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Go Electric Campaign

Why in News The central government has launched the “Go Electric" Campaign to spread awareness on the benefits of e-mobility and EV Charging...

23 Feb 2021 Governance
Status of WASH in Healthcare Facilities in India: CDDEP

Why in News A recent research from Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP), USA, has estimated the cost of ensuring WASH and...

22 Feb 2021 Governance
International Mother Language Day

Why in News Every year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates 21st February as International...

22 Feb 2021 Governance
Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge: Smart Cities Mission

Why in News The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has announced the names of the 25 cities selected for the Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge...

20 Feb 2021 Governance
Health and Budget

This article is based upon “Towards Swasth Bharat” which was published in The Hindu Business Line on February 18, 2021. It talks about...

19 Feb 2021 Governance
OTT Service Providers vs Telecom Service Providers

Why in News The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has urged the government to bring over-the-top (OTT) service providers such as...

19 Feb 2021 Governance
Draft Blue Economy Policy

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the draft Blue Economy policy, inviting suggestions and inputs from...

18 Feb 2021 Governance
Digital Intelligence Unit

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Communications has decided to set up a Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) as a nodal agency to deal with...

16 Feb 2021 Governance
Corruption Perception Index 2020

Why in News India’s rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency...

16 Feb 2021 Governance
The Big Picture: Bare Necessities Index

Why in News? Despite the widespread efforts and improvements, inequalities in access to bare necessities like drinking water, sanitation,...

16 Feb 2021 Governance
Liberalisation of the Geo-Spatial Sector

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology released new guidelines for the Geo-Spatial Sector in India, which deregulates existing...

16 Feb 2021 Governance
Report on Road Accidents: World Bank

Why in News Recently, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways released the World Bank Report titled “Traffic Crash Injuries And...

16 Feb 2021 Governance
Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021

Why in News The Lok Sabha has passed the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to check misuse by “fly-by-night operators”...

15 Feb 2021 Governance
DNA Technology Regulation Bill

This article is based on “The DNA bill will cement a disturbing link between tech and policing” which was published in The Hindustan...

13 Feb 2021 Governance
Schemes for Reducing Tax Disputes

Why in News Recently, the Finance Secretary has said that the new system of faceless assessment and appeal would help bring down tax disputes...

13 Feb 2021 Governance
Lateral Entry Into the Administrative Services

Why in News Recently, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued an advertisement to recruit 30 persons at the Joint Secretary and...

13 Feb 2021 Governance
Law-Tech

This article is based on “How tech can transform law enforcement” which was published in The Hindustan Times on 12/02/2021. It talks...

12 Feb 2021 Governance
Bonded Labour in India

Why in News Recently, fifteen bonded labourers were rescued by the district administration of Guna in Madhya Pradesh. These labourers were being...

12 Feb 2021 Governance
National Coal Index

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Coal has started commercial auction of coal mines on a revenue share basis using the National Coal Index...

12 Feb 2021 Governance
Indian Laws and Blocking of Internet Content: Centre vs Twitter

Why in News Recently, the government of India reprimanded Twitter (micro-blogging website) for not complying with its order to block more than a...

12 Feb 2021 Governance

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		'article_id' => (int) 7752,
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		'title' => 'Go Electric Campaign',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The central government has launched the <strong>&ldquo;Go Electric" Campaign</strong> to spread awareness on the benefits of <strong>e-mobility</strong> and<strong> EV Charging Infrastructure</strong> as well as<strong> electric cooking</strong> in India.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Campaign:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Features:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To push the country towards <strong>100% e-mobility and clean and safe e-cooking.</strong></li>
<li>To <strong>create awareness at PAN-India level and reduce the import dependence</strong> of the country.</li>
<li>To move ahead on the<strong> path of a low carbon economy,</strong> thereby saving the country and the planet from the adverse impact of climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implementation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bee-star-rating-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)</strong></a>, under the aegis of the <strong>Ministry of Power</strong> has been mandated to undertake an awareness drive for promoting public charging, e-mobility &amp; its ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>E-mobility:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>E-mobility<strong> moves away from existing carbon-emitting fossil fuels to using energy from electrical power sources</strong> (e.g. the National Grid) through external charging capability.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Currently, <strong>India is using 94 million tonnes of oil and petroleum</strong> products for transportation only which is expected to double by 2030.</li>
<li>For fossil fuels, India currently has an<strong> import bill of Rs. 8 lakh Crore.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It encompasses the <strong>use of fully electric, conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid as well as hydrogen-fuelled vehicles.</strong></li>
<li>The government of India has undertaken multiple initiatives to promote manufacturing and adoption of<strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/electric-vehicles-evs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> electric vehicles</a> (EV)</strong> in India. One such initiative is <strong>&lsquo;Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &amp;) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-India)&rsquo; Scheme.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Electric Fuel as an Alternative Fuel:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Electric fuel is a major alternative for fossil fuels.</li>
<li>When compared to conventional fuels, the electric fuel<strong> has low cost, reduced emissions and it is also indigenous.</strong></li>
<li>Electrification of public transport is not only economical but also eco friendly.</li>
<li>The usage of even 10,000 electric vehicles in Delhi can alone save Rs. 30 crore per month.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Green Hydrogen:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-budget-2021-for-green-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Green hydrogen</strong></a> in the commercial vehicle could be a game-changer move which would help in eliminating the crude requirement and imports in all possible ways. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Green hydrogen is <strong>produced using renewable energy and electrolysis </strong>to split water. It is <strong>distinct from:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Grey hydrogen,</strong> which is produced from methane and releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.</li>
<li><strong>Blue hydrogen,</strong> which captures those emissions and stores them underground to prevent them causing climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, for heavy vehicles like buses, the ideal solution is <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-budget-2021-for-green-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Green Hydrogen.</strong></a></li>
<li>The use of green energy generated from agriculture waste and <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/action-plan-for-biomass-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biomass</strong></a> will benefit the farmers across the country.</li>
<li>The Ministry of New &amp; Renewable Energy can produce the green hydrogen at cheap costs possible in India because of low solar prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Electric Cooking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> shift to induction cooking</strong> will bring the government closer to delivering on its promise to improve energy access.</li>
<li>Theoretically, if electric cooktops are adopted, universal electrification could translate into<strong> universal clean cooking</strong> as well.</li>
<li>An advantage of the electricity-based solution is that it <strong>can make use of solar power in both urban and rural areas.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bureau of Energy Efficiency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government of India set up the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in March 2002 under the provisions of the<strong> Energy Conservation Act, 2001.</strong></li>
<li>It assists in developing policies and strategies with the primary objective of reducing energy intensity of the Indian economy.</li>
<li><strong>Major Programmes:<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-energy-efficiency-index-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> State Energy Efficiency Index</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-energy-efficiency-measures" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme</a></strong>, The Standards &amp; Labeling Programme, Energy Conservation Building Code.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1699386" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7748,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Status of WASH in Healthcare Facilities in India: CDDEP',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A recent research from <strong>Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP),</strong> USA, has estimated the cost of ensuring WASH and taking related steps for infection prevention and control for one year in healthcare facilities across India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CDDEP aims to use research to support better decision-making in health policy.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg" p=""><strong>WASH</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>WASH is an acronym that <strong>stands for the interrelated areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/who-wash-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO) WASH Strategy</strong></a> has been developed in response to Member State Resolution (WHA 64.4) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being, SDG 6: Clean Water And Sanitation).</li>
<li>It is a<strong> component of WHO&rsquo;s 13<sup>th</sup> General Programme of Work 2019&ndash;2023</strong> which aims to contribute to the health of three billion through multisectoral actions like better emergency preparedness and response; and one billion with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Health Coverage (UHC).</strong></a></li>
<li>It also takes on board the need for progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking-water and sanitation, adopted by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN General Assembly</strong></a> in July 2010.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need for Study: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Inadequate Healthcare And Sanitation Facilities:</strong> A 2019 joint global baseline report by WHO and UNICEF had pointed out that globally, one in four healthcare facilities lacked basic water servicing and one in five had no sanitation service and 42% had no hygiene facilities at point of care.</li>
<li><strong>Economic Importance of Sanitation:</strong> A 2012 WHO report had calculated that for every dollar invested in sanitation, there was USD 5.50 to be gained in lower health costs, more productivity and fewer premature deaths.</li>
<li><strong>Fatalities due to Improper Implementation of the WAH Strategy:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A WHO document on WASH in healthcare facilities points out that 8,27,000 people in low- and middle-income countries die as a result of inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene each year.</li>
<li>Also, death of 2,97,000 children under five years can be prevented each year if better WASH could be provided.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives of the Study:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To determine the cost-effectiveness of WASH interventions to reduce healthcare-associated infections among mother and neonates across the Indian healthcare system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cost Estimates:</strong> Improving WASH across the public healthcare facilities in India and maintaining this for a year would cost Rs. 2567 crores approximately in capital costs and Rs. 2095 crores in recurrent expenses.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Costly Interventions:</strong> Providing clean water, linen reprocessing and sanitation.</li>
<li><strong>Least Expensive Interventions:</strong> Hand hygiene, medical device reprocessing and environmental surface cleaning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Healthcare Associated Infections:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Inadequacies in proving WASH and also lack of infection prevention and control can lead to healthcare associated infections.</li>
<li><strong>Causative Agents:</strong> The pathogens like <em><strong>Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pneumoniae</strong></em> have been found to be causative agents of healthcare associated infections because of their <strong>ability to develop resistance to antibiotics.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Common Healthcare Associated Infections:</strong> Central-line-associated bloodstream infections, Catheter-associated urinary tract infections, Surgical site infections and Ventilator-associated pneumonia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of the Study: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Suggests Suitable Strategies:</strong> Findings show that addressing gaps in WASH across the Indian healthcare system is not only within the realm of possibility in terms of affordability &ndash; when compared to other national health campaigns &ndash; but can also be combined with other national efforts to address health priorities such as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-antimicrobial-resistance-amr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antimicrobial resistance.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It also highlights the need for a concerted effort from local bodies, State and Central governments to sustainably <strong>address quality and inequality issues in WASH provision.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improve Healthcare Policy Framing:</strong> The intersection between WASH, infection prevention and control and antimicrobial resistance is unique in that it offers policy makers an opportunity to address multiple overlapping problems through interventions on WASH in healthcare facilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/an-estimate-of-wash-across-healthcare-facilities-in-india/article33889963.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7746,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'International Mother Language Day  ',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Every year, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5#:~:text=UNESCO,-30%20Apr%202020&amp;text=United%20Nations%20Educational%2C%20Scientific%20and,Education%2C%20the%20Sciences%20and%20Culture.&amp;text=Three%20UNESCO%20member%20states%20are,Islands%2C%20Niue%2C%20and%20Palestine." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)</strong></a> celebrates <strong>21<sup>st</sup> February as International Mother Language Day</strong> to promote mother tongue-based multilingual education.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The theme of the 2021 celebrations, &ldquo;Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society,&rdquo; recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals</strong></a> focus on leaving no one behind.</li>
<li>The world has over 7,000 languages whereas India alone has about 22 officially recognized languages, 1635 mother tongues, and 234 identifiable mother tongues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the International Mother Language Day:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNESCO declared 21<sup>st</sup> February as International Mother Language Day <strong>in 1999</strong> and World has been celebrating the same since 2000. The day <strong>also commemorates a long struggle by Bangladesh to protect its mother language Bangla.</strong></li>
<li>The resolution to mark 21st February as the International Mother Language Day was <strong>suggested by Rafiqul Islam</strong>, a Bangladeshi living in Canada. He proposed the said date to commemorate the <strong>1952 killings in Dhaka during the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-international-mother-language-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bangla Language Movement.</a></strong></li>
<li>The initiative is aimed at preserving and promoting mother languages. The aim is to protect the diverse culture and intellectual heritage of different regions of the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the United Nations (UN), <strong>every two weeks, a language disappears</strong> and the world loses an entire cultural and intellectual heritage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to globalization, the rush for learning foreign languages for better job opportunities is a major reason behind the disappearance of mother languages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At least <strong>43% of the estimated 6000 languages spoken in the world are endangered.</strong></li>
<li>Only a few hundred languages have been genuinely given a place in education systems and public domain. Also, 40% of the global population does not have access to education in a language they speak or understand.</li>
<li><strong>Less than a hundred languages are used in the digital world.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Efforts for Protection of Languages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UN has designated the period between <strong>2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Earlier, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations General Assembly</strong></a> had proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Yuelu Proclamation, made by UNESCO at Changsha (China)</strong> in 2018, plays a central role in guiding the efforts of countries and regions around the world to protect linguistic resources and diversity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recently announced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-education-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Education Policy 2020</strong></a> has given maximum attention to the development of mother tongues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The policy recommends that as far as possible, the medium of instruction shall be, at least till class 5, (preferably up to grade 8 and beyond) mother tongue / vernacular / regional language.</li>
<li>Instructions in mother tongue empowers students with the subject and language of their choice. It will help in building a truly multilingual society in India, improve attendance and learning outcomes, and the ability to learn new languages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT)</strong> is providing publication grants towards the publications of University Level Books in regional languages.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was established in 1961 to evolve technical terminology in all Indian Languages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>National Translation Mission (NTM)</strong> is being implemented through the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore under which the text books of various subjects prescribed in Universities and Colleges are being translated in all languages of the Eighth Schedule.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protection-and-preservation-of-endangered-language"><strong>&ldquo;Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages&rdquo;</strong></a> scheme for conservation of threatened languages.</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-decision-on-ugc-guidelines-on-conduct-of-examinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> University Grants Commission (UGC)</strong></a> also promotes regional languages in higher education courses in the country and supports nine Central Universities under the scheme &ldquo;Establishment of Centre for Endangered Languages in Central Universities&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Other Initiatives by the Government of India include the <strong>Bharatavani project</strong> and the proposed setting up of a <strong>Bharatiya Bhasha Vishwavidyalaya (BBV).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the Vice President has highlighted other areas for the use of local languages, i.e. in administration, court proceedings, higher and technical education, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, an initiative <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/namath-basai-kerala" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Namath Basai</strong></a> by Kerala State Government has proved to be very beneficial in educating children from tribal areas by adopting vernacular languages as medium of instruction.</li>
<li>Google&rsquo;s Project <strong>Navlekha</strong> uses technology to protect mother language. The project is aimed at increasing the online content in Indian local languages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Related Constitutional and Legal Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 29 of the Constitution (Protection of interests of minorities)</strong> gives all citizens right to conserve their language and prohibits discrimination on the basis of language.</li>
<li><strong>Article 120 (Language to be used in Parliament)</strong> provides for use of Hindi or English for transactions of Parliament but gives the right to members of Parliament to express themselves in their mother tongue.</li>
<li><strong>Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bill-to-change-stature-of-official-languages" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official languages</a> in Articles 343 to 351.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 350A (Facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at primary stage)</strong> provides that it shall be the endeavour of every State and of every local authority within the State to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups.</li>
<li><strong>Article 350B (Special Officer for linguistic minorities):</strong> The President should appoint a special officer for linguistic minorities to investigate all matters relating to the constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities and to report to him. The President should place all such reports before the Parliament and send to the state government concerned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-nation-one-language" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Eighth Schedule</strong></a> recognises following 22 languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri.</li>
<li><strong>Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009</strong> says that the medium of instruction shall, as far as practicable, be in a child&rsquo;s mother tongue.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1699792" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7732,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge: Smart Cities Mission',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs</strong> has announced the names of the<strong> 25 cities selected</strong> for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-for-cities-mohua#:~:text=Nurturing%20Neighborhoods%20Challenge%3A,families%20in%20the%20public%20realm." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge</strong></a> under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres#:~:text=Smart%20City%20Mission,create%20smart%20outcomes%20for%20citizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Smart Cities Mission.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Challenge:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Launch:</strong> November 2020.</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a<strong> 3-year initiative that aims to</strong> work with Indian cities and their partners to pilot and scale ways to improve public space, mobility, neighborhood planning, access to early childhood services and amenities, and data management across city agencies.</li>
<li>It aims to propagate <strong>an early childhood centric approach</strong> among Indian cities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Partner Organisations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) and World Resources Institute (WRI) India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support to Selected Cities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Selected cities based on their proposal, readiness, and commitment - <strong>will receive technical support and capacity-building</strong> to develop, pilot and scale solutions that enhance the quality of life of young children.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Sensitivity Towards Children:</strong> Urban design and city planning play a crucial role in <strong>shaping the early years (0- 5 years) of a child&rsquo;s life &ndash;</strong> the period most vital for a child&rsquo;s long-term health and development.</li>
<li><strong>In Line with the ITCN Framework of the Smart Cities Mission:</strong> ITCN refers to the <strong>Infant, Toddler, Caregiver-Friendly Neighbourhoods</strong> framework. It has the following <strong>five objectives</strong> pertaining to neighbourhoods - Safe, Playful, Accessible, Inclusive and Green.</li>
<li><strong>Promotes Inclusive Development:</strong> It promotes inclusive development as it aims to enhance opportunities in urban areas for all vulnerable citizens, especially young children.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Smart City Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> It is an innovative initiative under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, <strong>to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people</strong> by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens.</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of Smart Solutions.</li>
<li><strong>Focus:</strong> On sustainable and inclusive development and to look at compact areas, create a replicable model which will act like a lighthouse to other aspiring cities.</li>
<li><strong>Strategy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Pan-city initiative in which at least one Smart Solution is applied city-wide.</li>
<li>Develop areas step-by-step with the help of following three models:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Retrofitting.</li>
<li>Redevelopment.</li>
<li>Greenfield.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coverage and Duration:</strong> The Mission covered 100 cities for the duration of five years starting from the financial year (FY) 2015-16 to 2019-20.</li>
<li><strong>Financing:</strong> It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1699010#:~:text=The%20following%20cities%20have%20been,%2C%20Thiruvananthapuram%2C%20Tiruppur%2C%20Ujjain%2C" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7730,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Health and Budget',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based upon<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/towards-swasth-bharat/article33873108.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Towards Swasth Bharat&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu Business Line on February 18, 2021. It talks about how increased budgetary allocation in the health sector is a much desired thing for the post-pandemic era and what are the associated issues.</p>
</div>
<p>Today, India is amidst this <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global pandemic</strong></a>, a black swan event which has re-emphasised that our biggest resource is our people and hence, has brought to the forefront an urgent need for stronger health systems to ensure the well being of its people.</p>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/budget-2021-highlights-health-and-wellbeing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget for FY 2021-22</strong></a> has come up with a holistic approach to health, incorporating &lsquo;preventive&rsquo;, &lsquo;curative&rsquo;, and &lsquo;well-being&rsquo; aspects with an increase of 137% as compared to the previous fiscal.</p>
<p>However, the numbers often seem high until evaluated carefully. The outlay on the health sector has been lowered to approximately 10% as compared to the estimates for the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/union-budget-2020-21-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FY 2020-21.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Current Situation of Health Sector</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s health infrastructure came under considerable strain in 2020, with 11 million Covid cases and perhaps over a million requiring hospitalisation.</li>
<li>India currently has <strong>one doctor over the population of 1,445</strong> against the WHO norm of 1:1000.</li>
<li>India spent 1.8% of its GDP on health in FY 2020-21 and 1-1.5% in the previous years.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As compared with the OECD countries&rsquo; average of 7.6% and other BRICS countries&rsquo; average of 3.6% on their health sector, this is considerably low.</li>
<li>As a result, India is among the top nations with the highest <strong>Out Of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to estimates, out of pocket expenses in healthcare in India hover close to 62%, nearly thrice the global average of 18%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A report released by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2019 suggested that nearly <strong>one out of every 100 Indian children</strong> does not live to celebrate their fifth birthday on account of either diarrhoea or pneumonia.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Suboptimal access to clean water and sanitation</strong> is directly linked to diseases such as diarrhoea, polio and malaria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Health Budget 2021</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Budget has committed to an outlay of ₹2,23,846 crore in health and well-being for 2021-22, a <strong>137%</strong> increase over previous year&rsquo;s Budget Estimate of ₹94,452 crores.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This includes a ₹60,030 crore outlay on drinking water and sanitation, a ₹2,700 crore outlay on nutrition, nearly ₹49,000 crore as Finance Commission grants and ₹35,000 crore toward <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-distribution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccination</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Water and sanitation sector have received a 179% increase over the previous year&rsquo;s allocation from Rs 21,518 crore to Rs 60,030 crore.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This is also in line with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic Survey&rsquo;s</strong></a> recommendation of increasing public health spending to about 2.5-3% of GDP.</li>
<li>Another important public health-related announcement in Budget 2021 was the government&rsquo;s decision to expand the coverage of the pneumococcal vaccine across the country.</li>
<li>The launch of <strong>Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PMANSBY)</strong> was also announced under the budget.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It laid emphasis on the expansion of health and wellness centres along with a ₹13,192 crore <strong>Finance Commission grant</strong> for strengthening the primary health system through local government bodies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613739640_image0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613739640_image0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="660" height="933" /></a></p>
<h3>Associated Issues</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reduced budgetary allocation:</strong> The Union Budget 2021-22 allocated Rs 71,268.77 crore to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. However, the revised estimates for last year was Rs 78,866 crores.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This implies the budgetary allocation to the Union health ministry came down by nearly 10%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Allocation for vaccination:</strong> Apart from the health outlay, ₹35,000 crore was allocated for COVID-19 vaccination in FY 2021-22.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Even assuming the cheapest prices of vaccines for all the citizens, India will be able to vaccinate only 65% of its total population with this amount.</li>
<li>Moreover, this Finance Commission grant for COVID-19 vaccination is a one-time allocation and, therefore, does not strengthen the overall system at all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Combined health and water &amp; sanitation sector:</strong> There is an increased allocation for water &amp; sanitation but allocation for nutrition has decreased by 27%.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Added together, health, water and sanitation and nutrition make up the claimed 137% increase in allocation to &ldquo;health&rdquo; services with a real decline in healthcare and nutrition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The misses:</strong> The budget has clearly missed mentioning any reduction in <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GST</strong></a> on <strong>active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reduction of import duty on medical devices that could have helped reduce the cost of healthcare services for citizens is another aspect missing in the budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>To bring down costs:</strong> Beyond a few islands of excellence such as the AIIMS, investments in other medical colleges shall be encouraged to possibly bring down costs and ramp up quality of health services.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government may focus on medical education, infrastructure and research in an expanded health Budget.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public Private Partnerships:</strong> Emphasising on <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ppp-investment-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Private Partnerships</a> (PPP)</strong> in other clinical procedures and hospitals and leveraging private sector expertise in the vaccination drive for a quicker and successful achievement of the target.</li>
<li><strong>Incentivised R&amp;D and reduced GST:</strong> Incentivising R&amp;D by additional tax deductions to further support greater investments in new drug developments and reducing GST on life-saving and essential drugs.</li>
<li><strong>Skill enhancement of healthcare workers:</strong> To prepare the existing healthcare workforce to provide the people the proposed healthcare facilities, it is important to give significant attention to their training, re-skilling, and knowledge upgradation.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To cater to this need, the government can take into account public-private collaborations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The health sector has found a prominent place in the government&rsquo;s agenda over the last few years, and it has increased even more amid the pandemic.</p>
<p>Although much remains to be done, the Union Budget 2021&ndash;22 has laid a strong foundation to increase the resilience of the sector in the post-COVID-19 era and achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f8fff2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;The Union Budget 2021-22 has emphasised on the importance of health by increasing the budgetary allocation by 137% as compared to the previous fiscal.&rdquo; Critically examine.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ld_BsM3v7ZE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/start-trials-for-mutant-strains/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Start trials for mutant strains</strong></a> published in the EconomicTimes on 17 February, 2021. Now watch this on our youtube channel.</p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7724,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'OTT Service Providers vs Telecom Service Providers',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-telecom-sector-challenges-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)</strong> </a>has urged the government<strong> to bring <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ott-platforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over-the-top (OTT)</a> service providers</strong> such as WhatsApp <strong>under the licensing regime</strong> and <strong>defer net neutrality rules on telecom operators</strong> till the time &lsquo;same service, same rules&rsquo; are applied on the applications.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>COAI was<strong> constituted in 1995</strong> as a registered, non-governmental society. COAI&rsquo;s core membership<strong> includes private Telecom Service Providers (TSPs),</strong> namely Bharti Airtel Ltd., Vodafone India Ltd., Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., operating across the whole country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Over-The-Top Service Providers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>OTT services<strong> refer to applications</strong> where providers <strong>deliver audio, video and other media over an IP network</strong> such as the internet,<strong> bypassing the traditional telecom operators</strong> (such as cable companies).</li>
<li><strong>Examples:</strong> Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and Hike are popular and widely-used <strong>OTT communication services.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of OTT Services on TSPs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>OTT applications</strong> actively <strong>use TSPs&rsquo; infrastructure</strong> to provide their services.</li>
<li>Many telecom operators are worried by the threat OTT services provide to their own services. <strong>Countless OTT applications are designed as alternative formats of existing &lsquo;classic&rsquo; communications</strong> such as SMS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Regulation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Licensing Regime:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Telecom operators are<strong> required to comply with</strong> quality of service norms, audit of accounts, procure <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/spectrum-auctions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>spectrum</strong></a> for services, pay<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/goods-and-services-tax-gst-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> goods and services tax</strong></a>, licence fees and spectrum usage charges, facilitate lawful interception and monitoring system etc. but<strong> no such obligations are imposed on OTT players.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UCC Regulation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The second important aspect is the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/curbing-unsolicited-commercial-communications" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC)</a> regulation</strong> that <strong>has been in force for TSPs</strong> since 2007.</li>
<li>Recently, the government has also decided to set up a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/digital-intelligence-unit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU)</strong></a> as a nodal agency to deal with complaints of UCC and cases of financial fraud.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/interoperable-set-top-boxes-trai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)</strong> </a>had <strong>come up with a consultation paper</strong> to deal with <strong>UCC on OTT service providers.</strong> However, it clarified that<strong> no regulations would be imposed on OTT calling and messaging apps</strong> till the time clarity emerges in the international jurisdictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Net Neutrality Rules:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/multi-stakeholder-body-for-net-neutrality" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> net neutrality</strong></a> principles <strong>prohibit service providers from discriminating against Internet content and services</strong> by blocking, throttling or according preferential higher speeds.</li>
<li>In 2016, TRAI published <strong>Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for data services regulations, 2016.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per these Regulations, <strong>no service provider can offer or charge discriminatory tariffs</strong> for data services on the basis of content.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>TSPs invest in network infrastructure and acquire spectrum, without getting a share in the revenue of the OTT service providers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some have argued that the<strong> investment by TSPs in internet infrastructure or penetration levels would diminish</strong> if they are not permitted to practice differential pricing, due to a lack of incentive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Another contention of the TSPs is that <strong>certain websites or applications require higher bandwidth</strong> than others. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, websites that stream video content utilise much more bandwidth than smaller messaging applications, for which the TSPs need to build and upgrade network infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demands by the COAI:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Till the time any decision is taken regarding licensing of OTT communication providers, <strong>unequitability between TSPs and OTTs should not be increased</strong> further by the TRAI.</li>
<li>Till such time, no new licensing conditions, including that of traffic management practices for net neutrality etc., should be imposed on TSPs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since the underlying technology, adoption, markets, pricing models, scarce resource utilization, and quality of services are very different, bringing about level playing field doctrine between TSPs and OTTs shall take time. However, OTTs due to their sheer adoption rate should be responsible for Quality of Service.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/telcos-ask-government-to-defer-net-neutrality-rules/article33854998.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7718,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Draft Blue Economy Policy',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the<strong> draft <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Economy</a> policy,</strong> inviting suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is in line with the Government of<strong> India&rsquo;s Vision of New India by 2030.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The policy document highlighted the blue economy as <strong>one of the ten core dimensions for national growth.</strong></li>
<li>It emphasizes policies across several key sectors to <strong>achieve holistic growth</strong> of India&rsquo;s economy. It recognizes the following seven thematic areas:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National accounting framework for the blue economy and ocean governance.</li>
<li>Coastal marine spatial planning and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/tourism-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tourism</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Marine <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-fisheries-day-1#:~:text=The%20fisheries%20and%20aquaculture%20production,as%20envisioned%20by%20the%20government." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fisheries</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-blue-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>aquaculture</strong></a>, and fish processing.</li>
<li>Manufacturing, emerging industries, trade, technology, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sectors-of-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>services</strong></a>, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-skilling-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>skill development.</strong></a></li>
<li>Logistics, infrastructure and shipping, including trans-shipments.</li>
<li>Coastal and deep-sea mining and offshore energy.</li>
<li>Security, strategic dimensions, and international engagement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aims:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Enhance contribution of the blue economy to India's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The blue economy, which consists of economic activities dependent on marine resources, comprises<strong> 4.1% of India&rsquo;s economy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Improve lives of coastal communities.</li>
<li>Preserve marine biodiversity.</li>
<li>Maintain the national security of marine areas and resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason and Need for a Blue Economy Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Vast Coastline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With a coastline of nearly <strong>7.5 thousand kilometers,</strong> India has a unique maritime position.</li>
<li><strong>Nine of its 28 states are coastal,</strong> and the nation&rsquo;s geography includes 1,382 islands.</li>
<li>There are nearly <strong>199 ports,</strong> including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/major-port-authorities-bill-2020#:~:text=It%20also%20seeks%20to%20replace,and%20Kolkata%20(including%20Haldia)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>12 major ports</strong> </a>that handle approximately 1,400 million tons of cargo each year.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613635691_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613635691_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Utilisation of Non-living Resources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exclusive Economic Zone</strong> </a>of over 2 million square kilometers has a huge living and non-living resources with significant recoverable resources such as<strong> crude oil and<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-natural-gas-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> natural gas</a>. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustenance of Coastal Communities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The coastal economy sustains over 4 million <strong>fisherfolk and coastal communities. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiatives by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-norway-task-force-on-blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development</strong></a> :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was inaugurated jointly by both the countries in 2020 to<strong> develop and follow up joint initiatives</strong> between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sagarmala Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sagarmala-seaplane-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sagarmala project</strong></a> is the <strong>strategic initiative for port-led development</strong> through the extensive use of IT enabled services for modernization of ports.</li>
<li>It aims at developing Inland <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/use-of-waterways-for-reducing-transportation-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>waterways</strong> </a>and coastal shipping which will revolutionize maritime logistics, creating million new jobs, reducing logistics costs etc.</li>
<li>It focuses on the <strong>development of coastal communities and people</strong> in the sustainable use of ocean resources, modern fishing techniques and coastal tourism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>O-SMART:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has an umbrella scheme by the name of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-o-smart-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>O-SMART</strong></a> which aims at regulated use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-coastal-zone-management-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Coastal Zone Management</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses on conservation of coastal and marine resources, and improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Fisheries Policy :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has a National Fisheries policy for promoting 'Blue Growth Initiative' which focus on sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from the marine and other aquatic resources</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Steps:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)- 14</strong></a> seeks to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Blue Economy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The concept was introduced by <strong>Gunter Pauli in his 2010 book-</strong> &ldquo;The Blue Economy: 10 years, 100 innovations, 100 million jobs&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> advocates the greening of ocean development strategies</strong> for higher productivity and conservation of ocean's health.</li>
<li>It encompasses&ndash;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-renewable-energy-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Renewable Energy</strong></a>: Sustainable marine energy can play a vital role in social and economic development.</li>
<li><strong>Fisheries:</strong> Sustainable fisheries can generate more revenue, more fish and help restore fish stocks.</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Transport:</strong> Over 80% of international goods traded are transported by sea.</li>
<li><strong>Tourism:</strong> Ocean and coastal tourism can bring jobs and economic growth.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Change</strong></a>: Oceans are an important carbon sink (blue carbon) and help mitigate climate change.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-better-way-of-waste-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Waste Management</strong></a>: Better waste management on land can help oceans recover.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Blue Economy emphasizes on<strong> integration of development of the ocean economy with social inclusion, environmental sustainability, combined with innovative business models.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With its vast maritime interests, the blue economy occupies <strong>a vital potential position in India&rsquo;s economic growth.</strong></li>
<li>It could well be the<strong> next multiplier of GDP and well-being,</strong> provided sustainability and socio-economic welfare are kept center-stage.</li>
<li>Therefore, India's draft blue economy policy is envisaged as a<strong> crucial framework towards unlocking the country's potential</strong> for economic growth and welfare.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1698608#:~:text=The%20Ministry%20of%20Earth%20Sciences,NGOs%2C%20academia%2C%20and%20citizens.&amp;text=Stakeholders%20have%20been%20invited%20to,ideas%20by%20February%2027%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7704,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Digital Intelligence Unit',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Communications</strong> has decided to set up a <strong>Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU)</strong> as a nodal agency to deal with complaints of unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) and cases of financial fraud, especially in the digital payments space.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Apart from the DIU a Telecom Analytics for <strong>Fraud Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP)</strong> will also be set up at all the 22 license service area levels.</li>
<li>It would also ensure strict compliance of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/curbing-unsolicited-commercial-communications" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preferences Regulations (TCCCPR)</strong> </a>2018 which provides a revised regulatory framework aimed at regulating <strong>'unsolicited commercial communication' (UCC) in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the Delhi High Court (HC) ordered the <strong>Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)</strong> to ensure &ldquo;complete and strict&rdquo; implementation of the regulation issued by it in 2018 for curbing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/curbing-unsolicited-commercial-communications" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC).</strong></a></li>
<li>Earlier in November, 2020 <strong>TRAI had imposed fines of up to Rs 30 crore on telecom companies</strong> such as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio Infocomm for not putting enough measures to control UCC, which occurred over their networks between April and June 2020.</li>
<li>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> had, in its annual report for 2018-19, said frauds related to misuse of credit and debit cards, cloning of identities, and spam amounted to Rs 220 crore in the year. DIU could mitigate this menace.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Digital Intelligence Unit </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To coordinate with various law enforcement agencies, financial institutions and telecom service providers in investigating any fraudulent activity involving telecom resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Checking Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The issue of UCC has been a major area of concern for the Telecom Ministry as well as the <strong>Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).</strong> It has from time to time fined telecom operators for not following its directives on stopping UCC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effective Redressal of Complaints:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Along with DIU, a web and mobile application as well as a SMS-based system shall be developed for effective redressal of complaints.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Instilling Trust In the Digital Ecosystem:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The DIU system will strengthen the trust of people in the digital ecosystem and will make financial digital transactions primarily through mobile more secure and reliable,which will result in promotion of Digital India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UCC on over-the-top (OTT) Service Providers:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>TRAI is also about to come up with a consultation paper to deal with <strong>UCC on over-the-top (OTT) service providers.&nbsp;</strong>The launched systems does not address the issue of UCC on over-the-top (OTT) service providers such as <strong>WhatsApp. </strong></li>
<li><strong>The Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation, 2018</strong> tightened the norms for all stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem to have facilities for users to complain against unsolicited calls or SMS. However, OTT players have thus far remained untethered from regulations as far as UCC is concerned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Telecom Regulatory Authority of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Statutory Body:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Established by an Act of Parliament (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>To regulate telecom services,</strong> including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services.</li>
<li><strong>Provide a fair and transparent policy environment</strong> which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Amendment:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The TRAI Act was amended in the year 2000 to establish a <strong>Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)</strong> to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/new-nodal-agency-to-tackle-fraud-pesky-smses-calls-7190276/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7703,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Corruption Perception Index 2020',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India&rsquo;s rank has slipped six places to <strong>86<sup>th</sup> among 180 countries</strong> in <strong>Corruption Perception Index (CPI)</strong> released by<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corruption-perceptions-index-2018-transparency-international" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Transparency International</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India was ranked 80<sup>th</sup> out of 180 countries in 2019.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Transparency International</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Transparency International is an international non -governmental organisation founded in <strong>1993</strong> based in <strong>Berlin, Germany</strong></li>
<li>its non profit purpose is to take action to <strong>combat global Corruption with civil societal anti-corruption measures</strong> and<strong> to prevent criminal activities</strong> arising from corruption.</li>
<li>Its most notable publications include the <strong>Global Corruption Barometer</strong> and the <strong>Corruption Perception Index.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The index ranks <strong>180 countries and territories</strong> by the perceived level of public sector corruption according to experts and business people.</li>
<li>It uses a scale of <strong>zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).</strong></li>
<li>CPI 2020 paints a grim picture of the state of corruption worldwide. While most countries have made little to no progress in tackling corruption in nearly a decade, more than two-thirds of countries <strong>score below 50, with an average score of just 43.</strong></li>
<li>Moreover, corruption not only undermines the <strong>global health response to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cover-19</a></strong> but contributes to a <strong>continuing crisis of democracy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Top Performers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The top countries on the <strong>Corruption Perception Index (CPI)</strong> are <strong>Denmark</strong> and <strong>New Zealand,</strong> with scores of 88, followed by <strong>Finland, Singapore, Sweden</strong> and <strong>Switzerland,</strong> with scores of 85 each.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor Performers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>South Sudan</strong> and<strong> Somalia</strong> are the bottom Countries with scores of 12 each, followed by Syria (14), Yemen (15) and Venezuela (15).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Specific:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The highest scoring region is <strong>Western Europe</strong> and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a> with an average score of 66.</li>
<li>The lowest scoring regions are <strong>Sub-Saharan Africa</strong> (32) and <strong>Eastern Europe and Central Asia (36).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India Specific:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2020, India's score is 40 (41 in 2019).</li>
<li>India experienced slow progress in anti-corruption efforts, with several government commitments to reform not yet materialising effectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Corruption, Health &amp; Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Corruption shifts public spending away from essential public services. Countries with higher levels of corruption,regardless of economic development, tend to spend less on health.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Higher levels of corruption are associated with lower universal health care coverage and higher rates of infant and maternal mortality and deaths from cancer, diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Corruption is one of the key barriers to achieving the <strong>United Nations&rsquo; <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</a></strong>, and the covid-19 pandemic is making those goals even more difficult to attain.</li>
<li>Covid-19 is not just a health and economic crisis, but a corruption crisis as well, with countless lives lost due to the insidious effects of corruption undermining a fair and equitable global response.</li>
<li>The Covid-19 response exposed vulnerabilities of<strong> weak oversight and inadequate transparency.</strong> Countries with higher levels of corruption tend to be the worst perpetrators of democratic and rule-of-law breaches while managing the COVID-19 crisis. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Governments exploiting the pandemic to suspend parliaments, renounce public accountability mechanisms, and incite violence against dissidents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Strengthen oversight institutions</strong>  to ensure resources reach those most in need. <strong>Anti-corruption authorities and oversight</strong> institutions must  have sufficient funds, resources  and  independence  to perform their duties</li>
<li><strong>Ensure open and transparent contracting</strong> to combat  wrong doing, identify conflicts of interest and ensure  fair pricing.</li>
<li><strong>Defend Democracy, Promote Civic Space</strong> by enabling civil society groups and the media to hold governments accountable.</li>
<li><strong>Publish relevant data and guarantee access  to information</strong> to ensure the public receives easy, accessible, timely and meaningful information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-rank-slips-to-86th-in-corruption-perception-index-2020-7165607/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source-IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7699,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Bare Necessities Index',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KsO0iam8o5o" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the widespread efforts and improvements, inequalities in access to <strong>bare necessities</strong> like <strong>drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and housing conditions</strong> continue to exist between urban and rural India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The above inference is drawn from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic Survey for 2020-21</strong></a> in its newly constructed <strong>&ldquo;Bare Necessities Index&rdquo; (BNI).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The BNI is built on the idea of <strong>Thalinomics</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-survey-2019-20-highlights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic Survey for 2019-20</strong></a>, through which it had sought to examine the access to food in the country.</li>
<li>The Economic Survey (2020-21) has underlined the <strong>need to focus on reducing variations in the access to bare necessities across states,</strong> between rural and urban areas, and between income groups.</li>
<li>With us moving to a completely digital era, the <strong>bare necessities are no more confined to &ldquo;Roti, Kapda aur Makan&rdquo;</strong> but goes beyond it.</li>
<li><strong>Access to technology; smartphones, internet</strong> and connectivity with the whole nation are the <strong>newly added bare necessities</strong> to go hand in hand with the world.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Thalinomics</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the 2019-20 Economic Survey, Thalinomics was introduced to make an <strong>attempt to relate economics to the common person using something that an individual encounters every day -</strong> a plate of food i.e a Thali.</li>
<li>Affordability of Thalis vis-&agrave;-vis a day&rsquo;s pay of a worker has<strong> improved over time,</strong> indicating improved welfare of the common person.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Bare Necessities Index</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Bare Necessities Index (BNI)</strong> is based on the large annual household survey data.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is constructed using suitable indicators and methodology at district level for all/targeted districts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The BNI summarises<strong> 26 indicators on five dimensions -</strong> water, sanitation, housing, micro-environment, and other facilities and has been created for all states for 2012 and 2018 using NSO data.</li>
<li>The index classifies areas on three levels of access- <strong>high, medium, low</strong> to bare necessities.</li>
<li><strong>Utility of data:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To check inter state disparities or a progress of a particular state over time.</li>
<li>To check the efficacy of policies/ schemes implemented to meet these bare necessities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improvement in bare necessities:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bare necessities have improved across all States in the country in 2018 as compared to 2012.</li>
<li>Increase in equity is noteworthy as the rich can access private options for public goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Steps taken to Provide the Bare Necessities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-awas-yojana-grameen-behind-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saubhagya-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saubhaggya yojana</strong> </a>for housing.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ayushman-bharat-pm-jay-sehat-jk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM-JAY</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Health Mission</strong></a> for the health sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increased allocations for some of the bare necessities in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/budget-2021-highlights-health-and-wellbeing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>budget 2020-21</strong></a> such as the health.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/18-05-2020#:~:text=Government%20will%20launch%20PM%20eVIDYA,one%20nation%2C%20one%20digital%20platform)" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM eVIDYA</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swayam-and-swayam-prabha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swayam Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pragyata-guidelines-on-digital-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PRAGYATA</strong></a> in the educational sector.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/measures-on-atmanirbhar-bharat-3-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana</strong></a>: It is aimed at incentivising the creation of new employment opportunities during the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20(WHO,31st%20December%2C%202019)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <strong>Covid-19</strong></a> economic recovery phase.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sdg-india-index-by-niti-ayog#:~:text=The%20index%20documents%20the%20progress,which%20covered%20only%2013%20goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Niti Aayog Sustainable Development Goals Index</strong></a>: The index documents the progress made by India&rsquo;s States and Union Territories towards achieving the 2030 SDG targets.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Associated</h3>
<p><strong>Internet Facility as a Bare Necessity</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>During the pandemic, besides the bare necessities, the <strong>biggest need was found to be the internet and smartphones,</strong> whether it was about working from home, or attending online classes.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most people were able to afford smartphones and the internet, but those who couldn&rsquo;t afford them, were found to be in a very deprived situation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Internet facilities and access to smartphones is a necessity in the present that has not been taken into account while preparing the list of bare necessities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To catch up with everyone else in this electronic world, the people who are devoid of these necessities need more uplift than just food and housing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Lack of equal internet access is not only a huge inequality in the education sector, but also in the health sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the increasing use of<strong> telemedicines, e-skilling, e-governance and e-education,</strong> not being provided with the internet facility, a major part of India will continue to be a laggard in this electronic world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Kerala which has an enormous <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System</strong></a>, still there children can be found facing several difficulties due to lack of internet access.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Food, oil and unemployment allowance are provided to them by the government, but the internet is not included in the list.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Multiplicity of Schemes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are about<strong> 250-300 poverty alleviation schemes</strong> launched by central and state government at the district level which are<strong> almost similar in nature.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This multiplicity of schemes is very infructuous.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This<strong> brings inefficiency</strong> within the effective functioning of schemes and <strong>opens windows for corruption.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Framing the policies keeping in mind the future needs and possibilities:</strong> The schemes shall be futuristic keeping in mind that the idea of bare necessities have changed over the years and will definitely change even more for the upcoming generation.</li>
<li><strong>Digital education aspect:</strong> One of the easiest ways is to target the younger, school-going generation and take into account what they need so that they get equal access to education.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-digital-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Digital India</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bharatnet-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharat Net</strong></a> must be accelerated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discouraging multiplicity of schemes:</strong> The high number of infructuous schemes shall be integrated.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Quality should be raised instead of quantity, a few but well organised and effective schemes must be preferred over too many schemes creating chaos and confusions.</li>
<li><strong>Convergence of these schemes</strong> is needed, so that the schemes which are not necessary should be done away with.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Keeping the traditional as well as new needs into consideration:</strong> It is not an &lsquo;either this-or that&rsquo; situation, India shall focus on the traditional bare needs along with including smartphones and internet facilities as a basic need to bridge a digital divide in this technological era.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The newly introduced &ldquo;digital aspect&rdquo; of bare needs must be addressed but the traditional needs must not be compromised, they must be taken into account at a priority basis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The need of proper health facilities:</strong> The most important traditional bare need is <strong>public health which adheres to sewage and sanitation.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A medical condition called <strong>environmental enteropathy</strong> is caused by poor health and sanitation conditions which<strong> infects people&rsquo;s ability to absorb nutrition.</strong></li>
<li>Environmental enteropathy (also called tropical enteropathy) is a<strong> subclinical condition caused by constant fecal-oral contamination</strong> and resulting in blunting of intestinal villi and intestinal inflammation.</li>
<li>Besides, every block hospital should be upgraded, upgradation of the hospitals will ultimately lead to the quantum leap in the health services available at the block level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bare Necessities Index is a <strong>good way to ensure equal access to the bare necessities</strong> across sectors, states and the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It shows that there needs to be a<strong> special focus on public health.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Multiplicity of schemes has to be addressed and integrated; <strong>better synergy shall be there among the centre and states.</strong></li>
<li>The status of basic needs in the country must be improved as it would lead to the growth of the country and bring improvement in the rank of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-development-index-undp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Human development Index (HDI)</a>.</strong></li>
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7698,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Liberalisation of the Geo-Spatial Sector',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology released <strong>new guidelines for the Geo-Spatial Sector</strong> in India, which deregulates existing protocol and <strong>liberalises the sector</strong> to a more competitive field.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Geo-Spacial Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Geospatial data is data about <strong>objects, events, or phenomena that have a location on the surface of the earth.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The location may be static in the short-term, like the<strong> location of a road,</strong> an <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/earthquake-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earthquake</a> event, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">malnutrition</a></strong> among children, or dynamic like a <strong>moving vehicle</strong> or pedestrian, the<strong> spread of an infectious disease.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It combines Information on:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Location, </strong></li>
<li><strong>Attribute</strong> (the characteristics of the object, event, or phenomena concerned),</li>
<li><strong>Temporal or time.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The past decade has seen an increase in the use of geo-spatial data in daily life with various apps such as <strong>food delivery, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/e-commerce-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-commerce</a> or even weather apps.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current State of the Geo-Spatial Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Strict Restriction:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are <strong>strict restrictions on the collection, storage, use, sale, dissemination</strong> of geo-spatial data and mapping under the current regime.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Renewal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The policy had not been renewed in decades and has been driven by <strong>internal as well as external security concerns. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dominated by Government:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The sector so far is dominated by the Indian government as well as government-run agencies such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sahyog-app-survey-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Survey of India</strong></a> and <strong>private companies need to navigate a system of permissions</strong> from different departments of the government (depending on the kind of data to be created) as well as the defence and Home Ministries, to be able to collect, create or disseminate geo-spatial data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Open Access:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Open access to its geospatial data and services, including maps, for all Indian entities, with the <strong>exception of sensitive defence or security-related data.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Restrictions Removed:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Indian corporations and innovators are<strong> no longer subject to restrictions nor do they require prior approvals</strong> before they collect, generate, prepare, disseminate, store, publish, update digital geospatial data and maps within the territory of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There shall be <strong>no requirement for security clearance, licence</strong> or any other restrictions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Deregulation of Geo-Spacial Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Delayed Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>System of acquiring licenses or permission, and the <strong>red tape involved, took months, delaying projects,</strong> especially those that are in mission mode &ndash; for both Indian companies as well as government agencies.</li>
<li>The deregulation eliminates the requirement of permissions as well as scrutiny, even for security concerns. <strong>Indian companies now can self-attest, conforming to government guidelines</strong> without actually having to be monitored by a government agency- these guidelines therefore place a great deal of trust in Indian entities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is also a huge lack of data in the country which <strong>impedes planning for infrastructure, development and businesses</strong> which are data-based.</li>
<li>The mapping of the entire country, that too with high accuracy, by the Indian government alone could take decades.</li>
<li>The government therefore felt an urgent <strong>need to incentivise</strong> the geo-spatial sector for Indian companies and increased investment from private players in the sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changing Needs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For decades, geo-spatial data has been a priority for strategic reasons and for internal and external security concerns, this priority has seen a shift in the past 15 years.</li>
<li>Initially conceptualised as a matter solely concerned with security, geo-spatial data collection was the prerogative of the defence forces and the government. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coast-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Geographic Information System (GIS)</strong> </a>mapping was also rudimentary, with the government investing heavily in it after the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kargil-vijay-diwas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kargil war</strong></a> highlighted the dependence on foreign data and the need for indigenous sources of data..</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Geo-spatial data has now become imperative for the government in <strong>planning for infrastructure, development, social development, natural calamities as well as the economy,</strong> with more and more sectors such as agriculture, environment protection, power, water, transportation, communication, health (tracking of diseases, patients, hospitals etc) relying heavily on this data</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Push:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There has also been a global push for open access to geo-spatial as it affects the lives of ordinary citizens.</li>
<li>Large amounts of<strong> geo-spatial data are also available on global platforms,</strong> which makes the regulation of data that is freely available in other countries, untenable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Deregulation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increased Competitiveness:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>By liberalising the system, the government will <strong>ensure more players in the field, competitiveness of Indian companies in the global market,</strong> and more accurate data available to both the government to formulate plans and administer, but also for individual Indians.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Employment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Startups and businesses can now also use this data in setting up their concerns, especially in the sector of e-commerce or geo-spatial based apps &ndash; which in turn will<strong> increase employment in these sectors.</strong></li>
<li>Indian companies will be able to develop indigenous apps.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Public-Private Partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is also likely to be an increase in public-private partnerships with the opening of this sector with data collection companies working with the Indian government on various sectoral projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Investment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government also expects an increase in investment in the geo-spatial sector by companies, and also an increase in export of data to foreign companies and countries, which in turn<strong> will boost the economy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/india-is-putting-out-its-mapping-geospatial-data-available-for-general-use/article33842056.ece#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20new%20guidelines%20for%20Maps,lawyer%2C%20said%20in%20a%20tweet." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7696,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Report on Road Accidents: World Bank',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways released the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> Report titled<strong> &ldquo;Traffic Crash Injuries And Disabilities: The Burden on India Society&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Report has been prepared in collaboration with the <strong>NGO-Save Life Foundation.</strong></li>
<li>The survey data was collected from four Indian states i.e. <strong>Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Fatalities due to Road Accidents:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) - <strong>Eighth leading cause of death.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Road Crash Fatality Rate -</strong> Three times higher in low-income countries compared to high-income countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Road Accidents and Related Deaths in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Accounts for 11% of the global death</strong> in road accidents, the <strong>highest in the world.</strong></li>
<li>Accounts for about <strong>4.5 lakh road crashes per annum,</strong> in which 1.5 lakh people die.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Impacts of Road Accidents:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Estimated Economic Loss -</strong> 3.14% of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong></a>, indicating <strong>underreporting phenomenon</strong> in the country.</li>
<li><strong>Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Estimates -</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Socio-economic cost of Road Crashes is equivalent to<strong> 0.77% of the GDP.</strong></li>
<li><strong>76.2% of people</strong> who are killed in road crashes are in their prime working-age, <strong>18-45 years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Burden on Households:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At the individual level, road crash injuries and deaths<strong> impose a severe financial burden and push entire (non-poor) households</strong> into poverty and the already poor into debt.</li>
<li>Every road accident death causes <strong>depletion of nearly seven months&rsquo; household income in poor families,</strong> and pushes the kin of victims in a cycle of poverty and debt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>VRUs bear a disproportionately large burden of road crashes</strong> and account for more than half of all road crash deaths and serious injuries in the country.</li>
<li>It is often the<strong> poor, especially male road-users</strong> of working age, that constitute the category of <strong>VRUs.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Daily wage workers and workers employed as casual labourers in informal activities are more prone to be defined as vulnerable compared to workers engaged in regular activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In India, where <strong>VRUs</strong> are forced to share space with other less vulnerable road users,<strong> the income level of an individual has a direct bearing on the mode of transport used.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Specific Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Women in the families of victims <strong>bore the burden across poor and rich</strong> households, often taking up extra work, assuming greater responsibilities, and performing caregiving activities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>About<strong> 50% of women were severely affected by the decline in their household income</strong> after a crash.</li>
<li>About<strong> 40% of women reported a change in their working patterns</strong> post-accident, while around <strong>11% reported taking up extra work</strong> to deal with the financial crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rural-Urban Divide:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>income decline</strong> for low-income <strong>rural households (56%) was the most severe</strong> compared to low-income urban (29.5%) and high-income rural households (39.5%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken at Global Level:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-status-report-on-road-safety-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>declaration</strong> </a>was signed at the second Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety held in Brazil.<strong> India is a signatory</strong> to the Declaration.</li>
<li>The countries plan to achieve the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal 3.6</strong></a> i.e. to half the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decade for Road Safety:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The United Nations (UN) declared <strong>2011-2020</strong> as the decade of action for Road Safety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Global Road Safety Week:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is <strong>celebrated every two years,</strong> the fifth edition (held from 6-12 May 2019) highlighted the need for strong leadership for road safety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a registered charity dedicated to saving lives through safer roads.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken by Indian Government</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-motor-vehicles-bill-for-road-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Act</strong></a> hikes the penalties for traffic violations, defective vehicles, juvenile driving, etc.</li>
<li>It provides for a<strong> Motor Vehicle Accident Fund,</strong> which would provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India for certain types of accidents.</li>
<li>It also provides for a <strong>National Road Safety Board,</strong> to be created by the Central Government through a notification.</li>
<li>It also provides for the protection of good samaritans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Policy-oriented approaches are needed</strong> for saving lives and improving the ability of victims and their families to get back on their feet, including providing immediate financial, medical and legal aid.</li>
<li>Areas that require immediate improvements include <strong>post-crash emergency care and protocols, insurance and compensation systems.</strong></li>
<li>There is a need for development agencies, policymakers and respective state governments to <strong>prioritize a complete policy overhaul</strong> of the existing system and <strong>implement sustainable solution-oriented, inclusive measures</strong> to improve their performance on road safety.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1697771#:~:text=Gadkari%20says%20vehicle%20manufacturers%20should,cost%2Deffective%20road%20safety%20interventions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7692,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Lok Sabha has passed the <strong>Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to check misuse by &ldquo;fly-by-night operators&rdquo;</strong> who take advantage of the law to get favourable awards by fraud.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill <strong>intends to replace the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) ordinance</strong> issued in November, 2020.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features of the Bill: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Qualifications of Arbitrators:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>does away with the qualifications of the arbitrators </strong>under<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> Schedule</strong> of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 which specified that the arbitrator must be: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961 with 10 years of experience, or</li>
<li>An officer of the Indian Legal Service.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The qualifications for accreditation of arbitrators is <strong>proposed to be prescribed by regulations to be framed by an arbitration council</strong> to be set up.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unconditional Stay on Awards:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the Award is being <strong>given on the basis of a fraudulent agreement or corruption,</strong> then the court can grant an unconditional stay as long as an appeal under Section 34 of the arbitration law is pending.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Would bring about <strong>parity among all the stakeholders</strong> in the arbitration process.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All the stakeholders get an opportunity to seek unconditional stay on enforcement of arbitral awards where the agreement or contract is &ldquo;induced by fraud or corruption&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Checking misuse of the provisions under Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 <strong>would save the taxpayers money</strong> by holding those accountable who siphoned off of them unlawfully.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Drawbacks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India already lags behind when it comes to the enforcement of international contracts and agreements. The Bill can further hamper the spirit of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assessment-of-make-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Make in India</strong></a> campaign and deteriorate rankings in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-of-doing-business-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business Index.</strong></a></li>
<li>India aims to become a hub of domestic and international arbitration. Through the implementation of these legislative changes, resolution of commercial disputes could take longer duration now onwards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Arbitration Council of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Background:</strong> The Constitution of India, <strong>Article 51,</strong> India is obliged to endeavour to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one country.</li>
<li>Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration. ACI is a step in realisation of this constitutional obligation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019 seeks to establish an <strong>independent body</strong> called the Arbitration Council of India (ACI) for the promotion of arbitration, mediation, conciliation and other alternative dispute redressal mechanisms. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Arbitration:</strong> It is a process in which disputes resolve between the parties by appointing an independent third party who is an impartial and neutral person called arbitrator. Arbitrators hear both the parties before arriving at a solution to their dispute.</li>
<li><strong>Conciliation:</strong> It is a process in which disputes resolve between the parties by appointing a conciliator who helps (amicable) the disputed parties to arrive at a negotiated settlement. Settling the dispute without litigation, it is an informal process. He does so by lowering tensions, improving communication, interpreting issues, providing technical help.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition of the ACI:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ACI will consist of a Chairperson who is either:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A Judge of the Supreme Court; or</li>
<li>A Judge of a High Court; or</li>
<li>Chief Justice of a High Court; or</li>
<li>An eminent person with expert knowledge in conduct of arbitration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other members</strong> will include an eminent arbitration practitioner, an academician with experience in arbitration, and government appointees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appointment of Arbitrators:</strong> Under the Act, the Supreme Court and High Courts may designate arbitral institutions, which parties can approach for the appointment of arbitrators.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For international commercial arbitration, appointments will be made by the institution designated by the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>For domestic arbitration, appointments will be made by the institution designated by the concerned High Court.</li>
<li>In case there are no arbitral institutions available, the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court may maintain a panel of arbitrators to perform the functions of the arbitral institutions.</li>
<li>An application for appointment of an arbitrator is required to be disposed of within 30 days.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/changes-to-arbitration-law-get-lok-sabha-nod-7186439/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7686,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'DNA Technology Regulation Bill',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/the-dna-bill-will-cement-a-disturbing-link-between-tech-and-policing-101612965364811.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The DNA bill will cement a disturbing link between tech and policing&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 11/02/2021. It talks about associated issues with the DNA Technology Regulation Bill.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the parliamentary committee on science and technology submitted its report on the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-dna-technology-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019.</strong></a> The purpose of the bill is to regulate the use of DNA information for establishing the identity of people. These profiles are then meant to guide law enforcement agencies in investigations.</p>
<p>The committee has underlined that it is important that state-of-the-art technologies are used in the criminal justice system, but this must be done without infringing constitutional rights, especially the Right to Privacy.</p>
<p>Although DNA technology can help law enforcement agencies, in solving crimes, the government must assuage apprehensions over the use of the DNA Technology Bill, 2019.</p>
<h3>Associated Issues With the Bill</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Violation of Right to Privacy:</strong> There are criticisms that the DNA profiling bill is a violation of human rights as it could also compromise the privacy of the individuals.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, questions are being raised on how the bill plans to safeguard the privacy of DNA profiles stored in the databanks.</li>
<li>The DNA profiling bill follows a long list of bills that are being introduced without the data protection law in place.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Complicate Criminal Investigations:</strong> Using DNA effectively during criminal investigations requires proper crime scene examination, trained and reliable policing, a trusted chain of custody of samples, reliable analysis, and proper use of expert evidence in court.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Without these prerequisites, a DNA database will exacerbate rather than solve problems in the criminal justice system.</li>
<li>For example, false matches or misinterpretation or planting of evidence can lead to the travesty of justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biological Surviallnce:</strong> All DNA footprints at a crime scene might not be of those associated with the incident.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is apprehension, therefore, that the DNA repository proposed by the Bill could end up bundling information of people who have nothing to do with the crime being investigated.</li>
<li>Thus, it may allow state-sanctioned biological surveillance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Supporting Infrastructure:</strong> The committee has also flagged the concerns over the lack of infrastructure for conducting DNA tests in the country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Presently, the labs in the country can fulfill only 2-3% of the country&rsquo;s DNA profiling requirement.</li>
<li>In Rajiv Singh v. State of Bihar (2011), the Supreme Court had dismissed improperly analyzed DNA evidence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Affecting Marginalized Sections:</strong> One of the longstanding defects of India&rsquo;s criminal justice system is the lack of legal aid systems to help both victims and accused, especially those from marginalized sections of society.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A growing body of literature has shown that most people charged with criminal offenses are not aware of their rights.</li>
<li>This concern may exacerbate when a sophisticated technology, such as DNA profiling, is deployed to establish a crime.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Misuse In Caste-Based Profiling:</strong> The standing committee pointed out that the DNA profiles can reveal extremely sensitive information of an individual &amp; hence could be misused for caste/community-based profiling.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Giving Priority To Privacy Protection:</strong> The government is bestowed with the responsibility of protecting the citizens&rsquo; privacy. The easiest way to achieve this would be prior adoption of a privacy or Data protection bill, 2019.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would allow individuals some recourse if their rights were not protected.</li>
<li>This is particularly important, especially following the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Right to Privacy judgment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Establishing Independent Regulator:</strong> The Bill&rsquo;s proposed DNA Regulatory Board is still too powerful and insufficiently transparent or accountable.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, consideration should be given to an independent forensic science regulator to ensure oversight of both laboratory quality assurance and crime scene examination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Transparency:</strong> With a new system of indexing DNA profiles of undertrials, criminals, missing and deceased persons, it becomes all the more important to think about the openness of the techniques of DNA profiling.</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Human &amp; Infrastructure Requirements:</strong> The effective and just use of this technology will require educating a range of criminal justice functionaries &mdash; police, lawyers, magistrates.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the infrastructural issues linked with the number of labs need to be addressed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Supreme Court in Malak Singh vs. State of Punjab 1981 verdict held that organized crime cannot be successfully fought without a close watch of suspects. But surveillance cannot infringe the fundamental right to personal liberty.</p>
<p>In this context, there is the need for creating an enabling ecosystem to ensure that such profiling is done according to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fefff5;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Organized crime cannot be successfully fought without a close watch of suspects, but surveillance cannot infringe the fundamental right to personal liberty. Analyze the statement in the context of the DNA Technology Regulation Bill,2019.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UIpleWqMfzM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/order-at-the-border-the-hindu-editorial-on-india-china-disengagement-at-the-lac/article33814189.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Order at the border: On disengagement at the LAC&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on February 12<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7685,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Schemes for Reducing Tax Disputes',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Finance Secretary has said that the <strong>new system of faceless assessment and appeal</strong> would help bring down tax disputes substantially.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tax Disputes (Data):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per official data, the <strong>amount involved in tax disputes </strong>was<strong> over Rs. 11 lakh crore in FY19-end, up 23% over a year-ago.</strong></li>
<li>Since India has a very <strong>high number of tax litigations, </strong>the <strong>resolution times are significantly higher,</strong> involving time and cost (on the part of the government as well as taxpayers).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives Taken to Reduce Tax Disputes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dispute Resolution Committee:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/budget-2021-highlights-minimum-government-maximum-governance-and-fiscal-position" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget 2021</strong></a>, the Minister of Finance has proposed the formation of a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) in order to provide quicker relief to taxpayers in tax disputes.</li>
<li>It will be<strong> formed under a new section, 245MA,</strong> of the Income Tax Act.</li>
<li>The DRC will <strong>cater to small taxpayers</strong> having a taxable income of up to Rs. 50 lakh and a disputed income of up to Rs. 10 lakh.</li>
<li>The Committee <strong>will have the powers</strong> to reduce, waive any penalty or give immunity from any offence punishable under the Income Tax Act.</li>
<li>The <strong>alternative mechanism through the DRC</strong> shall help taxpayers in preventing new disputes and settling the issue at the very initial stage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has been<strong> ranked at 88 in the World Rule of Law Index 2020</strong> in terms of accessibility of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Faceless Assessment and Appeal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Prime Minister in August 2020 announced three key structural tax reforms under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/transparent-taxation-honoring-the-honest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;Transparent Taxation - Honouring the Honest&rsquo; platform</strong></a> - faceless assessment, faceless appeal and taxpayers&rsquo; charter.</li>
<li>The <strong>faceless assessment system</strong> was launched to remove the need of the physical presence of the taxpayers in front of the tax officials. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since the launch of faceless random assessment, over 50,000 disputes have been settled.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>faceless appeals system</strong> aims to eliminate discretionary powers of the taxman, curb corrupt practices and provide ease of compliance to taxpayers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Income Tax<strong> appeals will be finalised in a faceless manner</strong> with the exception of appeals related to serious fraud, major tax evasion, search matters, international tax issues and matters pertaining to black money.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>tax charter</strong> elaborated on the rights and responsibilities of the taxpayers to help them familiarise with the whole process of Income Tax collection.</li>
<li>The effort is on to establish a<strong> National Faceless Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Centre</strong> that will offer personal hearings through video-conferencing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/direct-tax-vivad-se-vishwas-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>scheme</strong></a> provides for <strong>settlement of disputed tax, disputed interest, disputed penalty or disputed fees</strong> in relation to an assessment or reassessment order on payment of 100% of the disputed tax and 25% of the disputed penalty or interest or fee.</li>
<li>The <strong>Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020</strong> was enacted in March 2020 to settle direct tax disputes locked up in various appellate forums.</li>
<li>As many as 1.25 lakh cases, a quarter of all direct disputes, have opted for Vivad se Vishwas scheme, enabling settlement of Rs. 97,000 crore in tax demands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/estimated-tax-buoyancy-for-fy22-neither-conservative-nor-unduly-optimistic-ajay-bhushan-pandey-7186471/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7684,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Lateral Entry Into the Administrative Services',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)</strong> has issued an advertisement to recruit 30 persons at the Joint Secretary and Director level in the Central administration through<strong> Lateral Entry.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term lateral entry relates to the<strong> appointment of specialists,</strong> mainly those <strong>from the private sector,</strong> in government organisations.</li>
<li>Government is looking for <strong>outstanding individuals, with expertise</strong> in revenue, financial services, economic affairs, agriculture, cooperation and farmers&rsquo; welfare, road transport and highway, shipping, environment, forests and climate change, and new and renewable energy, civil aviation and commerce.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages of Lateral Entry:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Addresses Complexity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>People with expertise and specialist domain knowledge are required</strong> to navigate the complex needs of present day administrative challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Meets Personnel Requirement:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Lateral entry will help in <strong>addressing the problem of shortage of IAS officers</strong> at the Centre.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Organisation Culture:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will<strong> help in bringing the values of economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the Government sector.</strong></li>
<li>It will help in building a <strong>culture of performance</strong> within the Government sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participatory Governance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the present times, governance is becoming more participatory and a multi actor endeavour, thus <strong>lateral entry provides stakeholders such as the private sector and non-profits</strong> an opportunity to participate in the governance process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Involved:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Need for Transparent Process:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The key to the success of this scheme would lie in <strong>selecting the right people</strong> in a manner which is manifestly transparent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Difference in Organisational Values:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The value systems between the government and the private sector are quite different.</li>
<li>It is important to ensure that the people who come in are able to have the <strong>skills to adjust to a totally different system of functioning.</strong> This is because the government imposes its own limitations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Profit Motive vs Public Service: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Private sector</strong> approach is <strong>profit oriented.</strong> On the other hand, the motive of <strong>Government is public service.</strong> This is also a fundamental transition that a private sector person has to make while working in government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Internal Resistance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Lateral entry is likely to face strong resistance from in service Civil Servants and their associations. It <strong>may also demotivate existing officials.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Conflict of Interest:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The movement from the private sector raises issues of potential conflict of interest. Thus, a <strong>stringent code of conduct for entrants</strong> is required.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Narrow Scope:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Lateral entry at only top level policy making positions may have <strong>little impact on field level implementation,</strong> given the multiple links in the chain of command from the Union Government to a rural village.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Lateral entry is <strong>not a panacea for the ills of governance.</strong> However, it opens a small window to get the <strong>best from the American and British system</strong> and puts <strong>pressure on the system to reform and perform.</strong></li>
<li>For lateral entry to deliver and more importantly win the confidence of the most oppressed sections of society, it<strong> must be fair, transparent, and egalitarian.</strong> Agencies such as UPSC can play a role based on a selection process approved by Parliament.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/upsc-advertises-for-lateral-entry-into-central-administration/article33814013.ece#:~:text=The%20Union%20Public%20Service%20Commission,for%20various%20Departments%20and%20Ministries." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7679,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Law-Tech',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/how-tech-can-transform-law-enforcement-101613053457914.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;How tech can transform law enforcement&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindustan Times on 12/02/2021. It talks about how technology can help law enforcement agencies.</p>
</div>
<p>Police forces have the critical responsibility of maintaining law and order among citizens. They are responsible for ensuring citizen safety without disrupting their daily lives. Maintaining the balance between being vigilant and being obtrusive is a challenge that the police forces face quite often.</p>
<p>Another challenge for the police is monitoring a large population for potential threats. In India, the police to population ratio is less than 150 per 100,000, whereas the United Nations recommends 222 police officials per 100,000 residents.</p>
<p>While more police does not necessarily mean less crime, technology in today&rsquo;s world can help law enforcement agencies (LEA) perform their duties better and ensure public safety. Moreover, the adoption of technology in their operations can act as a force multiplier.</p>
<h3>Advantages of Technology in Law Enforcement</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Citizen-Friendly Policing:</strong> Most citizens in India are averse to going to a police station. Technology can help make this interaction more pleasant.<strong> For example:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These digital portals also provide an easy and transparent mechanism to the citizens to register their complaints, provide feedback and track their complaint status.</li>
<li>Technology can also be used to provide senior police officials dashboard views for their areas of jurisdiction, identify trends, patterns, outliers and take corrective action.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leveraging Social Media:</strong> The social media interaction can be both &ldquo;push&rdquo; &mdash; alerts are sent to citizens &mdash; or &ldquo;pull&rdquo; &mdash; citizens access the social media page/handle in order to get the desired information.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In addition, social media can be used by LEAs to reach out directly to citizens &mdash; providing information on traffic jams, how to protect against cybercrime, dispelling rumors, countering fake news.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crime Detection:</strong> Technology can effectively help get a digital footprint of the criminal. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to match fingerprints, facial images, analyze CCTV footage and recognize vehicle number plates.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Big Data can be used to integrate data from multiple sources such as social media tools, financial institutions, travel records, hotel stays, CDRs and criminal records. This can help create a 360-degree view of the criminal and draw linkages between criminal associates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crime Prevention:</strong> Big Data can play a major role as it can be used to identify crime patterns and hot spots. AI can be used to draw correlations between the type of crime, time, location.</li>
<li><strong>Improving Efficiency:</strong> Technology can address gaps associated with hiring, training, postings of LEAs, thereby ensuring a more &ldquo;balanced&rdquo; and effective organization.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Similarly, key performance indicators such as the time taken to file a charge-sheet, types of crimes solved, time is taken to address complaints, citizen feedback scores can be used to determine an officer&rsquo;s performance in a more objective manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Real-time Integration:</strong> The five pillars of the criminal justice system are police, courts, prosecution, jails and forensics. Countless man-years are lost in taking physical files from one place to another.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Real-time integration between the information technology systems of these pillars will help in reducing duplicate data entry and errors.</li>
<li>This will significantly increase the efficiency of our LEAs and, at the same time, drastically reduce the time taken to provide justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Police Reforms:</strong> Technology can aid the LEAs&rsquo; functioning to a great extent, but cannot completely become a replacement for the human element.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, technology adoption needs to be corroborated by long-pending police reforms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tackling Side-Effects of Technology:</strong> Technology usage faces issues like privacy, police versus community concerns, data retention and public disclosure policies, and financial considerations.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, it is the duty of the state to expedite the enactment of the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 and DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018.</li>
<li>Further, debate and deliberations regarding these issues must be put in the public domain in a transparent manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Digital Trust Framework:</strong> There is a need to imbibe Digital ethics, which is a broader framework that includes technology, transparent data and digital ethics to create digital trust in society.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613132974_image.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613132974_image.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="485" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>New digital technologies are transforming the ways police protect and serve, allowing agencies to prevent crimes more effectively and solve crimes faster.</p>
<p>There is a need for keeping pace with technologies that assist law enforcement globally and adopt them, as suited to the Indian environment.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2fff5;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The adoption of technology can act as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DWvx-LcKcbg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/origin-and-spread-the-hindu-editorial-on-identifying-the-source-of-sars-cov-2/article33804274.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Origin and spread: On the source of SARS-CoV-2&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on February 11<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7678,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Bonded Labour in India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, fifteen bonded labourers were rescued by the district administration of Guna in Madhya Pradesh. These labourers were being subjected to inhuman treatment and torture by their employer.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bonded Labour:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a practice in which <strong>employers give high-interest loans to workers who work at low wages</strong> to pay off the debt.</li>
<li>The <strong>Supreme Court of India</strong> has interpreted bonded labour as the <strong>payment of wages that are below the prevailing market wages</strong> and legal minimum wages.</li>
<li>Bonded labour was<strong> historically associated with rural economies</strong> where peasants from economically disadvantaged communities were bound to work for the landlords.</li>
<li>Bonded labour is found to <strong>exist in both rural and urban pockets</strong> in unorganized industries such as brick kilns, stone quarries, coal mining, agricultural labour, domestic servitude, circus, and sexual slavery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Obligations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is obliged to end modern slavery by 2030 under the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Sustainable Development Goal</strong> </a>(Target 8.7) of ending forced labour, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-war-against-human-trafficking" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>human trafficking</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-against-child-labour" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>child labour</strong></a>.</li>
<li>India has also ratified the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ILO</strong></a> Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105).</li>
<li>India also<strong> aspires to improve its rank</strong> (53<sup>rd</sup> out of 167 countries in the year 2018) in the <strong>Global Slavery Index.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Article 21</strong> deals with the Right to Life and Personal Liberty.</li>
<li><strong>Article 23</strong> of the Constitution prohibits forced labour.</li>
<li><strong>Article 24</strong> prohibits the employment of children (below the age of fourteen years) in factories, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Article 39</strong> directs the State to secure the health and strength of workers, men and women, and to see the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Legislations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Act extends to the whole of India but implemented by respective state governments.</li>
<li>It provides for an institutional mechanism at the district level in the form of Vigilance Committees.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Vigilance committees advise District Magistrate (DM) to ensure the provisions of this Act are properly implemented.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The State Governments/UTs may confer, on an Executive Magistrate, the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or second class for the trial of offences under this Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers (2016):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 3 lakhs</strong> is provided to released bonded labourers along with other non-cash assistance for their livelihood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Persistence of Bonded Labour:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The lack of awareness among workers and employers.</li>
<li>Low conviction rates.</li>
<li>Social bias towards bonded labour.</li>
<li>Migratory nature of bonded labour.</li>
<li>Weaker implementation of Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976.</li>
<li>Punishment for forced labour (Section 374 of IPC&ndash; unlawful compulsory labour) is not appropriate.</li>
<li>Lack of proper coordination at the national and regional level, and among governments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Measures Needed to End Bonded Labour:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Organising <strong>national campaigns</strong> to provide information to the public on how to report and identify victims of bonded labour.</li>
<li>Popularising the National Child Hotline which is partly supported by the Ministry of Women &amp; Child Development, and a national helpline for trafficking victims exists, run by Operation Red Alert.</li>
<li>Efficient rehabilitation of rescued victims to prevent them from being forced into bonded labour again. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Productive and income generating schemes</strong> must be formulated in advance otherwise they will again fall back upon the system of bonded labour after their release.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bonded-labourers-rescued-in-guna-after-five-made-to-pick-coins-out-of-hot-oil-7185013/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7677,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'National Coal Index',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Ministry of Coal</strong> has started <strong>commercial auction of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/coal-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coal</a> mines </strong>on<strong> a revenue share basis </strong>using the<strong> National Coal Index (NCI).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NCI was <strong>rolled out in June 2020.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a price index which <strong>reflects the change of price level of coal in a particular month relative to the fixed base year.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The base year for the NCI is <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Financial Year</a> 2017-18. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Compilation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Prices of coal from all the sales channels of coal,</strong> including import, as existing today are taken into account for compiling the NCI.</li>
<li>The <strong>amount of revenue share</strong> per tonne of coal produced from auctioned blocks would be arrived at using the NCI by means of defined formula.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sub-Indices:</strong> NCI is composed of a set of<strong> five</strong> sub-indices: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Three for <strong>Non Coking Coal</strong> and two for <strong>Coking Coal.</strong></li>
<li>The three sub-indices for Non Coking Coal are combined to arrive at the Index for Non Coking Coal and the two sub-indices for Coking Coal are combined to arrive at the Index for Coking Coal.</li>
<li>Thus,<strong> indices are separate for Non Coking and Coking Coal.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the grade of coal pertaining to a mine, the appropriate sub-index is used to arrive at the revenue share.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Coal</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel which <strong>holds 55% of India's energy need.</strong></li>
<li>Based on the <strong>uses,</strong> coal is divided into <strong>two types:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Coking Coal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This type of coal when subjected to high temperature carbonisation i.e. heating in the absence of air to a temperature above 600 degree Celsius, <strong>forms a solid porous residue called coke.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Coke</strong> is fed into a blast furnace along with iron ore and limestone to produce steel in steel plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Coking coal is desired to be of<strong> low ash percentage.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Use:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mainly used in steel making and metallurgical industries.</li>
<li>Also used for hard coke manufacturing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non Coking Coal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are coals without coking properties.</li>
<li><strong>Use:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is the coal used in thermal power plants to generate electricity, so it is also known as <strong>steam coal or thermal coal.</strong></li>
<li>Also used for cement, fertilizer, glass, ceramic, paper, chemical and brick manufacturing, and for other heating purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Coal is <strong>also classified into four ranks: anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite.</strong> The ranking <strong>depends on the types and amounts of carbon the coal contains </strong>and<strong> on the amount of heat energy</strong> the coal can produce.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1697033" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7672,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Indian Laws and Blocking of Internet Content: Centre vs Twitter',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> government of India reprimanded Twitter (micro-blogging website) for not complying with its order to block more than a thousand accounts</strong> for alleged spread of provocative content and misinformation on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>farmers&rsquo; protest.</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613112112_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613112112_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="626" height="348" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Current Issue:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Centre has issued notice to the micro-blogging site after it restored more than 250 accounts</strong> that had been suspended earlier on the government&rsquo;s &lsquo;legal demand&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The government wants the platform (Twitter) to comply with its earlier order of<strong> 31<sup>st</sup> January, 2021</strong> by which it was <strong>asked to block accounts</strong> and a controversial hashtag that spoke of an impending &lsquo;genocide&rsquo; of farmers for allegedly promoting misinformation about the protests, adversely affecting public order.</li>
<li>The <strong>micro-blogging site</strong> reinstated the accounts and tweets on its own and later <strong>refused to go back on the decision, contending that it found no violation of its policy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Law Related to Blocking of Internet Services/Content:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Information Technology Act, 2000:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-it-rules-issued-by-government" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000</strong></a>, as amended from time to time, governs all activities related to the use of computer resources.</li>
<li>It covers all<strong> &lsquo;intermediaries&rsquo;</strong> who play a role in the use of computer resources and electronic records.</li>
<li>The<strong> role of the intermediaries</strong> has been spelt out in separate rules framed for the purpose in 2011- <strong>The Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Section 69 of the IT Act:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It confers on the Central and State governments the <strong>power to issue directions &ldquo;to intercept, monitor or decrypt any information</strong> generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource&rdquo;.</li>
<li>The <strong>grounds on which these powers may be exercised</strong> are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state.</li>
<li>Friendly relations with foreign states.</li>
<li>Public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to these.</li>
<li>For investigating any offence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Process of Blocking Internet Websites:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Section 69A,</strong> for similar reasons and grounds (as stated above), <strong>enables the Centre to ask any agency of the government, or any intermediary, to block access to the public of any information generated,</strong> transmitted, received or stored or hosted <strong>on any computer resource.</strong></li>
<li>Any such request for blocking access <strong>must be based on reasons given in writing.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intermediaries as per the IT Act 2000:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Intermediary is defined in<strong> Section 2(1) (w)</strong> of the IT Act 2000.</li>
<li>The term &lsquo;intermediaries&rsquo; includes <strong>providers of telecom service, network service, Internet service and web hosting,</strong> besides <strong>search engines, online payment and auction sites, online marketplaces and cyber cafes.</strong></li>
<li>It includes any person who, on behalf of another, <strong>&ldquo;receives, stores or transmits&rdquo; any electronic record. Social media platforms</strong> would fall under this definition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Obligations of Intermediaries under the Law:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Intermediaries are<strong> required to preserve and retain specified information in a manner and format prescribed by the Centre</strong> for a specified duration.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Contravention of this provision <strong>may attract a prison term that may go up to three years,</strong> besides a fine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>When a direction is given for monitoring,</strong> the intermediary and any person in charge of a computer resource should extend technical assistance in the form of giving access or securing access to the resource involved.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Failure to extend such assistance may entail a <strong>prison term of up to seven years, besides a fine.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Failure to comply with a direction to block access</strong> to the public on a government&rsquo;s written request also<strong> attracts a prison term of up to seven years, besides a fine.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Liability of Intermediaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 79</strong> of the IT Act 2000 makes it clear that &ldquo;an <strong>intermediary shall not be liable for any third-party information,</strong> data, or communication link made available or hosted by him&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Third party information</strong> means any information dealt with by a network service provider in his capacity as an intermediary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This<strong> protects intermediaries</strong> such as Internet and data service providers and those hosting websites <strong>from being made liable</strong> for content that users may post or generate.</li>
<li><strong>Sections 79</strong> also introduced the concept of<strong> &ldquo;notice and take down&rdquo;</strong> provision. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides that an <strong>intermediary would lose its immunity</strong> if upon receiving actual knowledge or on being notified that any information, data or communication link residing in or connected to a computer resource controlled by it is being used to <strong>commit an unlawful act</strong> and it fails to expeditiously remove or disable access to that material.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supreme Court&rsquo;s Stand Related to Intermediaries in IT Act 2000:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In<em><strong> Shreya Singhal vs Union of India (2015),</strong></em> the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>read down the provision to mean that the <strong>intermediaries ought to act only upon receiving actual knowledge that a court order has been passed,</strong> asking [them] to expeditiously remove or disable access to certain material.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Intermediaries to Show Compliance to IT Act:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>International Requirement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Most nations have framed laws</strong> mandating cooperation by Internet service providers or web hosting service providers and other intermediaries <strong>to cooperate with law and order authorities in certain circumstances.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Fight Cybercrime:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cooperation between technology services companies and law enforcement agencies is now deemed a <strong>vital part of fighting <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rising-cybercrimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybercrime</a></strong> and various other crimes that are committed using computer resources.</li>
<li>These cover <strong>hacking, digital impersonation and theft of data.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Prevent Misuse of Internet:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The potential of the misuse has led to law enforcement officials constantly seeking to curb the ill-effects of using the medium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-laws-must-be-followed-government-to-twitter/article33798461.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'added' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'modified' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'tags'
	
	}
]
$title = 'Article Tags'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Articles/tags.ctp, line 61
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

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