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MT Swarna Krishna: International Women’s Day

Why in News The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has flagged off an all-women crew onboard Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) vessel...

08 Mar 2021 Social Justice
Road to Gender Equality: UNDP

Why in News Recently, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest report named “Protecting Women's Livelihoods in Times of...

06 Mar 2021 Social Justice
Right To Education

Why in News Delhi High Court asked the Central government to respond to a petition against the authorities for not deciding upon extension of free...

04 Mar 2021 Social Justice
Freedom in the World 2021 Report

Why in News The Freedom in the World 2021 report has downgraded India’s status from ‘Free’ to ‘Partly...

04 Mar 2021 Social Justice
First World Report on Hearing: WHO

Why in News The First World Report on Hearing was released by the World Health Organization (WHO) - a day ahead of World Hearing Day on 3rd...

04 Mar 2021 Social Justice
Same Sex Marriage

Why in News Recently, the Central Government opposed same-sex marriage in Delhi High Court stating that a marriage in India can be recognised only...

27 Feb 2021 Social Justice
National Commission for Scheduled Castes

Why in News Recently, Vijay Sampla has been appointed as the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC). Key...

25 Feb 2021 Social Justice
PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister talked about the need to address health issues in a holistic manner and to adopt a four-pronged strategy...

25 Feb 2021 Social Justice
Autism Spectrum Disorder

Why in News Recently, a 12-year-old Maharashtra girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) successfully swam across the Arabian Sea from Bandra-Worli...

20 Feb 2021 Social Justice
Falling Numbers of SC & ST Students in IITs

Why in News Recently, data collected from a series of Right to Information (RTI) applications pertaining to five older Indian Institutes of...

15 Feb 2021 Social Justice
MGNREGS Praised By the Standing Committee on Labour

Why in News Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour in its report “Social Security and Welfare Measures for Inter-State...

12 Feb 2021 Social Justice
Mental Health and Men

Why in News As per the data of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 70% of callers to the ‘Kiran Helpline’, launched in...

09 Feb 2021 Social Justice
Hunter Syndrome: MPS II

Why in News Two brothers suffering from Mucopolysaccharidosis II or MPS II (Hunter Syndrome, Attenuated Type) have approached the Delhi High Court...

09 Feb 2021 Social Justice
Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban)

Why in News In the Budget 2021-22, Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) has been announced under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to provide universal...

04 Feb 2021 Social Justice
Uniform Minimum Age for Marriage

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) decided to examine a plea to transfer to itself cases pending in the Delhi and Rajasthan High Courts to...

04 Feb 2021 Social Justice
The Inequality Virus Report: Oxfam International

Why in News Recently, the Inequality Virus Report, released by Oxfam International, has found that the Covid pandemic deeply increased the existing...

25 Jan 2021 Social Justice
Digital Education: Learning amid the Pandemic

This article is based upon “Digital Education cannot Substitute for Real Learning” which was published in The Times of India on...

22 Jan 2021 Social Justice
The Big Picture: India and the Vaccination Drive

Why in News? India began the "World's Largest Vaccination Program" on January 16, 2021. The Prime Minister of India said that India is entering...

19 Jan 2021 Social Justice
Crowdfunding for Rare Diseases

Why in News Recently, the Delhi High Court has ordered the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to explore Crowdfunding to help two children, who...

19 Jan 2021 Social Justice
Special Marriage Act, 1954

Why in News Recently, the Allahabad High Court has struck down the provisions under Section 5 of the Special Marriage Act that required parties to...

14 Jan 2021 Social Justice

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		'title' => 'MT Swarna Krishna: International Women’s Day',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has flagged off an all-women crew onboard <strong>Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)</strong> vessel <strong>MT Swarna Krishna.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The initiative is a part of SCI&rsquo;s ongoing <strong>Diamond Jubilee celebrations</strong> and also to commemorate the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gaura-devi-as-part-of-international-women-s-day-celebrations#:~:text=Gaura%20Devi%20as%20Part%20of%20International%20Women%27s%20Day%20Celebrations,-05%20Mar%202020&amp;text=The%20Ministry%20of%20Human%20Resource,8th%20March%20every%20year." target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Women&rsquo;s Day</a> (8<sup>th</sup> March).</strong></li>
<li>This is the <strong>first time in the world maritime history</strong> that a cargo ship is being sailed by all women officers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Shipping Corporation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>SCI was established on<strong> 2<sup>nd</sup> October 1961</strong> by the amalgamation of Eastern Shipping Corporation and Western Shipping Corporation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Two more shipping companies, Jayanti Shipping Company and Mogul Lines Limited, were merged with SCI in 1973 and 1986 respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is a Government of<strong> India Public Sector Enterprise.</strong> It operates and manages vessels that service both national and international lines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Mumbai.</li>
<li><strong>Navratna status:</strong> SCI was also awarded the prestigious <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sectors-of-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>"Navratna"</strong></a> status by Indian Government in 2008.</li>
<li><strong>Disinvestment:</strong> In November 2019, the Union Cabinet had accorded ''in-principle'' approval for strategic disinvestment of Government of India's shareholding of 63.75% in SCI along with transfer of management control to a strategic buyer.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>International Women's Day:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> It is celebrated <strong>annually on 8<sup>th</sup> March.</strong> It includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Celebration of women's achievements,</li>
<li>raising awareness about women's equality,</li>
<li>lobbying for accelerated gender parity,</li>
<li>fundraising for female-focused charities, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Brief History:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Women&rsquo;s Day was<strong> first celebrated back in 1911 by Clara Zetkin,</strong> who was a German. The <strong>roots of the celebration had been in the labour movement.</strong></li>
<li>It was only <strong>in 1913, however, that the celebrations were shifted to 8<sup>th</sup> March,</strong> and it has remained that way ever since.</li>
<li>International Women's Day was <strong>celebrated for the first time by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> in 1975.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a <strong>United Nations Day for Women&rsquo;s Rights and International Peace</strong> to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2021 Theme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>UN</strong> has decided to keep the theme as <strong>&ldquo;Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Meanwhile, some groups of women have called for the theme to be <strong>&ldquo;Choose to challenge&rdquo;,</strong> claiming that the world only became alert about such issues if it was challenged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the UN,<strong> legal restrictions have kept 2.7 billion women from accessing the same choice of jobs as men.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As of 2019,<strong> less than 25% of parliamentarians were women.</strong></li>
<li><strong>One in three women</strong> experience <strong>gender-based violence.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, <strong>female labor force participation in India was 20.5%,</strong> according to ILO estimates. Comparable estimates for males was 76%.</li>
<li>In the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-gender-gap-index-2020-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Global Gender Gap Index</strong> </a>(which measures progress towards gender parity), <strong>India slipped to 112<sup>th</sup> place in 2019-20</strong>, simply because over 70 lakh Indian women have dropped out of work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Safeguards for Women in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Safeguards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Fundamental Rights:</strong> It guarantees all Indians the right to equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State on the basis of gender (Article 15(1)) and special provisions to be made by the State in favour of women (Article 15(3)).</li>
<li><strong>Fundamental Duties:</strong> The Constitution imposes a fundamental duty on every citizen through <strong>Articles 51 (A)(e)</strong> to renounce practices derogatory to dignity of women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legislative Framework:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005:</strong> It provides victims of domestic violence with a means for practical remedy through prosecution.</li>
<li><strong>The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961:</strong> It prohibits the request, payment or acceptance of a dowry.</li>
<li><strong>The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013:</strong> This legislative act seeks to protect women from sexual harassment at their place of work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Schemes:</strong> Women Technology Park, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-for-gender-equality-in-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions</a> (GATI)</strong>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Conferences on Women:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The United Nations has organized 4 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-of-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>world conferences on women.</strong></a> These took place in<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mexico City, 1975</li>
<li>Copenhagen, 1980</li>
<li>Nairobi, 1985</li>
<li>Beijing, 1995</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The 4<sup>th</sup> <strong>World Conference on Women (WCW),</strong> held in Beijing, was one of the largest ever gatherings of the United Nations, and a critical turning point in the world&rsquo;s focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Beijing Declaration</strong> is an agenda for women&rsquo;s empowerment and considered the key global policy document on gender equality.</li>
<li>It sets strategic objectives and actions for the advancement of women and the achievement of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern like women and health, women in power and decision-making, the girl-child, women and the environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has proposed a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/road-to-gender-inequality-undp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Temporary Basic Income (TBI)</strong></a> for poor women in developing countries to help them cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and alleviate the economic pressures they face every day.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/all-women-crew-of-mt-swarna-krishna-makes-history/article34012475.ece#:~:text=In%20an%20attempt%20to%20acknowledge,Shipping%20and%20Waterways%20said%20on" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7863,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Road to Gender Equality: UNDP',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)</strong></a> in its latest report named <strong>&ldquo;Protecting Women's Livelihoods in Times of Pandemic: Temporary Basic Income and the Road to Gender Equality&rdquo;</strong> has proposed a <strong>Temporary Basic Income (TBI)</strong> for poor women in developing countries.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The proposal comes ahead of the<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gaura-devi-as-part-of-international-women-s-day-celebrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> International Women&rsquo;s Day</a> (8<sup>th</sup> march)</strong> celebrations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Gender Inequality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Unpaid Labor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On an average, <strong>women spend 2.4 more hours per day than men on unpaid care and domestic work.</strong></li>
<li>Among people who participate in the paid economy, <strong>women spend an average of four hours more per day</strong> than men on paid and unpaid work combined.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discriminative Policies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Beyond complex gendered norms, some of the economic vulnerability imposed on women also comes from <strong>policy and political decisions</strong> that have persistently <strong>deprived them of compensation in the form of equal pay, paid maternity leave, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/universal-health-coverage-1#:~:text=It%20talks%20about%20challenges%20and,equitable%20quality%20healthcare%20for%20all." target="_blank" rel="noopener">universal health</a>, unemployment and care benefits.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effect of Covid:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Women have been hit harder than men by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/future-pandemics-and-reduction-measures" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>, losing income and leaving the labour market at a greater rate. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This vulnerability is due to <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/gender-gap-women-issues-problems-solution-lok-sabha-rajya-sabha-discussion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gender inequality.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Women are 25% more likely than men to live in extreme poverty.</li>
<li>Only one in ten countries and territories, however, have policies addressing women&rsquo;s economic security needs, according to the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> Global Gender Response Tracker.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Covid-19 Global Gender Response Tracker is an initiative of <strong>UNDP</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/violence-against-women-on-rise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Women</strong></a> which shows that social protection and jobs response to the pandemic has largely overlooked women&rsquo;s needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Proposals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Temporary Basic Income:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>TBI</strong> for millions of the world&rsquo;s poorest women, <strong>to help them cope with the effects of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coronavirus</a> pandemic</strong> and alleviate the economic pressures they face every day.</li>
<li>A monthly investment of <strong>0.07-0.31%</strong> of a developing countries&rsquo; <strong>Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</strong> could <strong>provide reliable financial security to 613 million working-aged women living in poverty.</strong></li>
<li>The benefits of such a meaningful investment could not only help women and their families absorb the shock of the pandemic, but also <strong>empower women to make independent decisions about money, livelihoods and life choices.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Policies Favouring Women:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A set of policies should be aimed at recognising the needs of all workers, men and women, to <strong>reconcile their household obligations with paid work</strong> and allow for a more even distribution of care and domestic work by institutionally acknowledging it as a shared responsibility.</li>
<li>Such policies include <strong>guaranteed paid maternity leave, extended paternity leave</strong> and the enforcement of its take-up.</li>
<li>Establishing flexible arrangements such as <strong>part-time work</strong> or the provision of <strong>breastfeeding facilities</strong> in the workplace that allow parents to return to the workforce shortly after having a child should also be encouraged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reform Labour Market:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Beyond reconciling paid work and family responsibilities, governments must address other sources of the gender pay gap such as<strong> horizontal and vertical segregation in the labour market.</strong> The response should include<strong> anti-discrimination laws and affirmative action initiatives.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Horizontal segregation</strong> can be broadly defined as the concentration of men and women in <strong>different kinds of jobs.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Vertical segregation</strong> denotes the situation whereby <strong>opportunities</strong> for career progression for a particular gender within a company or sector are limited.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiatives of Other Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Philippines:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act, 2009.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mexico:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Introduced reforms to its <strong>Social Security Law allowing men to access childcare services.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bolivia:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They have allowed parents to reduce work hours for Covid-19 family care.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cape Verde, North Macedonia and Trinidad and Tobago:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They have enabled employees with care responsibilities to perform their work remotely.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Provisions to Promote Gender Equality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ministry of Women &amp; Child Development:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A separate ministry was established in 2006 to boost employability of Women.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maternity-benefits-and-workplace-equality-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It allows for pregnant women to take leave for a total of 26 weeks out of which up to 8 weeks can be claimed before delivery.</li>
<li>The woman is also supposed to get paid a benefit at the rate of her daily wage for three months before she goes on maternity leave.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/government-constitutes-panel-on-sexual-harassment#:~:text=The%20Protection%20of%20Women%20Against,mechanism%20for%20redressal%20of%20complaints.&amp;text=The%20Complaints%20Committees%20are%20required,if%20requested%20by%20the%20complainant." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been enacted covering all the women, in spite of their age and employment status, and protects them from sexual harassment at workplaces, in both the public and private sectors of the industry where the women are employed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-the-labour-code-bills" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Social Security Code, Code on Occupational Safety, Health &amp; Working Conditions Code, and Industrial Relations Code, 2020:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under the new codes, women have to be permitted to work in every sector at night, but it has to be ensured that provision for their security is made by the employer and consent of women is taken before they work at night.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/economy/amp/women-s-day-undp-bats-for-temporary-basic-income-to-combat-covid-19-75791" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7843,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Right To Education',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Delhi High Court asked the Central government to respond to a petition against the authorities for <strong>not deciding upon extension of free education under the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Right To Education (RTE) Act</a> to children of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) beyond Class 8 and up to Class 12 in school.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions for Right To Education:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Originally Part IV of Indian Constitution, <strong>Article 45 and Article 39 (f) of DPSP,</strong> had a provision for state funded as well as equitable and accessible education.</li>
<li>The first official document on the Right to Education was the <strong>Ramamurti Committee Report</strong> in 1990.</li>
<li>In 1993, the Supreme Court&rsquo;s landmark judgment in the <em><strong>Unnikrishnan JP vs State of Andhra Pradesh &amp; Others</strong> </em>held that <strong>Education is a Fundamental right flowing from Article 21.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tapas Majumdar Committee (1999)</strong> was set up, which encompassed insertion of Article 21A.</li>
<li>The <strong>86<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment in 2002,</strong> provided Right to Education as a fundamental right in Part-III of the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>inserted Article 21A</strong> which made Right to Education a fundamental right for children between 6-14 years.</li>
<li>It provided for a follow-up legislation <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/faulty-education-guidelines-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Right to Education Act 2009</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Feature of Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The RTE Act aims to provide primary education to all children<strong> aged 6 to 14 years.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Section 12(1)(c)</strong> mandates that <strong>non-minority private unaided schools should reserve at least 25% of seats in entry-level grades for children from economically weaker</strong> and disadvantaged backgrounds.</li>
<li>It also makes <strong>provisions for a non-admitted child</strong> to be admitted to an age appropriate class.</li>
<li>It also states about<strong> sharing of financial and other responsibilities</strong> between the Central and State Governments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Education in the Indian constitution is <strong>a concurrent issue</strong> and both centre and states can legislate on the issue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It lays down the<strong> norms and standards</strong> related to: Pupil Teacher Ratios (PTRs), Buildings and infrastructure, School-working days, Teacher-working hours.</li>
<li>It also <strong>provides for prohibition of deployment of teachers for non-educational work,</strong> other than decennial census, elections to local authority, state legislatures and parliament, and disaster relief.</li>
<li>It provides for the <strong>appointment of teachers with the requisite entry and academic qualifications.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It prohibits</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Physical punishment and mental harassment.</li>
<li>Screening procedures for admission of children.</li>
<li>Capitation fee.</li>
<li>Private tuition by teachers.</li>
<li>Running of schools without recognition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It focuses on making the child free of fear, trauma and anxiety through a system of <strong>child friendly and child centred learning.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Argument for Extension of Free Education under RTE beyond Class 8 for EWS:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>parents of children are required to pay hefty fees to unaided private schools in classes 9</strong> and onwards which they can not afford.</li>
<li>Changing school from unaided private to government after class 8<strong> may affect the children&rsquo;s state of mind and education</strong> and thus, an extension of the RTE benefits will ensure continuity in the education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Reservation for Economically Weaker Section in Higher Education</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/08-01-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>103<sup>rd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act</strong></a> introduced an economic reservation (10% quota) in jobs and admissions in education institutes for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) by amending Articles 15 and 16.</li>
<li>It inserted<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lok-sabha-passes-the-constitution-124th-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Article 15 (6) and Article 16 (6).</strong></a></li>
<li>It was enacted to promote the <strong>welfare of the poor</strong> not covered by the 50% reservation policy for SCs, STs and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Socially and Educationally Backward Classes</strong></a> (SEBC).</li>
<li>It enables both Centre and the states to provide reservation to the EWS of society.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/education/no-decision-yet-on-extending-rte-benefits-delhi-hc-pulls-up-govt-7213165/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7842,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Freedom in the World 2021 Report',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-in-the-world-2020-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Freedom in the World</a> 2021</strong> report has downgraded India&rsquo;s status from <strong>&lsquo;Free&rsquo; to &lsquo;Partly Free&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pointing to a decline in global democracy over the last 15 years, the report said that nearly<strong> 75% of the world&rsquo;s population lived in a country that faced deterioration</strong> over the last year.</li>
<li>The <strong>most free countries</strong> in the world, with a score of 100, are<strong> Finland, Norway and Sweden,</strong> while the <strong>least free with a score of 1 are Tibet and Syria.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614846196_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614846196_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="426" height="344" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Published By:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>USA based human rights watchdog <strong>Freedom House,</strong> which is largely<strong> funded through USA government grants,</strong> has been<strong> tracking the course of democracy since 1941. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scores are Based on:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Political rights</strong> indicators such as the electoral process, political pluralism and participation and government functioning.</li>
<li><strong>Civil liberties</strong> indicators related to freedom of expression and belief, associational and organisational rights, the rule of law and personal autonomy and individual rights.</li>
<li>Countries are declared as <strong>&ldquo;free&rdquo;, &ldquo;partly free&rdquo; or &ldquo;not free&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Score:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>score was 67, a drop from 71/100 from last year</strong> (reflecting 2019 data) downgrading it from the free category last year (i.e., based on 2020 data).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for India&rsquo;s Fall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Freedom of Media:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Attacks on press freedom have escalated dramatically, and reporting has become significantly less ambitious in recent years, citing the use of <strong>security, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/misuse-of-criminal-defamation-law-madras-hc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defamation</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sedition-law-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sedition</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contempt-of-court-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contempt of court</a></strong> laws to quiet critical media voices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Elevation of Hindu Nationalist Interests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India appears to have abandoned its potential to serve as a global democratic leader, <strong>elevating narrow Hindu nationalist interests</strong> at the expense of its founding values of inclusion and equal rights for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Internet Freedom:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In a year when <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/society-and-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>social media</strong> </a>censorship has been hotly seated, while the government shut down<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-refuses-to-restore-4g-services-in-j-k#:~:text=In%20August%202019%2C%20the%20Central,internet%20speed%20restricted%20to%202G." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Internet connectivity in Kashmir</strong> </a>as well as on Delhi&rsquo;s borders, <strong>India&rsquo;s Internet freedom score dropped to just 51.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid Response:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Response to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> included a hamfisted lockdown that resulted in the dangerous and unplanned <strong>displacement of millions of internal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/database-of-migrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">migrant workers.</a></strong></li>
<li>It added that <strong>Muslims were disproportionately blamed</strong> for the spread of the virus and faced attacks by vigilante mobs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crackdown on Protesters:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government intensified its crackdown on protesters opposed to a discriminatory<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> citizenship law</strong></a> and arrested dozens of journalists who aired criticism of the official pandemic response.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Laws:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/up-ordinance-on-unlawful-conversions#:~:text=UP%20Unlawful%20Religious%20Conversion%20Prohibition,religious%20conversion%20is%20two%20months." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s law prohibiting forced religious conversion</strong></a> through interfaith marriage was also listed as a concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-is-partly-free-says-us-thinktank/article33981116.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7837,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'First World Report on Hearing: WHO',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>First World Report on Hearing</strong> was released by 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>- a day ahead of <strong>World Hearing Day on 3<sup>rd</sup> March.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Report underlines the need to rapidly step up efforts to prevent and address hearing loss by investing and expanding access to ear and hearing care services.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide ─ or<strong> 1 in 4 people</strong> ─ will be living with <strong>some degree of hearing loss by 2050.</strong></li>
<li>At least <strong>700 million of these people will require access to ear and hearing care</strong> and other rehabilitation services unless action is taken.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Adverse Health Effects:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Untreated hearing loss can have a devastating impact on<strong> people&rsquo;s ability to communicate, to study and to earn a living.</strong> It can also impact <strong>people&rsquo;s mental health and their ability to sustain relationships.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Specialists among Low-Income Countries:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>About 78% have fewer than one Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist per million population.</li>
<li>93% have fewer than one audiologist per million.</li>
<li>Only 17% have one or more speech therapists per million.</li>
<li>50% have one or more teachers for the deaf per million.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hearing Impairment in India: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Over 27,000 children are born deaf every year</strong> in India. Hearing impairment or loss is often neglected as it cannot be seen and in most cases the diagnosis is delayed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There are many <strong>children</strong> who can benefit through advanced hearing technology but are <strong>missed out because of low awareness</strong> around hearing issues in babies.</li>
<li>One major reason is the <strong>unavailability of newborn screening programmes</strong> at birth and low awareness among parents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiative:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>National Programme for the Prevention &amp; Control of Deafness (NPPCD)</strong> under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Health Mission</strong></a> aims:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To<strong> prevent the avoidable hearing loss</strong> on account of disease or injury.</li>
<li><strong>Early identification, diagnosis</strong> and treatment of ear problems responsible for hearing loss and deafness.</li>
<li>To <strong>medically rehabilitate persons</strong> of all age groups, suffering with deafness.</li>
<li>To<strong> strengthen the existing inter-sectoral linkages</strong> for continuity of the rehabilitation programme, for persons with deafness.</li>
<li><strong>To develop institutional capacity for ear care services</strong> by providing support for equipment and material and training personnel.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Required Interventions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Holding screening programmes can help in early diagnosis, which in turn will lead to early treatment.</li>
<li>The<strong> Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS)</strong> helps in early detection of congenital hearing loss and this test is vital to detect hearing impairment in newborn babies and to ensure early intervention. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While <strong>UNHS screening is mandatory in developed countries,</strong> it is not included in the list of mandatory health screening procedures for newborns in India, except Kerala.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggested Strategies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Integration of Hearing Care into Primary Healthcare:</strong> This will close the present patient-doctor gap.</li>
<li><strong>Clinical Screening at Strategic Points in Life:</strong> To ensure early identification of any loss of hearing and ear diseases.</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Hearing Assistive Technology and Services:</strong> It includes measures such as captioning and sign language interpretation which can further improve access to communication and education for those with hearing loss.</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Investments:</strong> WHO calculates that governments can expect a return of nearly USD 16 for every USD 1 invested.</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Immunisation:</strong> In children, almost 60% of hearing loss can be prevented through measures such as immunisation for prevention of rubella and meningitis, improved maternal and neonatal care, and screening for, and early management of, otitis media &ndash; inflammatory diseases of the middle ear.</li>
<li><strong>Maintaining Hygiene:</strong> In adults, noise control, safe listening and surveillance of ototoxic (having a toxic effect on the ear) medicines together with good ear hygiene can help maintain good hearing and reduce the potential for hearing loss.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/1-in-4-people-projected-to-have-hearing-problems-by-2050-who-report-7211657/lite/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7797,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Same Sex Marriage',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central Government opposed <strong>same-sex marriage</strong> in Delhi High Court stating that a marriage in India can be recognised only if it is between a &ldquo;biological man&rdquo; and a &ldquo;biological woman&rdquo; capable of producing children.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Petitions, seeking recognition of same sex marriages under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/minimum-marital-age-for-women#:~:text=For%20Hindus%2C%20The%20Hindu%20Marriage,the%20minor%20in%20the%20marriage." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), 1955</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-marriage-act-1954" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954</strong></a>, were filed in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Centre&rsquo;s Response/Argument:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Supreme Court&rsquo;s Order:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In reading down the provision of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-section-377-judgement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)</strong></a>, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> only <strong>decriminalised a particular human behaviour</strong> but neither intended to, nor did in fact, legitimise the human conduct in question.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Societal Morality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There exists a <strong>&ldquo;legitimate State interest&rdquo;</strong> in limiting the recognition of marriage to persons of opposite sex. The considerations of <strong>&ldquo;societal morality&rdquo;</strong> are relevant in considering the validity of a law and it is for the Legislature to enforce such societal morality and public acceptance based upon Indian ethos.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Not in Consonance with Existing Laws:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The fundamental right under <strong>Article 21</strong> is subject to the procedure established by law and it <strong>cannot be expanded to include the fundamental right for same sex marriage</strong> to be recognised under the laws which in fact mandate the contrary.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Article 21</strong> of the constitution guarantees the right to life. This right cannot be taken away except through a law which is substantively and procedurally fair, just and reasonable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Any interference with the existing marriage laws would cause complete havoc with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sanctity of Marriage:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Living together as partners or in a relationship with a same-sex individual is &ldquo;not comparable&rdquo; with the &ldquo;Indian family unit concept&rdquo; of a husband, wife and children, arguing that the institution of marriage has a &ldquo;sanctity&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legality of same-sex marriages in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>right to marry is not expressly recognized either as a fundamental or constitutional right under the Indian Constitution.</strong></li>
<li>Though marriage is regulated through <strong>various statutory enactments</strong>, its recognition as a fundamental right has only <strong>developed through judicial</strong> <strong>decisions of India&rsquo;s Supreme Court.</strong></li>
<li>Such declaration of law is binding on all courts throughout India under <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 141</strong> </a>of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important Supreme Court Decisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Marriage as a Fundamental Right <em>(Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. and others 2018):</em></strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>While referring to <strong>Article 16</strong> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-rights-day-2#:~:text=Universal%20Declaration%20of%20Human%20Rights%20(UDHR)%3A,%2C%20health%20and%20education%2C%20etc." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Universal Declaration of Human Rights</strong></a> and the Puttaswamy case, the SC held that the <strong>right to marry a person of one&rsquo;s choice is integral to</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/access-to-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 21</strong></a> of the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservations-based-on-place-of-birth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 16</strong></a> (2) in the Indian constitution provides that there cannot be any discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>right to marry</strong> is intrinsic to the liberty which the Constitution guarantees as a fundamental right, is the <strong>ability of each individual to take decisions</strong> on matters central to the pursuit of happiness. Matters of belief and faith, including whether to believe are at the core of constitutional liberty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>LGBTQ Community Entitled to all Constitutional Rights <em>(Navjet Singh Johar and others v. Union of India 2018):</em></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The SC held that members of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-decriminalizes-homosexuality" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> LGBTQ community</strong></a> &ldquo;are entitled, as all other citizens, to the full range of constitutional rights including the liberties protected by the Constitution&rdquo; and are entitled to equal citizenship and &ldquo;equal protection of law&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The LGTBQ community <strong>needs an anti-discrimination law that empowers them to build productive lives and relationships</strong> irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation and place the onus to change on state and society and not the individual.</li>
<li>Once members of the LGBTQ community &ldquo;are entitled to the <strong>full range of constitutional rights</strong>&rdquo;, it is beyond doubt that the fundamental <strong>right to marry a person of one&rsquo;s own choice has to be conferred on same sex couples</strong> intending to marry. More than two dozen countries have legalized same-sex marriage.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/same-sex-marriages-legal-recognition-centre-7204303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7779,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'National Commission for Scheduled Castes',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Vijay Sampla</strong> has been appointed as the chairman of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reimagining-the-national-commission-for-scheduled-castes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCSC is a <strong>constitutional body</strong> that works to<strong> safeguard the interests of the scheduled castes (SC)</strong> in India.</li>
<li><strong>Article 338</strong> of the constitution of India deals with this commission:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for a <strong>National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes</strong> with duties to investigate and <strong>monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for them,</strong> to inquire into specific complaints and to participate and advise on the planning process of their socio-economic development etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History and Origin:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Special Officer:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Initially, the constitution provided for the appointment of a<strong> Special Officer</strong> under Article 338.</li>
<li>The special officer was designated as the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>65<sup>th</sup> Amendment, 1990:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It replaced the one-member system with a multi-member <strong>National Commission for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).</strong></li>
<li>The Constitution (65<sup>th</sup> Amendment) Act 1990, amended Article 338 of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>89<sup>th</sup> Amendment, 2003:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for SC and ST was replaced by <strong>two separate Commissions</strong> from the year 2004 which were:<strong> National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)</strong></a>- under <strong>Article 338-A.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Structure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It consists of:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Chairperson.</li>
<li>Vice-chairperson.</li>
<li>Three other members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are <strong>appointed by the President</strong> by warrant under his hand and seal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Monitoring and investigating all issues</strong> concerning the safeguards provided <strong>for the SCs</strong> under the constitution.</li>
<li><strong>Enquiring into complaints</strong> relating to the deprivation of the rights and safeguards of the SCs.</li>
<li>Taking part in and <strong>advising the central or state governments</strong> with respect to the planning of socio-economic development of the SCs.</li>
<li>Regular <strong>reporting to the President</strong> of the country on the implementation of these safeguards.</li>
<li><strong>Recommending steps</strong> to be taken to further the <strong>socio-economic development and other welfare activities</strong> of the SCs.</li>
<li>Any other function with respect to the welfare, protection, development and advancement of the SC community.</li>
<li>The Commission is also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the <strong>Anglo-Indian Community</strong> as it does with respect to the SCs.</li>
<li>Till 2018, the commission was also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the other backward classes (OBCs). It was relieved from this responsibility by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc#:~:text=102nd%20Constitution%20Amendment%20Act,socially%20and%20educationally%20backward%20classes." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>102<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act of 2018</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Constitutional Provisions For Upliftment of the Schedule Caste</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 15</strong></a><strong>(4)</strong> refers to the special provisions for their advancement.</li>
<li><strong>Article 16(4A)</strong> speaks of <strong>&ldquo;reservation in matters of promotion to any class or classes of posts in the services under the State in favour of SCs/STs,</strong> which are not adequately represented in the services under the State&rsquo;.</li>
<li><strong>Article 17</strong> abolishes Untouchability.</li>
<li><strong>Article 46</strong> requires the State <strong>&lsquo;to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections</strong> of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.</li>
<li><strong>Article 335</strong> provides that the claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of <strong>appointments to services and posts</strong> in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State.</li>
<li><strong>Article 330</strong> and <strong>Article 332</strong> of the Constitution respectively provide for <strong>reservation of seats in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People and in the legislative assemblies</strong> of the States.</li>
<li>Under <strong>Part IX</strong> relating to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/panchayati-raj-institutions-and-participative-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayats</strong></a> and <strong>Part IXA</strong> of the Constitution relating to the Municipalities, reservation for SC and ST in local bodies has been envisaged and provided.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/national-commission-for-scheduled-castes-gets-chairman/article33928022.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7775,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister talked about the <strong>need to address health issues in a holistic manner</strong> and to adopt a <strong>four-pronged strategy</strong> for a healthy India that includes implementing the <strong>PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat scheme.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Four-Pronged Strategy for a Healthy India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Prevention of illness and promotion of wellness</strong> including measures such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a>, yoga and timely care and treatment of pregnant women and children,</li>
<li>Providing cheap and effective <strong>treatment to the poorest of the poor,</strong></li>
<li>Increasing the <strong>quality of health infrastructure</strong> and healthcare professionals and</li>
<li><strong>Working on a mission mode</strong> to overcome obstacles like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-indradhanush-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Indradhanush</strong></a> has been extended to the tribal and far-flung areas of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614237375_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614237375_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Announced in the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/03-02-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Union Budget 2021-22.</strong></a></li>
<li>Aims to <strong>develop capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary care health systems</strong> even in the last miles of the nation.</li>
<li><strong>Developing a modern ecosystem</strong> for research, testing and treatment in the country itself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforming-centrally-sponsored-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme</strong></a> with an outlay of about Rs. 64,180 crores.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Duration:</strong> 6 years.</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Supporting development of 17,788 <strong>rural</strong> and 11,024 <strong>urban health and wellness centers</strong> and setting up of <strong>integrated public health labs</strong> in all districts and 3,382 block public health units in 11 states.</li>
<li>Help in establishing <strong>critical care hospital</strong> blocks in 602 districts and 12 central institutions. Strengthening of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-centre-for-disease-control-ncdc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)</strong></a>, its 5 regional branches and 20 metropolitan health surveillance units.</li>
<li>Expansion of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-disease-surveillance-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Integrated Health Information Portal</strong></a> to all States/UTs to connect all public health labs.</li>
<li>Help in rolling out the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-and-the-vaccination-drive" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 vaccination program</strong></a> as well as strengthen the delivery system and build better capability and capacity to combat any future pandemics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives in Health Sector:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat Program.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-health-mission-and-janani-suraksha-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Health Mission.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/janaushadhi-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Aushadhi Yojana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/govt-will-ensure-healthcare-for-all-pm/article33918226.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7731,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Autism Spectrum Disorder',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a 12-year-old Maharashtra girl with <strong>Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)</strong> successfully swam across the Arabian Sea from Bandra-Worli Sea Link to Gateway of India in Mumbai.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ASD refers to a range of conditions characterised by some degree of <strong>impaired social behaviour, communication and language,</strong> and a narrow range of interests and activities that are both unique to the individual and carried out repetitively.</li>
<li>It is a complex brain development disability which makes itself visible during the first 3 years of a person&rsquo;s life.</li>
<li>It is <strong>not mental retardation</strong> as people with autism may show excellent skills in spheres like art,music, writing etc. The level of intellectual functioning in individuals with ASDs is <strong>extremely variable,</strong> extending from profound impairment to superior levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are probably many factors that make a child more likely to have an ASD, including <strong>environmental and genetic factors.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Signs and Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Difficulty with social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cure:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Although autism is <strong>not curable,</strong> its symptoms can be addressed with appropriate interventions like evidence-based psychosocial interventions, behavioural treatment and skills training programmes for parents and other caregivers, health promotion, care, rehabilitation services, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global &amp; National Initiatives to Raise Awareness on ASD:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/disability-summit-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-indias-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals</strong></a> deal with rights of people with disabilities including autism.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-on-implementation-of-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016</strong></a> increased the types of disabilities <strong>from 7 to 21.</strong> It also added<strong> autism spectrum disorder</strong> among others, which were largely ignored in earlier Act.</li>
<li>In 2014, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> adopted a resolution entitled "Comprehensive and coordinated efforts for the management of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)," which was supported by more than 60 countries.</li>
<li>In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared 2<sup>nd</sup> April as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-autism-awareness-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Autism Awareness Day.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1699006#:~:text=Miss%20Jiya%20Rai%2C%20a%2012,to%20raise%20awareness%20about%20Autism." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7689,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Falling Numbers of SC & ST Students in IITs',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, data collected from a series of <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/right-to-information-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right to Information (RTI)</strong> </a>applications pertaining to five older<strong> Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs),</strong> has indicated that the <strong>acceptance rate is skewed against students from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reimagining-the-national-commission-for-scheduled-castes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduled Caste (SC)</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduled Tribe (ST)</a>, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SC and ST applicants are half as likely to get selected for a Ph.D. programme</strong> at IITs <strong>as aspirants from the General Category (GC)</strong> are.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Data from the RTI Applications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Acceptance Rate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It refers to the <strong>number of students selected for every 100 students who applied.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It stood at <strong>4%</strong> for students from<strong> General Category (GC).</strong></li>
<li>It falls to<strong> 2.7% for OBC</strong> students and further down to just <strong>2.16% for SCs and 2.2% for STs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This finding <strong>comes against the backdrop of the Education Ministry&rsquo;s data</strong> submitted to Parliament in 2020 showing the failure of the IITs to fill Ph.D. seats as per reservation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government&rsquo;s <strong>reservation</strong> policy <strong>mandates</strong> allocation of <strong>15% seats for students from the SCs, 7.5% from STs </strong>and<strong> 27% from OBCs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>IITs have often cited the lack of applicants from the marginalised communities</strong> for the situation. However, <strong>the RTI data reveals quite the opposite.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>percentage of GC students</strong> among those admitted was <strong>always higher</strong> than their percentage among those applied. However, the <strong>converse was true for SC, ST and OBC candidates.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Education Ministry's Data:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Of the total admissions made by all <strong>IITs</strong> from<strong> 2015 to 2019,</strong> only <strong>9.1%</strong> went to <strong>SC</strong> and <strong>2.1%</strong> to<strong> ST.</strong></li>
<li>Only<strong> 23.2%</strong> seats went to applicants from the <strong>OBCs.</strong> Remaining <strong>65.6%,</strong> or roughly two-thirds of all the seats, went to General Category applicants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613376254_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613376254_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="630" height="471" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons for Falling Rate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Given by IITs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Eligibility Issue:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some institutions <strong>could not even fill all the seats in the general category</strong> since they<strong> did not get enough eligible candidates.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Causes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Students of the required calibre <strong>tend to take up industry jobs rather than join for a PhD</strong> which has extra uncertainties and lower income levels during PhD and in some areas even post PhD.</li>
<li>It is possible that the <strong>family background and economic level</strong> may have an impact on such candidates applying for a PhD.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Argument of 'Merit':</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There has been long-standing <strong>opposition among IIT administrators and faculty to reservations,</strong> which they see as a form of<strong> unjust government intervention</strong> in their meritocratic institutions.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/recommendations-on-reservation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recent report</strong> </a>of an Education Ministry-constituted committee<strong> recommended the abolition of reservation in faculty recruitment.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The committee based its recommendations primarily on arguments <strong>claiming the need for IITs to maintain their academic excellence and the lack of candidates from the reserved categories</strong> who fulfil the qualification criteria.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A More Systematic Problem:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The problem is also of practice and <strong>access to quality school education,</strong> leading to <strong>poor base.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages of following the Reservation Policy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>An Example to Other Institutions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The IITs are and should continue to be institutions of national importance. But they <strong>also have social functions.</strong></li>
<li>They should set an example to other institutions by <strong>creating opportunities for and encourage the underprivileged communities to excel</strong> in research and innovation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bridging Inequalities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Affirmative action and caste-based reservation can <strong>help bridge inequalities in society,</strong> enable the underprivileged to have access to quality education, promote diversity, and, more importantly, remove obstacles to equality and correct the past wrongs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Policy intervention has to begin sooner, in the early school years, to attempt to equalise opportunities in education.</li>
<li>In addition, negative attitudes, perceptions and stereotypes about the ability of students belonging to the SC/ST groups are a major hurdle. Policy should recognise how such perceptions hold back individuals and groups, and seriously attempt to think of ways to alter these.</li>
<li>Diversity issues can also be addressed through outreach campaigns.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/phd-entry-in-iits-tougher-for-students-from-marginalised-communities/article33824475.ece?homepage=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'MGNREGS Praised By the Standing Committee on Labour',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/parliamentary-committee-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Parliamentary Standing Committee</strong> </a>on Labour in its report <strong>&ldquo;Social Security and Welfare Measures for Inter-State Migrant Workers&rdquo;</strong> praised <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)</strong></a> for providing <strong>sustainable livelihood</strong> to the <strong>unskilled workers</strong> including the inter-state <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-migrants-and-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>migrant labourers.</strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Standing Committees Observation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>MGNREGS:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 provides for a <strong>specific and significant welfare provision, constitutive of the very idea of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">citizenship</a>.</strong></li>
<li>There is no<strong> &ldquo;better scheme&rdquo;</strong> to provide<strong> &ldquo;sustainable livelihood&rdquo;</strong> to unskilled workers.</li>
<li>Over 7 crore households (10.43 crore individuals) have already availed of the scheme and 330 crore person days have been created till February 2021 during the current <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/03-02-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>financial year</strong></a>. This is the <strong>highest for any year since inception of the scheme in 2006.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Migrant Workers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>1.08 crore migrant workers returned to their home</strong> states during the <strong>pandemic.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>absence of reliable and authentic data/information</strong> on the numbers of migrant workforce and their movement back to their home States following the outbreak of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pandemic</strong></a> has apparently <strong>impacted the relief and rehabilitation measures.</strong></li>
<li>There were a number of appreciable initiatives launched by the Government <strong>(eg: <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/27-03-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</a>)</strong>, which are aimed at benefiting the Migrant Labour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>However, no guidelines were issued</strong> nor enforced for distribution of relief material to stranded Migrant Labourers.</li>
<li><strong>No element of Social Audit</strong> prescribed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Standing Committees Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Instant and Immediate Relief:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 Pandemic</strong> </a>and the resultant challenges and lacunae observed in the system must be addressed so as to <strong>strengthen the preparedness to effectively deal with any such emergent situations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Credible Database to be Prepared:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Credible databases of unorganized workers especially that of migrant labourers be put in place to <strong>ensure seamless delivery of relief packages to them at the time of distress.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Earlier in december 2020, the Government has decided to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/database-of-migrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>create a database of migrant workers, including workers in the informal economy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> It is one of the largest work guarantee programmes in the world.</li>
<li><strong>Launch:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was launched on 2<sup>nd</sup> February 2006</li>
<li>The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was passed on 23<sup>rd</sup> August 2005.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The primary objective of the scheme is <strong>to guarantee 100 days of employment</strong> in every financial year to <strong>adult members of any rural household</strong> willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Legal Right to Work:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Unlike earlier employment guarantee schemes, the act <strong>aims at addressing the causes of chronic poverty through a rights-based framework.</strong></li>
<li>At least <strong>one-third of beneficiaries have to be women.</strong></li>
<li>Wages must be paid according to the statutory minimum wages specified for agricultural labourers in the state under the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/labour-laws-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minimum Wages Act, 1948</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demand-Driven Scheme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The most important part of MGNREGA&rsquo;s design is <strong>its legally-backed guarantee for any rural adult to get work within 15 days</strong> of demanding it, failing which an &lsquo;unemployment allowance&rsquo; must be given.</li>
<li>This demand-driven scheme enables the self-selection of workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Decentralised planning:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is an emphasis on strengthening the process of decentralisation by giving a significant role in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/panchayati-raj-institution-pri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)</strong></a> in planning and implementing these works.</li>
<li>The act mandates <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/appointment-of-government-servants-as-gram-panchayat-administrator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gram sabhas</a> to recommend the works</strong> that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works must be executed by them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613117208_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613117208_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The pandemic has demonstrated the <strong>importance of decentralised governance. </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Gram panchayats need to be provided with adequate resources, powers, and responsibilities</strong> to sanction works, provide work on demand, and authorise wage payments to ensure there are no delays in payments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Auditing</strong> creates accountability of performance, especially towards immediate stakeholders. Hence, there is a <strong>need to to create awareness regarding government policies and measures in rural areas.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-better-scheme-than-nregs-for-sustainable-livelihood-of-unskilled-workers-house-panel-7184983/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7651,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Mental Health and Men',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>As per the data of the <strong>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 70% of callers</strong> to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kiran-mental-health-rehabilitation-helpline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;Kiran Helpline&rsquo;</strong></a>, launched in September 2020, were <strong>men. Most of the calls</strong> have been from <strong>young adults.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The 24/7 toll-free helpline<strong> &lsquo;Kiran&rsquo;</strong> provides <strong>support to people</strong> facing <strong>anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts</strong> and other <strong>mental health</strong> concerns.</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><strong>Gender &amp; Mental Health:</strong> Out of the 13,550 new calls received, <strong>70.5% were from males </strong>and<strong> 29.5% from females.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Vulnerable Age Group:</strong> The majority of callers (75.5%) were in the age group of <strong>15 to 40 years,</strong> while 18.1% in the<strong> 41 to 60 age group.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Major Issues:</strong> Majorly the challenges faced by the callers were related to<strong> anxiety</strong> and <strong>depression;</strong> while few others included <strong>pandemic-related challenges, suicidal tendency, substance abuse</strong> and others miscellaneous.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Related to Male Mental Health:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Traditional Gender Roles:</strong> Societal <strong>expectations</strong> and<strong> traditional gender roles</strong> play an important role in why men are less likely to discuss or seek help for their mental health problems.</li>
<li><strong>Ignoring Warning Signs:</strong> For men, the warning signs of mental disorders include irritability, trouble focusing, tiredness or listlessness, aches and pains, alcohol or drug abuse and more.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Proper Attention:</strong> Research on men&rsquo;s health issues has been given relatively <strong>low priority.</strong> Due to lack of funding and proper attention, the situation becomes more serious.</li>
<li><strong>Increase in Number of Suicides:</strong> In 2018, around <strong>250 Indian men</strong> took their own lives per day - more than twice the number of<strong> women.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mental Health</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the WHO, <strong>mental health is &lsquo;a state of well-being</strong> in which the individual realizes his or her own<strong> abilities,</strong> can cope with the <strong>normal stresses</strong> of life, can work <strong>productively and fruitfully,</strong> and is able to make a<strong> contribution to his or her community.&rsquo;</strong></li>
<li>Like <strong>Physical health, Mental health</strong> is also important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>High Public Health Burden:</strong> An estimated <strong>150 million people</strong> across India are in need of mental health care interventions, according to India&rsquo;s latest National Mental Health Survey 2015-16.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Resources:</strong> Low proportion of the mental health workforce in India (per 100,000 population) include psychiatrists (0.3), nurses (0.12), psychologists (0.07) and social workers (0.07).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Low financial resource allocation</strong> of just over a percent of GDP on healthcare has created impediments in public access to affordable mental healthcare.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Challenges:</strong> Poor awareness about the symptoms of mental illness, social stigma and abandonment of mentally ill, especially old and destitute, leads to social isolation and reluctance on part of family members to seek treatment for the patient.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has resulted in a <strong>massive treatment gap,</strong> which further worsens the present mental illness of a person.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken by the Government:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Mental Health Program (NMHP):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To address the huge burden of mental disorders and shortage of qualified professionals in the field of mental health, the government has been implementing the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) since <strong>1982.</strong></li>
<li>The Program was<strong> re-strategized in 2003</strong> to include two schemes, viz. Modernization of State Mental Hospitals and Up-gradation of Psychiatric Wings of Medical Colleges/General Hospitals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mental HealthCare Act 2017:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It guarantees every affected person access to mental healthcare and treatment from services run or funded by the government.</li>
<li>It has <strong>significantly reduced the scope for the use of Section 309 IPC</strong> and made the attempt to commit suicide punishable only as an exception.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section 115(1) of the MHCA states: &ldquo;Notwithstanding anything contained in section 309 of the Indian Penal Code any person who attempts to commit suicide shall be presumed, unless proved otherwise, to have severe stress and shall not be tried and punished under the said Code.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Many researches have emphasized the importance of &lsquo;disrupting how men traditionally think about depression and suicide by breaking down the stigma that surrounds these topics&rsquo; through nationwide campaigns.</li>
<li>Originating a dialogue, sustaining that dialogue, challenging outdated social mores, and giving a voice to the voiceless without fear of exclusion and mockery is what needs to be undertaken to ensure that all people&rsquo;s mental health is taken seriously and addressed in a manner that is dignified and respectful.</li>
<li>Modern techniques, such as web-based interventions and electronic health (e-health) tools, can also be developed and utilized to reach out to people who might not otherwise seek help.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ministrys-mental-health-helpline-sees-most-calls-from-men/article33774872.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7648,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Hunter Syndrome: MPS II',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Two brothers suffering from<strong> Mucopolysaccharidosis II or MPS II (Hunter Syndrome, Attenuated Type)</strong> have approached the Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Centre and AIIMS to provide them free treatment.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MPS II is a rare disease</strong> that is passed on in families.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> MPS II mostly <strong>affects boys</strong> and their bodies<strong> cannot break down a kind of sugar </strong>that <strong>builds bones, skin, tendons and other tissues.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cause:</strong> It is <strong>caused by changes (mutations) of the<em> IDS</em> gene</strong> that regulates the production of the iduronate 2-sulfatase (I2S) enzyme.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This enzyme is <strong>needed to break-down complex sugars,</strong> known as <strong>glycosaminoglycans (GAGs),</strong> produced in the body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong> Lack of I2S enzyme activity<strong> leads to the accumulation of GAGs within cells,</strong> specifically inside the <strong>lysosomes.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lysosomes are compartments in the cell that <strong>digest and recycle different types of molecules.</strong></li>
<li>Conditions that cause molecules to build up inside the lysosomes, including MPS II, are called <strong>lysosomal storage disorders.</strong></li>
<li>The accumulation of GAGs increases the size of the lysosomes, which is why <strong>many tissues and organs are enlarged in this disorder. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong> It is characterized by <strong>distinctive facial features, a large head, enlargement of the liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly),</strong> hearing loss, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Inheritance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MPS II is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, which means that this condition occurs almost exclusively in males. <strong>Females are generally unaffected carriers of this condition.</strong></li>
<li>In a family with more than one affected individual, the mother of the affected males must be a carrier. When a carrier female has a child, there is a 25% (1 in 4) chance that she will have an affected son.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rare Diseases</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A rare disease is a <strong>health condition of low prevalence</strong> that affects a small number of people compared with other prevalent diseases in the general population.</li>
<li>Though rare diseases are of low prevalence and individually rare, collectively they <strong>affect a considerable proportion of the population.</strong></li>
<li><strong>80% of rare diseases are genetic in origin</strong> and hence disproportionately impact children.</li>
<li>Recently, the Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to <strong>finalise the National Health Policy for Rare Diseases of 2020</strong> by March 2021 and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crowdfunding-for-rare-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>make operational provision of crowdfunding</strong></a> envisaged under the law for treatment of high-cost rare diseases.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/hc-asks-govt-aiims-to-facilitate-free-treatment-of-children-with-rare-diseases/article33777103.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7611,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban)',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Budget+2021-22+drishti&amp;oq=Budget+2021-22+drishti&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57.7240j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget 2021-22</strong></a>, <strong>Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban)</strong> has been announced under the <strong>Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households</strong> through functional taps in all statutory towns in accordance with<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Sustainable Development Goal- 6.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It complements the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Jal Jeevan Mission (Rural)</strong> </a>which envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through <strong>Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Securing tap and sewer connections:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To bridge the estimated gap of 2.68 crore <strong>urban household functional water tap connections.</strong></li>
<li>To provide 2.64 crore sewer connections/septage in 500 <strong>AMRUT cities. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rejuvenation of water bodies:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To<strong> augment sustainable fresh water supply</strong> and create <strong>green spaces and sponge cities</strong> to reduce floods and enhance amenity value through an <strong>Urban Aquifer Management</strong> plan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Sponge city</strong> is a city that has the capacity to mainstream urban water management into the urban planning policies and designs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Creating circular water economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To promote<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-productivity-and-sustainability#:~:text=Circular%20Economy%20and%20India,reuse%20and%20recycling%20of%20materials." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> circular economy</strong> </a>of water through development of the city <strong>water balance plan for each city</strong> focusing on recycle/reuse of treated sewage, rejuvenation of water bodies and water conservation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features of Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Deploying Latest Technology: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>A Technology Sub-Mission for water</strong> is proposed to leverage latest global technologies in the field of water.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Spreading Mass Awareness: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign</strong> is proposed to spread awareness among masses about conservation of water.</li>
<li>JJM looks <strong>to create a jan andolan for water,</strong> thereby making it everyone&rsquo;s priority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Survey for equitable distribution:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-drinking-water-quality-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pey Jal Survekshan</strong></a> will be conducted in cities to ascertain equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater and mapping of water bodies with respect to quantity and quality of water through a challenge process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focus on strengthening urban local bodies:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>By reducing non-revenue water to below 20%. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Non-revenue water</strong> is the difference between the volume of water put into a water distribution system and the volume that is billed to customers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recycling used water to meet at least 20% of total city water demand and 40% for industrial water demand at State level.</li>
<li>Promoting dual piping systems.</li>
<li>Raising funds through issuance of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/municipal-bonds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>municipal bonds</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Rejuvenation of water bodies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting PPP Model:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In order to promote <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/ppp-investment-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public private partnership</strong></a>, it has been mandated for cities having millions plus population to take up PPP projects worth minimum of 10% of their total project fund allocation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For <strong>Union Territories,</strong> there will be <strong>100% central funding.</strong></li>
<li>For <strong>North Eastern and Hill States,</strong> central funding for projects will be <strong>90%.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Central funding will be 50%</strong> for<strong> cities with less than 1 lakh population,</strong> one third for cities with 1 lakh to 10 lakh population and 25% for cities with million plus population.</li>
<li><strong>Outcome based Funding:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Funding from the Government for projects will be in<strong> three tranches of 20:40:40.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Third instalment onwards will be released based on outcomes</strong> achieved and credible exclusion will be exercised while funding.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives for Urban Development: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swachh-bharat-mission-urban#:~:text=Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission%2DUrban%20(SBM,certified%20through%20third%2Dparty%20verification." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-awas-yojana-grameen-behind-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Urban.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amrut-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AMRUT Mission.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amrut-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Smart City Mission.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jal-jeevan-mission-to-revive-urban-water-bodies/article33732701.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7608,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Uniform Minimum Age for Marriage',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>(SC) decided to examine a plea to transfer to itself cases pending in the Delhi and Rajasthan High Courts to declare a <strong>&ldquo;uniform minimum age&rdquo;</strong> for marriage.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-age-of-marriage-for-girls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Union government has also set up a committee</strong></a> to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for women, which is currently 18.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Bench led by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/47th-chief-justice-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chief Justice of India (CJI)</strong></a> issued notice to the government on a plea, which was filed to <strong>&ldquo;secure gender justice, gender equality, and dignity of women&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The plea sought a direction to the Union government to remove the anomalies in the minimum age of marriage and make it <strong>&lsquo;gender-neutral, religion-neutral and uniform for all citizens&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Various laws state that the minimum age to get married should be <strong>18 for women</strong> and <strong>21 for men.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> SC has power under Article 139A to transfer to itself,</strong> cases involving the same or substantially the same questions of law pending before two or more high courts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been argued that the different ages for marriage <strong>violated the fundamental rights of equality (Article 14), protection against discrimination (Article 15),</strong> and <strong>dignity of life (Article 21)</strong> of citizens and <strong>went against</strong> India&rsquo;s commitment under the<strong> convention on elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Laws Related to Marriage in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For Hindus, The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/uniform-civil-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hindu Marriage Act, 1955</strong></a>, sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage for the bride and 21 years as the minimum age for the groom.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-say-no-to-child-marriage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>child marriages</strong></a><strong> are not illegal</strong> even though<strong> they can be declared void at the request of the minor</strong> in the marriage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In Islam, the marriage of a minor who has attained puberty is considered valid.</li>
<li>The <a href="/pdf/1597658036-minimum-age-of-marriage-for-girls.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Special Marriage Act, 1954</strong></a> and the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/marriageable-age-for-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006</strong></a> also prescribe 18 and 21 years as the minimum age of consent for marriage for women and men respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pros of Increasing Marriageable Age for Girls and Making it Uniform:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Socio-economic Fronts:</strong> Increasing the legal age for the marriage of women has enormous benefits on social and economic fronts including:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Lowering the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decline-in-maternal-mortality-ratio#:~:text=Key%20Points,during%20the%20same%20time%20period." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Improvement of nutrition levels.</li>
<li><strong>On the financial front, opportunities will be opened up</strong> for women to pursue higher education and careers and become financially empowered, thus resulting in a more egalitarian society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More female labour force participation:</strong> Increasing the marriage age will push the mean marriage age higher and will lead to more females doing graduation and hence <strong>improving the female labour force participation ratio.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The percentage of<strong> females doing graduation will increase by at least 5-7 percentage points</strong> from the <strong>current level of 9.8%.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The benefit for both:</strong> Both men and women will gain economically and socially by marrying when they are more than the legal age, but added that the urge of the women is much higher as they always get a higher payoff by becoming financially empowered to take decisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cons of Increasing Marriageable Age for Girls and Making it Uniform:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Minimum is not mandatory:</strong> Minimum age of marriage <strong>does not mean mandatory age.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It only signifies that below that age there could be criminal prosecution under the child marriage law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rights of the girls are threatened:</strong> Increasing the age of marriage to 21 years would mean that <strong>girls will have no say in their personal matters until they are 21.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The elementary right that the Convention of the Right of Children of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nation</strong> </a>bestows upon minors &mdash; the right to be heard, the right for their views to be considered &mdash; will be denied to girls right up till 21, beyond adulthood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exploitation of law by parents:</strong> The child marriage law has been used by parents against eloping daughters. <strong>It has become a tool for parental control and for punishment of boys or men whom girls choose as their husbands.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most cases that are taken to court are self-arranged marriages.</li>
<li>And only one-third of the cases relate to arranged marriages, which are sometimes brought by parents or husbands to dissolve or to nullify marriages that have broken down because of domestic violence, dowry or compatibility issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social validity of marriages:</strong> Even if the law declares a marriage before the specified age as void, in the eyes of the community, arranged marriages will have social validity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This <strong>worsens the condition of the girls who are widowed</strong> even before reaching the new legal age for marriage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased female infanticide:</strong> Moreover, raising the female marriage age in the countries that have <strong>high son preference</strong> and high poverty may have the unintended consequence of i<strong>ncreasing the prevalence of female infanticide and sex-selective abortion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Altering the thinking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any ground-level change will only happen when the psyche of people will alter. <strong>No law is effective if change does not occur from within.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Erasing the stereotype:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing the legal age for marriage is a must, even legally as it should <strong>get us out of the stereotype mindset that women are more mature than men of the same age</strong> and therefore can be allowed to marry sooner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7550,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'The Inequality Virus Report: Oxfam International',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Inequality Virus Report,</strong> released by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-inequality-crisis-report-oxfam-international#:~:text=The%20report%20focuses%20on%20the,hands%20of%20a%20rich%20few." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Oxfam International</strong></a>, has found that the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid pandemic</strong></a> deeply<strong> increased the existing inequalities</strong> in India and around the world.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report states that<strong> Covid has the potential to increase economic inequality</strong> in almost every country at once - the first time this has happened since records began over a century ago.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impact of the Pandemic on Rich vis-a-vis Poor: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India introduced one of the earliest and most stringent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lockdowns</a></strong> in the face of the pandemic and its enforcement <strong>brought the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assessment-of-economic-impact-of-covid-19-dsge-model" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy to a standstill</a>, triggering <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/unemployment-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unemployment</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-and-the-hunger-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hunger</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-migrants-and-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">distress migration</a> and untold hardship</strong> in its wake.</li>
<li>The <strong>rich were able to escape</strong> the pandemic&rsquo;s worst impact; and while the<strong> white-collar workers isolated themselves and worked from home, a majority of the not-so-fortunate Indians lost their livelihood.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>wealth of Indian billionaires increased by 35%</strong> during the lockdown and by 90% since 2009 to USD 422.9 billion, <strong>ranking India sixth in the world after the USA, China, Germany, Russia and France.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Informal Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s large informal workforce <strong>was the worst hit</strong> as it made up 75% of the<strong> 122 million jobs lost.</strong></li>
<li>Informal workers had relatively<strong> fewer opportunities to work from home and suffered more job loss</strong> compared to the formal sector.</li>
<li>The 40-50 million <strong>seasonal migrant workers,</strong> typically engaged working in construction sites, factories etc. were <strong>particularly distressed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Education:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over the past year as <strong>education shifted online,</strong> India saw the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-internet-access-and-digital-literacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digital divide</a> worsening inequalities.</strong></li>
<li>On the one hand, <strong>private providers experienced exponential growth</strong> yet, on the other, just <strong>3% of the poorest 20% of Indian households had access to a computer and just 9% had access to the internet.</strong></li>
<li>It noted that<strong> the long disruption of schooling risked doubling the rate of out of school,</strong> especially among the poor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health Inequalities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Oxfam found that since India does not report case data desegregated by socio-economic or social categories, it is <strong>difficult to gauge the distribution of the disease amongst various communities.</strong></li>
<li>India currently has the <strong>world&rsquo;s second-largest cumulative number of Covid-19 positive cases</strong> and globally, the poor, marginalised and vulnerable communities have higher rates of Covid-19 prevalence.</li>
<li>The<strong> spread of disease was swift among poor communities,</strong> often living in cramped areas with poor sanitation and using shared common facilities such as toilets and water points.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sanitation Facility: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Only 6% of the poorest 20% households had access to non-shared sources of improved sanitation,</strong> compared to 93% of the top 20% households in India.</li>
<li>In terms of caste,<strong> just 37.2% of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reimagining-the-national-commission-for-scheduled-castes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduled Castes</a> (SCs) households and 25.9% of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduled Tribes</a> (STs) households had access to non-shared sanitation facilities, </strong>compared to 65.7% for the general population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Disparities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Employment:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> unemployment rate among women</strong> rose from already high<strong> 15% before Covid to 18%.</strong></li>
<li>This increase in unemployment of women<strong> can result in a loss to India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</a></strong> of about 8% or USD 218 billion.</li>
<li>Of the women who retained their jobs, as many <strong>83% were subjected to a cut in income according to a survey by the Institute of Social Studies Trust.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Beyond income and job losses, <strong>poorer women also suffered healthwise because of the disruption in regular health services</strong> and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anganwadi-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Anganwadi centres.</strong> </a></li>
<li>It is predicted that the<strong> closure of family planning services</strong> will result in 2.95 million unintended pregnancies, 1.80 million abortions (including 1.04 million unsafe abortions) and 2,165 maternal deaths.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Domestic Violence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/domestic-violence-during-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic also fueled domestic violence against women</strong></a>. As of November 2020, cases of domestic violence rose by almost 60% over the past 12 months.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is an urgent need for policymakers to <strong>tax the wealthy individuals and rich corporates and use that money to invest in free quality public services and social protection</strong> to support everyone, from cradle to grave.</li>
<li>Reducing inequalities is very important but it should be a medium-term target. Between growth and distribution, India must get the sequencing right.</li>
<li>India <strong>needs to grow first before it can distribute.</strong> Otherwise, it can get stuck in a low-income equilibrium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Oxfam International</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Oxfam International is a <strong>group of independent non-governmental organisations</strong> formed in <strong>1995.</strong></li>
<li>The name &ldquo;Oxfam&rdquo; comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The group campaigned for food supplies to starving women and children in enemy-occupied Greece during the Second World War.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It <strong>aims to maximize efficiency and achieve greater impact to reduce global poverty and injustice.</strong></li>
<li>The Oxfam International Secretariat is based in <strong>Nairobi, Kenya.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/covid-deepened-inequalities-wealth-education-gender-7160341/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7530,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Digital Education: Learning amid the Pandemic',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based upon <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/the-interviews-blog/digital-education-cannot-substitute-for-real-learning-staring-at-a-screen-learners-only-act-as-remote-receptors-of-whats-beamed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Digital Education cannot Substitute for Real Learning&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Times of India on 21/01/2021. It talks about how the pandemic has completely shifted the present education system into a digital mode of learning and if it is actually substituting real learning or not.</p>
</div>
<p>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong></a> outbreak has disrupted children&rsquo;s lives, pushed out many, and stalled classes and examinations across the country. To ensure students do not miss out on studies, schools shifted the classes to online mode.</p>
<p>With the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> forcing the teaching and learning process to migrate to the online mode, the education system has faced an upheaval like never before. Many of the students have been left clinging to their phones and computer screens.</p>
<p>However, the 2017-18 <strong>National Sample Survey</strong> suggested that less than 15% of rural Indian households have Internet as opposed to 42% of their urban counterparts.</p>
<p>Therefore, this shift to the e-learning system has sparked a debate on whether it helped the students to learn or has impeded their progress, social and emotional well-being, and more importantly if this is indeed education.</p>
<h3>Digital Education</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Digital education is the innovative use of digital tools and technologies during teaching and learning and is often referred to as Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) or e-Learning. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Exploring the use of digital technologies gives educators the opportunity to design engaging learning opportunities in the courses they teach, and these can take the form of blended or fully online courses and programs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1611319201_image10.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1611319201_image10.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government Initiatives for Smooth Conduct of E-Learning</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Several initiatives have been taken to enable online education in India, such as: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>E-PG Pathshala:</strong> An initiative of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to provide e-content for studies.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/swayam-and-swayam-prabha" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SWAYAM</strong></a>: it provides for an integrated platform for online courses.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-educational-alliance-for-technology-neat-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NEAT</strong></a>: It aims to use <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a> to make learning more personalized and customized as per the requirements of the learner</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Other initiatives include: <strong>National Project on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL)</strong>, <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-210" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Knowledge Network, (NKN)</strong></a>, and National Academic Depository (NAD), among others.</li>
<li><strong>PRAGYATA:</strong> The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) released guidelines on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/education-in-post-covid-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>digital education</strong> </a>titled <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pragyata-guidelines-on-digital-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PRAGYATA.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the PRAGYATA guidelines, only 30 minutes of screen time per day for interacting with parents is recommended for kindergarten, nursery and pre-school.</li>
<li>Schools can hold live online classes for a maximum of 1.5 hours per day for Classes 1-8, and 3 hours per day for Classes 9-12.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The NPTEL is a project of MHRD initiated by seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), along with the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore.</li>
<li>It was created in 2003 to provide online education.</li>
<li>The aim was to have web and video courses in engineering, sciences, and management.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Technology as a Saviour</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Flexibility:</strong> Online education enables both the teacher as well as the students to set their own learning pace plus provides the flexibility of setting a schedule that fits everyone&rsquo;s agenda. Consequently, providing a better work-study balance.</li>
<li><strong>A Wide Range of Courses:</strong> In a space as vast and wide as the internet, infinite skills and subjects are there to teach and learn. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A growing number of universities and higher education schools are coming forward to offer online versions of their programs for various levels and disciplines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Cost-Effective than Conventional Learning:</strong> Lesser monetary investment is there with better results. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With the online mode of learning, the money spent on study materials along with commute charges is considerably less.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A Comfortable Learning Environment:</strong> Online learning allows students to work in the environment that best suits them.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Other Side of the Coin</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of a Healthy Learning Environment:</strong> Education is not just about classes but interactions, broadening of ideas, and free-flowing open discussions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Students learn more from each other while engaging in challenging collective tasks and thinking together.</li>
<li>There is substantial learning that is lost when education goes online. Staring at a screen prevents them from using their mind and acting as remote receptors of what is beamed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Technology Access:</strong> Not everyone who can afford to go to school can afford to have phones, computers, or even a quality internet connection for attending classes online.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to this, the mental stress that students have to undergo is very high.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>In Contradictory with Right to Education:</strong> Technology is not affordable to all, shifting towards online education completely is like taking away the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Right to Education</strong></a> of those who cannot access the technology. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-education-policy-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Education Policy</strong></a> that talks about the digitization of education is also in contradiction with the right to education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Health - Eye issues:</strong> Younger students, especially in classes 1 to 3 were most likely to suffer from eye-health issues due to staring at the computer or mobile screen for extended periods. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Other health issues like neck and back pain etc. due to bad posture and lack of movement have been noticed in older students.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>A Multi-Pronged Approach:</strong> Flexible rescheduling the academic timetable and exploring options in collaboration with schools, teachers, and parents for providing access to education to a larger section of students. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Staggering teacher-student interactions in physical mode with not more than 50% of the total strength attending schools on alternate days.</li>
<li>Giving priority to the less advantaged students who do not have access to e-learning.</li>
<li>Genuine efforts must be invested to ensure every child gets good quality equitable education as a fundamental right.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Making Online Education More Effective:</strong> Shorter but quality discussions rather than long hours of monotonous sitting and one-way communication, should be preferred. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The teacher&rsquo;s role has to go beyond just being in control of the class to being a facilitator for the transfer of knowledge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focussing more on Knowledge Aspect:</strong> Education is not about competence but more about motivation. The students are meant to discover not just cover the syllabus.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The system should not just heartlessly push the students and teachers in only finishing the course regardless of any gain of knowledge, stress should be upon quality learning and not quantity cramming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>&lsquo;Equality of Opportunity&rsquo; is one of the basic principles of the Indian Constitution. Shifting to a system that benefits only a section of people and leaves behind the neediest ruins the very notion of this statement.</p>
<p>Moreover, digital education is something where India is not successful yet. There is still a lot to do in terms of checking if students&rsquo; entitlements are not being compromised or in providing meaningful academic curriculum alternatives.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fbfff0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Shifting to the e-learning system has sparked a debate about whether it has made education more inclusive or widened the digital divide. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JfmRv-Nj3cM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/president-biden-hope-and-responsibility/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;President Biden: Hope And Responsibility&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Economic Times on January 21<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7496,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: India and the Vaccination Drive',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LVQqL5w33XM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India began the<strong> "World's Largest Vaccination Program"</strong> on January 16, 2021.</li>
<li>The Prime Minister of India said that India is entering a decisive phase of vaccination in the fight against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19</strong></a>, with the approval of two <strong>made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The PM has also said that two vaccines are more cost-effective than any other in the world and that India&rsquo;s vaccine production &amp; delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is India's <strong>first ever adult vaccination drive.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-clinical-trials-in-india-for-new-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)</strong></a> has granted the<strong> emergency-use approval</strong> for two indigenous vaccines: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-iii-clinical-trials-of-covishield" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVISHIELD</strong></a> by <strong>Serum Institute of India</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covaxin-approved-for-human-clinical-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVAXIN</strong></a> by <strong>Bharat Biotech.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two vaccines are found to be safe and no major side effects are expected. However, little pain or redness in the skin can be observed.</li>
<li>The vaccines have gone through preclinical animal experiments on animals like rabbits, mice and hamsters followed by non-human primates.</li>
<li>Out of the two vaccines, <strong>Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine</strong> whereas <strong>Covishield is a live vaccine.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the <strong>first phase of vaccination,</strong> the first 3 crore people to be vaccinated include the healthcare workers and frontline workers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The cost of vaccination of these people will be borne by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inactivated-virus-vaccine-in-focus-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Live and Inactivated Vaccines</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Live Vaccines:</strong> They <strong>use a weakened (or attenuated) form of the germ</strong> that causes a disease.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Because these vaccines are so similar to the natural infection that they help prevent, they create a strong and long-lasting immune response.</li>
<li><strong>Note:</strong> As they contain a small amount of the weakened live virus, people with weakened immune systems, long-term health problems, or people who&rsquo;ve had an organ transplant should not be given these vaccines without any prior consultation with the healthcare provider.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inactivated vaccine:</strong> Active pathogens are grown in large numbers and then killed either by a chemical or heat. Although the pathogen is killed, or made to lose its reproduction capacity, various parts of the pathogen are intact. E.g The antigen (the chemical structure) that is recognised by the immune system is left unimpaired.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the pathogen is dead, it cannot reproduce nor cause even a mild disease. Thus, it is safe to administer to even people with lesser immunity, like the old and those who have comorbidity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India and Vaccines</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>At present <strong>80-90% of the world&rsquo;s</strong> whole <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/measles-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Measles</strong></a> vaccine is provided by India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India supplies all the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/measles-and-rubella-in-who-sear" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rubella</strong></a> vaccines to <strong>South America.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The indigenous developed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reverse-vaccinology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>meningococcal vaccine</strong></a> of India is supplied to the entire <strong>Sub-Saharan Africa.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Meningococcal meningitis</strong> is caused by <strong>Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.</strong> It is a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The indigenous <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rotavirus-vaccination-drive" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>rotavirus vaccine</strong></a> is going to 16 countries in the world.</li>
<li>Various novel vaccines have been introduced by India, such as the world&rsquo;s first<strong> subunit rabies vaccine. It</strong> has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Subunit vaccines</strong> are composed of <strong>protein or glycoprotein components of a pathogen</strong> that are capable of inducing a protective immune response and may be produced by conventional biochemical or recombinant DNA technologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Strategy For Smooth and Effective Drive</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Preparatory measures:</strong> The key preparatory aspects that have been undertaken include the physical infrastructure, human resources and training of the vaccinators.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The digital aspect:</strong> The government has launched the<strong> Co-WIN application</strong> for the registration of the citizens and to generate digital certificates of vaccination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Community participation:</strong> Besides preparatory aspects, the <strong>community participation</strong> has also been emphasised by the Prime Minister. He has urged all to come forward and help in eliminating <strong>vaccine hesitancy.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Beneficiary identification:</strong> Separate templates have been developed for the healthcare workers and the frontline workers.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>People above the age of 50 who have comorbidities will be the next to be vaccinated.</li>
<li><strong>Aadhar</strong> will also be used for the beneficiary identification.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Steps Need to be Taken</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Spreading awareness:</strong> Leaders, influential people and healthcare workers who will be vaccinated need to come forward and help spreading awareness about the vaccine.</li>
<li><strong>Effective collaboration:</strong> Effective and decentralised implementation with the collaboration of centre, state, communities and health care workers.</li>
<li><strong>Proper training:</strong> Ensuring proper training of vaccinators and adopting measures to maintain temperature of vaccines.</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring:</strong> Keeping watch of any side effects that may arise due to vaccines and adopting measures to be used in an emergency for such situations.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Co-WIN Application</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To <strong>monitor the inoculation drive and track the listed beneficiaries for vaccination</strong> on a real-time basis, the central government has developed<strong> Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network or Co-WIN application.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Co-WIN will facilitate <strong>real time information of vaccine stocks and storage temperature</strong> during the COVID-19 vaccination drive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The app will be used as a back-end software during COVID-19 vaccination drive, starting from Saturday.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The self-registration module of Co-WIN App has not been released yet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Vaccine hesitancy:</strong> Either they are common people, or the frontline workers, vaccine hesitancy, if exists, it may obstruct the smooth implementation of the vaccination drive.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the healthcare workers are hesitant about getting vaccinated, it will not create a good impact among common people as they are the role model for the people who will be vaccinated next.</li>
<li>There is uncertainty and suspicion about the side effects of the vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues with the Co-WIN App:</strong> Issues such as loss of internet connectivity are expected to be faced in the app, which could cause problems while tracking the vaccine stocks, or in the updation of data of the beneficiaries.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of experience:</strong> The Covid-19 Vaccination drive is India&rsquo;s first ever large scale immunisation programme. There is a lack of experience due to which the chances of mistakes are likely to happen.</li>
<li><strong>Vaccine wastage:</strong> Each vaccine vial contains 10 doses and must be used within 4 hours of opening. This could lead to vaccine wastage.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Eliminating vaccine hesitancy:</strong> The covid-19 vaccines are for adults, the communication is required in order to resolve the confusions and to eliminate the vaccine hesitancy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Engagement with the community based organisations and spreading awareness by educating people about the vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Janbhagidari:</strong> Community partnership or janbhagidari should be emphasised.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>People should take the vaccine and spread the word about the efficacy and security of the vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Preventing vaccine wastage:</strong> organised appointment for vaccinations, ensuring once opened, the vaccine is surely utilised and not wasted.</li>
<li><strong>Continuing the flow of vaccines:</strong> Taking lessons from other countries, India should continue the flow of vaccines.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US got stalled because they started to store the second dose of vaccines too. India should continue the flow of vaccines to the areas where it is required.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vaccination + covid-appropriate behaviour:</strong> Neither Covid appropriate behaviour nor vaccination is enough alone. Both have to go hand in hand in order to completely eliminate the pandemic.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Covid-appropriate behaviour:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Wearing the mask properly.</li>
<li>Washing hands regularly as hygiene is very important.</li>
<li>Following the physical distancing of 6 feet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tracking the virus:</strong> The new variants of virus found till date are manageable but it is important to constantly look for emergence of any vaccine resistant virus.</li>
<li><strong>Looking after the immunogenicity:</strong> Looking up at the immunogenicity of the vaccine; how long does the effect of the vaccine lasts and how the cell-mediated immune responses are developing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has now emerged as a global covid vaccine hub which is done not only by manufacturing or developing vaccines but also ensuring how it will be transported and how the entire vaccination drive has to be done.</li>
<li>For the world&rsquo;s largest vaccination against covid-19, a multi-prong approach is required including educating people, following the vaccination process, keeping a check on new strains of virus, maintaining the records of essential data of the beneficiaries and refining our strategy.</li>
<li>Vaccine hesitancy is the main obstruction in the smooth vaccination drive, in order to defeat the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy should be eliminated first as It is not the vaccine but vaccination that prevents an infection.</li>
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		'article_id' => (int) 7492,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Crowdfunding for Rare Diseases',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Delhi <strong>High Court</strong> has ordered <strong>the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</strong> to explore <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crowdfunding#:~:text=Crowdfunding%20is%20a%20method%20of,for%20greater%20reach%20and%20exposure." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Crowdfunding</strong></a> to help two children, who are suffering from a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rare-diseases-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rare Disease</strong></a> known as <strong>Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Provision Involved:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The HC held that <strong>&lsquo;Right to Health and Healthcare&rsquo;</strong> is a <strong>fundamental right</strong> which has been recognised by the Supreme Court to be a part of the <strong>&lsquo;Right to life&rsquo;</strong> under <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-judgements-of-independent-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 21</strong> </a>of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Direction to the Society and Authorities:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>High Court</strong> directed the<strong> society in general and authorities in particular</strong> to ensure that the<strong> life of such children is not compromised,</strong> even if there is a small window of improving their chances of survival or even providing a<strong> better quality of life.</strong></li>
<li>Directed <strong>the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</strong> to give a specific timeline in respect of the finalisation and notification of the <strong>Draft Health Policy for Rare Diseases, 2020.</strong> The draft policy has a section where the <strong>government proposed crowdfunding for treatment of high-cost Rare Diseases.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>CrowdFunding</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Crowdfunding is a <strong>method of raising capital through the collective effort of a large number of individual investors.</strong></li>
<li>This approach taps into the collective efforts of a large pool of individuals, primarily online via social media and crowdfunding platforms and leverages their networks for greater reach and exposure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Types:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Donation-Based Crowdfunding:</strong> Donation-based crowdfunding is a way to source money for a project by asking a <strong>large number of contributors to individually donate a small amount to it.</strong> In return, the backers may receive token rewards that increase in prestige as the size of the donation increases. For the smallest sums, however, the funder may receive nothing at all.</li>
<li><strong>Rewards-Based Crowdfunding:</strong> Rewards-based crowdfunding involves <strong>individuals contributing to a business in exchange for a &ldquo;reward,&rdquo;</strong> typically a form of the product or service which company offers. Even though this method offers backers a reward, it&rsquo;s still generally considered a subset of donation-based crowdfunding since there is no financial or equity return.</li>
<li><strong>Equity-Based Crowdfunding:</strong> Unlike the donation-based and rewards-based methods, <strong>equity-based crowdfunding allows contributors to become part-owners of the company by trading capital for equity shares.</strong> As equity owners, the contributors receive a financial return on their investment and ultimately receive a share of the profits in the form of a dividend or distribution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Reach &ndash;</strong> By using a crowdfunding platform, one has <strong>access to thousands of accredited investors</strong> who can see, interact with, and share the fundraising campaign.</li>
<li><strong>Presentation &ndash;</strong> By creating a crowdfunding campaign, <strong>one goes through the invaluable process of looking at the business from the top level&mdash;</strong>its history, traction, offerings, addressable market, value proposition, with digestible packages.</li>
<li><strong>PR &amp; Marketing &ndash;</strong> From launch to close, one can share and <strong>promote the campaign</strong> through social media, email newsletters, and other online marketing tactics.</li>
<li><strong>Validation of Concept &ndash;</strong> Presenting the concept or business to the masses affords an excellent opportunity to <strong>validate and refine offering.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Efficiency &ndash;</strong> One of the best things about online crowdfunding is its<strong> ability to centralize and streamline fundraising efforts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Rare Diseases</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A rare disease is a <strong>health condition of low prevalence</strong> that <strong>affects a small number of people</strong> compared with other prevalent diseases in the general population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is<strong> no universally accepted definition of rare diseases</strong> and the definitions usually vary across different countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Though rare diseases are of low prevalence and individually rare, collectively they affect a considerable proportion of the population.</li>
<li><strong>80% of rare diseases are genetic</strong> in origin and hence disproportionately impact children.</li>
<li>In <strong>India there are 56-72 million people affected by rare diseases.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a<strong> genetic disorder</strong> characterized by<strong> progressive muscle degeneration and weakness</strong> due to the alterations of a protein called dystrophin that helps keep muscle cells intact.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Muscle weakness</li>
<li>Enlargement of the calves</li>
<li>A waddling gait</li>
<li>Lumbar lordosis (an inward curve of the spine)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/explore-crowdfunding-to-help-two-children-with-rare-disease/article33595692.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7453,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Special Marriage Act, 1954',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Allahabad High Court has</strong> struck down the provisions under <strong>Section 5 of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-special-marriage-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Special Marriage Act</a></strong> that required parties to give a 30-day mandatory public notice of their intention to marry.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Special Marriage Act is a <strong>central legislation</strong> made to <strong>validate and register interreligious and inter-caste marriages in India.</strong></li>
<li>It allows two individuals to solemnise their marriage through a<strong> civil contract.</strong></li>
<li><strong>No religious formalities</strong> are needed to be carried out under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Provisions of the Special Marriage Act:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 4:</strong> There are <strong>certain conditions</strong> laid down in Section 4 of the Act:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It says that neither of the parties should have a spouse living.</li>
<li>Both the parties should be <strong>capable of giving consent;</strong> should be sane at the time of marriage.</li>
<li>The parties shall<strong> not be within the prohibited degree of relations</strong> as prescribed under their law.</li>
<li>While <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-age-of-marriage-for-girls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>considering the age</strong></a>, the <strong>male must be at least 21 and the female be 18 at least.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Section 5 and 6:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under these sections, the parties wishing to marry are <strong>supposed to give a notice for their marriage</strong> to the Marriage Officer in an area where one of the spouses has been <strong>living for the last 30 days.</strong> Then, the marriage officer publishes the notice of marriage in his office.</li>
<li><strong>Anyone having any objection to the marriage</strong> can file against it within a period of 30 days. If any such objection against the marriage is sustained by the marriage officer, the marriage can be rejected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Details of the verdict</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Observations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>provision for mandatory publication of notice,</strong> derived through &ldquo;simplistic reading&rdquo; of the particular law, &ldquo;would<strong> invade the fundamental rights of liberty and privacy,</strong> including within its sphere freedom to choose for marriage without interference from state and non-state actors, of the persons concerned&rdquo;.</li>
<li>The court also noted that despite the secular law for marriage, a majority of marriages in the country happen as per religious customs. It said that<strong> when marriages under personal law do not require a notice or invitation for objections, such a requirement is obsolete in secular law</strong> and cannot be forced on a couple.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Publishing marriage details made optional:</strong> The court made it optional for the parties to the intended marriage to make a request in writing to the Marriage Officer to publish or not to publish a notice under Section 5 and 6 of the Act of 1954.</li>
<li><strong>Directives for Marriage officer:</strong> In case the parties do not make such a request for publication of notice in writing, the Marriage Officer shall not publish any such notice or entertain objections to the intended marriage and proceed with the solemnization of the marriage. However, in case the officer has any doubt, he could ask for appropriate details/proof as per the facts of the case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Basis of Judgement is progressive rulings by the Supreme Court:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-court-upholds-aadhaars-constitutional-validity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aadhaar case (2017)</strong></a> which made the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/privacy-judgement-and-the-aftermath" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>right to privacy</strong></a> a fundamental right under <strong>Article 21</strong> of the Constitution of India.</li>
<li><strong>Hadiya Marriage Case (2018)</strong> which held that the <strong>right to choose a partner is a fundamental right.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India case (2018)</strong> in which the court decriminalised homosexuality striking down the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-section-377-judgement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Section 377 of IPC</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of the verdict</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It would <strong>decrease the cases of conversion for marriage,</strong> as the delay under the special marriage Act 1954 was forcing many couples to marry by converting.</li>
<li>It shall <strong>remove hindrances to inter-faith and inter-caste marriages,</strong> and thus could promote ideals of<strong> secularism and egalitarianism.</strong></li>
<li>It shall provide<strong> relief to interfaith couples from being targeted by vigilante groups.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue related to the verdict:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Doing away with the public notification of the marriage <strong>could increase the cases of cheating,</strong> for example cases of duping by a married spouse.</li>
<li>It can facilitate anti social activities such as forceful conversion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/30-day-notice-period-not-mandatory-under-special-marriage-act-allahabad-high-court-7145476/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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