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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 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ...... 20 1) Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana ...... 3 1) Darknet ...... 20 2) Competition Commission of India (CCI) ...... 3 2) Adenovirus ...... 20 3) Forest Rights Act, 2006 ...... 4 3) Vandhe Bharat Express (Train 18) ...... 21 ENVIRONMENT ...... 7 4) Arogya Setu App’s source code ...... 21 1) 3 new plant species found in Western Ghats . 7 5) Bug Bounty programme ...... 22 2) Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian 6) ‘FAITH’ trials for COVID-19: Favipiravir and Botanic Garden ...... 8 Umifenovir ...... 22 3) New Fish species found ...... 8 6) Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of 4) Invasive mussel in Kerala’s backwaters ...... 9 drugs ...... 23 ECONOMY ...... 11 7) 5G technology ...... 23 1) Financial Stability and Development Council 11 HEALTH ...... 25 2) FDI rises 13% to $50 bn ...... 11 1) Pulmonary thrombosis and COVID-19 ...... 25 3) GST Council ...... 12 ART & CULTURE ...... 27 4) Index of Eight Core Industries ...... 12 1) Purandara Dasa, the father of Carnatic Music27 5) GDP growth slows to a 11-year low ...... 12 PIB ANAYSIS ...... 28 6) Fiscal deficit ...... 13 1) Hunar Haat ...... 28 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ...... 15 2) Katkari Tribe ...... 28 1) India-China Border issues ...... 15 3) National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority ... 29 2) World Health Organization ...... 16 4) Chardham Pariyojana ...... 30 4) International Labour Organisation ...... 16 5) Central Institute of Petrochemicals 5) Hong Kong security law ...... 17 Engineering & Technology ...... 31 6) European Union’s €750 billion economy 6) Minor Forest Produce (MFP) ...... 31 rescue plan ...... 18 7) United Nations Peacekeeping Forces ...... 18

News in Depth AIR NEWS ...... 33 3) Self reliant India- challenges and way 1) UDAN scheme ...... 33 forward ...... 37 2) Khelo India Programme ...... 33 4) Impact of the COVID-19 on Indian Economy 38 3) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM- INDIAN EXPRESS EXPLAINED ...... 40 KISAN) ...... 33 1) Unusual heat waves in North India ...... 40 4) Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat ...... 34 2) Locust attack ...... 41 5) Food Corporation of India...... 34 RSTV BIG-PICTURE ...... 44 THE HINDU EDITORIALS ...... 35 1) India-Nepal Map row ...... 44 1) MGNREGA and its necessity ...... 35 2) World Health Assembly Resolution ...... 45 2) Towards liquidity push ...... 36 2) Indian Ocean Islands Diplomacy ...... 46 3) Privatisation of Public sector enterprises ..... 47

News @ a glance POLITY

1) Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana ▪ Tax benefits: The scheme is exempted Yojana from Goods and Services Tax (GST). Why in News? About the scheme: ▪ The Union Cabinet has extended Pradhan ▪ Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) for (PMVVY) is a Pension Scheme a period of three years. This social exclusively for the senior citizens security scheme for senior citizens will (aged 60 years and above ). now be valid till March 2023. ▪ It was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Finance to offer a guaranteed payout 2) Competition Commission of of pension to senior citizens at a specified India (CCI) rate for 10 years. About CCI: ▪ Initially an assured rate of return of ▪ Competition Commission of India (CCI) is 7.40% per annum for the year 2020-21 a statutory body of the Government of will be provided and thereafter to be reset India responsible for enforcing the every year in line with the Senior Citizen Competition Act, 2002.Its main objective Savings Scheme (SCSS). is to promote and sustain an enabling ▪ It also offers a death benefit in the form of competition culture through engagement return of purchase price to the nominee. and enforcement that would inspire ▪ The Scheme can be purchased offline as businesses to be fair, competitive and well as online through the Life Insurance innovative; enhance consumer welfare; Corporation (LIC) which has been given and support economic growth. the sole privilege to operate this Scheme. ▪ Composition: CCI consists of a ▪ Aadhar has been made mandatory to Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by avail the benefit of the scheme. the Central Government. Functions: ▪ It is the duty of the Commission Eligibility Conditions ▪ to eliminate practices having adverse ▪ Minimum Entry Age: 60 years effect on competition, (completed) ▪ promote and sustain competition, ▪ Maximum Entry Age: No limit ▪ protect the interests of consumers and ▪ Investment limit : Rs 15 lakh per senior ▪ ensure freedom of trade in the markets of citizen India. ▪ Minimum Pension: Rs. 1,000/- per month ▪ to give opinion on competition issues on a ▪ Maximum Pension: Rs. 10,000/- per reference received from a statutory month authority established under any law Other Features: ▪ to undertake competition advocacy, ▪ Mode of pension payment: Senior create public awareness and impart citizens will have an option to get the training on competition issues. pension in four ways — monthly, How does it establish the Competition? quarterly, half-yearly and yearly. ▪ Competition Commission of India aims to ▪ Loans: Any individual can apply for loans establish a robust competitive after completion of three years. The environment through: maximum loan that can be granted shall ▪ Proactive engagement with all be 75% of the purchase price. stakeholders, including consumers,

industry, government and international ▪ The policy called for the need to associate jurisdictions. tribal people in the protection, ▪ Being a knowledge intensive organization regeneration and development of forests. with a high competence level. ▪ Thus the Scheduled Tribes and Other ▪ Professionalism, transparency, resolve Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition and wisdom in enforcement. of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, was enacted What is the need of Competition? to protect the marginalised socio- ▪ Competition is the best means of ensuring economic class of citizens and balance the that the ‘Common Man’ or ‘Aam Aadmi’ right to environment with their right to has access to the broadest range of goods life and livelihood. and services at the most competitive Features of Forest Rights Act, 2006: prices. ▪ The act recognizes and vest the forest ▪ With increased competition, producers rights and occupation in Forest land in will have maximum incentive to innovate forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDST) and specialize. This would result in and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers reduced costs and wider choice to (OTFD)who have been residing in such consumers. forests for generations. ▪ A fair competition in the market is ▪ The act also establishes the essential to achieve this objective. responsibilities and authority for ▪ Thus the goal of CCI is to create and sustainable use, conservation of sustain fair competition in the economy biodiversity and maintenance of that will provide a ‘level playing field’ to ecological balance of FDST and OTFD. the producers and make the markets ▪ It strengthens the conservation regime of work for the welfare of the consumers. the forests while ensuring livelihood and Why in News? food security of the FDST and OTFD. ▪ The Competition Commission of India ▪ It seeks to rectify colonial injustice to the (CCI) has started looking into allegations FDST and OTFD who are integral to the against Alphabet Inc’s Google. According very survival and sustainability of the to the allegations, Google is abusing its forest ecosystem. market position to unfairly promote its ▪ The act identifies the following rights: mobile payments app (Google Pay) in the ▪ Title rights: It gives FDST and OTFD the country. right to ownership to land farmed by 3) Forest Rights Act, 2006 Tribals or forest dwellers subject to a Background: maximum of 4 hectares. Ownership is ▪ In the colonial era, the British diverted only for land that is actually being abundant forest wealth of the nation to cultivated by the concerned family and no meet their economic needs. new lands will be granted. ▪ Though the procedure for settlement of ▪ Use rights: The rights of the dwellers rights was provided under statutes such extend to extracting Minor Forest as the Indian Forest Act, 1927, these were Produce, grazing areas, to pastoralist hardly followed. routes, etc. ▪ As a result, tribal and forest-dwelling ▪ Relief and development rights: To communities, who had been living within rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or the forests in harmony with the forced displacement and to basic environment and the ecosystem, amenities, subject to restrictions for continued to live inside the forests in forest protection tenurial insecurity, a situation which ▪ Forest management rights: It includes continued even after independence as the right to protect, regenerate or they were marginalised. conserve or manage any community ▪ The symbiotic relationship between forest resource which they have been forests and forest-dwelling communities traditionally protecting and conserving found recognition in the National Forest for sustainable use. Policy, 1988. How are rights recognised?

▪ Section 6 of the Act provides a ▪ A notification issued says that the transparent three step procedure for Governor has modified Section 6 of the deciding on who gets rights. Act, in its application to the Scheduled Gram Sabha: Area of the State of Maharashtra, in ▪ First, the Gram Sabha makes a exercise of the powers conferred on him recommendation – i.e. who has been by Schedule V of the Constitution. cultivating land for how long, which ▪ Article 244(1) of the Constitution minor forest produce is collected, etc. defines ''Fifth Schedule Areas'' as such ▪ The Gram Sabha plays this role because it areas as the President may by order is a public body where all people declare to be Scheduled Areas after participate, and hence is fully democratic consultation with the Governor of that and transparent. State. ▪ Gram Sabha is authorised for receiving ▪ The Governor of each State having claims, consolidating and verifying them Scheduled Areas (SA) shall annually, or and preparing a map delineating the area whenever so required by the President, of each recommended claim. make a report to the President ▪ Then the gram sabha’s recommendation regarding the administration of goes through two stages of screening Scheduled Areas in that State. committees at the Taluk and district ▪ The criteria followed for declaring an levels. area as Scheduled Area are - The Sub-Divisional Level Committee o Preponderance of tribal population, ▪ It shall examine the resolution passed by o Compactness and reasonable size of the the Gram Sabha and prepare the record of area, forest rights and forward it through the o A viable administrative entity such as a Sub-Divisional Officer to the District Level district, block or taluk, and Committee for a final decision. o Economic backwardness of the area as ▪ Any aggrieved party with the decision of compared to the neighbouring areas. the Sub-Divisional Level Committee may ▪ The President may at any time by order file a petition to the District Level ▪ direct that the whole or any specified Committee within sixty days from the part of a Scheduled Area shall cease to date of the decision of the Sub-Divisional be a Scheduled Area or a part of such an Level Committee. area; ▪ Any person aggrieved with the decision of ▪ alter, but only by way of rectification of Gram Sabha cannot directly file a petition boundaries, any Scheduled Area; with the District Level Committee. on any alteration of the boundaries of a District Level Committee State or on the admission into the Union ▪ The State Government shall constitute a or the establishment of a new State, District Level Committee to consider and declare any territory not previously finally approve the record of forest rights included inany State to be, or to form prepared by the Sub-Divisional Level part of, a Scheduled Area; Committee. ▪ rescind, in relation to any State or ▪ The decision of the District Level States, any order or orders made under Committee on the record of forest rights this paragraph, and in consultation with shall be final and binding. the Governor of the State concerned, Why in News? make fresh orders ▪ Maharashtra Governor has modified the ▪ redefining the areas which are to be Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Scheduled Areas; Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, allowing rightful claimants of forest rights to appeal ▪ The Governor’s office said the notification against decisions of the district level is important to provide justice to Tribals committee (DLC). whose ‘individual or community forest News in Detail: right’ has been rejected by the DLC,

constituted under the Forest Rights Act respect to a number of issues such as (FRA). o customary resources, minor forest produce, ▪ Despite a large number of applications minor minerals, being rejected, there was no provision for o minor water bodies, selection of appeal. beneficiaries, sanction of projects, and ▪ The notification applies to areas covered o control over local institutions. in the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled ▪ The loss of access to forest, land, and other Areas) Act in the State and allows appeal community resources had increased their provision against the DLC’s decision vulnerability. ▪ Rampant land acquisition and displacement ▪ Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension due to development projects had led to to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 large scale distress in tribal communities ▪ The PESA is a law enacted by the living in Scheduled Areas. Government of India for ensuring self governance through traditional Gram ▪ The notification states that divisional Sabhas for people living in the Scheduled level committees under the chairmanship Areas of India. of divisional commissioners have been ▪ Scheduled Areas are areas identified by the constituted to hear the appeals against Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India. the DLC’s decisions. ▪ Scheduled Areas are found in ten states of ▪ In the case of an order passed by the DLC India which have a predominant population before commencement of the notification, of tribal communities. the appeal needs to be made within six ▪ The Scheduled Areas were not covered by months. However, if an order has been the 73rd Constitutional Amendment or passed after commencement of the Panchayati Raj Act of the Indian notification, the application has to be Constitution as provided in the Part IX of made within 90 days. the Constitution. ▪ The Governor has modified Section 6 of ▪ PESA was enacted on 24 December 1996 to the Act, in its application to the Scheduled extend the provisions of Part IX of the Area of the State of Maharashtra, in Constitution to Scheduled Areas, with exercise of the powers conferred on him certain exceptions and modifications. by Schedule V of the Constitution. ▪ PESA sought to enable the Panchayats at appropriate levels and Gram Sabhas to implement a system of self-governance with

ENVIRONMENT

1) 3 new plant species found in Western Ghats Why in news? ▪ Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has spotted 3 new plant species in the south os Western Ghats. ▪ They all are shrubs. The plant species are: ▪ Eugenia sphaerocarpa of the Myrtaceae or Rose apple family; ▪ Goniothalamus sericeus of the Annonaceae family of custard apple ▪ Memecylon nervosum of the Melastomataceae (Kayamboo or Kaasavu in local parlance) family Memecylon nervosum ▪ While the first in the list was found in Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, the last two have been found in Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary. Eugenia sphaerocarpa

▪ They are found at an altitude of 700- 900m in Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu. ▪ They have purplish-blue flowers and purplish-red fruits About Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary ▪ It is found at an altitude of 800m in ▪ The sanctuary is part of the Western Malabar wildlife Sanctuary. Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. ▪ Its fruits are yellowish in colour. ▪ The sanctuary is located in ▪ They are edible, and are harvested from Chakkittappara and Koorachundu the wild. revenue villages of Quilandy Taluk, of Goniothalamus sericeus Kerala state. ▪ It is found at an altitude of 1400 m in ▪ It also comes under the Nilgiri Biosphere Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Reserve and forms a part of the Wayanad Nadu. Elephant Reserve. ▪ It bears fragrant greenish-yellow flowers ▪ The sanctuary is drained by the Kuttiady and golden yellow fruits. River and its tributaries. ▪ The petals have dense silky hairs on them. ▪ Forty one species of mammals are reported in the area, which include 6 Western Ghats endemics. Of the 179 species of birds, 10 are endemics, 6 range restricted and 5 globally threatened species. Many amphibians, insects and

reptiles have been recently discovered 2) Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose which are endemic to this region. Indian Botanic Garden ▪ The forest is ideal place where King cobra snakes are found.

Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary

About: ▪ The Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden was founded by Colonel Robert Kyd in the year 1787. ▪ It is located on the banks of Hooghly river, near Kolkata. ▪ It has some of the rarest species of flora of Indian subcontinent as well as from all over the world. ▪ Apart from being a home to 12,000 perennial plants of 1,400 species, the garden has much more to it. It has ▪ Being located in the southernmost hills of conservatories, glass houses, greenhouses Indian subcontinent, it has many biomes. and 25 divisions of herbaceous plants. ▪ It was declared a sanctuary in 2008. It is a The garden is the major center of tiger habitat. horticultural and botanical research in ▪ The natural vegetation of this region India. represents biomes ranging from southern ▪ A 250 year old Banyan Tree is one of the thorn forests, dry deciduous, moist major attractions of this botanical garden. deciduous, semi evergreen forests to ever The present crown of the tree has a green hill sholas with grassy downs. circumference of 486 m and is spread in ▪ The Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary is a almost 2 hectares. crucial wildlife corridor with Why in the news? exceptionally high biodiversity. ▪ Cyclone Amphan has caused severe Inevitably, it is home to several species damage to the above mentioned garden. that are endangered, such as the Indian More than 1000 trees have fallen, rock python, lion-tailed macaque, mouse including some of the rarest one. deer, Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar deer, Indian ▪ The Banyan Tree has endured the cyclone bison and elephant. with little damage. 3) New Fish species found

▪ These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval. Charru Mussels

Why in the news? ▪ A new species of freshwater fish of Cyprinidae, has been found in Velankanni in Tamil Nadu. ▪ The silver hued fish has been named as Puntius sanctus. ▪ Encountered in a small waterbody in Velankanni, Puntius sanctus grows to a length of 7 cm. ▪ The Puntius species are known locally as ‘Paral’ in Kerala and ‘Kende’ in Tamil Nadu . ▪ It is used both as food and as an aquarium draw.

4) Invasive mussel in Kerala’s backwaters What is an invasive species? ▪ An invasive species can be any kind of ▪ Mytella charruana is commonly known as living organism—an amphibian (like the the Charru Mussel. cane toad), plant, insect, fish, fungus, ▪ It is native to the tropical Western bacteria, or even an organism’s seeds or Atlantic from Colon, Panama to Argentina. eggs—that is not native to an ecosystem ▪ It is found on oyster beds, shells, wood, and causes harm. and roots, but adult mussels are most ▪ They can harm the environment, the common on man-made substrates, such as economy, or even human health. Species docks and power plants. that grow and reproduce quickly, and ▪ This mussel can tolerate a wide range of spread aggressively, with potential to salinities, but its tolerance of low cause harm, are given the label temperatures is limited. “invasive.” Ashtamudi Lake Mussels ▪ Ashtamudi wetland is an estuary, which lies in the Kollam district. This is the second largest wetland in Kerala with a palm shaped extensive water body and eight prominent arms, adjoining the Kollam town. ▪ The Kallada river which originates from the western ghats, traverses through virgin forests and finally falls into the ▪ Mussel is the common name used for Ashtamudi wetland, after traveling a members of several families of bivalve (2 distance of about 120 km. shell) molluscs, from saltwater and freshwater habitats.

husk retting for coir production and inland navigation services. ▪ Ashtamudi Wetland was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands. Why in the news? ▪ According to a paper published in the Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, Charru Mussel has spread across the backwaters of Kerala after Cyclone Ockhi. ▪ Ashtamudi Lake remains the worst hit by this invasive species. With a population as high as 11,384 per sq metre here, the Charru Musssels has replaced the Asian ▪ The wetland supports 57 species of birds green mussel (Perna viridis) and the (6 migratory and 51 resident species) and edible oysterMagallana bilineata (known 97 species of fish (42 typically marine, 3 locally as muringa) estuarine, 9 estuarine-riverine and 15 ▪ In all probability, the mussel reached the marine-estuarine). About 40 species of Indian shores attached to ship hulls or as wetland dependent birds are noted in larval forms in ballast water discharges Ashtamudi Lake, out of which 45% are Cyclone Ockhi long distance migrants. ▪ The cyclone ockhi hit India and Sri lanka ▪ The lake is the source of livelihood for the in 2017. people living close to it in fishing, coconut

ECONOMY 1) Financial Stability and takes place securities of Development Council when an foreign-based What is FSDC? investor companies. ▪ Financial Stability and Development establishes Council (FSDC) is an apex-level body foreign business constituted in 2010 to strengthen and operations or institutionalize the mechanism for acquires foreign maintaining financial stability. business assets. ▪ It is chaired by the Union Finance Key differences Minister of India. ▪ FDI involves establishing a direct ▪ Its members include the heads of financial business interest in a foreign country, sector regulators (RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, while FPI refers to investing in financial IRDA), Finance Secretary and/or assets such as stocks or bonds in a Secretary, Department of Economic foreign country. Affairs, Secretary, Department of ▪ FDI usually aims to take control of the Financial Services, and Chief Economic company in which investment is made Adviser. whereas FPI aims to reap profits by ▪ The Council monitors macro prudential investing in shares and bonds of the supervision of the economy, including invested entity without taking part in functioning of large financial management of the company. conglomerates, and addresses inter- ▪ FPI can enter the stock market easily and regulatory coordination and financial also withdraw from it easily. For this sector development issues. It also focuses reason FPI is also known as hot money, on financial literacy and financial as the investors have the liberty to sell it inclusion. and take it back. But FDI cannot enter and Why in News? exit that easily. This difference is what ▪ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has makes nations prefer FDIs more than FPIs called the meeting of the Financial as FDIs are more stable. Stability and Development Council to ▪ In India, according to the SEBI (FPI) discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the Regulations, 2014, a particular foreign financial sector and the economy. institutional investor is allowed to invest ▪ This will be the first meeting of the FSDC, upto 10% of the paid up capital of a which comprises RBI Governor and other company, which implies that any financial sector regulators, after the investment above 10% will be outbreak of the coronavirus. construed as FDI. 2) FDI rises 13% to $50 bn Why in News? What is Foreign What is Foreign ▪ According to the latest official data, FDI in Direct Portfolio India grew by 13% to a record of $49.97 Investment Investment billion in the 2019-20 financial years. The (FDI)? (FPI)? country had received an FDI of $44.36 ▪ It is the ▪ It is similar to FDI billion during April-March 2018-19. investment but here, the ▪ The sectors which attracted maximum made by a investor holds foreign inflows during 2019-20 include person or a only passive services ($7.85 billion), computer company in one financial assets of software and hardware ($7.67 billion), country into a foreign telecommunications ($4.44 billion), businesses company. trading ($4.57 billion), automobile ($2.82 located in ▪ The investor may billion), construction ($2 billion), and another country. simply hold chemicals ($1 billion). ▪ Generally, FDI equities or

▪ Singapore emerged as the largest source o Coal production - 10.33 of FDI in India during the last fiscal with o Crude Oil production - 8.98 $14.67 billion investments. o Natural Gas production - 6.88 ▪ It was followed by Mauritius, the o Cement production - 5.37 Netherlands, the U.S., Cayman Islands, o Fertilizers production - 2.63 Japan, and France. ▪ ICI is released by the Office of Economic 3) GST Council Advisor, under the Ministry of Commerce About GST Council and Industries. The base year of the ICI is ▪ It is a constitutional body created by 2011-12. Article 279A (1). Why in News? ▪ It is a joint forum of the Centre and the ▪ The lockdown imposed due to the COVID- States with regards to GST. 19 pandemic resulted in Index of Eight Composition of GST Core Industries contracting 38% in April ▪ Chairperson – Union Finance Minister 2020, compared with the same month in ▪ Members: Union Minister of State, in- the previous year. charge of Revenue or Finance ▪ This is the second straight month in ▪ Other Members: The Minister in-charge negative territory for the index of eight of finance or taxation/any other Minister core sector industries, after a 9% fall in nominated by each State. March 2020. Voting ▪ The state governments have a share of 5) GDP growth slows to a 11-year 2/3rd of the total votes and the centre has low the remaining 1/3rd. Gross Domestic Product ▪ Each state has one vote irrespective of ▪ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is defined their size. as the value of all final goods and ▪ Decisions of GST council are made by services produced within the country voting with a 3/4th majority. in a particular year. Why in News? ▪ GDP as an economic indicator is used ▪ The GST Council is likely to meet in mid- worldwide to show the economic health June. of a country. 4) Index of Eight Core Industries ▪ The National Statistical Office (NSO), About ICI under the Ministry of Statistics and ▪ The monthly Index of Eight Core Programme Implementation, is Industries (ICI) is a production volume responsible for compiling data for index. calculating GDP. ▪ The objective of the ICI is to provide an ▪ In India, GDP is measured as market advance indication on production prices and the base year for computation performance of industries of ‘core’ nature is 2011-12. before the release of Index of Industrial o GDP at market prices = GDP at factor cost + Production (IIP) by the Central Statistics Indirect Taxes – Subsidies Office. ▪ The factor cost refers to the cost of ▪ These industries are likely to impact on production that is incurred by a firm general economic activities as well as when producing goods and services. industrial activities. Real GDP & Nominal GDP ▪ The Eight Core Industries- Electricity, ▪ The main difference between nominal steel, refinery products, crude oil, coal, GDP and real GDP is the adjustment for cement, natural gas and fertilizers- inflation. comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of ▪ The market value of goods and services items included in the IIP. taken at current prices is the nominal ▪ Industry Weight (In percentage) GDP. The value taken at constant prices — o Petroleum & Refinery production - 28.04 that is prices for all products taken at an o Electricity generation - 19.85 unchanged base year — is the real GDP. o Steel production - 17.92

▪ Real GDP growth thus measures how ▪ During the Union Budget 2020-21, the much the production of goods and Central government pegged the fiscal services in the economy has increased in deficit target as a percentage of the GDP actual physical terms during a year. for FY20 and FY21 at 3.8 per cent and 3.5 Nominal GDP growth, on the other hand, per cent, respectively, invoking the is a measure of the increase in incomes escape clause in the FRBM Act. resulting from rise in both production and ▪ The committee also suggested that India prices. should adopt debt-to-GDP ratio as a new Why in News? anchor of fiscal policy along with the fiscal ▪ The National Statistical Office has deficit and gradually bring it down to 60 released its latest growth estimates. per cent — comprising of 40 per cent for ▪ According to the data, economic growth the Centre and 20 per cent for the states. slowed to an 11-year low in 2019-20. Why in News? Growth rate of Real GDP in the year 2019- ▪ The Controller General of Accounts 20 is now estimated at 4.2 % as compared (CGA) reported that the fiscal deficit for to 6.1 percent in 2018-19. 2019-20 at 4.6 per cent of the GDP as ▪ In the final quarter of the year (January- against 3.8 per cent projected in the March), the growth rate of GDP fell to revised estimate. This was the highest 3.1%, reflecting the impact of the first level of deficit for the Centre since FY13, week of the COVID-19 lockdown which when it had stood at 4.8%. began on March 25. ▪ Reasons for the higher deficit include fall 6) Fiscal deficit in nominal GDP growth rate to 7.2 per FRBM review committee cent and decline in tax and non-tax ▪ In 2017, the FRBM (Fiscal revenue. As a result, the fiscal deficit was Responsibility and Budget over Rs 9.35-lakh crore against the Management) Act review committee revised Budget estimate of Rs 7.66-lakh headed by NK Singh recommended the crore. Central government to bring down the About CGA fiscal deficit to 3% of the GDP by 2020. ▪ A CGA is the Principal Advisor on o Fiscal deficit = Total Expenditure – Total accounting matters to the Union Receipts except borrowings Government. ▪ The committee also allowed an escape ▪ He is responsible for preparation and clause under the FRBM Act that provides submission of the accounts of the Union for a deviation from the estimated fiscal Government and also responsible for deficit on some exception cases such as: exchequer control and internal audits. o Overriding considerations of national CGA derives his mandate from Article security, acts of war, and calamities of 150 of the Constitution. national proportion and collapse of Duties and responsibilities of CGA agriculture severely affecting farm output ▪ General principles of Government and incomes accounting relating to Union or State o Far-reaching structural reforms in the Governments and form of accounts, and economy with unanticipated fiscal framing or revision of rules and manuals implications relating thereto; o A sharp decline in real output growth of at ▪ Consolidation of monthly accounts, least 3 percentage points below the preparation of review of trends of average for the previous four quarters. revenue realization and significant ▪ The deviation from the stipulated fiscal features of expenditure etc and deficit target must not exceed 0.5 preparation of annual accounts, the percentage points in a year. annual receipts and disbursements. ▪ Escape clauses provide flexibility to ▪ Cadre management of Group ‘A’ (Indian governments to overshoot fiscal deficit Civil Accounts Service) and Group ‘B’ targets in times of need, enabling them to Officers of the Central Civil Accounts respond to economic shocks. Offices;

▪ Disbursement of Pension through Public Civil Pensioners, Freedom Fighters, High Sector Banks (PSBs) in respect of Central Court Judges, Ex-M.P.s and Ex-Presidents.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1) India-China Border issues ▪ In the Middle Sector, the dispute is a Background minor one. It is the only one where India ▪ The disputed boundary between India and China have exchanged maps on which and China, also known as the Line of they broadly agree. Actual Control (LAC), is divided into McMahon Line three sectors: viz. Western (Ladakh, ▪ The disputed boundary in the Eastern Kashmir), middle (Uttarakhand, Sector of the India-China border is over Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, the McMahon Line. Arunachal). ▪ Representatives of China, India and Tibet ▪ The countries disagree on the exact in 1913-14 met in Shimla, where an location of the LAC in various areas, so agreement was proposed to settle the much so that India claims that the LAC is boundary between Tibet and India, and 3,488 km long while the Chinese believe it Tibet and China. to be around 2,000 km long. ▪ Though the Chinese representatives at the Johnson Line meeting initialled the agreement, they ▪ The boundary dispute in the Western subsequently refused to accept it claiming Sector pertains to the Johnson Line that Tibet is not a sovereign nation and proposed by the British in the 1860s thus the McMahon Line has no legal which put Aksai Chin in the then princely standing. state of Jammu and Kashmir. ▪ At the heart of boundary dispute is the ▪ Independent India used the Johnson Line issue of Arunachal Pradesh, which China and claimed Aksai Chin as its own. describes as 'Southern Tibet'. However, China stated that it had never Mechanism to prevent border flare-ups acceded to the Johnson Line and refused ▪ The two countries engaged in Confidence to cede Aksai Chin to India. Building Measures (CBMs) on the border with bilateral agreements signed in 1993, 1996, 2005, 2012 and 2013. ▪ During Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to China in 2003, the two sides agreed on the appointment of special representatives for consultations aimed at arriving at a framework for a boundary settlement that would provide the basis for the delineation and demarcation of the border. ▪ In October 2013, the two sides signed the Boundary Defence Cooperation Agreement to prevent any flare up along the un-demarcated border. This encompasses both military level and diplomat level dialogue mechanism. Why in News? ▪ Indian and Chinese armies rushed in additional troops in areas around Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh, after recent clashes between the soldiers of Middle Sector both sides.

▪ The LAC mostly passes on the land, but Treaty of Sugauli Pangong Tso is a unique case where it ▪ The Treaty of Sugauli signed by Nepal passes through the water as well. The and British East India Company in points in the water at which the Indian 1816 defines the Kali River as Nepal's claim ends and Chinese claim begins are western boundary with India. not agreed upon mutually. ▪ According to the treaty, Nepal lost the ▪ Most of the clashes between the two regions of Kumaon-Garhwal in the west armies occur in the disputed portion of and Sikkim in the east. the lake. ▪ However, what is meant by "Kali River" in Pangong Tso the upper reaches is unclear because ▪ Pangong Tso is a long narrow, deep, many mountain streams come to join and endorheic (landlocked) lake situated at a form the river. height of more than 14,000 ft in the ▪ From 1879 onwards, the survey maps Ladakh Himalayas. show the stream that flows down from ▪ The brackish water lake freezes over in the Lipulekh Pass as the Kali River. winter. ▪ This stream has served as the border between India and Nepal until India's 2) World Health Organization independence. About WHO ▪ The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) established in 1948 to further international cooperation for improved public health conditions. ▪ It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ▪ Working with 194 Member States (including India), its stated goal is to ensure "the highest attainable level of health for all people". Why in News? ▪ The World Health Organization has declared that South America is “a new What is the issue? epicentre” of the COVID-19 pandemic ▪ However, the discrepancy in locating the with rising new cases. source of the river led to boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with 3) India and Nepal Border each country producing maps supporting dispute their own claims. About Kalapani ▪ Kalapani has been controlled by India's ▪ The Kalapani territory is an area Indo-Tibetan Border Police since the disputed between India and Nepal, but Sino-Indian War with China in 1962. under Indian administration as part of Why in News? Pithoragarh district in the Uttarakhand ▪ Recently, Nepal published a revised state. official map showing the areas of ▪ It shares a border on the north with the Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura as Tibet Autonomous Region of China and part of its territory. Nepal in the east and south. ▪ However, the move drew sharp criticism ▪ The valley of Kalapani, with the Lipulekh from India which said the map includes Pass at the top, forms the Indian route to parts of Indian Territory. Kailash–Mansarovar, , a revered Hindu 4) International Labour pilgrimage site in the Tibetan plateau. Organisation ▪ It is also the traditional trading route to About ILO Tibet for the Bhotiyas of Uttarakhand.

▪ ILO was created in 1919, as part of the ▪ Hong Kong, a former British colony, was Treaty of Versailles that ended World returned to the People's Republic of China War I. in 1997 under a policy known as “one ▪ It became the first specialized agency of country, two systems,” which promised the UN in 1946. the territory a high degree of autonomy. ▪ ILO is the only tripartite U.N. agency ▪ As a Special Administrative Region which brings together governments, (SAR), Hong Kong allows freedoms not employers and workers of 187 member enjoyed in mainland China, including States, to set labour standards, develop freedom to protest and an independent policies and devise programmes judiciary. promoting decent work for all women and ▪ But that autonomy, guaranteed under a men. mini-constitution known as the Basic ▪ India is a founder member of the ILO. Law, expires in 2047. The joint signed ▪ It is headquartered in Geneva, declaration does not state what will Switzerland. happen in 2047 after that agreement Background officially ends. ▪ Recently, the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Location Pradesh governments announced an exemption for establishments from the employer’s obligations under several labour laws for three years. ▪ Calling the move retrograde and anti- worker, several trade unions lodged a complaint with the International Labour Organisation against the changes in the labour laws. ▪ They allege that the changes are in violation with several ILO conventions such as 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 day – espoused by core conventions of ILO. ▪ They also allege that the exemptions undermined the ILO Convention 144 on tripartism which requires ILO members to undertake effective consultations on matters pertaining to ILO activities between representatives of the government, employers and workers. ▪ Located on the southeast coast of China, Why in News? Hong Kong's strategic location on the ▪ The ILO has expressed deep concern over Pearl River Delta and South China Sea the labour law amendments and has made it one of the world's most exemptions initiated by several Indian thriving and cosmopolitan cities. states, and have appealed to Prime Why in News? Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and ▪ China’s Parliament has passed a new give a clear message to states on legislation for Hong Kong that will for the international commitments. first time empower Beijing to draft national security laws for the Special 5) Hong Kong security law Administrative Region. Hong Kong and China relationship ▪ Many sections in Hong Kong are protesting against the law who fear that it

could be the biggest blow to the ▪ The plan has to be approved by all 27 territory’s autonomy and personal member states and the European freedoms since 1997 when it came under Parliament. Chinese rule. ▪ The borrowing will ultimately have to be ▪ However, China has sought the support repaid, meaning higher national and understanding of India and other contributions to the EU budget in the countries for its new legislation, saying future or new taxes assigned to the bloc. the new legislation is aimed at containing the secessionist forces in Hong Kong. 6) European Union’s €750 billion economy rescue plan About European Union ▪ The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political union between 27 European countries. ▪ The United Kingdom, which had been a founding member of the EU, left the organization in 2020. ▪ The EU was created by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on November 1, 1993. The treaty was designed to enhance European political and economic integration by creating a single currency (the euro), a unified foreign and security policy, and common citizenship rights and by advancing cooperation in the areas of immigration, asylum, and judicial affairs. ▪ Additionally, the Treaty of Lisbon, enacted in 2009, gave the EU more broad powers that included being authorized to sign international treaties, increase border patrol, and other security and 7) United Nations Peacekeeping enforcement provisions. Forces ▪ EU’s headquarters is currently located in About UN Peacekeeping Forces Brussels, Belgium. ▪ The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces ▪ Currently, the euro is the official currency are employed by the UN to maintain or re- of 19 out of 27 EU member countries establish peace in an area of armed which together constitute the Eurozone, conflict. officially called the euro area. ▪ The UN may engage in conflicts between states as well as in struggles within states. Why in News? The UN acts as an impartial third party in ▪ The European Union has unveiled a €750 order to prepare the ground for a billion plan to boost economies affected settlement of the issues that have by the coronavirus crisis. provoked armed conflict. ▪ Under the proposal, the EU would borrow ▪ The UN Peacekeeping Forces may only be the funds from the market and then employed when both parties to a disburse two-thirds in grants and the rest conflict accept their presence. in loans to cushion the unprecedented ▪ The Peacekeeping Forces are subordinate slump expected this year due to the to the leadership of the United Nations. coronavirus lockdowns. They are normally deployed as a consequence of a UN Security Council decision. However, on occasion, the

initiative has been taken by the General peacekeeping operations deployed on Assembly. Operational control belongs to three continents. the Secretary-General and his ▪ According to the Ministry of External secretariat. Affairs, India is the largest contributor ▪ There are two kinds of peacekeeping of troops to UN peacekeeping operations. operations – unarmed observer groups More than 200,000 Indian troops have and lightly-armed military forces. The served in 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping latter are only allowed to employ their operations deployed so far. weapons for self-defence. The observer Why in News? groups are concerned with gathering ▪ Major Suman Gawani of the Indian Army, information for the UN about actual who served as a peacekeeper with the conditions prevailing in an area. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan military forces are entrusted with more (UNMISS) in 2019, has won the extended tasks, such as keeping the prestigious United Nations Military parties to a conflict apart and maintaining Gender Advocate of the year Award. order in an area. ▪ As a military observer in UNMISS from ▪ The first UN peacekeeping mission was a November 2018 to December 2019, Major team of observers deployed to the Middle Gawani was the principal focal point of East in 1948, during the 1948 Arab– contact for gender issues for military Israeli War. There are currently 13 UN observers in the mission.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1) Darknet and require specific tools or authorization What Is the DarkNet? (like a log-in) in order to access them. ▪ The "dark net," also known as the "dark ▪ Personal email, online banking, and other web," is a network of secret websites similar sites are included under the built over the internet which is umbrella of the "deep web." encrypted. Why in News? ▪ These are networks that are only ▪ Personal details of about 2.90 crore available to a select group of people Indian job seekers have been found and not to the general internet public, and dumped on the darknet, raising concerns only accessible via authorization, specific among cyber crime agencies and experts software and configurations. in India over a massive data breach. ▪ They are not searchable by traditional More in the News means, such as a search engine, and it's ▪ It has been suggested that the leak was not visible through traditional web made to get attention and rapport in the browsers. dark web markets. ▪ It needs special browsers like TOR (The ▪ This was the strategy recently deployed Onion Router), Freenet or I2P. by ShinyHunters, a known cybercriminal ▪ Darknet provides anonymity to the users. responsible for Tokopedia (Indonesia’s Concerns about DarkNet largest online store), Unacademy (an ▪ The dark net is most often used for Indian online learning platform), illegal activities such as black markets, Wishbone, Mathway, and other leaks. illegal file sharing, and the exchanging of 2) Adenovirus illegal goods or services (including stolen About financial and private data). ▪ Adenoviruses are a group of common ▪ The anonymity of DarkNet attracted the viruses that infect the lining of eyes, criminal element to it such as drug- airways and lungs, intestines, urinary dealers, hackers, arms dealers and child tract, and nervous system. pornography peddlers. ▪ They're common causes of fever, coughs, ▪ Here they are free to conduct their sore throats, diarrhea, and pink eyes. business and express themselves without ▪ Infections happen in children more often fear of repercussion. than in adults. Most kids will have at least ▪ It is becoming a huge cyber one type of adenovirus infection by the security nightmare to governments and time they’re 10. businesses all over the world. ▪ The infections usually cause only mild DarkNet vs. Deep Web symptoms and get better on their own in ▪ The terms "darknet" and "deep web" are a few days. occasionally used interchangeably. ▪ But they can be more serious in people However, this is not correct. with weak immune systems, especially ▪ The dark net is part of the greater deep children. web which are purposefully hidden ▪ They’re very contagious. They can from the surface net by additional means. spread through droplets from coughs or ▪ The deep web encompasses all sneezes of the infected persons. unindexed sites, which are Why in News? unsearchable that don't pop up when ▪ A phase-1 trial using a single dose of a you do an Internet search. vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) was found to be safe, ▪ Not all activities associated with the deep well-tolerated and able to generate web are nefarious. immune responses against the virus. ▪ In most cases, these pages are not ▪ It uses a recombinant adenovirus type- searchable through traditional channels 5 vector that carries the genetic material because they are password-protected

that codes for spike glycoprotein of SARS- CoV-2 virus. ▪ Please refer to Pulse No. 42 and Pulse No. 50 for stages of vaccine development.

3) Vandhe Bharat Express (Train 18) About ▪ It is India’s first indigenously built engineless semi-high speed train. ▪ The fully air-conditioned semi-high speed ▪ The aim of this campaign is to grow the train will cut travel time by 15% as contribution of manufacturing to 25% of compared to the Shatabdi. GDP as seen with other developing nations ▪ It has been manufactured under the of Asia. ‘Make in India’ initiative by the Integral ▪ For the Make in India campaign, the Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. government of India has identified 25 ▪ The features include touch free automatic priority sectors that shall be promoted doors inside the passengers compartment adequately. and GPS-enabled passenger information Why in News? system, showing train speed, location, ▪ The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) that was time to reach destination etc. tasked with manufacturing 720 coaches ▪ It will also feature an onboard for operating 45 Vande Bharat Express uninterrupted Wifi and infotainment trains across the country in December (broadcast material which is intended 2019 has said that the projects will be both to entertain and to inform) system. delayed due to the lockdown. 4) Arogya Setu App’s source code About Arogya Setu App ▪ Aarogya Setu is a mobile app launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to help citizens identify their risk of contracting Covid-19. ▪ Aarogya Setu is designed to keep the user informed in case s/he has crossed paths with someone who has tested positive. ▪ The tracking is done through a Bluetooth & location-generated social graph, which can show user’s interaction with anyone ▪ It has aircraft-like bio-vacuum toilets for who has tested positive. efficient flushing. Touch-free sensor- ▪ The app alerts are accompanied by based fittings have been used for optimal instructions on how to self-isolate and consumption of water. what to do in case you develop symptoms. ▪ Train18 is being regarded as a successor ▪ There is also a self-testing tool where the to the 30-year-old Shatabdi Express. users can assess their health voluntarily About Make in India by answering a few questions. ▪ The Make in India initiative was launched Concerns about source code by the Prime Minister in September 2014 ▪ Concerns were raised previously about which is devised to transform India into a not making the source code (software global design and manufacturing hub. programming code) of the App public. ▪ The scheme is helping drive investment, ▪ The closed source architecture of the app fostering innovation, developing skills, violates transparency principles. protecting Intellectual Property (IP) and ▪ An open source code allows researchers building best-in-class manufacturing and experts to test the architecture and infrastructure.

suggest measures to correct vulnerability in the Arogya Setu vulnerabilities. application or suggesting improvements ▪ For instance, Singapore’s to the source code which was made TraceTogether app was made open open. source. About the programme Why in News? ▪ The bug bounty programme will be open ▪ The government announced opening the to Indian and foreign nationals, but only source code of its coronavirus tracking Indians will be eligible for rewards app, Aarogya Setu. offered under the scheme. ▪ The government reiterated that ▪ Anyone who points out a security transparency, privacy and security vulnerability in the app source code will have been the core design principle of be eligible for a reward of up to ₹3 lakh, Aarogya Setu. and up to ₹1 lakh for pointing out a ▪ Opening the source code to the software suggestion or improvement in the source developer community signifies the code. Government of India continuing principal ▪ Aarogya Setu’s Bug Bounty Programme to these commitments. has been prepared with the goal to What is a source code? partner with security researchers and ▪ Source code is the fundamental Indian developer community to test the component of a computer program that security effectiveness of the app and to is created by a programmer. enhance its security and build user’s ▪ It is a set of step-by-step instructions to trust. the computer that are in a human readable format. 6) ‘FAITH’ trials for COVID-19: ▪ Source code will be converted into a machine readable format- called object Favipiravir and Umifenovir code - by the process of compilation. Why in News? ▪ Source codes are written in Computer ▪ The Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., is programming languages such as Python, going to conduct a study to examine Java, C++, Swift, SQL, etc. whether early administration of a What is an open source code? combination of Favipiravir and ▪ The term open source refers to something Umifenovir enhances antiviral efficacy people can modify and share because its on COVID-19 patients. design is publicly accessible. ▪ The new combination clinical trial will be ▪ Open source software is software with called FAITH – (FA vipiravir plus Um I source code that anyone can inspect, fenovir (efficacy and safety) Trial in modify, and enhance. Indian Hospital setting). ▪ Programmers who have access to a About Favipiravir computer program's source code can ▪ Favipiravir, an antiviral tablet, is a improve that program by adding features generic version of Avigan of a Japanese to it or fixing parts that don't always work drug maker. correctly. ▪ Favipiravir has demonstrated activity ▪ More importantly an open source code against influenza viruses and has been allows researchers and experts to test the approved in Japan for the treatment of architecture and suggest measures to novel influenza virus infections. correct cyber security vulnerabilities. ▪ The molecule, if commercialised, will be marketed under the brand name ‘FabiFlu’ in India. 5) Bug Bounty programme ▪ Phase-3 clinical trials on Favipiravir for Why in News? COVID-19 patients have been initiated in ▪ The government has launched a Bug India recently. Bounty programme wherein financial About Umifenovir rewards will be given to security ▪ Umifenovir is a dual-acting direct researchers for finding any antiviral/host-targeting agent i.e.,

attacks viral pathogens and also targets which is expected to be nearly 100 host proteins that interact with the virus. times faster than 4G. ▪ It is used for the treatment and ▪ Such high speeds are possible because prophylaxis (preventive care) of influenza most 5G networks are to be built on and other respiratory infections. super-high-frequency airwaves, also ▪ Umifenovir's ability to exert antiviral known as high-band spectrum. effects through multiple pathways has ▪ The higher frequencies can transmit resulted in considerable investigation into much more data, much faster than on 4G. its use for a variety of enveloped and non- Capacity enveloped RNA and DNA viruses, ▪ The 5G network is expected to have including Flavivirus, Zika virus, hepatitis, significantly more capacity than 4G. etc. ▪ This is because 5G will have greater 6) Active pharmaceutical bandwidth, meaning it can handle many ingredients (APIs) of drugs more connected devices than previous networks. What are APIs? ▪ It will bring in an "internet of things" ▪ Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), is era, filled with connected toothbrushes, the term used to refer to the biologically kitchen appliances, street lamps and active component of a drug product (e.g. more. tablet, capsule). Latency ▪ Drug products are usually composed of ▪ Latency is the time it takes for devices to several components. communicate with each other or with the ▪ The API is the primary ingredient. Other server that's sending them information. ingredients are commonly known as ▪ Latency is already low with 4G, but 5G "excipients." will make it virtually zero. ▪ The procedure for optimizing and ▪ It will be essential for technologies such compositing this mixture of components as self-driving cars which require instant used in the drug is known as communication of huge data to ensure "formulation". safety of its passengers. Why in News? How is latency different from speed? ▪ The Centre has moved the active ▪ A small but significant difference exists pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of between speed and latency. paracetamol out of the ‘restricted for ▪ Speed is the amount of time it takes to export’ list. download the contents of a webpage. ▪ With this their exports will be resumed ▪ Latency is the time between when a text is which were being restricted for two sent to another phone and when that months. receiver’s phone registers that it has 7) 5G technology received a new message. What is 5G? Are there drawbacks? ▪ 5G is next generation wireless network ▪ The high-band network signals don’t technology that’s expected to change the travel very far and struggle to move way people live and work. through hard surfaces. ▪ 5G enables a new kind of network that is ▪ In order to compensate for those designed to connect virtually everyone challenges, wireless carriers building and everything together including high-band 5G networks are installing tons machines, objects, and devices. of small cell sites (about the size of pizza What are the benefits of 5G? boxes) to light poles, walls or towers, ▪ The three major benefits offered by 5G often in relatively small proximity to one are higher speeds, higher bandwidth another. and lower "latency." ▪ For that reason, most carriers are Speed deploying 5G city by city. ▪ Speed is one of the most highly ▪ Significant adoption of 5G is going to take anticipated elements of the 5G network years — industry trade group GSMA estimates that by 2025, around half of

mobile connections will be 5G (the rest own 5G technology and reduce will be older tech, like 4G and 3G). dependence on Huawei (Chinese ▪ There are also concerns among regulators company). and others about the security of 5G, ▪ The U.K. is proposing a “D10” club of especially since crucial technologies such democratic partners that groups the G7 as self-driving cars and healthcare nations with Australia and the Asian systems will be built on top of the technology leaders South Korea and India. network. Why in News? ▪ The United Kingdom is hoping to form a club of 10 nations that could develop its

HEALTH 1) Pulmonary thrombosis and ▪ ‘Silent’ or ‘happy’ hypoxia is a condition COVID-19 in which patients have extremely low ▪ Pulmonary thrombosis is a condition in blood oxygen levels, yet do not show which one or more arteries in the signs of breathlessness. Despite having lungs become blocked by a blood clot. oxygen levels below 80 per cent, patients This impairs blood supply and gas look fairly at ease and alert. exchange leading to respiratory Early recognition: failure. ▪ Early recognition and intervention with blood thinners (anti-coagulants) is needed the most. This can be easily implemented in all hospitals based on some simple assessments: ▪ Rate of breathing at rest above ~20/minute ▪ Lowered level of oxygen in the finger even when they look relatively well. ▪ d-dimer levels more than 2-3 fold Why in the news? above normal ▪ Though it is clear that the cause of death Intervention: in almost all COVID-19 patients is ▪ Blood thinners such as heparin or low respiratory failure, it is found that molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in pulmonary thrombosis leads to therapeutic doses should be given respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients immediately till the symptoms resolve. unlike pneumonia being the cause of ▪ In those with higher risks of death in most influenza outbreaks. complications, preventive doses of Evidences supporting the finding LMWH have been advised soon after ▪ Elevated levels of d-dimer, a general diagnosis under proper medical marker of thrombosis in blood vessels in supervision. high proportions of patients with COVID- 19 infection ▪ Blood clots ▪ Autopsy studies from different countries ▪ Blood clots can block blood vessels (an have shown extensive blood clots in the artery or a vein). small vessels of the lung (micro vascular ▪ A blocked artery stops blood and oxygen thrombosis - MVT) with only little from getting to a part of your body (for evidence of the pneumonia suggesting example, to a part of the heart, brain or that it is the blood clots which cause poor lungs). oxygenation and respiratory failure. ▪ The tissue supplied by a blocked artery ▪ Manifestation of ‘silent pneumonia’ or becomes damaged or dies, and this results ‘silent hypoxia’ where relatively well- in serious problems such as a stroke or looking people have low blood oxygen heart attack. and then suddenly collapse, most likely ▪ Anticoagulants: due to extending pulmonary thrombosis. ▪ Anticoagulants, commonly known as blood About hypoxia and silent hypoxia: thinners, are chemical substances that ▪ Hypoxia is a condition characterised by prevent or reduce coagulation of blood, an absence of enough oxygen in the prolonging the clotting time. tissues to sustain bodily functions. ▪ Heparin is an example of a widely used Hypoxia can either be generalised, anticoagulant. affecting the whole body, or local,

affecting a region of the body. ▪ Relevance:

▪ Public as well as health care professionals ▪ However much study is needed to should be aware of this problem of blood determine the right doses at the right clots in the lung whose severity is unique stages of the disease for indicated to COVID -9. persons.

ART & CULTURE 1) Purandara Dasa, the father of ▪ However, many in Malnad, Karnataka Carnatic Music claimed that he hailed from this region. About Carnatic Music About ▪ Carnatic music, also known as karnataka ▪ Sri Purandara Dasa was a great devotee sangītam is one of the two styles of of Lord Krishna, a poet and a musician. Indian classical music; the other is ▪ He was born in 1494 and was named as Hindustani music. Srinivasa Nayaka. He was the son of ▪ The present form of Carnatic music is Varadappa Nayaka, a wealthy merchant based on historical developments that can and Leelavathi. be traced to the fifteenth and sixteenth ▪ After his renunciation, Srinivasa Nayaka centuries C.E. became the disciple of the great saint ▪ Carnatic Music, which was based in South Vyasaraja, who gave him the title India, was substantially influenced by the Purandara Vittala, after the Lord of pan-Indian bhakti movement which Pandarpur. inspired the use of religious themes. ▪ Purandara Dasa is said to have composed ▪ In contrast to Hindustani music, the main around 475,000 songs, in Kannada and emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal Sanskrit of which only about 1000 music; most compositions are written to survived. be sung, and even when played on ▪ Purandara Dasa is considered to be the instruments, they are meant to be father of Carnatic Music as he performed in gāyaki (singing) style. formalized the music system which was ▪ Instruments include veena, rudra veena, a blend of various traditions of South violin, tambura, ghata, flute (venu), India and the musical science as explained mridangam, nagaswara, and swarabhat. in the Vedas. ▪ Carnatic songs (kritis or kirtanas) are Why in News? varied in structure and style, but ▪ Karnataka government. has taken efforts generally consist of three units: Pallavi, to explore definitive archaeological Anupallavi and Charana. evidences that may put an end to ▪ The contemporaries Tyagaraja (1759- speculations regarding the birthplace of 1847), Muthuswami Dikshitar, (1776 - Purandara Dasa. 1827) and Syama Sastri, (1762-1827) ▪ As ‘Purandara Vithala’ was the pen name are regarded as the Trinity of Carnatic of his compositions, it was widely music. believed that the mystic poet was born in

Purandharagad, Maharashtra.

PIB ANAYSIS

1) Hunar Haat 2) Katkari Tribe About: Who are Katkari Tribe? ▪ Hunar Haat is an exhibition of handicrafts ▪ Katkaris were historically forest and traditional products made by artisans dwellers. from the minority communities. ▪ The name Katkari is derived from a forest ▪ These are organised by the Ministry of based activity – the making and barter or Minority Affairs under USTTAD sale of Katechu (kath) from the khair tree (Upgrading the Skills & Training in (Acacia Katechu). It is produced by boiling Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) wood from the Khair tree and evaporating scheme. the resulting brew. ▪ It aims to provide employment ▪ They are located primarily in Raigad and opportunities at national as well in parts of Palghar, Ratnagiri and Thane international markets for thousands of districts as well and in some places of master artisans, craftsmen and culinary Gujarat. experts. ▪ They are bilingual, speaking the Katkari ▪ It also provides a market and opportunity language amongst themselves and to master artisans and craftsmen from Marathi with others. A few of them speak remote areas of the country, and has Hindi as well. become a credible brand of rare exquisite ▪ Presently , most Katkaris have migrated indigenous handmade products. from their forest dwellings to the plains while some hamlets are located on the ▪ USTTAD scheme aims to preserve hills. heritage of traditional arts and crafts of ▪ They are one of the 75 Particularly minority communities and build capacity Vulnerable Tribal Groups, as per the of traditional crafts persons and artisans classification by the Ministry of Home and establish linkages of traditional skills Affairs. with the global market About PVTGs ▪ In India, tribal population makes up for 8.6% of the total population. ▪ Tribal people live in about 15% of the geographical area of the country. ▪ Tribal communities are often identified by some specific signs such as primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness to contact with the community at large and backwardness. ▪ Along with these, some tribal groups have some specific features such as dependency on hunting, gathering for food, having pre-agriculture level of technology, zero or negative growth of Why in News? population and extremely low level of ▪ After a gap of about 5 months due to the literacy. Corona pandemic, “Hunar Haat”, which ▪ These groups are called Particularly has become “Empowerment Exchange” of Vulnerable Tribal Groups. artisans and craftsmen from across the country, will restart from September The criteria followed for determination of 2020 with the theme of “Local to Global” PVTGs are: and comparatively larger participation of ▪ A pre-agriculture level of technology; artisans. ▪ A stagnant or declining population;

▪ Extremely low literacy; and ▪ Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana ▪ A subsistence level of economy. (PMVDY) Livelihood: ▪ Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) ▪ PVTGs depend on various livelihoods is a retail marketing led value addition such as food gathering,Non Timber Forest plan for Minor Forest Produce (MFP), Produce (NTFP), hunting, livestock meant for forest-based tribes to optimize the rearing, shifting cultivation and artisan tribal income, locally. Under the program, works.Most of their livelihoods depend on MFP-based tribal groups / enterprises of the forest. The forest is their life and around 300 members are formed for livelihood. They collect various NTFP collection, value addition, packaging & items such as honey, gum, amla, bamboo, marketing of Minor Forest Produces (MFPs). shrubs, fuel wood,dry leaves, nuts, ▪ These tribal enterprises will be in the form of sprouts, wax, medical plants,roots and Van Dhan SHGs which will be a group of 15- tubes.Most of the NTFP items they gather 20 members and such 15 SHG groups will are for consumption and they sell the further be federated into a larger group of remaining to middle men. Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKS) of around ▪ 75 tribal groups have been categorized 300 members. by the Ministry of Home Affairs as ▪ TRIFED will support the VDVKs through Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups providing them with model business plans, (PVTG)s. PVTGs reside in 18 States and processing plans & tentative list of UT of A&N Islands. The Ministry of Tribal equipment for carrying out the value Affairs implements the Scheme of addition work of MFPs. “Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)” 3) National Pharmaceutical exclusively for them . The Scheme seeks to Pricing Authority adopt a holistic approach to the socio- About: economic development of PVTGs and ▪ The National Pharmaceutical Pricing gives state governments flexibility in Authority was set up as an attached office planning initiatives that are geared of the Department of Pharmaceuticals. towards the specific socio-cultural Functions of NPPA: imperatives of the specific groups at hand. ▪ To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO). ▪ To undertake and/or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/formulations. ▪ To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps. ▪ To collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc. for bulk drugs and formulations. ▪ To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority. ▪ To render advice to the Central Government on changes/revisions in the drug policy.

▪ To render assistance to the Central Why in News? Government in the parliamentary matters ▪ Many youths from the community are relating to the drug pricing. being benefited from Pradhan Mantri Van Why in News? Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) .

▪ Prices of N-95 Masks are being reduced ▪ The highway will be called Chardham by the Mahamarg(Chardham Highway) and the Importers/Manufacturers/Suppliers of N- highway construction project will be 95 Masks after an Advisory issued by called as Chardham Mahamarg Vikas NPPA. Pariyojana (Chardham Highway News in Detail: Development Project). ▪ The Government has notified N-95 Masks ▪ The roads will be widened and the project as an essential commodity under the will involve construction of tunnels, Essential Commodities Act, 1955. bypasses, bridges, subways and viaducts. ▪ Hoarding and black-marketing of the essential commodity is a punishable offence under the Act. ▪ To keep a check on the hoarding and black-marketing of the essential commodity, the NPPA, in exercise of the powers conferred under National Disaster Management Act, 2005, had directed all States/UT Governments to ensure sufficient availability of surgical and protective Masks, Hand Sanitizers and Gloves at prices not exceeding the Maximum Retail Price printed on the pack size. ▪ Essential Commodities Act, 1955. ▪ It has been used by the Government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of a whole host of commodities it declares ‘essential’ in order to make them available to consumers at fair prices. ▪ The list of items under the Act includes drugs, fertilisers, pulses and edible oils, and petroleum and petroleum products. Why in News? ▪ The Centre can include new commodities ▪ Union Minister for Road Transport & as and when the need arises, and takes Highways and MSMEs inaugurated the them off the list once the situation event of Chamba Tunnel under Chardham improves. Pariyojana through video conference mode. 4) Chardham Pariyojana ▪ The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) What is Chardham? was lauded for constructing a 440-metre ▪ Char Dham of Uttarakhand is one of the long tunnel below the busy Chamba town most important Hindu Pilgrimages in on Rishikesh-Dharasu road and termed it India. It comprises four most holy sites of as an 'extraordinary feat' in nation- Uttarakhand, namely - Badrinath, building during the pandemic. Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Significance: About Chardham Project: ▪ It will help in facilitating speedy ▪ The Chardham project involves movement of traffic, reducing congestion developing and widening 900-km of and distance to Chamba town and easing national highways connecting the holy the movement of yatris on Chardham Hindu pilgrimage sites of the chardham Yatra and bring economic prosperity. sites at an estimated cost of Rs 12,000 crores.

United Nations Development Programme About BRO (UNDP) ▪ The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) ▪ The United Nations Development develops and maintains road networks in Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global India’s border areas and friendly development network, advocating for neighbouring countries. change and connecting countries to ▪ It is staffed by officers and troops drawn knowledge, experience and resources to from the Indian Army’s Corps of help people build a better life.UNDP's Engineers, Electrical and Mechanical Strategic Plan (2018-2021) has been Engineers, Army Service Corps, Military designed to be responsive to the wide Police and army personnel on extra diversity is reflected in three broad regimental employment.The Border development contexts: Roads Organisation works under the ▪ Eradicate poverty in all its forms and Ministry of Defence. dimensions Role of the BRO ▪ Accelerate structural transformations ▪ In Peace ▪ Build resilience to shocks and crises ▪ Develop & Maintain the Operational International Labour Organization (ILO) Road Infrastructure of General Staff in ▪ International Labour Organization (ILO) the Border Areas. is a United Nations agency dealing with ▪ Contribute to the Socio-Economic labour issues, particularly international Development of the Border States. labour standards, social protection, and ▪ In War work opportunities for all. ▪ To Develop & Maintain Roads to Keep ▪ ILO was created in 1919, as part of the Line of Control through in Original Treaty of Versailles that ended World War Sectors and Re-Deployed Sectors. I, to reflect the belief that universal and ▪ To Execute Addl Tasks as laid down by lasting peace can be accomplished only if the Govt Contributing to the War Effort. it is based on social justice. It became a 5) Central Institute of specialized agency of the United Nations Petrochemicals Engineering & in 1946. ▪ It is a tripartite organization, the only one Technology of its kind bringing together About: representatives of governments, ▪ CIPET was established in 1968 by the employers and workers in its executive Government of India with the assistance bodies. of the United Nations Development ▪ India is a founder member of the Programme (UNDP) at Chennai. International Labour Organization. ▪ The main objective of setting up the Why in News? institute was to develop manpower in ▪ The Central Institute of Plastics different disciplines of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) has Engineering & Technology. been renamed as the Central Institute of ▪ The International Labour Organization Petrochemicals Engineering & (ILO) served as the executing agency. Technology (CIPET). ▪ During the initial project period between 6) Minor Forest Produce (MFP) 1968 and 1973, the institute achieved the What is MFP? targets envisaged and was rated as one of ▪ 'Minor Forest Produce (MFP)' means all the most successful UNDP projects non-timber forest produce of plant origin implemented worldwide. and will include bamboo, canes, fodder, ▪ Now, CIPET is a premier national leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and institution under the Ministry of many forms of food including nuts, wild Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India fruits, Honey, Lac, Tusser etc. The Minor fully devoted to Skill Development, Forest Produces provide both Technology Support Services, Academic subsistence and cash income for and Research (STAR) in all the domains of people who live in or near forests. plastics.

▪ The Minor Forest Produce has significant providing them fair price for the MFPs economic and social value for the forest they collect. dwellers as an estimated 100 Million people derive their source of livelihood from the collection and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (Report of the National Committee on Forest Rights Act, 2011). Why in News? ▪ The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest announced Inclusion of 23 additional Produce Minor Forest Produce (MFP) items under ▪ The scheme "Mechanism for Marketing the scheme "Mechanism for Marketing of of Minor Forest Produce through Minor Forest Produce through Minimum Minimum Support Price and Support Price and development of Value development of Value chain for MFP" chain for MFP”. This decision makes the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor coverage from the existing 50 to 73 items Forest Produce (MFP) is designed as a in view of currently prevailing in the social safety net for improvement of country on account of the COVID-19 5livelihood of MFP gatherers by Pandemic.

News in Depth AIR NEWS 1) UDAN scheme ▪ The scheme is now in its fourth phase About the scheme with focus on bringing connectivity to priority areas like North East India, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, hilly states in other parts of the country, and islands. ▪ Recently, the 250th route was operationalised under the UDAN scheme.

Why in News? ▪ The Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to restart the regional air connectivity services under the UDAN scheme after nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19

▪ In 2017, the Ministry of Civil Aviation pandemic. launched the Regional Connectivity 2) Khelo India Programme Scheme (RCS) “UDAN” (Ude Desh Ka Aam What is it? Naagrik) which aims at providing ▪ Under this programme, 2,500 talented connectivity to un-served and under- players have been selected and are being served airports of the country through trained. revival of existing air-strips and airports ▪ Talented players identified in priority to make flying affordable to the common sports disciplines at various levels by the man who want to travel to and fro the High-Powered Committee will be Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of the country. provided annual financial assistance of ▪ UDAN has a unique market-based model. INR 5 lakh per annum for 8 years. Airline routes are allocated to operators ▪ The Khelo India programme has been selected through a competitive bidding introduced to revive the sports culture mechanism. in India at the grass-root level by ▪ Airlines have to set aside 50% of the building a strong framework for all sports total aircraft capacity for cheaper fares played in our country and establish India to be offered at the rate of Rs 2,500 per as a great sporting nation. hour of flight, in return for which airlines ▪ It is under the Minister of Youth Affairs are given a subsidy by the Centre and the & Sports. State government concerned. Why in News? ▪ The airport that will be renovated under ▪ The Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports this scheme will be chosen after referring recently furnished details on the financial to the respective State government. assistance to athletes under the Khelo Together with the State government the India programme. Central government will revive the 3) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman dysfunctional and unserved airports of Nidhi (PM-KISAN) the country. About the scheme: ▪ The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is ▪ Aim : To provide assured income support designated as the Implementing Agency to the small and marginal farmers. under this Scheme. ▪ The income support of Rs. 6000/ was given to the farmers irrespective of the

size of their land holdings (Previously it ▪ As per the programme, each year, every was up to 2 hectares). State/UT would be paired with another ▪ The income will be transferred directly State/UT in India for reciprocal into the bank accounts of beneficiary interaction between the people. It is farmers, in three equal instalments of Rs envisaged through this exchange, that the 2,000 each. knowledge of the language, culture, Eligibility: All landholder farmer’s families traditions and practices of different states in the country are eligible for the PM- will lead to an enhanced understanding Kisan Scheme subject to the prevalent and bonding between one another, exclusion criteria. Farmers who do not thereby strengthening the unity and own any land are not eligible for this integrity of India. scheme. Why in News? Excluded from the scheme ▪ Government has decided to take forward ▪ Institutional land holders, the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat o Farmer families holding constitutional programme using innovative ways during posts, the COVID 19 outbreak such as organizing o Serving or retired officers and employees webinars on Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat of state/central government as well as themes for their wide dissemination. PSUs and government autonomous 5) Food Corporation of India bodies. About FCI o Professionals like doctors, engineers and ▪ Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a lawyers as well as retired pensioners with statutory Organization under the a monthly pension of over Rs 10,000 and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & those who paid income tax in the last Public Distribution. assessment year. ▪ It was set up in 1965 under the Food ▪ Identification of beneficiaries: The Corporations Act 1964 with the primary responsibility of identifying the eligible duty to purchase, store, move/transport, beneficiary farmers and uploading their distribute and sell foodgrains and other data on PM-KISAN portal lies entirely foodstuffs. with the state governments. The main objectives of FCI are Why in News? o Procurement of food grains from farmers ▪ According to the latest official data, a total at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) 9.67 crore farmers have been benefited announced by the Government; and an amount of more than 19 thousand o Distribution of food grains to consumers crore rupees has been released under the through PDS, particularly the vulnerable PM-KISAN scheme during the last two sections of society at affordable prices; months. and 4) Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat o Maintenance of buffer stock of food grains About the initiative for food security and price stability. ▪ The ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ ▪ Thus, it is mandated to serve the interests initiative was announced by the Prime of producers and consumers alike. Minister Narendra Modi on 31st October, Why in News? 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth ▪ The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Public Distribution has directed the FCI to ▪ The programme aims to actively coordinate with the States to expedite the enhance interaction between people of lifting of food grains to meet urgent food diverse cultures living in different States requirements due to nationwide and UTs in India, with the objective of lockdown. promoting greater mutual understanding amongst them.

THE HINDU EDITORIALS 1) MGNREGA and its necessity ▪ Social Audit has to be done by the Context: Gram Sabha ▪ To cope up with the ongoing economic ▪ At least 50% of works will be allotted crisis due to COVID-19, poor households to Gram Panchayats for execution urgently need a chance to earn cash for Underlying challenges: which India’s National Rural ▪ Inadequate funding Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) ▪ Budget allocation to MGNREGA this year offers an obvious alternative at least for though higher than the previous rural areas. Let us discuss the challenges allocations, amounts to 0.47 percent of underlying the act and prompt measures the GDP and it continues to be much to be taken for the act to be more lower than the World Bank effective. recommendations of 1.7 per cent for About MGNREGA: the optimal functioning of the ▪ The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural programme. Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Delay in payment of wages scheme is the largest social security ▪ Inordinate delays in wage payments scheme in the world guaranteeing 100 and failing to compensate for the delays days of work to any rural household workers had begun to lose interest in willing to do public work-related working under it . unskilled manual work at the statutory Demand driven to supply based minimum wage. ▪ Great distress to the states caused due to ▪ The Ministry of Rural Development inadequate funds to pay for wages and to (MRD), is monitoring the entire allocate work on demand, made them to implementation of this scheme in implement MGNREGA like a supply- association with state governments. driven scheme, instead of running it like Objective: a demand-based guarantee backed by ▪ The objective of the Act is to enhance law. livelihood security in rural areas by Little autonomy impairs implementation providing at least 100 days of guaranteed ▪ With very little autonomy, gram wage employment in a financial year to panchayats find it difficult to implement every household whose adult members this act in an effective and efficient volunteer to do unskilled manual work. manner. Features of the act: Issues with Job card ▪ The act makes it obligatory for the State ▪ Earlier workers were allowed to turn up to give rural households work on demand. at the worksite and enrol on the spot but In case such employment is not provided now, no-one can be employed unless his within 15 days of registration, the or her name has been entered in advance applicant becomes eligible for an in the e-muster rolls. Most workers have unemployment allowance. no idea how to go about this. ▪ One-third of the stipulated workforce ▪ e-Muster roll, is an IT-enabled technology, must be women. which enables the process of enrolment ▪ The employment will be provided within and attendance in the MGNREGA and a radius of 5 km: if it is above 5 km extra ensures that the benefits of the scheme wage will be paid. reach the actual beneficiaries. ▪ The wages are revised according to the ▪ Also except workers who are relatively Consumer Price Index-Agricultural empowered, others find it difficult to Labourers (CPI-AL). initiate the work applications which make ▪ Work site facilities such as crèche, them dependent on others. drinking water, shade have to be Measures to be taken: provided. ▪ Expanding the list of permissible works

▪ Hiring more gram rozgar sevaks a focus of the government’s crisis- (employment assistants) response package. ▪ Simplifying the implementation process Focus on NBFCs ▪ Mobilising para-teachers for work ▪ The main intermediaries being enlisted application drives for the task of transmitting liquidity are ▪ Reducing inordinate delays in wage the banks, with NBFCs constituting a payment second tier. ▪ Cash payment of wages would act as a ▪ Among the first steps taken by the RBI tremendous incentive for rural workers was the launch of special and ‘targeted’ to demand NREGA work long term repo operations (TLTROs), ▪ Ensuring adequate autonomy to gram which allowed banks to access liquidity at panchayat for effective implementation. the repo rate to lend to specified clients. ▪ These measures which when taken in a ▪ That funding allowed big business to prompt manner can better serve the very access cheap capital to substitute for past purpose of the scheme in the current high-cost debt or finance ongoing scenario of migrant crisis. projects. 2) Towards liquidity push ▪ The TLTROs also focus on infusing What’s in the news? liquidity among NBFCs, whose balance ▪ In its effort to push start the economy sheets were under severe stress even using the post-COVID-19 relief and before the COVID-19 strike, because they recovery package, the government has were finding it difficult to roll over the relied heavily on measures aimed at short-term debt they had incurred to pushing credit to banks, NBFCs and finance longer term projects, including businesses big and small, which are lending to small and medium businesses, expected to use borrowed funds to lend to housing and real estate. others, make payments falling due, ▪ Banks were wary about lending to these compensate employees even while under NBFCs, because of fears that their clients lockdown, and otherwise spend even could default in amounts that would bring while not earning. the viability of these institutions into ▪ The thrust is to get the RBI and other question. public financial institutions to infuse Additional liquidity infusion efforts liquidity and increase lending by the ▪ Building on these initial liquidity infusion financial system, by offering the latter efforts, the COVID-19 package identified capital for longer periods at a repo or more intermediaries (such as the Small policy interest rate that has been cut by Industries Development Bank of India, the more than a percentage point to 4%. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural The fourth ‘l’ Development, and the National Housing ▪ The Prime Minister in his speech calling Bank) that could refinance lending by the for a “self-reliant India” identified, besides banks to different sections. land, labour and laws, “liquidity” as ▪ To persuade the banks and other among the areas of focus of the package. intermediaries to take up these offers ▪ In economic and business parlance, when the clients they must lend to (micro, liquidity refers to ease of access to cash small and medium enterprises, street — a liquid asset is one that can be easily vendors, marginal farmers, etc.) are sold for or replaced with cash, and a themselves stressed, in some instances liquid firm or agent is a holder of cash, a the government offered them partial or line providing access to cash, or assets full credit guarantees in case their that can be easily and quickly converted clients defaulted. to cash without significant loss of value. May not be sufficient ▪ In periods of crisis, individuals, small ▪ However, these measures, which are only businesses, firms, financial institutions marginally effective even in the best of and even governments tend to experience times, will not work during this crisis. a liquidity crunch. Relaxing that crunch is ▪ Consider a bank or NBFC lending to small business. With economic activity either at

a complete stop or at a fraction of the What are NBFCs? normal, those who can access credit ▪ An NBFC is a company registered under would either not borrow or only do so the Companies Act, 1956 which provides to protect them and not use the funds banking services without meeting the either to pay their workers or buy and legal definition of a bank. stock inputs. ▪ They engage in the business of loans and ▪ Even after the lockdown is lifted, the advances, acquisition of shares, bonds, etc. compression of demand resulting from issued by Government or local authority. the loss of employment and incomes They also deal in other marketable would be considerable. Faced with securities of a like nature, leasing, hire- sluggish demand, firms are unlikely to purchase, insurance business, chit meet past and current payments business. commitments and help the revival effort, ▪ The working and operations of NBFCs are just because they have access to credit. regulated by the RBI. ▪ This would mean that credit flow would ▪ NBFCs lend and make investments and actually not revive. hence their activities are similar to that of On disposable income banks; however there are a few ▪ Another component of the “liquidity” differences: push is the measures that temporarily ▪ NBFC cannot accept demand deposits; increase the disposable income of ▪ NBFCs cannot issue cheques drawn on different sections. itself; ▪ Advance access to savings like provident ▪ Deposit insurance facility of Deposit fund contributions, lower tax deduction at Insurance and Credit Guarantee source, reduced provident fund Corporation is not available to depositors contributions and moratoriums on debt of NBFCs, unlike in the case of banks. service payments for a few months, are expected to provide access to cash inflows 3) Self reliant India- challenges and reduce cash outflows, to induce and way forward agents to meet overdue payments or just Self reliance since independence spend to enhance the incomes of others. ▪ Just after independence ▪ These are marginal in scope, if relevant ▪ In the decades following independence, at all. Overall, the “transmission” of the self-reliance in state-run heavy industries supply side push from these monetary and strategic sectors had placed India policy initiatives for relief and revival is ahead of most developing countries. bound to be weak. In 1970s and 80s Way Forward ▪ India’s industrial ecosystem was ▪ What is needed now is government characterised by low productivity, poor support in the form of new and quality and low technology, and was additional transfers to people in cash globally uncompetitive because and kind, and measures such as wage ▪ Modernising the industries with subsidies, equity support and spending technological upgradation didn't happen. on employment programmes. ▪ The private sector backed the state-run ▪ That would require debt financed core sector approach in its Bombay Plan spending by the government, with and stayed content with near-monopoly borrowing at low interest rates from the conditions in non-core sectors in a central bank or a “monetisation” of the protected market. deficit. ▪ Efforts made to modernise light ▪ Monetisation of deficit means printing industries or develop contemporary more money. It happens when RBI buys consumer products was little. government securities directly from the Bombay Plan: primary market to fund government’s ▪ In 1944, a group of Indian businessmen expenses. issued A Plan of Economic Development for India. This came to be known as the

Bombay Plan. The attitude of Indian ▪ Infrastructure particularly education and industrialists to the economic structure of skill development (4-6% of GDP). independent India was encapsulated in ▪ Countries like Thailand, Malaysia, the Plan. Indonesia and Vietnam have focused on In 1990s off-shore manufacturing lower down the ▪ When India began liberalisation, value chain and without the thrust on self- privatisation and globalisation, the very reliance. This is useful for job creation but concept of self-reliance was of no use, is an unsuitable model for a country of since advanced technologies could simply India’s size and aspirations. be bought from anywhere at lower costs. ▪ China advanced purposefully from low-end Reasons for declining self reliance mass manufacturing to a dominant role in Undermined PSUs global supply chains. This shows its ▪ Public sector undertakings (PSUs) are determination to become a superpower becoming inefficient since no effort was not just geopolitically but also in self- made to attain either real autonomy or a reliant S&T and industrial capability. transition to new technological ▪ It has now decided on shifting to advanced directions. manufacturing and has set itself a target of ▪ Also PSUs with capability and scale for the becoming a world leader by 2035 in 5G, task were undermined along with many supercomputing, Internet of Things, research and development (R&D) efforts artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous that display signs of future potential (for vehicles, biotech/pharma and other instance, in photovoltaics, technologies of the ‘fourth industrial semiconductors and advanced materials). revolution’. Disinclination of private sector towards R&D Measures to boost self reliance ▪ The private sector showed little interest ▪ Significant government reinvestment in in heavy industries and none for PSUs and R&D is essential for self- technology Upgradation. reliance. ▪ Most Indian private companies ended up ▪ State-funded R&D, including in basic in technology imports or collaborations research by PSUs, research institutions with foreign corporations and hence most and universities need to be scaled-up of the R&D work is carried by PSUs. significantly Inviting FDIs obviates need for self reliance ▪ PSUs need to be upgraded and reoriented ▪ It was thought that Inviting foreign direct ▪ Private sector delivery-oriented R&D investment and manufacturing by foreign could also be supported, linked to majors would bring new technologies into meaningful participation in India’s industrial ecosystem, obviating the manufacturing at appropriate levels of the need for indigenous efforts towards self- supply chain. reliance but foreign majors guard ▪ Since no country has achieved self- commercially significant or strategic reliance without mass quality public technologies in off-shore manufacturing education, India’s meagre public bases. expenditure on education needs to be ramped up including in skill Global precedences: development. ▪ Learning from Japan’s post-war success, countries like South Korea, Taiwan, 4) Impact of the COVID-19 on Singapore and Hong Kong took huge Indian Economy technological and industrial strides in the What’s in the news? 1970s and 80s. ▪ Following is an analysis of economic ▪ How was it possible? impact due to COVID-19 pandemic by ▪ Planned state investments in R&D Professor of Economics Santosh K including basic research (3-5% of GDP), Mehrotra. ▪ Technology and policy support to private Worse than 2008 crisis corporations,

▪ Comparing the present situation with the By early 2019, the government did not pre-2008 crisis, he said, the current have the fiscal space left any longer to situation is a global economic crisis of actually jump start the economy if a shock much worse than the 2008 one. was to happen. ▪ Before 2008, all engines of growth were Need for demand side action firing. India's investment-to-GDP ratio ▪ Commenting on the government's recent was at an all time. GDP growth was 8-9% stimulus package (refer pulse 50 & 51 per annum and because of that the job edition- Atmanirbharta abhiyan topic), the growth was very rapid. India had five professor said that the package focused million unskilled workers leaving more on the supply side and neglected the agriculture for the first time in Indian demand side. history because non-agri jobs were ▪ He also said that the stimulus is heavily growing. dependent on banks extending loans. ▪ Until 2012, nearly 7.5 million non- However, the probability for an agriculture jobs were being created per entrepreneur to borrow from the bank year, but thereafter there was a slight when the demand is already extremely economic slowdown, but still the average low in the economy, both domestically GDP growth over 2004-14 was 8% per and internationally is very less. annum. ▪ Therefore, he called for steps to put ▪ There were two years of droughts in money into the hands of people to see 2014-2015. The slowdown also a revival of demand. accelerated after 2014 because of some Demographic dividend misplaced economic policies. The rate of ▪ On demographic dividend, the Professor non-agricultural jobs was reduced to 2.9 said that realising India’s demographic million per annum. dividend requires job growth at a rate ▪ Now, this was happening at a time when faster than the number of entrants into young entrants into the labour force the labour force. were increasing. Until 2012 the number ▪ If new entrants into the labour force, who of new entrants in the job market was are better educated, are entering at a rate only 2 million per annum (as youth were of more than 5 million per annum, the entering school in much larger numbers country has to create at least 5 million than before). Thereafter the number non-agricultural jobs. looking for work increased to roughly 5 ▪ Secondly, there is also a need to create million per annum. These young people enough jobs to employ the currently were getting better educated and no unemployed, which has risen sharply. longer wanted to be tied down to ▪ Third, in 2018 the country had 205 agricultural jobs. The result was open million people working in agriculture. unemployment. And that is how India's From 2004-05 until 2018 the absolute open unemployment rate reached 45-year number of workers in agriculture was high in 2018. falling, because non-agri jobs were ▪ The state of the economy and joblessness growing fast. Which means the process of continued to worsen through 2019 structural transformation of redirecting because the growth rate slowed. India the workforce from agriculture to entered 2020 with seven quarters of construction/industry/services was systematic decline in growth rate, underway. investment rate and exports. ▪ But post-2012 we have been seeing a ▪ At present, every engine of growth had decline in jobs in manufacturing for the stopped firing; government revenue first time in India’s history. If we are to growth slowed, the real fiscal deficit in realise the demographic dividend we 2018-19 was 5.68% of GDP for the central need a shift of jobs from the agriculture government (as revealed by CAG) when sector to manufacturing. the government was claiming it was 3.4%.

INDIAN EXPRESS EXPLAINED 1) Unusual heat waves in North Duration of a heat wave spell: India ▪ A heat wave spell generally lasts for a minimum of four days and on some About heat waves: occasions, it can extend up to seven or ten ▪ A Heat Wave is a period of abnormally days. high temperatures, more than the ▪ The longest recorded heat wave spell, in normal maximum temperature that recent years, was between 18 – 31 May occurs during the summer season in the 2015. This spell had severely affected North-Western parts of India. parts of West Bengal along with Odisha, When does it occur? Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. ▪ Heat Waves typically occur between Why in the news? March and June, and in some rare cases ▪ The current heat wave spell commenced even extend till July. on May 22 and is likely to continue till Criteria for heat waves: May 29. ▪ The Indian Meteorological Department Does all of India experience heatwave (IMD) has given the following criteria for conditions? Heat Waves : ▪ Heat waves are common over the Core 1) Heat Wave need not be considered till Heatwave Zone (CHZ) — Rajasthan, maximum temperature of a station Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West reaches at least 40*C for Plains and at Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, least 30*C for Hilly regions Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Vidarbha in 2) When normal maximum temperature of a Maharashtra, parts of Gangetic West station is less than or equal to 40*C Heat Bengal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Wave Departure from normal is 5*C to Telangana, as categorised by India 6*C Severe Heat Wave Departure from Meteorological Department. normal is 7*C or more. ▪ Several recent studies indicate that CHZ 3) When normal maximum temperature of a experience more than six heatwave days station is more than 40*C Heat Wave per year during these four months. Departure from normal is 4*C to 5*C ▪ Many places in the northwest and cities Severe Heat Wave Departure from normal along the southeastern coast report eight is 6*C or more. heatwave days per season. 4) When actual maximum temperature ▪ However, the regions in the extreme remains 45*C or more irrespective of north, northeast and southwestern normal maximum temperature, heat India is less prone to heatwaves. waves should be declared. Reason for unusual heat waves in India: Health Impacts of Heat Waves Western disturbances ▪ The health impacts of Heat Waves ▪ Continuous inflow of Western typically involve dehydration, heat Disturbances influenced the weather in cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat the north till as late as April. stroke. The signs and symptoms are as ▪ When Western Disturbances interact follows: with weather systems heading from o Heat Cramps: Ederna (swelling) and the two southern seas, that is, warm Syncope (Fainting) generally winds blowing in from the Bay of Bengal accompanied by fever below 39*C or the Arabian Sea, they cause snowfall i.e.102*F. or rainfall over the north. o Heat Exhaustion: Fatigue, weakness, ▪ A significant influence of Western dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, Disturbances is experienced during muscle cramps and sweating. December to February. However, this o Heat Stroke: Body temperatures of 40*C year, its influence persisted till early i.e. 104*F or more along with delirium, May. seizures or coma. This is a potential fatal condition.

▪ The recent Western Disturbances got About locust: support from easterly winds blowing ▪ Locusts are the oldest migratory pest in over from the Bay of Bengal. It resulted the world which is mainly tropical in rainfall and thunderstorm activities grasshopper with strong powers of over parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar flight. Pradesh, north Madhya Pradesh and Delhi ▪ They differ from ordinary until mid-May, keeping atmospheric grasshoppers in their ability to change conditions cooler than normal for behaviour (gregarize) and form swarms summer standards. that can migrate over large distances. ▪ The most devastating of all locust species is the Desert Locust What are western disturbances? (Schistocerca gregaria). ▪ Western Disturbances are low pressure Characteristics of locusts: systems, embedded in western winds ▪ Locusts have a high capacity to (westerlies) that flow from the west to multiply: If good rains fall and ecological the east. conditions become favourable, rapidly ▪ Arrival in India reproduce and increase some 20-fold in ▪ The low pressure typically forms over three months. the Mediterranean Sea and travels over ▪ It forms groups and migrates over Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan relatively large distances (they can fly up before entering India loaded with to 150 km per day). moisture. ▪ Locust adults can eat their own weight ▪ These moisture laden western every day, i.e. about two grams of fresh disturbances eventually come up vegetation per day. against the himalayas and get ▪ If infestations are not detected and blocked, as a consequence, the moisture controlled, devastating plagues can gets trapped and precipitation is shared develop that often take several years and in the form of snow and rain over hundreds of millions of dollars to bring Northwest India and sometimes, in other under control with severe consequences parts of North India. on food security and livelihoods. ▪ They affect the local weather of a Preconditions for its growth: region during its onward journey. ▪ Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria), Cyclone Amphan which belong to the family of ▪ Cyclone Amphan, which was a massive grasshoppers, normally live and breed in SuperStorm covering 700 kms, semi-arid or desert regions. managed to drag maximum moisture ▪ While for laying eggs, bare ground is from over the Bay of Bengal, entire South required, green vegetation is required Peninsula, parts of Central India and to for hopper development. (Hopper is the some extent, even from the Arabian Sea. stage between the nymph that is hatched ▪ All the moisture that was otherwise built from the eggs, and the winged adult during the thunderstorm and rainfall, got moth.) gradually depleted from over vast areas ▪ Locusts are not very dangerous as as the storm advanced towards West individuals, or in small isolated groups, Bengal and Bangladesh between May 16 but when they grow into large and 20. populations their behaviour changes, they ▪ It has now triggered dry north-westerly transform from ‘solitary phase’ into winds to blow over Rajasthan, Madhya ‘gregarious phase’, and start forming Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra ‘swarms’. causing severe heat wave. ▪ A single swarm can contain 40 to 80 million adults in one square km, and these can travel up to 150 km a day. ▪ Large-scale breeding happens only 2) Locust attack when conditions turn very favourable

in their natural habitat, desert or semi- including parks, in Jaipur and orange arid regions. orchards near Nagpur. ▪ Good rains can sometimes generate just ▪ Once they start breeding, the swarm enough green vegetation that is movement will cease and also, the conducive to egg-laying as well as breeding will happen mainly in Rajasthan. hopper development. So, what damage have they caused? Reason for this year’s locust attack: ▪ Since the rabi crop has already been ▪ There are two meteorological drivers harvested, and farmers are yet to really behind the current locust invasions: start kharif sowings it didn't cause much ▪ Unseasonal heavy rains in the damage. mainspring-breeding tracts in March- ▪ The UN Food and Agriculture April Organization (FAO) has, however, o Many of the usual breeding grounds of predicted several successive waves of locusts received unusually good rains in invasions until July in Rajasthan with March and April, and that resulted in eastward surges across northern India large-scale breeding and hopper right up to Bihar and Odisha. development. ▪ But after July, there would be o These locusts started arriving in westward movements of the swarms Rajasthan around April, much ahead of that will return to Rajasthan on the back the normal July-October normal. of changing winds associated with the ▪ Breeding places: dry areas around southwest monsoon. Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea along the ▪ The danger is when they start breeding eastern coast of Africa, adjoining Asian because a single gregarious female regions in Yemen, Oman, southern Iran, locust can lay 60-80 eggs three times and in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber during its average life cycle of 90 days. Pakhtunkhwa provinces. ▪ If their breeding is coterminous with ▪ Strong westerly winds that of the kharif crop, we could have a o Locusts are known to be passive flyers, situation similar to what maize, sorghum and generally follow the wind. Their and wheat farmers of Kenya, Ethiopia and movement has been aided by westerly Somalia experienced in March-April. winds that were, this time, further Control measure: strengthened by the low pressure area ▪ A proactive exercise of control, through created by Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of aerial spraying of ultra-low volume of Bengal. concentrated insecticides in all When July- October is the normal time, how potential breeding sites, is required, along did they arrive so early? with continuous monitoring of the crops ▪ Unusual cyclonic storms of 2018 in the during the ensuing kharif season. Arabian Sea ▪ Cyclonic storms Mekunu and Luban had Pesticides used: struck Oman and Yemen respectively ▪ Historically, locust control has involved which resulted in heavy rains that had spraying of organo-phospate pesticides on transformed uninhabited desert tracts the night resting places of the locusts. into large lake where the locust swarms ▪ Recently, the Indian Institute of Sugarcane breed. Research, Lucknow, advised farmers to Reason for eastward movement of swarms: spray chemicals like lambdacyhalothirn, ▪ Immature locusts in search of food: deltamethrin, fipronil, chlorpyriphos, or ▪ The current swarms contain “immature malathion to control the swarms. locusts” which feed largely on vegetation. ▪ However, the Centre had banned the use of ▪ They consume roughly their own weight chlorpyriphos,deltamethrin and Malathion in fresh food every day, before they but Malathion has been subsequently become ready for mating. allowed for locust control. ▪ With no crops in the field in Rajasthan, they have been invading green spaces, Who warns?

▪ The Food and Agriculture Organisation ▪ The LWO monitors, forewarns and (FAO) provides information on the controls locust in the Scheduled Desert general locust situation to the global Area, conducts research on locusts and community and gives timely warnings grasshoppers, keeps cooperation and and forecasts to those countries in danger coordination with National and of invasion. International Organizations and ▪ Locust Warning Organisation (LWO), undertakes HRD through training and Directorate of Plant Protection demonstration. Quarantine and Storage, Ministry of About FAO Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, ▪ The Food and Agriculture Organization of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized Farmers Welfare is responsible for agency of the United Nations that leads monitoring, survey and control of international efforts to defeat hunger and Desert Locust in Scheduled Desert improve nutrition and food security. Areas mainly in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

RSTV BIG-PICTURE

1) India-Nepal Map row

Context: frontier disputes, and Nepal has been ▪ The Ministry of External Affairs , slammed demanding talks for years. the Nepal government’s approval of a new ▪ Kathmandu had also sought to send a Nepalese map that shows territories special envoy to Delhi in early December. contested with India as a part of Nepal. What is the response by MEA? ▪ Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli ▪ This unilateral act is not based on asserted that Lipulekh, Kalapani and historical facts and evidence. It is contrary Limpiyadhura belong to Nepal and vowed to the bilateral understanding to resolve to “reclaim” them from India through the outstanding boundary issues through political and diplomatic efforts, as his diplomatic dialogue. Cabinet endorsed a new political map ▪ Such artificial enlargement of territorial showing the three areas as Nepalese claims will not be accepted by India. territory. ▪ India said Nepal was aware of the ▪ India called the move a unilateral act understanding on this issue and urged the which is not based on historical facts and Nepali Government to return to dialogue. evidence. ▪ India had published a new map on What is the Background? November 2, 2019, representing the ▪ Nepal has historically regarded the 335 sq political boundaries of the country which km triangle (Limpiyadhura-Kalapani-Lipu showed the status of the newly created Lekh) as its territory, defined by the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir Sugauli Treaty with the East India and Ladakh. Company, which has not been ▪ The same map also showed the region of superseded. Kalapani as part of the Indian territory. ▪ A bilateral foreign secretary-level What is the claim by Nepal? committee exists to resolve Nepal-India

▪ Nepali diplomatic sources maintain for an “impartial, independent and thatbthe region of Kalapani and the comprehensive evaluation” of the World contiguous areas to the east of the river Health Organization’s (WHO) response to Kali and Susta on the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar the pandemic as well as the identification border are the only parts of the nearly of the “zoonotic” source of the 1,800-km India-Nepal boundary that coronavirus. remain unresolved. What is the Background? ▪ Kathmandu claims that India has ▪ The origin of the virus is currently encroached upon the area of Susta near believed to be a wet market in Wuhan, Gorakhpur, claiming tracts of land, and China. wants Delhi to evacuate the population ▪ 116 of the 194 member states were in from the location. favour of the resolution. ▪ Nepal, however, maintains that not just What is the World Health Assembly? the Kalapani region, but Limpiyadhura ▪ The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the and Lipulekh are parts of its territory as forum through which the World Health demarcated in the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli. Organization (WHO) is governed by its ▪ All three areas are to the east of the river 194 member states. Kali, according to the Nepali formulation. ▪ It is the world's highest health policy ▪ Nepal had also expressed displeasure that setting body and is composed of health the 2015 agreement between India and ministers from member states. China for using the Lipulekh pass for ▪ The members of the WHA generally meet trade was reached without consulting it. every year in May in Geneva at the Palace Conclusion of Nations, the location of WHO ▪ There is no doubt about the location of Headquarters. the river and that the new road is inside ▪ Its main functions are to determine the Indian territory. It is in Delhi's interests to policies of the Organization, supervise find an amicable solution with Nepal for financial policies, and review and approve the areas where there is no agreement; it the proposed programme budget. could avoid China interfering in bilateral What is the WHA draft resolution? affairs between Delhi and Kathmandu in ▪ The resolution brought forward by the the future. European Union (EU) and moved by Australia on behalf of more than 100 2) World Health Assembly countries including India, Australia and Japan, was endorsed at the Assembly. Resolution ▪ While it does not mention China, the draft says the Director General of the WHO should continue “to work closely with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and countries, as part of the One-Health Approach to identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts, including through efforts such as scientific and collaborative field missions, Context: which will enable targeted interventions ▪ The 73rd session of the World Health and a research agenda to reduce the risk Assembly (WHA) took place virtually of similar events as well as to provide from May 18-19. guidance on how to prevent SARS-COV2 ▪ During the session, countries including infection in animals and humans and India, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, UK prevent the establishment of new and Canada accepted a resolution asking zoonotic reservoirs, as well as to reduce

further risks of emergence and ▪ So far, China has opposed demands calling transmission of zoonotic diseases.” for an international investigation into the ▪ Further, the resolution states, “Initiate, at virus. the earliest appropriate moment, and in ▪ China’s premier Xi Jinping announced a $2 consultation with Member States, (1) a billion donation to the United Nations, stepwise process of impartial, which is over twice the amount the US independent and comprehensive contributed before Trump cut off funding. evaluation, including using existing ▪ It also offered to set up hospitals and mechanisms, (2) as appropriate, to review health infrastructure in Africa. experience gained and lessons learned ▪ Speaking at the opening ceremony of the from the WHO-coordinated international WHA, Xi said China “supports” the idea of health response to COVID-19.” a comprehensive review of the global Why is the resolution important? response towards Covid-19 after it was ▪ Since the pandemic, there has been brought under control. increasing pressure on China, which so far ▪ The Trump administration sees China’s has opposed suggestions for inquiry into announcement as a way to escape the origins of the virus. scrutiny over its alleged role in delaying ▪ Meanwhile, the US has repeatedly blamed providing information about the disease the WHO and claims the organisation outbreak. failed to obtain timely information and Conclusion share it in a transparent fashion. ▪ While the resolution has been endorsed at ▪ The US has said that the pandemic “had the WHA, it remains to be seen how the spun out of control” in great part due to a probe will be carried out and to what costly “failure” by the WHO. degree of independence. Significantly, the What does this mean for China? timeline of the probe is also not clear. So ▪ While the resolution has been endorsed at far, China has opposed demands calling the WHA, it remains to be seen how the for an international investigation into the probe will be carried out and to what virus. degree of independence. Significantly, the 2) Indian Ocean Islands timeline of the probe is also not clear. Diplomacy

Context: telephonic conversation agreed to ▪ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accelerate Indian-assisted development President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a projects in Sri Lanka and discussed the

possibility of promoting investments by countries in the times of crisis which has India’s private sector. created an environment of goodwill. What is the Background? What is the way forward? ▪ The move assumes significance against ▪ India should work on its fund of goodwill. the backdrop of China’s concerted push to ▪ India wishes to become a true partner develop infrastructure projects in Sri even in times of discomfort. Lanka and other countries under its Belt ▪ Maritime neighbours and for security and Road Initiative, which has led to might depend on India. criticism from the US about these ▪ India should focus on its strengths. countries being exposed to predatory Conclusion loans. ▪ India has charted the path of becoming an ▪ PM Modi also had a telephone “influential” and “responsible” leader in conversation with his counterpart in the Indian Ocean region. As New Delhi Mauritius, and discussed enhancing ambitiously moves toward this end, it cooperation in several areas, including must ensure that island nations, owing to measures to support the financial sector their centrality in shaping power of Mauritius. dynamics in the Indian Ocean region, gain What are Indian efforts in helping prominence in India’s ocean diplomacy. countries in the Indian Ocean region? 3) Privatisation of Public sector ▪ PM's call to both the countries was necessary as both the countries are within enterprises the security ambit of India. ▪ There are deep economic interests too. ▪ China has also become active in the Indian Ocean region and so India needs to increase its contacts with the Indian Ocean countries. What are India- China relations in the current scenarios? ▪ China's aggressive stance increased in the LAC 2. ▪ India is also planning to pin down China as around 56% of Chinese oil imports come from the Strait of Malacca; from Angola, it is 12% and even 12% from South America. ▪ Most of these lanes for this pass-through Madagascar and Mauritius. What are the steps taken by India? ▪ India wants to be a guarantor of security and growth for the region. ▪ SAGAR mantra- India has supplied essentials to island nations in times of crisis. ▪ Though it has been able to deliver on its promises, it still has a laggard approach. ▪ India follows a consultative approach. Context: ▪ India should start building regional ▪ Union Finance Minister Nirmala security mechanisms. Sitharaman recently announced major ▪ India should look at the holistic picture. reforms for Public Sector Undertakings, as ▪ India has built upon goodwill with all the a result of which many sectors are likely countries. to see large-scale consolidation and ▪ Though India cannot take on China in divestment of State-run firms. terms of economy, it is helping the What is the Background?

▪ The government will soon announce a control as multiple private operators new PSU policy, which will focus on entered and prospered over the years. privatising PSUs in non-strategic sectors ▪ Of course, service standards and the based on feasibility. bouquet of services on offer improved, ▪ The policy will, in parallel, specify certain country wide penetration of airline and strategic sectors in which the “presence of telecom services also improved vastly PSEs in public interest” will be because of private enterprise. mandatory. ▪ And the public sector enterprises in both What is the objective? these sectors went from being profitable ▪ In strategic sectors, at least one market leaders to massive loss makers, enterprise will remain in the public sector operating at the margins of the industry. but private sector will also be allowed. ▪ But today, both telecom and civil aviation ▪ To minimize wasteful administrative sectors are in deep financial trouble (even costs, the number of PSEs in strategic before Covid hit airline operations) due to sectors will ordinarily be only one to four. skewed tariff policies and some historic ▪ Others will be privatised/merged or baggage. brought under holding companies. ▪ And the abundance of private operators What is Privatisation? has done little for the viability of either ▪ As the term suggests, Privatisation means sector. migration from the Public to Private ▪ Not just the public sector companies in Sector through the transfer of ownership, each, now even some private operators management and control. are seeking government concessions. ▪ In India, privatisation is aimed at Conclusion improving the inflow of Foreign Direct ▪ The view that the government should exit Investment (FDI) or investment in sectors all except a limited number of sectors that require technological advancements, considered strategic is fine, as long as the thereby directly providing a boost to exit strategy also makes economic sense. Economy. Besides, the handing over to the private What is the need for this move? sector has not always led to improvement ▪ The finance minister said there is a need in parameters. Also, there is the matter of for coherent policy where all sectors are the lakhs employed by PSEs and what to open to the private sector while public do with such a large workforce, especially sector enterprises will play an important after the Covid19 induced unemployment. role in defined areas. ▪ The minister also said no fresh insolvency cases would be initiated for up to a year, in a move to avoid a wave of bankruptcies from companies hit by the coronavirus outbreak. ▪ Debt incurred by companies due to the coronavirus outbreak would not be considered a default under the country's bankruptcy code. ▪ Bankruptcies in India are expected to climb as the coronavirus outbreak hits distressed companies harder in Asia’s third-largest economy. Has Privatisation been successful? ▪ Privatisation or opening up a sector to private participation has not always led to bountiful gains. ▪ Take the case of telecom and aviation sectors, where the public companies - Air India and BSNL/MTNL - gradually ceded

06-26-09-04-29/malabar-wildlife- sanctuary References ▪ https://tamilnadu- favtourism.blogspot.com/2015/10/kanya POLITY: kumari-wildlife-sanctuary.html ▪ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/w ▪ https://www.nwf.org/Educational- ealth/invest/good-news-for-senior- Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Threats-to- citizens-pm-vaya-vandana-yojana- Wildlife/Invasive-Species pension-scheme-extended-till-march-31- ▪ https://invasions.si.edu/nemesis/browse 2023/articleshow/75845146.cms?from= DB/SpeciesSummary.jsp?TSN=-208 mdr ▪ https://www.livemint.com/money/perso IR nal-finance/govt-s-senior-citizen- ▪ https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/21/asi pension-scheme-extended-but-interest- a/nepal-india-map-territories- lowered-10-points- intl/index.html 11590038716605.html ▪ https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/21/asi ▪ https://vikaspedia.in/social- a/nepal-india-map-territories- welfare/senior-citizens-welfare/pradhan- intl/index.html mantri-vaya-vandana-yojana ▪ https://www.livemint.com/news/india/il ▪ 2)https://www.thehindu.com/business/g o-expresses-deep-concern-over-labour- oogle-faces-antitrust-case-in- law-changes-appeals-to-pm-narendra- india/article31689733.ece modi-11590394493866.html ▪ https://www.cci.gov.in/about-cci ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/news/intern ▪ 3)https://tribal.nic.in/FRA/data/FRARul ational/china-parliament-approves-hong- esBook.pdf kong-security-bill-as-tensions-with-us- ▪ https://tribal.nic.in/FRA/data/FAQ.pdf rise/article31693578.ece ▪ https://tribal.nic.in/declarationof5thSche ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation dule.aspx al/prestigious-un-award-for-army-major- ▪ https://pesadarpan.gov.in/en suman-gawani/article31706187.ece ▪ https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peac e/1988/un/facts/ Economy ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/news/intern ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/business/Ec ational/european-union-unveils-750- onomy/gdp-growth-dips-to-31-in- billion-economy-rescue- january-march-42-in-2019- plan/article31689740.ece 20/article31703885.ece ▪ https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/21/asi ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/business/cor a/nepal-india-map-territories- e-sector-output-contracts-38-in- intl/index.html april/article31705224.ece ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/business/gst al/what-explains-the-india-china-border- -council-likely-to-meet-in-mid- flare-up/article31660378.ece june/article31705206.ece . ▪ https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ S&T economy/fiscal-deficit-for-2019-20-at- ▪ https://www.investopedia.com/insights/ 46/article31704950.ece what-dark-net/ ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/business/fdi- o https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/deep- rises-13-to-50-bn-highest-flow-into- web-dark-web-darknet/ services/article31698998.ece o https://www.techopedia.com/definition/ . 2395/darknet Environment o https://www.thehindu.com/sci- ▪ http://www.forest.kerala.gov.in/index.ph tech/technology/internet/details-of-290- p/wildlife/2015-03-16-09-50-24/2015- crore-job-seekers-on-darknet/article31660935.ece/amp/

▪ https://www.thehindu.com/sci- o https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/202 tech/science/phase-1-trial-adenovirus- 0/03/business/what-is-5g/index.html covid-19-vaccine-found-safe-induces- o https://www.qualcomm.com/invention/ immune- 5g/what-is-5g responses/article31656177.ece/amp/ o o https://www.webmd.com/children/aden ovirus-infections#1 Health ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/sci- al/tamil-nadu/vande-bharat-express- tech/science/blood-clots-in-the-lung- trains-may-be-delayed- may-be-a-major-cause-of-covid-19- further/article31666428.ece/amp/ deaths/article31659757.ece o https://indianexpress.com/article/what- ▪ https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/s is/what-is-train-18-5447430/ ilent-hypoxia-coronavirus-explained- o https://www.mapsofindia.com/governm 6394899/. ent-of-india/make-in-india.html o https://www.makeinindia.com/about Editorials ▪ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/te ▪ https://indianexpress.com/article/opinio ch/software/how-to-use-aarogya-setu- n/columns/india-lockdown-rural- app-and-find-out-if-you-have-covid-19- distress-coronavirus-a-moment-to- symptoms/articleshow/75023152.cms revive-mgnrega-6421558/ o https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead al/coronavirus-govt-opens-up-aarogya- /the-need-for-a-million-worksites- setu-program-code-announces-reward- now/article31665949.ece for-finding-security- ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op- flaws/article31681142.ece ed/how-india-can-become-self- o https://opensource.com/resources/what reliant/article31681288.ece -open-source o https://searchapparchitecture.techtarget. PIB com/definition/source-code ▪ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation ?PRID=1626586 al/coronavirus-govt-opens-up-aarogya- ▪ http://usttad.minorityaffairs.gov.in/Abou setu-program-code-announces-reward- t.aspx for-finding-security- ▪ 2)https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm. flaws/article31681142.ece aspx?PRID=1626550 ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation ▪ https://www.indiafellow.org/blog/2019/ al/glenmark-begins-phase-3-clinical- 09/who-are-the-katkari/ trials-on-antiviral-drug-favipiravir-for- ▪ 3)https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.as covid-19-patients-in- px?PRID=1626778 india/article31563198.ece/amp/ ▪ https://pharmaceuticals.gov.in/national- o https://www.thehindu.com/business/gle pharmaceutical-pricing-authority nmark-to-conduct-faith- ▪ https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ trials/article31681079.ece/amp/ opinion/columns/all-you-wanted-to- o https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB136 know-about-essential-commodities- 09 act/article21689980.ece1 ▪ https://phys.org/news/2014-06- pharmaceutical-ingredients.html o https://www.thehindu.com/business/par ▪ 4) acetamol-api-exports-to- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx resume/article31697878.ece ?PRID=1626876 ▪ https://www.thehindu.com/news/intern ▪ http://ddnews.gov.in/national/union- ational/uk-moots-5g-club-to-keep-out- minister-nitin-gadkari-inaugurates- huawei/article31707725.ece/amp/ breakthrough-event-chamba-tunnel- o https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/17/tec under-chardham h/5g-technical-explainer/index.html

▪ https://www.news18.com/news/india/c ▪ https://www.carnaticstudent.org/resour hardham-project-nitin-gadkari-lauds-bro- ces/a-brief-introduction-to-carnatic- for-chamba-tunnel-construction- music/ 2637767.html o https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org /entry/Carnatic_music o https://www.karnataka.com/personalitie ▪ 5)https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.as s/purandara-dasa/ px?PRID=1627387 o https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation ▪ https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en al/karnataka/purandara-dasas- /home/about-us/faqs.html#related birthplace-archaeology-dept-to-start- ▪ https://www.cipet.gov.in/aboutus/index. research-in-village-in-shivamogga- php dist/article31673889.ece/amp/ ▪ https://www.ilo.org/global/lang-- en/index.htm INDIAN EXPRESS EXPLAINED ▪ https://ndma.gov.in/en/2013-05-03-08- ▪ 6)https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.as 06-02/disaster/natural-disaster/heat- px?PRID=1627631 wave.html ▪ http://www.trifed.in/trifed/(S(tyaicnpbt o https://indianexpress.com/article/explai w5yejdt3kc1wkbf))/about_trifed.aspx ned/heatwave-north-india-summer- ▪ https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/market temperature-weather-6429318/ -information/minimum-support-price- o http://www.fao.org/food-chain- for-minor-forest-produce crisis/how-we-work/plant- protection/locusts/en/ AIR o https://indianexpress.com/article/explai ▪ http://newsonair.com/News?title=Prakas ned/explained-why-we-have-a-desert- h-Javadekar-stresses-on-climate-finance- locust-problem-this-year-6431837/ o in-first-virtual-Petersberg-Climate- https://indianexpress.com/article/explai Dialogue&id=386983 ned/explained-how-locusts-came-what- next-6432162/ ▪ 2)http://newsonair.com/News?title=Govt o https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/edit -decides-to-provide-Mid-day-meals-to- orial/the-swarm-the-hindu-editorial-on- students-during-summer-vacation-in- locust-attack/article31689895.ece wake-of-situation-arising-out-of-COVID- o https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop- 19&id=386997 production/integrated-pest- ▪ http://samagra.mhrd.gov.in/about.html managment/locusts-management/locust-

control-and-plant-protection RSTV

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