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Net Zero Carbon Targets and Climate Change: Oxfam Report

Why in News Recently, a report (Tightening the Net) published by Oxfam International has said that announcing Net Zero Carbon Targets may be a...

04 Aug 2021 Important International Institutions
India Assumes UNSC Presidency

Why in News Recently, India assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August 2021. This will be the...

02 Aug 2021 Important International Institutions
World Economic Outlook: IMF

Why in News The latest edition of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook has cut its 2021 growth forecast for India to...

28 Jul 2021 Important International Institutions
UN’s Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2021

Why in News Recently, India has scored 90.32% in United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific's (UNESCAP) Global Survey on Digital...

26 Jul 2021 Important International Institutions
UNESCO Delists Liverpool of Its World Heritage Status

Why in News Recently, the city of Liverpool, England has been removed from UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural...

23 Jul 2021 Important International Institutions
Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Why in News The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has demanded an additional $200 billion fund flow to developing countries...

14 Jul 2021 Important International Institutions
India Rejects OIC’s Proposal

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) proposal to assist a dialogue...

09 Jul 2021 Important International Institutions
Malaria Free China

Why in News The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared China as “malaria-free”. It is a result of a seven decade-long,...

07 Jul 2021 Important International Institutions
India Joins OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework Tax Deal

Why in News India and the majority of the members of OECD-G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) have joined a new...

06 Jul 2021 Important International Institutions
Energy Compacts

Why in News National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited has become the first energy company in the energy domain in India to declare its...

30 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
The World Drug Report 2021: UNODC

Why in News Recently, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in its World Drug Report 2021, has highlighted that the lockdown...

26 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
China as a Security Risk: NATO

Why in News The recently held North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit for the first time has explicitly described China as a security...

22 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
Antonio Guterres: 2nd Term UN Secretary General

Why in News The United Nations General Assembly appointed Antonio Guterres as the ninth UN Secretary General (UNSG) for a second term beginning 1st...

19 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
Loan to Sri Lanka for Solar Energy

Why in News Recently, India has signed an agreement extending a USD 100 million Line of Credit (LOC) to Sri Lanka for projects in the Solar Energy...

17 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
42nd Session of FAO Conference

Why in News Recently, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare addressed the 42nd session of Food and Agriculture...

16 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister delivered a keynote address at the United Nations (UN) “High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land...

15 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
47th G7 Summit

Why in News Recently, the Indian Prime Minister addressed the 47th G7 Summit 2021 through video conferencing. Earlier, the Finance Ministers from...

14 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
Global Economic Prospects: World Bank

Why in News Recently, the World Bank has released its June 2021 Global Economic Prospects where it has forecast India’s GDP growth to be 8.3%...

10 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
China-ASEAN Meeting

Why in News Recently, China hosted a meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. The...

10 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions
Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate: G7

Why in News Recently, the Finance Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations reached a landmark accord setting a Global Minimum Corporate Tax...

08 Jun 2021 Important International Institutions

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		'article_id' => (int) 9123,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Net Zero Carbon Targets and Climate Change: Oxfam Report',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <strong>report (Tightening the Net) published by Oxfam International</strong> has said that announcing<strong> Net Zero Carbon Targets may be a dangerous distraction from the priority of cutting carbon emissions.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Many countries like New Zealand, UK, US, China and the European Union have set net-zero targets on greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change.</li>
<li>The report emphasises that <strong>reducing emissions cannot be considered a substitute for cutting emissions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Oxfam International</strong> is a group of independent non-governmental organisations formed in 1995.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Point</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Net-zero:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Net-zero, also means carbon neutrality, is a state in which a <strong>country&rsquo;s emissions are compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases</strong> from the atmosphere. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero. That would be <strong>gross-zero,</strong> which means reaching a state where there are no emissions at all, a scenario hard to comprehend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>One way by which carbon can be absorbed is <strong>by creating carbon sinks.</strong> This way, it is even possible for a country<strong> to have negative emissions, if the absorption and removal exceed the actual emissions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Until recently, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amazon-rainforest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Amazon rainforests</strong></a> in South America, which are the largest tropical forests in the world, were carbon sinks. But eastern parts of these forests have started emitting CO2 instead of absorbing carbon emissions as a result of significant deforestation.</li>
<li><strong>Bhutan has negative emissions,</strong> because it absorbs more than it emits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Countries that have announced net-zero Targets (Some Examples):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>European Union</strong> has a plan, called <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fit-for-55-package-eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Fit for 55&rdquo;</strong></a>, to deliver the carbon neutrality goal.</li>
<li><strong>China</strong> also announced that it would become net-zero by the year 2060 and that it would not allow its emissions to peak beyond what they are in 2030.</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-energy-review-2020-iea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Energy Agency&rsquo;s (IEA)</strong></a> has released its <strong>Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap - named &lsquo;Net Zero by 2050&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings of the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>A very big area is needed to control energy sector emissions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the entire energy sector-whose emissions continue to soar- were to set similar &lsquo;net-zero&rsquo; targets, it would require an area of land nearly the size of the Amazon rainforest, equivalent to a third of all farmland worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Forests required:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the challenge of change is tackled only by way of planting more trees, then about 1.6 billion hectares of new forests would be required to remove the world&rsquo;s excess carbon emissions by the year 2050.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land- Based Methods can raise food crises:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Currently, countries&rsquo; plans to cut emissions will only lead to a 1% reduction by the year 2030.</li>
<li>Significantly, if only land-based methods (Forestation) to deal with climate change are used, food crises are expected to rise even more. Oxfam estimates that they could rise by 80% by the year 2050.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need to cut emissions significantly:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To limit global warming below 1.5&deg;C and to prevent irreversible damage from climate change, the world needs to collectively be on track and should aim to cut emissions by 45% by 2030 from 2010 levels, &ldquo;with the sharpest being made by the biggest emitters.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Analysis (Net-Zero vs Climate Change):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>&lsquo;Net-Zero&rsquo; Reduces the Responsibility of &lsquo;Biggest Emitters&rsquo;:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Many governments and companies are adopting net zero climate targets as they recognize the urgency of the climate crisis.</li>
<li>Without clear definition, however, these targets risk being reliant on using vast swathes of land in low-income countries to capture carbon emissions, allowing the biggest emitters to avoid making significant cuts in their own emissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>May Increase the Demand for Land:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It could also lead to an explosion in demand for land which, if not subject to careful safeguards, <strong>might risk increasing hunger and fueling land inequality.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Net zero should be a pathway to real and transformative climate action and not greenwash. Carbon emissions need to be reduced now, and land-based climate solutions must center &lsquo;food-first&rsquo; approaches that help achieve both zero emissions and zero hunger.</p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/net-zero-carbon-emissions-climate-change-7436649/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9049,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India Assumes UNSC Presidency',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India assumed the presidency of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council (UNSC)</strong></a> for the month of August 2021.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will be the <strong>country&rsquo;s first presidency during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member</strong> of the Security Council.</li>
<li>India began its<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-at-unsc-previous-contribution-current-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in January 2021.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is India's <strong>eighth term</strong> on the UNSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s UNSC Presidency:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India will<strong> decide the UN body&rsquo;s agenda for the month</strong> and coordinate important meetings on a range of issues.</li>
<li>It is going to<strong> organise key events</strong> in three major areas of<strong> maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Security Council will also have on its agenda several important meetings including <strong>Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and the Middle East.</strong></li>
<li>The Security Council will also be adopting important resolutions on<strong> Somalia, Mali, &amp; <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> Interim Force in Lebanon.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi will be the<strong> first Indian PM</strong> to preside over a meeting of the UNSC.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The last time an Indian PM was engaged in this effort was the then PM <strong>PV Narasimha Rao in 1992</strong> when he attended a UNSC meeting.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support from France &amp; Russia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>France</strong> has stated that it is dedicated to <strong>collaborating with India over strategic problems</strong> such as maritime security, peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism.</li>
<li><strong>Russia</strong> welcomed the country gaining the UNSC presidency saying it is very <strong>impressed by India&rsquo;s agenda,</strong> which embraces <strong>critical global concerns.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges for India at UNSC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China Challenge:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is entering the UNSC at a time when Beijing is asserting itself at the global stage much more vigorously than ever. It heads at least six UN organisations and has challenged the global rules.</li>
<li>China&rsquo;s aggressive behaviour in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific</strong></a> as well as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-China border</strong></a> has been visible in all of 2020.</li>
<li>China has tried to raise the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked#:~:text=Issues%20in%20Revoking&amp;text=India%20has%20used%20Article%20370,the%20Indian%20Constitution%20to%20J%26K.&amp;text=It%20will%20also%20clear%20the,and%20settle%20permanently%20in%20J%26K." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> issue of Kashmir</strong></a> at the UNSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Post Covid World Order:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As the <strong>global economy is in shambles with various countries facing recession and health emergencies. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing USA and Russia and Unstable West Asia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With the situation <strong>deteriorating between the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/recalibration-of-india-russia-ties" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US and Russia</a> and increasing tensions between <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/assassination-of-iranian-general-qassem-soleimani" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US and Iran</a>,</strong> it will be a <strong>tough situation to handle for India.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>needs to uphold rule based world order</strong> with due respect to human rights ensuring the national interest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nation Security Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UNs Charter established six main organs of the UN, including the UNSC. Article 23</strong> of the UN Charter concerns the composition of the UNSC.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The other 5 organs of the UN are&mdash;the <strong>General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The UNSC has been given <strong>primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security</strong> and may meet whenever peace is threatened.</li>
<li>While other organs of the UN make recommendations to member states, <strong>only the Security Council has the power to make decisions</strong> that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The council is headquartered at <strong>NewYork.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The UNSC is<strong> composed of 15 members, 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Five permanent members:</strong> China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.</li>
<li><strong>Ten non-permanent members:</strong> Elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Each year, <strong>the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term.</strong> The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis.</li>
<li>The council's<strong> presidency is a capacity that rotates every month among its 15 members.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Voting and Discussions at UNSC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Each member of the Security Council has one vote.</strong> Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>"No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Any member of the UN</strong> which is not a member of the Security Council <strong>may participate, without vote, in the discussion</strong> of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India as a Permanent Member:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <strong>has been advocating a permanent seat in UNSC.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>has the following objective criteria,</strong> such as population, territorial size, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/base-year-for-gdp-calculations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></a>, economic potential, civilisational legacy, cultural diversity, political system and past and ongoing contributions to UN activities especially to<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-peacekeepers-in-south-sudan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> UN peacekeeping operations</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-takes-over-unsc-presidency-for-month-of-august-7432878/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9006,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Economic Outlook: IMF',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The latest edition of the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Monetary Fund&rsquo;s (IMF)</a> World Economic Outlook</strong> has cut its <strong>2021</strong> growth forecast for India to 9.5% from 12.5% estimated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-outlook-imf-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>earlier in April 2021.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While re-calibrating its forecast IMF considered two major factors which are <strong>access to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corbevax-covid-19-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vaccines</a></strong> and <strong>risk of new <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-delta-plus-variant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Corona-variants.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian economy is expected to grow by <strong>9.5% in 2021</strong> and <strong>8.5% in 2022</strong> (larger than the <strong>6.9% it had projected in April).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2020,</strong> India&rsquo;s economy witnessed an estimated<strong> contraction of 8%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The IMF has cut its growth forecast because of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reasons-for-rising-covid-19-infections-second-wave" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 Second Wave</strong></a> that hit the recovery momentum, damaging consumer confidence and rural demand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Retained its global growth forecast at <strong>6% for the year 2021,</strong> and it is expected to grow at <strong>4.9% for the year 2022.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>In 2020,</strong> the global economy <strong>contracted by 3.3%</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Trade Volume:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Revised up its predictions of global trade volume growth by a sharp 130 bps <strong>for 2021 to 9.7%</strong> and <strong>50 bps for 2022 to 7%.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India is set to benefit</strong> from an expected rise in global trade prospects once its supply side gains traction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tighter External Financial Conditions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Emerging markets <strong>should prepare for possibly tighter external financial conditions by lengthening debt maturities</strong> where possible and limiting the buildup of unhedged foreign currency debt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Avoid Premature Tightening Policies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Central banks should avoid premature tightening policies when faced with <strong>transitory <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inflation-data-february-2021#:~:text=Inflation%20refers%20to%20the%20rise,commodities%20and%20services%20over%20time." target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflation</a> pressures</strong> but should be prepared to move quickly if inflation expectations show <strong>signs of de-anchoring.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prioritize Health Spending:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Fiscal policy<strong> should continue to prioritize health spending,</strong> including on vaccine production and distribution infrastructure, personnel, and public health campaigns, to boost take-up.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Fiscal policy</strong> is the means by which a government adjusts its spending levels and tax rates to monitor and influence a nation's economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The IMF was set up along with the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> after the<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-war-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Second World War</strong> </a>to assist in the reconstruction of war-ravaged countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two organisations were agreed to be set up at a conference in Bretton Woods in the US. Hence, they are <strong>known as the Bretton Woods twins.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and accountable to the 189 countries</strong> that make up its near-global membership. India joined on <strong>27<sup>th</sup> December, 1945.</strong></li>
<li>The IMF's primary purpose is <strong>to ensure the stability of the international monetary system &mdash;</strong> the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries (and their citizens) to transact with each other.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Fund's <strong>mandate was updated in 2012</strong> to include all macroeconomic and financial sector issues that bear on global stability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reports by IMF:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-april-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Financial Stability Report</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-outlook-imf-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Economic Outlook</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Economic Outlook</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a survey by the <strong>IMF that is usually published twice a year</strong> in the months of April and October.</li>
<li>It analyzes and predicts <strong>global economic developments during the near and medium term.</strong></li>
<li>In response to the growing demand for more frequent forecast updates, the <strong>WEO Update is published in January and July between</strong> the two main WEO publications released usually<strong> in April and October.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/imf-india-gdp-growth-forecast-fy22-7425150/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8973,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'UN’s Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2021',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>India has scored 90.32% in United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific's (UNESCAP)</strong> Global<strong> Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This is a remarkable jump from <strong>78.49% in 2019.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627286938_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627286938_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Survey:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The survey is<strong> conducted every two years by UNESCAP</strong> and includes <strong>an assessment of 58 trade facilitation measures covered by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-trade-organisation-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Trade Organization&rsquo;s</a> Trade Facilitation Agreement.</strong></li>
<li><strong>58 measures include</strong> publications of existing import-export rules on the internet, risk management, advance ruling on tariff classification, pre-arrival processing, independent appeal mechanism, expedited shipments, automated customs system, among others.</li>
<li>A<strong> higher score</strong> for a country <strong>helps businesses in their investment decisions.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>UN Regional Commissions jointly conduct the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation.</strong></li>
<li>The Survey <strong>currently covers 143 economies around the globe.</strong> For Asia Pacific, it is conducted by UNESCAP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Assessment of India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It pointed out <strong>India&rsquo;s improvement in the scores on all five key indicators.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Transparency:&nbsp;</strong>100% in 2021 (from 93.33% in 2019)</li>
<li><strong>Formalities:</strong> 95.83% in 2021 (from 87.5% in 2019)</li>
<li><strong>Institutional Arrangement and Cooperation:</strong> 88.89% in 2021 (from 66.67% in 2019)</li>
<li><strong>Paperless Trade:</strong> 96.3% in 2021 (from 81.48% in 2019).</li>
<li><strong>Cross-Border Paperless Trade:</strong> 66.67% in 2021 (from 55.56% in 2019).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comparison with Other Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is the<strong> best performing nation</strong> as compared to the <strong>South and South West Asia region</strong> (63.12%) and <strong>Asia Pacific region (65.85%).</strong></li>
<li>The overall score of India is <strong>also greater than many <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OECD</a> (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries</strong> including France, UK, Canada, Norway, Finland etc. and the overall score is<strong> greater than the average score of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EU (European Union)</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cause of Improvement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/turant-customs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CBIC</strong></a> (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) has been at forefront of path breaking reforms under the umbrella of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/turant-customs#:~:text=The%20Central%20Board%20of%20Indirect,exports%20under%20%27Turant%20Customs%27." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;Turant&rsquo;</strong></a> Customs to usher in a Faceless, Paperless and Contactless Customs by way of a series of reforms.</li>
<li>During the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, Customs formations worked to expedite imports such as oxygen-related equipment, life-saving medicines, vaccines etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations&rsquo; Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> It is a regional development arm of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> for the Asia-Pacific region.</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong> It has <strong>53 Member States</strong> and <strong>9 Associate Members</strong> from Asia-Pacific Region.<strong> India</strong> is also a member.</li>
<li><strong>Established:</strong> 1947</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Bangkok, Thailand</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> To overcome some of the region&rsquo;s greatest challenges by providing results-oriented projects, technical assistance and capacity building to member States.</li>
<li><strong>Recent report: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-and-social-survey-of-asia-and-the-pacific-2021-unescap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-Covid-19 resilient economies&rsquo;</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1737948" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8948,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'UNESCO Delists Liverpool of Its World Heritage Status',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the city of Liverpool, England has been removed from <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO&rsquo;s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)</strong></a> list of world heritage sites.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier six Indian places were added to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/six-sites-in-tentative-list-of-world-heritage-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tentative list of UNESCO&rsquo;s</strong></a> world heritage sites.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Liverpool:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627020838_1609828080_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627020838_1609828080_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The port city was <strong>included in the prestigious list for its architectural beauty</strong> and in recognition of its role as <strong>one of the world&rsquo;s most important ports</strong> during the <strong>18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> centuries.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>named a World Heritage Site in 2004</strong>, joining cultural landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asi-plan-to-conserve-taj-mahal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Taj Mahal</strong></a>, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The city is only the <strong>third place to be removed from the prestigious list.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Delisting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>new buildings including a football stadium</strong> undermine the attractiveness of its Victorian docks and were destroying the <strong>heritage value of its waterfront.</strong></li>
<li>The over development would <strong>irreversibly damage the heritage of the historic port.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Delisted Sites:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Wildlife sanctuary in Oman in 2007.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> poaching and habitat loss.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dresden Elbe valley in Germany in 2009.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> A four-lane motorway bridge was built over the river.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Heritage Site</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A World Heritage Site is a place that is <strong>listed by UNESCO for its special cultural or physical significance.</strong> The list of World Heritage Sites is maintained by the international <strong>'World Heritage Programme'</strong>, administered by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-committee-s-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO World Heritage Committee</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It seeks <strong>to encourage</strong> <strong>the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage</strong> around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.</li>
<li>This is embodied in an <strong>international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage</strong>, adopted by UNESCO in <strong>1972</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides a <strong>framework for international cooperation in preserving and protecting cultural treasures</strong> and natural areas throughout the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Types:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cultural heritage sites</strong> include historic buildings and town sites, important archaeological sites, and works of monumental sculpture or painting.</li>
<li><strong>Natural heritage sites</strong> are restricted to natural areas.</li>
<li><strong>Mixed heritage sites</strong> contain elements of both natural and cultural significance</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sites in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <strong>38 world heritage sites</strong>, including <strong>30 cultural properties, 7 natural</strong> properties and <strong>1 mixed site.</strong> The latest one included is <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jaipur-a-world-heritage-site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jaipur city, Rajasthan</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/unesco-strips-liverpool-of-its-world-heritage-status/article35446742.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8863,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity#:~:text=The%20Convention%20on%20Biological%20Diversity%20(CBD)%2C%20a%20legally%20binding,It%20has%203%20main%20objectives%3A&amp;text=The%20sustainable%20use%20of%20the,the%20utilization%20of%20genetic%20resources." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)</strong></a> has demanded an additional $200 billion fund flow to developing countries from various sources to manage nature through 2030.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is one of many demands and targets that have been set through 2030 in the official draft of a new <strong>Global Biodiversity Framework.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),</strong> a <strong>legally binding treaty</strong> to conserve biodiversity has been in force since 1993. It has <strong>3 main objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The conservation of biological diversity.</li>
<li>The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.</li>
<li>The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Nearly all countries have ratified it (notably, the<strong> US has signed but not ratified).</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada</strong> and it <strong>operates under the United Nations Environment Programme.</strong></li>
<li>The Parties (Countries) under Convention of Biodiversity (CBD), meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called <strong>Conference of Parties (COP).</strong></li>
<li>In 2000, a supplementary agreement to the Convention known as the <strong>Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety</strong> was adopted. It came into force on 11<sup>th</sup> September 2003.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS)</strong> was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan at COP10. It entered into force on 12<sup>th</sup> October 2014.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It not only applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD, and to the benefits arising from their utilization but also covers traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and the benefits arising from its utilization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Along with the Nagoya Protocol on Genetic Resources, the COP-10 also adopted a ten-year framework for action by all countries to save biodiversity.</li>
<li>Officially known as <strong>&ldquo;Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020&rdquo;,</strong> it provided a set of 20 ambitious yet achievable targets collectively known as the <strong>Aichi Targets for biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>enacted Biological Diversity Act in 2002</strong> for giving effect to the provisions of the CBD.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Biodiversity, and the benefits it provides, is fundamental to human well-being and a healthy planet. Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to continue or worsen under business-as-usual scenarios.</li>
<li>The post-2020 global biodiversity framework builds on the <strong>Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-for-biological-diversity-1#:~:text=The%20UNGA%20also%20declared%20the,living%20in%20harmony%20with%20nature." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020</strong></a> comes to an end, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN</strong></a> actively supports the development of what needs to be an ambitious new global biodiversity framework.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Guiding Force:</strong> It is a new framework that will be the <strong>global guiding force to protect nature</strong> and to retain its essential services for humans from 2020 to 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Setting Targets:</strong> This is a global, outcome-oriented framework for the<strong> Convention&rsquo;s 196 Parties</strong> to develop<strong> national and regional goals and targets,</strong> to update national strategies and action plans as needed, and to facilitate regular monitoring and review of progress at the global level.</li>
<li><strong>Urgent and Transformative Action:</strong> The framework <strong>aims to spur urgent and transformative action</strong> by Governments and all of society to contribute to the objectives of the <strong>Convention on Biological Diversity,</strong> its <strong>Protocols,</strong> and other biodiversity related multilateral agreements, processes and instruments.</li>
<li><strong>Capacity Building:</strong> It aims to ensure the right capacity building of the communities/governments to take up conservation measures to meet the goals. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These include the contentious technology transfer to countries that don&rsquo;t have it currently and also a wide scientific cooperation among countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Goals and Targets:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new frameworks have <strong>four goals to achieve by 2050.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To <strong>halt the extinction and decline of biodiversity.</strong></li>
<li>To <strong>enhance and retain nature&rsquo;s services</strong> to humans by conserving.</li>
<li>To <strong>ensure fair and equitable benefits to all</strong> from use of genetic resources.</li>
<li>To<strong> close the gap between available financial and other means</strong> of implementation and those necessary to achieve the 2050 Vision.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2030 Action Targets:</strong> The framework has<strong> 21 action-oriented targets</strong> for urgent action over the decade to 2030, which includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To bring at least 30% of land and sea under the world&rsquo;s protected areas.</li>
<li>A <strong>50% greater reduction in the rate of introduction of invasive alien species,</strong> and controls or eradication of such species to eliminate or reduce their impacts.</li>
<li><strong>Reducing nutrients lost to the environment by at least half,</strong> and pesticides by at least two thirds, and <strong>eliminating the discharge of plastic waste.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Nature-based contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts</strong> of at least 10 GtCO<sub>2</sub>e (gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide) per year, and that all mitigation and adaptation efforts avoid negative impacts on biodiversity.</li>
<li>Redirecting, repurposing, reforming or eliminating incentives harmful for biodiversity, in a just and equitable way, reducing them by at least $US 500 billion per year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Relationship with SDGs:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework is <strong>a fundamental contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</strong></li>
<li>At the same time, progress towards the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong></a> will help to create the conditions necessary <strong>to implement the framework.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need of Financial Support:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework&rsquo;s demand for more financial support to developing countries, also the worst victims of biodiversity losses, is the most difficult one to negotiate and achieve.</li>
<li>Adequate financial resources to implement the framework are available and deployed, progressively closing the financing gap up to at least $700 billion per year by 2030.</li>
<li>The financial commitment has to increase to at least $ 200 billion per year. This includes an additional $10 billion per year international financial flow to developing countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Theory of Change of the Framework:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The framework is built around a theory of change which recognizes that urgent policy action globally, regionally and nationally is required to transform economic, social and financial models.</li>
<li>The trends that have exacerbated biodiversity loss will stabilize in the next 10 years (by 2030) and allow for the recovery of natural ecosystems in the following 20 years, with net improvements by 2050 to achieve the Convention&rsquo;s vision of &ldquo;living in harmony with nature by 2050&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626242970_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626242970_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/wildlife-biodiversity/un-200-billion-increase-in-fund-flow-to-developing-countries-for-managing-nature-77912" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8822,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India Rejects OIC’s Proposal',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation&rsquo;s (OIC)</strong> </a>proposal to assist a dialogue between India and Pakistan.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier in December 2020, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/criticism-of-policies-on-kashmir-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India also rejected the criticism of its Kashmir policy by the OIC.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>second largest intergovernmental organization</strong> after the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> (UN) with a membership of 57 states.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>collective voice of the Muslim world.</strong> It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is not a member</strong> of the OIC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was <strong>established</strong> upon a decision of the <strong>historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco in September 1969.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625824721_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625824721_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>OIC&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Offered to <strong>arrange a meeting between India and Pakistan</strong> and proposed to send a delegation to Jammu &amp; Kashmir in line with resolutions of the OIC council of foreign ministers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan has <strong>repeatedly sought to raise the Kashmir issue at the OIC</strong> against the backdrop of <strong>India&rsquo;s dramatically improved relations with several key players in West Asia</strong> and in the Islamic organisation, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Indonesia and Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Response:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The OIC <strong>should be watchful that their platform is not subverted by &ldquo;vested interests&rdquo; such as Pakistan to interfere in internal affairs of India</strong> or for anti-India propaganda through biased and one-sided resolutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India &amp; OIC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s relationship with OIC as an organisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At the 45<sup>th</sup> session of the Foreign Ministers&rsquo; Summit in 2018, <strong>Bangladesh, the host, suggested that India, where more than 10% of the world&rsquo;s Muslims live,</strong> should be given Observer status, but Pakistan opposed the proposal.</li>
<li>In <strong>2019, India made its maiden appearance</strong> at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-attended-oic-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>OIC Foreign Ministers&rsquo; meeting</strong></a>, as a &ldquo;guest of honour&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This <strong>first-time invitation was seen as a diplomatic victory for India,</strong> especially at a time of heightened tensions with Pakistan following the Pulwama attack.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism of India's Policies by OIC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been <strong>generally supportive of Pakistan&rsquo;s stand on Kashmir,</strong> and has issued statements criticising the alleged Indian &ldquo;atrocities&rdquo; in the state/Union Territory.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2018, the OIC General Secretariat had<strong> &ldquo;expressed strong condemnation of the killing of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces</strong> in Indian-occupied Kashmir&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It described the <strong>&ldquo;direct shooting at demonstrators&rdquo; as a &ldquo;terrorist act&rdquo;,</strong> and &ldquo;called upon the international community to play its role in order to reach a just and lasting solution to the conflict in Kashmir&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>OIC has<strong> criticised the Government of India over the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019,</a></strong> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/liberhan-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Babri Masjid verdict</strong></a> of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court.</strong></a></li>
<li>OIC has also criticised the Indian government for what it called<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/islamophobia-in-india-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;growing Islamophobia&rdquo;</strong></a> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Response:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has always<strong> maintained that OIC has no locus standi in matters strictly internal to India</strong> including that of Union Territory of Jammu &amp; Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s relationship with OIC member countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Individually, India has<strong> good relations with almost all member nations.</strong></li>
<li>Ties with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/islamophobia-in-india-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UAE</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saudi Arabia</strong></a>, especially, have improved significantly in recent years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (UAE) was a special chief guest at the 68<sup>th</sup> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/republic-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Republic Day</strong></a> celebrations in 2017.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The OIC includes two of India&rsquo;s close neighbours, <strong>Bangladesh and Maldives.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Indian diplomats say <strong>both countries privately admit that they do not want to complicate their bilateral ties with India</strong> on Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/oic-should-not-allow-itself-to-be-subverted-by-pakistan-mea/article35223316.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8805,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Malaria Free China',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> has declared China as &ldquo;malaria-free&rdquo;.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a result of a seven decade-long, <strong>multi-pronged health strategy</strong> that was able to entirely eliminate indigenous cases for four straight years.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Malaria Free Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Certification Process:</strong> Certification of malaria elimination is the official recognition by WHO of a country&rsquo;s malaria-free status.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>WHO grants the certification when a country has demonstrated with rigorous, credible evidence that the <strong>chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide for at least the past three consecutive years.</strong></li>
<li>A country must also demonstrate the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.</li>
<li>The final decision on awarding a malaria-free certification rests with the <strong>WHO Director-General,</strong> based on a recommendation by the independent<strong> Malaria Elimination Certification Panel (MECP).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Western Pacific Region:</strong> China is the first country in the WHO Western Pacific Region to be awarded a malaria-free certification in more than 3 decades. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Other Countries:</strong> In Western Pacific region the countries that have achieved this status include Australia (1981), Singapore (1982) and Brunei Darussalam (1987).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Status:</strong> Globally, 40 countries and territories have been granted a malaria-free certification from WHO &ndash; including, most recently, El Salvador (2021), Algeria (2019), Argentina (2019), Paraguay (2018) and Uzbekistan (2018).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disease Burden (Global):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-report-2020-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Malaria Report, 2020</a>,</strong> the <strong>number of malaria cases worldwide in 2019 was around 229 million,</strong> with 4,09,000 lives lost to the mosquito-borne disease.</li>
<li><strong>Majority of cases were reported in Africa,</strong> while <strong>India and Southeast Asia recorded a significant drop. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Cases in India fell from approximately 20 million to 6 million.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is the only high endemic country which has reported a decline</strong> of 17.6% in 2019 as compared to 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China's Malaria Strategy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Started in 1950s:</strong> The efforts began in the early 1950s, a time when China was reporting millions of cases annually, starting with a multi-pronged approach of<strong> providing anti-malarial medicines while targeting mosquito breeding grounds and using insecticide spraying.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The 523 Project:</strong> It <strong>led to the discovery of artemisinin</strong> in the 1970s.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Artemisinin is the core compound of artemisinin-based combination therapies, the <strong>most effective antimalarial drugs</strong> available today.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Insecticide-treated Nets:</strong> In the 1980s, China began using insecticide-treated nets widely, distributing 2.4 million nets by 1988.</li>
<li><strong>1-3-7 Strategy:</strong> The strategy refers to:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>one-day deadline to report a malaria diagnosis,</strong></li>
<li><strong>Confirming a case and determining the spread by the third day,</strong> and</li>
<li><strong>Measures taken to stop the spread by the seventh day,</strong> along with continued surveillance in high-risk areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Fund:</strong> With assistance from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-for-aids-tb-and-malaria" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria</strong></a> starting in 2003, China &ldquo;stepped up training, staffing, laboratory equipment, medicines and mosquito control.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Malaria</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-malaria-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malaria</strong></a> is a life threatening<strong> mosquito borne blood disease caused by plasmodium parasites.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>predominantly found in</strong> the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well as Asia.</li>
<li>The parasites <strong>spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.</strong></li>
<li>After entering the human body, parasites initially multiply within the liver cells and then <strong>attack the Red Blood Cells (RBCs)</strong> resulting in their rupture.</li>
<li>There are <strong>5 parasite species</strong> that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species &ndash; Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax &ndash; pose the greatest threat.</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms of malaria</strong> include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness.</li>
<li>It is <strong>preventable as well as curable.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-malaria-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RTS,S vaccine</strong></a> trains the immune system to<strong> attack the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum,</strong> the most deadly species of the malaria parasite.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Recent Initiatives of WHO</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The WHO has also identified 25 countries with the potential to eradicate malaria by 2025 under its<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;E-2025 Initiative&rsquo;.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Initiatives to Curb Malaria in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In India, malaria elimination efforts were initiated in 2015 and were intensified after the launch of the <strong>National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME)</strong> in 2016 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NFME is in line with WHO&rsquo;s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria, 2016-2030, which guides the WHO<strong> Global Malaria Programme (GMP),</strong> responsible for coordinating WHO's global efforts to control and eliminate malaria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-report-2019#:~:text=The%20Strategic%20Plan%20gives%20year,for%20Malaria%2C%202016%2D2030." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22)</strong> </a>was launched in July 2017 which laid down strategies for the following five years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Implementation of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-report-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) initiative</strong> </a>was started in four states (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh) in July 2019.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-malaria-report-2020-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs)</strong></a> to high burden areas has led to a reduction in endemicity in these otherwise very high endemic states.</li>
<li>The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has established <strong>Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India)</strong> which is a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-goes-malaria-free-with-multi-pronged-health-strategy/article35125772.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8791,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India Joins OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework Tax Deal',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India and the majority of the members of <strong>OECD-G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)</strong> have joined a new <strong>two-pillar plan</strong> to reform international taxation rules.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The two-pillar plan - <strong>inclusive framework tax deal on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)-</strong> seeks to <strong>reform international tax rules</strong> and ensure that multinational enterprises pay their fair share wherever they operate.</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 signatories of the plan amounted to <strong>130 countries and jurisdictions,</strong> representing more than <strong>90% of global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GDP</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The new framework seeks to <strong>address the tax challenges</strong> arising from the <strong>digitalisation of economies.</strong></li>
<li>It also seeks to <strong>address concerns over cross-border profit shifting</strong> and bring in subject-to-tax rule to stop <strong>treaty shopping.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Treaty shopping is an attempt by a person to indirectly access the benefits of a tax treaty between two countries without being a resident of any of those.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Two Pillar Plan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Pillar One:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will <strong>ensure a fairer distribution of profits and taxing rights</strong> among countries with respect to the largest MNEs, including digital companies.</li>
<li>It would re-allocate some taxing rights over MNEs from their home countries to the markets where they have business activities and earn profits, regardless of whether firms have a physical presence there.</li>
<li>According to OECD, more than USD 100 billion of profit are expected to be reallocated to market jurisdictions each year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pillar Two:</strong> It is about <strong>minimum tax and subject-to-tax rules</strong> (All sources of income liable to tax without taking account of tax allowances).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It seeks to put a minimum standard tax rate among countries through a <strong>global minimum corporate tax rate,</strong> currently<strong> proposed at 15%.</strong></li>
<li>This is <strong>expected to generate an additional USD 150 billion</strong> in tax revenues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will ensure that large multinational companies pay their fair share of tax everywhere.</li>
<li>The two-pillar package will provide much-needed support to governments needing to raise necessary revenues to repair their budgets and their balance sheets while investing in essential public services, infrastructure and the measures necessary to help optimise the strength and the quality of the post-Covid recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India will have to roll back the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/equalisation-levy-for-non-resident-e-commerce-firms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">equalisation levy</a></strong> that it imposes on companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook when the global tax regime is implemented.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is aimed at taxing foreign companies which have a significant local client base in India but are billing them through their offshore units, effectively escaping the country&rsquo;s tax system.</li>
<li>The levy at 6% has been in force since 2016 on payment exceeding Rs 1 lakh a year to a non-resident service provider for online advertisements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India <strong>favours a wider application of the law</strong> to ensure that the<strong> country won&rsquo;t collect less</strong> under the proposed framework <strong>than it gets through the equalisation levy.</strong></li>
<li>India is in favour of a consensus solution which is simple to implement and simple to comply with.</li>
<li>The solution should result in <strong>allocation of meaningful and sustainable revenue</strong> to market jurisdictions, particularly for developing and emerging economies.</li>
<li>The Two Pillar Plan <strong>justifies India&rsquo;s stand</strong> for a <strong>greater share of profits for the markets</strong> and consideration of <strong>demand side factors in profit allocation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BEPS is a term used to describe tax planning strategies that exploit mismatches and gaps that exist between the tax rules of different jurisdictions.</li>
<li>It is done to<strong> minimize the corporation tax</strong> that is payable overall, by either making tax profits &lsquo;disappear&rsquo; or<strong> shift profits to low tax jurisdictions where there is little or no genuine activity.</strong></li>
<li>In general BEPS strategies are<strong> not illegal; rather they take advantage of different tax rules operating in different jurisdictions.</strong></li>
<li>BEPS is of <strong>major significance</strong> for developing countries due to their heavy reliance on corporate income tax, particularly from multinational enterprises (MNEs).</li>
<li>The BEPS initiative is an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>OECD</strong></a> initiative, approved by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-summit-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a>, to identify ways of providing more standardised tax rules globally.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>OECD:</strong> It is an intergovernmental economic organisation, founded to stimulate economic progress and world trade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most OECD members are high-income economies and are regarded as developed countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>G20:</strong> It is the leading international forum for economic, financial and political cooperation of large economies.</li>
<li>India is a member of G20, however, not a member but a key partner of OECD</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The OECD/G20<strong> Inclusive Framework was established in 2016.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has ratified the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting <strong>("Multilateral Instrument" or "MLI")</strong> - outcome of the OECD/G20 Project to tackle BEPS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1732150" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8735,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Energy Compacts',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)</strong> Limited has become the<strong> first energy company</strong> in the energy domain in India<strong> to declare its Energy Compact Goals</strong> as part of <strong>UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> is set to convene a<strong> high-level dialogue (HLD)</strong> in <strong>September, 2021</strong> to promote the<strong> implementation of the energy-related goals</strong> and targets of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</strong></a></li>
<li>NTPC is India&rsquo;s largest power generating company which is under the<strong> Ministry of Power.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Energy Compacts</strong> (a platform to unite and connect commitments and actions):<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Energy Compacts are being <strong>mobilized by UN-Energy</strong> and will continue to be mobilized and updated <strong>throughout the current Decade of Action.</strong></li>
<li>These are ongoing or new commitments with clear, underlying actions that will <strong>advance progress on one or more of SDG7&rsquo;s three core targets.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SDG7 calls for &ldquo;affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all&rdquo; by 2030.</li>
<li><strong>SDG 7 three core targets:</strong> Access to energy, Renewable energy, Energy efficiency.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These are <strong>voluntary commitments</strong> from Member States and non-state actors, such as companies, regional/local governments, NGOs, and others.</li>
<li>Since affordable, clean energy is a prerequisite for achieving all other SDGs and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong></a>, actions defined in an Energy Compact can be directly linked to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ndc-synthesis-report-unfccc#:~:text=The%20UNFCCC%2C%20in%20its%20Nationally,the%20end%20of%20the%20century." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nationally Determined Contributions</strong></a> considered as SDG Acceleration Actions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625036872_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625036872_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="335" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Difference between Energy Compacts (EC) and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NDCs</strong> address <strong>Member States&rsquo; national climate ambitions and targets</strong> that are legally required under the Paris Agreement, focusing on a<strong> country&rsquo;s emissions profile</strong> from the economy as a whole.</li>
<li><strong>EC</strong> includes a variety of voluntary commitments, actions, initiatives, and partnerships focused specifically on the energy system and SDG7.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They <strong>will cover the SDG7 targets, including those that are not reflected in a country&rsquo;s NDCs,</strong> such as clean cooking access.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>EC</strong> is also <strong>open to all stakeholders</strong> in the global movement on SDG7, including <strong>businesses, organizations, and subnational authorities,</strong> and will have annual mechanisms to track progress on the commitments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Energy Compacts (EC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The energy sector continues to be the <strong>most significant contributor to</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/emissions-gap-report-2020-unep#:~:text=Record%20high%20GreenHouse%20Gas%20(GHG,global%20GHG%20emissions%20is%20slowing." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)</strong></a> globally, continuing a trend aligned with industrialization.</li>
<li><strong>Current Situation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>789 million people without access to electricity (2018)</li>
<li>2.8 billion people without access to clean cooking (2018)</li>
<li>17% share of total final energy consumption from renewables (2017)</li>
<li>1.7% energy efficiency improvement rate (2017)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NTPC Energy Compact Goals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has set a target to install <strong>60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.</strong> It is also aiming at 10% reduction in net energy intensity by 2032.</li>
<li>NTPC has declared that it will form <strong>at least 2 international alliances/groups to facilitate clean energy research</strong> and promote sustainability in the energy value chain by 2025.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UN-Energy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>UN-Energy was established by the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) in 2004 as the <strong>United Nations&lsquo; mechanism for inter-agency collaboration in the field of energy.</strong></li>
<li>It seeks to act to support countries in achieving SDG7 and the interrelated goals of the Paris Climate Agenda and the broader SDG agenda.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Decade of Action</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In September 2019, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Decade of Action (2021-2030) to <strong>deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</strong> to accelerate efforts to deliver on the ambitious, universal and inclusive 2030 Agenda.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1730716" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8704,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'The World Drug Report 2021: UNODC',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-world-drug-report-2020-un" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)</strong></a>, in its <strong>World Drug Report 2021</strong>, has highlighted that the lockdown restrictions during <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> have accelerated drug trafficking using the Internet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>By drugs, the Report refers to substances controlled under international drug control conventions, and their non-medical use.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Between <strong>2010-2019</strong>, the number of <strong>people using drugs increased by 22%</strong>, owing in part to an increase in the global population.</li>
<li>Around <strong>275 million people used drugs worldwide last year</strong>, while <strong>over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Opioids</strong> continue to account for the <strong>largest burden of disease attributed to drug use.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>rise in the non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs</strong> was also observed during the coronavirus pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cannabis is More Potent but Fewer Young People See it as Harmful:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the last 24 years, <strong>cannabis potency had increased</strong> as much as four times in some parts, even as the <strong>percentage of adolescents who perceived the drug as harmful fell by as much as 40%.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The major psychoactive constituent in cannabis, &Delta;9-THC, is responsible for the development of mental health disorders, in the long-term.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason: Aggressive marketing</strong> of cannabis products and p<strong>romotion through social-media channels.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rising Web-based Sales Could Transform Global Drug Use Patterns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Access to drugs has also become simpler than ever with online sales</strong>, and major <strong>drug markets on the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/dark-net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dark web</a></strong> are now worth some $315 million annually.</li>
<li>In Asia, <strong>China and India are mainly linked to shipment of drugs</strong> sold on the 19 major darknet markets analysed over 2011-2020.</li>
<li><strong>Cannabis dominates drug transactions on Dark web </strong>and on clear web involves sale of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/narcotics-control-bureau" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS)</strong></a> and substances used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624693542_pasted%20image 0.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624693542_pasted image 0.png" width="700" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impact of Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Socio Economic impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Covid-19 crisis has pushed <strong>more than 100 million people into extreme poverty</strong>, and has greatly <strong>exacerbated unemployment and inequalities</strong>, as the world lost 255 million jobs in 2020.</li>
<li><strong>Mental health conditions</strong> are also on the rise worldwide. Such <strong>socioeconomic stressors</strong> have likely <strong>accelerated demand for the drugs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Positive Trend:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>rise in the use of technology during the pandemic</strong> has also triggered <strong>innovation in drug prevention and treatment services</strong>, through more flexible models of service delivery such as <strong>telemedicine, enabling healthcare professionals</strong> to reach and treat more patients.</li>
<li>The <strong>number of new NDPS emerging on the global market fell</strong> from 163 in 2013, to 71 in 2019.</li>
<li>The <strong>pharmaceutical opioids</strong> used to treat people with opioid use disorders have <strong>become increasingly accessible</strong>, as science-based treatment has become more broadly available.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Increase in Drug Use:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Drug traffickers have <strong>quickly recovered</strong> from initial setbacks caused by lockdown restrictions and are operating at pre-pandemic levels once again.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is driven in part by a <strong>rise in the use of technology and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/cryptocurrency-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cryptocurrency</a> payments</strong>, operating outside the regular financial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Contactless drug transactions</strong>, such as through the mail, are also on the rise, a trend possibly accelerated by the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Vendors play a cat-and-mouse game with law enforcement</strong> by marketing their products as &ldquo;research chemicals&rdquo; or advertising &ldquo;custom synthesis&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Combating misinformation</strong> on the impact of the use of cannabis products is crucial.</li>
<li><strong>Awareness-raising and communication efforts</strong> that disseminate scientific information without stigmatizing people.</li>
<li>Increasing the <strong>capacity of law enforcement agencies</strong> to address drug trafficking over the darknet remains a priority.</li>
<li><strong>Joint responses by Governments and the private sector</strong> can involve controlling and removing advertisements and listings of illegal drugs on the Internet.</li>
<li>Continuously <strong>update scientific standards</strong> to keep abreast of the acceleration of Internet-based services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established in 1997 and was named as a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2002.</li>
<li>It acts as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division of the United Nations Office at Vienna.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Relate International Initiatives</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking</strong> is celebrated every year on 26<sup>th</sup> June.</li>
<li>Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.</li>
<li>The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971.</li>
<li>The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is a signatory to all three</strong> and has enacted the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-fighting-drug-menace" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Vulnerability of India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is vulnerable to the trafficking of narcotics as it is sandwiched between the<strong> 'Golden Crescent' and the 'Golden Triangle'</strong>, the major opium production regions in the world.</li>
<li>The Golden Crescent region of the South comprises Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. The Golden Triangle is the area where the borders of Thailand, and meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624693792_pasted%20image 0 (4).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624693792_pasted image 0 (4).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/pandemic-hikes-narcotics-sale-over-web/article34959095.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8662,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'China as a Security Risk: NATO',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The recently held <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)</a> summit</strong> for the <strong>first time has explicitly described China as a security risk.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The other two threats identified by the NATO 'declaration' are <strong>Russia</strong> and <strong>terrorism.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>North Atlantic Treaty Organization&rsquo;s (NATO):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Formation:</strong> NATO was established by the <strong>North Atlantic Treaty</strong> (also called the <strong>Washington Treaty</strong>) of <strong>4<sup>th</sup> April, 1949</strong>, by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is <strong>headquartered at Brussels, Belgium.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political and Military Alliance:</strong> NATO's primary goals are the <strong>collective defence</strong> of its members and the maintenance of a <strong>democratic peace in the North Atlantic area.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The collective defence principle enshrined in <strong>NATO&rsquo;s Article V</strong> states that &ldquo;an attack against one ally is considered as an attack against all allies&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NATO&rsquo;s Forces:</strong> NATO has a <strong>military and civilian headquarters</strong> and an <strong>integrated military command structure</strong> but very few forces or assets are exclusively its own. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most forces remain under full national command and control until member countries agree to undertake NATO-related tasks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NATO's Decisions:</strong> A &ldquo;NATO decision&rdquo; is the expression of the collective will of <strong>all 30 member countries</strong> since all decisions are taken by consensus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Analysis of NATO's Performance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Cold War Era:</strong> NATO was completely successful in its mission of protecting the &ldquo;Euro-Atlantic area&rdquo; from Soviet expansion and preventing war between the two superpowers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The formation of NATO, and its Soviet counterpart, the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Warsaw Pact</strong></a>, in 1955, inaugurated the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War era</strong></a> (approximately 1945 until 1991).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Post-Cold War Era</strong>: When <strong>Soviet Union collapsed in 1991</strong>, NATO witnessed a paradigm shift from collective defence, which implied a known adversary, to collective security, which is open-ended, and might require action against any number of threats, including unknown ones and non-state actors.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When the Balkans conflict broke out in 1999, NATO got the chance to prove its utility in a post-Cold War Europe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mutually Beneficial Arrangement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>For Europe</strong>, it was an attractive bargain where, in <strong>exchange for a marginal loss in autonomy, it enjoyed absolute security</strong> at a cheap price. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Not having to spend massively on defence allowed Europe to focus on building powerful economies and invest its surplus in a strong welfare state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NATO also <strong>offered the added bonus of keeping Germany down</strong>, historically a major factor for peace and stability in the region.</li>
<li>A collective military force organised and managed by the Europeans themselves may offer a way out of American oversight and occasional bullying.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, it carried the <strong>danger of one or two of the stronger and wealthier states, such as Germany or France, dictating terms to the smaller ones</strong>, a danger attractively absent in the NATO arrangement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NATO and China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NATO leaders <strong>declared China a constant security challenge</strong> and said the Chinese are working to <strong>undermine global order.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is <strong>in sync with US President efforts</strong> to get allies to speak out with a more unified voice against China&rsquo;s trade, military and human rights practices.</li>
<li>The <strong>US&rsquo; growing conviction</strong> is that <strong>China is a threat to its global supremacy</strong> and must be contained.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, both <strong>France and Germany sought to put some distance between NATO&rsquo;s official position and their own perception</strong> of China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NATO&rsquo;s European member states may view China as an economic rival</strong> and adversary, but they are<strong> unconvinced by the American line that it is an outright security threat.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China's Stand:</strong> It has urged NATO to &ldquo;view China&rsquo;s development rationally, stop exaggerating various forms of &lsquo;China threat theory&rsquo; and not to use China&rsquo;s legitimate interests and legal rights as excuses for manipulating group politics artificially creating confrontations&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NATO and Russia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tensions with Russia are an inevitable outcome of <strong>NATO&rsquo;s bid to expand eastward into what Russia considers its sphere</strong> of influence. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Trying to bring countries such as <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elections-in-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a>, Georgia</strong> and <strong>Moldova</strong> under the NATO umbrella has led to a confrontation with Russia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As Russia sought to protect its interests by &ldquo;annexing&rdquo; Crimea and stationing troops in Georgia and Moldova, NATO accused it of acting irresponsibly and breaking the <strong>&ldquo;rules-based international order&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>China's own economy is already deeply integrated into Western markets. China, nonetheless, is perceived as posing a &lsquo;threat&rsquo;. It remains to be seen how far an ageing Europe would be willing to commit itself to a strategic path that prefers confrontation to collaboration, given that NATO is essentially a military alliance, and for all the talk of hybrid and cyberwar, there is zero risk of China invading the Euro-Atlantic area.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nato-a-cold-war-relic-thats-seeking-a-new-purpose/article34861092.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8647,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Antonio Guterres: 2nd Term UN Secretary General',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> General Assembly</strong> appointed<strong> Antonio Guterres as the ninth UN Secretary General (UNSG) for a second term</strong> beginning 1<sup>st</sup> January, 2022 and ending on 31<sup>st</sup> 2026.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India</strong> had expressed its <strong>support for the re-election of Guterres as UN Chief.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Antonio Guterres:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Guterres took <strong>oath of office on 1<sup>st</sup> January, 2017</strong> and his first term <strong>ends on 31<sup>st</sup> December 2021.</strong></li>
<li>Guterres <strong>served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees</strong> for a decade from <strong>June 2005 to December 2015.</strong></li>
<li>He was the <strong>former Prime minister of Portugal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Appointment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is <strong>appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-un-security-council-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Security Council. </a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Each Secretary-General has the option of a second term</strong> if they can garner enough support from Member states.</li>
<li>Guterres was elected <strong>after a reformed selection process</strong> that<strong> included a public informal dialogue session</strong> in the General Assembly, involving civil society representatives, aimed at ensuring transparency and inclusivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Charter:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Charter of the United Nations</strong> is the<strong> founding document</strong> of the United Nations. It was signed <strong>on 26<sup>th</sup> June 1945,</strong> in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24<sup>th</sup> October 1945.</li>
<li>The UN can take action on a wide variety of issues due to its<strong> unique international character</strong> and the powers vested in its Charter, which is considered an international treaty.</li>
<li>As such, the UN Charter is<strong> an instrument of international law,</strong> and<strong> UN Member States are bound by it.</strong> The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About UNGA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The General Assembly occupies a central position as the<strong> chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ</strong> of the United Nations.</li>
<li>Composed of all <strong>193 Members</strong> of the United Nations, it<strong> provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion</strong> of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.</li>
<li>It also plays a significant <strong>role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>UN Security Council:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Established by the <strong>UN charter in 1945,</strong> the Security Council has the primary responsibility of<strong> maintaining international peace and security.</strong></li>
<li>The Security Council has <strong>15 members.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>There are five permanent members:</strong> the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.</li>
<li>The <strong>non-permanent members</strong> of the Security Council are elected for a term of<strong> two years.</strong> Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-at-unsc-previous-contribution-current-challenges#:~:text=India%2C%20for%20the%20eighth%20time,two%20years%20i.e%202021%2D22." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India has been elected.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Each member of the <strong>Security Council has one vote.</strong> Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the <strong>concurring votes of the permanent members.</strong> A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.</li>
<li>Any member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that member are specially affected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Pertaining to UN:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNGA has <strong>no control over veto power</strong> exercised by UNSC and it cannot take any decisive action against permanent members of UNSC.</li>
<li>The 15-member Security Council is by far the most powerful arm of the United Nations. However, the veto power is used by <strong>five permanent countries</strong> to serve the strategic interest of<strong> themselves and their allies.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> UN charter is vague</strong> in defining the duties of the secretary general, the United Nations&rsquo; top official.</li>
<li>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong> </a>has been criticised by the US on account of mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently suspended its financial contribution to WHO.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, WHO has been under pressure from the US government to adopt an approach that favours interests of US pharma companies.</li>
<li>WHO is <strong>a specialised agency of the UN.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>United Nations (UN)</strong> is an international organization founded <strong>in 1945. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is currently <strong>made up of 193 Member States.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India is a charter member of the United Nations</strong> and participates in all of its specialised agencies and organizations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Activities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its activities include maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development and upholding international law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Main Organs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The General Assembly,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Security Council,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-ecosoc-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Economic and Social Council</a>,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The Trusteeship Council,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> International Court of Justice</a>,</strong></li>
<li><strong>The UN Secretariat.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funds and Programmes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund</a> (UNICEF)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-development-index-undp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Development Programme</a> (UNDP)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/making-peace-with-nature-unep-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Environment Programme</a> (UN Environment)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-habitat-assembly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Human Settlements Programme</a> (UN-Habitat)</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Food Programme</a> (WFP)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The UN must act as a catalyst and a platform for more inclusive, networked and effective forms of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/joint-statement-on-multilateralism-brics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>multilateralism.</strong></a></li>
<li>The power to transform the current situation into a better world and future for all depends on everyone everywhere and can only be done successfully if the efforts towards a common agenda for the benefit of humanity and the planet is resolved.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/antonio-guterres-re-elected-as-un-secretary-general-for-2nd-five-year-term-7365237/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8625,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Loan to Sri Lanka for Solar Energy',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has signed an agreement <strong>extending a USD 100 million Line of Credit (LOC) to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-sri-lanka-6#:~:text=India%27s%20Support%20against%20Terrorism%3A%20During,developmental%20assistance%20to%20Sri%20Lanka." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sri Lanka</a></strong> for projects in the Solar Energy Sector. The LOC is for a period of 20 years, with an interest of 1.75%.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement was signed between the <strong>Government of Sri Lanka</strong> and the <strong>Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.</strong></li>
<li>EXIM Bank is a <strong>specialized financial institution,</strong> wholly owned by the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623923707_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623923707_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Line of Credit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>credit facility</strong> extended by a bank or any other financial institution to a government, business or an individual customer, that enables the customer to draw the maximum loan amount.</li>
<li>The borrower can<strong> access funds</strong> from the line of credit at <strong>any time</strong> as long as they do not exceed the <strong>maximum amount</strong> (or credit limit) set in the agreement and meet any other requirements such as making timely minimum payments.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the LOC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help <strong>finance various projects</strong> in the solar energy sector in Sri Lanka, such as <strong>rooftop solar photo-voltaic systems</strong> for households and government buildings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of these projects were announced during the <strong>Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong> held in March 2018 in Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives for Global Cooperation Solar Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Solar Alliance</a> (ISA):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ISA was <strong>launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France in 2015</strong> on the side-lines of the United Nations Climate Change <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties (COP-21)</strong></a>, with 121 <strong>solar resource rich countries</strong> lying fully or partially between the <strong>tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn</strong> as prospective members.</li>
<li><strong>89 countries</strong> have signed the ISA framework agreement.</li>
<li>ISA&rsquo; vision is to enable <strong>One World, One Sun, One Grid (OSOWOG).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Sun, One World, One Grid</a> (OSOWOG):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses on a framework for facilitating global cooperation, building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources (mainly solar energy) that can be seamlessly shared.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Schemes for Promoting Solar Energy in India:</strong> Recently, India achieved<strong> 5<sup>th</sup> global position in solar power deployment</strong> by surpassing Italy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Solar Mission</strong> </a>(a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change): The aim is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for its deployment across the country.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rooftop-solar-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rooftop Solar Scheme:</strong></a> To generate solar power by installing solar panels on the roof of the houses, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-of-grid-connected-rooftop-solar-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II)</strong></a>.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-production-linked-incentive-scheme#:~:text=This%20scheme%20will%20give%20cash,chemistry%20and%20solar%20PV%20manufacturing." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Production-linked Incentive (PLI) scheme</strong></a> to promote manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules in India.</li>
<li><strong>Scheme for Development of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks:</strong> It is a scheme to develop Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) under the existing Solar Park Scheme.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kusum#:~:text=PM%2DKUSUM%20consists%20of%20three,standalone%20solar%2Dpowered%20agriculture%20pumps." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan</a> (PM-KUSUM):</strong> The scheme covers grid-connected Renewable Energy power plants (0.5 &ndash; 2 MW)/Solar water pumps/grid connected agriculture pumps.</li>
<li><strong>National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018:</strong> its main objective is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.</li>
<li><strong>Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY):</strong> It was launched in September 2016 for the installation <strong>of solar street lighting (SSL) systems</strong> in states with less than 50% households covered with grid power (as per Census 2011).</li>
<li><strong>Suryamitra Skill Development Programme:</strong> To provide skill training to rural youth in handling solar installations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-extends-100-mn-loan-to-sri-lanka/article34834128.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8613,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '42nd Session of FAO Conference',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare</strong> addressed the <strong>42<sup>nd</sup> session of Food and Agriculture Organization&rsquo;s (FAO) Conference.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Conference takes place <strong>every two years</strong> and is FAO's <strong>supreme governing body.</strong></li>
<li>It determines the <strong>policies of the Organization, approves the budget</strong>, and makes recommendations to Members on food and agriculture issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Efforts for Food Security during the Covid-19 Pandemic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>High Production of Foodgrains:</strong> India registered <strong>an all-time high production of foodgrains at 305 million tonnes as well as in exports</strong> during 2020-21, contributing to <strong>global food security.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-kisan-rail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KISAN RAIL</a>:</strong> It was introduced to transport the essential commodities including perishable horticulture produce, milk and dairy produce from the production centres to the large urban markets.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-garib-kalyan-ann-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package</strong></a>: Under this scheme, free food grains were provided to 810 million beneficiaries and it has been further extended in which workers will be benefited till November, 2021.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM Kisan Scheme</strong></a>: More than <strong>Rs.1,37,000 Crore</strong> have been sent to the bank accounts of over <strong>100 million farmers</strong> under this to <strong>provide income support to the farmers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Change and Agricultural Schemes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchayee-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)</a>:</strong> It was <strong>launched in 2015</strong> to address the <strong>issues of water resources</strong> and provide a <strong>permanent solution</strong> that envisages Per Drop More Crop.</li>
<li><strong>Green India Mission:</strong> It was launched in 2014 under the umbrella of<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change#:~:text=It%20was%20launched%20in%202010,energy%20in%20India's%20energy%20mix.&amp;text=Emphasis%20on%20manufacturing%20solar%20panels,local%20research%20with%20international%20efforts." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)</strong></a> with the <strong>primary objective</strong> of <strong>protecting, restoring and enhancing India&rsquo;s diminishing forest cover.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/soil-health-card-scheme-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Soil Health Card (SHC)</a>:</strong> It was launched with the main <strong>objective</strong> of analysing <strong>cluster soil samples and advocating farmers</strong> regarding their <strong>land fertility status.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organic-farming-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)</strong></a>: It was executed to extensively leverage <strong>adaptation of climate-smart practices and technologies i</strong>n conjunction with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-council-of-agricultural-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research</strong></a> and state governments of India.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/policy-bias-against-rainfed-agricultural-area" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rainfed Area Development (RAD)</strong></a>: It focuses on <strong>Integrated Farming System</strong> <strong>(IFS)</strong> for <strong>enhancing productivity</strong> and <strong>minimizing risks</strong> associated with<strong> climatic variabilities.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-mission-on-agroforestry-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sub-mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF)</strong></a>: It aims to <strong>encourage farmers</strong> to plant <strong>multi-purpose trees together</strong> with the agriculture crops for <strong>climate resilience</strong> and an <strong>additional source of income</strong> to the farmers, as well as enhanced feedstock to inter alia wood-based and herbal industry.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture</a> (NMSA)</strong>, to develop, demonstrate and disseminate the techniques to make agriculture resilient to adverse impacts of climate change.</li>
<li><strong>Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER):</strong> It is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Sector Scheme</strong></a>, a <strong>sub-mission</strong> under <strong>NMSA, </strong>aims&nbsp;to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Steps Highlighted:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/green-revolution-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Revolution</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-milk-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White Revolution</a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-blue-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blue revolution</a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Distribution System</a></strong> and price support system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Food and Agriculture Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FAO is <strong>a specialized agency of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a></strong> that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-food-day-1#:~:text=About%20World%20Food%20Day%3A,Together.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Day</strong></a> is celebrated every year on <strong>16<sup>th</sup> October</strong> to mark the anniversary of the founding of the FAO in 1945.</li>
<li>It is one of the UN food aid organisations <strong>based in Rome (Italy)</strong>. Its sister <strong>bodies</strong> are the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-food-programme-wfp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Programme</strong></a> and the <strong>International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Initiatives Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-tea-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Monitors the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/locusts-appeared-early-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Desert Locust</strong></a> situation throughout the world.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-food-price-index-fao" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Codex Alimentarius Commission or CAC</strong></a> is the body responsible for all matters regarding the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-seed-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flagship Publications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA).</li>
<li>The State of the World's Forests (SOFO).</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/food-security-and-nutrition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA).</li>
<li>The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-food-price-index-fao" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Price Index</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India and FAO:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Support of FAO</strong> in endorsing the Indian proposal for an <strong>International Year of Pulses</strong> which was celebrated in <strong>2016</strong> and for <strong>declaring 2023</strong> as the <strong>International Year of Millets.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India released a commemorative coin of Rs. 75 denomination</strong> to mark the 75<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of the FAO (16<sup>th</sup> October 2020).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727330" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8604,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Prime Minister delivered a keynote address</strong> at the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations (UN)</a> &ldquo;High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought&rdquo;</strong> via video conference.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He spoke as the President of the <strong>14<sup>th</sup> Session</strong> of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conference of Parties</a> (CoP) of <a href="/printpdf/un-convention-to-combat-desertification-cop-14#:~:text=The%2014th%20edition%20of,Restore%20land%2C%20Sustain%20future%27." target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The Dialogue will encourage all member states to <strong>adopt and implement Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and National Drought Plans.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highlighted Steps Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is on track to achieve its national commitment on <strong>Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)</strong> <strong>(<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goal</a> target 15.3).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>LDN</strong> is a <strong>state</strong> whereby the <strong>amount and quality of land resources</strong>, necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security, <strong>remains stable or increases</strong> within specified temporal and spatial scales and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ecosystems</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Working to<strong> restore 26 million hectares</strong> of degraded land by <strong>2030.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This would contribute to India&rsquo;s commitment to achieving <strong>an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes</strong> of carbon dioxide equivalent (a part of the <strong>Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)</strong> target under the 2015 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong></a>).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Over the last 10 years</strong>, around 3 <strong>million hectares of forest cover</strong> has been <strong>added.</strong></li>
<li><strong>For Example:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ngt-upholds-rights-of-pastoralists-in-banni-grasslands" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Banni region</strong></a> <strong>in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kutch-desert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rann of Kutch</a> in Gujarat</strong> suffers from highly degraded land and receives very little rainfall.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In that region, <strong>land restoration is done by developing grasslands</strong>, which helps in achieving land degradation neutrality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Challenges Faced by Developing World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Today, <strong>land degradation</strong> affects over <strong>two-thirds of the world.</strong></li>
<li>India is assisting fellow <strong>developing countries</strong> to develop land restoration strategies.</li>
<li>A <strong>Centre of Excellence</strong> is being set up in India to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues. It is at <strong>Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ICFRE, based in <strong>Dehradun</strong>, is an <strong>autonomous body</strong> of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Land Degradation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Land degradation is caused by <strong>multiple forces</strong>, including <strong>extreme weather conditions</strong>, particularly drought.</li>
<li>It is also caused by <strong>human activities</strong> that pollute or degrade the quality of soils and land utility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Desertification</strong></a> is a consequence of <strong>severe land degradation</strong> and is defined as a process that creates arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.</li>
<li>It <strong>accelerates</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a> and <strong>biodiversity loss</strong>, and <strong>contributes to droughts, wildfires, involuntary migration</strong> and the <strong>emergence of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zoonotic infectious diseases</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Efforts to Check Land Degradation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):</strong> It was established in 1994, the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-convention-to-combat-desertification-cop-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Delhi Declaration of 2019</strong></a>, signed by 14<sup>th</sup> CoP of the UNCCD, called for <strong>better access and stewardship over land</strong>, and emphasised gender-sensitive transformative projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Bonn Challenge:</strong> To bring 150 million hectares of the world&rsquo;s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Great Green Wall:</strong> Initiative by Global Environment Facility (GEF), where eleven countries in Sahel-Saharan Africa have focused efforts to fight against land degradation and revive native plant life to the landscape.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Efforts to Check Land Degradation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is focusing on <strong>sustainable land and resource management</strong> for livelihood generation at community level for making the local lands healthier and productive for providing a better homeland and a better future for its inhabitants.</li>
<li>The <strong>National Action Programme for combating <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">desertification</a> was prepared in 2001</strong> to take appropriate action in addressing the problems of desertification.</li>
<li>Some of the <strong>major programmes</strong> which address issues related to land degradation and desertification, being implemented currently are as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchayee-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)</a> (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana)</strong></li>
<li>National Afforestation Programme (NAP),</li>
<li>National Mission for Green India (GIM),</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-group-of-chief-ministers-on-coordination-between-mgnrega-and-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)</strong></a>,</li>
<li>Soil Conservation in the Catchment of River Valley Project,</li>
<li>National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA),</li>
<li><strong>Fodder and Feed Development Scheme</strong>-component of Grassland Development including Grass Reserves.</li>
<li>Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) programme,</li>
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/mind-map-paper-3-soil-health-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Soil Health Card Scheme</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-working-towards-restoring-2-6-crore-hectares-of-degraded-land-by-2030-pm-7359043/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8601,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '47th G7 Summit',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Indian Prime Minister addressed the <strong>47<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g-7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G7 Summit</a> 2021</strong> through video conferencing.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the Finance Ministers from the G7 nations reached a landmark accord setting a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-minimum-corporate-tax-rate-g7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate (GMCTR).</strong></a></li>
<li>Apart from<strong> India, Australia and South Korea</strong> were also invited to participate in the proceedings of the summit as <strong>&ldquo;guest countries&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>This year&rsquo;s summit was <strong>hosted by the UK.</strong> The<strong> last G-7 summit was in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> France in 2019</a>,</strong> with last year&rsquo;s event in the US canceled due to the <strong>pandemic.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Group of Seven (G7)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental organisation</strong> that was formed in <strong>1975.</strong></li>
<li>The bloc <strong>meets annually</strong> to discuss issues of <strong>common interest like global economic governance, international security and energy policy.</strong></li>
<li>The G7 countries are the <strong>UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>All the G7 countries and India are a part of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The G7 <strong>does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters.</strong> The decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Build Back Better for the World Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is aimed squarely at <strong>competing with China&rsquo;s</strong> trillion-dollar<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Belt and Road infrastructure initiative,</strong></a> which has been widely <strong>criticised for saddling small countries with unmanageable debt</strong> but has<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/italy-joins-belt-road-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> included even G7 member Italy</strong></a> since launching in 2013.</li>
<li>It will collectively catalyse hundreds of billions of infrastructure investment for low- and middle-income countries (in Asia and Africa) and offer a<strong> values-driven, high-standard and transparent partnership with G7.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Democracies 11:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Signed off on a joint statement (Democracies 11) by G-7 and guest countries on &ldquo;open societies&rdquo; that <strong>reaffirm and encourage the values of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-of-speech-and-expression-on-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">freedom of expression</a>,</strong> both online and offline, as a freedom that safeguards democracy and helps people live free from fear and oppression.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The statement also refers to <strong>politically motivated internet shutdowns</strong> as one of the threats to freedom and democracy.</li>
<li>While the statement is <strong>directed at China and Russia, India has been under scrutiny</strong> over <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-s-verdict-on-curbs-imposed-in-j-k" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Internet curbs in Jammu and Kashmir</strong> </a>even as the Government is locked in a face-off over its<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-it-rules-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> New IT rules 2021</strong></a> with tech giants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Democracies 11 is facing<strong> threats to freedom and democracy</strong> from rising authoritarianism, electoral interference, corruption, economic coercion, manipulation of information, including disinformation, online harms and cyber attacks, politically motivated internet shutdowns, human rights violations and abuses, terrorism and violent extremism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Carbis Bay Declaration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G7 signed the <strong>Carbis Bay Declaration.</strong> It is aimed at <strong>preventing future pandemics.</strong></li>
<li>The G7 also<strong> pledged over 1 billion <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/corbevax-covid-19-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coronavirus vaccine</a> doses for poorer nations</strong> with half of that coming from the United States and 100 million from Britain.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>11 billion doses are needed to vaccinate at least 70% of the world&rsquo;s population by mid-2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The doses would come both directly and through the international <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVAX program</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Change:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Renewed a pledge to<strong> raise their contributions to meet an overdue spending pledge of USD 100 billion a year</strong> to help poorer countries cut carbon emissions.</li>
<li>Promised <strong>to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.</strong></li>
<li>Pledged to reach<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-transforming-to-a-net-zero-emissions-energy-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> net zero</a> carbon emissions by 2050.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The G-7 statement which was <strong>not signed by India</strong> and other outreach countries <strong>hit out at China on &ldquo;human rights and fundamental freedoms&rdquo; </strong>in<strong> Xinjiang (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uighur-muslims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uyghur Muslims</a>) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/changes-in-electoral-system-of-hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hong Kong</a>,</strong> and the unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/south-china-sea-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea.</strong></a></li>
<li>It also called for a transparent and timely <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organization&rsquo;s</a> Covid origins study in China.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India had also called for the same in a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/push-for-probe-into-covid-19-origin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>statement during the World Health Assembly.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is a<strong> natural ally for the G7</strong> countries in <strong>defending the shared values</strong> from a host of threats stemming from authoritarianism, terrorism and violent extremism, disinformation and economic coercion.</li>
<li>Expressed concerns that <strong>open societies are particularly vulnerable to disinformation and<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> cyber-attacks</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It sought the support of the grouping to <strong>lift <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/waiving-intellectual-property-protection-for-covid-19-vaccines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patent protections</a> for Covid-19 vaccines.</strong></li>
<li>Planet&rsquo;s atmosphere, biodiversity and oceans cannot be protected by countries acting in silos, and <strong>called for collective action on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change.</a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is the only G-20 country on track to meet its Paris commitments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Developing countries need better access to climate finance, and <strong>called for a holistic approach towards climate change</strong> that covers mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer, climate financing, equity, climate justice and lifestyle change.</li>
<li>Highlighted the <strong>revolutionary impact of digital technologies</strong> on social inclusion and empowerment in India through applications such as<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aadhar-and-its-voluntary-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Aadhaar</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dbt-for-mid-day-meal-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/financial-inclusion-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar- Mobile) trinity.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-signs-joint-statement-at-g-7-for-freedom-of-expression-internet-curbs-threat-to-democracy-7357610/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8572,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Global Economic Prospects: World Bank',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong></a> has released its <strong>June 2021 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-economic-prospects-world-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Economic Prospects</a></strong> where it has <strong>forecast India&rsquo;s GDP growth to be 8.3% for the year 2021-22.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>GDP Estimate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India's economy is expected to grow <strong>at 8.3%</strong> for Fiscal Year <strong>2021-22, 7.5%</strong> for <strong>2022-23</strong> and <strong>6.5%</strong> for<strong> 2023-24.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The world economy is expected to expand<strong> 5.6%,</strong> the <strong>fastest post-recession growth rate in eighty years.</strong></li>
<li>However, <strong>global output will still be 2% below pre-pandemic projections</strong> by year-end.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623319724_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623319724_image3.png" caption="false" width="500" height="215" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Cause:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For FY 2020-21:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The projected growth <strong>compares to the worst ever<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-emerged-out-of-technical-recession#:~:text=Why%20in%20News&amp;text=The%20Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20(GDP,of%20the%20Covid%2D19%20pandemic." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> contraction of 7.3% in FY 2020-21</a></strong> and <strong>4% expansion in 2019-20.</strong></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s recovery is<strong> being hampered by the largest outbreak of any country</strong> since the beginning of the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For FY 2021-22:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The forecast for FY22 (8.3%) factors in <strong>expected economic damage from an enormous<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reasons-for-rising-covid-19-infections-second-wave" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> second Covid-19 wave</a></strong> and localised mobility restrictions since March 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For FY 2022-23:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Growth is expected to slow to 7.5%</strong> as a<strong> result of the pandemic&rsquo;s lingering effects</strong> on the financial position of households, companies and banks and possibly low levels of consumer confidence and heightened uncertainty around job and incomes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> announced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-s-measures-to-fight-covid-second-wave" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>measures</strong> </a>to provide liquidity to Micro, Small and Medium firms (MSMEs), and loosened regulatory requirements on the provisioning for non-performing assets.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fiscal policy</strong></a> shifted in the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/03-02-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FY 2021/22 budget</strong></a> toward higher expenditure targeted at healthcare and infrastructure to boost the post-pandemic recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Globally <strong>coordinated efforts are essential</strong> to accelerate<strong> vaccine distribution and debt relief,</strong> particularly for low-income countries.</li>
<li>As the health crisis eases, policymakers will <strong>need to address the pandemic&rsquo;s lasting effects</strong> and take steps to<strong> spur green, resilient, and inclusive growth</strong> while safeguarding<strong> macroeconomic stability.</strong></li>
<li>For low-income countries, <strong>policies focusing on scaling up social safety net programs, improving logistics and climate resilience of local food supply</strong> would be more helpful.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Key Terms</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>GDP is a <strong>measure of economic activity</strong> in a country. It is the total value of a country&rsquo;s annual output of goods and services. It gives the economic output from the <strong>consumers&rsquo; side.</strong></li>
<li>GDP = Private consumption + Gross investment + Government investment + Government spending + (exports-imports).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recession and Depression</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Recession:</strong> It is a macroeconomic term that refers to a <strong>slowdown or a massive contraction</strong> in economic activities for a long enough period, or it can be said that when a recession sustains for long enough, it is called a recession.</li>
<li><strong>Depression:</strong> It is a deep and long-lasting period of <strong>negative economic growth,</strong> with output falling for at <strong>least 12 months</strong> and GDP falling by<strong> over 10%</strong> or it can be referred to as a <strong>severe and prolonged recession.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fiscal Policy</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fiscal policy refers to the<strong> use of government spending and tax policies to influence economic conditions.</strong></li>
<li>During a recession, the government may employ<strong> expansionary fiscal policy</strong> by lowering <strong>tax rates</strong> to increase aggregate demand and <strong>fuel economic growth.</strong></li>
<li>In the face of mounting <strong>inflation</strong> and other <strong>expansionary symptoms,</strong> a government may pursue <strong>contractionary fiscal policy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>World Bank</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Bretton Woods Conference held in 1944,</strong> created the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) along with the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Monetary Fund (IMF).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>IBRD later became the World Bank.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The World Bank Group is <strong>a unique global partnership of five institutions</strong> working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has <strong>189 member countries. India is also a member</strong> country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Reports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ease-of-doing-business-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ease of Doing Business.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-bank-s-human-capital-index-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Human Capital Index.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-development-report-2021-world-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Development Report.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-global-remittances-world-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Migration and Development Brief.</strong></a></li>
<li>Global Economic Prospects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Its Five Development Institutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD):</strong> Provides loans, credits, and grants.</li>
<li><strong>International Development Association (IDA):</strong> Provides low- or no-interest loans to low-income countries.</li>
<li><strong>International Finance Corporation (IFC):</strong> Provides investment, advice, and asset management to companies and governments.</li>
<li><strong>Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA):</strong> Insures lenders and investors against political risk such as war.</li>
<li><strong>International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID):</strong> Settles investment-disputes between investors and countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is <strong>not a member of ICSID.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/india-expected-to-grow-at-83-says-world-bank/article34762989.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8569,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'China-ASEAN Meeting',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, China hosted a meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</strong></a> countries.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting marks the <strong>30<sup>th</sup> anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue.</strong></li>
<li>With this meeting China looks to <strong>deepen its economic ties with the region</strong> as well as <strong>push back the renewed effort at regional engagement</strong> from the US, as well as from the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">QUAD (Quadrilateral Framework) grouping</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>QUAD earlier this year came out with a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-leaders-summit-quad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regional vaccine initiative</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points.</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Cultural Diplomacy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reiterated that <strong>China and ASEAN should jointly carry forward Asian values</strong> in a subtle dig at the West. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China in 2014 had put forward the idea that it was for <strong>&ldquo;Asian people to uphold Asia&rsquo;s security&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid-Vaccines:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China offered ASEAN countries its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccination" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccines</strong></a> as well as closer cooperation on joint vaccine development and production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Security &amp; Disputes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China called for considering the <strong>lifting of China-ASEAN ties to comprehensive strategic partnership</strong> and strive for an early agreement on a <strong>code of conduct in the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea</a>.</strong></li>
<li>China is <strong>banking on deep economic links to both offset maritime disputes</strong> and the push among some ASEAN countries for closer defence ties with the US amid their concerns about China&rsquo;s growing military footprint in the South China Sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China pushed for the early implementation of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rcep-comes-into-existence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a>, which was signed by China, ASEAN countries, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand in November 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India withdrew from the RCEP</strong> largely because of concerns it would open it up to Chinese goods amid an already wide trade imbalance with China, and the failure of the agreement to adequately open up to services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN&rsquo;s Importance for China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ASEAN plays a <strong>key role in Chinese economic and strategic interests.</strong></li>
<li>The region straddles vital sea lanes of communication that <strong>represent China&rsquo;s access to the global market</strong>, including vital imports of Middle Eastern oil.</li>
<li>Economically entwined with China, the relatively small nations of the region also <strong>offer ample opportunities for China to advance its influence</strong> and weaken what Chinese strategists perceive as a US (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinese-incursions-in-taiwan#:~:text=The%20Chinese%20government%20passed%20an,coerced%20or%20attacked%20by%20China." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Presence of US</strong></a>) engineered chain of encirclement around the Chinese mainland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN and India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Traditionally the basis of India-ASEAN ties has been trade and people-to-people ties</strong> due to shared historical and cultural roots, a more recent and urgent area of convergence has been <strong>balancing China&rsquo;s rise.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2020, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/17th-asean-india-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>17<sup>th</sup> ASEAN-India Virtual Summit</strong></a> was held.</li>
<li>The 8<sup>th</sup> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East Asia Summit</strong></a> <strong>Economic Ministers&rsquo; Meeting</strong> (EAS-EMM) was also held<strong> in 2020. It comprises the ten member states of the ASEAN, along with 8 other countries</strong> namely Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the USA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both India and ASEAN aim to establish a<strong> rules-based security architecture for peaceful development in the region</strong>, in contrast to China&rsquo;s aggressive policies.</li>
<li>Like India, <strong>several ASEAN members such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have territorial disputes with China, the China</strong> factor does form an important component of the relationship.</li>
<li>India in 2014 reinvigorated the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-act-east-policy-1#:~:text=About%3A,Pacific%20region%20at%20different%20levels." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Look East policy into Act East</strong></a>, with a more strategic outlook than its previous incarnation, <strong>focusing on engagement not just with Southeast Asian countries but also those in the Pacific.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main focus of the Act East policy is on <strong>enhancing connectivity between India and South East Asia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a regional grouping</strong> that promotes economic, political, and security cooperation.</li>
<li>It was established in <strong>August 1967 in Bangkok</strong>, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.</li>
<li>Its <strong>chairmanship rotates annually</strong>, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States.</li>
<li>ASEAN countries have a<strong> total population of 650 million people</strong> and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 2.8 trillion. It is <strong>India&rsquo;s 4<sup>th</sup> largest trading partner with about USD 86.9 billion in trade.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam..</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623312702_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623312702_image1.png" width="450" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>With China frequently displaying the intention as well as capability to challenge India, as seen in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Doklam standoff</strong></a>, it is pertinent that <strong>India finds more like-minded nations interested in working together to protect regional peace and stability.</strong></li>
<li>In this context, ASEAN fits the bill perfectly. <strong>ASEAN can also spur rapid growth of India&rsquo;s underdeveloped northeastern region</strong> if linkages that enable movement of people and goods could be established quickly.</li>
<li>But in order to do that, <strong>India must focus on speeding up connectivity projects and addressing its uneven balance of trade with ASEAN nations.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-offers-asean-support-on-vaccines-medical-supplies/article34762311.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8549,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate: G7',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Finance Ministers from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/47th-g7-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Group of Seven (G7)</strong></a> nations reached a landmark accord setting a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-minimum-corporate-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate (GMCTR)</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement could <strong>form the basis of a worldwide deal.</strong> It will now be discussed in detail at a meeting of <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20</a> financial ministers and central bank governors in July 2021.</strong></li>
<li>G7 also agreed to move towards <strong>making companies declare their environmental impact</strong> in a more standard way so investors can decide more easily whether to fund them.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Group of Seven (G7)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental organisation that was formed in 1975.</strong></li>
<li>The bloc <strong>meets annually to discuss issues of common interest</strong> like global economic governance, international security and energy policy.</li>
<li>The G7 countries are the <strong>UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All the <strong>G7 countries and India are a part of G20.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The G7 <strong>does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters.</strong> The <strong>decisions</strong> taken by leaders during annual summits are <strong>non-binding.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>G7 would back a <strong>minimum global corporation tax rate of at least 15%</strong>, and <strong>put in place measures to ensure taxes were paid in the countries where businesses operate.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Corporation tax</strong> is a direct tax imposed on the net income or profit that enterprises make from their businesses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Applicability:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It would apply to companies&rsquo; overseas profits. Therefore, <strong>if countries agree on a global minimum, governments could still set whatever local corporate tax rate they want.</strong></li>
<li>But <strong>if companies pay lower rates in a particular country</strong>, their home governments could <strong>&ldquo;top-up&rdquo;</strong> their taxes to the agreed minimum rate, <strong>eliminating the advantage of shifting profits to a tax haven.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>tax haven</strong> is generally an offshore country that offers foreign individuals and businesses little or no tax liability in a politically and economically static environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need of GMCTR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reduce Tax Loss:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Increasingly, <strong>income from intangible sources</strong> such as drug patents, software and royalties on <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/intellectual-property-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intellectual property</a> has migrated to low tax jurisdictions</strong>, allowing <strong>companies to avoid paying higher taxes</strong> in their traditional home countries (<strong>tax base erosion</strong> of the higher-tax jurisdictions).</li>
<li>These <strong>companies typically rely on complex webs of subsidiaries to hoover profits out of major markets into low-tax countries</strong> such as Ireland or Caribbean nations such as the <strong>British Virgin Islands or the Bahamas</strong>, or to central American nations such as Panama.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s annual tax loss</strong> due to corporate tax abuse is estimated at over <strong>USD 10 billion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Bring Uniformity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GMCTR will <strong>end a decades-long race to the bottom</strong> in which countries have competed to attract corporate giants with ultra-low tax rates and exemptions. And it will bring uniformity in corporate taxation worldwide.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Uniting Nations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Getting all major nations on the same page is a problem, since the GMCTR <strong>impinges on the right of the sovereign to decide a nation&rsquo;s tax policy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policy Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A global minimum rate would <strong>essentially take away a tool that countries use to push policies that suit them.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>lower tax rate is a tool they can use to alternatively push economic activity.</strong> Also, a global minimum tax rate <strong>will do little to tackle tax evasion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other International Effort:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development</strong> </a>(OECD) has been <strong>coordinating tax negotiations among 140 countries for years</strong> on rules for taxing <strong>cross-border digital services and curbing tax <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-223" target="_blank" rel="noopener">base erosion</a></strong>, including a global corporate minimum tax.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While taxation is ultimately a sovereign function, and depends upon the needs and circumstances of the nation, <strong>the government is open to participate and engage in the emerging discussions globally</strong> around the corporate tax structure.</li>
<li>India is <strong>likely to benefit from the global minimum 15% corporate tax rate</strong> pact as the <strong>effective domestic tax rate is above the threshold, and the country would continue to attract investment.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In September 2019, the government <strong>had reduced the corporate tax rate to 22%</strong> for companies that gave up all exemptions and incentives. Further, a <strong>15% rate</strong> was offered to <strong>new manufacturing firms.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>effective tax rate</strong>, inclusive of surcharge and cess, for Indian domestic companies is around <strong>25.17%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A G20 meeting scheduled for Venice in July 2021 will see whether the G7 accord gets <strong>broad support from the world's biggest developed and developing countries.</strong></li>
<li>Much<strong> still needs to be ironed out - including the metrics</strong> that will determine how and to which multinational companies the tax will be applied.</li>
<li>There should be <strong>appropriate coordination between the application of the new international tax rules</strong> including the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/digital-services-tax-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital Services Taxes</a>.</strong> Any final agreement could <strong>have major repercussions for low-tax countries and tax havens.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/explainer-what-is-a-global-minimum-tax-and-what-will-it-mean/article34740914.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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