to combat this terror.</p>
<p>The G20 leaders have agreed to<strong> inject $5-trillion into the world economy</strong> to partially counter the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/regulatory-bodies-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>devastating economic impact of the pandemic</strong></a>, but a global war against the virus will require much more global collective efforts.</p>
<p>This is because, as long as the virus is alive in some corner of the world, it can strike back and turn into a pandemic again. Further, national shutdowns have saved lives from the assault of Covid-19, but it poses the risk of losing lives to starvation and malnutrition, somewhere in the world if adequate steps were not taken.</p>
<p>However, global collective action has been until now remained inadequate.</p>
<h3>Reasons for the Lack of Inadequate Collective Actions</h3>
<p>Two developments in the global polity in the last few years have contributed to the indifference towards collective global action.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rise of Protectionism :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This ideology propounds that <strong>&lsquo;global good&rsquo; is in conflict with and inimical to national interests.</strong></li>
<li>For example, in accordance with America First policy, U.S. President Trump, in June 2017, that the U.S. will cease involvement from the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1585569358686000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHZnyc6XLHL5v2nDJrzShmQoBndag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Accord on climate change</strong></a>, on the ground that the accord will &lsquo;undermine U.S. economic interest&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Similarly, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-in-climate-change-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change negotiation at COP-25</strong> </a>hasn't resulted in anything and failed talks on the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WTO Doha round negotiations.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decline of Multilateral Institutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United Nations (the outcome of the shared vision of the world leaders after World War II, that collective action is the only way forward to prevent the occurrence of another war) has been criticised, for not living up to its expectations to maintain peace among nations in the nearly 80 years since its formation. For example, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-syria-crisis-us-backs-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Syrian Crisis.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, the UN's affiliate organisations have few drawbacks in their functioning.</li>
<li>In particular, World Health Organisation (WHO), which has as its objective to be the directing and coordinating authority among member countries in health emergencies, has proven to be too lethargic in reacting to pandemics in the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is due to this, world leaders are overwhelmed with their own national challenges and do not appear inclined to view the pandemic as a common enemy against mankind.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, China delayed reporting the virus to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and perhaps, in the process, contributed to the exacerbation of the spread of the virus across the globe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<p>The typical response by all affected nations has been to impose <strong>&lsquo;National distancing&rsquo;</strong> by closing borders. While this is no doubt, a most appropriate response, there is a much bigger and emergent need for leaders of nations to come together for collective global action. In this context:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for a global institution that is not burdened with bureaucracy and can work on war footing to combat such global emergencies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20, with co-option of other affected countries, itself might serve the purpose for the present.</li>
<li>Further, the collective action should ensure that shortages of drugs, medical equipment and protective gear do not come in the way of any nation&rsquo;s capacity to contain or fight the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to establish protocols, among participating countries to ensure seamless logistics for the supply chain for essential goods and services to function efficiently.</li>
<li>There needs to be an instantaneous exchange of authenticated information on what clinical solutions have succeeded and what has not.</li>
<li>The best way to ensure speedy research is to<strong> pool global resources.</strong> This may bring some acceptable commercial solution that adequately incentivises private research while ensuring benefits being available to the entire world at affordable costs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such a framework might be necessary for sustained collaborations for future challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to facilitate easy movement of trained health professionals across the world to train others and augment resources wherever there are shortages.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In other words, nations should come together to organise a global army to fight the pandemic, equipped with the best weapons and tools.</li>
<li>For example, Cuba has sent a team of 50 doctors to Italy, in order to help the country in dealing with Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India's decision to convene a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries (to discuss emergency plans in wake of Covid-19)</strong></a> stands out in contrast to the indifferent leadership around the world. This may catalyse the collective global action to deal with the global emergency of Covid-19.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>PESTEL Analysis: Measures To Be Taken</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political:</strong> A global emergency requires global collective action.</li>
<li><strong>Economical:</strong> Economic stimulus package for tackling economic disruption caused by the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Social:</strong> Social distancing and national distancing hold the key, but much more needs to be done.</li>
<li><strong>Technological:</strong> Global collaboration in research and development, so that a vaccine can be developed as soon as possible.</li>
<li><strong>Legal:</strong> Effective implementation is important to the success of measures like lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f5f4d7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Global emergencies require global collective action. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
			'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
			'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-collective-action'
		],
		(int) 18 => [
			'title' => 'Flexibility Under the FRBM Act',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the State government of <strong>Kerala has sought flexibility under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(FRBM) Act.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is to ensure that fiscal stimulus in the wake of COVID-19 does not get deterred by FRBM considerations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for Seeking Flexibility</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to Kerala&rsquo;s current fiscal position, Kerala can borrow about ₹25,000 crore during the financial year 2020-21.</li>
<li>Kerala has announced an<strong> emergency relief package of worth Rs. 20,000 crore</strong> to mitigate the impact on livelihoods and overall economic activity from the sweeping steps taken to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, including the latest 21-day nationwide lockdown.</li>
<li>The State has proposed to borrow as much as ₹12,500 crore from the market at the start of the financial year (April -March).</li>
<li>The government is concerned that the stringent<strong> borrowing cap under the fiscal responsibility laws should not constrain its borrowing and spending ability</strong> over the remaining 11 months.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the 11 months, the government will have to take not only COVID-19 mitigation measures but would also have to meet other expenditure for routine affairs related to the running of the State&rsquo;s socio-economic programmes as well as the post pandemic recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>FRBM Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was enacted in <strong>August 2003.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to make the Central government responsible for ensuring inter-generational equity in fiscal management and long-term macro-economic stability.</li>
<li>The Act envisages the <strong>setting of limits on the Central government&rsquo;s debt and deficits.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It limited the fiscal deficit to 3% of the GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To ensure that the States too are financially prudent, the 12th Finance Commission&rsquo;s recommendations in 2004 linked debt relief to States with their enactment of similar laws. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The States have since enacted their own respective <strong>Financial Responsibility Legislation</strong>, which sets the same <strong>3% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) cap on their annual budget deficits.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also mandates <strong>greater transparency in fiscal operations</strong> of the Central government and <strong>the conduct of fiscal policy in a medium-term framework.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Budget of the Union government includes a <strong>Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement</strong> that specifies the annual revenue and fiscal deficit goals over a three-year horizon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The rules for implementing the Act were notified in July 2004. The rules were amended in 2018, and most recently to the setting of <strong>a target of 3.1% for March 2023.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The NK Singh committee</strong> (set up in 2016) recommended that the government should target a fiscal deficit of 3% of the GDP in years up to March 31, 2020 cut it to 2.8% in 2020-21 and to 2.5% by 2023.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Relaxation under the FRBM Act</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Escape Clause:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under <strong>Section 4(2) of the Act,</strong> the Centre can exceed the annual fiscal deficit target citing certain grounds.</li>
<li>The grounds include <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National security, war</li>
<li>National calamity</li>
<li>Collapse of agriculture</li>
<li>Structural reforms</li>
<li>Decline in real output growth of a quarter by at least three percentage points below the average of the previous four quarters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The lockdown could cause severe contraction in economic output and the COVID-19 pandemic could be considered as a national calamity.</li>
<li>Also, the government has already made the use of escape clause this year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Instances of the FRBM Norms been Relaxed in the Past</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>During the<strong> Budget 2020-21</strong> presentation: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> reductions in corporate tax</strong> were cited as <strong>structural reforms</strong> that triggered <strong>the escape clause.</strong> This implies that this year the government has already made use of the escape clause</li>
<li><strong>This enabled the government to adjust the fiscal deficit target</strong> for 2019-20 to 3.8%, from the budgeted 3.3%.</li>
<li>It was also cited that the impact of the reforms would also necessitate a reset for 2020-21: from the earlier deficit target of 3% to 3.5%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the<strong> global financial crisis in 2008-09:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre resorted to a focused fiscal stimulus: tax relief to boost demand and increased expenditure on public projects<strong> to create employment and public assets,</strong> to counter the fallout of the global slowdown.</li>
<li>This led to the fiscal deficit climbing to 6.2%, from a budgeted goal of 2.7%.</li>
<li>Simultaneously,<strong> the deficit goals for the States too were relaxed</strong> to 3.5% of Gross State Domestic Product(GSDP) for 2008-09 and 4% of GSDP for fiscal 2009-10.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/coronavirus-why-has-kerala-sought-a-relaxation-of-fiscal-responsibility-and-budget-management-rules/article31194488.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/flexibility-under-the-frbm-act'
		],
		(int) 19 => [
			'title' => 'Himalayan Ibex a Distinct Species',
			'catname' => 'News Analysis',
			'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study by scientists of the <strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)</strong> has proved that <strong>Himalayan Ibex is a distinct species from the Siberian Ibex.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study was funded through the <strong>National Mission on Himalayan Studies.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The National Mission on Himalayan Studies is<strong> implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It targets to provide much needed focus, through holistic understanding of system's components and their linkages, in addressing the key issues relating to conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study was based on<strong> genetic analysis</strong> conducted with the inclusion of the sequences available from all across the distribution ranges of Siberian Ibex.</li>
<li>The study revealed that <strong>Siberian Ibex was estimated to have diverged from Alpine Ibex during the Pleistocene epoch</strong> (2.4 million years ago) rather than during the Miocene-Pliocene boundary (6.6 million years ago).</li>
<li>Scientists presume that the <strong>&lsquo;montane systems&rsquo;,</strong> formed by a series of climatic oscillations and temporal topographic metamorphosis, <strong>have broken up the contiguous distribution of the species</strong> and accelerated <strong>allopatric speciation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Allopatric speciation</strong> means speciation because of geographic and reproductive isolation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study also reveals that Siberian ibex is a<strong> polytypic species,</strong> plausibly formed by lumping of at least 2 species and or 3 to 4 sub-species.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Polytypic species</strong> are species that contain two or more subspecies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585562016_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585562016_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Siberian Ibex is a species of <strong>wild goat.</strong></li>
<li>It is distributed in <strong>diverse habitats,</strong> ranging from <strong>cold deserts, rocky outcrops, steep terrain, high-land flats and mountain ridges to low mountains and foothills.</strong></li>
<li>From <strong>Mongolia,</strong> its distribution extends towards<strong> Altai, Hangai, Gobi-Altai, the Hurukh mountain ranges</strong> as well as <strong>Sayan Mountains near Russia</strong> and scattered populations in the small mountains of <strong>Trans-Altai Gobi.</strong></li>
<li>In Asia, Ibex is distributed in the <strong>Montane habitats,</strong> ranging in elevations from 500 m to 6,700 m in countries like India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Southern Siberia and China.</li>
<li>Its<strong> IUCN status</strong> is <strong>least concerned.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Himalayan Ibex (Capra sibirica hemalayanus)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier the <strong>Himalayan Ibex</strong> was regarded as a subspecies of the Siberian Ibex<em> (Capra sibirica)</em></li>
<li>The Himalyan Ibex is distributed mainly in the <strong>trans-Himalayan ranges</strong> of the <strong>Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ZSI was established on 1<sup>st</sup> July, 1916. It has its genesis in the establishment of the<strong> Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta</strong> in 1875.</li>
<li>It is headquartered at<strong> Kolkata.</strong></li>
<li>It functions under the Ministry <strong>of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It acts as the premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/himalayan-ibex-a-distinct-species/article31201581.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 0 => [
		'title' => 'Government Cuts Interest Rates on NSC, PPF',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Government of India <strong>slashed interest rates on small savings schemes,</strong> including National Savings Certificate and Public Provident Fund <strong>to counter the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The move by the government has followed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reserve Bank of India's</a> (RBI) recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">75 bps cut in its key interest rate.</a></strong></li>
<li>Interest rates for small savings schemes are <strong>notified on a quarterly basis.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>In the case of the National Savings Certificate,</strong> the government has brought down interest rates by 110<strong> basis points (bps) to 6.8%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Interest rates on Public Provident Funds (PPF)</strong> for the quarter have been brought down by 80 bps to 7.1%.</li>
<li>Interest rates for<strong> Kisan Vikas Patra</strong> have slashed by 70 bps to 6.9%.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Decoding the Rate Cuts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The rate cut is in the line with RBI&rsquo;s recent move to slash key interest rates.</li>
<li>Government&rsquo;s decision is the <strong>part of the Fiscal Policy which is a sister strategy to monetary policy (decided by the Central Bank)</strong> used in different combinations to achieve the country's economic goal.</li>
<li><strong>Small savings schemes are attractive because of higher interest rates and tax benefits,</strong> and that hurts the mobilisation of bank deposits.</li>
<li><strong>It also affects the transmission of policy rate cuts,</strong> which is why the RBI also advocated <strong>rate rationalisation</strong> on small saving.</li>
<li>The move will lead the nation into a<strong> low-interest rate regime.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Small Saving Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The small savings scheme basket comprises 12 instruments.</li>
<li>It includes - National Saving Certificate (NSC), Public Provident Fund (PPF), Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) and Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme.</li>
<li>It also includes Saving Deposit, Monthly Income Deposit, several time and recurring deposits.</li>
<li>The rates for small saving schemes are <strong>announced quarterly.</strong></li>
<li>Theoretically the rate changes is based on yields of government securities of corresponding maturity. However, political factors also influence the rate change.</li>
<li>The <strong>Shyamala Gopinath panel</strong> constituted on the Small Saving Scheme had suggested a market-linked interest rate system for small savings schemes.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/government-cuts-interest-rates-on-nsc-ppf/article31222598.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source The Hindu</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-cuts-interest-rates-on-nsc-ppf'
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	(int) 1 => [
		'title' => 'Supreme Court Upholds Right to Discuss Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central government appealed in the Supreme Court that media outlets, in the <strong>&ldquo;larger interest of justice&rdquo;,</strong> should only publish or telecast anything on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> after ascertaining the factual position from the government.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the government, <strong>&ldquo;any deliberate or inaccurate&rdquo;</strong> reporting by the media, particularly web portals, in the midst of an unprecedented situation can have<strong> a &ldquo;serious and inevitable potential of causing panic in a larger section of the society&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government blamed <strong>&ldquo;fake and misleading&rdquo; messages</strong> on social media <strong>for creating widespread panic, which led to mass &ldquo;barefoot&rdquo; journeys of migrant workers</strong> from cities to their native villages in rural India.</li>
<li>The mass migration of the poor would defeat the preventive measures taken by the Central government to contain pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme court took a view <strong>balancing free press</strong> and the <strong>need to avoid panic</strong> in society during an unprecedented crisis. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court upheld the <strong>right to free discussion about COVID-19,</strong> and directed the media to refer to and publish the official version of the developments in order to avoid inaccuracies and large-scale panic.</li>
<li>It <strong>ordered the government to start a daily bulletin on COVID-19 developments</strong> through all media avenues in the next 24 hours.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 19(1)(a)</strong> of the Constitution of India states that,<strong> &ldquo;all citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression&rdquo;.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The philosophy behind this Article lies in the Preamble of the Constitution, where a solemn resolve is made to secure to all its citizens, liberty of thought and expression.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The exercise of this right is, however, subject to<strong> &ldquo;reasonable restrictions&rdquo;</strong> for certain purposes being imposed under <strong>Article 19(2)</strong> of the Constitution of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These reasonable restrictions are imposed in the interests of the <strong>sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-supreme-court-upholds-right-to-discuss-covid-19/article31218565.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	],
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		'title' => 'TAIPA Calls for Boosting Telecom Network Capacity ',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<p>Recently,<strong> Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) urged for quickly enhancing the telecom network capacity to cope with the rising data traffic</strong> amidst nation-wide lockdown.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The data traffic has surged by 30%</strong> in the last few days as more and more companies are switching to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-work-from-home-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Work-From-Home.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>TAIPA</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association was constituted in 2011 as an industry representative body <strong>registered under the Indian Society registration act, 1860.</strong></li>
<li><strong>All leading independent telecom infrastructure providers</strong> like Bharti Infratel, Indus Towers, ATC India Tower Corp., GTL Infrastructure, Tower Vision and Reliance Infrastructure <strong>are the members of the Society.</strong></li>
<li>The association is dedicated to interact, discuss and deliberate with the Ministries, Policy Makers, Regulators, Financial institutions and Technical bodies etc for promotion of healthy growth in telecom services.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Due to the <strong>&lsquo;work from home&rsquo;</strong> policy for both public and private employees, there has been a <strong>30% rise in data consumption.</strong></li>
<li>Certain metropolitan cities such as Hyderabad and Bengaluru have posted <strong>70% rise in cellular network data.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Telecom services come under essential services</strong> and thereby are exempted from the lockdown.</li>
<li>To maintain data usage and smooth functioning of telecom services 24/7 , the telecom sector needs critical, robust infrastructure.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The states need to align their policies with the <strong>Centre's Right of Way (RoW) 2016 norms.</strong></li>
<li>With more than three years gone, only 16 States out of 36 States/UT&rsquo;s have broadly aligned their policy with RoW Policy 2016.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RoW 2016 Norms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued Right of Way (RoW) rules for rollout of communication networks.</li>
<li>It aims to facilitate the installation of mobile towers, optic fibre and copper cables in a time-bound, non-discretionary manner.</li>
<li>The rules aim to rationalise administrative expenses across the country to a maximum of Rs 1000 per km for fibre, and a maximum of Rs 10,000 per application for overhead towers.</li>
<li>It provides for fast-tracking decisions on RoW permits within 60 days after application.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/taipa-calls-for-boosting-telecom-network-capacity/article31221524.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source The Hindu</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/taipa-calls-for-boosting-telecom-network-capacity'
	],
	(int) 3 => [
		'title' => 'Chinese Trawlers in South China Sea',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Chinese fishing fleets have been seen raiding the rich waters of the South China Sea that are internationally recognised as exclusively Indonesia&rsquo;s to fish.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The fishermen in Natuna Islands (Indonesia) are worried.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Chinese steel trawlers scrape the bottom of the sea and<strong> destroy other marine life.</strong></li>
<li>Chinese trawling aslo<strong> breaches the maritime borders.</strong></li>
<li>Since China is its <strong>largest trading partner,</strong> it has been argued that the <strong>Indonesian government has not taken any steps</strong> to deal with the incursions by Chinese fishing boats.</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s illegal fishing near the Natuna islands carries global consequence, reminding regional governments of Beijing&rsquo;s expanding claims to the South China Sea through which <strong>one-third of the world&rsquo;s maritime trade flows.</strong></li>
<li>China wants to claim the resources such as <strong>oil, natural gas, and fish</strong> in the South China Sea.</li>
<li>The presence of Chinese fishers also helps to <strong>embody China&rsquo;s maritime claims. The nine dash line</strong> (rejected by an international tribunal) asserted by China violates the principle of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>South China Sea</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The South China Sea is an <strong>arm of western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia.</strong></li>
<li>It is south of China,<strong> east &amp; south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines and north of the island of Borneo.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Bordering states &amp; territories</strong> (clockwise from north): the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.</li>
<li>It is connected by <strong>Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea </strong>and by<strong> Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea.</strong></li>
<li>It contains numerous shoals, reefs, atolls and islands. The <strong>Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal</strong> are the most important.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Importance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This sea holds tremendous strategic importance for its location as it is the connecting link between the <strong>Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.</strong> (Strait of Malacca)</li>
<li>According to the <strong>United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD)</strong> one-third of the global shipping passes through it, carrying trillions of trade which makes it a significant geopolitical water body.</li>
<li>According to the <strong>Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines,</strong> this sea has one-third of the entire world&rsquo;s marine biodiversity and contains lucrative fisheries providing food security to the Southeast Asian nations.</li>
<li>The South China Sea is believed to have<strong> huge oil and gas reserves</strong> beneath its seabed.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585733093_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585733093_image1.jpg" width="650" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/china-chases-indonesias-fishing-fleets-staking-claim-to-seas-riches/article31222782.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/chinese-trawlers-in-south-china-sea'
	],
	(int) 4 => [
		'title' => 'Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government has promulgated the<strong> 'Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020'.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Ordinance brings into effect various tax compliance related measures announced on March 24, 2020 in the wake of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-s-preparedness" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> pandemic.</li>
<li>The government has extended the deadline for filing income tax, last dates for making investments in instruments such as National Savings Certificates, Public Provident Fund for claiming income tax benefits, etc.</li>
<li>The last date for<strong> linking PAN with biometric ID Aadhaar</strong> has been extended by three months to June 30.</li>
<li>The Ordinance has also amended the provisions of the Income-tax Act to provide the <strong>same tax treatment to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prime Minister&rsquo;s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund</a> (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-cares-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PM-CARES Fund</a>) as available to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The donation made to the PM-CARES Fund shall be eligible for 100% deduction under section 80G of the I-T Act.</li>
<li>The government has set up the PM-CARES Fund to deal with any kind of emergency or distress situation like posed by the<strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19 pandemic.</a></strong></li>
<li>PMNRF was<strong> instituted in 1948 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, to assist displaced persons from Pakistan.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The fund is currently used primarily to tackle <strong>natural calamities</strong> like floods, cyclones and earthquakes.</li>
<li>The fund is also used to help with <strong>medical treatment</strong> like kidney transplantation, cancer treatment and acid attack.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ordinance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Ordinance is a<strong> decree or law promulgated by a state or national government</strong> without the consent of the legislature.</li>
<li><strong>Article 123</strong> of the Constitution of India <strong>grants the President</strong> certain law-making powers to promulgate ordinances when either of the <strong>two Houses of Parliament is not in session.</strong></li>
<li>The fundamental reason for bestowing the executive with the power to issue ordinance according to Pandit H N Kunzru (involved in framing the Indian Constitution), was <strong>&ldquo;to deal with situations where an emergency in the country necessitated urgent action.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>three limitations</strong> with regard to the ordinance making power of the executive. They are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The President can only promulgate an ordinance when <strong>either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session.</strong></li>
<li>The President cannot promulgate an ordinance unless <strong>he is satisfied that there are circumstances that require taking &lsquo;immediate action&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Ordinances must be <strong>approved by Parliament within six weeks of reassembling or they shall cease to operate.</strong> They will also cease to operate in case <strong>resolutions disapproving the ordinance</strong> are passed by both the Houses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/coronavirus-india-lockdown-ordinance-to-give-full-deduction-for-donation-to-pm-cares-promulgated-6341098/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 5 => [
		'title' => 'Covid-19 and the Orphan Drug Act',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> declared the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic.</strong></a> However, <strong>the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared Covid-19 an orphan disease,</strong> or a <strong>rare disease.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The FDA granted Gilead Sciences<strong> orphan drug status</strong> for its antiviral drug, <strong>Remdesivir,</strong> on March 23, 2020. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Originally developed to treat Ebola, the drug is now being tested for treating COVID-19. Clinical trials are already in Phase III.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>But on March 25 Gilead announced that it had submitted a request to the FDA to remove its orphan drug designation for Remdesivir. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, Gilead had sought the orphan status to the Remdesivir drug to expedite approval of the drug. However, advocates for global access to medicines, rejected the company&rsquo;s argument.</li>
<li>Gilead&rsquo;s exorbitant pricing of its drug to treat hepatitis C and its drug to treat HIV also attracted attention in the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In recent years, drug companies have been accused of exploiting the law to reap profits, in sales.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Orphan Drug Act, 1983</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rare diseases became known as orphan diseases</strong> because drug companies were not interested in adopting them to develop treatments.</li>
<li>In the U.S., under the Orphan Drug Act, <strong>companies are provided incentives to develop therapies, or orphan drugs,</strong> for rare diseases.</li>
<li>The Act allows <strong>seven years of market exclusivity</strong> and financial incentives <strong>to innovators of these drugs.</strong> As a result, orphan drugs are <strong>often exorbitantly priced.</strong></li>
<li>Privileges under the Act may be conferred to companies for drugs <strong>to treat a disease that affect less than 200,000 people in the U.S., or for a disease that affects more than 200,000 people but for which there is no hope of recovering R &amp; D costs.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The idea is that without these incentives, companies would find it difficult to recover their R&amp;D costs given the small number of people suffering from the rare disease.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Covid-19 not a Rare Disease:</strong> The Orphan Drug Act applies to a potential drug for COVID-19, which is anything but a rare disease, with 800,049 confirmed cases across the world.</li>
<li><strong>Paradox:</strong> The U.S. FDA conferred the status of an orphan drug on Remdesivir proposed to treat COVID-19 a pandemic.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Had Gilead not sought that orphan drug status be rescinded, <strong>generic manufacturers would not have been able to market a drug to treat COVID-19 with the same active ingredient till the seven-year period of market exclusivity</strong> had ended.</li>
<li>This would have given Gilead <strong>free rein on pricing and licensing</strong> which would have had <strong>disastrous consequences on the healthcare system.</strong></li>
<li>However, <strong>orphan drug status of Remdesivir would have no impact on India</strong> as Gilead Sciences holds patents in India and patents are open to challenge.</li>
<li>As far as its patent rights are concerned, <strong>Indian law permits the government to issue a <a href="https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/public_health_faq_e.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compulsory licence</a> in certain circumstances</strong> of a public health crisis under <strong>Section 92 of the Patents Act.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would allow third parties to manufacture a patented drug without permission of the patent holder.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rare Diseases</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A rare disease is a health condition of low prevalence that affects a <strong>small number of people</strong> compared with other prevalent diseases in the general population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is<strong> no universally accepted definition</strong> of rare diseases and the definitions usually vary across different countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Though rare diseases are of low prevalence and individually rare, collectively they affect a considerable proportion of the population.</li>
<li>80% of rare diseases are <strong>genetic in origin and hence disproportionately impact children.</strong></li>
<li>In India there are <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rare-diseases-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>56-72 million people affected by rare diseases.</strong></a></li>
<li>There is also a demand for the <strong>reformulation of National Policy for Treatment of Rare Diseases, 2017.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Policy for Treatment of Rare Diseases, 2017</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The policy highlights the measures and steps, both in the short as well as in the long term, that need to be taken to deal comprehensively with rare diseases.</li>
<li>The policy intends to constitute an Inter-ministerial Consultative Committee to coordinate and steer the initiatives of different ministries and departments on rare diseases.</li>
<li>It also mentions the creation of a corpus fund at Central and State level for funding treatment of rare diseases.</li>
<li>The policy aims to create a patient registry for diseases housed in <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenously-developed-testing-kits-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Medical Research</a> (ICMR).</strong></li>
<li>However, recognizing the higher cost of treatment for rare diseases, the policy also seeks to strike a balance between access to treatment and health system sustainability.</li>
<li>It also aims to create awareness among health professionals, families of patients and the public in general, about rare diseases.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-cost-of-a-cure-for-covid-19/article31221972.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-the-orphan-drug-act'
	],
	(int) 6 => [
		'title' => 'Fight Against Covid-19',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), <strong>over 40 vaccines against the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV2)</a> are in various stages of development</strong> across the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>One</strong> of these vaccines is <strong>being developed by the Serum Institute of India (Pune, Maharashtra).</strong></li>
<li>Out of 40, only<strong> two vaccines are currently in clinical trials.</strong></li>
<li>However, a vaccine against coronavirus <strong>can be available only in the next 12-18 months</strong> at the earliest.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Development of COVID-19 Vaccines</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Clinical trials</strong> are a type of research that studies new tests and treatments and evaluates their effects on human health outcomes.</li>
<li>According to the NEJM article, written by researchers affiliated to the <strong>Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), </strong>there is a<strong> need to speed up the vaccine development.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>CEPI</strong> is an international non-governmental organisation funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Commission, and eight countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Japan, Norway, and the UK).</li>
<li>Launched in 2017, its <strong>mission</strong> is to stimulate and accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and enable access to these vaccines for people during outbreaks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The speed is of essence for millions of people around the world. However, there is also a <strong>business side</strong> to it. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inquiry-into-study-on-bats-and-bat-hunters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genetically-modified-aedes-aegypti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zika</strong></a> epidemics ended before vaccine development was complete.</li>
<li>As a result, federal funding agencies reallocated funds that had been committed to vaccine development, leaving <strong>manufacturers with financial losses</strong> and setting back other vaccine-development programmes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Alcohol Sanitizers and Coronaviruses</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The novel coronavirus has a <strong>lipid envelope.</strong> Soap being a detergent destroys this envelope. The same is <strong>true for alcohol also. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Structure of Lipid Envelope:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SARS-CoV-2 particles, like other coronaviruses, are spherical and <strong>have proteins called spikes</strong> protruding from their surface.</li>
<li>These spikes <strong>latch onto human cells,</strong> then undergo a structural change that allows the viral membrane to <strong>fuse with the cell membrane.</strong> The viral genes can then enter the host cell to be copied, producing more viruses.</li>
<li>Recent work shows that, like the virus that caused the 2002 SARS outbreak, SARS-CoV-2 spikes bind to receptors on the<strong> human cell surface called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).</strong></li>
<li>All of this is<strong> held together by a fatty layer, called an envelope.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functioning of Alcohol in Sanitizers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Envelope layer is <strong>disrupted when it comes into contact with soap or a hand sanitiser with more than 60% alcohol.</strong></li>
<li>Disruption of the envelope leads to the <strong>killing of the virus.</strong></li>
<li>Handwashing for 20 seconds at least kills the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Government&rsquo;s Move:</strong> The Government has notified <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/masks-and-hand-sanitizers-under-ec-act-1955" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>hand sanitizers as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Indian Government&rsquo;s Latest Moves</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Combination of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin against COVID-19 instead of HIV drugs</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the new clinical management guidelines issued on 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2020, a <strong>combination of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) -</strong> used for treatment of auto-immune disorders, and <strong>azithromycin -</strong> the antibiotic has been recommended for use in severe patients.</li>
<li>The earlier guidelines, dated 17<sup>th</sup> March, 2020, which included use of Anti HIV drugs - <strong>Ritonavir and Lopinavir in high risk patients, now stand repealed.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>No specific antivirals have been proven to be effective as per currently available data.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icmr-recommends-use-of-hydroxy-chloroquine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>azithromycin-hydroxychloroquine combination</strong></a> is part of an upcoming <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-join-solidarity-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>multi-country trial anchored by the World Health Organization</strong></a> to examine the efficacy of various drug combinations against COVID-19.</li>
<li><strong>India has announced its decision to be part of the WHO global trials,</strong> which are also looking at these two drugs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Portal for Stranded Foreigners in India</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Tourism</strong> has come up with a portal titled <strong>&lsquo;Stranded in India&rsquo;</strong> to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by foreign tourists who are stuck far away from their home land.</li>
<li>The Portal has information on the Ministry of External Affairs control centres and state-based/regional tourism support infrastructure. It also lists the COVID-19 helpline numbers for tourists.</li>
<li>On 19<sup>th</sup> March, 2020, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) had issued an advisory stating that no international commercial passenger flights will operate here from March 23 to March 29. The advisory was later extended and all international flight operations remain suspended till April 14. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government has announced <strong>visa extensions</strong> for stranded foreigners till flight operations resume.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>IITs Support to the Indian Government</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has offered <strong>a range of inexpensive solutions</strong> developed by their faculty to assist the government in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.</li>
<li>From low-cost ventilators and testing kits to personal protective equipment for health workers, the directors of IIT-Delhi, IIT-Guwahati, IIT-Bombay and IIT-Kanpur shared their institute&rsquo;s work on containing the spread of the virus with the Government.</li>
<li>The institutions have also sought the government&rsquo;s assistance in facilitating tie-up with Public Sector Units (PSUs) to scale up production of prototypes and to mitigate difficulties faced in procuring raw material because of the lockdown.</li>
<li><strong>Example:</strong> IIT-Guwahati has offered to pitch in with its 3D-printed full-face shield and headgear for health workers, robotic cart to deliver food to isolation wards and high-grade sanitiser. It needs the government&rsquo;s help to tie up with a PSU for large-scale manufacturing.</li>
<li>Indian Institutes of Technology are apex institutions for engineering education and research. At present, there are <strong>twenty three Indian</strong> Institutes of Technology (IITs). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All are governed by the <strong>Institutes of Technology Act, 1961</strong> which has declared them as <strong>"Institutions of national importance",</strong> and lays down their powers, duties, framework for governance etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19'
	],
	(int) 7 => [
		'title' => 'Core Sector Growth at 5.5%',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the data released by the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry,</strong> the eight core sector industries <strong>recorded a growth of 5.5% in February, 2020</strong> which is <strong>highest in 11-months.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This spike is because of growth in <strong>refinery products, electricity, fertiliser, cement and coal production.</strong></li>
<li>However, <strong>crude oil, natural gas, and steel</strong> recorded negative growth rate in February.</li>
<li>This was the <strong>fourth consecutive month</strong> when the index of eight core industries reported growth.</li>
<li>The outlook may not be very bright for March 2020, as the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19</strong></a> has disrupted the production process in the country and globally.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585726040_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585726040_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Core Sector Industries</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>eight core sector industries</strong> include coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity</li>
<li>The eight core industries <strong>comprise 40.27% of the weight of items</strong> included in the <strong>Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</strong></li>
<li>The eight Core Industries in <strong>decreasing order</strong> of their weightage: <strong>Refinery Products&gt; Electricity&gt; Steel&gt; Coal&gt; Crude Oil&gt; Natural Gas&gt; Cement&gt; Fertilizers.</strong></li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #90fcc8; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Industry</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #90fcc8; width: 100px;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Weight (In percentage)</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Petroleum &amp; Refinery production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">28.04</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Electricity generation</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">19.85</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Steel production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">17.92</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Coal production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">10.33</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Crude Oil production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">8.98</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Natural Gas production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">6.88</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Cement production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">5.37</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">Fertilizers production</td>
<td style="height: 19px; background-color: #dff2dc; width: 100px;">2.63</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Index of Industrial Production</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which details out the growth of various sectors in an economy such as mineral mining, electricity,manufacturing, etc.</li>
<li>It is compiled and published monthly by the <strong>Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation</strong> six weeks after the reference month ends, i.e a <strong>lag of six weeks.</strong></li>
<li>The Base Year of the Index of Eight Core Industries has been revised from the year 2004-05 to 2011-12 from April, 2017.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/core-sector-grew-55-per-cent-in-february-highest-in-11-months/article31220398.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/core-sector-growth-at-5-5'
	],
	(int) 8 => [
		'title' => 'Social Sustainability',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.epw.in/journal/2020/8/special-articles/investments-social-sustainability-india.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Investments for Social Sustainability in India&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Economic and Political Weekly on 22/02/2020. It talks about the need for social sustainability for inclusive growth.</p>
</div>
<p>The <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goals</a></strong> (SDGs) were launched with a transformative approach from earlier <strong>Millennium Development Goals,</strong> as they include the issues of human rights, inequality, gender empowerment and concessional finances (low interest rate loans) for inclusive development. Further, the objective SDGs strongly entwine the dimensions of the <strong>Triple Bottom Line (combining 3Ps: Planet, Profit, People).</strong></p>
<p>They promise a strong commitment to deliver environmental and social sustainability along with economic growth. Social sustainability is the enabling platform for inclusive economic growth. With the rising importance of social sustainability, the <strong>United Nations Commission for Social Development (UNCSD)</strong> decided to prioritise rising inequalities and focus on challenges coming through social protection net, labour market efficiency and fiscal policies.</p>
<p>India has launched many welfare schemes for ensuring social sustainability. However, social infrastructure (skills, education, health, income, etc.) in India is inadequate, which leads to dismal performances in social development.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>United Nations Global Compact</strong> (UNGC) states that &ldquo;social sustainability is about identifying and managing business impacts, both positive and negative, on people.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Social sustainability entails stakeholder engagement, company&ndash;community cooperation, a people-centred approach to business impacts and inclusive social development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Triple Bottom Line</strong> (TBL) is a framework or theory that recommends that companies commit to focus on social and environmental concerns just as they do on profits.</li>
<li><strong>Social development</strong> can be gauged by two parameters.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One is the <strong>social allocation ratio,</strong> defined as the ratio of social sector expenditure to the total expenditure.</li>
<li>Second one is a<strong> development expenditure indicator</strong> defined as the ratio of social sector expenditure to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585657389_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585657389_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Some Facts About Social Infrastructure</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The overall public expenditure on social infrastructure, which includes priority areas like health and sanitation, skill development and education, remained <strong>around 6-8% in the past six years.</strong></li>
<li>It is the lowest among the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) nations. In terms of per capita health expenditure, <strong>India has 70% lower expenditure than that of the average of BRICS nations.</strong></li>
<li>Further, there have been conspicuous improvements in quantitative indicators such as physical infrastructure and completion rates, but lack in terms of social impact and qualitative indicators.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, <strong>according to the National Health Profile 2018,</strong> there are some noteworthy improvements in health indicators such as infant and maternal mortality rate.</li>
<li>However, the doctor&ndash;population ratio has remained <strong>10 times less than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations,</strong> and there is also a lack of medical qualifications and quality surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The increasing gap between the growth rates in the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors is widening the inequality between the 44% of the population engaged in agriculture, and the remainder engaged in manufacturing and services.</li>
<li>India is fifth largest economy in the world, but continues to lag behind some of its South Asian neighbours in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-development-index-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Development Index.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Issues Pertaining to Expenditure in the Social Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pro-cyclical Nature of Fiscal Policies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A procyclical fiscal policy can be summarised simply as governments choosing to increase government spending and reduce taxes during an economic expansion, but reduce spending and increase taxes during a recession.</li>
<li><strong>India tends to follow pro-cyclical fiscal policies. However, it is during the slowdown the welfare schemes are most needed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Vulnerability:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The biggest challenge faced by social sustainability in India is with regard to the fiscal measures.</li>
<li>The increasing vulnerability in fiscal status due to <strong>increasing Current Account Deficit</strong> and high <strong>Fiscal Deficit, are</strong> limiting public spending on social development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Access to Finance for Social Enterprises:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Social enterprises function as the bridge between social development and businesses. There has been growing recognition and creation of social enterprises to address the pressing social challenges.</li>
<li>Social enterprises have the potential to extend India&rsquo;s growth story to the poor and deprived communities. However, such organisations lack adequate finances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biases in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The deployment of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decriminalisation-of-csr-violation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> CSR</strong></a> funds is concentrated to industrial regions mainly; some states and some sectors.</li>
<li>The reasons for this lie in the weak regulatory framework, lack of commitment towards environmental conservation, market pressures and minimal consumer awareness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Social enterprise development means creating and nurturing businesses that aim for positive social or environmental outcomes while generating financial returns.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p><strong>Promotion of Impact Investment</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) defines impact investments</strong> as the investments made into companies, organisations, and funds with the intention to <strong>generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.</strong></li>
<li>The growing impact investment market provides capital to address the world&rsquo;s most pressing challenges in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, clean energy, microfinance and affordable and accessible basic services including housing, healthcare, and education.</li>
<li>India is one of the <strong>most promising markets globally for impact investment,</strong> as a large population at the bottom of the pyramid with lack of access to basic services and low public spending on the social sector.</li>
<li>Alignment of impact investment with social enterprises is extremely necessary to facilitate sustainable development. Thus, policy advocacy is extremely necessary for increasing the financing for social inclusiveness.</li>
<li>According to UNGC, India has a potential of market <strong>opportunities of $1 trillion for companies</strong> working in sustainable development spaces and will generate employment for around 72 million people by 2030.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Enhanced Role of States:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Fourteenth Finance Commission</strong> has given more discretion to the states to utilise their untied resources from the share of central transfers.</li>
<li>Therefore, the role of states has become more instrumental in financing the priority areas for social sustainability.</li>
<li>Further, to achieve the objectives of social sustainability, India needs to augment public social sector spending with private sector participation.</li>
</ul>
<p>The economic growth story of India is marred by its present environmental and social conditions. Thus, financing of the SDGs will help to reduce the systemic risk and will give a higher financial rate of return. In order to confront the challenges of social sustainability, India needs to complement environmental and social priorities with development finance.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e0ffec;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the importance of social sustainability in India's growth story.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/social-sustainability'
	],
	(int) 9 => [
		'title' => 'The Big Picture - Multiple State Capitals & Governance',
		'catname' => 'Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Discussions',
		'desc' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f7csZaZYdu0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the <strong>AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020.</strong> The Bill intends to give shape to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/three-capitals-for-andhra-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>state government's plan of having three capitals</strong></a> &mdash; executive capital in Visakhapatnam, legislative in Amaravati and judicial in Kurnool.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the government, multiple state capitals will allow the development of several regions of the state and hence leading to inclusive growth.</li>
<li>However, previously the Andhra government had acquired around 30 thousand acres of land approximately from the farmers in and around the Amaravati region. So the decision of changing the capital may affect most of the farmers living out there.</li>
</ul>
<p>Apart from it, Andhra Pradesh government has reportedly <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/andhra-pradesh-to-scrap-legislative-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>decided to scrap the state&rsquo;s Legislative Council.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Multiple Capitals in a State</h3>
<p>Several states in India have separate judicial capitals i.e. their High Courts in the different districts rather than in their state capitals because of the historical reasons. For example, in Uttar Pradesh, while the state capital is Lucknow, the High Court is at Prayagraj. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, while the state capital is Bhopal, the High Court is at Jabalpur and in Gujarat, while the state capital is Gandhinagar, the High Court is at Ahmedabad.</p>
<h3>Multiple Capitals: Concerns</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Separation of executive and legislative capital can be challenging.</strong> In the Parliamentary system of government, which has been adopted in India, functions of the executive and the legislature are closely connected. For example, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>When the legislative assembly is in session, administrative officers are required all the time for the presentation of the bill, for briefing the ministers, etc.</li>
<li>When the legislative assembly is not in session, the decision making by the executive requires a lot of inputs from various sources including the legislators who are the representative of the people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Logistically difficult:</strong> The development of a region can be done through policy interventions like industrial policy. However, separating the capitals can be against the convenience of the administration as well as the people. Also, it will be logistically difficult to implement.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Scrapping of Legislative Council</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The legislative council of Andhra Pradesh was created in 1957 and was abolished in 1985. The Legislative Council in Andhra Pradesh was again revived in 2007, after the enactment of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Act, 2005.</li>
<li>The present government&rsquo;s argument for abolishing the legislative council, lack of support from the upper house, raises concerns.</li>
<li>The legislative council, like the Rajya Sabha, facilitates the representation of eminent professionals and experts who cannot face direct elections. It checks the hasty decisions on legislations.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note: Article 169:</strong> The Parliament can abolish a legislative council or create it if the legislative assembly of the concerned state passes a resolution by the special majority to that effect.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is not deemed as the amendment of the Constitution under Article 368.</li>
<li>It is passed as an ordinary bill ie it requires only a simple majority in the Parliament.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expenditure should be questioned:</strong> People should be empowered to question the government if the later takes the decision to implement huge capital expenditure which might not be financially prudent.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Having multiple capitals can have huge financial implications. Therefore, people should have the right to question the expenditure of the tax payer's money.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Empowering the local governments:</strong> Decentralization in the State should take place by empowering the local governments i.e. the Panchayats and Municipal Corporations which were constituted after the enactment of the 73<sup>rd</sup> and the 74<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act.</li>
<li><strong>Development through policy interventions:</strong> Multiple capitals should not be used as an instrument for the development of the region. The development of the region can be brought by making an investment in the manufacturing and service sectors, bringing different policies benefiting the farmers and ease of doing business, development of the infrastructure, development of the social-cultural institutions such as universities, hospitals, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Restructuring Legislative Council:</strong> Instead of abolition, the composition of the Upper House in the State should be restructured to include professionals like doctors, engineers, etc other than the teachers. It will help the Legislative Council to become the body of elders which will give professional advice to the government.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-multiple-state-capitals-governance'
	],
	(int) 10 => [
		'title' => 'Earth Hour',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Earth Hour was observed on 28<sup>th</sup> March, 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earth Hour is the<strong> World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)&rsquo;s</strong> annual initiative that began in 2007.</li>
<li>It is held <strong>every year on the last Saturday of March.</strong></li>
<li>It encourages people from more than 180 countries <strong>to switch off the lights from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm as per their local time.</strong></li>
<li>The idea is to <strong>refrain from the use of non-essential lighting to save energy</strong> in a symbolic call for <strong>environmental protection.</strong></li>
<li>Earth Hour has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action.</li>
<li><strong>Examples:</strong> It <strong>helped create</strong> a 3.5 million hectare <strong>marine-protected area in Argentina</strong> and <strong>ban all plastics in the Galapagos</strong> in 2014, <strong>plant</strong> 17 million<strong> trees in Kazakhstan, light up homes with solar power in India</strong> and the Philippines and push new legislation for the protection of seas and forests in Russia.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>WWF</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>world&rsquo;s leading conservation organization</strong> and works in more than 100 countries.</li>
<li>It was established in 1961 and is <strong>headquartered</strong> at Gland, <strong>Switzerland</strong></li>
<li>Its <strong>mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats</strong> to the diversity of life on Earth.</li>
<li>WWF collaborates at every level with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/coronavirus-covid19-pandemic-earth-hour-2020-india-sustainable-living-6335605/" 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/earth-hour'
	],
	(int) 11 => [
		'title' => 'GPS Data to Map Corona High-risk Zones',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation</strong> (BMC) has decided to use <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-visual-positioning-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Positioning System</strong></a> <strong>(GPS) data to map high-risk zones</strong> in the city and the number of positive cases in the wake of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic.</a></strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Till now, BMC had refrained from revealing details pertaining to <strong>COVID-19-afflicted</strong> patients to mitigate fear and prevent stigmatization.</li>
<li>However, with a spike in the numbers, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdown</strong></a> and quarantine violations, the civic body has decided to map the high-risk zones to alert citizens to stay away from these areas and follow lockdown instructions.</li>
<li>Ward officers will ensure <strong>mandatory home-delivery of essentials like medicines and grocery</strong> items to restrict citizens movement in these zones.</li>
<li><strong>Other initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>strengthen the healthcare facilities,</strong> final-year medical and nursing students will be drafted into its workforce and given charge of OPDs and administrative duties at various civic-run hospitals.</li>
<li>To <strong>decongest major hospitals</strong> and <strong>effectively use isolation beds</strong> for patients, BMC has decided to categorise patients based on the <strong>three categories-</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>asymptomatic patients below 55 years and without any co-morbidity.</li>
<li>asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients above 55 years.</li>
<li>symptomatic patients.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Positioning System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> Global Navigation Satellite System</strong> (GNSS), used to determine the ground position of an object.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>US-owned utility</strong> that provides users with <strong>positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Services Provided:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>civilian service </strong>is<strong> freely available</strong> to all users on a continuous, worldwide basis.</li>
<li>The <strong>military service</strong> is available to <strong>US and allied armed forces</strong> as well as<strong> approved Government agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other GNSS include <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union's</a> Galileo, Russia's GLONASS, China&rsquo;s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System </strong>and<strong> India&rsquo;s Navigation in Indian Constellation (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NavIC</a>).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Navigation in Indian Constellation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has been developed by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Space Research Organization</strong></a> (ISRO).</li>
<li>The <strong>main objective</strong> is to provide reliable position, navigation and timing services over India and its neighbourhood</li>
<li>It is named after Indian fishermen and navigators and will provide <strong>two types of services-</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Standard Positioning Service</strong> (SPS) is meant for the <strong>general public.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Restricted Service</strong> (RS) is an <strong>encrypted service meant for authorised users and agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Unlike the widely used <strong>GPS which includes 24 satellites, NavIC has 7 satellites</strong> and their range is within India and its adjoining regions extending up to 1,500 km from the country's border.</li>
<li>Technically <strong>satellite systems with more satellites provide more accurate positioning</strong> information.</li>
<li>However, compared to <strong>GPS which has a position accuracy of 20-30 metres,</strong> the <strong>NavIC is able to pinpoint location to an estimated accuracy of under 20 metres.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-civic-body-to-use-gps-data-to-map-corona-high-risk-zones-6339550/" 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/gps-data-to-map-corona-high-risk-zones'
	],
	(int) 12 => [
		'title' => 'IIT-B Designs UV Sanitiser',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Industrial Design Centre</strong> (IDC) of <strong>Indian Institute of Technology</strong> (IIT), <strong>Bombay</strong> has developed a <strong>portable UltraViolet (UV) sanitiser.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It can sterilise wallets, purses and other small items that are passed on from hand to hand.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UV sanitiser has been made <strong>using stainless steel kitchen containers and aluminium mesh</strong> and is in the <strong>proof-of-concept stage</strong> right now.</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s design is based on a study published in a journal PubMed, by the US National Library of Medicine.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The study demonstrates how <strong>ultraviolet C Light can inactivate Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/novel-strain-of-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coronavirus</a>, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) Virus and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nipah-outbreak-in-kerala" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nipah Virus</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objects might be carriers of the viruses</strong> and sanitising gel cannot be used on every object humans come in contact with like papers, files, currency notes and phones.</li>
<li><strong>Other contributions by IDC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IDC is also working on projects on sanitising bigger surfaces and working on different models.</li>
<li>The institute has also been making its own <strong>cotton masks,</strong> which are <strong>double-layered and washable.</strong></li>
<li>IDC has also<strong> collaborated with a company called Applied Systems</strong> to <strong>manufacture face shields using helmet visors.</strong></li>
<li>IIT also <strong>developed apps</strong> to help<strong> keep quarantine violations in check.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>viral haemorrhagic fever</strong> usually transmitted by ticks.</li>
<li>It can also be<strong> contracted through contact with viraemic animal tissues</strong> (animal tissue where the virus has entered the bloodstream) during and immediately post-slaughter of animals.</li>
<li>CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services as the virus can lead to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>epidemics</strong></a>, with a<strong> high case fatality ratio</strong> (10-40%).</li>
<li>CCHF is endemic in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light).</li>
<li>There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings, confusion, depression and liver enlargement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Treatment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>General supportive care with treatment of symptoms is the main approach to managing CCHF in people.</li>
<li>The<strong> antiviral drug ribavirin</strong> has been used to treat CCHF infection with apparent benefit. Both oral and intravenous formulations seem to be effective.</li>
<li>There are<strong> no vaccines widely available for human or animal use.</strong> In the absence of a vaccine, the only way to reduce infection in people is by raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/innovations-to-fight-covid-19-iit-b-designs-uv-sanitiser-that-can-sterilise-wallets-purses-small-items-6339606/" 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/iit-b-designs-uv-sanitiser'
	],
	(int) 13 => [
		'title' => 'Lockdown Made Kaveri and Tributaries Cleaner',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the strict enforcement of 21-day lockdown due to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a> pandemic has <strong>reduced the pollution in Kaveri river and its tributaries.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the Board will test the water samples at the regional laboratory in Mysore under the national programme <strong>&lsquo;Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources'</strong> and <strong>Global Environmental Monitoring Scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Untreated sewage</strong> from residential areas;<strong> pollutants from industries; religious waste material</strong> from pilgrims, and <strong>construction debris</strong> had been polluting the rivers.</li>
<li>These rivers were flowing with <strong>hazardous elements such as lead, fluoride, faecal coliform, and some suspended solids</strong> in highly dangerous quantities.</li>
<li>The prohibition of industrial and religious activities has helped in reducing pollution levels in the rivers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Kaveri River</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Kaveri is a <strong>sacred river</strong> of southern India. It <strong>rises in the Brahmagiri range of the Western Ghats</strong> and <strong>falls in the Bay of Bengal</strong> south of Cuddalore, in Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>It <strong>forms</strong> the <strong>sacred islands</strong> of <strong>Srirangapatna and Shivanasamudra</strong> and <strong>Shivanasamudra falls</strong> and also<strong> a wide delta.</strong></li>
<li>Total Length of the river is about 760 km.</li>
<li>Its main tributaries are <strong>Amravati, Bhavani, Hemavati, Kabini, Shimsha, and Lakshmana Tirtha.</strong></li>
<li>It's basin drains parts of <strong>Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was introduced in 1975 at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.</li>
<li>It is a global operation that collects information to better understand and protect the Earth&rsquo;s environment.</li>
<li>This effort is made with the cooperation of other countries, who contribute data to the GEMS.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources (MINARS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>MINARS is a National Programme of monitoring national aquatic resources.</li>
<li>It was started in 1984, with a total of 113 stations spread over 10 river basins.</li>
<li>The present network comprises 870 stations on rivers, lentic water bodies and subsurface waters.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/cauvery-tributaries-in-old-mysuru-region-look-cleaner-as-pandemic-keeps-pollution-away/article31210429.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/lockdown-made-kaveri-and-tributaries-cleaner'
	],
	(int) 14 => [
		'title' => 'NRIs Can Invest in Specified Government Securities',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/important-institutions-national-institution-reserve-bank-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong></a> has introduced a separate channel called<strong> Fully Accessible Route (FAR)</strong> to enable non-residents to invest in specified Government of India dated securities with effect from April 1.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The move follows the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/union-budget-2020-21-highlights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Union Budget</strong></a> announcement that certain specified categories of government securities would be opened fully for non-resident investors without any restrictions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Specified securities&rsquo;</strong> shall mean Government Securities as periodically notified by the Reserve Bank for investment under the FAR route.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The RBI has said that <strong>all new issuances of Government securities (G-secs)</strong> of 5-year, 10-year, and 30-year tenors will be eligible for investment as specified securities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Non Resident investors can invest in specified government securities <strong>without being subject to any investment ceilings.</strong></li>
<li>This scheme shall operate along with the two existing routes: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Medium Term Framework (MTF)</strong> for Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) in Central Government Securities (G-secs) and State Government Securities (SDLs) was introduced in October 2015.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>FPI consists of securities and other financial assets passively held by foreign investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Voluntary Retention Route (VRR)</strong> encourages Foreign Portfolio Investors to undertake long-term investments in Indian debt markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits of the Scheme</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will <strong>ease the access</strong> of non-residents to Indian government securities markets.</li>
<li>This would facilitate<strong> inclusion in global bond indices.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Being part of the global bond indices would help Indian G-secs <strong>attract large funds from major global investors,</strong> including pension funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This would also facilitate<strong> inflow of stable foreign investment</strong> in government bonds.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Security</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A G-Sec is a<strong> tradable instrument</strong> issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.</li>
<li>It acknowledges the Government&rsquo;s debt obligation. Such securities are <strong>short term</strong> (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year- presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 364 day) or<strong> long term</strong> (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).</li>
<li>In India, the <strong>Central Government issues both treasury bills and bonds or dated securities</strong> while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).</li>
<li>G-Secs carry practically <strong>no risk of default</strong> and, hence, are called risk-free <strong>gilt-edged instruments.</strong></li>
<li>Gilt-edged securities are high-grade investment bonds offered by governments and large corporations as a means of borrowing funds.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/nris-can-now-invest-in-specified-govt-bonds/article31211477.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/nris-can-invest-in-specified-government-securities'
	],
	(int) 15 => [
		'title' => 'Withdrawal from EPF Accounts',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Union Ministry of Labour and Employment</strong> has notified an <strong>amendment to the Employees&rsquo; Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme</strong> allowing members to withdraw non-refundable advance amounts in the wake of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The notification amends the EPF Scheme, 1952 by inserting Sub-Para (3) under Para 68L of the EPF Scheme, 1952.</li>
<li>This permits <strong>withdrawal not exceeding the basic wages and dearness allowance for three months or up to 75% of the PF balance, whichever is lower,</strong> in the event of outbreak of epidemic or pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Earlier, non-refundable advances were permitted only for specified purposes</strong> such as housing and marriage. Even these were permitted only where the employee has put in a minimum service period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since <strong>the outbreak of COVID-19 had been declared a pandemic</strong> for the entire country, all employees of establishments and factories in India who are members of the EPF scheme would be eligible for the amended scheme.</li>
<li>Recently, the Finance Minister &mdash; as part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</strong></a> &mdash; said that the government will bear the<strong> cost of the provident fund contributions, both of the employer and employees&mdash;12% each&mdash;for the next three months</strong> for those establishments which have up to <strong>100 employees </strong>and<strong> 90% of whom are earning less than ₹15,000 per month as salary.</strong> It also relaxed withdrawal conditions from EPF accounts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Funds Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>EPF is the main scheme under the <strong>Employees&rsquo; Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Act, 1952.</strong> This scheme offers the institution of provident funds for factory employees and other establishments.</li>
<li>The employee and employer each contribute 12% of the employee&rsquo;s basic salary and dearness allowance towards EPF.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Economic Survey 2016-17</strong> had suggested that employees be allowed to choose whether or not to save 12% of their salary into EPF or keep it as take home pay.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per current laws, a person mandatorily becomes a member of EPF if his monthly <strong>salary does not exceed Rs. 15,000.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rules-for-relaxation-in-withdrawal-criteria-from-epf-accounts-notified-6336761/" 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/withdrawal-from-epf-accounts'
	],
	(int) 16 => [
		'title' => 'Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Human Resource Development',
		'catname' => 'Paper 2',
		'desc' => '<h3>Important Schemes and Policies</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/draft-education-policy-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Draft National Education Policy, 2019</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Seeks to address the challenges of: (i) access, (ii) equity, (iii) quality, (iv) affordability, and (v) accountability faced by the current education system.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Key Highlights</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Extending the RTE Act to include early childhood education and secondary school education, thereby extending the coverage of the Act to all children between the ages of three to eighteen years. Currently, the RTE Act provides for free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of six to fourteen years.</li>
<li>There should be no detention of children till class eight. Instead, schools must ensure that children are achieving age-appropriate learning levels.</li>
<li>State Census Examinations for students of classes three, five and eight to track students&rsquo; progress throughout their school experience.</li>
<li>To reduce the stress levels of students, the Committee recommended restructuring the board examinations to test only core concepts, skills and higher order capacities.</li>
<li>Restructuring of higher education institutions into three types: (i) research universities focusing equally on research and teaching; (ii) teaching universities focusing primarily on teaching but conducting significant research as well; and (iii) colleges focusing only on teaching in undergraduate education.</li>
<li>Setting up of the National Higher Education Regulatory Authority which would replace the existing individual regulators in higher education, including professional education.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-innovative-learning-programme-dhruv" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Program (DHRUV)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nishtha-teachers-training-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NISHTHA &ndash; National Initiative for School Heads&rsquo; and Teachers&rsquo; Holistic Advancement</strong> </a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To improve learning outcomes at the elementary level through an Integrated Teacher Training Programme.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/equip-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A five-year vision plan aiming at ushering transformation in India&rsquo;s higher education system by implementing strategic interventions in the sector over five years (2019-2024).</li>
<li>Sets out to deliver further on principles of Access, Inclusion, Quality, Excellence and enhancing employability in Higher Education.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-higher-education-quality-mandate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Deeksharambh</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a Student Induction Programme aimed to help new students feel comfortable and get accustomed to the new environment by inculcating in them the ethos and culture of the institution.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/paramarsh-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PARAMARSH</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A scheme to mentor institutions seeking National Assessment and Accreditation Council accreditation.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/institutions-of-eminence-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Institutions of Eminence (IoE)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>10 institutions in public sector and 10 institutions in private sector have been declared as IoE.</li>
<li>Each Public institute (IoE) will be eligible to receive Rs. 1000 crore during next 5 years.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Scheme for Transformational and Advanced Research in Sciences (STARS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Launched in February, 2019. To be implemented, monitored and managed by IISc, Bangalore.</li>
<li>For promoting translational, India-centric research in Sciences.</li>
<li>With the key objective of supporting socially relevant research, the following 6 basic thrust domains have been identified: Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Nanosciences, Data Sciences &amp; Mathematics and Earth Sciences.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rashtriya-uchchatar-shiksha-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a centrally<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> sponsored scheme launched</strong></a> in October 2013 that aims at providing strategic funding to higher education institutions throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/impactful-policy-research-in-social-science-impress" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Impactful Policy Research in Social Science (IMPRESS)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To support social science research in the higher educational institutions and to enable research to guide policymaking.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>SWAYAM 2.0</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Launch of SWAYAM 2.0 with enhanced features and facilities.</li>
<li>To offer Online Degree Programmes through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-10th-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SWAYAM</strong></a> by Top Ranking Universities.</li>
<li>SWAYAM 1.0 was Launched in July 2017 with the Objectives of equal access to quality education, increase GER in Higher Education from 26 to 30 in next 5 years.</li>
<li><strong>Key Features of SWAYAM 2.0 &ndash;</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Higher Scalability and Performance</li>
<li>Enhanced features for faculty and students</li>
<li>Improved assessment and evaluation</li>
<li>Internationalisation</li>
<li>Translation to Indian languages</li>
<li>Local chapters and mentors</li>
<li>Offering of On-line Degrees</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SWAYAM PRABHA-</strong> DTH Educational Channels: For telecasting high quality educational programs through 32 DTH channels on 24x7 basis to reach out to student/learners of India with wide reach and minimal cost.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shreyas-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>For providing industry apprenticeship opportunities to the general graduates exiting in April 2019 through the National Apprenticeship Promotional Scheme (NAPS).</li>
<li>The program aims to enhance the employability of Indian youth by providing &lsquo;on the job work exposure&rsquo; and earning of stipend.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-educational-alliance-for-technology-neat-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PPP Model between MHRD and EdTech companies for offering Adaptive and personalized learning through Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the students with specific emphasis on students from economically and socially backward regions.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/stride" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for India&rsquo;s Developing Economy (STRIDE)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Launched in July 2019 for promoting quality research by faculty and creation of new knowledge.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/shagun-integrated-online-junction-for-school-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Online junction for School Education &lsquo;Shagun&rsquo;</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an over-arching initiative to improve school education system by creating a junction for all online portals and websites relating to various activities of the Department of School Education and Literacy in the Government of India and all States and Union Territories.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The GIS based mapping portal gives information about location of more than 15 lakh schools in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) 2.0</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Diksha Portal was launched in 2017 for providing digital platform to teachers giving them an opportunity to learn and train themselves and connect with teacher community. This initiative has been taken forward to enhance coverage and improve the quality of e-content for teachers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Performance Grading Index (PGI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To objectively evaluate the performance of the school education system in the States/UTs, MHRD has designed a 70 indicators based matrix called Performance Grading Index (PGI) to grade the States and UTs.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-digital-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Operation Digital Board (ODB)</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The aim is to provide by March 2023, two smart classrooms for every secondary/senior secondary school.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Body</h3>
<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/higher-education-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Higher Education Financing Agency</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) was incorporated in 2017 as a joint venture of MHRD and Canara Bank with agreed equity participation in the ratio of 91% and 9% respectively.</li>
<li>Its objective is to finance the creation of capital assets in premier educational institutions in India.</li>
<li>HEFA finances for HEIs, KVs, NVs, AIIMS and other educational institutions of the Ministry of Health.</li>
<li>It is registered under Section 8 [ Not-for-profit] under the Companies Act 2013 as a Union Govt company and as Non&ndash;deposit taking NBFC-ND with RBI.</li>
<li>Aims to fund projects to the tune of Rs. 100,000 crore by 2022.</li>
</ul>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-human-resource-development'
	],
	(int) 17 => [
		'title' => 'Covid-19 And Collective Action',
		'catname' => 'News Editorials',
		'desc' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-deep-void-in-global-leadership/article31200881.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The deep void in global leadership&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 30/03/2020. It talks about the lack of global collective action in combating Covid-19.</p>
</div>
<p>Within a few months of inception of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a>, the virus has affected almost all the countries around the world killing thousands of people. It has caused and will continue to cause severe damages to the global economy.</p>
<p>Moreover, this millennium has already <strong>suffered three pandemics</strong> (Namely Swine Flu in 2009, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)) and Covid-19 may not be the last. Yet, the global community has failed to develop a comprehensive, concerted plan of action, to combat this terror.</p>
<p>The G20 leaders have agreed to<strong> inject $5-trillion into the world economy</strong> to partially counter the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/regulatory-bodies-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>devastating economic impact of the pandemic</strong></a>, but a global war against the virus will require much more global collective efforts.</p>
<p>This is because, as long as the virus is alive in some corner of the world, it can strike back and turn into a pandemic again. Further, national shutdowns have saved lives from the assault of Covid-19, but it poses the risk of losing lives to starvation and malnutrition, somewhere in the world if adequate steps were not taken.</p>
<p>However, global collective action has been until now remained inadequate.</p>
<h3>Reasons for the Lack of Inadequate Collective Actions</h3>
<p>Two developments in the global polity in the last few years have contributed to the indifference towards collective global action.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rise of Protectionism :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This ideology propounds that <strong>&lsquo;global good&rsquo; is in conflict with and inimical to national interests.</strong></li>
<li>For example, in accordance with America First policy, U.S. President Trump, in June 2017, that the U.S. will cease involvement from the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1585569358686000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHZnyc6XLHL5v2nDJrzShmQoBndag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Accord on climate change</strong></a>, on the ground that the accord will &lsquo;undermine U.S. economic interest&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Similarly, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-in-climate-change-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change negotiation at COP-25</strong> </a>hasn't resulted in anything and failed talks on the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WTO Doha round negotiations.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decline of Multilateral Institutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United Nations (the outcome of the shared vision of the world leaders after World War II, that collective action is the only way forward to prevent the occurrence of another war) has been criticised, for not living up to its expectations to maintain peace among nations in the nearly 80 years since its formation. For example, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-syria-crisis-us-backs-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Syrian Crisis.</strong></a></li>
<li>Also, the UN's affiliate organisations have few drawbacks in their functioning.</li>
<li>In particular, World Health Organisation (WHO), which has as its objective to be the directing and coordinating authority among member countries in health emergencies, has proven to be too lethargic in reacting to pandemics in the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is due to this, world leaders are overwhelmed with their own national challenges and do not appear inclined to view the pandemic as a common enemy against mankind.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, China delayed reporting the virus to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and perhaps, in the process, contributed to the exacerbation of the spread of the virus across the globe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Steps To Be Taken</h3>
<p>The typical response by all affected nations has been to impose <strong>&lsquo;National distancing&rsquo;</strong> by closing borders. While this is no doubt, a most appropriate response, there is a much bigger and emergent need for leaders of nations to come together for collective global action. In this context:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a need for a global institution that is not burdened with bureaucracy and can work on war footing to combat such global emergencies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G20, with co-option of other affected countries, itself might serve the purpose for the present.</li>
<li>Further, the collective action should ensure that shortages of drugs, medical equipment and protective gear do not come in the way of any nation&rsquo;s capacity to contain or fight the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to establish protocols, among participating countries to ensure seamless logistics for the supply chain for essential goods and services to function efficiently.</li>
<li>There needs to be an instantaneous exchange of authenticated information on what clinical solutions have succeeded and what has not.</li>
<li>The best way to ensure speedy research is to<strong> pool global resources.</strong> This may bring some acceptable commercial solution that adequately incentivises private research while ensuring benefits being available to the entire world at affordable costs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such a framework might be necessary for sustained collaborations for future challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There is a need to facilitate easy movement of trained health professionals across the world to train others and augment resources wherever there are shortages.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In other words, nations should come together to organise a global army to fight the pandemic, equipped with the best weapons and tools.</li>
<li>For example, Cuba has sent a team of 50 doctors to Italy, in order to help the country in dealing with Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India's decision to convene a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries (to discuss emergency plans in wake of Covid-19)</strong></a> stands out in contrast to the indifferent leadership around the world. This may catalyse the collective global action to deal with the global emergency of Covid-19.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>PESTEL Analysis: Measures To Be Taken</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Political:</strong> A global emergency requires global collective action.</li>
<li><strong>Economical:</strong> Economic stimulus package for tackling economic disruption caused by the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Social:</strong> Social distancing and national distancing hold the key, but much more needs to be done.</li>
<li><strong>Technological:</strong> Global collaboration in research and development, so that a vaccine can be developed as soon as possible.</li>
<li><strong>Legal:</strong> Effective implementation is important to the success of measures like lockdown.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f5f4d7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Global emergencies require global collective action. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'postdate' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-collective-action'
	],
	(int) 18 => [
		'title' => 'Flexibility Under the FRBM Act',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the State government of <strong>Kerala has sought flexibility under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(FRBM) Act.</a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is to ensure that fiscal stimulus in the wake of COVID-19 does not get deterred by FRBM considerations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons for Seeking Flexibility</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to Kerala&rsquo;s current fiscal position, Kerala can borrow about ₹25,000 crore during the financial year 2020-21.</li>
<li>Kerala has announced an<strong> emergency relief package of worth Rs. 20,000 crore</strong> to mitigate the impact on livelihoods and overall economic activity from the sweeping steps taken to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, including the latest 21-day nationwide lockdown.</li>
<li>The State has proposed to borrow as much as ₹12,500 crore from the market at the start of the financial year (April -March).</li>
<li>The government is concerned that the stringent<strong> borrowing cap under the fiscal responsibility laws should not constrain its borrowing and spending ability</strong> over the remaining 11 months.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the 11 months, the government will have to take not only COVID-19 mitigation measures but would also have to meet other expenditure for routine affairs related to the running of the State&rsquo;s socio-economic programmes as well as the post pandemic recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>FRBM Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was enacted in <strong>August 2003.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to make the Central government responsible for ensuring inter-generational equity in fiscal management and long-term macro-economic stability.</li>
<li>The Act envisages the <strong>setting of limits on the Central government&rsquo;s debt and deficits.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It limited the fiscal deficit to 3% of the GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To ensure that the States too are financially prudent, the 12th Finance Commission&rsquo;s recommendations in 2004 linked debt relief to States with their enactment of similar laws. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The States have since enacted their own respective <strong>Financial Responsibility Legislation</strong>, which sets the same <strong>3% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) cap on their annual budget deficits.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also mandates <strong>greater transparency in fiscal operations</strong> of the Central government and <strong>the conduct of fiscal policy in a medium-term framework.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Budget of the Union government includes a <strong>Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement</strong> that specifies the annual revenue and fiscal deficit goals over a three-year horizon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The rules for implementing the Act were notified in July 2004. The rules were amended in 2018, and most recently to the setting of <strong>a target of 3.1% for March 2023.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The NK Singh committee</strong> (set up in 2016) recommended that the government should target a fiscal deficit of 3% of the GDP in years up to March 31, 2020 cut it to 2.8% in 2020-21 and to 2.5% by 2023.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Relaxation under the FRBM Act</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Escape Clause:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under <strong>Section 4(2) of the Act,</strong> the Centre can exceed the annual fiscal deficit target citing certain grounds.</li>
<li>The grounds include <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National security, war</li>
<li>National calamity</li>
<li>Collapse of agriculture</li>
<li>Structural reforms</li>
<li>Decline in real output growth of a quarter by at least three percentage points below the average of the previous four quarters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The lockdown could cause severe contraction in economic output and the COVID-19 pandemic could be considered as a national calamity.</li>
<li>Also, the government has already made the use of escape clause this year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Instances of the FRBM Norms been Relaxed in the Past</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>During the<strong> Budget 2020-21</strong> presentation: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> reductions in corporate tax</strong> were cited as <strong>structural reforms</strong> that triggered <strong>the escape clause.</strong> This implies that this year the government has already made use of the escape clause</li>
<li><strong>This enabled the government to adjust the fiscal deficit target</strong> for 2019-20 to 3.8%, from the budgeted 3.3%.</li>
<li>It was also cited that the impact of the reforms would also necessitate a reset for 2020-21: from the earlier deficit target of 3% to 3.5%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the<strong> global financial crisis in 2008-09:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre resorted to a focused fiscal stimulus: tax relief to boost demand and increased expenditure on public projects<strong> to create employment and public assets,</strong> to counter the fallout of the global slowdown.</li>
<li>This led to the fiscal deficit climbing to 6.2%, from a budgeted goal of 2.7%.</li>
<li>Simultaneously,<strong> the deficit goals for the States too were relaxed</strong> to 3.5% of Gross State Domestic Product(GSDP) for 2008-09 and 4% of GSDP for fiscal 2009-10.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/coronavirus-why-has-kerala-sought-a-relaxation-of-fiscal-responsibility-and-budget-management-rules/article31194488.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/flexibility-under-the-frbm-act'
	],
	(int) 19 => [
		'title' => 'Himalayan Ibex a Distinct Species',
		'catname' => 'News Analysis',
		'desc' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study by scientists of the <strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)</strong> has proved that <strong>Himalayan Ibex is a distinct species from the Siberian Ibex.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study was funded through the <strong>National Mission on Himalayan Studies.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The National Mission on Himalayan Studies is<strong> implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It targets to provide much needed focus, through holistic understanding of system's components and their linkages, in addressing the key issues relating to conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study was based on<strong> genetic analysis</strong> conducted with the inclusion of the sequences available from all across the distribution ranges of Siberian Ibex.</li>
<li>The study revealed that <strong>Siberian Ibex was estimated to have diverged from Alpine Ibex during the Pleistocene epoch</strong> (2.4 million years ago) rather than during the Miocene-Pliocene boundary (6.6 million years ago).</li>
<li>Scientists presume that the <strong>&lsquo;montane systems&rsquo;,</strong> formed by a series of climatic oscillations and temporal topographic metamorphosis, <strong>have broken up the contiguous distribution of the species</strong> and accelerated <strong>allopatric speciation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Allopatric speciation</strong> means speciation because of geographic and reproductive isolation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The study also reveals that Siberian ibex is a<strong> polytypic species,</strong> plausibly formed by lumping of at least 2 species and or 3 to 4 sub-species.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Polytypic species</strong> are species that contain two or more subspecies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica)<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585562016_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1585562016_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Siberian Ibex is a species of <strong>wild goat.</strong></li>
<li>It is distributed in <strong>diverse habitats,</strong> ranging from <strong>cold deserts, rocky outcrops, steep terrain, high-land flats and mountain ridges to low mountains and foothills.</strong></li>
<li>From <strong>Mongolia,</strong> its distribution extends towards<strong> Altai, Hangai, Gobi-Altai, the Hurukh mountain ranges</strong> as well as <strong>Sayan Mountains near Russia</strong> and scattered populations in the small mountains of <strong>Trans-Altai Gobi.</strong></li>
<li>In Asia, Ibex is distributed in the <strong>Montane habitats,</strong> ranging in elevations from 500 m to 6,700 m in countries like India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Southern Siberia and China.</li>
<li>Its<strong> IUCN status</strong> is <strong>least concerned.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Himalayan Ibex (Capra sibirica hemalayanus)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier the <strong>Himalayan Ibex</strong> was regarded as a subspecies of the Siberian Ibex<em> (Capra sibirica)</em></li>
<li>The Himalyan Ibex is distributed mainly in the <strong>trans-Himalayan ranges</strong> of the <strong>Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ZSI was established on 1<sup>st</sup> July, 1916. It has its genesis in the establishment of the<strong> Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta</strong> in 1875.</li>
<li>It is headquartered at<strong> Kolkata.</strong></li>
<li>It functions under the Ministry <strong>of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It acts as the premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the country.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/himalayan-ibex-a-distinct-species/article31201581.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/himalayan-ibex-a-distinct-species'
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