Pulse I S S U E N O

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At a Glance & In Depth.

Polity and Social Issues Economy International Relations Environment Science and Tech Culture

CURRENT AFFAIRS WEEKLY THE PULSE OF UPSC AT YOUR FINGER TIPS. News @ a glance POLITY ...... 3 4) Chitra GeneLAMP-N: new Covid-19 1) Labour Laws in India ...... 3 diagnostic test ...... 22 2) Tour of Duty (ToD) ...... 4 5) Patent rights ...... 23 3) One Nation One Ration Card ...... 5 6) New ship and boats for Indian Coast Guard ENVIRONMENT ...... 7 (ICG) ...... 23 1) Sal Forest tortoise ...... 7 7) Landing Craft Utility (LCU) L57 ...... 24 2) Environment related organisations ...... 7 HEALTH ...... 25 3) The Forest Advisory Committee ...... 9 1) Infant Mortality Rate,Birth Rate and Death ECONOMY ...... 11 Rate ...... 25 1) e-NAM ...... 11 2) Indian Council of Medical Research ...... 26 2) Index of Industrial Production ...... 12 ART & CULTURE ...... 27 3) Balance of Payments ...... 12 1) Channapatna toys ...... 27 4) Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan ...... 12 2) GI tag for Thanjavur Netti Works, Arumbavur 5) Essential Commodities Act ...... 14 Wood Carvings ...... 27 6) New classification of MSMEs ...... 15 3) GI tag for Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ...... 16 painting, Telangana’s Telia Rumal ...... 28 1) Kalapani ...... 16 4) Yakshagana ...... 29 2) International Court of Justice ...... 16 PIB ANAYSIS ...... 30 3) International Labour Organisation ...... 17 1) Mission Sagar ...... 30 4) 'One China' policy ...... 18 2) National Technology Day ...... 30 5) World Health Organization ...... 18 3) Atal Pension Yojana’ (APY) ...... 31 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ...... 20 4) Jal Jeevan Mission ...... 32 1) ELISA test ...... 20 5) SAMARTH ...... 33 2) Central Drugs Standard Control Organization20 3) Concerns about Arogya Setu mobile App ..... 21

News in Depth THE HINDU EDITORIALS ...... 34 2) Naming of tropical cyclones ...... 42 1) The trends shaping the post-COVID-19 world34 RSTV BIG-PICTURE ...... 44 2) Fiscal stimulus- need of the hour...... 35 1) Visakhapatnam Gas Leak ...... 44 3) A plan to revive a broken economy ...... 37 2) How Global Business has changed? ...... 45 4) Indian Federalism in context of COVID-19.... 39 3) Primary Education: Opportunities and INDIAN EXPRESS EXPLAINED ...... 41 Challenges ...... 46 1) Direct seeding - an alternative to paddy 4) Gilgit-Baltistan polls illegal ...... 48 transplanting ...... 41 5) Changing labour and tax laws ...... 50

News @ a glance POLITY

1) Labour Laws in India Few important Acts include: What are Indian labour laws? . Factories Act are to ensure safety measures . In India there is no set definition of on factory premises, and promote health and “labour laws” in the country. There are welfare of workers. over 200 state laws and close to 50 . The Shops and Commercial central laws. Broadly speaking, they can Establishments Act, on the other hand, aims be divided into four categories: to regulate hours of work, payment, a. Conditions of Work overtime, weekly day off with pay, other b. Wages and Remuneration holidays with pay, annual leave, employment c. Social Security of children and young persons, and d. Employment Security and Industrial employment of women. Relations . The Minimum Wages Act 1948 is an Act of Parliament concerning Indian labour law that sets the minimum wages that must be paid to skilled and unskilled labours. . The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 relates to terms of service such as layoff, retrenchment, and closure of industrial enterprises and strikes and lockouts. . Under the Constitution of India, Labour is a subject in the Concurrent List where both the Central & State Governments are competent to enact legislation subject to certain matters being reserved for the Centre. Why in News? . Recently, several state governments made changes in the labour laws dealing with the maximum working hours and other provisions. . These changes have been made through notifications issued by the State governments and will be applicable for the next three months. News in Detail: . Uttarakhand has increased the daily limit to 11 hours with overtime limited to 18 hours a week. Haryana has allowed work for 12 hours a day, and up to 60 hours a week, with overtime pay. Madhya Pradesh has made similar changes. . M.P. has also suspended most provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1946 (except those related to retrenchment and

layoffs) for 1,000 days for State 2) Tour of Duty (ToD) undertakings. About: . In addition, M.P. issued an ordinance to . The Army plans to take civilians on a amend two laws. three- year ‘Tour of Duty’ (ToD) or ‘three- . The M.P. Industrial Employment Standing year short service’ on a trial basis to Orders Act will apply to establishments serve in the force as both officers and with more than 100 workmen (up from other ranks. the existing threshold of 50), in line with . It is planning it initially for a limited the Central Act. number of vacancies and then expanded . The ordinance also enables the later. government to exempt establishments . The proposal suggests several measures from the provision of another Act that to incentivise this scheme like a tax-free provided for a labour welfare fund. income for three years and a token lump . The Uttar Pradesh government has sum at the end of three years of about approved an ordinance that exempts Rs.5-6 lakh for officers and Rs.2-3 lakh for establishments from all labour laws for ORs. three years with some exceptions (safety Benefits to the Youth and security of workers, provisions . Individuals who opted for ToD would get related to employing women and a much higher salary than their peers on children, payment of wages on time and an average who started a career in the above prescribed minimum wages, and no corporate sector and would also have an bonded labour). edge after leaving the Service and going to What is the concern? the corporate sector. . As these changes will override provisions . It has been seen that corporate favour of some Central laws, it will require the individuals who have been trained by the assent of the President or, in effect, the military at 26 or 27 years of age. assent of the Central government. Benefits to the Army . The main concern is whether there was . The overall purpose of the ToD concept is sufficient consultation before all these ‘internship/temporary experience’ changes were made. . So there will be no requirement of Constitutional provisions : attractive severance packages, . As per the Constitution, the legislature resettlement courses, professional has the authority to make laws. encashment training leave, ex-Servicemen . Such laws could delegate powers to the status, ex-Servicemen Contributory government which are in the nature of Health Scheme (ECHS) for the ToD detailing some requirements. officers and other ranks. . For example, the Factories Act allows . Analysing the cost of training incurred on State governments to exempt factories each personnel compared to the limited from the provisions of the Act during employment of the manpower for three public emergencies for a maximum years, the proposal states that the period of three months. cumulative approximate cost of pre- . A public emergency is defined as a grave commission training, pay, allowances, emergency whereby the security of India gratuity, proposed severance packages, or any part is threatened by war, external leave encasement and other costs paves aggression or internal disturbance. to the reduction in Financial Burden. . The reduced financial burden will shift . The Constitution also permits Central the focus towards modernisation of the and State governments to make laws army in terms of training,arms and through the issuance of an ordinance equipment. when the legislature is not in session. Why in News? . Such a law needs to be ratified by the . Recently, the Army has proposed 3 years legislature within six weeks of the of voluntary Tour of Duty (ToD) for beginning of the next session. civilians on a trial basis. This is expected

to result in significant reduction in pay . To address the state of food security in and pensions and free up funds for the the country and combat the problem of Army’s modernisation. hunger, the government has started the 3) One Nation One Ration Card ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ facility. What is a ration card? Benefits of One Nation, One Ration Card . A ration card is issued to the head of the . The ONORC scheme attempts to address family, depending on the number of this gap in TPDS delivery. members in a family and the financial . The scheme has been launched keeping in status of the applicant. mind the internal migration of our . It is used by households to get essential country, since people keep moving to food grains at subsidised prices from different states in search of better job designated ration shops (also called fair opportunities and higher standards of price shops) under the Targeted Public living. Distribution System (TPDS). . As per Census 2011, 4.1 crore people . The responsibility of identifying eligible were inter-state migrants and 1.4 crore families and issuing ration cards to them people migrated (inter and intra-state) rests with the state/UT government. for employment. Background: . The new system, based on a technological . PDS was started in India in 1947 to solution, will identify a beneficiary distribute food items to the poor at through biometric authentication on subsidised rates. Later in 2013, it was electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices revamped and strengthened with the installed at the FPSs, and enable that enactment of the National Food Security person to purchase the quantity of Act, (NFSA) 2013. foodgrains to which she is entitled under . Under NFSA, the government is obliged to the NFSA. give subsidised food grains every month Challenges Ahead: to the beneficiaries identified by each . Mandating Aadhar linking under the state government on the basis of the system can be problematic. This is economic status of households. because everyone may not have Aadhaar . Implemented in all states and Union cards and also sometimes, the Territories, PDS is currently covering fingerprints of people engaged in about 81.35 crore persons identified by construction labour and domestic work each state government via more than 5 may change or fade and may not match Lakh ration shops across the country, as with the ones entered in Aadhar.In case of per the estimates of the Department of a mismatch of the bio-metrics, there can Food and Public Distribution. be deny foodgrains to the beneficiaries. What is the one ‘One Nation, One Ration . An FPS receives the monthly quota of Card’ system? products strictly in accordance with the . In the present system, a ration cardholder number of people assigned to it. The can buy food grains only from an FPS that ONORC, when fully operational, would has been assigned to her in the locality in disrupt this practice, as some FPSs may which she lives. have to cater to more numbers of cards . If a beneficiary were to shift to another even as others cater to less, owing to state, he/she would need to apply for a migration of people. new ration card in the second state. . All fair price shops would need ePoS . However, the migration of the poor from devices for seamless biometric rural areas to urban locations is more authentication. Additionally, getting the commonplace. current location of the migrant worker to . Thus, geographical location being one of avoid duplication is another challenge. the hindrances that migrant workers face . For the scheme to be seamless, the in order to claim their quota of grains and government will have to allocate subsequently get denied their right to foodgrain quota to each state on a food. dynamic basis based on the offtake volumes.

. The government will have to make fresh Union Territories by March 2021. As of estimates for foodgrain required to meet now, about 20 states have come on board the demand due to seasonal migration to implement the inter-state ration card and fluctuation in demand based on portability. movement of labourers. . This system will enable migrant workers Why in News? and their family members to access PDS . The Finance Minister announced the benefits from any Fair Price Shop in the national rollout of a ‘One Nation, One country. Ration Card’ system in all states and

ENVIRONMENT

1) Sal Forest tortoise . The National Tiger Conservation About: Authority is a statutory body under the . The sal forest tortoise is widely Ministry of Environment, Forests and distributed over eastern and northern Climate Change constituted under India and Southeast Asia. enabling provisions of the Wildlife . Also known as the elongated tortoise, the (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in sal forest tortoise, is a critically 2006, for strengthening tiger endangered species as per IUCN status. conservation, as per powers and . It is heavily hunted for food, decorative functions assigned to it under the said masks, and international wildlife trade. Act. Why in the news? . It is an overall authority which looks upon . A recent study by ecologists in the ‘Project Tiger’ and tiger conservation in Wildlife Institute of India, over 90% of the India. potential distribution of the sal forest . ‘Project Tiger’ (started in 1973) is a tortoise species falls outside the current Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the protected area’s network. Environment, Forests and Climate . This makes them vulnerable to the forest Change, providing funding support to fires. tiger range States, for in-situ . The study points out that protected areas conservation of tigers in designated tiger are designated in a largely mammal- reserves, and has put the endangered centric way like tiger-centric. tiger on an assured path of recovery by . Many reptiles and amphibians which are saving it from extinction, as revealed by equally threatened live outside protected the recent findings of the All India tiger areas where exploitation risk is more. estimation using the refined methodology. Objectives of NTCA . Providing statutory authority to Project Tiger so that compliance of its directives become legal. . Fostering accountability of Center-State in management of Tiger Reserves, by providing a basis for MoU with States within our federal structure. . Providing for an oversight by Parliament. . Addressing livelihood interests of local 2) Environment related people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves organisations Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

About . Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a About: statutory multi-disciplinary body established by the Government of India

under the Ministry of Environment and contains a Chairman, ten members and a Forests, to combat organized wildlife Member secretary. crime in the country. . It derives its power from Wildlife . The Bureau has its headquarter in New protection act (1972), and tries to fulfil its Delhi and five regional offices at Delhi, obligations of conserving the fauna under Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Jabalpur. National Zoo Policy 1998. . Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life Functions: (Protection) Act, 1972, it is mandated to . specify the minimum standards for 1. Collect and collate intelligence related to housing, upkeep and veterinary care of organized wildlife crime activities and to the animals kept in zoos; disseminate the same to State and other . evaluate and assess the functioning of the enforcement agencies for immediate zoos with respect to the prescribed action so as to apprehend the criminals; standards or norms; 2. To establish a centralized wildlife crime . To recognize or derecognize zoos: data bank; . To identify endangered species of wild 3. Coordinate actions by various agencies in animals for purposes of captive breeding connection with the enforcement of the and assigning responsibility in this regard provisions of the Act; to a zoo; 4. Assist foreign authorities and . To coordinate the acquisition, exchange international organization concerned to and loaning of animals for breeding facilitate coordination and universal purpose; action for wildlife crime control; . To ensure maintenance of studbooks of 5. Capacity building of the wildlife crime endangered species of wild animals bred enforcement agencies for scientific and in captivity; professional investigation into wildlife . To identify priorities and themes with crimes and assist State Governments to regard to display of captive animals in ensure success in prosecutions related to zoos; wildlife crimes; . To coordinate training of zoo personnel in 6. Advise the Government of India on issues India and outside India; relating to wildlife crimes having national . To coordinate research in captive and international ramifications, relevant breeding and educational programmes policy and laws. for the purposes of zoos; 7. Assist and advise the Customs authorities . To provide technical and other assistance in inspection of the consignments of flora to zoos for their proper management and & fauna as per the provisions of Wild Life development on scientific lines; Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy . To perform such other functions as may governing such an item. be necessary to carry out the purposes of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) this Act with regard to zoos. Forest Survey of India

About . CZA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, . Forest Survey of India (FSI), is a premier constituted in 1992. The authority national organization under the union Ministry of Environment and Forests,

established on June 1,1981, responsible 5. the Inspector General of Forests (Forest for assessment and monitoring of the Conservation), Ministry of Environment forest resources of the country regularly. and Forests – Member Secretary. . In addition, it is also engaged in providing Why in the news? the services of training, research and . The forest Advisory Committee has extension. postponed its decision on the Dibang . The Forest Survey of India succeeded the valley hydropower project. "Pre Investment Survey of Forest News in detail: Resources" (PISFR), a project initiated in 1965 by the Government of India with the sponsorship of FAO and UNDP. . India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is a biennial publication of Forest Survey of India (FSI) providing assessment of latest forest cover in the country and monitoring changes in these. Why in the news? . The Ministry of Environment and Forests is moving an reorganisation plan to merge its 10 regional offices and 19 centres of its statutory bodies of FSI, NTCA, WCCB and CZA. . This reorganisation is being done to ensure coordination and efficiency. 3) The Forest Advisory Committee About: . The Forest Advisory Committee, the apex body of the Environment Ministry tasked . The 3,097 mw Etalin Hydropower project, with deciding whether forest land can be in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley, diverted for industrial projects or any has been delayed for over six years. other non-forest use. . This is because it required diverting . Its role is Advisory. 1,165 hectares of forest in a region of . It is constituted under the Forest rich biodiversity. (Conservation) Act, 1980 following an . If allowed, 2,78,038 trees of subtropical amendment in 2003. evergreen broad-leaved and subtropical . The Forest Advisory Committee shall be rainforest will be felled for the project composed of the following members, which is a huge ecological damage for the namely : - valley and its biodiversity. 1. the Director General of Forests, Ministry . The proposed project location is at the of Environment and Forests – junction of the Paleo-arctic, Indo-Chinese, Chairperson. and Indo-Malayan bio-geographic regions 2. The Additional Director General of having luxuriant forests and a plethora of Forests, Ministry of Environment and flora and fauna. Forests. . A Wildlife Institute of India (WII) study 3. the Additional Commissioner (Soil has documented 413 plant species, 159 Conservation), Ministry of Agriculture. butterflies species, 113 spider species, 14 4. three non-official members who shall be amphibian species, 31 reptile species, 230 experts one each in Mining, Civil bird species and 21 mammalian species Engineering and Development within the project area. The WII has Economics. recommended a plan to prevent loss of animals and birds there, and the

development of butterfly and reptile parks, nest boxes, habitat restoration etc. . No tiger presence has been documented at the project site through camera trapping. But Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary 12 km away has recorded tiger presence in the vicinity. . It has also seen massive protests among the people of Arunachal Pradesh.

ECONOMY 1) e-NAM discovery system and online payment About e-NAM facility. . The National Agricultural Market (e- . It also promotes prices commensurate NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading with quality of produce. portal which targets to connect almost . The e-NAM portal provides single 7,000 existing mandis run by Agricultural window services for all APMC related Produce Market Committees (APMC) to information and services. This includes create a unified national market for commodity arrivals, quality & prices, buy agricultural commodities. & sell offers & e-payment settlement . e-NAM is completely funded by the directly into farmers’ account, among Central Government and implemented by other services. Small Farmers Agribusiness . Farmers can access the information on e- Consortium (SFAC). NAM easily through their mobile phones Benefits of the portal from anywhere. This online trading . e-NAM platform promotes better platform aims at reducing transaction marketing opportunities for the farmers costs, bridging information asymmetry to sell their produce through an online and helps in expanding the market access competitive and transparent price for farmers. Potential of e-NAM

. e-NAM was launched in 2016 but . By January 2019, when the first inter- progress was slow, as most farmers were State trade took place, there were only not part of the cooperatives that would 585 mandis connected to the platform. help aggregate the bulk quantity of . As the nation went into lockdown due to produce needed to interest online buyers the COVID-19 pandemic and hundreds of and most mandis did not possess the mandis shut their physical gates, the infrastructure to make the most of the central government recognised the platform. potential of e-NAM in overcoming some of the hurdles of the lockdown, and

introduced some important new features . The current account includes the in April: transaction of goods (Merchandise o a trading module allowing Farmer Transactions or Visible Trade) and Producer Organisations (FPOs) to trade invisibles (which comprise import and produce directly from their collection export of services, grants, gifts, centres without bringing it to mandis, remittances). o a warehouse-based trading module and a . The capital account mainly comprises logistics module offering users trackable foreign investment, loans and banking transport facilities through aggregators capital. with access to 11 lakh trucks. Why in News? Why in News? . With the global trade coming to a near . According to the latest data, the number halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, of mandis connected with the e-NAM India’s merchandise exports dipped over portal has increased 65% since the 60% in April to $10.36 billion from lockdown. $26.07 billion in April 2019. . Till now, 962 mandis have been . Merchandise imports in April 2020 stood connected with the platform throughout at USD 17.12 billion, 58.65% lower than the country, giving farmers and traders imports of USD 41.40 billion in April another option at a time when transport 2019. disruptions and social distancing Trade surplus requirements have made physical mandi . Taking merchandise and services trade more difficult. together, overall trade surplus for April 2) Index of Industrial Production 2020 is estimated at $0.16 billion as About IIP compared to the deficit of $8.67 billion in . Index of Industrial Production (IIP) April 2019. details out the growth of various sectors . A country that imports more goods and in an economy such as mineral mining, services than it exports in terms of value electricity and manufacturing. has a trade deficit while a country that . It is compiled and published every month exports more goods and services than it by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of imports has a trade surplus. the Ministry of Statistics and Programme 4) Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Implementation. What’s in the news? . The current base year is 2011-2012. . Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi . The Eight Core Industries (Coal, Crude Oil, announced a Rs 20-lakh crore economic Natural Gas, Refinery Products, relief package titled Atmanirbhar Bharat Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity) Abhiyan (Self Reliant India Campaign) comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of which is almost equal to 10 percent of items included in the IIP. India’s GDP. Why in News? Five pillars of a self-reliant India . According to the latest Index of Industrial . Economy, which brings in quantum jump Production data, India’s factory output and not incremental change; contracted 16.7%, reflecting the drastic . Infrastructure, which should become the impact of the countrywide lockdown that identity of India; began on March 25. . System, based on 21st century 3) Balance of Payments technology driven arrangements; Components of BoP . Demography, which is our source of . The Balance of Payments (BoP) records energy for a self-reliant India; and all economic transactions between . Demand, whereby the strength of our residents of a country and the rest of the demand and supply chain should be world. The BoP account mainly consists of utilized to full capacity the current account and the capital Highlights of the package account.

MSMEs sector Micro Food Enterprises (MFE). This will . Collateral-free loans help nearly 2 lakh MFEs to achieve . The government has proposed to offer technical up-gradation to attain FSSAI collateral-free loans to MSMEs which will food standards, build brands and be fully guaranteed by the Centre. A total marketing. of Rs 3-lakh crore has been allocated for . Such units would promote vocal for local this. with global outreach with a cluster-based . This will act as initial seed money for approach. Produces such as Makhana in these small enterprises hit by zero cash Bihar, Mango in UP, Kesar in J&K, Bamboo flow due to the national lockdown. shoots in North-East, Chilli in Andhra . Banks have been unwilling to lend to this Pradesh, Tapioca in Tamil Nadu etc. will category of borrowers as they fear that get support for the domestic and global the money will not be repaid. Banks are market. now expected to be more comfortable in Discoms assisting this category of borrowers . Power distribution companies (discoms) because the risk is zero (since the loans are in a huge liquidity crisis and unable to are guaranteed by the central pay their dues to electricity generation government). companies. Their cash flow and revenues . Formalisation of Micro Food have been hit due to low demand from Enterprises industrial consumers for power during . The government also allocated Rs 10,000 the lockdown. crore scheme for the formalisation of . The government, through Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification

Corporation (PFC-REC), will infuse street vendors through a special scheme liquidity of Rs 90,000 crore to discoms that will facilitate easy credit. against their receivables (refers to debts . In addition, the government has owed to a company, usually from sales on disallowed global companies from credit) for which guarantees will be given participating in tenders up to Rs 200 by respective states. crore, earmarking that space exclusively . This emergency liquidity infusion will for Indian companies. avert a crisis where generation and Related information transmission companies stop supplies to . About PMMSY discoms that are in default. . The scheme aims to address critical EPF Contribution infrastructure gaps in the fisheries sector. . In March, when the first relief package . Under the scheme the Department of called the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Fisheries will establish a robust fisheries Yojana was announced, the government management framework. offered to pay the 24% provident fund . It will address critical gaps in the value contribution (employer+employee) for chain, including infrastructure, those earning up to Rs 15,000 a month as modernisation, traceability, production, salary and working in units that employ productivity, post-harvest management, less than 100 workers for three months. and quality control. . This has now been extended for another 5) Essential Commodities Act three months up to August. About ECA . The statutory PF contribution for those . The Essential Commodities Act (ECA) was employed in the private sector (and not in enacted by the Central Government in the category of establishments above) has 1955 to control and regulate trade and been reduced to 10% (from 12% now) for prices of commodities declared essential the next three months in order to increase under the Act. liquidity in their hands. . The Act empowers the Central and state Farm sector governments concurrently to control . A Rs 1-lakh crore agriculture production, supply and distribution of infrastructure fund run by the National certain commodities in view of rising Bank for Agriculture and Rural prices and to prevent Black marketing. Development (NABARD) to help create . The measures that can be taken under the affordable and financially viable post- provisions of the Act include licensing, harvest management infrastructure at the distribution and imposing stock limits. farm gate and aggregation points has The governments also have the power to been announced. fix price limits, and selling the particular . It would bring better infrastructure and commodities above the limit will attract logistics support to fish workers, dairy penalties. and other livestock farmers, beekeepers . Some of the major commodities that are and vegetable and medicinal plant covered under the act: growers. 1. Petroleum and its products . NABARD will extend an additional 2. Food stuff, including edible oil and seeds, refinance support of Rs 30,000 crore for vanaspati, pulses, sugarcane crop loan requirement of rural 3. Drugs- prices of essential drugs cooperative banks and regional rural 4. Fertilisers banks to ease credit for small farmers. Why in News? Fishing industry . The central government announced that it . Finance Minister informed allocation of will deregulate the sale of six types of Rs 20,000 crore for fishermen through agricultural produce, including cereals, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and Yojana (PMMSY) for developing fishing potatoes, by amending the Essential Harbours, cold chain, markets etc. Commodities Act, 1955. . A special credit facility with liquidity of up to Rs 5,000 crore has been announced for

. Stock limits on these commodities will not . Till now, MSMEs are categorised based be imposed except in times of a national only on the investment in machinery or calamity or a famine, and will not be equipment. The new classification has imposed at all on food processors or raised the investment limit and value chain participants, which/who included annual turnover as an will be allowed to store as much as additional criteria. allowed by their installed capacity. 1. Accordingly, units having investment less Exporters will also be exempted. than Rs 1 crore and turnover less than Rs Rationale for the move 5 crore will be called Micro units. . Traders have long complained of 2. Investment between Rs 1 and Rs 10 crore harassment under the Act on the and turnover of Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore suspicion of hoarding, black marketing will be categorised as Small Enterprises. and speculation, while food processors 3. Units having investment between Rs 10 and exporters have also pointed out that crore but up to Rs 20 crore and turnover they may need to stock commodities for between Rs 50 crore and Rs 100 crore longer periods of time. The Act has will now be known as Medium disincentive construction of storage Enterprises. capacity and hindered farm exports. Rationale for the move . It is hoped that the amendment will bring . It has been a long-standing demand from more private investment into warehouses industry to hike the investment limits, as and post-harvest agricultural with inflation, units often cross the infrastructure, including processors, mills threshold that will bring them benefits. To and cold chain storage. prevent this, they either run their . It could help farmers sell their produce at operations at a reduced level or more competitive rates if there is no fear incorporate multiple units so that of government intervention to artificially turnover is distributed in a way that they suppress market prices, and is likely to remain within the threshold that will give give a boost to farm exports. them the benefits. 6) New classification of MSMEs . With the revised definitions of MSMEs, What’s in the news? they will not have to worry about growing . The government has decided to change their size and can still avail benefits. the basic definition of MSME and also . Analysts said that the new classification end the difference between the will bring a large number of MSMEs under manufacturing and services sector. the micro segment.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1) Kalapani . However, the discrepancy in locating the About Kalapani source of the river led to boundary . The Kalapani territory is an area disputes between India and Nepal, with disputed between India and Nepal, but each country producing maps supporting under Indian administration as part of their own claims. Pithoragarh district in the Uttarakhand . Kalapani has been controlled by India's state. Indo-Tibetan Border Police since the . The valley of Kalapani, with the Lipulekh Sino-Indian War with China in 1962. Pass at the top, forms the Indian route to Why in News? Kailash–Mansarovar, , a revered Hindu . Recently, Minister of Defence Rajnath pilgrimage site in the Tibetan plateau. Singh inaugurated a 80-kilometre road via . It is also the traditional trading route to Lipulekh Himalayan Pass, which will Tibet for the Bhotiyas of Uttarakhand. serve as the shortest route between New Treaty of Sugauli Delhi and Kailash-Mansarovar. . The Treaty of Sugauli signed by Nepal . Nepal has protested against India's and British East India Company in inauguration of the Himalayan link road 1816 defines the Kali River as Nepal's as it falls in the disputed territory of western boundary with India. Kalapani. . However, what is meant by "Kali River" in the upper reaches is unclear because 2) International Court of Justice many mountain streams come to join and About ICJ form the river. . The International Court of Justice is the . From 1879 onwards, the survey maps principal judicial organ of the United show the stream that flows down from Nations. the Lipulekh Pass as the Kali River. . It was established in June 1945 by the . This stream has served as the border Charter of the United Nations. between India and Nepal until India's . The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance independence. with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. . Unlike most other organs of international organizations, the Court is not composed of representatives of governments. Members of the Court are independent judges. . The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. . All members of the UN are automatic parties to the statute, but this does not automatically give the ICJ jurisdiction over disputes involving them. The ICJ gets jurisdiction only on the basis of consent of both parties. Difference between ICC and ICJ S. International International Court What is the issue?

for denial of consular access to Mr. Jadhav N Criminal Court of Justice (ICJ) and challenging the death sentence. o (ICC) . The court ruled in July last year that . Pakistan must undertake an “effective review and reconsideration” of the 1 Independent Principal judicial conviction and sentence of Mr. Jadhav and judicial body organ of the also grant consular access to India distinct from UN without further delay. the UN 3) International Labour 2 Handles Hears disputes Organisation prosecutions between About ILO of individuals sovereign . ILO was created in 1919, as part of the states Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I. 3 Established by the Established in 1945 . It became the first specialized agency of Rome Statute by the San the UN in 1946. in 2002 Francisco . ILO is the only tripartite U.N. agency Conference, which brings together governments, which also employers and workers of 187 member created the UN States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes 4 Only those who All members of the promoting decent work for all women ratified the UN are parties and men. Rome Statute to the statute . India is a founder member of the ILO. are parties to of the ICJ, and . It is headquartered in Geneva, ICC non-members Switzerland. may also Why in News? become parties . Recently, the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar 5 The judges are The judges are Pradesh governments announced an elected by the elected by the exemption for establishments from the Assembly of UN General employer’s obligations under several States Parties, Assembly and labour laws for three years. the court's the Security . Calling the move retrograde and anti- governing Council worker, several trade unions said they body. were considering lodging a complaint with the International Labour 6 Headquarters of both the courts are Organisation against the changes in the situated at The Hague, Netherlands. labour laws. . They allege that the changes are in Why in News? violation with several ILO conventions . Pakistan said that it has fully complied such as the Right to Freedom of with the ICJ’s judgment in the Kulbhushan Association [ILO Convention 87], Jadhav case, days after India asserted that Rights to Collective Bargaining [ILO it might be able to persuade Pakistan Convention 98], and also the through back channel to release the internationally accepted norm of eight Indian death-row convict. hour working day – espoused by core Why was he arrested? conventions of ILO. . Mr. Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, . They also allege that the exemptions was sentenced to death by a Pakistani undermined the ILO Convention 144 on military court on charges of “espionage tripartism which requires ILO members and terrorism” in April 2017. Weeks later, to undertake effective consultations on India approached the ICJ against Pakistan matters pertaining to ILO activities

between representatives of the break official ties with Taiwan. This has government, employers and workers. resulted in Taiwan's diplomatic isolation 4) 'One China' policy from the international community. . China-Taiwan Relations . India is among the 179 of the 193 . Taiwan, officially known as the Republic member states of the UN that do not of China (ROC), is an island off the maintain any diplomatic ties with southern coast of China that has been Taiwan. governed independently from mainland Why in News? China since 1949. . The U.S. has conveyed its support to . China and Taiwan sharply disagree on the confer observer status on Taiwan at the island’s status. While Taiwan's World Health Assembly (WHA) of the government claims it is an independent WHO. country, the People’s Republic of China . However, China opposed the U.S.’ stance (PRC) asserts that there is only “one claiming Taiwan as its province with no China” and that Taiwan is an inalienable right to its own diplomatic representation part of it. on the global stage and in international organizations, although Taiwan participated in the WHA as an observer from 2009 to 2016. . The WHO recognised the People’s Republic of China as the “one legitimate representative of China”, in keeping with U.N. policy since 1971. . Taiwan is not a member of the WHO. . Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA will require a simple majority from member states. World Health Assembly . The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States. Background . The main functions of the World Health . The China-Taiwan Relations can be traced Assembly are to determine the policies of back to 1949 and the end of the Chinese the Organization, appoint the Director- civil war. General, supervise financial policies, and . The defeated Nationalists, also known as review and approve the proposed the Kuomintang, retreated to Taiwan and programme budget. made it their seat of government while . The Health Assembly is held annually in the victorious Communists began ruling Geneva, Switzerland. the mainland as the People's Republic of . India is among the 179 of the 193 China. member states of the UN that do not . The island has since been run as a maintain any diplomatic ties with separate entity from mainland China, Taiwan. though Beijing never gave up its claim 5) World Health Organization over Taiwan. About WHO 'One China' policy . The World Health Organization is a . It is the diplomatic acknowledgement of specialized agency of the United Nations China's position that there is only one (UN) established in 1948 to further Chinese government. It acknowledges international cooperation for improved Taiwan being part of China and the PRC as public health conditions. the sole legitimate government of China. . It is headquartered in Geneva, . Any country that wants diplomatic Switzerland. relations with mainland China must

. Working with 194 Member States . The US contributes almost 15% of the (including India), its stated goal is to WHO’s total funding and almost 31% of ensure "the highest attainable level of the member states’ donations. India health for all people". contributes 1% of member states’ Where does WHO get its funding from? donations. . It is funded by a large number of Why in News? countries, philanthropic organisations, . As new coronavirus clusters have United Nations organisations etc. surfaced around the world and nations . Voluntary donations from member struggle to balance reopening economies states contribute 35.41%, assessed and preventing a second wave of contributions (dues countries pay in infections, the WHO has warned that order to be a member of WHO) are COVID-19 could be around for a long time. 15.66%, philanthropic organisations . It warned that without a vaccine, it could account for 9.33%, UN organisations take years for the global population to contribute about 8.1%; the rest comes build up sufficient levels of immunity. from myriad sources. . Countries decide how much they pay and may also choose not to.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1) ELISA test current infection, it will not be useful if What is an ELISA test? the testing is carried out days after the . An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent infection clears as the virus will no longer Assay, also called ELISA or EIA, is a test be present. that detects and measures antibodies in . However, antibodies developed in the blood. response to the coronavirus infection will . This test can be used to determine the be present in the blood for a longer presence of antibodies related to certain duration and hence the ELISA test can infectious conditions. help detect past infection. . Antibodies are proteins that your body . The maximum time the antibodies will be produces in response to harmful present in the body is not known for substances called antigens. coronavirus. . An ELISA test may be used to diagnose: Timelines to test HIV (AIDS), rotavirus, Zika virus, . It takes one-three weeks for the varicella-zoster virus which causes antibodies to develop in response to chickenpox and shingles, etc. infection. . ELISA is often used as a screening tool . So, if a person who has been recently before more in-depth tests are ordered. infected by the virus is tested during the . As ELISAs require sophisticated window period (the time taken to develop equipment and skilled technicians to antibodies) the result will turn out to be perform the tests, their use is limited to negative. certain circumstances. . But a repeat test after a couple of weeks Why in News will indicate the true infection status. . The Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) has developed an 2) Central Drugs Standard Control immunological assay — enzyme-linked Organization immunosorbent assay (ELISA) — to About CDSCO detect antibodies that the body develops . The Central Drugs Standard Control in response to infection by the SARS-CoV- Organization (CDSCO) is the Central Drug 2. Authority for discharging functions More in the news assigned to the Central Government . The test will detect IgG antibodies under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, present in blood samples. 1940. . This is the first time India has developed Major functions of CDSCO an indigenous ELISA test for coronavirus. . Regulatory control over the approval of Better to detect past infections new drugs and clinical trials. . The ELISA test will be used to screen . Laying down the standards for Drugs and 30,000 samples from 75 hotspot districts control over the quality of imported to understand the extent of spread of the Drugs. virus in the community. . Meetings of Drugs Consultative . Since the ELISA test is based on detection Committee (DCC) and Drugs Technical of antibodies, it can only help in knowing Advisory Board (DTAB). if the person has been previously infected . Approval of certain licenses as Central by coronavirus. License Approving Authority is . Since it detects antibodies, even people exercised by the CDSCO headquarters. who have remained symptom-free . Coordination of the activities of State (asymptomatic) during the entire course Drug Control Organisations and providing of the infection will test positive. expert advice with a view to bring about . While the RT-PCR, which detects the RNA uniformity in the enforcement of the of the coronavirus, enables detection of Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

About DCGI through only an executive order, the . Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is government did not comply with the the head of the CDSCO. orders of the Supreme Court vis-a-vis the . DCGI is responsible for approval of need for legislation. licenses of specified categories of Liability against data theft Drugs such as blood and blood products, . It is not clear who will be held I. V. Fluids, Vaccine and Sera. accountable for data theft. . Dr.V.G.Somani is the current DCGI. . The app’s Terms of Service (TOS) confer Why in News? blanket limited liability on the . Phase-3 clinical trials on Favipiravir for government. COVID-19 patients, an antiviral tablet, . Government needs to ensure safeguards have been initiated in India after being against data theft and other breaches. approved by DCGI. Need for open source code About Favipiravir . The source code (software programming . Favipiravir is a generic version of code) of the App has not been made Avigan of a Japanese drug maker. public so far. . Favipiravir has demonstrated activity . The closed source architecture of the app against influenza viruses and has been violates transparency principles and this approved in Japan for the treatment of government’s own policies. novel influenza virus infections. . An open source code allows researchers . The molecule, if commercialised, will be and experts to test the architecture and marketed under the brand name suggest measures to correct ‘FabiFlu’ in India. vulnerabilities. . For instance, Singapore’s 3) Concerns about Arogya Setu TraceTogether app was made open source. mobile App Right to be forgotten About the App . Under the TOS, the government is . Aarogya Setu is a mobile app launched by obligated to delete certain personal data the Ministry of Electronics and after a 30-day time period. Information Technology to help citizens . However, there exists no framework to identify their risk of contracting Covid-19. check compliance of the same. . Aarogya Setu is designed to keep an user . If users have no control over their data, it informed in case s/he has crossed paths is a complete violation of their right to with someone who has tested positive. informational self-determination and the . The tracking is done through a Bluetooth right to be forgotten. & location-generated social graph, which Potential misuse can show user’s interaction with anyone . The ways in which the App or its data who has tested positive. could be misused should be analysed . The user will be alerted if someone you beforehand and preventive steps need to came in close proximity with, be taken. unknowingly, tests positive. Not an inclusive approach . The app alerts are accompanied by . Considering the low penetration of instructions on how to self-isolate and smartphones and internet usage, the App what to do in case you develop symptoms. should only be a supplementary for Concerns regarding the App contact tracing done by on-field data Absence of legal framework collection. . Critics argue that the app should have a Government response legal sanction since it allows the . The app fetches users’ location and stores government continuous access to an on the server in a secure, encrypted, individual’s location and demographic anonymised manner. data. . This is uploaded to the app’s servers - . By making the installation of the App controlled by the government- only if a compulsory for certain sections of people user tests positive.

. The government underscored that no . National Informatics Centre (NIC) was personal information of any user was at established in 1976, as an attached office risk and said they were continuously under Meity. testing and upgrading their systems. . It has rich experience in providing ICT . The government also reiterated that the and eGovernance support to the data acquired from the app is used only Government for the last 4 decades and for health-related purposes and will not bridge the digital divide. be used for any surveillance purpose. . It has emerged as a promoter of digital Data sharing protocol opportunities for sustainable . The Aarogya Setu Data Access and development. Knowledge Sharing Protocol was 4) Chitra GeneLAMP-N: new developed and released by the Ministry of Covid-19 diagnostic test Electronics and Information Technology About real-time PCR (MeitY). . A real-time polymerase chain reaction . The personal data of the app’s user, which (real-time PCR), also known as includes contacts and location, must be quantitative polymerase chain permanently deleted after 180 days “from reaction (qPCR), is a laboratory the date on which it is collected”. technique of molecular biology based on . Such data can only be used strictly for the the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). purpose of formulating or implementing . It monitors the amplification of a appropriate health responses. targeted DNA molecule during the PCR . The new protocol will allow the (i.e., in real time), not at its end, as in government to hold on to the data beyond conventional PCR. 180 days if “a specific recommendation is Applications made” by an empowered group. . It is commonly used for both diagnostic . The new protocol also allows an and basic research. individual to request for deleting . Uses of the technique in industry include demographic data, which must be abided the quantification of microbial load in by in 30 days. foods or on vegetable matter, the Anonymisation of data detection of GMOs (Genetically modified . The new norms lay emphasis on organisms) and the quantification and anonymisation of the data collected. genotyping of human viral pathogens. . The protocol says the response data that . Diagnostic qualitative PCR is applied to can be shared with ministries, rapidly detect nucleic acids that are government departments and other diagnostic of, for example, infectious administrative agencies has to be in de- diseases, cancer and genetic identified form. abnormalities. . This means that, except for demographic . It is the most reliable diagnostic test data, the response data must be stripped available for Covid-19. of information that may make it possible Why in News? to identify the individual personally; it . Chitra GeneLAMP-N, a promising must be assigned a randomly generated technology developed by a Department of ID. Science and Technology-funded Role of NIC laboratory to accelerate coronavirus . The National Informatics Centre (NIC) (COVID-19) testing in India may be developed the App. delayed for several more weeks. . It is responsible for collecting, processing More about Chitra GeneLAMP-N and managing all the data collected by . The Chitra GeneLAMP-N is being Aarogya Setu. developed by the Sree Chitra Tirunal . NIC shall maintain a list of agencies with Institute for Medical Sciences and which the data is being shared. Technology (SCTIMST), About NIC Thiruvananthapuram.

. The Chitra technology uses a method in India or elsewhere before the date of called Loop mediated isothermal filing of patent application in India. amplification (LAMP). . ii) Inventive Step: If someone who was . The objective, like that of the gold- skilled in that particular field would standard RT-PCR tests, is the same: to consider the invention to be an detect the presence of viral RNA. unexpected or surprising development on . The LAMP method is said to be faster but the invention date is a relatively newer technology, more . iii) Industrial Applicability: Invention complicated in its design and has not should be useful, such that it can be used been tested extensively for COVID-19 in an industry. detection. Why in News? . The Chitra test could potentially speed . Low-cost personal protective equipment up the testing of a batch of suspected (PPE) for healthcare workers, designed COVID-19 samples by 15 times and cut and produced by the Navy, has received a costs by two-thirds. patent. 5) Patent rights . The patent was successfully filed by the What is a patent? Intellectual Property Facilitation Cell . It is an exclusive right granted for an (IPFC) of the Defence Ministry in invention that provides a new way of association with the NRDC. doing something, or offers a new About National Research Development technical solution to a problem. Corporation (NRDC) . It is a statutory right granted for a . NRDC, established in 1953 by the limited period of time to the person by Government of India, its primary the Government for an invention, in objective is to promote, develop and exchange for full disclosure of his commercialise the technologies / know- invention and excluding others from how / inventions / patents / processes making, processing, using, selling the emanating from various national R&D patented product without his consent. institutions / Universities. . Through this the patent owner maintains . It is presently working under the a monopoly for a limited period of time administrative control of the Dept. of on the use and development of an Scientific & Industrial Research, invention. Ministry of Science & Technology. Patenting in India . NRDC has also successfully exported . The Indian Patent Office grants patents technologies and services to both which are governed by the Indian developed as well as the developing Patents Act, 1970. countries. . The Act was amended in 2000s bringing a 6) New ship and boats for Indian major change of complying with the Coast Guard (ICG) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects About ICGS Sachet of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), . Ship ICGS Sachet is the first in a series of of WTO. five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) . The Indian Patent Office is administered being built by the Goa Shipyard Limited by the Office of the Controller General (GSL). of Patents, Designs & TradeMarks . The ship is also capable of carrying (CGPDTM), under the Department for limited pollution response equipment Promotion of Industry and Internal to undertake oil spill pollution response Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce at sea. and Industry. About the Interceptor Boats Criteria for patenting . The IBs, C-450 and C-451, are designed & . For an invention to be patentable it built by the Larsen & Toubro Shipyard, should meet the following criteria – Hazira. . i) Novelty i.e. some part of it has a new . The 30-metre long boats are capable of development and has not been published achieving speeds in excess of 45 knots

and designed for high-speed interception, . The ship can be deployed for multirole close patrol and low intensity maritime activities like beaching operations, operations. humanitarian and disaster relief Why in News? operations and evacuation from distant . A ship, ICGS Sachet, and two Interceptor islands. Boats (IB), C-450 and C-451, were What is an amphibious vessel? commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in Goa. . This marks a landmark for the ICG: it now has 150 ships and boats and 62 aircraft. 7) Landing Craft Utility (LCU) L57 Why in News? . The Navy formally inducted Landing Craft Utility (LCU) L57 into service at Port Blair. More about L57

. Amphibious vessels fall into two broad categories - those that roll onto the beach and those (typically much larger) that carry landing crafts or hovercrafts in their belly which in turn are disgorged onto the beach.

. This is the seventh LCU in the series of eight MK-IV class that has been indigenously designed and built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. . The LCU MK-IV ship, is an amphibious vessel with a designated primary role of transporting and deploying Main Battle Tanks, Armoured Vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to shore.

HEALTH 1) Infant Mortality Rate,Birth is essential for demographic studies and Rate and Death Rate public health administration. . The death rate of India has witnessed a About: significant decline over the last four Infant Mortality Rate: decades from 14.9 in 1971 to 6.2 in . The probability that a child born in a 2018. In the last decade, death rate at an specific year or period will die before all-India level has declined from 7.3 to reaching the age of 1 year, if subject to 6.2. age-specific mortality rates of that period, Rural urban difference expressed as a rate per 1000 live births. . In the last 10 years, IMR has witnessed a . The infant mortality rate is, strictly decline of about 35 per cent in rural areas speaking, not a rate (i.e. the number of and about 32 per cent in urban areas. deaths divided by the number of population . The birth rate has continued to be higher at risk during a certain period of time) but a in rural areas compared to urban areas in probability. the last four decades. Birth rate: . The decline in death rate has been steeper . The Birth Rate is expressed as the number in rural areas of live births in a year per thousand of States’s count population. . Madhya Pradesh continues to have the Death rate: worst IMR in the country at 48 while . The ratio of deaths to the population of a Nagaland has the best at 4. particular area or during a particular . Among large states, Kerala is the best period of time, usually calculated as the performer with an IMR in single digits at number of deaths per one thousand 7, is the only state which has now people per year. achieved the United Nations’ sustainable development goal for IMR reduction, set Why in the news? at eight for the year 2020. . As per the latest Sample Registration . The largest decline in IMR has been System (SRS) data, India’s infant registered by Mizoram with a decline mortality rate (IMR) has improved from 15 to 5. very marginally from 33 per 1,000 live . Undivided Jammu and Kashmir has also births in 2017 to 32 in 2018. seen a decline and is at 22, well below the . While India’s birth rate stood at 20, the national average of 32. death rate was 6.2. . Tamil Nadu’s IMR has dropped by one News in detail point, from 16 to 15. Declining trend of IMR,BR and DR . The present figure of IMR being 32 is About Sample Registration System about one-fourth as compared to 1971 . The Sample Registration System (SRS) (129). is a large-scale demographic survey for . The IMR at an all-India level has declined providing reliable annual estimates of from 50 to 32 in the last decade. Infant mortality rate, birth rate, death . Birth rate is a crude measure of fertility of rate and other fertility & mortality a population and a crucial determinant of indicators at the national and population growth. subnational levels. . India’s birth rate has declined drastically . Initiated on a pilot basis by the Registrar over the last four decades from 36.9 in General of India in a few states in 1964- 1971 to 20.0 in 2018. 65, it became fully operational during . There has been about an 11 per cent 1969-70. decline in birth rate in the last decade, . The field investigation consists of from 22.5 in 2009 to 20.0 in 2018. continuous enumeration of births and . Mortality is one of the basic components deaths in selected sample units by of population change and the related data resident part time enumerators, generally

Research priorities: anganwadi workers & teachers, and an . The Council's research priorities independent survey every six months coincide with the National health by SRS supervisors. priorities, such as: . The data obtained by these two 1. control and management of independent functionaries are matched. communicable diseases, The unmatched and partially matched 2. fertility control, events are re-verified in the field and 3. maternal and child health, thereafter an unduplicated count of births 4. control of nutritional disorders, and deaths is obtained. 5. developing alternative strategies for health care delivery, 6. containment within safety limits of 2) Indian Council of Medical environmental and occupational health Research problems; 7. research on major non-communicable About: diseases like cancer, cardiovascular . The Indian Council of Medical Research diseases, blindness, diabetes and other (ICMR) in New Delhi is the apex body metabolic and haematological disorders; for the formulation, coordination and and promotion of biomedical research, in 8. mental health research and drug research India (including traditional remedies). . It is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. . All these efforts are undertaken with a Background: view to reduce the total burden of . In 1911, the Government of India set up disease and to promote health and well- the Indian Research Fund Association being of the population. (IRFA) with the specific objective of . In addition to research activities, the sponsoring and coordinating medical ICMR encourages human resource research in the country. development in biomedical research . After independence, several important through various fellowship programmes. changes were made in the organisation Why in the news? and the activities of the IRFA. . ICMR has given approval to conduct a . It was redesignated in 1949 as the multicentric phase-2 trial using Indian Council of Medical Research convalescent plasma on COVID-19 (ICMR) with a considerably expanded patients. scope of functions. . For information about convalescent Funded by: plasma therapy refer pulse . The ICMR is funded by the Government

of India through the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

ART & CULTURE 1) Channapatna toys . The tag conveys an assurance of quality About and distinctiveness, which is essentially . Channapatna toys are a particular form of attributable to the geographical origin of wooden toys (and dolls) that are the product. manufactured in the town of What rights does a GI provide? Channapatna in the Ramanagara district . The owner of the GI tag has exclusive of Karnataka. rights over the product . For example, in the jurisdictions in which the Darjeeling geographical indication is protected, producers of Darjeeling tea can exclude use of the term “Darjeeling” for tea not grown in their tea gardens. . However, a protected geographical indication does not enable the holder to prevent someone from making the product using the same techniques as those set out in the standards for that indication. . Individuals cannot hold GI certificates. Only an association of producers or an authority established under law can apply for GI registration. For what type of products can GI be used? . Geographical indications are typically . This traditional craft is protected as a used for agricultural products, geographical indication (GI) under the foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, World Trade Organization, administered handicrafts, and industrial products. by the Government of Karnataka. . The registration of a geographical . As a result of the popularity of these toys, indication is valid for a period of 10 Channapatna is known as Gombegala years after which it can be renewed for Ooru (toy-town) of Karnataka. another 10 years. . Channapatna toys have a 200 year old Legal framework history and are made out of wood — soft . The Geographical Indications of Goods ivory wood, teak, rubber, cedar or neem (Registration and Protection) Act,1999 — and lacquered with vibrant, natural seeks to provide for the registration and dyes. better protection of geographical Why in News? indications relating to goods in India. . The toy makers of Channapatna have . The Act would be administered by the suffered loss of livelihood due to the ban Controller General of Patents, Designs on sale of non-essential goods due to and TradeMarks- who is the Registrar of Covid-19 pandemic. Geographical Indications. 2) GI tag for Thanjavur Netti . The Geographical Indications Registry Works, Arumbavur Wood is located at Chennai. Why in News? Carvings . The Thanjavur Netti Works and What is a geographical indication? Arumbavur wood carvings from . A geographical indication (GI) is a sign Tamilnadu have been given Geographical used on products that have a specific Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical geographical origin and possess Indications Registry. qualities or a reputation that are due to About Thanjavur Netti that origin.

. Thanjavur Netti Works (Thanjavur Pith Vaagai, Albizia lebbeck), mango Work) is made from pith. (Mangifera indica), lingam tree . The pith is obtained from netti, a (Mavilangam), Indian ash tree (Othiyan – hydrophyte plant called as Odina wodier), rosewood, neem tree Aeschynomene aspera. (Vembu – Azadirachta indica). . The artisans are skilled in this particular . The carvings in Arambavur Wood craft and this art is traditionally Carvings are often inspired by transferred from their forefathers. architectural details 3) GI tag for Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting, Telangana’s Telia Rumal Why in News? . Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana’s Telia Rumal were given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry headquartered in Chennai. About Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting . The Sohrai Khovar painting is a traditional and ritualistic mural art being practised by local tribal women during local harvest and marriage

. The notable works from Thanjavur Netti seasons. Works include models of the . They are made using local, naturally Brihadeeshwara Temple, Hindu idols, available soils of different colours in garlands, door hangings and show pieces the area of Hazaribagh district of used for decoration. Jharkhand. About Arumbavur Wood Carving . Traditionally painted on the walls of mud . Arumbavur Wood Carving is done at houses, they are now seen on other Arumbavur of Perambalur district, surfaces also. Tamilnadu.

. The style features a profusion of lines, dots, animal figures and plants, often representing religious iconography. About Telangana’s Telia Rumal . Telia Rumal cloth involves intricate handmade work with cotton loom displaying a variety of designs and motifs

. The wood carvings are primarily made in three particular colours — red, black out of wooden logs of Indian siris (Poo and white.

. Telia Rumal can only be created using the . Yakshagana is popular in the districts of traditional handloom process and not by Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Udupi, any other mechanical means as Dakshina Kannada and the Kasaragod otherwise, the very quality of the Rumal district of Kerala. would be lost. . Yakshagana combines dance, music, . It was patronised by Hyderabad Nizam spoken word, elaborate costumes and and other nobles of that period. makeup, and stage technique with a . Telia Rumals were worn as a turban cloth distinct style and form. by Arabs in the Middle East. . It is generally regarded as a form of folk . Telia Rumals are offered at the dargah of theater, but possesses strong classical Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan. connections. 4) Yakshagana . Yakshagana arose from the Vaishnava . Yaksha-gana literally means the song bhakti movement as a means of (gana) of a Yaksha. entertaining and educating the common . Yakshas were an exotic tribe mentioned people, and was well-established by the in the Sanskrit literature of ancient India. sixteenth century. . The theater form was originally called . A performance usually depicts a story Bayalata (open place play) or simply Ata from the Hindu epics of Ramayana and (play). Mahabharata and the mythology of the . Yakshagana is a traditional dance puranas. drama popular in the coastal districts and adjacent areas of the state of Karnataka.

PIB ANAYSIS

1) Mission Sagar countries and strengthens the existing About the SAGAR Programme (Security and bond. Growth for All in the Region): . This mission is in line with India’s role as . SAGAR is a term coined by Prime Minister the first responder in the region and Narendra Modi in 2015 during his builds excellent relations amongst these Mauritius visit with a focus on the blue countries to battle the COVID-19 economy. pandemic. . It is a maritime initiative which gives . The operation is being progressed in close priority to the Indian Ocean region (IOR) coordination with the Ministries of for ensuring peace, stability and Defence and External Affairs, and other prosperity of India in the Indian Ocean agencies of the Government of India. region. About Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) . It is in line with the principles of the . The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). a dynamic inter-governmental . Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen organisation aimed at strengthening economic and security cooperation with regional cooperation and sustainable its maritime neighbours and assist in development within the Indian Ocean building their maritime security region through its 22 Member States and capabilities. 10 Dialogue Partners. . Promoting sustained growth and balanced development within the Indian Ocean region, IORA strengthens cooperation and dialogue with Member States namely: . Commonwealth of Australia, People's Republic of Bangladesh, Union of Comoros, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Madagascar, Malaysia, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Mozambique, Sultanate of Oman, Republic of Seychelles, Republic of Singapore, Federal Republic of Somalia , Republic of South Africa, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, United Republic of Tanzania, Kingdom of Thailand, United Arab Emirates Why in News? and Republic of Yemen. . Indian Naval Ship Kesari has departed for . All sovereign States of the Indian Ocean Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Rim are eligible for membership of the Madagascar and Comoros, to provide Association. Food Items, COVID-19 related Medicines including Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 2) National Technology Day Tablets and Special Ayurvedic Medicines About National Technology Day with Medical Assistance. . Every year since 1999 , May 11 is About Mission SAGAR: celebrated as National Technology Day to . Mission Sagar’ is inspired by Prime mark the day on which India successfully Minister’s vision of Security and Growth test-fired its first nuclear bombs in 1998. for All in the Region(‘SAGAR’ )and . The first successful Shakti-I nuclear highlights the importance accorded by missile. India to relations with her neighbouring . The missile was tested in the Indian Army Pokhran Test Range, Rajasthan. The

operation was called “Operation Shakti”. . Fixed pension for the subscribers ranging After the testing of the Shakti-I nuclear between Rs.1000 to Rs. 5000, if s/he missile, India also successfully tested two joins and contributes between the age of nuclear weapons. 18 years and 40 years. . The code name of the first phase of . The same pension is payable to Spouse Operation Shakti was “Smiling Buddha”. after death of Subscriber. . The second nuclear test, the phase II of . Return of indicative pension wealth to Operation Shakti, conducted in 1998 was nominees after death of spouse. also called Pokhran II and was a series of Why in News? 5 tests of nuclear bombs. . The flagship social security scheme of the . It was led by the late President Dr Shri Government of India - ‘Atal Pension APJ Abdul Kalam. Yojana’ (APY) - has completed five years . After Pokhran-II, Vajpayee had declared of implementation with over 2.2 crore India a nuclear state — then the sixth subscribers.It is administered by Pension country in the world to join as Nuclear Fund Regulatory and Development Weapon State. Authority through National Pension Focus of the Year 2020 System (NPS). . A high-level digital conference, on Rebooting the Economy through Science, Technology and Research Translations titled RESTART will be organised by Technology Development Board (TDB) a statutory body of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) this year, to celebrate the National Technology Day. Why in News? . The Prime Minister paid tribute to all the scientists in the country who are using science and technology to bring a positive difference in the lives of others. 3) Atal Pension Yojana’ (APY) About APY . Atal Pension Yojana (APY) addresses the old age income security of the working poor and the longevity risks among the workers in the unorganised sector. . It encourages the workers in the unorganised sector to voluntarily save for their retirement. The Government had launched the scheme with effect from 1st June, 2015. . The scheme replaces the Swavalamban Yojana / NPS Lite scheme. Eligibility: . Any citizen of India can join the APY scheme. The age of the subscriber should be between 18-40 years. The contribution levels would vary and would be low if a subscriber joins early and increases if she joins late. Features of APY

. To promote and ensure voluntary Pension Fund Regulatory and Development ownership among the local community by Authority way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or . Pension Fund Regulatory and Development labour and voluntary labour Authority (PFRDA) is the statutory (shramdaan). Authority established by an enactment of . To bring awareness on various aspects the Parliament, to regulate, promote and and significance of safe drinking water . ensure orderly growth of the National The institutional mechanism under JJM: Pension System (NPS). . It works under the Department of Financial . National . National Jal Jeevan Services under the Ministry of Finance. level Mission National Pension System . NPS is a government-sponsored pension . State level . State Water and scheme. It was launched in 2004 for Sanitation Mission government employees. (SWSM) . NPS was extended to all Indian citizens (resident/non-resident/overseas) on a . District . District Water and voluntary basis and to corporates for its level Sanitation Mission employees. (DWSM) 4) Jal Jeevan Mission About Jal Jeevan Mission . Gram . Paani Samiti/ Village . Jal Jeevan Mission is envisioned to Panchayat Water & Sanitation provide safe and adequate drinking level Committee (VWSC)/ water through individual household User group tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India. Funding Pattern under JJM: . The goal of JJM is to provide functional . The fund sharing pattern between Centre household tap connection to every and State is 90:10 for Himalayan and household with service level at the rate North-Eastern States, 100 percent for of 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd). UTs and 50:50 for rest of the States. Positive Outcomes of JJM: . The programme will also implement . JJM would ensure functional household source sustainability measures as tap connection to every rural household mandatory elements, such as recharge where there is a demand and people and reuse through grey water aspire for household piped water supply. management, water conservation, rain . It will significantly improve quality of water harvesting. The Jal Jeevan Mission life, particularly of women and children. will be based on a community approach . It will assist in ODF-sustainability as to water . water is important to sustain Swachh Key Objectives of the Mission are: Bharat Mission’s gains. . To provide Functional Tap Connection . In the rural areas, for developing in- (FHTC) to every rural household. village water supply infrastructure, water . To prioritize provision of FHTCs in resource management, source quality affected areas, villages in drought strengthening/ augmentation, prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh distribution network, treatment plants, Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc. etc., unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled . To provide functional tap connection to human resources will be required. Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, . Further there will be procurement of Health centres, wellness centres and various materials for water supply community buildings. systems. This will generate employment . To monitor functionality of tap and boost the economy. connections. Why in News?

. Jammu and Kashmir plans to provide tap Scheme (NMEICT) of the Ministry of water connection to all rural households Human Resource Development (HRD). by December, 2022 under the Jal Jeevan . This initiative will enhance the Mission (JJM). productivity through better information 5) SAMARTH management in the institutes by seamless About: access to information, and its utilization . SAMARTH, is an e-Governance platform, for various purposes. is an Open Standard Open Source Why in News003F Architecture Automation Engine for . NIT Kurukshetra has implemented Universities and Higher Educational Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP), Institutions. SAMARTH to enhance productivity . It caters to faculty, students and staff at a through better information management University/Higher Educational and automating the process in the Institutions. institute. . It has been developed under the National Mission of Education in Information and Communication Technology

News in Depth THE HINDU EDITORIALS

1) The trends shaping the post- its incompetent response to the pandemic COVID-19 world indicates that countries are also losing trust in the U.S.’s competence. . COVID-19 Pandemic which initially . The U.S. still remains the largest economy emerged as a global health crisis has and the largest military power but has now triggered a global economic crisis lost the will and ability to lead. since most of the nations responded to it . Thus the retreat of the U.S. after a with a lockdown. century of being in the forefront of . COVID-19 has brought the already shaping the global order is the next trend. noticeable changes in the geopolitical . Given that the U.S. is among the countries trend lines into sharper focus, defining badly affected by this pandemic, together the contours of the emerging global with existing uncertainties affecting its order. financial markets, the U.S. can be expected Six geopolitical lines which will define the to step back even further from one of contours of the emerging global order assertion to neutrality in global affairs. Ascending Asia Intra- European fission . Asian countries have demonstrated . Continuing preoccupation with internal greater swiftness in tackling the challenges in the European Union is the pandemic compared to the United States third trend in contouring global order. and Europe. . Reasons for existing internal . A large number of Asian states have challenges shown greater responsiveness and 1) Expansion of membership to include East more effective state capacity. As a European states result, Asian economies will recover 2) Impact of the financial crisis among the faster than those in the West. Eurozone members . Also economic forecasts indicate that out 3) Ongoing Brexit negotiations of the G-20 countries, only China and 4) The trans-Atlantic divide aggravating an India are likely to register economic intra-European rift growth during 2020. 5) North-South divide within the Eurozone. Similar instance in the past: . Add ons during pandemic . The 2008 global financial crisis showed 1. Italy was denied medical equipment by the resilience of the Asian economies. its EU neighbours who introduced Waning US export controls, which led Italyto airlift . From the Treaty of Versailles and the medical teams and critical supplies from League of Nations after World War I or China. the creation of the United Nations and 2. Schengen visa or free-border Bretton Woods institutions after World movement which has already been a War II, to leadership of the western world victim of pandemic. during the Cold War, moulding global responses to threats posed by terrorism Schengen Visa and Schengen area or climate change, the U.S. played a . A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that decisive role. allows a person to travel to any member . As countries were losing trust in the U.S. of the Schengen Area, per stay up to 90 leadership due to ‘America first’ policy , days for tourism or business purposes.

3. U.S. leadership strengthened the Bretton . Schengen Area, signifies a zone where 26 Woods institutions in recent decades European countries, abolished their because the U.S.’s voting power gives it a internal borders, for the free and blocking veto. (The World Bank spends unrestricted movement of people, in 250% of WHO’s budget on global health) harmony with common rules for . Thus the absence of a multilateral controlling external borders and fighting response today highlights the long-felt criminality by strengthening the common need for reform of these bodies but this judicial system and police cooperation. cannot happen without collective global . The Schengen Area covers most of the EU leadership. countries, except Ireland and the Energy factor countries that are soon to be part of: . Growing interest in renewable and green Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus. technologies on account of climate change . Although not members of the EU, concerns, and the U.S. emerging as a countries like: Norway, Iceland, major energy producer were Switzerland and Lichtenstein are also fundamentally altering the energy part of the Schengen zone. markets. Rising China . An emerging economic recession and . A fourth trend is the emergence of a depressed oil prices will exacerbate stronger and more assertive China. internal tensions in West Asian . Chinese assertiveness has raised countries which are solely dependent on concerns, in its neighbourhood, and in the oil revenues. U.S. . Long-standing rivalries in the region have . In recent years, the U.S.-China often led to local conflicts but can now relationship moved from cooperation create political instability in countries to competition and now with trade and where regime structures are fragile. technology wars, it is moving steadily to . Though vaccines may help to deal with confrontation. the global health crisis, settling the . For example, crisis arising out of this changing o The Belt and Road Initiative which global order still remains doubtful. seeks to connect China to Eurasia and 2) Fiscal stimulus- need of the Africa through both maritime and land routes by investing trillions of dollars in hour infrastructure building is a kind of Context: bidding move against any U.S. attempts at . The impact of COVID-19 will be containment. debilitating for the global as well as the . The pandemic has seen increasing Indian economies. persuasion on both sides. . Varying growth projections, deepening Fading Organisations economic crisis and growth prospects of . COVID-19 being a Global problem various sectors clearly indicate that not demands global response. But most of only reducing government expenditure the multilateral institutions were always but also fiscal stimulus is needed the subjected to big power politics. most. . For example, Growth projections 1. The World Health Organisation (WHO) . The International Monetary Fund (IMF) which needs to lead global efforts against has projected India’s growth at 1.9%, the health crisis has become a victim of China’s at 1.2% and the global growth at politics. (-) 3.0%. 2. WHO have lost autonomy over decades as . However the actual growth outcome for their regular budgets shrank, forcing India would depend on them to increasingly rely on voluntary 1. the speed at which the economy is opened contributions sourced largely from up western countries and foundations. 2. the time it takes to contain the spread of virus

3. the government’s policy support. 1. relief expenditure for protecting the poor Growth prospects and the marginalised . In 2019-20 GVA growth of India is 2. demand-supporting expenditure for projected to be about 4.4%. Various increasing personal disposable incomes sectors and their varying growth or government’s purchases of goods and prospects due to COVID-19 are as follows, services, including expanded health-care . As agriculture and allied sectors, and expenditure imposed by the novel public administration, defence and other coronavirus services suffered only limited disruption, 3. bailouts for industry and financial it may be possible for these sectors to institutions. achieve 90% of the 2019-20 growth Challenge ahead: performance. . Financing of the fiscal deficit poses a . Sectors like mining and quarrying, major challenge. electricity, gas, water supply and other . To fund a bigger public spending utility services, construction, and programme, the government can either financial, real estate and professional . ask the RBI to print more money services, 50% of 2019-20 growth (monetise the deficit) or performance is expected. . it can issue new bonds to be subscribed . Trade, Hotels, Transport, Storage and by the banks (raise money through Communications sectors may be able to borrowing). show 30% of 2019-20 growth . Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan performance. explained how the two paths work and . Manufacturing has suffered significant why ‘monetisation’ is a good option in the growth erosion in 2019-20 and hence this short term and within reasonable limits. sector must be stimulated by supporting demand. Calibrating policy support . Monetary measures . Monetary policy initiatives undertaken so far by Reserve Bank of India include a . reduction in the repo rate to 4.4%, . reduction in the reverse repo rate to 3.75%, and . reduction in the cash reserve ratio to 3%. Fiscal measures . Expenditure reducing measures . Centre’s fiscal deficit may increase to 6.0% of GDP. . To keep fiscal deficit under control cash- constrained central and State governments have taken expenditure reducing measures by 1. freezing of enhancements of dearness allowance and dearness relief 2. reducing non-salary defence expenditure. 3. fertilizer and petroleum subsidies may be reduced. Fiscal stimulus . Though monetary measures have been

taken by RBI, these measures need to be supplemented by an appropriate fiscal stimulus to reap the very purpose of the measures. . Fiscal stimulus can be of three types:

. In spite of high liquidity in the economy, lending is limited. Hence if banks are incentivised to lend it will lead to bogus companies overnight to grab the stimulus. . Thus lifting the lockdown will be the first step towards a good stimulus.

. However, it is to be noted that from 1947 to 1997, the Central government always routinely monetised its deficit, without leading to high rates of inflation. . Also while countries like Japan (>200%) and U.S. (125%) have huge debt-to-GDP ratios India has a minor slippage with 70% debt-GDP ratio. 3) A plan to revive a broken economy Context: . Revival of the economy requires ideas, a plan, and effective implementation. There are clear, implementable steps the Centre can take in fiscal terms to revive the economy and support livelihoods. Let us discuss what the government ought to do. Ways out to revive the economy: . Food and cash transfers . Putting money in the hands of the poor is the best stimulus to economic revival, as it creates effective demand. Thus the immediate need is to provide free food and cash transfers to those rendered incomeless. . What can be done? . Providing every household with ₹7,000 per month for a period of three months and every individual with 10 kg of free food grains per month for a period of six months is likely to cost around 3% of our GDP (assuming 20% voluntary dropout). What will constitute a “good stimulus”? . This could be financed immediately . ‘Stimulating’ an economy cannot happen through larger borrowing by the Centre during a supply-side lockdown and hence from the Reserve Bank of India. any ‘good stimulus’ can only come into . The required cash and food have to be effect post lockdown. handed over to State governments to . Government revenues will be seriously make the actual transfers, along with hit with the effective fiscal deficit outstanding Goods and Services Tax reaching around 7.5 %. This should be compensation. kept in mind while announcing for a . Is this doable? stimulus. . Yes this is easily doable for several . Inflation may occur with fiscal stimulus reasons which are which results in downgrading of credit . Foodgrains are plentiful (The Food rating agencies that in turn may lead to Corporation of India had 77 million higher fiscal deficit.

tonnes, and rabi procurement could add . Urban local bodies must take charge of 40 million tonnes) this programme, and would need to be . Cash transfers in many spheres will only revamped for this purpose. enable current demand to continue (such . By including work in the MSMEs as payment of house rent to continue as“Permissible” work under this occupancy) and not create any fresh programme, would ensure labour supply demand. for the MSMEs and also cover their wage . Output could expand because of resumed bills at the central government’s expense economic activity. until they re-acquire robustness. 2) Revamp MGNREGA work The ‘care’ economy . Employment has to be provided to the . The “care economy” provides immense migrant labourers (who are unlikely to scope for increasing employment. return from home towns) where they are, Care economy: for which the Mahatma Gandhi National . Care economy is a system that consists of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme activities and relationships involved in (MGNREGS) must be expanded greatly meeting the physical, emotional, and and revamped. psychological aspects of care , remains an 1. Wage arrears to be paid immediately. integral but undervalued component of 2. Work has to be provided on demand economies all over the world, ensuring without any limit to all adults. the welfare of communities. 3. Work must include not just agricultural and construction work, but work in rural What to be done? enterprises and in care activities too. . Vacancies in public employment, . Growth in India in the coming days will especially in care work activities, must be have to be sustained by the home market. immediately filled. . Since the most important determinant of . The status of Anganwadi and Accredited growth of the home market is agricultural Social Health Activists/workers who growth, this must be urgently boosted provide essential services to the which can be done with MGNREGA by population during this pandemic, must be 1. Paying wages for land development and improved farm work for small and medium farmers, . Treat them as regular government apart from government support through employees and give them proper remunerative procurement prices, remuneration and associated benefits, 2. subsidised institutional credit, and greatly expand their coverage in 3. other input subsidies, and settlements of the urban poor. 4. Redistribution of unused land with How can these be achieved? plantations. . By Printing money . Agricultural growth in turn can promote . By generating revenue rural enterprises, both by creating a . A combination of wealth and inheritance demand for their products and by taxation and getting multinational providing inputs for them to process, this companies to pay the same effective rate would generate substantial rural as local companies through a system of employment. unitary taxation will generate substantial Revive MSME public revenue. . To revive the Micro, Small and Medium . For example,a 2% wealth tax on the top Enterprises (MSMEs) is an absolutely 1% of the population, together with a essential need of the hour. 33% inheritance tax on the wealth they . The best way to overcome the problems leave every year to their progeny, could of employment and income, post finance an increase in government lockdown would be to introduce an Urban expenditure to nearly 10% of GDP. Employment Guarantee Programme. . By issuing SDR . It aims to serve diverse groups of the . A fresh issue of special drawing rights by urban unemployed, including the the International Monetary Fund would educated unemployed. provide additional external resources.

Outcomes binding COVID-19 guidelines are being . These additional resources would be issued by the Centre to the States. adequate to finance the institution of five What does the act say? universal, justifiable, fundamental . The Act envisages the creation of a economic rights: ‘National Plan’ under Section 11, as well 1. the right to food, as issuance of binding guidelines by the 2. the right to employment, Centre to States under Section 6(2), in 3. the right to free public health care, furtherance of the ‘National Plan’. 4. the right to free public education and . Section 11(2) of the Act mandates State 5. the right to a living old-age pension and consultations before formulating a disability benefits. ‘National Plan’, and to that extent, when . Thus the broken economy must be rebuilt the binding guidelines are ultimately in ways to ensure a life of dignity to the issued under it, they are expected to most disadvantaged citizen. represent the views of the States. . However, the Centre has not formulated 4) Indian Federalism in context of the ‘National Plan’, and has chosen instead to respond to COVID-19 through COVID-19 ad hoc binding guidelines issued to States, Context: thereby circumventing the legislative . India’s success in defeating Covid-19 mandate of State consultations. actively rests upon Centre-State Lost the powers to raise their own sales tax collaboration. However some recent revenues and not being helped with developments have revealed fissures in additional resources Centre-State cooperation. o GST forced the States to surrender their Cooperative federalism: powers to raise resources independently . Federalism according to K.C. Wheare, through local State taxes and place them traditionally signifies the independence entirely in the hands of the Centre for of the Union and State governments of most of their financial needs. a country, in their own spheres. . Pre GST era: . ‘Cooperative federalism’ according to . Most States raise resources through a AH Birch is defined by administrative combination of their own taxes and a cooperation between the Centre and the share in the Centre’s taxes. States, and a partial dependence of the . For richer States such as Maharashtra, States upon payments from the Centre. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, . Accordingly, Indian constitutional law Punjab, Haryana and Kerala, 70% or more expert Granville Austin remarks that of their revenue comes from taxes despite a strong Centre, cooperative generated within their State boundaries. federalism doesn’t necessarily result in . Nearly half of these were from the sale of weaker States, rather the progress of the goods and services within the State and Republic rests upon active cooperation the remaining half, from a combination of between the two. excise duties on petrol, electricity, Federal issues during pandemic: alcohol, land registration fees, etc. . As it is the States which act as first . Before GST, States were free to charge responders to the pandemic, supplying sales taxes as legislated by their State them with adequate funds becomes a legislatures. prerequisite in effectively tackling the . If a State had a natural disaster, they crisis. But the following things remain could raise additional resources for as a blow to the states. rehabilitation by raising sales tax rates on Bearing the worst part of the pandemic’s goods and services. impact.  How would the States have handled . State consultation is a legislative mandate this crisis in the pre-GST era? cast upon the Centre under the Disaster Management Act of 2005 under which

. They would have had the funds raised guaranteed minimum tax revenue every through sales taxes to themselves and not year for a period of five years. dependent on the centre to release funds. . In the midst of the current pandemic, the . They would have raised taxes on select Centre has not kept up both these essential goods sold in their States (say, promises since they are now reliant on mangoes or coconut oil) in accordance the Centre to release these funds to them with their norms. periodically. . Ways left out to generate revenue: Not being able to raise borrowing without . The other available options for States to centre’s nod raise funds are through taxes on sale of . States need the Centre’s approval to raise petroleum products, alcohol, lottery their borrowing limit or to stand as tickets, electricity, land or vehicle guarantors. registration. . Since States do not have clear revenue . During this extreme lockdown, demand visibility, the rates at which they can for petroleum products, electricity, land borrow are very high and their ability to and vehicles has reduced substantially. borrow is severely undermined. . So, the only option left for most States is . They are once again dependent on the to raise funds through the sale of alcohol. Centre to borrow funds from the market . For the large, richer States, alcohol sales and then release them to the States. account for more than one-third of their . Thus centre should view the States as State tax revenues. equals, and strengthen their capabilities, Not being paid what they are owed instead of increasing their dependence . Under GST, States are legally entitled to upon itself. their share of tax revenues collected in their State and States were also

INDIAN EXPRESS EXPLAINED 1) Direct seeding - an alternative to use direct seeding of Rice instead of to paddy transplanting conventional paddy transplantation to cope up with labor shortage. Context:

In the prevailing situation of lockdown . Direct Seeding of Rice Vs Conventional over many states to prevent the spread of transplanting COVID-19 farmers are being encouraged

. Conventional transplanting Direct Seeding of Rice

. Method of . Farmers prepare  There is no nursery preparation or transplan nurseries where the transplantation. ting paddy seeds are first . The seeds are instead directly drilled into paddy sown and raised into the field by a tractor-powered machine. young plants. . These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the main field. . The nursery seed bed is 5- 10% of the area to be transplanted.

. Irrigation . For the first three weeks . Farmers have to only level their land and frequency after transplanting, the give one pre-sowing irrigation. plants have to be irrigated . Irrigation (apart from the pre-sowing almost daily (if there are irrigation) is necessary only 21 days after no rains) to maintain a sowing. water depth of 4-5 cm.

. Herbicide . Water acts as a herbicide . Water is replaced by real chemical for paddy. herbicides. Underlying Principle: About herbicides: . Paddy growth is . Two kinds of herbicides are used. compromised by weeds . Pre-emergent - applied before germination. that compete for o Eg.Pendimethalin nutrition, sunlight and . Post-emergent, - sprayed 20-25 days after water. sowing, depending upon the type of weeds . Water prevents growth of appearing. weeds by denying them . Eg. Bispyribac-sodium oxygen in the submerged . Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl stage, whereas the soft ‘aerenchyma tissues’ in paddy plants allow air to penetrate through their roots.

. Less water requirement Advantages of DSR: . Unlike in transplanted paddy, where watering has to be done daily to ensure

submerged/flooded conditions in the first including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian three weeks, the first irrigation (apart Sea, after following a standard procedure. from the pre-sowing rauni) under DSR is . The IMD is also mandated to issue necessary only 21 days after sowing. advisories to 12 other countries in the . Helps overcome labour shortage region on the development of cyclones . In the present context of COVID-19 and storms. lockdown, the two granary states of How are the cyclones named? Punjab and Haryana could face a shortage . In 2000, a group of nations called of an estimated 10 lakh labourers, mainly WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological seasonal migrants from Bihar and Uttar Organisation/United Nations Economic Pradesh, to undertake transplantation of and Social Commission for Asia and the paddy in the upcoming kharif season. Pacific), which comprised Bangladesh, . About three labourers are required to India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, transplant one acre of paddy in a single Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, decided day. to start naming cyclones in the region. . This problem can be overcome with the . After each country sent in suggestions, use of Direct seeding technique. the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical . Herbicide cost still less than labour Cyclones (PTC) finalized the list. cost . The WMO/ESCAP expanded to include . Though the purchase of herbicide incurs five more countries in 2018 — Iran, some cost, this is still lower than the cost Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates paid out for labours. and Yemen. Drawbacks of DSR: Why is it important to name cyclones? . The seed requirement for DSR is higher, . Adopting names for cyclones makes it at 8-10 kg/acre, compared to 4-5 kg in easier for people to remember, as transplanting. opposed to numbers and technical terms. . It is doubtful that the demand for . Apart from the general public, it also herbicides will be met. helps the scientific community, the media, . Laser land levelling, costs Rs 1,000/acre disaster managers etc. which is mandatory for DSR. . With a name, it is easy to identify . Though DSR has certain disadvantages, it individual cyclones, create awareness of can be considered as an effective its development, rapidly disseminate alternative in the current scenario. warnings to increased community 2) Naming of tropical cyclones preparedness and remove confusion What are tropical cyclones? where there are multiple cyclonic systems . Tropical cyclones is an intense circular over a region. storm that originates over warm tropical What are the guidelines to adopt names of oceans and is characterized by low cyclones? atmospheric pressure, high winds, and . While picking names for cyclones, here heavy rain. are some of the rules that countries need Who names tropical cyclones? to follow. If these guidelines are followed, . Cyclones that form in every ocean basin the name is accepted by the panel on across the world are named by the tropical cyclones (PTC) that finalizes the regional specialised meteorological selection: centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone . The proposed name should be neutral to Warning Centres (TCWCs). (a) politics and political figures (b) . There are six RSMCs in the world, religious believes, (c) cultures and (d) including the India Meteorological gender Department (IMD), and five TCWCs. . Name should be chosen in such a way that IMD names cyclones of which region? it does not hurt the sentiments of any . As an RSMC, the IMD names the cyclones group of population over the globe developing over the north Indian Ocean, . It should not be very rude and cruel in nature

. It should be short, easy to pronounce and Once used, it will cease to be used again. should not be offensive to any member Thus, the name should be new. . The maximum length of the name will be Why in the news? eight letters . The India Meteorological Department . The proposed name should be provided (IMD) recently released a list of 169 with its pronunciation and voice over names of future tropical cyclones that . The names of tropical cyclones over the would emerge in the Bay of Bengal and north Indian Ocean will not be repeated. the Arabian Sea. Procedure for choosing names:

. The first cyclone name which will be . Once the bottom of the column is reached, chosen will be the one in the first row of the sequence moves to the top of the next the first column — Nisarga by column. Bangladesh. What cyclone names has India suggested? . Next, India’s choice, Gati, will be chosen, . The 13 names in the recent list that have and so on. been suggested by India include: Gati, Tej, . Subsequent cyclones are being named Murasu, Aag, Vyom, Jhar (pronounced sequentially, column-wise, with each Jhor), Probaho, Neer, Prabhanjan, Ghurni, cyclone given the name immediately Ambud, Jaladhi and Vega. below that of the previous cyclone. . An IMD committee is formed to finalize the names before sending it to the PTC.

RSTV BIG-PICTURE

1) Visakhapatnam Gas Leak impacted villages in a five-km radius, leaving at least 9 people dead and thousands of citizens suffering from breathlessness and other problems in an early morning mishap that raised fears of a serious industrial disaster. What is Styrene? . It is a flammable liquid that is used in the manufacturing of polystyrene plastics, fiberglass, rubber, and latex. . Also known as ethenylbenzene, vinylbenzene, and phenylethene, Styrene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5CH=CH2. . This derivative of benzene is a colorless oily liquid although aged samples can appear yellowish. . The compound evaporates easily and has a sweet smell, although high concentrations have a less pleasant odor. What happens when exposed to Styrene? . As per the US-based Environment Protection Agency (EPA), short-term exposure to the substance can result in respiratory problems, irritation in the eyes, irritation in the mucous membrane, and gastrointestinal issues. . And long-term exposure could drastically affect the central nervous system and lead to other related problems like peripheral neuropathy. . It could also lead to cancer and depression in some cases. . However, EPA notes that there is no sufficient evidence despite several epidemiology studies indicating there may be an association between styrene exposure and an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma. What are the symptoms? . Symptoms include headache, hearing loss, fatigue, weakness, difficulty in Context concentrating etc. The Andhra Pradesh government appealed . Animal studies, according to the EPA, to the people of Visakhapatnam not to have reported effects on the CNS, liver, panic and cooperate with authorities kidney, and eye and nasal irritation from working to bring under control the inhalation exposure to styrene. situation following a gas leak from a How bad is the situation in chemical plant there. Visakhapatnam? A major leak from a polymer plant LG Polymers near Visakhapatnam

. While it unclear at the moment whether become unconscious as police had to the deaths are due to direct exposure to break open doors to shift people. styrene gas or one of its by-products, Conclusion Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner has . The leak has been plugged and NDRF maintained that the gas is “non- teams moved into the five affected poisonous” and is only fatal when villages and have started opening the exposed for longer durations. houses to find out if anyone was stranded . However, hundreds of people including inside. Officials said that the Covid-19 many children were admitted to preparedness helped a lot as dozens of hospitals. ambulances with oxygen cylinders and . The cases are high as the gas leak was ventilators were readily available. The only detected at 3 am in the morning, spread of the gas depends on wind meaning several crucial hours have been speeds. So far it is estimated that areas lost till safety precautions were taken, within a five kilometre radius have been and the gas was allowed to spread while affected. people were fast asleep. 2) How Global Business has . Officials said they immediately began changed? making announcements over speakers but many were feared to have already

Context countries where there is a declared public The coronavirus pandemic has overturned health emergency. plans everywhere throughout the . An oil price shock with prices of crude oil globe over the last few months. cut to encourage higher consumption From occasions and excursions, to amidst weakening global demand. promotions and income estimates, . In the meantime, if the US in particular we've seen it all being affected. continues to see a rise in infected cases in Companies around the world are the near future, the global financial thinking up and introducing new situation could get far worse than a strategies to restart operations. recession – in fact, much worse if But experts believe that the coronavirus compared to the fall out seen from the pandemic could permanently upend 2008-09 financial crisis. the way we work, shop and manage . In response so far, despite immediate rate our businesses. cut measures taken by the Fed and many What are the impacts? other central banks in other nations, . An initial supply side shock imposed from monetary-policy supported stimulus, on China’s shutdown, a fiscal shock for its own, has a limited role to calm financial markets and in addressing the

structural economic fallout of a pandemic increased allowances for homecare and like COVID-19. job seekers, and China has temporarily What are the likely impacts on India? waived social security contributions for . In a recent analysis, economists Hugo businesses. Erken, Raphie Hayat and Kan Ji view the . For those laid-off, unemployment COVID-19 shock as a black swan event – insurance could be temporarily enhanced, where the occurrence of the event might by extending its duration, increasing be unlikely but its impact is big. benefits, or relaxing eligibility. . In trying to assess the pandemic’s impact . Where paid sick and family leave is not on India’s GDP, they use a designed among standard benefits, governments scenario-building model, which is often should consider funding it to allow unwell used as a methodological tool in many workers or their caregivers to stay home disaster impact assessments. without fear of losing their jobs during . Firstly, they expect a substantial the epidemic. economic slowdown, estimated at a global . Central banks might need to continue growth level of 1.6% which is around providing greater liquidity to ensure that 0.8% less than the previous OECD the financial sector of most affected estimate of 2.4%. countries remain stable to perform basic 1. For India, they expect growth to come credit creation functions and restore down to 5.3%, from the previous estimate confidence in lending to borrowers, of 5.7%. especially the small and medium scale 2. India’s exposure to China, according to enterprises, over a period of time. Erken, Hayat and Kan ji, is limited as . Coordinated fiscal steps through the compared to many other Asian creation of government owned special economies. purpose vehicle like NHFC may help in 3. The largest impact is likely to be on the creating coordinated, inter-sectional fiscal currency markets: the Indian rupee, policy responses to not only ensure which has depreciated significantly due to containment of the virus, but also ensure the high risk amongst investors globally timely cash transfers to affected citizens (raising the demand of US $ vis-a-vis all in cautiously addressing the demand and emerging market currencies). supply side effects of the shock. . Secondly, in a scenario of a wide spread Conclusion case of virus-infections across India, the . Businesses are only as strong as the slowdown effect on India’s growth could communities of which they are a part. be more profound at around 0.7% in Companies need to figure out how to 2020-21, leading to an overall growth support response efforts—such as by estimate of 5%. providing money, equipment, or . While these estimates might or might not expertise. For example, a few companies be totally accurate, they do present a have shifted production to create medical higher probabilistic scenario that seems masks and clothing. currently likely. 3) Primary Education: What is the way forward? Opportunities and Challenges . Households and businesses hit by supply Context disruptions and a drop in demand could Sometime in the second week of March, be targeted to receive cash transfers, state governments across the country wage subsidies, and tax relief, helping began shutting down schools and people to meet their needs and colleges temporarily as a measure to businesses to stay afloat. contain the spread of the novel . Italy has extended tax deadlines for coronavirus. companies in affected areas and It’s close to two months and there is no broadened the wage supplementation certainty when they will reopen. fund to provide income support to laid-off This is a crucial time for the education workers, Korea has introduced wage sector. subsidies for small merchants and

. Their low-income private and government school counterparts, on the other hand, have completely shut down for not having access to e-learning solutions. . The students, in addition to the missed opportunities for learning, no longer have access to healthy meals during this time and are subject to economic and social stress. . The pandemic has significantly disrupted the higher education sector as well, which is a critical determinant of a country’s economic future. . A large number of Indian students— second only to China — enrol in universities abroad, especially in countries worst affected by the pandemic, the US, UK, Australia and China. . Many such students have now been barred from leaving these countries. . If the situation persists, in the long run, a decline in the demand for international higher education is expected. . The bigger concern, however, on everybody’s mind is the effect of the disease on the employment rate. . Recent graduates in India fear withdrawal What is the background? of job offers from corporate because of . As the days pass by with no immediate the current situation. solution to stop the outbreak of Covid-19, . The Centre for Monitoring Indian school closures will not only have a short- Economy’s estimates on unemployment term impact on the continuity of learning shot up from 8.4% in mid-March to 23% but will also have far-reaching in early April and the urban consequences. unemployment rate to 30.9%. . The structure of schooling and learning, . Needless to say, the pandemic has including teaching and assessment transformed the centuries-old, chalk–talk methodologies, was the first to be affected teaching model to one driven by by these closures. technology. . Only a handful of private schools could . This disruption in the delivery of adopt online teaching methods. education is pushing policymakers to . Their low-income private and figure out how to drive engagement at government school counterparts, on the scale while ensuring inclusive e-learning other hand, have completely shut down solutions and tackling the digital divide. for not having access to e-learning What is the strategy? solutions. . A multi-pronged strategy is necessary to What are the likely impacts? manage the crisis and build a resilient . The structure of schooling and learning, Indian education system in the long term. including teaching and assessment . One, immediate measures are essential to methodologies, was the first to be affected ensure continuity of learning in by these closures. government schools and universities. . Only a handful of private schools could 1. Open-source digital learning solutions adopt online teaching methods. and Learning Management Software

should be adopted so teachers can 3. Many e-learning players offer multiple conduct teaching online. courses on the same subjects with 2. The DIKSHA platform with reach across different levels of certifications, all states in India, can be further methodology and assessment parameters. strengthened to ensure accessibility of 4. So, the quality of courses may differ learning to the students. across different e-learning platforms. . Two, inclusive learning solutions, . Five, Indian traditional knowledge is well especially for the most vulnerable and known across the globe for its scientific marginalized, need to be developed. innovations, values, and benefits to 1. With a rapid increase of mobile internet develop sustainable technologies and users in India, which is expected to reach medicines. 85% households by 2024, technology is 1. The courses on Indian traditional enabling ubiquitous access and knowledge systems in the fields of yoga, personalization of education even in the Indian medicines, architecture, remotest parts of the country. hydraulics, ethno botany, metallurgy and 2. This can change the schooling system and agriculture should be integrated with a increase the effectiveness of learning and present-day mainstream university teaching, giving students and teachers education to serve the larger cause of multiple options to choose from. humanity. 3. Many aspirational districts have initiated Conclusion innovative, mobile-based learning models . In this time of crisis, a well-rounded and for effective delivery of education, which effective educational practice is what is can be adopted by others. needed for the capacity-building of young . Three, strategies are required to prepare minds. It will develop skills that will drive the higher education sector for the their employability, productivity, health, evolving demand–supply trends across and well-being in the decades to come, the globe—particularly those related to and ensure the overall progress of India. the global mobility of students and faculty 4) Gilgit-Baltistan polls illegal and improving the quality of and demand for higher studies in India. 1. Further, immediate measures are required to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on job offers, internship programs, and research projects. . Four, it is also important to reconsider the current delivery and pedagogical methods in school and higher education by seamlessly integrating classroom learning with e-learning modes to build a unified learning system. 1. The major challenge in EDTech reforms at the national level is the seamless integration of technology in the present Indian education system, which is the most diverse and largest in the world with more than 15 lakh schools and 50,000 higher education institutions. Context 2. Further, it is also important to establish A Pakistani human rights activist has called quality assurance mechanisms and Islamabad's move to fortify its quality benchmark for online learning occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan by developed and offered by India HEIs as holding elections in the region illegal. well as e-learning platforms (growing He has urged people in Gilgit-Baltistan to rapidly). boycott the polls sponsored by Pakistan.

What is the background? change” to territories under its “illegal . Earlier this month, the Ministry of and forcible” occupation after the External Affairs issued a “strong protest” country's top court allowed holding of over an order by the Pakistan Supreme elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. Court allowing the Imran Khan . The Ministry of External Affairs said a government to hold elections in the demarche was issued to a senior Pakistani region of Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan- diplomat lodging a strong protest over occupied Kashmir. the court ruling and clearly conveying . The government said it had issued a that the entire union territories of Jammu demarche to protest what it called and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the Pakistan’s attempt to make “material areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an changes” to the disputed area, by bringing integral part of India. federal authority to Gilgit-Baltistan, which . It was further conveyed that such actions has functioned as a “provincial can neither hide the illegal occupation of autonomous region” since 2009. parts of Union Territories of Jammu and Where is Gilgit-Baltistan? Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the . Gilgit-Baltistan is a region administered grave human rights violations, by Pakistan as an administrative territory, exploitation and denial of freedom to the constituting the northern portion of the people residing in Pakistan occupied larger Kashmir region which has been the territories for the past seven decades. subject of a dispute between India and . In a recent ruling, the Pakistan Supreme Pakistan since 1947 and between India Court allowed Islamabad to amend a and China from somewhat later. 2018 administrative order to conduct . It is the northernmost territory general elections in the region. administered by Pakistan. . India demarched senior Pakistan . It borders Azad Kashmir to the south, the diplomats and lodged a strong protest to province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the Pakistan against the Supreme Court of west, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan Pakistan order on the so-called 'Gilgit- to the north, the Xinjiang region of China, Baltistan', the MEA said in a statement. to the east and northeast, and the Indian- . The MEA said the government of Pakistan administered union territories Jammu or its judiciary has no locus standi on and Kashmir and Ladakh to the southeast. territories "illegally and forcibly" What is Gilgit-Baltistan order 2018? occupied by it. . Pakistan had changed the legal status of . India completely rejects such actions and Gilgit-Baltistan first in 2009 by continued attempts to bring material introducing Gilgit Baltistan changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Empowerment and Self-Governance Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Order-2009 which changed its name from . The MEA said Pakistan's recent actions Northern Areas to Gilgit-Baltistan. can neither hide the "illegal occupation" . Under this arrangement, it was given a of parts of union territories of Jammu and province-like status with the appointment Kashmir and Ladakh by it nor the "grave of a chief minister and governor for self- human rights violations, exploitation and rule. Thus, constitutionally it still denial of freedom" to the people residing remained out of Pakistan. in these areas for the past seven decades. . In May 2018, the Gilgit-Baltistan Order- . India’s position in the matter is reflected 2018 was passed, replacing the earlier in the resolution passed by the order. Parliament in 1994 by consensus. . This was seen as yet another attempt by Conclusion the Pakistan government towards . In a statement, India's MEA said, "It was incorporating the disputed region as its clearly conveyed that the entire Union fifth province. Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and What are India’s protests? Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and . India has conveyed its strong protest to Baltistan, are an integral part of India by Pakistan over its efforts to bring “material virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable

accession. The Government of Pakistan or territories illegally and forcibly occupied its judiciary has no locus standi on by it." 5) Changing labour and tax laws

Context week which is alarming and needs to be The information technology industry has addressed now. approached the central government . These new reforms will promote ease of ministries to flesh out changes to doing business in the state. taxation and labour laws in line with What are the various Indian labour laws? the work-from-home model. . There are certain Indian labour laws While the coronavirus pandemic forced which regulate and address the offices to migrate to WFH, many are employment-related issues: expected to continue this even once a . Factories Act– The act ensures safety solution for the current health crisis measures in factory premises, and emerges. promotes the health and welfare of At least 4.3 million IT workers or half the workers. sector’s workforce would WFH . Shops and Commercial Establishments permanently, according to estimates. Act– The act aims to regulate hours of What is the background? work, payment, overtime, a weekly day . Labour law reforms by states may make it off with pay, other holidays with pay, easier for factories and businesses to run annual leave, employment of children and efficiently amid the COVID-19 pandemic young persons, and employment of which will boost economic activities, women. generating employment and will help in . The Minimum Wages Act- The act sets tackling the economic crisis the minimum wages that must be paid to . The shutdown of factories made a severe skilled and unskilled labours. It covers dent on employability conditions of more workers than any other labour labour and now there is a need to create legislation. an environment in which the business can . Industrial Disputes Act, 1947- The act run in the present and foreseeing future relates to terms of service such as layoff, . The unemployment rate rose to the retrenchment, and closure of industrial highest level of 27.1 per cent in the last enterprises and strikes and lockouts.

Why are labour laws often criticised? Conclusion . Indian labour laws are often . Even though the industry and free-market characterised as inflexible. experts have been demanding labour . Due to legal requirements, firms (those reforms for long, it needs to be ensured employing more than 100 workers) that the worker welfare is not hesitate from hiring new workers because compromised. firing them requires government . The change in labour laws should be approvals. beneficial for both the industry as well as . Even the organised sector is increasingly the labourers. employing workers without formal . It is crucial that companies safeguard the contracts. interests and wellbeing of the labourers. . There are too many laws, often . Change is important, but the change unnecessarily complicated, and not should come with a focus on worker well- effectively implemented. being working conditions and living . If India had fewer and easier-to-follow conditions. labour laws, firms would be able to expand and contract depending on the market conditions. . At present 90% of India’s workers are part of the informal economy and this would have helped workers as they would get better salaries and social security benefits. What recent criticism? . Even before the COVID-19 crisis, due to the deceleration in the economy, wage growth had been moderating. . The removal of all labour laws will not only strip the labour of its basic rights but also drive down wages and will turn the existing formal workers into informal workers as they would not get any social security. . Instead of providing protection to the most marginalised and vulnerable, as exposed by the COVID crisis, these moves will further exacerbate the crisis for those who are worst affected by it. . Many central trade unions are considering lodging a complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) against the anti-worker changes in the labour laws in some States. . According to them, this move was the second phase of anti-worker policies after six state governments increased the working hours from eight to 12 hours. . Central trade unions consider these moves as being a gross violation of the Right to Freedom of Association [ILO Convention 87], Rights to Collective Bargaining [ILO Convention 98] and also the internationally accepted norm of eight hour working days.

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4)https://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?P o https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation RID=1624027 al/tamil-nadu/gi-tag-for-thanjavur-netti- https://jaljeevanmission.gov.in/ works-arumbavur-wood- https://jaljeevanmission.gov.in/content/abou carvings/article31562773.ece/amp/ t-jjm#vision o https://www.thehindu.com/todays- https://jalshakti- paper/gi-certificate-for-channapatna- ddws.gov.in/sites/default/files/JJM_note. toys-bidriware-coorg- pdf orange/article3180647.ece 5)https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?P o http://www.ipindia.nic.in/faq-gi.htm RID=1623839. o https://arumbavurwoodcarvings.com/ o https://zeenews.india.com/tamil/tamil- AIR nadu/geographical-indication-tag-is- . http://newsonair.com/News?title=Praka granted-for-thanjavur-netti-and- sh-Javadekar-stresses-on-climate- arumbavur-wood-carving-334840 finance-in-first-virtual-Petersberg- . https://www.thehindu.com/entertainme Climate-Dialogue&id=386983 nt/art/gi-tag-for-jharkhands-sohrai- . 2)http://newsonair.com/News?title=Gov khovar-painting-telanganas-telia- t-decides-to-provide-Mid-day-meals-to- rumal/article31569123.ece/amp/ students-during-summer-vacation-in- o https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/qRS6 wake-of-situation-arising-out-of-COVID- yM8Ps84WJMbOwYQwcK/How-the- 19&id=386997 Phulia-Tangail-went-from-boom-to- . http://samagra.mhrd.gov.in/about.html bust.html o https://indroyc.com/2017/09/15/khova RSTV r/ . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOc . https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org 0JZFGbpU&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzoqQsGjma /entry/Yakshagana mTu6f453RWpm_I&index=4&t=13s . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG N7qYwXLjk&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzoqQsGj mamTu6f453RWpm_I&index=3&t=3s . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMb fJYMRJLA . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIiu 19D2uH4&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzoqQsGjma mTu6f453RWpm_I&index=3&t=0s . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO eyXLmTuQE&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzoqQsGj mamTu6f453RWpm_I&index=2&t=0s

ART and CULTURE

. https://www.thehindu.com/society/talk- of-the-toy-town-the-channapatna- artisans-are-in-dire- straits/article31533199.ece/amp/ o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channapat na_toys o https://cocktailzindagi.com/channapatna -mystical-land-amazing-wooden-toys/ . https://www.wipo.int/geo_indications/e n/