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Dairy Sector and Climate Change

Why in News The dairy industry has been a subject of intense debate in recent years, fueled by climate change crisis concerns worldwide as well as...

03 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Hunger Hotspots Report : FAO-WFP

Why in News Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) released a report named Hunger Hotspots -...

03 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Demand for Import of Genetically Modified Soy Seeds

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New Frog Species: Minervarya Pentali

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Adverse Impacts of Food Fortification

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03 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Skyglow: Light Pollution

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03 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Fossil Fuel And Policy Dilemma

This article is based on The agenda for Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri which was published in The Indian Express on 30/08/2021. It talks...

02 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Delhi-Alwar RRTS Project

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02 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
‘Ashwagandha’ in Covid-19 Recovery

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e-RUPI: Voucher Based Digital Payment System

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02 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Pangolin

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02 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Ozone Levels Exceeding Permitted Levels

Why in News Recently, a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study has found that ozone levels are exceeding the permitted levels even during...

02 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Core Sectors Output

Why in News Output at India’s eight core sectors grew by 8.9% in June 2021 largely due to Base Effect but the pace remained below the...

02 Aug 2021 GS Paper - 3
Reforms Based and Results Linked Scheme: DISCOMs

Why in News This Union cabinet has recently approved a Reforms-based and Results-linked, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The scheme requires...

31 Jul 2021 GS Paper - 3
Credit Growth for MSMEs

Why in News According to a report from TransUnion Cibil and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), there has been a growth in the credit...

31 Jul 2021 GS Paper - 3
36th India-Indonesia CORPAT

Why in News The 36th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (India-Indonesia CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy is being...

31 Jul 2021 GS Paper - 3
Biotech-PRIDE

Why in News Recently, Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion of Research and Innovation through Data Exchange) Guidelines was released by the Department of...

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Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Why in News Recently, Rajya Sabha has passed the Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to bring changes in the legislation aimed at helping...

30 Jul 2021 GS Paper - 3
Near-Surface Shear Layer of the Sun

Why in News Recently, Indian astronomers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), and Indian Institute of Science,...

30 Jul 2021 GS Paper - 3
Kendu Leaf

Why in News Recently, several children were seen collecting kendu (Tendu) leaves in Odisha’s Kalahandi district. Key...

30 Jul 2021 GS Paper - 3

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		'title' => 'Dairy Sector and Climate Change ',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>dairy industry has been a subject of intense debate</strong> in recent years,<strong> fueled by climate change crisis concerns</strong> worldwide <strong>as well as the advancement of various plant-based alternatives</strong> claiming to be more sustainable replacements.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the help of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-milk-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>White Revolution</strong></a>, India has transitioned from a <strong>milk-deficient country to the largest producer of milk globally.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Anand model (Amul)</strong>, which has been replicated across the country, boosted milk production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Harvesting animals for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-of-dairy-sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dairy and animal-based products</strong></a> is crucial for <strong>food security, poverty alleviation and other social needs.</strong></li>
<li>However, there are <strong>harmful consequences of animal harvesting on climate.</strong></li>
<li>Further, <strong>animal rearing has been criticized heavily by</strong> non-profit organisations like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jallikattu-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)</strong></a>, for performing cruelty against animals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Dairy Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Economic Dependence:</strong> Harvesting animals for dairy and animal-based products in India is a major source of livelihood for <strong>150 million dairy farmers.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The dairy sector accounts for <strong>4.2% of the national gross domestic product.</strong></li>
<li>Dairy sector is the <strong>second-largest employment sector</strong> after agriculture in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Importance:</strong> Dairy products are a <strong>rich source of essential nutrients</strong> that contributes to a healthy and nutritious diet. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With demand for high-quality animal sourced protein increasing globally, the dairy sector is well placed to contribute to <strong>global food security and poverty reduction through the supply of dairy products.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Dairy Sector on Climate Change:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>GHG Emission:</strong> Agriculture contributes approximately <strong>16% of India&rsquo;s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions</strong> which is released by cattle during dairy farming. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Methane from animal waste contributes about 75% of the total GHG emissions of the dairy sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed an anti-methanogenic feed supplement <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-methanogenic-feed-supplement-harit-dhara" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Harit Dhara&rsquo;</strong></a> <strong>(HD)</strong>, which can cut down cattle methane emissions by 17-20% and can also result in higher milk production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The three major GHGs emitted from agri-food systems, namely<strong> methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Pressure on Natural Resources:</strong> With this increasing demand for dairy, there is growing pressure on natural resources, including freshwater and soil.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Multinational companies such as Nestle and Danone have been accused of <strong>promoting water-intensive dairy industry</strong> in Punjab and the neighbouring states, which is fast depleting groundwater.</li>
<li>Unsustainable dairy farming and feed production can lead to the<strong> loss of ecologically important areas, such as wetlands, and forests.</strong></li>
<li>The alarming loss of biodiversity is attributed to water- and energy-intensive crops needed to feed the cattle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Growing Demand:</strong> Global demand for dairy continues to increase in large part due to <strong>population growth, rising incomes, urbanization and westernization of diets</strong> in countries such as China and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Others Arguments Against Dairy Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cruelty Against Animals:</strong> Despite guidelines for appropriate handling of cattle, cruel practices continue unabated to boost production efficiencies as demand for dairy and meat continues to grow. These include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Artificial insemination,</li>
<li>Widespread use of growth hormones (oxytocin) to boost milk production,</li>
<li>Slaughter of male calves,</li>
<li>Abandoning cattle that are sterile,</li>
<li>Selling livestock to slaughterhouses and tanneries when they can no longer produce milk, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Zoonotic Diseases:</strong> Animal exploitation through animal farming, destruction of natural habitats, livestock-associated deforestation, hunting and trading of wildlife are the leading cause of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>zoonotic diseases</strong></a> caused by germs that spread between animals and humans.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The novel <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic</strong></a> is the latest in the long list of such diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Food Adulteration:</strong> Milk and milk products in India are not free from adulteration. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></a> report revealed the presence of aflatoxin M1 and hormone residues in them beyond permissible limits through unregulated feed and fodder.</li>
<li>This led to a variety of lifestyle diseases in humans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Proposed Alternative:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Veganism:</strong> Veganism is a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and replace it with plant-based products.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In developed countries, the vegan movement is gaining momentum due to ecological and health benefits of plant-based food including milk.</li>
<li>PETA is promoting <strong>vegan alternatives to replace animal-based foods.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism of Veganism:</strong> Amul and its supporters argue that PETA&rsquo;s moves may be a ploy for multinational companies to promote synthetic milk and genetically modified seeds through a misinformation campaign.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They have raised questions about the suitability of chemical-laden, lab-produced plant-based milk for human consumption.</li>
<li>Further, FSSAI notified that the word &lsquo;milk&rsquo; cannot be used for plant-based dairy alternatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Alternate Employment &amp; Social Forestry:</strong> With livelihoods of 150 million at stake, policymakers will need to <strong>identify alternative employment opportunities</strong> for the displaced masses. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Large-scale <strong>social forestry</strong> could be an answer to address this fall-out, with positive consequences to the planet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Dairy Practices:</strong> There is a need to proactively ramp up sustainable dairy practices, which may include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to reduce emission intensity of milk, the sector needs to urgently act to realize the existing potentials for GHG emission reduction<strong> through technological and farm best practices interventions and solutions.</strong></li>
<li>Fostering changes in production practices that <strong>protect carbon sinks (grasslands and forest)</strong> by targeting drivers linked to degradation of natural ecosystems, agricultural expansion and deforestation.</li>
<li>Reducing its demand for resources by better integrating livestock into the <strong>circular bio-economy.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This can be achieved by<strong> recycling and recovering nutrients</strong> and energy from animal waste.</li>
<li><strong>Closer integration of livestock with crops and agro-industries</strong> at various scales to make use of low value and low-emission biomass.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/climate-change/climate-crisis-way-forward-for-dairy-giants-in-india-78226" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9072,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Hunger Hotspots Report : FAO-WFP',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/42nd-session-of-fao-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)</strong></a> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Programme (WFP)</strong></a> released a report named <strong>Hunger Hotspots - August to November 2021.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 2021 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/food-crisis-amid-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Food Crises Report</strong></a> released in May 2021 had already warned of acute food insecurity, soaring to a five-year high, <strong>pushing at least 155 million people into acute food insecurity in 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Major Hunger Hotspots:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, northern Nigeria and Yemen are among 23 countries where <strong>acute food insecurity will worsen from August through November, 2021.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Ethiopia and Madagascar</strong> are the world's newest <strong>"highest alert"</strong> hunger hotspots.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ethiopia faces a devastating food emergency linked to ongoing conflict in the Tigray region.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, in southern Madagascar the <strong>worst drought in 40 years</strong> is expected to push <strong>28,000 people into famine-like conditions</strong> by the end of 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Factors causing food insecurity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Violence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Population displacement, abandonment of agricultural land, loss of life and assets, disruption of trade and cropping and loss of access to markets<strong> caused by conflicts can worsen food insecurity.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Violence is predicted to intensify</strong> in Afghanistan, Central Sahel, the Central African Republic etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Violence is also likely to<strong> disrupt access to humanitarian assistance.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pandemic Shocks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2020, almost all low- and middle-income countries were affected by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pandemic</a>-induced</strong> economic downturns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Natural Hazards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Extreme weather conditions and climate variability are likely to affect several parts of the world during the outlook period.</li>
<li>In <strong>Haiti,</strong> for instance, <strong>reduced precipitation during the main growing season</strong> ended May is likely to have impacted yield. Continued below-average rainfall, on the hand, is likely to reduce yield during the main rice-growing season.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/swarm-of-desert-locust" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Desert Locust</strong> </a>infestation was a major worry in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/conflict-over-nile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Horn of Africa</strong></a> at the beginning of July 2021, while other regions were unaffected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor humanitarian access:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Humanitarian access is limited in various ways, including <strong>administrative/bureaucratic impediments, movement restrictions, security constraints and physical constraints</strong> related to the environment.</li>
<li>Countries currently facing the most significant obstacles, preventing aid from reaching those who need it most are <strong>Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Short-term Interventions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Short-term protective interventions</strong> be implemented before new humanitarian needs materialise and immediate actions are to be taken for <strong>addressing existing humanitarian requirements. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Integration of policies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Integrate <strong>humanitarian, development and peacebuilding policies in conflict areas &ndash;</strong> for example, through <strong>social protection measures</strong> to prevent families from selling meagre assets in exchange for food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Resilience:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scale-up climate resilience across food systems by <strong>offering smallholder farmers wide access to climate risk insurance</strong> and forecast-based financing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthen Resilience:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable to economic adversity through in-<strong>kind or cash support programmes</strong> to lessen the impact of pandemic-style shocks or food price volatility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Step in Ensuring Food Security</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Mission:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims <strong>to increase production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and commercial crops,</strong> through area expansion and productivity enhancement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-garib-kalyan-ann-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY):</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aimed at providing each person who is covered under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Act 2013</strong></a> with an additional 5 kg grains (wheat or rice) for free, in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain already provided through the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System (PDS).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-nation-one-ration-card-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Nation One Ration Card</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will address the poor state of hunger in India, as highlighted by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-hunger-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Hunger Index</strong></a>, where India has been ranked 102 out of 117 countries</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-year-of-pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It intends<strong> to supplement the financial needs of the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs)</strong> in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of each crop cycle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above is mandated to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FAO is a specialized agency of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-food-day-1#:~:text=About%20World%20Food%20Day%3A,Together.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Day</strong></a> is celebrated every year on <strong>16<sup>th</sup> October</strong> to mark the anniversary of the founding of the<strong> FAO in 1945.</strong></li>
<li>It is one of the <strong>UN food aid organisations based in Rome (Italy).</strong> Its sister bodies are the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Programme</strong> </a>and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>World Food Programme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the<strong> leading humanitarian organization</strong> saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was award the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-peace-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nobel Peace Prize for 2020</strong></a> for its efforts to combat hunger</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was founded<strong> in 1961 by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)</a></strong> and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)</strong> </a>with its headquarters in Rome, Italy.</li>
<li>WFP focuses on <strong>emergency assistance as well as rehabilitation and development aid.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two-thirds of its work is in conflict-affected countries, where people are three times more likely to be undernourished than elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa/these-countries-need-urgent-action-to-beat-famine-deaths-in-the-next-4-months-fao-78219" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'hunger-hotspots-report-fao-wfp',
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		'tag' => 'GS Paper - 3',
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	(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9068,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Demand for Import of Genetically Modified Soy Seeds',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>poultry industry is demanding</strong> a permit for the<strong> import of crushed genetically modified (GM) soy seeds for captive consumption of farmers</strong> from the Central government.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Non-fiscal and fiscal relief measures</strong> which include the restructuring of term loans and additional working capital <strong>has also been demanded</strong> from the Centre and State governments.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627984288_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627984288_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>GM Crops:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>GM or transgenic crop</strong> is a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, a GM crop can contain a gene(s) that has been artificially inserted instead of the plant acquiring it through pollination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conventional plant breeding</strong> involves crossing of species of the same genus to provide the offspring with the desired traits of both parents.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Genus is a class of items such as a group of animals or plants with similar traits, qualities or features.</li>
<li><strong>Cross breeding</strong> can take a long time to achieve desired results and frequently, characteristics of interest do not exist in any related species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/bt-cotton-in-india-problems-and-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bt cotton</strong></a> is the <strong>only GM crop that is allowed in India.</strong> It has alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common pest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maharashtra-to-take-emergency-measures-to-tackle-pink-bollworm-pbw" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pink bollworm.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Herbicide Tolerant Bt (Ht Bt) cotton,</strong> on the other hand is derived with the insertion of an additional gene, from another soil bacterium, which allows the plant to resist the common herbicide glyphosate.</li>
<li>In<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illegal-cultivation-of-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Bt brinjal</strong></a>, a gene allows the plant to resist attacks of fruit and shoot borers.</li>
<li>In <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/gm-mustard" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DMH-11 mustard</strong></a>, genetic modification allows cross-pollination in a crop that self-pollinates in nature.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status of GM Soyseeds in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India allows the import of <strong>GM soybean and canola oil.</strong></li>
<li>Import of<strong> GM soya bean seeds</strong> has not been approved in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main fear is that import of GM soya bean will<strong> affect the Indian soya bean industry by contaminating non-GM varieties.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Demand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The outbreak of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong> </a>has created a massive crisis which led to an<strong> initial depletion of demand in chicken products</strong> owing to false news about the linkage between the virus and poultry products.</li>
<li>This created an<strong> unwarranted financial crisis</strong> and led to the erosion of<strong> working capital (used for day-to-day operations).</strong></li>
<li>Since the last several months, high speculation activities in soya contracts on <strong>National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX)</strong> has been disturbing the sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The NCDEX is an online commodities exchange dealing primarily in agricultural commodities in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> rise in the soybean process</strong> had led to the<strong> skyrocketing of prices of eggs and chicken products</strong> in the retail market.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The import for the particular time frame will stabilise the raw material market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Approval Process for GM crops in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)</strong></a> is the apex body that <strong>allows for commercial release of GM crops.</strong></li>
<li>Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract <strong>a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh</strong> under the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environment-protection-act-1986" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment Protection Act, 1986.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></a> is the authorised body to <strong>regulate the imported crops in India. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Some Related Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Poultry Venture Capital Fund (PVCF):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying</strong> is implementing it under <strong>&ldquo;Entrepreneurship development and Employment generation&rdquo;</strong> (EDEG) of the <strong>National Livestock Mission.</strong></li>
<li>It is a bankable programme and the Central Government is providing subsidy through <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-bank-for-agriculture-and-rural-development-nabard" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD)</strong> </a>for those beneficiaries taking loan for PVCF.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Livestock Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Different programmes under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-livestock-sector-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Livestock Mission</strong></a> under which financial assistance is provided to States/Union Territories for implementation of Rural Backyard Poultry Development (RBPD) and Innovative Poultry Productivity Project (IPPP).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ASCAD under <strong>&ldquo;Livestock Health and Disease Control&rdquo; (LH&amp;DC)</strong> which covers the <strong>vaccination of economically important poultry diseases</strong> viz., Ranikhet Disease, Infectious Bursal Disease, Fowl Pox etc., including control and containment of emergent and exotic diseases like Avian Influenza.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/poultry-industry-seeks-extension-of-loans-import-of-gm-soybean/article35666545.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9065,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'New Frog Species: Minervarya Pentali',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <strong>new frog species was discovered in the Western Ghats</strong> and named after former DU Vice-Chancellor and plant geneticist Deepak Pental.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627983251_image8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627983251_image8.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new frog species named <strong>Minervarya Pentali</strong> belongs to the <strong>family of Dicroglossidae.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>family Dicroglossidae</strong> comprises<strong> 202 species of semiaquatic frogs</strong> distributed by the<strong> tropical and subtropical regions</strong> of <strong>Africa and Asia and Papua New Guinea.</strong></li>
<li>The family contains large-sized (e.g., genus Hoplobatrachus) and dwarf species, with a total length about 30 mm (e.g., genus Nannophrys).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was discovered from the <strong>Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot,</strong> extending along the <strong>southwest coast of the Indian Peninsula.</strong></li>
<li>This new species is<strong> endemic</strong> to the<strong> southern Western Ghats.</strong></li>
<li>This species is also among the<strong> smallest known Minervarya</strong> (genus) <strong>frogs.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Western Ghats</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are the<strong> mountain ranges</strong> running parallel <strong>along the western coast of India starting from Gujarat and ending in Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are the six Indian states covered by Western Ghats.</li>
<li>The mountain range is also a <strong>&ldquo;Hottest Hotspot&rdquo; of biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>The Ghats are often called the <strong>Great Escarpment of India</strong> and are also a<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UNESCO World Heritage Site.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>High Biodiversity and Endemism</strong> are special features of Western Ghats along with the presence of Evergreen Forests.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/du-researchers-discover-new-frog-species-name-it-after-renowned-plant-geneticist-7434402/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'new-frog-species-minervarya-pentali',
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		'tag' => 'GS Paper - 3',
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	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9062,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Adverse Impacts of Food Fortification',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a group of scientists and activists have warned the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong> </a>of the adverse impacts of <strong>Food Fortification</strong> on health and livelihoods.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>pushback against the Centre&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-of-food-fortification-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plan to mandatorily fortify rice</a> and edible oils</strong> with vitamins and minerals.</li>
<li>In order to fight chronic <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anaemia-in-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>anaemia</strong></a> and undernutrition, the government is making plans to distribute fortified rice through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/meal-scheme-hit-due-to-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Child Development Services</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/midday-meal-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mid Day Meal Schemes</strong> </a>across the country from the year 2021, with special focus on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aspirational-districts-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aspirational districts.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627981550_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627981550_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="576" height="432" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inconclusive Evidence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Evidence supporting fortification is inconclusive and certainly <strong>not adequate before major national policies are rolled out.</strong></li>
<li>Many of the <strong>studies</strong> which FSSAI relies on to promote fortification are <strong>sponsored by food companies who would benefit from</strong> it, leading to conflicts of interest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hypervitaminosis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recent studies published in the medical journal Lancet and in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition which show that both <strong>anaemia and Vitamin A deficiencies are overdiagnosed,</strong> meaning that mandatory fortification could lead to hypervitaminosis.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Hypervitaminosis</strong> is a condition of abnormally high storage levels of vitamins, which can lead to various symptoms such as<strong> over excitement, irritability, or even toxicity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Toxicity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One major problem with<strong> chemical fortification of foods is that nutrients don&rsquo;t work in isolation</strong> but need each other for optimal absorption. Undernourishment in India is caused by monotonous cereal-based diets with low consumption of vegetables and animal protein.</li>
<li>Adding one or two synthetic chemical vitamins and minerals will not solve the larger problem, and in undernourished populations can lead to toxicity.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A 2010 study that showed iron <strong>fortification causing gut inflammation and pathogenic gut microbiota profile</strong> in undernourished children.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cartelisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mandatory fortification would<strong> harm the vast informal economy of Indian farmers and food processors</strong> including local oil and rice mills, and instead benefit a small group of multinational corporations who will have sway over a Rs.3,000 crore market.</li>
<li>Just<strong> five corporations have derived most of the benefits of global fortification trends</strong> and these companies have historically engaged in cartelising behaviour leading to price hikes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> European Union</a> has been forced to fine these companies</strong> for such behaviour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decrease Value of Natural Food:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dietary diversity was a healthier and more cost-effective</strong> way to fight <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>malnutrition.</strong></a> Once iron-fortified rice is sold as the remedy to anaemia, <strong>the value and the choice of naturally iron-rich foods</strong> like millets, varieties of green leafy vegetables, flesh foods, liver, to name a few, <strong>will have been suppressed by a policy of silence.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Food Fortification</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=46af3b128c215065822d363716461e3bda556ba2-1603783779-0-AQqcs23ihmqDWEzYzOTw2ZLATgIFQrHLyN5UDI9GBGfKb9Nw6xIYXLD0XnsFATPLOkfD2ZIVKdPR85H55F206a0f9GZts0saMxAhtaEPfgrhVvdmt1OJXAitkoMUI1kseMQy2zf139HzrBNbjXjnkjBU32U9ZV4g6ZcJqRi9mMAB561nxsXTYQ0xvOeMKpygwOvzDwD6cY1egBaUEjw3iJqc0WkEBOK4028DSYOwSuMjadzLHFPyVwpmZfyb84dZ_dr_kapwYLQirV2MCCF_91vIO2eij1RpbJ84rCBMDccLERI_E41MmQ2Hyi8VIBPaivX75tTOX_KkU7jr1AiSBqM7_RWVPUCfXAZ1yOgXbbm9CrULYC20iLnBLuT4Svbjp8gM0xv_EFdmeQkDb7czMzhwQ1HyOsQDEG8WcmiBLdGEAdOptYKzCFHncq_6M6AK4kfz2ej8Z0A-FaqgYwTTguS-w7zQBxsYYuEqzXHLCZvQyaPk0J0L7oTP3t_7TlORsOWGsOmAKQ_ElyvspVavQfhx4e2CZca_3TK39T_rJuhMzKO4vZLIXkgIapT95fY5bq6P-bXz035wlU6WxMOy9lwYci1ShV8wMuy4ZWv5gJ6M8N_FYuwbkYHRpSRvLq1CWWQtrwb6ov9nCCg8AQrexBc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a>, food fortification is defined as the practice of <strong>deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients so as to improve the nutritional quality of the food</strong> supply and to provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health.</li>
<li>It can be noted that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nutrient-loss-in-wheat-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biofortification</strong> </a>differs from conventional food fortification in that <strong>biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth</strong> rather than through manual means during processing of the crops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Types: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Targeted:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Food fortification can be done for foods widely consumed by the general population (mass fortification), <strong>to fortify foods designed for specific population</strong> subgroups, such as complementary foods for young children or rations for displaced populations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Market-Driven:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To<strong> allow food manufacturers to voluntarily</strong> fortify foods available in the marketplace (market-driven fortification).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Procedure:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The extent to which a national or regional food supply is fortified varies considerably. The <strong>concentration of just one micronutrient might be increased</strong> in a single foodstuff (e.g. the iodization of salt), or, at the other end of the scale, there might <strong>be a whole range of food&ndash;micronutrient combinations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Interventions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>FSSAI Regulations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In October 2016, FSSAI operationalized the <strong>Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016</strong> for fortifying staples namely Wheat Flour and Rice (with Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid), Milk and Edible Oil (with Vitamins A and D) and Double Fortified Salt (with Iodine and Iron) to reduce the high burden of micronutrient malnutrition in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nutritional Strategy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s<strong> National Nutritional strategy, 2017,</strong> had listed food fortification as one of the interventions to address anaemia, vitamin A and iodine deficiencies apart from supplementation and dietary diversification.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Milk Fortification Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/milk-fortification-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Milk Fortification Project</strong></a> was launched by the <strong>National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)</strong> in collaboration with the World Bank and Tata Trusts, as a pilot project in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body<strong> established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).</strong></li>
<li>It has its <strong>headquarter in Delhi</strong> and its administrative <strong>Ministry is Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Framing of<strong> regulations to lay down the standards and guidelines</strong> of food safety.</li>
<li>Granting FSSAI<strong> food safety license and certification</strong> for food businesses.</li>
<li>Laying down<strong> procedure and guidelines</strong> for laboratories in food businesses.</li>
<li>To <strong>provide suggestions to the government</strong> in framing the policies.</li>
<li>To <strong>collect data regarding contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks</strong> and introduction of a rapid alert system.</li>
<li>Creating an <strong>information network across the country</strong> about food safety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/experts-raise-concerns-over-mandatory-fortification-of-food-items/article35685066.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9055,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Skyglow: Light Pollution',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent study has shown that the Skyglow forces dung beetles in the city to abandon the Milky Way as their compass, they rely instead on earthbound artificial lights as beacons.</p>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627965493_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627965493_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Skyglow:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Skyglow, is <strong>an omnipresent sheet of light across the night sky in and around cities that can block all but the very brightest stars from view.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>brightening of the night sky</strong> over inhabited areas because of streetlights, security floodlights and outdoor ornamental lights<strong> cause the Skyglow.</strong></li>
<li>This <strong>light floods directly into the eyes of the Nocturnal</strong> (active at night) and also into the skies and misleads their path.</li>
<li>'Skyglow' is<strong> one of the components of light pollution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Light Pollution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light &ndash;</strong> known as Light Pollution (LP) &ndash; can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife, and our climate.</li>
<li><strong>Components</strong> of light pollution include:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Glare:</strong> Excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort</li>
<li><strong>Skyglow:</strong> Brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas</li>
<li><strong>Light trespass:</strong> Light falling where it is not intended or needed</li>
<li><strong>Clutter:</strong> Bright, confusing and excessive groupings of light sources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>LP is <strong>a side effect of industrial civilization.</strong></li>
<li>Its<strong> sources</strong> include building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effects: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Wastes Energy and Money:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Lighting that emits too much light or shines when and where it&rsquo;s not needed is wasteful. Wasting energy<strong> has huge economic and environmental consequences.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disrupting the ecosystem and wildlife:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Plants and animals depend on <strong>Earth&rsquo;s daily cycle of light and dark rhythm to govern life-sustaining behaviors</strong> such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep and protection from predators.</li>
<li>Scientific evidence suggests that <strong>artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects</strong> on many creatures including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Ex:</strong> A study has now shown how nocturnal dung beetles are forced to search for cues in their immediate surroundings when they can no longer navigate using natural light from the night sky.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Harming human health:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Like most life on Earth, humans adhere to a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/day-light-saving#:~:text=Circadian%20rhythm%20is%20the%2024,awake%20and%20energized%20or%20tired." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Circadian Rhythm</strong></a> &mdash; <strong>our biological clock</strong> &mdash; a sleep-wake pattern governed by the day-night cycle. Artificial light at night can disrupt that cycle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The simple solution is to <strong>reduce animals&rsquo; experience of direct and indirect light pollution:</strong> turning off unnecessary lights at night.</li>
<li>Where lights cannot be turned off, they <strong>can be shielded</strong> so that they do not shed light into the surrounding environment and sky.</li>
<li>The International Dark-Skies Association has certified more than 130 <strong>&lsquo;International Dark Sky Places&rsquo;,</strong> where artificial lighting has been adjusted to reduce skyglow and light trespass. However, nearly all are in developed countries in the northern hemisphere.</li>
<li>Less-developed regions are often both species-rich and, currently, less light-polluted, presenting <strong>an opportunity to invest in lighting solutions</strong> before animals there are seriously affected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/skyglow-forces-dung-beetles-in-the-city-to-abandon-the-milky-way-as-their-compass-78217" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'skyglow-light-pollution',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9054,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Fossil Fuel And Policy Dilemma',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/petroleum-minister-climate-change-policy-dilemma-7433669/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The agenda for Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 30/08/2021. It talks about the policy challenges faced by India with respect to crude oil import and utilisation.</p>
</div>
<p>The spread and speed of the destruction caused by climate change presents the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-petroleum-natural-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas </strong></a>a<strong> policy dilemma, if not a moral one.</strong></p>
<p>Dilemma is how to redefine the supply-side priorities in the face of the imperatives of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atma Nirbharta (self Sufficiency)</strong></a> when about 85% fossil fuels are still imported.</p>
<p>Thus, there is a need to look into various measures that can be taken by the ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in order to bridge the demand supply gap.</p>
<h3>Issues Related to Crude Oil Management</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Balancing Environment With Extraction:</strong> Indian oil and gas industry leaders are faced with the twin challenge of responding to the<strong> changing environment, while sticking to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ndc-synthesis-report-unfccc#:~:text=Aims%3A%20To%20reduce%20global%20GHG,1.5%C2%B0C%20by%202100.&amp;text=Addressing%20the%20financial%20losses%20vulnerable,impacts%20such%20as%20extreme%20weather." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> commitment</a></strong> of reduction of fossil fuel consumption.</li>
<li><strong>Import Dependent:</strong> The Indian economy is dependent on fossil fuels and there is no discernible end in sight to this dependence. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India imports approximately 85% of its crude oil requirements and is exposed to the volatility of the international oil market.</li>
<li>Moreover, a major chunk comes from the Middle East, predominantly <strong>Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran,</strong> which faces deep political and social fault lines and there is no knowing when our supply lines might get ruptured.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues With Exploration:</strong> There have been few substantive commercial discoveries in recent years, in large part because the bulk of the reserves are in <strong>complex geological structures and harsh terrain</strong> (Himalayan foothills or deep waters offshore). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are difficult to find but even when found, the costs incurred are often so high that except in market conditions of high prices, the discovery is not commercially viable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Structural Challenges:</strong> In 2021 structural changes are brought by the <strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong> Some are mentioned in the Graph1.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627902532_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627902532_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="615" height="179" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rationalise Domestic Exploration:</strong> India should scale up the harnessing of its indigenous petroleum resources by intensifying exploration, but resources indulged in it should be properly managed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the exploration has its own challenges, after rationalisation the resources earmarked for exploration can be deployed more productively elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improving The Productivity And Efficiency:</strong> Companies such as ONGC should allocate increasing resources to improving the productivity of its producing fields. The average oil recovery rate in India is around 28%. That is, for every 100 molecules discovered, only 28 are monetised. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The global average is around 45% for fields of comparable geology.</li>
<li>The recovery rate may be better today but if there is still a wide gap, the application of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/increasing-domestic-oil-production#:~:text=Enhanced%20Oil%20Recovery%20(EOR)%20is,the%20viscosity%20of%20the%20oil." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)</a> technology</strong> offers a relatively low-risk avenue for increasing domestic production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need For a Contingency Plan:</strong> India currently has strategic reserves equivalent to 12 days of imports. The government has approved plans to increase this buffer to 25 days. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By comparison, China, the EU, South Korea and Japan hold between 70-100 days of reserves.</li>
<li>This should be done by constructing a cavern in Jamnagar, the entrepot that receives approximately 60% of our crude oil imports and is well connected through tanks and pipelines to the hinterland refineries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Restructure And Reorganise Public Sector Petroleum Companies:</strong> The upstream assets should be consolidated under ONGC (the upstream assets of BPCL, IOC, HPCL, and GAIL should pass onto ONGC) and GAIL should be changed into a public utility gas pipeline company. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This restructuring will help <strong>cut back the &ldquo;avoidable&rdquo; costs</strong> of intra-public sector competition, <strong>reduce the inefficiencies of &ldquo;sub scale&rdquo;</strong> operations and provide a focused platform for balancing the shorter-term need to provide secure and affordable hydrocarbons with the medium and longer-term imperative of developing clean energy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Search For Alternatives:</strong> These companies should be encouraged to look beyond hydrocarbons to build an<strong> &ldquo;<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-renewable-energy-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green energy</a>&rdquo; enterprise.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Looking for other alternatives such as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>methanol based economy and biomass.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Thus, all stakeholders should not work through the siloed prism of oil and natural gas. They should broaden the aperture and become the progenitor of the energy transition.</p>
<p>The dilemma referred to in the opening sentence will be easier to resolve if priorities are developed within the framework of clean energy.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627902555_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627902555_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2fff2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>There is an urgent need to look into various measures that can be taken by India in order to bridge the demand supply gap. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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		'article_id' => (int) 9053,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Delhi-Alwar RRTS Project',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court</strong></a>-Appointed Committee has permitted construction of a stretch of the proposed Delhi-Alwar <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ndb-loan-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RRTS (Rapid Rail transit system)</strong> </a>corridor under the <strong>Aravalli <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/biodiversity-park-in-uttarakhand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biodiversity Park</a></strong> and the extended ridge area.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Committee&rsquo;s Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The committee observed that the <strong>project is in public interest</strong> and since the proposed rail corridor will run <strong>20 metres below the ground,</strong> trees will not have to be cut.</li>
<li>There will be<strong> no construction on the surface</strong> in the Morphological Ridge area.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>A ridge</strong> or a mountain ridge is a geographical feature consisting of a <strong>chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated</strong> crest for some distance.</li>
<li>The Aravalli <strong>ridge areas,</strong> which are essentially extensions of the Aravalli ranges and extend over 7,000 hectares in Delhi, are<strong> considered the lungs of the capital (Delhi).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delhi-Alwar RRTS Corridor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is<strong> a 164-km rapid rail corridor,</strong> which will be a mix of <strong>elevated tracks and tunnels.</strong> It is slated to be implemented in three phases.</li>
<li>A 3.6-km stretch of the corridor is supposed to pass below the extended or <strong>&lsquo;morphological&rsquo;</strong> ridge in South Delhi. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>1.7-km of the 3.6-km stretch under consideration will pass below the<strong> Aravalli Biodiversity Park</strong> near Vasant Kunj, Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Corridor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Travel Time:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is expected to reduce travel time <strong>between these places to 117 minutes &ndash; a little less than two hours.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Air Quality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is expected to <strong>improve the air quality in Delhi/NCR</strong> (National Capital Region), because the share of public transport is expected to increase.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ease in Road Traffic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Road<strong> traffic congestion is expected to ease with a better transport network</strong> and the project is expected to address regional connectivity issues and develop an efficient multimodal transport system connecting Delhi-NCR with road, rail and air.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Aravalli Biodiversity Park</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is developed on 699 acres of land <strong>located in South Delhi</strong> near Vasant Vihar.</li>
<li>The area is<strong> highly degraded</strong> due to past mining and infested with <strong>Prosopis juliflora</strong> (an Invasive Shrub). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> biodiversity of Delhi is nearly extinct.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>prime objective of ABP is to bring back the lost biodiversity of Delhi Aravallis.</strong> The other objective of ABP is to promote nature education among students and create environment awareness among the public.</li>
<li>It is also <strong>helping in preserving the threatened medicinal plants of the Aravallis.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-alwar-rrts-project-in-public-interest-sc-panel-report-7432167/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9051,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '‘Ashwagandha’ in Covid-19 Recovery',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>India and the UK</strong> have collaborated to conduct<strong> a study on &lsquo;Ashwagandha (AG)&rsquo; for promoting recovery from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>After the <strong>trial&rsquo;s success, &lsquo;Ashwagandha&rsquo; will be a proven medicinal treatment</strong> to prevent infection and be recognised by the <strong>scientific community worldwide.</strong></li>
<li>This is the<strong> first time that the Ministry of Ayush</strong> has <strong>collaborated with a foreign institution to investigate its efficacy on Covid-19 patients.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627898695_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627898695_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Ashwagandha:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ashwagandha<strong> (Withania somnifera)</strong> is a medicinal herb. It is reputed as an immunity enhancer.</li>
<li>It is classified as<strong> an adaptogen,</strong> which means that it can<strong> help the body to manage stress.</strong></li>
<li>Ashwagandha also boosts brain function and lowers blood sugar and helps fight symptoms of anxiety and depression.</li>
<li>Ashwagandha has shown clinical success in<strong> treating both acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)</strong> is an autoimmune disease that can<strong> cause joint pain and damage throughout your body.</strong></li>
<li>An autoimmune disease is a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Potential of Ashwagandha:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The study suggests Ashwagandha as a potential therapeutic candidate for <strong>alleviating the long-term symptoms of Covid-19.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, a number of <strong>randomised placebo-controlled trials</strong> of AG in humans in India had demonstrated its efficacy in reducing anxiety and stress, improving muscle strength and reducing symptoms of fatigue in patients treated for chronic conditions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A randomized controlled trial is a prospective, comparative, quantitative study/experiment performed under controlled conditions with random allocation of interventions to comparison groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Clinical Trials:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Clinical trials in humans are classified into three phases: <strong>phase I, phase II and phase III</strong> and in certain countries formal regulatory approval is required to undertake any of these studies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>phase I clinical studies</strong> carry out <strong>initial testing of a vaccine in small numbers (e.g. 20) of healthy adults,</strong> to test the properties of a vaccine, its tolerability, and, if appropriate, clinical laboratory and pharmacological parameters. Phase I studies are primarily concerned with safety.</li>
<li><strong>Phase II studies involve larger numbers of subjects</strong> and are intended to provide preliminary information about a vaccine&rsquo;s ability to produce its desired effect (usually immunogenicity) in the target population and its general safety.</li>
<li><strong>Extensive phase III</strong> trials are required to fully assess the protective efficacy and safety of a vaccine. The phase III clinical trial is the pivotal study on which the decision on whether to grant the licence is based and sufficient data have to be obtained to demonstrate that a new product is safe and effective for the purpose intended.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-uk-to-conduct-clinical-trials-of-ashwagandha-for-promoting-recovery-from-covid-19/article35662451.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9050,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'e-RUPI: Voucher Based Digital Payment System',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Indian government is going to launch an electronic voucher based digital payment system<strong> e-RUPI.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are already many<strong> countries using the voucher system</strong> for example the <strong>US, Colombia, Chile, Sweden, Hong Kong,</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>e-RUPI</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627896916_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627896916_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>e-RUPI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> cashless and contactless method for digital payment.</strong> It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-teacher-prize-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Quick Response (QR) code</strong> </a>or SMS string-based e-voucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the users.</li>
<li>The users will be able to <strong>redeem the voucher without needing a card, digital payments app, or internet banking access,</strong> at the service provider.</li>
<li>It connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital mode <strong>without any physical interface.</strong></li>
<li>The mechanism also <strong>ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed.</strong></li>
<li>The system is<strong> pre-paid</strong> in nature and hence, <strong>assures timely payment to the service provider</strong> without the involvement of any intermediary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Different from Virtual Currency:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In effect, <strong>e-RUPI is still backed by the existing Indian rupee</strong> as the underlying asset and specificity of its purpose makes it different to a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bitcoins" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> virtual currency</strong></a> and puts it closer to a <strong>voucher-based payment system.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issuing Entities &amp; Beneficiary Identification:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The one-time payment mechanism has been developed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-digital-transactions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Payments Corporation of India</strong> </a>on its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-digital-payment-system-outside-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unified Payments Interface (UPI)</strong></a> platform, in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare, and National Health Authority.</li>
<li>It has boarded<strong> banks that will be the issuing entities.</strong> Any corporate or government agency will have to approach the partner banks, which are both private and public-sector lenders, with the details of specific persons and the purpose for which payments have to be made.</li>
<li>The <strong>beneficiaries will be identified using their mobile number and a voucher allocated by a bank</strong> to the service provider in the name of a given person would only be delivered to that person.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Uses:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Government Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is expected to<strong> ensure a leak-proof delivery of welfare services</strong> and can also be <strong>used for delivering services under schemes</strong> meant for providing drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare schemes, drugs &amp; diagnostics under schemes like<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana</strong></a>, fertiliser subsidies etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Private Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Even the private sector can leverage these digital vouchers as part of their employee welfare and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corporate-social-responsibility-csr-expenditure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)</strong> </a>programmes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government is already working on developing a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-to-introduce-digital-currency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Bank Digital Currency</strong></a> and the launch of e-RUPI could <strong>potentially highlight the gaps in digital payments infrastructure</strong> that will be necessary for the success of the future digital currency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Future of Digital Currency in India:</strong> According to 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>, there are at least<strong> four reasons why digital currencies are expected to do well in India: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increasing Penetration:</strong> There is<strong> increasing penetration of digital payments</strong> in the country that exists alongside sustained interest in cash usage, especially for small value transactions.</li>
<li><strong>High Currency to GDP Ratio:</strong> India&rsquo;s high currency to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a> ratio holds out another benefit of CBDCs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cash-to-GDP Ratio</strong> or Currency in Circulation (CIC) to GDP Ratio or simply currency-to-GDP ratio shows the value of cash in circulation as a ratio of GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Spread of Virtual Currencies:</strong> The spread of private virtual currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum may be yet another reason why CBDCs become important from the point of view of the central bank.</li>
<li><strong>Will Act as a Cushion:</strong> Central bank digital currencies might also<strong> cushion the general public in an environment of volatile private virtual currencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-e-rupi-digital-currency-india-pm-modi-7433637/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9048,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Pangolin',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a pangolin was rescued by a team from Noida and handed over to the forest department.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627893930_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627893930_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The pangolin, also called <strong>scaly anteater,</strong> is an elongated, <strong>armour-plated insectivore mammal.</strong></li>
<li>It uses these <strong>scales</strong> as armour to defend itself against predators by rolling into a ball when threatened.</li>
<li>Also, a pangolin&rsquo;s <strong>long claws</strong> help it to dig the ground for termites, which is its staple food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Species of Pangolin:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Seven species of pangolin are found across the world, of which,<strong> two are found in India,</strong> namely<strong> Indian pangolin</strong> <em>(Manis crassicaudata)</em> and <strong>Chinese pangolin</strong> <em>(Manis pentadactyla).</em></li>
<li>The Indian Pangolin is found throughout the country <strong>south of the Himalayas, excluding the north-eastern region</strong> while the Chinese Pangolin ranges through <strong>Assam and the eastern Himalayas.</strong></li>
<li>The Chinese pangolin is distinguished from other Asian pangolins by its almost helmeted appearance, smaller scales than the Indian pangolin.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is adaptable to a wide range of habitats including primary and secondary tropical forests, limestone and bamboo forests, grasslands and agricultural fields.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Once known to be found in large numbers, its population is rapidly declining in its range due to habitat loss and rampant poaching for its skin, scales, and meat.</li>
<li>It is <strong>a highly trafficked mammal;</strong> due to their huge demand for medicinal purposes, pangolins are smuggled through roads and rails and sent to China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list#:~:text=status%20of%20species.-,The%20International%20Union%20for%20Conservation%20of%20Nature,It%20is%20headquartered%20in%20Switzerland." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a>, the pangolin is part of the &ldquo;red list&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While the <strong>Indian pangolin is listed as &ldquo;endangered&rdquo;</strong> and the <strong>Chinese pangolin has been listed as &ldquo;critically endangered&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>All pangolin species are<strong> listed in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix I.</a></strong></li>
<li>In India, pangolins, both Indian and Chinese, are <strong>protected under Schedule 1 of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wildlife-protection-act-wpa-1972#:~:text=Wildlife%20(Protection)%20Act%2C%201972,101%20National%20Parks%20in%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.</a></strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Therefore, hunting, trade or any other form of utilisation of the species or their body parts and derivatives is banned.</li>
<li>In India, hunting and poaching can invite prison time up to 7 years since it involves maximum protection under the section of the Wildlife Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/pangolin-found-wandering-on-noida-roads-rescued-7432752/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9047,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Ozone Levels Exceeding Permitted Levels',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study</strong> has found that<strong> ozone levels are exceeding the permitted levels even during winter in Delhi-NCR,</strong> making the <strong>smog more &ldquo;toxic&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the pandemic and lockdowns, more days and locations witnessed higher and longer duration of ozone spells.</li>
<li>CSE is a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ozone</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ozone (composed of three atoms of oxygen)</strong> is a gas that occurs both in the Earth&rsquo;s upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ozone can be &ldquo;good&rdquo; or &ldquo;bad&rdquo; for health and the environment, depending on its location in the atmosphere.</li>
<li>The<strong> &lsquo;good&rsquo; ozone</strong> present in the <strong>earth&rsquo;s stratosphere layer</strong> protects human beings from<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ultraviolet-light-and-viruses#:~:text=UV%20radiation%27s%20full%20spectrum%20is,more%20harmful%20the%20UV%20radiation." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> harmful Ultraviolet (UV)</strong> </a>radiation whereas the <strong>ground level ozone is highly reactive</strong> and can have <strong>adverse impacts on human health.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ground level ozone is dangerous for those suffering from respiratory conditions and asthma.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Smog</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Smog is air pollution<strong> that reduces visibility.</strong></li>
<li>The term "smog" was first used in the early 1900s to describe<strong> a mix of smoke and fog.</strong></li>
<li>The smoke usually came <strong>from burning coal.</strong> Smog is common in <strong>industrial areas, and remains a familiar sight in cities today.</strong> Today, most of the smog we see is <strong>Photochemical Smog.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Photochemical smog is produced <strong>when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx)</strong> and at <strong>least one volatile organic compound (VOC) in the atmosphere.</strong></li>
<li>Nitrogen oxides come from <strong>car exhaust, coal power plants, and factory emissions.</strong> VOCs are released from<strong> gasoline, paints, and many cleaning solvents.</strong> When sunlight hits these chemicals, they form <strong>airborne particles and ground-level ozone - or smog.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Now a Year-round Menace:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Contrary to the notion that Ozone is a summer phenomenon, it has been found that gas has emerged as an equally strong concern during winter as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Occasional Exceedance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>city-wide average largely remains within the standard with just occasional exceedance.</strong> But the &lsquo;good&rsquo; category days have fallen to 115 days in 2020, which is 24 days less than in 2019 in Delhi.</li>
<li>A location-wise analysis shows that<strong> exceeding the eight-hour average standard is quite widely distributed</strong> in the city.</li>
<li><strong>Even smaller towns of NCR,</strong> including Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and Bhiwani in Haryana, <strong>appeared in the top 20 list of ozone-afflicted towns and cities.</strong> South Delhi locations dominate the list with four mentions in top 10.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The study shows that the <strong>transport sector is the highest contributor to NOx and VOCs,</strong> hence there is <strong>a need to take strong action on these high emitters</strong> of NOx and VOCs including vehicles and other industries.</li>
<li>Ozone levels are <strong>found to be exceeding the mark of 100 &mu;g/m<sup>3</sup></strong> even during winter and are <strong>highly sensitive to solar radiation.</strong> Reducing the gases <strong>will also reduce secondary particles</strong> formed from these gases.</li>
<li>Ozone is now a round-the-year problem that is urgent and the situation<strong> demands refinement of a clean air action plan</strong> to add strategies for ozone mitigation, with stronger action on vehicles, industry and waste burning.</li>
<li>It is<strong> important to calibrate AQI (Air Quality Index)</strong> to report the most polluted eight-hour average of the day, ideally making it an hourly alert. Also the current practice of only city averaging needs to change to include alerts based on the worst affected area as is the global good practice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Development of the National AQI</strong> for public information under the aegis of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). AQI has been developed for eight pollutants viz. PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.</li>
<li>The introduction of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-bs-vi-emission-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BS-VI vehicles</strong></a>, push for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/electric-vehicles-evs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>electric vehicles</strong></a> (EVs), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/health-emergency-in-new-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Odd-Even</strong></a> as an emergency measure and construction of the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways to reduce vehicular pollution.</li>
<li>Implementation of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/grap-to-be-enforced-in-delhi-ncr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Graded Response Action Plan</a> (GRAP)</strong> to tackle the rising pollution in the Capital. It includes measures like shutting down thermal power plants and a ban on construction activities.</li>
<li>Launch of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-lists-cities-with-no-clean-up-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Clean Air Programme</strong> </a>(NCAP): In order to deal with the issue of air pollution in a comprehensive manner at national level, the government came up with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) with the goal to meet average ambient air quality standards at all locations in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/ozone-levels-exceeding-permitted-levels-study/article35642777.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9044,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Core Sectors Output',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Output at India&rsquo;s eight core sectors<strong> grew by 8.9% in June 2021 largely due to Base Effect</strong> but the pace remained below the production levels seen before the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> pandemic as well as its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reasons-for-rising-covid-19-infections-second-wave" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>second wave.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Eight Core Sectors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These <strong>comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</strong></li>
<li>The eight core sector industries in decreasing order 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>
</li>
<li><strong>Base Effect:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The base effect <strong>refers to the effect that the choice of a basis of comparison or reference can have on the result</strong> of the comparison between data points.</li>
<li>For example, the base effect<strong> can lead to an apparent under- or overstatement of figures</strong> such as inflation rates or economic growth rates if the point chosen for comparison has an unusually high or low value relative to the current period or the overall data.</li>
<li>Production of coal, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement and electricity jumped by 7.4%, 20.6%, 2.4%, 25%, 4.3% and 7.2%, respectively, in June 2021, as against (-) 15.5%, (-) 12%, (-) 8.9%, (-) 23.2%, (-) 6.8% and (-) 10% in the same month last year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Index of Industrial Production:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IIP is an indicator that measures the changes in the volume of production of industrial products during a given period.</li>
<li>It is compiled and published monthly by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-statistical-organisation-survey-on-digital-education-divide" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Statistical Office (NSO),</strong> </a>Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.</li>
<li>It is a composite indicator that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified under:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Broad sectors,</strong> namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.</li>
<li><strong>Use-based sectors,</strong> namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Base Year</strong> for IIP is <strong>2011-2012.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Significance of IIP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, etc, for policy-making purposes.</li>
<li>IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GDP (Gross Domestic Product)</strong></a> estimates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/core-sectors-grew-89-in-june/article35640561.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9040,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Reforms Based and Results Linked Scheme: DISCOMs',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>This Union cabinet has recently approved a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revamped-distribution-sector-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Reforms-based and Results-linked, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The scheme requires that DISCOMs (Power Distribution Companies) submit<strong> detailed project reports (DPRs)</strong> on how they plan to reduce their operational losses to avail of funding.</li>
<li>Initially, the preliminary timeline given to discoms was 31st October 2021. It is now <strong>extended to 31<sup>st</sup> December 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scheme Objectives:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reduction of <strong>AT&amp;C</strong> (aggregate technical &amp; commercial) losses to pan-India levels of <strong>12-15%</strong> by 2024-25.</li>
<li>Reduction of <strong>ACS-ARR gap</strong> (i.e. between the total cost of electricity and revenues generated from supplying power) to zero by 2024-25.</li>
<li>Developing<strong> institutional capabilities</strong> for modern discoms.</li>
<li>Improvement in the <strong>quality, reliability, and affordability of power supply</strong> to consumers through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient Distribution Sector.</li>
<li>Implementation of the Scheme would be based on the <strong>action plan worked out for each state</strong> rather than a &ldquo;one-size-fits-all&rdquo; approach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Conditional Financial Assistance:</strong> The Scheme seeks to improve the<strong> operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of all DISCOMs</strong> (excluding Private Sector DISCOMs) by providing conditional financial assistance to DISCOMs for strengthening of supply infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Subsuming of Various Schemes:</strong> It is proposed that the currently ongoing approved projects under the following Schemes would be subsumed:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-power-development-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revamped-distribution-sector-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ujwal-discom-assurance-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY)</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP) 2015</strong> for the Union Territories of Jammu &amp; Kashmir (J&amp;K) and Ladakh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solarization of Agricultural Feeders:</strong> The Scheme has a major focus on improving electricity supply for the farmers and for providing daytime electricity to them through solarization of agricultural feeders.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This Scheme converges with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/annadata-to-urjadata" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM-KUSUM Scheme</strong></a>, which aims to solarize all feeders, and provide avenues for additional income to farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Smart Metering:</strong> A key feature of the Scheme is to enable consumer empowerment by way of prepaid<strong> Smart metering</strong> to be implemented in <strong>Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Smart meters</strong> would allow consumers to <strong>monitor their electricity consumption on a routine basis</strong> instead of monthly basis, which can help them in usage of electricity as per their own needs and in terms of the resources available.</li>
<li>It is proposed to install approximately <strong>10 crore prepaid Smart Meters by December, 2023 in the first phase.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leveraging Technology: <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artificial Intelligence</a></strong> would be leveraged to prepare system generated energy accounting reports.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will enable DISCOMs to take informed decisions on <strong>loss reduction, demand forecasting, Time of Day (ToD) tariff, Renewable Energy (RE)</strong> Integration and for other predictive analysis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/reform-based-scheme-discoms-get-till-dec-31-7431052/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9039,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Credit Growth for MSMEs',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a report from<strong> TransUnion Cibil and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI),</strong> there has been a growth in the credit outstanding amount of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/msme-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME)</strong></a> sector to Rs 20.21 lakh crore, with a <strong>year-on-year growth rate of 6.6%.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Even according to 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>, credit growth to micro and small industries accelerated to <strong>6.4% in June 2021,</strong> compared to a contraction of <strong>2.9% in 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Small Industries Development Bank of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>SIDBI set up in April 1990 under an Act of Indian Parliament, acts as the <strong>Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development</strong> of the MSME sector as well as for coordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>TransUnion CIBIL Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>credit information company operating in India.</strong> It maintains credit files on 600 million individuals and 32 million businesses.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Loans to MSMEs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/03-02-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Financial Year (FY)</strong></a> 2021, the country disbursed loans worth Rs 9.5 lakh crore to MSME sector, higher than preceding year of Rs 6.8 lakh crore in FY 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Outstanding Credit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MSME credit outstanding has grown by 6.6% in March&rsquo;21, with the <strong>micro segment growing the fastest at 7.4%</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Micro segment was followed by the<strong> small segment at 6.8% and medium segment at 5.8%. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sector Wise Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agriculture and Allied Activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Credit to agriculture and allied activities continued to perform well, registering an <strong>accelerated growth of 11.4% in June 2021,</strong> compared to 2.4% in June 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Industry:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Within industry, credit to food processing, gems &amp; jewellery, glass &amp; glassware, leather &amp; leather products, mining &amp; quarrying, paper &amp; paper products, rubber, plastic &amp; their products, and textiles registered <strong>high growth in June 2021.</strong></li>
<li>However, credit growth to all engineering, beverages &amp; tobacco, basic metal &amp; metal products, cement &amp; cement products, chemicals &amp; chemical products, construction, infrastructure, petroleum coal products &amp; nuclear fuels and vehicles, vehicle parts &amp; transport equipment <strong>decelerated or contracted.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Services:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Credit growth to the <strong>services sector decelerated to 2.9% in June 2021,</strong> from 10.7% in June 2020, mainly <strong>due to contraction in credit growth to commercial real estate, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/A%20nuanced%20understanding%20of%20the%20NBFC%20sector" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)</a> and tourism, hotels &amp; restaurants.</strong></li>
<li>Credit to <strong>trade segment continued to perform well,</strong> registering accelerated growth of 11.1% in June 2021 as compared to 8.1% a year ago.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Growth:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rise in credit offtake by MSMEs is due to a host of government initiatives like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/emergency-credit-line-guarantee-scheme-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)</strong></a> to tackle the economic downturn created by the<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Covid pandemic.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ECLGS scheme was launched as part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package</strong></a> announced in May 2020 to mitigate the distress caused by coronavirus-induced lockdown, by providing credit to different sectors, especially MSMEs</li>
<li>It&rsquo;s <strong>objective</strong> was to support small businesses struggling to meet their operational liabilities due to the imposition of a nationwide lockdown.</li>
<li>Recently, the government has<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-emergency-credit-line-guarantee-scheme-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> widened its scope to new sectors,</strong></a> including hospitality, travel and tourism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives for MSMEs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-minister-s-employment-generation-program#:~:text=Launch%3A%20The%20Government%20of%20India,as%20well%20as%20urban%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prime Minister&rsquo;s Employment Generation programme (PMEGP)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/scheme-of-fund-for-regeneration-of-traditional-industries" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-elixir-for-msmes-access-to-credit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry &amp; Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/pdf/support-and-outreach-initiative-for-msme-sector.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Interest Subvention Scheme for Incremental Credit to MSMEs</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pmegp-and-cgtmse" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/champions-portal-for-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CHAMPIONS portal</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-msmes-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MSME Samadhan</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627730062_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627730062_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="800" height="200" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/eclgs-unlocks-help-msme-credit-offtake-rise-6-6-in-fy21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9034,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '36th India-Indonesia CORPAT',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>36<sup>th</sup> edition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-indonesia-coordinated-patrol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol</a></strong> (India-Indonesia CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy is being conducted.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627719805_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627719805_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Naval Exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To reinforce maritime links, the two navies have been carrying out CORPAT along their <strong>International Maritime Boundary Line since 2002.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Indian Naval Ship (INS) Saryu,</strong> an indigenously built Offshore Patrol Vessel is participating in the 36<sup>th</sup> edition along with Maritime Patrol Aircraft, to forge strong bonds of friendship across the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo Pacific.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ensuring<strong> safety and security of shipping and international trade</strong> in the region.</li>
<li>CORPATs <strong>build up understanding and interoperability between navies</strong> and facilitate institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Line with SAGAR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As part of Government of India&rsquo;s vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision#:~:text=In%202015%2C%20India%20unveiled%20it%27s,in%20the%20Region%20(SAGAR).&amp;text=Through%20SAGAR%2C%20India%20seeks%20to,building%20their%20maritime%20security%20capabilities." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region)</strong></a>, the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region for coordinated patrols, cooperation in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)</strong> </a>surveillance, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>passage exercises</strong> </a>and bilateral/multilateral exercises.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main<strong> objective</strong> is towards enhancing regional maritime security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Military Exercises with Indonesia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-samudra-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Samudra Shakti</a>:</strong> A bilateral maritime exercise.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-samudra-shakti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Garuda Shakti</a>:</strong> A joint military exercise.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1740798" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9032,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Biotech-PRIDE',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion of Research and Innovation through Data Exchange)</strong> Guidelines was released by the <strong>Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Further, a website of<strong> Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC)</strong> was also launched.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biotech-PRIDE Guidelines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These guidelines envisage to<strong> bridge other existing biological datasets/data centres</strong> with the IBDC, which will be called<strong> Bio-Grid.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This Bio-Grid will be a <strong>National Repository for biological knowledge, information and data.</strong></li>
<li>Also, Bio-Grid will be responsible for <strong>enabling its exchange,</strong> developing measures for <strong>safety, standards and quality for datasets</strong> and establishing detailed <strong>modalities for accessing data.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These guidelines will be implemented through <strong>Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC).</strong></li>
<li>Currently, <strong>India ranks number 4</strong> amongst the top 20 countries contributing biological databases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Bio-Grid and its Advantages:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With a <strong>large population</strong> of over 135 crore and heterogeneous character of the country, India needs its <strong>own exclusive database for Indian research and solutions.</strong></li>
<li>This indigenous database will have a huge<strong> enabling mechanism for exchange and adoption of data by young scientists</strong> and researchers for the benefit of Indian citizens.</li>
<li>Sharing a wide range of large scale data advances the<strong> understanding of the molecular and biological processes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will contribute to<strong> human health, agriculture, animal husbandry,</strong> fundamental research and thus will extend to societal benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Advances in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-dna-technology-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DNA sequencing</strong></a> with a steep drop in DNA sequencing cost have enabled government agencies to fund research towards generation of large volumes of biological data in various sectors of <strong>Biosciences. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important Schemes and Policies Regarding Biotech: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1740712" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Biotech-KISAN Programme</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-science-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atal Jai Anusandhan Biotech Mission - Undertaking Nationally Relevant Technology Innovation (UNaTI)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-dna-technology-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DNA Technology Bill, 2019</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/genome-india-project-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Genome India Project</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1740712" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9028,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-rajya-sabha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rajya Sabha</strong></a> has passed the<strong> Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021</strong> to bring changes in the legislation aimed at helping the <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/micro-small-and-medium-enterprises-msme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)</a> sector.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It has incorporated many suggestions from the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-micro-small-and-medium-enterprises" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UK Sinha Committee.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Factoring business</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Factoring business is a business where an entity acquires the receivables of another entity for an amount. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Note that <strong>credit facilities provided by a bank against the security of receivables</strong> are not considered as factoring business.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Factor</strong> can be a <strong>bank, a registered non-banking financial company or any company registered under the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-the-companies-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Companies Act.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Receivables</strong> is the total amount that is owed or yet to be paid by the customers (referred as the debtors) to the assignor for the use of any goods, services or facility.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Key Provisions of the Bill:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Change in the Definitions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It amends the definitions of <strong>"receivables", "assignment", and "factoring business"</strong> to bring them at par with international definitions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relaxation to NBFCs&rsquo; Factoring Threshold:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The bill <strong>seeks to amend the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011 to widen the scope of entities</strong> which can engage in factoring business.</li>
<li>The current law which gave the Reserve Bank of India authority to allow non-bank finance companies to remain in factoring business only if it was their principal business. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>That is, <strong>more than half of assets were to be deployed and income earned from factoring business.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Bill removes this threshold</strong> and opens up the opportunity in this business to more non-bank lenders at a time small businesses are facing financial stress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>TReDS to Register Charges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Bill states that where <strong>trade receivables are financed through Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS),</strong> the details regarding transactions should be filed with the <strong>Central Registry by the concerned TReDS, on behalf of the factor.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>TReDS is an <strong>electronic platform for facilitating financing of trade receivables of MSMEs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>RBI to Regulate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It empowers <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> to make<strong> regulations for granting registration certificates to a factor, filing of transaction details</strong> with the Central Registry and all other matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No time-bound Registration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It<strong> removes the 30-day time period for the factors to register the details of every transaction</strong> entered by them. The registering authority for such transactions is the Central Registry setup under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/co-operative-banks-under-sarfaesi-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Allowing non-NBFC factors and other entities</strong> to undertake factoring is expected to <strong>increase the supply of funds</strong> available to small businesses.</li>
<li>This may<strong> result in bringing down the cost of funds and enable greater access</strong> to the credit-starved small businesses, ensuring timely payments against their receivables.</li>
<li>MSMEs will get the <strong>easier liquidity</strong> which will help in their operation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MSMEs are facing difficulty due to <strong>delay in receivables and this bill will help in ensuring smoother working capital cycle and healthier cash flow.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will <strong>liberalise the restrictive provisions in the Act</strong> and at the same time ensure that a strong regulatory/oversight mechanism is put in place through the RBI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UK Sinha Committee:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Reserve Bank had set up an eight-member expert committee under the leadership of the former chairman of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI),</strong></a> UK Sinha to review the framework for the MSME sector, in 2019.</li>
<li>It has made recommendations with regard to amendments in MSME Development Act, strengthening of financial delivery mechanism, improving marketing support, encouraging technology adoption and strengthening of cluster development support for MSMEs etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-din-parliament-passes-bill-to-open-up-factoring-sector-help-msmes-7429002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 9025,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Near-Surface Shear Layer of the Sun',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Indian astronomers</strong> from <strong>Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES),</strong> and <strong>Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore,</strong> have for the<strong> first time given the theoretical explanation</strong> of the existence of a <strong>near-surface shear layer (NSSL)</strong> in the Sun.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ARIES</strong> is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Near-Surface Shear Layer (NSSL):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from differentiation rotation between equator and poles, the helioseismology has revealed that the Sun has a <strong>Near-Surface Shear Layer (NSSL).</strong></li>
<li>The NSSL is the region very close to the visible solar surface, where there is a change in the rotation profile of the Sun.</li>
<li>This layer exists very close to the solar surface, <strong>within which the angular velocity decreases rapidly with radius.</strong></li>
<li>This NSSL is thought to play a significant role in defining the nature of large-scale convective patterns that drive the Sun's magnetism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Angular velocity:</strong> It is the time rate at which an object rotates, or revolves, about an axis, or at which the angular displacement between two bodies changes.</li>
<li><strong>Helioseismology:</strong> It is a technique of using sound waves to peek inside the Sun.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of the Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In their study, they have used an equation called the <strong>thermal wind balance equation.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It explains how the slight difference in temperature between solar poles and equator, called <strong>thermal wind,</strong> is balanced by the <strong>centrifugal force appearing due to solar differential rotation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Understanding NSSL is crucial for the study of<strong> several solar phenomena</strong> like sunspot formation, solar cycle, and it will also help in understanding such phenomena in other stars.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Differential Rotation of the Sun:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was long known that the Sun has <strong>Differential rotation,</strong> which means different parts of the Sun<strong> rotate at different speeds.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Sun<strong> rotates faster at the equator than at the poles.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Over time, the Sun's differential rotation rates <strong>cause its magnetic field to become twisted and tangled.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> "tangles" in the magnetic</strong> <strong>field</strong> lines can produce very, very strong <strong>localized magnetic fields.</strong></li>
<li>These localised magnetic fields on the surface of the Sun are active regions where <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sunspots" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sunspots</strong></a> occur.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sunspots are areas that appear dark on the surface of the Sun (photosphere). They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun&rsquo;s surface.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, these active regions often generate <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sunspots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solar storms</a>: solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627638102_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627638102_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="550" height="309" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1740238" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'Kendu Leaf',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, several children were seen collecting<strong> kendu (Tendu) leaves</strong> in Odisha&rsquo;s Kalahandi district.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627637312_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627637312_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="432" height="243" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kendu leaf is called the <strong>green gold of Odisha.</strong> It is a nationalised product like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/beema-bamboo-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bamboo</strong></a> and sal seed. It is one of the <strong>most important non-wood forest products in Odisha.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Botanical name of the Tendu (Kendu) leaf is<strong> Diospyros Melanoxylon.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The leaves are used to<strong> wrap bidis, a popular smoke among the locals. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>States Producing Kendu Leaves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The states producing bidi leaves in India comprises mainly <strong>Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Maharashtra.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Odisha is the third-largest producer</strong> of kendu leaf, after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Uniqueness:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Uniqueness of Odisha's Tendu (kendu) leaf is <strong>in processed form</strong> whereas the <strong>rest of the states in India produce in Phal Form.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In processed form the Kendu leafs are graded into different qualities that are <strong>Grade I to Grade IV</strong> as per the specification of <strong>color, texture, size and body condition of the leaf</strong> and packets will be done by taking Five Kilograms as a Bundle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Medicament:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Traditional medical practitioners use these tiny fruits of Kendu to<strong> treat <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">malaria</a>, diarrhoea and dysentery.</strong></li>
<li>Due to their antimicrobial properties, the leaves are applied on cuts and bruises as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Source of Livelihood:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Kendu leaves are the major source for tribal villages, since it is the most prominent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/joint-communication-for-tribal-communities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minor Forest Produce</strong></a> of the state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>MFP includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin and includes bamboo, canes, fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, honey, lac, tusser etc.</li>
<li>They form a major portion of their food, fruits, medicines and other consumption items and also provide cash income through sales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Part in Odisha&rsquo;s Forest Revenue:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Of Odisha&rsquo;s total forest <strong>revenue of Rs 868 million in 1990-2000,</strong> kendu leaves alone <strong>account for Rs 635 million.</strong></li>
<li>The annual production of bidi leaf in Odisha is <strong>around 4.5-5 lakh a quintal,</strong> which is <strong>about 20% of the county&rsquo;s annual production.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low Wage:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Children working at kendu leaf collection centres often step in <strong>during April-May every year.</strong> They mostly engaged in plucking, drying, collecting, etc. They are paid extremely low wages for the work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exploitation of Children:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Children below 14 years can not be engaged as workers and between 14-18 years can only be engaged in non hazardous sectors.</li>
<li>In such a scenario they are exploited.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To free this sector from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>child labour</strong></a>, more stringent laws are needed. Parents and children need to be sensitised about child rights.</li>
<li>Besides the child protection system viz. childline, district child protection unit, child welfare committee etc. would have to be more vigil and proactive in ensuring rights to children.</li>
<li>Since the kendu leaf is a significant part of the forest economy of rural societies, there needs to be the deregulation of minor forest products so that tribal and rural people can exercise their rights on MFP.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/economy/kendu-leaf-trade-stringent-laws-needed-to-keep-children-out-78183" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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