Current Affairs (CONSOLIDaTION)

February 2021 (Part – II)

Drishti, 641, First Floor, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009 Phone: 87501 87501, WhatsApp: 92058 85200, IVR: 8010-440-440 Email: [email protected] Contents

Polity and Governance...... 1 z UNHRC’s New Resolution Against Sri Lanka...... 1 z New IT Rules 2021...... 2 z National Commission for Scheduled Castes...... 4 z Nurturing Neighbourhoods...... 5 z Challenge: Smart Cities Mission...... 5 z National Hydrogen Energy Mission...... 6 z Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 Scheme...... 7 z Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ...... 8 z Status of WASH in Healthcare Facilities in India: CDDEP...... 9 z International Mother Language Day ...... 10 z OTT Service Providers vs Telecom Service Providers...... 12 z Liberalisation of the Geo-Spatial Sector...... 13 z Digital Intelligence Unit ...... 14 z Report on Road Accidents: World Bank...... 15 z Corruption Perception Index 2020 ...... 17 z Draft Blue Economy Policy ...... 18 z Right of Reputation vs Right to Dignity...... 19 z Conclusive Land Titling...... 20 z IIT Council’s Recommendations...... 22 z National Urban Digital Mission...... 23 z PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme...... 24 z President’s Rule in Puducherry...... 25

Economic Scenario...... 27 z Blank-Cheque Company...... 27 z Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021...... 28 z Accredited Investors ...... 28 z China: India’s Top Trading Partner in 2020...... 29 z Media Platform Bill: Australia ...... 30 z Securities Appellate Tribu­nal...... 31 z India Energy Outlook 2021: IEA...... 32 z Certified Jute Seeds...... 33 z Increased Foreign Portfolio Investments...... 34 z RBI Directives to HFCs...... 36 z Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries...... 37 z Anti-Dumping Duty on Steel Imports from China...... 38 z Flexible Inflation Target ...... 39

International Relations...... 41 z CECPA: India & Mauritius...... 41 z Ceasefire Along Line of Control...... 42 z India-China Hotline...... 44 z FATF Retains Pakistan In Grey List...... 44 z India - Maldives...... 45 z Quad Meeting...... 47 z Transatlantic Alliance...... 48 z Boosting Cooperation in South Asia...... 49 z New York Convention...... 50 z World Trade Organisation...... 50 z IAEA - Iran Deal over Nuclear Inspections...... 52 z Senkaku Island Dispute...... 53

Science and Technology...... 55 z Epilepsy...... 55 z Genetically Modified Organisms as Imported Food Crops...... 55 z Airline Mapping of Ocean Floor...... 56 z National Technology Awards 2020 ...... 57 z NASA’ s Mars 2020 Mission...... 58 z Bhuvan Portal...... 60 z Sandes: Government Instant Messaging System...... 61 z Bhuvan Portal...... 61 z Beema Bamboo Crash Barrier ...... 63 z Silver Antimony Telluride: A Material to Tap Waste Heat...... 63

Environment and Ecology...... 65 z NGT Suggests National River Rejuvenation Mechanism...... 65 z Migratory Birds and Chilika Lake ...... 66 z Sitanadi-Udanti Tiger Reserve: Chhattisgarh...... 67 z Report on Winter Pollution: CSE...... 68 z Olive Ridley Turtles...... 69 z Making Peace with Nature: UNEP Report...... 70 z Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha...... 71 z Gangetic River Dolphin...... 72 z Mandarin Duck...... 73 z Pollution from Coal Burning: IEACCC ...... 74 z Coelacanth...... 75 z World’s Smallest Reptile...... 76 z Greenpeace Analysis on Economic Cost of Air Pollution...... 77 z Hyderabad: Tree City of the World...... 78 z Black-Necked Crane...... 79 z State of Environment Report 2021: CSE...... 80

History...... 81 z Maharaja Suheldev...... 81 z Pagri Sambhal Movement...... 81 z Mannathu Padmanabhan...... 83

Art & Culture...... 84 z Vijayanagar King Krishnadevaraya...... 84 z Ancient Buddhist Monastery Found in Jharkhand...... 84 z Khwaja Monuddin Chishti...... 85 z Guru Ravidas Jayanti...... 86

Geography...... 87 z Declining Rainfall in Cherrapunji...... 87 z Nathu La, Sikkim...... 88

Social Issues...... 89 z Same Sex Marriage...... 89 z Autism Spectrum Disorder...... 90

Security...... 91 z Roads on Arunachal Border...... 91 z NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21: UAE...... 92 z Arjun MBT MK-1A...... 93 z Helina and Dhruvastra: Anti-tank Guided Missile...... 93 www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 1 Polity and Governance

Highlights z UNHRC’s New Resolution Against Sri Lanka z Liberalisation of the Geo-Spatial Sector z New IT Rules 2021 z Digital Intelligence Unit z National Commission for Scheduled Castes z Report on Road Accidents: World Bank z Nurturing Neighbourhoods z Corruption Perception Index 2020 z Challenge: Smart Cities Mission z Draft Blue Economy Policy z National Hydrogen Energy Mission z Right of Reputation vs Right to Dignity z Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 Scheme z Conclusive Land Titling z Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease z IIT Council’s Recommendations z Status of WASH in Healthcare Facilities in India: CDDEP z National Urban Digital Mission z International Mother Language Day z PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme z OTT Service Providers vs Telecom Service Providers z President’s Rule in Puducherry

Key Points UNHRC’s New ¾ The New Draft Resolution/ The Zero Draft: Resolution Against Sri Lanka € It incorporates some of the elements of the UNHRC report, including those on strengthening the Why in News HRC’s capacity on preserving evidence, devising strategies for future accountability processes, Recently, Sri Lanka has made an appeal to the member and supporting judicial proceedings in member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council states with jurisdiction. (UNHRC) to reject the impending resolution on the island z As per the UNHRC report, the government of Sri nation’s human rights accountability and reconciliation. Lanka had created parallel military task forces ¾ Sri Lanka is facing a new resolution calling on it to and commissions that encroach on civilian hold human rights abusers to account and deliver functions, and reversed important institutional justice to victims of its26-year civil war (1983-2009). checks and balances, threatening democratic € The war was mainly a clash between the Sinhalese- gains, the independence of the judiciary and dominated Sri Lankan government and the other key institutions. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) insurgent € It also talks about encouraging the Sri Lankan group, the latter of which had hoped to establish government to implement the requirements of the a separate state for the Tamil minority. previous 30/1 resolution (from which it pulled out). ¾ Sri Lankan forces z Resolution 30/1: and Tamil rebels „ It wanted Colombo to establish a credible were accused of judicial process, with the participation of atrocities during Commonwealth and other foreign judges, the war, which killed defence lawyers and authorised prosecutors at least 1,00,000 and investigators, to go into the alleged people. rights abuses.

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„ Recently, Sri Lanka has said that Resolution 30/1 was against the country. The Resolution carried a host of commitments that were not deliverable and were not in conformity with the Constitution of Sri Lanka. € It asks the High Commissioner’s office to monitor progress on national reconciliation and accountability mechanisms, and come up with updates next March, and a full report in September 2022. ¾ UNHRC’s Stand: € The present government in Sri Lanka was “proactively” obstructing investigationsinto past crimes to prevent accountability, and that this had a “devastating effect” on families seeking truth, Key Points justice and reparations. ¾ € United Nations (UN) member states “should Background: pay attention to the early warning signs of more € 2018: violations to come, and called for “international z The Supreme Court (SC) had observed that action” including targeted sanctions such as asset the Government of India may frame necessary freezes and travel bans against “credibly alleged” guidelines to eliminate child pornography, rape perpetrators of grave human rights violations and and gangrape imageries, videos and sites in abuses. content hosting platforms and other applications. € States should also pursue investigations and € 2020: prosecution in their national courtsunder accepted z An Ad-hoc committee of the Rajya Sabha principles of extraterritorial or universal jurisdiction laid its report after studying the alarming of international crimes committed by all parties issue of pornography on social media and its in Sri Lanka. effect on children and society as a whole and ¾ India’s Stand on Previous Resolutions Against Sri recommended for enabling identification of the Lanka: first originator of such contents. € India voted against Sri Lanka in 2012. z The government brought video streaming over- € India abstained in 2014. the-top (OTT) platforms under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. New IT Rules 2021 ¾ New Guidelines for Social Media/ Intermediaries: € Categories of Social Media Intermediaries: Why in News z Based on the number of users, on the social media platform intermediaries have been Recently, the government has notifiedInformation divided in two groups: Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media „ . Ethics Code) Rules 2021. Social media intermediaries „ ¾ These new rules broadly deal with social media and Significant social media intermediaries. over-the-top (OTT) platforms. € Due Diligence to be Followed by Intermediaries: ¾ These rules have been framed in exercise of powers z In case, due diligence is not followed by the under section 87 (2) of theInformation Technology intermediary, safe harbour provisions will not (IT) Act, 2000 and in supersession of the earlier apply to them. Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) z The safe harbour provisions have been defined Rules 2011. under Section 79 of the IT Act, and protect social

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media intermediaries by giving them immunity material punishable with imprisonment from legal prosecution for any content posted for a term of not less than five years. on their platforms. € Removal of Unlawful Information: € Grievance Redressal Mechanism is Mandatory: z An intermediary upon receiving actual knowledge z Intermediaries shall appoint a Grievance Officer in the form of an order by a court or being to deal with complaints and share the name notified by the Appropriate Govt. or its agencies and contact details of such officers. through authorized officer should not host or z Grievance Officer shall acknowledge the publish any information which is prohibited complaint within twenty four hours and resolve under any law in relation to the interest of the it within fifteen days from its receipt. sovereignty and integrity of India, public order, friendly relations with foreign countries etc. € Ensuring Online Safety and Dignity of Users: ¾ Rules for News Publishers and OTT Platforms and z Intermediaries shall remove or disable access

within 24 hours of receipt of complaints of Digital Media: contents that exposes the private areas of € For OTT: individuals, show such individuals in full or z Self-Classification of Content: partial nudity or in sexual act or is in the nature „ The OTT platforms, called as the publishers of impersonation including morphed images of online curated content in the rules, would etc. self-classify the content into five age based z Such a complaint can be filed either by the categories- U (Universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+, individual or by any other person on his/her U/A 16+, and A (Adult). behalf. z Parental Lock: € Additional Due Diligence for the Significant Social „ Platforms would be required to implement Media Intermediaries: parental locks for content classified as U/A z Appointments: Need to appoint Chief Compliance 13+ or higher, and reliable age verification Officer, a Nodal Contact Person and a Resident mechanisms for content classified as “A”. Grievance Officer, all of whom should be z Display Rating: resident in India. „ Shall prominently display the classification z Compliance Report: Need to publish a monthly rating specific to each content or programme compliance report mentioning the details together with a content descriptor informing of complaints received and action taken on the user about the nature of the content, and the complaints as well as details of contents advising on viewer description (if applicable) removed proactively. at the beginning of every programme enabling z Enabling Identity of the Originator: the user to make an informed decision, prior to watching the programme. „ Significant social media intermediaries providing services primarily in the nature of € For Publishers of News on Digital Media: messaging shall enable identification of the z They would be required to observe Norms first originator of the information. of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council „ Required only for the purposes of prevention, of India and the Programme Code under the detection, investigation, prosecution or Cable Television Networks Regulation Act 1995 punishment of an offence related to thereby providing a level playing field between sovereignty and integrity of India, the security the offline (Print, TV) and digital media. of the State, friendly relations with foreign € Grievance Redressal Mechanism: States, or public order, z A three-level grievance redressal mechanism has 1. Or of incitement to an offence relating to been established under the rules with different the above or in relation with rape, sexually levels of self-regulation. explicit material or child sexual abuse „ Level-I: Self-regulation by the publishers;

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„ Level-II: Self-regulation by the self-regulating z It provides for a National Commission for the bodies of the publishers; Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with „ Level-III: Oversight mechanism. duties to investigate and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for them, to € Self-regulation by the Publisher: inquire into specific complaints and to participate z Publisher shall appoint a Grievance Redressal and advise on the planning process of their Officer based in India who shall be responsible socio-economic development etc. for the redressal of grievances received by it. ¾ History and Origin: z The officer shall take decision on every grievance € Special Officer: received by it within 15 days. z Initially, the constitution provided for the € Self-Regulatory Body: appointment of a Special Officer under Article z There may be one or more self-regulatory 338. bodies of publishers. z The special officer was designated as the z Such a body shall be headed by a retired judge Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and of the SC, a High Court or independent eminent Scheduled Tribes. person and have not more than six members. € 65th Amendment, 1990: z Such a body will have to register with the Ministry z It replaced the one-member system with a multi- of Information and Broadcasting. member National Commission for Scheduled z This body will oversee the adherence by the Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). publisher to the Code of Ethics and address z The Constitution (65th Amendment) Act 1990, grievances that have not been resolved by the amended Article 338 of the Constitution. publisher within 15 days. € 89th Amendment, 2003: € Oversight Mechanism: z By this amendment, the erstwhile National z Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shall Commission for SC and ST was replaced by formulate an oversight mechanism. two separate Commissions from the year 2004 z It shall publish a charter for self-regulating which were: National Commission for Scheduled bodies, including Codes of Practices. It shall Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for establish an Inter-Departmental Committee Scheduled Tribes (NCST)- under Article 338-A. for hearing grievances. ¾ Structure: € It consists of: National Commission z Chairperson. z Vice-chairperson. for Scheduled Castes z Three other members. € They are appointed by the President by warrant Why in News under his hand and seal. Recently, Vijay Sampla has been appointed as the ¾ Functions: chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled € Monitoring and investigating all issues concerning Castes (NCSC). the safeguards provided for the SCs under the constitution. Key Points € Enquiring into complaints relating to the deprivation ¾ About: of the rights and safeguards of the SCs. € NCSC is a constitutional body that works to € Taking part in and advising the central or state safeguard the interests of the scheduled castes governments with respect to the planning of (SC) in India. socio-economic development of the SCs. € Article 338 of the constitution of India deals with € Regular reporting to the President of the country this commission: on the implementation of these safeguards.

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€ Recommending steps to be taken to further the socio-economic development and other welfare Nurturing Neighbourhoods activities of the SCs. Challenge: Smart Cities Mission € Any other function with respect to the welfare, protection, development and advancement of the SC community. Why in News € The Commission is also required to discharge The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has similar functions with regard to theAnglo-Indian announced the names of the 25 cities selected for the Community as it does with respect to the SCs. Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge under the Smart € Till 2018, the commission was also required to Cities Mission. discharge similar functions with regard to the other backward classes (OBCs). It was relieved Key Points from this responsibility by the 102nd Amendment ¾ About the Challenge: Act of 2018 € Launch: November 2020. Other Constitutional Provisions € Features: For Upliftment of the Schedule Caste z It is a 3-year initiative that aims to work with ¾ Article 15(4) refers to the special provisions for Indian cities and their partners to pilot and their advancement. scale ways to improve public space, mobility, ¾ Article 16(4A) speaks of “reservation in matters neighborhood planning, access to early childhood of promotion to any class or classes of posts in services and amenities, and data management the services under the State in favour of SCs/ across city agencies. STs, which are not adequately represented in the z It aims to propagate an early childhood centric services under the State’. approach among Indian cities. ¾ Article 17 abolishes Untouchability. € Partner Organisations: ¾ Article 46 requires the State ‘to promote with special z Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Bernard care the educational and economic interests of the van Leer Foundation (BvLF) and World Resources weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, Institute (WRI) India. of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, € Support to Selected Cities: and to protect them from social injustice and all z Selected cities based on their proposal, readiness, forms of exploitation. and commitment - will receive technical support ¾ Article 335 provides that the claims of the members and capacity-building to develop, pilot and of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes scale solutions that enhance the quality of life shall be taken into consideration, consistently with of young children. the maintenance of efficiency of administration, ¾ Significance: in the making of appointments to services and € Sensitivity Towards Children: Urban design and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union city planning play a crucial role in shaping the early or of a State. years (0- 5 years) of a child’s life – the period most ¾ Article 330 and Article 332 of the Constitution vital for a child’s long-term health and development. respectively provide for reservation of seats in favour € In Line with the ITCN Framework of the Smart of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Cities Mission: ITCN refers to the Infant, Toddler, in the House of the People and in the legislative Caregiver-Friendly Neighbourhoods framework. assemblies of the States. It has the following five objectives pertaining ¾ Under Part IX relating to thePanchayats and Part to neighbourhoods - Safe, Playful, Accessible, IXA of the Constitution relating to the Municipalities, Inclusive and Green. reservation for SC and ST in local bodies has been € Promotes Inclusive Development: It promotes envisaged and provided. inclusive development as it aims to enhance

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opportunities in urban areas for all vulnerable € Focus on generation of hydrogen from green citizens, especially young children. power resources. € To link India’s growing renewable capacity with Smart City Mission the hydrogen economy. ¾ About: It is an innovative initiative under the Ministry z India’s ambitious goal of 175 GW by 2022 of Housing and Urban Affairs, to drive economic got an impetus in the 2021-22 budget which growth and improve the quality of life of people by allocated Rs. 1500 crore for renewable energy enabling local development and harnessing technology development and NHM. as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens. z The usage of hydrogen will not only help ¾ Objective: To promote cities that provide core India in achieving its emission goals under the infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to Paris Agreement, but will also reduce import its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment dependency on fossil fuels. and application of Smart Solutions. ¾ Hydrogen: ¾ Focus: On sustainable and inclusive development € Hydrogen is the and on the and to look at compact areas, create a replicable lightest first element periodic table. Since the weight of hydrogen is model which will act like a lighthouse to other less than air, it rises in the atmosphere and is aspiring cities. therefore rarely found in its pure form, H . ¾ Strategy: 2 € At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen € Pan-city initiative in which at least one Smart is a nontoxic, nonmetallic, odorless, tasteless, Solution is applied city-wide. colorless, and highly combustible diatomic gas. € Develop areas step-by-step with the help of € Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel burned with following three models: oxygen. It can be used in fuel cells or internal z Retrofitting. combustion engines. It is also used as a fuel for z Redevelopment. spacecraft propulsion. z Greenfield. € Type of Hydrogen: ¾ Coverage and Duration:The Mission covered 100 z Grey Hydrogen: cities for the duration of five years starting from the „ Constitutes India’s bulk Production. financial year (FY) 2015-16 to 2019-20. „ Extracted from hydrocarbons ( fossil fuels , ¾ Financing: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. natural gas ). „ By product: CO2 National z Blue Hydrogen: Hydrogen Energy Mission „ Sourced from fossil fuels. „ By product: CO, CO2 „ By products are Captured and Stored, so Why in News better than gey hydrogen. The Union Budget for 2021-22 has announced a z Green Hydrogen: that will National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) „ Generated from renewable energy (like draw up a road map for using hydrogen as an energy Solar, Wind). source. The initiative has the potential of transforming „ Electricity splits water into hydrogen and transportation. oxygen. ¾ NHM initiative will capitalise on one of the most „ By Products : Water , Water Vapor abundant elements on earth (Hydrogen) for a cleaner ¾ alternative fuel option. Asia-Pacific Stance: € In Asia-Pacific sub-continent, Japan and South Key Points Korea are on the front foot in terms of hydrogen ¾ About the National Hydrogen Energy Mission: policy making.

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€ In 2017, Japan formulated the Basic Hydrogen Strategy which sets out the country’s action Intensified Mission plan till 2030, including the establishment of an Indradhanush 3.0 Scheme international supply chain. € South Korea is operating hydrogen projects and Why in News Hydrogen Fuel Cell production units under the Recently, the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) auspices of its Hydrogen Economy Development 3.0 scheme has been rolled out to cover children and and Safe Management of Hydrogen Act, 2020. pregnant women who missed routine immunisation during z South Korea has also passed the Economic the Covid-19 pandemic. Promotion and Safety Control of Hydrogen Act, which deals with three key areas - hydrogen Key Points vehicles, charging stations and fuel cells. This ¾ About the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) law is intended to bring transparency to the 3.0 Scheme: nation’s hydrogen pricing system. € Objective: ¾ Indian Context: z To reach the unreached population with all the € India has a huge edge in green hydrogen production available vaccines under Universal Immunisation owing to its favorable geographic conditions and Programme (UIP) and thereby accelerate the presence of abundant natural elements. full immunization and complete immunization coverage of children and pregnant women. € The government has given impetus in scaling up the gas pipeline infrastructure across the length and € Coverage: breadth of the country, and has introduced reforms z It will have two rounds this year which will be for the power grid, including the introduction conducted in 250 pre-identified districts/urban of smart grids. Such steps are being taken to areas across 29 States/UTs. effectively integrate renewable energy in the „ The districts have been classified to reflect present energy mix. 313 low risk, 152 medium risk and 250 high € Capacity addition to renewable power generation, risk districts. storage and transmission, producing green hydrogen z Beneficiaries from migration areas and remote in India can become cost effectivewhich will not areas would be targeted as they may have only guarantee energy security, but also ensure missed their vaccine doses during the pandemic. self-sufficiency gradually. € Significance: It will foster India’s march towards ¾ Policy Challenges: the Sustainable Development Goals. ¾ € One of the biggest challenges faced by the industry Universal Immunization Programme: for using hydrogen commercially is the economic € Launch: sustainability of extracting green or blue hydrogen. z The Immunization Programme in India was z The technology used in production and use introduced in 1978 as ‘Expanded Programme of hydrogen like Carbon Capture and Storage of Immunization (EPI) by the Ministry of Health (CCS) and hydrogen fuel cell technology are at and Family Welfare. nascent stage and are expensive which in turn z In 1985, the Programme was modified as increases the cost of production of hydrogen. ‘Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)’. € Maintenance costs for fuel cells post-completion € Objectives of the Programme: of a plant can be costly. z Rapidly increasing immunization coverage, € The commercial usage of hydrogen as a fuel and z Improving the quality of services, in industries requires mammoth investment in z Establishing a reliable cold chain system to the R&D of such technology and infrastructure for health facility level, production, storage, transportation and demand z Introducing a district-wise system for monitoring creation for hydrogen. of performance, and

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z Achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine production. z It was a nationwide immunisation drive to € Analysis: mark the 25 years of Pulse polio programme (2019-20). z UIP prevents mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine- € Coverage: preventable diseases. But in the past, it was z It had targets of full immunization coverage in seen that the increase in immunization coverage 272 districts spread over 27 States. had slowed down and it increased at the rate z It aimed to achieve at least 90% pan-India of 1% per year between 2009 and 2013. immunisation coverage by 2022. z To accelerate the coverage, Mission Indradhanush was envisaged and implemented since 2015 to Non-Alcoholic rapidly increase the full immunization coverage to 90%. Fatty Liver Disease ¾ Mission Indradhanush: € Objective: Why in News z To fully immunize more than 89 lakh children who Recently, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated has launched the operational guidelines for integration under UIP. of NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) with z Targets children under 2 years of age and NPCDCS (National Programme for Prevention & Control pregnant women for immunization. of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke). € Diseases Covered: ¾ The NPCDCS is being implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM). It was launched in 2010 to z Provides vaccination against 12 Vaccine- prevent and control Preventable Diseases (VPD) i.e. diphtheria, Non-Communicable Diseases Whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, (NCDs). hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia, Key Points Haemophilus influenzae type B infections, Japanese encephalitis (JE), rotavirus vaccine, ¾ About NAFLD: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and € It is the abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver measles-rubella (MR). in the absence of secondary causes of fatty liver, z However, Vaccination against Japanese such as harmful alcohol use, viral hepatitis. Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenzae z Fatty liver occurs when too much fat builds up type B is being provided in selected districts in liver cells. of the country. € It is a serious health concern as it encompasses ¾ Intensified Mission Indradhanush 1.0: a spectrum of liver abnormalities, from a simple non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL, simple fatty liver € Launch: disease) to more advanced ones like non-alcoholic z It was launched in October 2017. steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and even liver € Coverage: cancer. z Under IMI, greater focus was given on urban z Steatohepatitis is characterized by inflammation areas which were one of the gaps of Mission of the liver with concurrent fat accumulation Indradhanush. in the liver. Mere deposition of fat in the liver z It focused to improve immunisation coverage is termed steatosis. in select districts and cities to ensure full z Cirrhosis is a complication of liver disease immunisation to more than 90% by December that involves loss of liver cells and irreversible 2018 instead of 2020. scarring of the liver. ¾ Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0: € NAFLD acts as an independent predictor of € Launch: future risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2

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diabetes and other metabolic syndromes like WASH hypertension, abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, ¾ WASH is an acronym that stands for the interrelated glucose intolerance. areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. ¾ Risk From NAFLD: ¾ The World Health Organisation (WHO) WASH € High Fatality Rate: Strategy has been developed in response to Member z Over the last two decades, the global burden of State Resolution (WHA 64.4) and the 2030 Agenda NASH has more than doubled. NASH caused 40 for Sustainable Development (SDG 3: Good Health lakh prevalent cases of compensated cirrhosis in and Well Being, SDG 6: Clean Water And Sanitation). 1990, which increased to 94 lakh cases in 2017. ¾ It is a component of WHO’s 13th General Programme € Risks Obese and Diabetic Individuals: of Work 2019–2023 which aims to contribute to the health of three billion through multisectoral z Epidemiological studies suggest that prevalence of NAFLD is around 9% to 32% of the general actions like better emergency preparedness and response; and one billion with population in India with a higher prevalence Universal Health Coverage (UHC). in those with overweight or obesity and those with diabetes or prediabetes. ¾ It also takes on board the need for progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking- € Incurable: water and sanitation, adopted by the UN General z Once the disease develops, there is no specific Assembly in July 2010. cure available, and health promotion and prevention aspects targeting weight reduction, Key Points healthy lifestyle, etc. can prevent the mortality ¾ Need for Study: and morbidity due to NAFLD. € Inadequate Healthcare And Sanitation Facilities: ¾ Steps Taken by the Government: A 2019 joint global baseline report by WHO and € Aligning NPCDCS programme strategies to prevent UNICEF had pointed out that globally, one in four and control NAFLD by encouraging behavior healthcare facilities lacked basic water servicing changes, early diagnosis and capacity building at and one in five had no sanitation service and 42% various levels of healthcare. had no hygiene facilities at point of care. € Promoting screening of cancer, diabetes and € Economic Importance of Sanitation:A 2012 WHO hypertension under Ayushman Bharat scheme. report had calculated that for every dollar invested in sanitation, there was USD 5.50 to be gained in € Along with the focus of ‘Eat Right India’ and lower health costs, more productivity and fewer ‘Fit India Movement’, the entire vision of the premature deaths. government is to move from Diagnostic Cure to Preventive Health. € Fatalities due to Improper Implementation of the WAH Strategy: z A WHO document on WASH in healthcare Status of WASH in Healthcare facilities points out that 8,27,000 people in Facilities in India: CDDEP low- and middle-income countries die as a result of inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene each year. Why in News z Also, death of 2,97,000 children under five years A recent research from Center for Disease Dynamics, can be prevented each year if better WASH Economics and Policy (CDDEP), USA, has estimated the could be provided. cost of ensuring WASH and taking related steps for ¾ Objectives of the Study: infection prevention and control for one year in healthcare € To determine the cost-effectiveness of WASH facilities across India. interventions to reduce healthcare-associated ¾ CDDEP aims to use research to support better decision- infections among mother and neonates across making in health policy. the Indian healthcare system.

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¾ Findings: € Cost Estimates: Improving WASH across the public International healthcare facilities in India and maintaining this Mother Language Day for a year would cost Rs. 2567 crores approximately in capital costs and Rs. 2095 crores in recurrent Why in News expenses. Every year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific z Costly Interventions: Providing clean water, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates 21st linen reprocessing and sanitation. February as International Mother Language Day to z Least Expensive Interventions: Hand hygiene, promote mother tongue-based multilingual education. medical device reprocessing and environmental ¾ The theme of the 2021 celebrations, “Fostering surface cleaning. multilingualism for inclusion in education and society,” € Healthcare Associated Infections: recognizes that languages and multilingualism can z Inadequacies in proving WASH and also lack advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development of infection prevention and control can lead Goals focus on leaving no one behind. to healthcare associated infections. ¾ The world has over 7,000 languages whereas India z Causative Agents: The pathogens like alone has about 22 officially recognized languages, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus 1635 mother tongues, and 234 identifiable mother faecalis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, tongues. Streptococcus pneumoniae have been found Key Points to be causative agents of healthcare associated infections because of their ability to develop ¾ About the International Mother Language Day: st resistance to antibiotics. € UNESCO declared 21 February as International Mother Language Day in 1999 and World has been z Common Healthcare Associated Infections: celebrating the same since 2000. The day also Central-line-associated bloodstream infections, commemorates a long struggle by Bangladesh Catheter-associated urinary tract infections, to protect its mother language Bangla. Surgical site infections and Ventilator-associated € The resolution to mark 21st February as the pneumonia. International Mother Language Day wassuggested ¾ Importance of the Study: by Rafiqul Islam, a Bangladeshi living in Canada. € Suggests Suitable Strategies: Findings show He proposed the said date to commemorate the that addressing gaps in WASH across the Indian 1952 killings in Dhaka during the Bangla Language healthcare system is not only within the realm of Movement. possibility in terms of affordability – when compared € The initiative is aimed at preserving and promoting to other national health campaigns – but can also mother languages. The aim is to protect the diverse be combined with other national efforts to address culture and intellectual heritage of different regions health priorities such as antimicrobial resistance. of the world. z It also highlights the need for a concerted effort ¾ Related Data: from local bodies, State and Central governments € According to the United Nations (UN),every two to sustainably address quality and inequality weeks, a language disappears and the world loses issues in WASH provision. an entire cultural and intellectual heritage. € Improve Healthcare Policy Framing: The intersection z Due to globalization, the rush for learning between WASH, infection prevention and control foreign languages for better job opportunities and antimicrobial resistance is unique in that it offers is a major reason behind the disappearance of policy makers an opportunity to address multiple mother languages. overlapping problems through interventions on € At least 43% of the estimated 6000 languages WASH in healthcare facilities. spoken in the world are endangered.

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€ Only a few hundred languages have been genuinely € The University Grants Commission (UGC) also given a place in education systems and public promotes regional languages in higher education domain. Also, 40% of the global population does courses in the country and supports nine Central not have access to education in a language they Universities under the scheme “Establishment speak or understand. of Centre for Endangered Languages in Central € Less than a hundred languages are used in the Universities”. digital world. € Other Initiatives by the Government of India include ¾ Global Efforts for Protection of Languages: the Bharatavani project and the proposed setting € The UN has designated the period between 2022 up of a Bharatiya Bhasha Vishwavidyalaya (BBV). and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous z Further, the Vice President has highlighted Languages. other areas for the use of local languages, i.e. z Earlier, the United Nations General Assembly in administration, court proceedings, higher had proclaimed 2019 as the International Year and technical education, etc. of Indigenous Languages (IYIL). € Recently, an initiative Namath Basai by Kerala State € The Yuelu Proclamation, made by UNESCO at Government has proved to be very beneficial in Changsha (China) in 2018, plays a central role in educating children from tribal areas by adopting guiding the efforts of countries and regions around vernacular languages as medium of instruction. the world to protect linguistic resources and diversity. € Google’s Project Navlekha uses technology to ¾ India’s Initiatives: protect mother language. The project is aimed € The recently announced National Education at increasing the online content in Indian local Policy 2020 has given maximum attention to the languages. development of mother tongues. Related Constitutional and Legal Provisions z The policy recommends that as far as possible, ¾ Article 29 of the Constitution (Protection of interests the medium of instruction shall be, at least till of minorities) gives all citizens right to conserve class 5, (preferably up to grade 8 and beyond) their language and prohibits discrimination on the mother tongue / vernacular / regional language. basis of language. z Instructions in mother tongue empowers ¾ Article 120 (Language to be used in Parliament) students with the subject and language of provides for use of Hindi or English for transactions their choice. It will help in building a truly of Parliament but gives the right to members of multilingual society in India, improve attendance Parliament to express themselves in their mother and learning outcomes, and the ability to learn tongue. new languages. ¾ Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with the € The Commission for Scientific and Technical official languages in Articles 343 to 351. Terminology (CSTT) is providing publication grants towards the publications of University Level Books € Article 350A (Facilities for instruction in mother- in regional languages. tongue at primary stage) provides that it shall be the endeavour of every State and of every local z It was established in 1961 to evolve technical terminology in all Indian Languages. authority within the State to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue € The National Translation Mission (NTM) is being at the primary stage of education to children implemented through the Central Institute of belonging to linguistic minority groups. Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore under which the text books of various subjects prescribed in € Article 350B (Special Officer for linguistic Universities and Colleges are being translated in minorities): The President should appoint a special all languages of the Eighth Schedule. officer for linguistic minorities to investigate all matters relating to the constitutional safeguards € “Protection and Preservation of Endangered for linguistic minorities and to report to him. The Languages” scheme for conservation of threatened President should place all such reports before languages.

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¾ the Parliament and send to the state government Issue of Regulation: concerned. € Licensing Regime: ¾ The Eighth Schedule recognises following 22 z Telecom operators are required to comply with languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, quality of service norms, audit of accounts, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, procure spectrum for services, pay goods and Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, services tax, licence fees and spectrum usage Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri. charges, facilitate lawful interception and monitoring system etc. but ¾ Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 says that the no such obligations medium of instruction shall, as far as practicable, are imposed on OTT players. be in a child’s mother tongue. € UCC Regulation: z The second important aspect is the Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) regulation OTT Service Providers vs that has been in force for TSPs since 2007. Telecom Service Providers z Recently, the government has also decided to set up a Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) as a Why in News nodal agency to deal with complaints of UCC and cases of financial fraud. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) z Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has urged the government to bring over-the-top (OTT) had come up with a consultation paperto deal service providers such as WhatsApp under the licensing with UCC on OTT service providers. However, it regime and defer net neutrality rules on telecom clarified thatno regulations would be imposed operators till the time ‘same service, same rules’ are on OTT calling and messaging apps till the time applied on the applications. clarity emerges in the international jurisdictions. ¾ COAI was constituted in 1995 as a registered, non- € Net Neutrality Rules: governmental society. COAI’s core membership includes z The net neutrality principles prohibit service private Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), namely providers from discriminating against Internet Bharti Airtel Ltd., Vodafone India Ltd., Reliance Jio content and services by blocking, throttling or Infocomm Ltd., operating across the whole country. according preferential higher speeds. Key Points z In 2016, TRAI published Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for data services ¾ Over-The-Top Service Providers: regulations, 2016. € OTT services refer to applications where providers „ As per these Regulations,no service provider deliver audio, video and other media over an can offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for IP network such as the internet, bypassing the data services on the basis of content. (such as cable traditional telecom operators z TSPs invest in network infrastructure and acquire companies). spectrum, without getting a share in the revenue € Examples: Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and Hike are of the OTT service providers. popular and widely-used OTT communication „ Some have argued that the investment by services. TSPs in internet infrastructure or penetration ¾ Impact of OTT Services on TSPs: levels would diminish if they are not permitted € OTT applications activelyuse TSPs’ infrastructure to practice differential pricing, due to a lack to provide their services. of incentive. € Many telecom operators are worried by the threat z Another contention of the TSPs is thatcertain OTT services provide to their own services. Countless websites or applications require higher OTT applications are designed as alternative bandwidth than others. formats of existing ‘classic’ communications „ For example, websites that stream video such as SMS. content utilise much more bandwidth than

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smaller messaging applications, for which € Renewal: the TSPs need to build and upgrade network z The policy had not been renewed in decades infrastructure. and has been driven by internal as well as ¾ Demands by the COAI: external security concerns. € Till the time any decision is taken regarding licensing € Dominated by Government: of OTT communication providers, unequitability z The sector so far is dominated by the Indian between TSPs and OTTs should not be increased government as well as government-run further by the TRAI. agencies such as the Survey of India and € Till such time, no new licensing conditions, private companies need to navigate a system including that of traffic management practices for of permissions from different departments net neutrality etc., should be imposed on TSPs. of the government (depending on the kind of data to be created) as well as the defence and Liberalisation of Home Ministries, to be able to collect, create or disseminate geo-spatial data. the Geo-Spatial Sector ¾ New Policy: € Open Access: Why in News z Open access to its geospatial data and services, Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology including maps, for all Indian entities, with the released new guidelines for the Geo-Spatial Sector in exception of sensitive defence or security- India, which deregulates existing protocol andliberalises related data. the sector to a more competitive field. € Restrictions Removed: z Indian corporations and innovators are no longer Key Points subject to restrictions nor do they require ¾ Geo-Spacial Data: prior approvals before they collect, generate, € Geospatial data is data about objects, events, or prepare, disseminate, store, publish, update phenomena that have a location on the surface digital geospatial data and maps within the of the earth. territory of India. z The location may be static in the short-term, like „ There shall be no requirement for security the location of a road, an earthquake event, clearance, licence or any other restrictions. malnutrition among children, or dynamic like ¾ Reason for Deregulation of Geo-Spacial Data: a or pedestrian, the moving vehicle spread of € Delayed Projects: an infectious disease. z System of acquiring licenses or permission, and € It combines Information on : the red tape involved, took months, delaying z Location, projects, especially those that are in mission z Attribute (the characteristics of the object, mode – for both Indian companies as well as event, or phenomena concerned), government agencies. z Temporal or time. z The deregulation eliminates the requirement € The past decade has seen an increase in the of permissions as well as scrutiny, even for use of geo-spatial data in daily life with various security concerns. Indian companies now apps such as food delivery, e-commerce or even can self-attest, conforming to government weather apps. guidelines without actually having to be ¾ Current State of the Geo-Spatial Sector: monitored by a government agency- these € Strict Restriction: guidelines therefore place a great deal of trust in Indian entities. z There are strict restrictions on the collection, storage, use, sale, disseminationof geo-spatial € Lack of Data: data and mapping under the current regime. z There is also a huge lack of data in the country

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which impedes planning for infrastructure, and more accurate data available to both the development and businesses which are data- government to formulate plans and administer, based. but also for individual Indians. z The mapping of the entire country, that too € New Employment: with high accuracy, by the Indian government z Startups and businesses can now also use this alone could take decades. data in setting up their concerns, especially in z The government therefore felt an urgent need the sector of e-commerce or geo-spatial based to incentivisethe geo-spatial sector for Indian apps – which in turn will increase employment companies and increased investment from in these sectors. private players in the sector. z Indian companies will be able to develop € Changing Needs: indigenous apps. z For decades, geo-spatial data has been a priority € Increased Public-Private Partnership: for strategic reasons and for internal and external z There is also likely to be an increase in public- security concerns, this priority has seen a shift private partnerships with the opening of this in the past 15 years. sector with data collection companies working z Initially conceptualised as a matter solely with the Indian government on various sectoral concerned with security, geo-spatial data projects. collection was the prerogative of the defence € Increased Investment: forces and the government. z The government also expects an increase „ Geographic Information System (GIS) in investment in the geo-spatial sector by mapping was also rudimentary, with the companies, and also an increase in export of government investing heavily in it after the data to foreign companies and countries, which Kargil war highlighted the dependence on in turn will boost the economy. foreign data and the need for indigenous sources of data.. z Geo-spatial data has now become imperative for Digital Intelligence Unit the government in planning for infrastructure, development, social development, natural Why in News calamities as well as the economy, with more and Recently, the Ministry of Communications has more sectors such as agriculture, environment decided to set up a Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) as a protection, power, water, transportation, nodal agency to deal with complaints of unsolicited communication, health (tracking of diseases, commercial communication (UCC) and cases of financial patients, hospitals etc) relying heavily on this data fraud, especially in the digital payments space. € Global Push: ¾ Apart from the DIU a Telecom Analytics for Fraud z There has also been a global push for open Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP)will access to geo-spatial as it affects the lives of also be set up at all the 22 license service area levels. ordinary citizens. ¾ It would also ensure strict compliance of the Telecom z Large amounts of geo-spatial data are also Commercial Communications Customer Preferences available on global platforms, which makes Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018 which provides a revised the regulation of data that is freely available regulatory framework aimed at regulating ‘unsolicited in other countries, untenable. commercial communication’ (UCC) in India. ¾ Impact of Deregulation: Key Points € Increased Competitiveness: z By liberalising the system, the government will ¾ Background: ensure more players in the field, competitiveness € Recently, the Delhi High Court (HC) ordered the of Indian companies in the global market, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

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to ensure “complete and strict” implementation „ The Telecom Commercial Communication of the regulation issued by it in 2018 for curbing Customer Preference Regulation, 2018 Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC). tightened the norms for all stakeholders in € Earlier in November, 2020 TRAI had imposed fines the telecom ecosystem to have facilities for of up to Rs 30 crore on telecom companies such users to complain against unsolicited calls as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Vodafone Idea or SMS. However, OTT players have thus far and Reliance Jio Infocomm for not putting enough remained untethered from regulations as far measures to control UCC, which occurred over their as UCC is concerned. networks between April and June 2020. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India € The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had, in its annual ¾ Statutory Body: report for 2018-19, said frauds related to misuse € Established by an Act of Parliament (Telecom of credit and debit cards, cloning of identities, and Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997) spam amounted to Rs 220 crore in the year. DIU ¾ could mitigate this menace. Objectives: € , including fixation/ ¾ Digital Intelligence Unit To regulate telecom services revision of tariffs for telecom services. € Objective: € Provide a fair and transparent policy environment z To coordinate with various law enforcement which promotes a level playing field and facilitates agencies, financial institutions and telecom fair competition. service providers in investigating any fraudulent ¾ Recent Amendment: activity involving telecom resources. € The TRAI Act was amended in the year 2000 € Significance: to establish a Telecommunications Dispute z Checking Unsolicited Commercial Communi- Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to cation (UCC): take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions „ The issue of UCC has been a major area of from TRAI. concern for the Telecom Ministry as well as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). It has from time to time fined telecom Report on Road operators for not following its directives on Accidents: World Bank stopping UCC. z Effective Redressal of Complaints: Why in News „ Along with DIU, a web and mobile application Recently, the Union Minister for Road Transport and as well as a SMS-based system shall be Highways released the World Bank Report titled “Traffic developed for effective redressal of complaints. Crash Injuries And Disabilities: The Burden on India z Instilling Trust In the Digital Ecosystem: Society”. „ The DIU system will strengthen the trust of ¾ The Report has been prepared in collaboration with people in the digital ecosystem and will make the NGO-Save Life Foundation. financial digital transactions primarily through ¾ The survey data was collected from four Indian states mobile more secure and reliable,which will i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. result in promotion of Digital India. z UCC on over-the-top (OTT) Service Providers: Key Points „ TRAI is also about to come up with a ¾ Global Fatalities due to Road Accidents: consultation paper to deal with UCC on € Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) Eighth- leading cause over-the-top (OTT) service providers.The of death. launched systems does not address the € Road Crash Fatality Rate - Three times higher in issue of UCC on over-the-top (OTT) service low-income countries compared to high-income providers such as WhatsApp. countries.

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¾ Road Accidents and Related Deaths in India: „ About 50% of women were severely affected € Accounts for 11% of the global death in road by the decline in their household income accidents, the highest in the world. after a crash. € Accounts for about 4.5 lakh road crashes per „ About 40% of women reported a change in annum, in which 1.5 lakh people die. their working patterns post-accident, while ¾ Economic Impacts of Road Accidents: around 11% reported taking up extra work to deal with the financial crisis. € Estimated Economic Loss - 3.14% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), indicating underreporting € Rural-Urban Divide: phenomenon in the country. z The income decline for low-income rural € Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) households (56%) was the most severe compared Estimates - to low-income urban (29.5%) and high-income z Socio-economic cost of Road Crashes is equivalent rural households (39.5%). to 0.77% of the GDP. ¾ Steps Taken at Global Level: z 76.2% of people who are killed in road crashes € Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015): are in their prime working-age, 18-45 years. z The declaration was signed at the second Global ¾ Social Impact: High-Level Conference on Road Safety held in € Burden on Households: Brazil. India is a signatory to the Declaration. z At the individual level, road crash injuries and z The countries plan to achieve the Sustainable deaths impose a severe financial burden and Development Goal 3.6 i.e. to half the number push entire (non-poor) households into poverty of global deaths and injuries from road traffic and the already poor into debt. accidents by 2030. z Every road accident death causes depletion € Decade for Road Safety: of nearly seven months’ household income z The United Nations (UN) declared 2011-2020 in poor families, and pushes the kin of victims as the decade of action for Road Safety. in a cycle of poverty and debt. € UN Global Road Safety Week: € Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs): z It is celebrated every two years, the fifth edition z VRUs bear a disproportionately large burden (held from 6-12 May 2019) highlighted the need of road crashes and account for more than half for strong leadership for road safety. of all road crash deaths and serious injuries in € The International Road Assessment Programme the country. (iRAP): z It is often thepoor, especially male road-users z It is a registered charity dedicated to saving of working age, that constitute the category lives through safer roads. of VRUs. ¾ Steps Taken by Indian Government: „ Daily wage workers and workers employed as € Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019: casual labourers in informal activities are more prone to be defined as vulnerable compared z The Act hikes the penalties for traffic violations, to workers engaged in regular activities. defective vehicles, juvenile driving, etc. z In India, where VRUs are forced to share space z It provides for a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, with other less vulnerable road users, the income which would provide compulsory insurance level of an individual has a direct bearing on cover to all road users in India for certain types the mode of transport used. of accidents. € Gender Specific Impact: z It also provides for a National Road Safety z Women in the families of victims bore the burden Board, to be created by the Central Government across poor and rich households, often taking through a notification. up extra work, assuming greater responsibilities, z It also provides for the protection of good and performing caregiving activities. samaritans.

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¾ Regional Specific: Corruption € The highest scoring region is Western Europe and Perception Index 2020 the European Union with an average score of 66. € The lowest scoring regions are Sub-Saharan Africa Why in News (32) and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (36). ¾ India Specific: India’s rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released € In 2020, India’s score is 40 (41 in 2019). by Transparency International. € India experienced slow progress in anti-corruption ¾ India was ranked 80th out of 180 countries in 2019. efforts, with several government commitments to reform not yet materialising effectively. Transparency International ¾ Corruption, Health & Covid-19: ¾ Transparency International is a non-governmental € Corruption shifts public spending away from organisation founded in 1993 based in Berlin, essential public services. Countries with higher Germany. levels of corruption, regardless of economic ¾ Its non profit purpose is to take action to combat development, tend to spend less on health. global Corruption with civil societal anti-corruption z Higher levels of corruption are associated measures and to prevent criminal activitiesarising with lower universal health care coverage and from corruption. higher rates of infant and maternal mortality ¾ Its most notable publications include the Global and deaths from cancer, diabetes, respiratory Corruption Barometerand the Corruption Perception and cardiovascular diseases. Index. € Corruption is one of the key barriers to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Key Points Goals (SDGs), and the Covid-19 pandemic is making ¾ About: those goals even more difficult to attain. € The index ranks 180 countries and territories by € Covid-19 is not just a health and economic crisis, the perceived level of public sector corruption but a corruption crisis as well, with countless lives according to experts and business people. lost due to the insidious effects of corruption € It uses a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 undermining a fair and equitable global response. (very clean). € The Covid-19 response exposed vulnerabilities of € CPI 2020 paints a grim picture of the state of weak oversight and inadequate transparency. corruption worldwide. While most countries have Countries with higher levels of corruption tend to made little to no progress in tackling corruption in be the worst perpetrators of democratic and rule- nearly a decade, more than two-thirds of countries of-law breaches while managing the Covid-19 crisis. score below 50, with an average score of just 43. z Governments exploiting the pandemic to suspend € Moreover, corruption not only undermines the Parliaments, renounce public accountability global health response to Cover-19 but contributes mechanisms, and incite violence against to a continuing crisis of democracy. dissidents. ¾ Top Performers: ¾ Recommendations: € The top countries on the CPI are Denmark and New € Strengthen oversight institutions to ensure Zealand, with scores of 88, followed by Finland, resources reach those most in need. Anti-corruption Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland, with scores authorities and oversight institutions must have of 85 each. sufficient funds, resources and independence to ¾ Poor Performers: perform their duties. € South Sudan and Somalia are the bottom Countries € Ensure open and transparent contracting to with scores of 12 each, followed by Syria (14), combat wrong doing, identify conflicts of interest Yemen (15) and Venezuela (15). and ensure fair pricing.

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€ Defend Democracy, Promote Civic Space by € Maintain the national security of marine areas enabling civil society groups and the media to and resources. hold governments accountable. ¾ Reason and Need for a Blue Economy Policy: € Publish relevant data and guarantee access to € Vast Coastline: information to ensure the public receives easy, z With a coastline of nearly 7.5 thousand accessible, timely and meaningful information. kilometers, India has a unique maritime position. z Nine of its 28 states are coastal, and the nation’s Draft Blue Economy Policy geography includes 1,382 islands. z There are nearly 199 ports, including 12 major that handle approximately 1,400 million Why in News ports tons of cargo each year. Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the draft Blue Economy policy, inviting suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders. ¾ It is in line with the Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030.

Key Points ¾ About: € The policy document highlighted the blue economy as one of the ten core dimensions for national growth. € It emphasizes policies across several key sectors to achieve holistic growth of India’s economy. It recognizes the following seven thematic areas: z National accounting framework for the blue economy and ocean governance. z Coastal marine spatial planning and tourism. z Marine fisheries, aquaculture, and fish processing. z Manufacturing, emerging industries, trade, technology, services, and skill development. € Utilisation of Non-living Resources: z Logistics, infrastructure and shipping, including trans-shipments. z India’s Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million square kilometers has a huge living and non- z Coastal and deep-sea mining and offshore energy. living resources with significant recoverable z Security, strategic dimensions, and international resources such as crude oil and natural gas. engagement. € Sustenance of Coastal Communities: ¾ Aims: z The coastal economy sustains over 4 million € Enhance contribution of the blue economy to fisherfolk and coastal communities. India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). ¾ Other Related Initiatives by India: z The blue economy, which consists of economic € India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for activities dependent on marine resources, Sustainable Development: comprises 4.1% of India’s economy. z It was inaugurated jointly by both the countries € Improve lives of coastal communities. in 2020 to develop and follow up joint initiatives € Preserve marine biodiversity. between the two countries.

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€ Sagarmala Project: € Fisheries: Sustainable fisheries can generate more z The Sagarmala project is the strategic initiative revenue, more fish and help restore fish stocks. through the extensive for port-led development € Maritime Transport: Over 80% of international use of IT enabled services for modernization goods traded are transported by sea. of ports. € Tourism: Ocean and coastal tourism can bring z It aims at developing Inland waterways and jobs and economic growth. coastal shipping which will revolutionize maritime € Climate Change: Oceans are an important logistics, creating million new jobs, reducing carbon sink (blue carbon) and help mitigate logistics costs etc. climate change. z It focuses on the development of coastal € Waste Management: Better waste management in the sustainable use communities and people on land can help oceans recover. of ocean resources, modern fishing techniques ¾ Blue Economy emphasizes on and coastal tourism. integration of development of the ocean economy with social € O-SMART: inclusion, environmental sustainability, combined z India has an umbrella scheme by the name with innovative business models. of O-SMART which aims at regulated use of oceans, marine resources for sustainable development. Right of Reputation € Integrated Coastal Zone Management: vs Right to Dignity z It focuses on conservation of coastal and marine resources, and improving livelihood opportunities Why in News for coastal communities etc. Recently, a Delhi court has rejected a criminal € National Fisheries Policy: defamation case filed by former Union Minister against z India has a National Fisheries policy for promoting a journalist over her tweets accusing him of sexual ‘Blue Growth Initiative’ which focuses on harassment. sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from the marine and other aquatic resources. Key Points ¾ Global Steps: ¾ Consideration by the Court: € Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)- 14 seeks € The Court took consideration of the systematic abuse to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas at the workplace due to the lack of mechanism to and marine resources for sustainable development. redress the grievance of sexual harassment at the time of the incident of sexual harassment against Blue Economy the accused journalist took place. ¾ The concept was introduced by Gunter Pauli in z It was prior to the issuance of the Vishaka his 2010 book- “The Blue Economy: 10 years, 100 Guidelines by the Supreme Court and enactment innovations, 100 million jobs”. of The Sexual Harassment of Women at ¾ It is the sustainable use of ocean resources for Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, Redressal) Act, 2013. and ocean ecosystem health. ¾ Court’s Ruling: ¾ It advocates the greening of ocean development € The right of reputation cannot be protected at strategies for higher productivity and conservation the cost of the right of life and dignity of women. of ocean’s health. z Right to Reputation: ¾ It encompasses– „ As per the SC, the right to reputation is an € Renewable Energy: Sustainable marine energy integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution. can play a vital role in social and economic „ Further, existence of Section 499 (Criminal development. Defamation) of the Indian Penal Code,

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1860 is not a restriction on the freedom of ¾ Exceptions: speech and expression because it ensures € Section 499 also cites exceptions. These include that the social interest is served by holding “imputation of truth” which is required for the a reputation as a shared value of the public “public good” and thus has to be published, on at large. the public conduct of government officials, the z Right to Life (Article 21): conduct of any person touching any public question „ No person shall be deprived of his life or and merits of the public performance. personal liberty except according to procedure ¾ Punishment: established by law. € Section 500 of IPC, which is on punishment for „ It confers on every person the fundamental defamation, reads, “Whoever defames another right to life and personal liberty. shall be punished with simple imprisonment for z Right to Live with Dignity: a term which may extend to two years, or with „ In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India 1978, fine, or with both.” the SC gave a new dimension to Article 21 € Moreover, in a criminal case, defamation has to and held that the right to live is not merely be established beyond reasonable doubt but in a physical right but includes within its ambit a civil defamation suit, damages can be awarded the right to live with human dignity. based on probabilities. € Woman has a right to put her grievance at any ¾ Validity: platform of her choice and even after decades. € The SC of India, in the Subramanian Swamy vs Union of India, 2014, upheld the constitutional Defamation validity of the criminal defamation law. ¾ About: € In India, defamation can both be a civil wrong Conclusive Land Titling and a criminal offence. z The difference between the two lies in the Why in News objects they seek to achieve. Recently, as many States have failed to send in their z A civil wrong tends to provide for a redress of feedback on a Model Bill on Conclusive Land Titling , the wrongs by awarding compensation and a criminal Centre has warned that their agreement would be law seeks to punish a wrongdoer and send a presumed. The Bill was message to others not to commit such acts. prepared by the NITI Aayog. ¾ Laws for Defamation: Key Points € Criminal defamation has been specifically defined ¾ Land Titling: as an offence under thesection 499 of theIndian € It is the generic term used to describe the programs Penal Code (IPC) whereas the civil defamation is implemented by the government to enable based on tort law (an area of law which does not individuals and government rely on statutes to define wrongs but takes from to efficiently trade ever-increasing body of case laws to define what in rights in land and property. would constitute a wrong). z Recently, the Supreme Court held that a citizen’s right to own private property is a human right. € Section 499 states defamation could be through words, spoken or intended to be read, through ¾ Current System in India/Presumptive Land Titling: signs, and also through visible representations. € About: z These can either be published or spoken about z India currently follows a system of presumptive a person with the intention of damaging the land titling. It means that land records are reputation of that person, or with the knowledge maintained, with information on possession, or reason to believe that the imputation will which is determined through details of past harm his reputation. transactions.

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¾ Need and Benefits of Conclusive Land Titling: € Reduce Litigations: z The conclusive system will drastically lower litigation related to land. „ According to a 2007 World Bank study on ‘Land Policies for growth and poverty reduction’, land-related disputes accounted for two- thirds of all pending court cases in India. „ A NITI Aayog study on strengthening arbitration estimated thatdisputes on land or real estate take an average time of 20 years in the courts to be resolved. € Reduced Risk: z Once conclusive titling is in place, investors who want to purchase land for business activities will be able to do so without facing the constant risk that their ownership may be questioned and their entire investment may go to waste. „ Right now, because land titles are based on transactions, people have to keep the entire chain of transaction records, and a dispute € Ownership: on any link in that chain causes ambiguity z It is established on the basis of current in ownership. possession. € Reduction in Black Marketing: € Registration: z Ambiguity in ownership also results in a black z Registration of land is actually a registration market for land transactions, which deprives of transactions, such assale deeds, records of the government of taxes. inheritance, mortgage and lease. € Speeding up Development: z Holding registration papers does not actually involve the government or the legal framework z Land disputes and unclear titling also create guaranteeing the ownership title of the land. hurdles for infrastructure development and housing construction, leading to costly delays ¾ Conclusive Land Titling: and inefficiency. In cities, urban local bodies € About: depend on property taxes that can be levied z Under a conclusive land titling system, land properly only if there is clear ownership data records designate actual ownership. available. € Ownership: z Long-running court cases currently create hurdles z The title is granted by the government, which for investment in many sectors of the economy. takes the responsibility for accuracy. € Facilitation of Easy Credit: € Dispute Settlement: z In rural areas, the need is even more acute. z Once a title is granted, any other claimant will Access to agricultural credit is dependent on have to settle disputes with the government, the ability to use land as collateral. not the title holder. z Without being able to prove their ownership € Compensation: of land and access formal credit from banks, z The government may provide compensation small and marginal farmers are often left at to claimants in case of disputes, but the title the mercy of unscrupulous moneylenders, holder is not in any danger of losing ownership. entrenching themselves in a mountain of debt.

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¾ Model Bill on Conclusive Land Titling: € Power to State Governments: IIT Council’s z It will provide state governments power to Recommendations order for establishment, administration and management of a system of title registration Why in News of immovable properties. Recently, the Institute of Technology (IIT) Council € Land Authorities: has constituted four working groups to look at greater z Land Authorities to be set up by each State autonomy for the IITs. government, which will appoint a Title Registration Officer (TRO) to prepare and ¾ The decision is in line with the National Education publish a draft list of land titles based on existing Policy recommendation. records and documents. ¾ The IITs are seeking autonomy on the lines of what „ This will be considered a valid notice to all was granted to the Indian Institutes of Management potential claimants interested in the property, (IIMs). who will have to file their claims or objections within a set period of time. Key Points z If disputing claims are received, the TRO will ¾ About: verify all the relevant documents and refer € Members and Head: the case to a Land Dispute Resolution Officer z The IIT Council is headed by the Education (LDRO) for resolution. Minister. „ However, disputes which are already pending z It includes the directors of all IITs, and the in courts cannot be resolved in this way. chairs of each IIT’s Board of Governors z Having considered and resolved all the disputed (BoG). claims, the Land Authority will publish a Record € Objective: of Titles. z It is meant to advise on admission standards, € Land Titling Appellate Tribunals: duration of courses, degrees and other academic z Over a three-year period, these titles and distinctions. the decisions of the TRO and the LDRO can z It lays down policy regarding cadre, methods be challenged before Land Titling Appellate of recruitment and conditions of service of Tribunals, which will be set up under the law. employees of all IITs. z After a three-year period, entries in the Record ¾ Four Working Groups: of Titles will be considered conclusive proof of € :Graded Autonomy, Empowered & ownership. Group-1 accountable BoG and Director. € Special Bench of High Court: € Group-2: Grooming distinguished academics for z A special bench of High court shall be designated directorship of IITs. to deal with appeals against the orders passed by the Land Titling Appellate Tribunal. € Group-3: Reform and restructuring of Academic Senate. ¾ Challenge: € Group-4: Innovative funding mechanisms. € The biggest challenge is that land records have not been updated for decades, especially in rural ¾ Other Recommendations: and semi-urban areas. € Use of Technology: € Land records are often in the name of the z To constitute a task force to review use of grandparents of the current owner, with no proof technology at all IITs and also to accelerate of inheritance. deployment of digital tools, € Unless they are based on updated records, conclu- „ Such as Blockchain, AI (Artificial intelligence), sive land titles could create even more problems. ML (machine learning), and Cloud Computing.

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€ Reducing Staff: z Cutting IIT staff strength to lower levels. National Urban Digital Mission „ The IITs currently function so that for every ten students, there is one faculty member. Why in News And for every ten faculty, they have pre- The National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM) has been approval for 11 staff. launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) along with the Ministry of Electronics and € Research and Development Fair: Information Technology (MEITY). z To organise an IIT research and development ¾ Several other digital initiatives of MoHUA viz. India fair to showcase the quality research work being Urban Data Exchange (IUDX), SmartCode, Smart done by IITs to the industries. Cities 2.0 website, and Geospatial Management € Development Plans: Information System (GMIS) have also been launched. z Asked the IITs to develop Institute Development ¾ These initiatives will further the ongoing efforts of Plans to improve the mobility of faculty between both Ministries to realise the vision of Digital India institution and industry to promote research and Atmanirbhar Bharat. collaborations. ¾ Need of Autonomy: Key Points € Better Decision Making: ¾ About the National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM): z Administrative and financial autonomy helps € It will create a shared digital infrastructure for institutes to take a valuable decision for the urban India, working across the three pillars of benefit of students and the organisation. people, process, and platformto provide holistic support to cities and towns. „ In the absence of autonomy, most decisions € It will institutionalise a are taken by bureaucrats, who lack the citizen-centric and ecosystem-driven approach to urban governance technical knowledge needed to decide for and service delivery in 2022 cities by 2022, and technical institutes. across all cities and towns in India by 2024. z Constructive decisions can be taken only by ¾ Significance of the NUDM: academicians and experts, while IITs do not € The shared digital infrastructure will consolidate enjoy complete autonomy, they have partial and cross-leverage the various digital initiatives freedom. of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, z Recently, an expert panel, appointed to enabling cities and towns across India to benefit recommend measures to better implement from holistic and diverse forms of support, in reservations at IITs, has proposed that IITs keeping with their needs and local challenges. should be exempted from caste reservations € NUDM has articulated a set of governing principles, for faculty appointments as they are institutes and inherits the technology design principles of of national importance. the National Urban Innovation Stack (NUIS). € Improved Responsibility: z The principles in turn give rise to standards, z Lack of autonomy not only permits interfe- specifications, and certifications, across the rence, but also creates divided responsibility, three pillars of people, process, and platforms. which inevitably leads to maintenance of z NUIS will strengthen the capacity of the urban the status quo, which in today’s India is not ecosystem to solve complex programs at speed desirable. and scale by unlocking the power of urban data. z With autonomy these institutes would have ¾ India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX): full control on their policies and operations, as € It has been developed in partnership between well as have full responsibility for what value the Smart Cities Mission and the Indian Institute they provide. of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

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€ It serves as a seamless interface for data providers and data users, including Urban Local Bodies PM Atmanirbhar (ULBs), to share, request, and access datasets Swasth Bharat Scheme related to cities, urban governance, and urban service delivery. Why in News € It is an open-source software platform which facilitates the secure, authenticated, and managed Recently, the Prime Minister talked about the exchange of data amongst various data platforms, need to address health issues in a holistic manner and 3rd party authenticated and authorised applications, to adopt a four-pronged strategy for a healthy India and other sources. that includes implementing thePM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat scheme. ¾ SmartCode Platform: € SmartCode is a platform that enables all ecosystem Key Points stakeholders to contribute to a repository of open- ¾ Four-Pronged Strategy for a Healthy India: source code for various solutions and applications € for urban governance. Prevention of illness and promotion of wellness including measures such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, € It is designed to address the challenges that yoga and timely care and treatment of pregnant ULBs face in the development and deployment women and children, of digital applications to address urban challenges, € Providing cheap and effective treatment to the by enabling cities to take advantage of existing poorest of the poor, codes and customising them to suit local needs, € rather than having to develop new solutions from Increasing the quality of health infrastructure and healthcare professionals and scratch. € Working on a mission mode to overcome obstacles ¾ Geospatial Management Information System like Mission Indradhanush has been extended to (GMIS): the tribal and far-flung areas of the country. € GMIS is a web-based, spatially-enabled management ¾ PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme: tool, providing one-stop access to information. € About: € GMIS integrates information from multiple z Announced in the sources and features search options by topic and Union Budget 2021-22. geographic area. z Aims to develop capacities of primary, secondary,

Other Schemes / Programmes of MoHUA ¾ Urban Learning and Internship Program (TULIP) ¾ India Cycles4Change Challenge and Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge ¾ Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) ¾ Ease of Living Index and Municipal Performance Index ¾ AMRUT ¾ Swachh Bharat Mission Urban ¾ Urban Transport ¾ Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ¾ Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban Livelihoods Mission

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and tertiary care health systems even in the Key Points last miles of the nation. ¾ Administration of Union Territories: z Developing a modern ecosystem for research, € Article 239 to 242 under Part VIII of the Indian testing and treatment in the country itself. Constitution deals with the administration of € Funding: Union Territories. z Centrally Sponsored Scheme with an outlay of € Every union territory is administered by the about Rs. 64,180 crores. President acting through an administrator € Duration: 6 years. appointed by him. € Objectives: € An administrator of a union territory is an agent of z Supporting development of 17,788 rural and the President and not head of state like a governor. 11,024 urban health and wellness centers and z The President can specify the designation of an setting up of integrated public health labs in administrator; it may be Lieutenant Governor all districts and 3,382 block public health units or Chief Commissioner or Administrator. in 11 states. € The Union Territories of Puducherry (in 1963), z Help in establishing critical care hospital blocks Delhi (in 1992) and Jammu and Kashmir (in 2019) in 602 districts and 12 central institutions. are provided with a legislative assembly and a Strengthening of the National Centre for Disease council of ministers headed by a chief minister. Control (NCDC), its 5 regional branches and 20 z But, the establishment of such institutions in metropolitan health surveillance units. the union territories does not diminish the supreme control of the President and Parliament z Expansion of the Integrated Health Information over them. Portal to all States/UTs to connect all public health labs. z The Parliament can make laws on any subject of the three lists (including the State List) for z Help in rolling out the Covid-19 vaccination the union territories. program as well as strengthen the delivery system and build better capability and capacity ¾ Provision in Case of Failure of Constitutional Machinery to combat any future pandemics. (as per the 1963 Act): ¾ Other Initiatives in Health Sector: € If the President, on receipt of a report from the Administrator of (the Union territory) or otherwise, € Ayushman Bharat Program. is satisfied― € National Health Mission. z that a situation has arisen in which the € Jan Aushadhi Yojana. administration of the Union territory cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions President’s of this Act, or z that for the proper administration of the Union Rule in Puducherry territory it is necessary or expedient so to do, € The President may, by order, suspend the operation Why in News of all or any of the provisions of this Act for such President’s Rule has been imposed in the Union period as he thinks fit, and Territory of Puducherry, on the recommendation of the z Make such incidental and consequential Lieutenant Governor, after the established government provisions as may appear to him to be necessary lost power during a vote of confidence. or expedient for administering the Union ¾ The President was satisfied that a situation had arisen territory in accordance with the provisions of in which the administration of the Union Territory of Article 239. Puducherry could not carry on in accordance with the ¾ President’s Rule in a State: provisions of the Government of Union Territories € Meaning: Act, 1963 (20 of 1963). z President’s Rule implies the suspension of a

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state government and the imposition of direct z A proclamation of President’s Rule may be rule of the Centre. revoked by the President at any time by a z It is also known as ‘State Emergency’ or subsequent proclamation. Such a proclamation ‘Constitutional Emergency’. does not require parliamentary approval. € Constitutional Provisions: z This happens, in case, the leader of a party produces letters of support from a majority of z The President’s Rule is imposed through the members of the Assembly, and stakes his claim invocation of Article 356 of the Constitution to form a government. by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers. Recommendations/Judgments on President’s Rule z Under Article 356, President’s Rule is imposed ¾ The Administrative Reforms Commission (1968) if the President, upon receipt of the report recommended that the report of the governor from the Governor of the State or otherwise, regarding the President’s rule has to be objective is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which and also the governor should exercise his own the government of the State cannot be carried judgment in this regard. on in accordance with the provisions of the ¾ The Rajamannar Committee (1971) ecommendedr Constitution. the deletion of Articles 356 and 357 from the € Parliamentary Approval and Duration: Constitution of India. The necessary provisions for safeguards against arbitrary action of the ruling z A proclamation imposing President’s Rulemust party at the Centre under Article 356 should be be approved by both the Houses of Parliament incorporated in the Constitution. within two months from the date of its issue. ¾ The Sarkaria Commission (1988) recommended that z The approval takes place through simple Article 356 should be used in very rare cases when majority in either House, that is, a majority of it becomes unavoidable to restore the breakdown the members of the House present and voting. of constitutional machinery in the State. z , the President’s Initially valid for six months ¾ S.R. Bommai Judgment (1994). Rule can be extended for a maximum period of € The Supreme Court enlisted the situations where three years with the approval of the Parliament, the exercise of power under Article 356 could every six months. be proper. € Consequences of President’s Rule: € One such situation is that of ‘Hung Assembly’, i.e. z The state governor, on behalf of the President, where after general elections to the assembly, carries on the state administration with the no party secures a majority. help of the chief secretary of the state or the ¾ Justice V.Chelliah Commission (2002)recommended advisors appointed by the President. that Article 356 must be used sparingly and only z The President can declare that the powers of as a remedy of the last resort after exhausting all the state legislature are to be exercised by the actions under Articles 256, 257 and 355. Parliament. ¾ The Punchhi commission (2007) recommended that z The President either suspends or dissolves the these Articles 355 & 356 be amended. It sought to state legislative assembly. protect the interests of the States by trying to curb € Revocation: their misuse by the Centre.

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Economic Scenario

Highlights z Blank-Cheque Company z Certified Jute Seeds z Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021 z Increased Foreign Portfolio Investments z Accredited Investors z RBI Directives to HFCs z China: India’s Top Trading Partner in 2020 z Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries z Media Platform Bill: Australia z Anti-Dumping Duty on Steel Imports from China z Securities Appellate Tribu­nal z Flexible Inflation Target z India Energy Outlook 2021: IEA

Blank-Cheque Company Shell Companies ¾ A shell company is a firm that does not conduct any operations in the economy, but it is formally Why in News registered, incorporated, or legally organized in Recently, renewable energy producer ‘ReNew Power’ the economy. announced an agreement to merge with RMG Acquisition ¾ These are sometimes used illegitimately, such as to Corp II, a blank-cheque company or a Special Purpose disguise business ownership from law enforcement Acquisition Company (SPAC). or the public. Key Points Initial Public Offering ¾ IPO is the selling of securities to the public in the ¾ About Blank-cheque Company: primary market. € A SPAC, or a blank-cheque company, is an entity € Primary market deals with new securities being specifically set up with the objective of acquiring issued for the first time. It is also known as the a firm in a particular sector. new issues market. € The aim of this SPAC is to raise money in an Initial € It is different from theSecondary market where Public Offering (IPO), and at this point in time, it existing securitiesare bought and sold. It is also does not have any operations or revenues. known as the stock market or stock exchange. € Once the money is raised from the public, it is ¾ It is when an unlisted company makes either a fresh kept in an escrow account, which can be accessed issue of securities or an offer for sale of its existing while making the acquisition. securities or both for the first time to the public. € If the acquisition is not made within two years € Unlisted companies are companies that are not of the IPO, the SPAC is delisted and the money is listed on the stock exchange. returned to the investors. Escrow Account ¾ Significance: ¾ It is a legal concept describing a financial instrument € These are attractive to investors, despite them whereby an asset or escrow money is held by a essentially being shell companies, as the blank- third party on behalf of two other parties that are cheque companies are people sponsoring. in the process of completing a transaction. ¾ € It is a fresh way of thinking of how to structure The third-party holds the funds until both parties and exit versus an expensive IPO. The money is have fulfilled their contractual requirements. already raised by somebody who specialises in ¾ Escrow is associated with real estate transactions, that area, and is now picking those assets and but it can apply to any situation where funds will building on them. pass from one party to another.

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Saras Accredited Investors Aajeevika Mela 2021 Why in News Why in News Recently, the Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) sought comments on the proposal to introduce Recently, the Union Minister for Rural Develop- the concept of ‘Accredited Investors’ in the Indian ment inaugurated Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021 at Noida securities market. Haat. ¾ SEBI is a statutory body established in 1992 in ¾ More than 300 rural self-help groups and craftsmen accordance with the provisions of the SEBI Act, 1992. from 27 states are participating in the Mela. Its headquarters is situated in Mumbai. One of its Key Points functions is to protect the interests of investors in securities and topromote and regulate the securities ¾ About: market. € It is a programme to transform rural India in general and the lives of rural women in particular. Key Points € During the Mela, workshops on product packaging ¾ Background: and design, communication skills, social media € Currently, the Indian markets have the concept publicity and Business to Business marketing will of Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), which be organised to educate the rural self-help groups include mutual funds, insurance companies or and craftsmen. foreign portfolio investors. These investors enjoy ¾ Organiser: greater market access. € It is an initiative by the Deendayal Antyodaya € However, an individual investor cannot obtain the Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission QIB status. The concept of accredited investor will (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural provide QIB-like status to individual investors. Development (MoRD) organised by the Council z Qualified Institutional Buyers:They are those for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural institutional investors who are generally Technology (CAPART). perceived to possess expertise and the financial z CAPART is an autonomous body set up by the capacities to evaluate and invest in the capital Ministry of Rural Development to interface markets. between the government and Non-governmental ¾ About: Organizations (NGOs) that seek to improve the € Accredited investors, also called qualified investors quality of life in India’s rural areas. or professional investors, are those who have an ¾ Objective: understanding of various financial productsand € To bring the rural women Self Help Groups (SHGs) the risks and returns associated with them. under one platform so that they can showcase € They are able to make informed decisions regarding their skills, sell their products, and help them build their investments and are recognised by many linkages with bulk buyers. securities and financial market regulators globally. z Through participation in SARAS Aajeevika Mela, € Generally, they are allowed to trade securities that these rural SHG women will get vital national may not be registered with financial authorities. level exposure to understand the demand and z They are entitled to this privileged access by taste of urban customers. satisfying requirements regarding their income, ¾ Significance: net worth, asset size, governance status or € The Mela acts as an integrated approach towards professional experience. women empowerment. ¾ SEBI’s Plan: € The Initiative is well aligned with the government’s € SEBI has laid out eligibility criteria for both Indian vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. and non-resident Indians and foreign entities.

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€ It has allowed the validity of accreditation for a 75.9 billion amid reduced demand for goods in year from the day it is granted. the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. € Such accreditation is to be carried out via € Imports from China: Total imports from China at ‘Accreditation Agencies’ which may be the market USD 58.7 billion were more than India’s combined infrastructure institutions or their subsidiaries. purchases from the USA and the UAE, which ¾ Significance: are its second- and third-largest trade partners, € The accredited investor concept may offer benefits respectively. to investors and financial product/service providers € Exports to China: India has only managed to such as: increase its exports to China by about 11% from z Flexibility in minimum investment amount. a year ago to USD 19 billion last year. z Flexibility and relaxation in regulatory € Trade Deficit:Thus, a bilateral trade gap with China requirements. stood at almost USD 40 billion in 2020, making z Access to products/ services offered exclusively it India’s largest. to accredited investors. z Trade Gap/Deficit is the amount by which the cost of a country’s imports exceeds the value China: India’s Top of its exports. ¾ Analysis: Trading Partner in 2020 € Emergence of China as the top trading partner is due to increased import of Chinese medical Why in News supplies. According to provisional data from India’s commerce € Online shoppers seem to prefer Chinese mobile ministry, China regained its position as India’s top trade phones and electronic gadgets despite the partner in 2020 despite high border tensions between environment of anti-China sentiments in the nation. the two countries. z As per the Prime Day 2020 sale data of Amazon, an e-commerce giant, OnePlus, Oppo, Huawei’s Key Points Honor and Xiaomi were among the top-selling ¾ China as a Top Trading Partner: smartphone brands in India. € Data: The two-way trade between India and China € Also, India continues to rely heavily on Chinese- stood at USD 77.7 billion for the year 2020. made heavy machinery, telecom equipment and z Trade with China was USD 85.5 billion total in home appliances. the previous year (2018-2019). € The increase in trade is despite the tense relations € Replaced USA: Now, China is the largest commercial between the two countries and India’s ambitions partner displacing the US bilateral trade at USD to bolster its manufacturing capabilities under Atmanirbhar Bharat. ¾ Measures Taken to Reduce Import Dependence on China: € Recent Ban: The ban on more than 100 Chinese apps citing national security reasons. € Increased Scrutiny: It has increased scrutiny of Chinese investments in many sectors, and is weighing a decision to keep Chinese companies out of 5G trials. € Curb Opportunistic Takeovers: The government recently put import restrictions on tyres, while also making its prior approval mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share

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land border with India to curb “opportunistic € It highlighted that media regulation hardly applied takeovers” of domestic firms - a move which will to platforms, though they have been increasingly restrict FDI from China. playing much the same role as the media. The € Focus on Self-Sufficiency:The Ministry of Commerce last two decades have also seen the tremendous and Industry has also identified 12 sectors - food rise of the platforms and sharp decline of the processing, organic farming, iron, aluminium and traditional news media. copper, agro chemicals, electronics, industrial € The Australian government, reportedly sensing how machinery, furniture, leather and shoes, auto important it was to have a strong and independent parts, textiles, and coveralls, masks, sanitisers media environment in a democracy, asked the and ventilators - to make India a global supplier ACCC to come up with a draft code, which it did and cut import bill. in July 2020. z To cut import dependency on China for APIs € After some changes, theTreasury Laws Amendment (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients), the (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory government in March 2020 approved a package Bargaining Code) Bill was introduced in December comprising four schemes with a total outlay of 2020. Rs. 13,760 crore to boost domestic production ¾ Australia’s Media Platform Bill: of bulk drugs and medical devices in the country € Payment to News Outlets: Big tech and along with their exports. social media giants like Facebook and Google will have to pay local news outlets for using their Media Platform Bill: Australia content. z Big Tech firms will have to negotiate how much Why in News they pay local publishers and broadcasters for Australia has reached out to India among several content that appears on their platforms. countries, including Canada, France and the UK, in a move € Provision of Arbitration and Fine: An arbiter is to stitch a global coalition against tech giants Google mandated to adjudicate if no agreement is reached and Facebook amid a faceoff over compensation for and there are also provisions of heavy fines if sharing news content from media companies on their agreements are not done. platforms. ¾ The Issue Involved: ¾ Australia’s proposed law, News Media and Digital € The media industry is already benefiting from Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code Bill 2020, traffic routed to them by the digital platforms, mandates a bargaining code that aims to force Google and that the proposed rules would expose the and Facebook to compensate media companies for Internet companies to “unmanageable levels of using their content. financial and operational risk”. ¾ The Bill is expected to set a precedent in regulating € Journalism is a public good and a pillar of democracy. social media across geographies. Digital platforms piggyback on its content without sharing the associated costs. The subsequent Key Points diversion of advertising revenuehas undermined ¾ Background: traditional media, particularly regional newspapers. € The Australian Competition and Consumer € Paying for news feed in itself appears to be less Commission (ACCC), in its 2019 report, Digital of an issue for the tech giants, given that Google Platforms Inquiry, noted that there was a agreed to pay news publications in France. fundamental imbalance in the power between z Google signed a deal with a group of French news media and internet platforms. publishers to make digital copyright payments € Specifically mentioning Google and Facebook, for online news content. the report said these platforms had “substantial € The fight in Australia is in fact, centred on how bargaining power in relation to many news media much control these companies would be able to businesses.” retain on their payout process - operational aspects

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such as deciding the quantum of payments for company Chairperson and some other promoters from news feed sources, and having to reveal changes the securities market. in their algorithms. z France has specifically linked payments to Key Points copyright, without putting a forcing device into ¾ About: the agreements. € SAT is a statutory body established under the z Australia’s code, on the other hand, is almost provisions of Section 15K of the SEBI Act, 1992. entirely focused on the bargaining power of ¾ Location: news outlets vis-à-vis the tech majors, and has € Mumbai some coercive features as well. ¾ Composition: ¾ The Case of India: € SAT consists of a Presiding Officerand Two other € Policymakers have so far focused on the dominance members. of intermediaries such as Google and Facebook, which are positioned in a way that service providers z The Presiding officer of SAT shall be appointed cannot reach customers except through these by the Central Government in consultation platforms. with the Chief Justice of India or his nominee. € A substantial discussion on the impact of inter- ¾ Powers: mediary platforms on the health of news media € It has the same powers as vested in a civil court. outlets is yet to begin in any meaningful way. Further, if any person feels aggrieved by SAT’s € According to a FICCI-EY report for 2020, there are decision or order can appeal to the Supreme Court. 300 million users of online news sites, portals and ¾ Functions: aggregators in the country. € To hear and dispose of appeals against orders z It makes up approximately 46% of Internet passed by the SEBI or by an adjudicating officer users and 77% of smartphone users in India at under the SEBI Act,1992. the end of 2019. € To hear and dispose of appeals against orders z With 282 million unique visitors, India is the passed by the Pension Fund Regulatory and second largest online news consuming nation Development Authority (PFRDA). after China. € To hear and dispose of appeals against orders € In India, digital advertising spends in 2019 grew passed by the Insurance Regulatory Development 24% year-on-year to Rs. 27,900 crore, according Authority of India (IRDAI). to EY estimates, and are expected to grow to Rs. 51,340 crore by 2022. Securities and Exchange Board of India € In India, the news aggregators are not mandated ¾ About: to make payments to publishers. € SEBI is a statutory body established in 1992 z News aggregator is an online platform or a in accordance with the provisions of the SEBI software device that collects news stories Act, 1992. and other information as that information is € Initially, SEBI was a non-statutory body. In April, published and organizes the information in a 1988 the SEBI was constituted as the regulator specific manner. of capital markets in India under a resolution of the Government of India. Securities Appellate Tribunal­ z The term capital market refers to facilities and institutional arrangements through which Why in News long-term funds, both debt and equity are raised and invested. Recently, the Securities Appellate Tribunal­ (SAT) ¾ Headquarters: stayed the order passed by Securities and Exchange Board € The headquarters of SEBI is situated in Mumbai. of India (SEBI) that had put a one-year ban on a retail

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€ India will € The regional offices of SEBI are located inAhmed - make up the biggest share of energy abad, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi. demand growth at 25% over the next two decades, as it overtakes the European Union as the world’s ¾ Composition: third-biggest energy consumer by 2030. € All decisions taken by SEBI are collectively taken z Presently, India is the fourth-largest global by its Board that consists of a Chairman and energy consumer behind China, the United eight other members. States and the European Union. € SEBI also appoints various committees, whenever € India’s energy consumption is expected to nearly required to look into the pressing issues of that double as the nation’s Gross Domestic Product time. (GDP) expands to an estimated USD 8.6 trillion ¾ Function: by 2040 under its current national policy scenario. € To protect the interests of investors in securities and € Prior to the global pandemic, India’s energy to promote and regulate the securities market. demand was projected to increase by almost z Securities are tradable financial instruments 50% between 2019 and 2030, but growth over used to raise capital in public and private this period is now closer to 35%. markets. ¾ Industrialisation is a Major Driving Force: z There are primarily three types of securities: € Over the last three decades, India accounted for equity—which provides ownership rights to about 10% of World Growth in Industrial Value- holders; debt—essentially loans repaid with added [in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms]. periodic payments; and hybrids—which € By 2040, India is set to account for almost 20% combine aspects of debt and equity. of Global Growth in Industrial value-added, and € Registering and regulating the working ofstock to lead global growth in industrial final energy brokers, merchant bankers, underwriters, port- consumption, especially in steelmaking. folio managers, investment advisers and such ¾ Reliance on Imports: other intermediaries who may be associated € India’s growing energy needs will make it more with securities markets in any manner. reliant on fossil fuel imports as its domestic oil € SEBI is a quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and and gas production has been stagnant for years quasi-executive body. despite government policies to promote petroleum z It can draft regulations, conduct inquiries, exploration and production and renewable energy. pass rulings and impose penalties. € Rising oil demand could double India’s oil import bill to about USD 181 billion by 2030 and nearly India Energy treble it to USD 255 billion by 2040 compared with 2019. Outlook 2021: IEA ¾ Oil Demand: € India’s oil demand is seen rising by 74% to 8.7 Why in News million barrels per day by 2040 under the existing Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has policies scenario. released the India Energy Outlook 2021 Report which € A five-fold increase in per capita car ownership explores the opportunities and challenges ahead for India will result in India leading the oil demand growth as it seeks to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable in the world. energy for a growing population. € Its net dependence on oil imports - taking into ¾ The India Energy Outlook 2021 is a new special report account both the import of crude oil and the from the IEA’s World Energy Outlook series. export of oil products - increases to more than 90% by 2040 from the current 75% as domestic Key Points consumption rises much more than production. ¾ Third Largest Energy Consumer by 2030: ¾ Gas Demand:

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€ India will become the fastest-growing market Key Points for Natural gas, with demand more than tripling ¾ Certified Jute Seed Distribution Plan: by 2040. € It will expand usage of certified seeds to over € Natural gas increased from import dependency 55% area under Jute Cultivation. 20% in 2010 to almost 50% in 2019 and is set to z Certified seedshall be the progeny of foundation grow further to more than 60% in 2040. seed and its production shall be so handled as ¾ Coal Demand: to maintain specific genetic identity and purity € Coal currently dominates India’s electricity sector, according to the standards prescribed for the accounting for over 70% of overall generation. crop being certified. € Coal demand is seen rising to 772 million tonnes € It will extend the benefit of certified seeds to in 2040 from the current 590. nearly 5 lakh farmers. ¾ Renewables Energy Resources Demand: € Usage of certified jute seeds has resulted in € India’s share in the growth in renewable energy improved quality of jute by 1 grade and enhanced is the second-largest in the world, after China. productivity by 15% thereby increasing income of jute farmers by about Rs. 10,000/hectare. International Energy Agency ¾ Jute ICARE Program: ¾ The International Energy Agency is anautonomous € Launch: Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Intergovernmental Organisation established in Exercise for Jute (Jute ICARE) was launched in 2015. 1974 in Paris, France. z The programme was initiated by the National ¾ IEA mainly focuses on its energy policies which Jute Board (NJB) in association with Central include economic development, energy security Research Institute for Research in Jute and and environmental protection. These policies are Allied Fibres (CRIJAF) & Jute Corporation of also known as the 3 E’s of IEA. India (JCI). ¾ India became an Associate member of IEA in March € Aims: At mechanization in jute farming in a farmer- 2017 but it was in engagement with IEA long before friendly way and accelerated retting using microbial its association with the organization. consortium for improved income for jute farmers. € Recently, India has inked a Strategic Partnership € Following Inputs are Provided: Agreement with the IEA to strengthen cooperation z 100% at subsidized rate. in global energy security, stability and sustainability. Certified Seeds z Demonstration of scientific jute cultivation ¾ The World Energy Outlook Report is released by practices for adoption at farmers’ fields with the IEA annually. mechanical intervention distribution of seed ¾ IEA Clean Coal Centre is dedicated to providing drill / Nail Weeder/Cycle Weeder. independent information and analysis on how coal z Demonstration of Microbial retting using can become a cleaner source of energy, compatible CRIJAF SONA, a microbial consortium and also with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. distribution to the farmers. „ Retting is the process of extracting fiber from .Certifed Jute Seeds the stem of the plants € So far, Government has supported 2.60 lakhs Why in News farmers under ICARE Program. The Ministry of Textiles has launched a Certified ¾ Other Steps Taken to Promote Jute Industry: Jute Seed Distribution Plan under Jute ICARE Program. € Increased in MSP: The Minimum Support Price ¾ Jute Corporation of India (JCI) had in 2019, signed an (MSP) for Jute has been increased from Rs. 2400 MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with National in 2014-15 to Rs. 4225 in 2020-21. Seeds Corporation for commercial distribution of € Retting Tanks: Construction of 46000 Retting Tanks 1,000 Metric Tonne certified jute seeds for the year has been approved for increasing productivity, 2021-22. quality and income of Jute Farmers, which will be

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done by the convergence of Central Government Schemes like MNREGA, PMKSY, RKVY and ICARE. z This will reduce retting time by 7 days and generate 46 lakh man-days of employment for the rural mass of Jute Growing States. € Jute Packaging Materials Act, 1987: Through the Jute Packaging Materials (JPM) Act, the Government is protecting the interests of about 4 lakh workers and 40 lakh farm families. z The Act provides for the compulsory use of jute packaging material in the supply and distribution of certain commodities in the interests of production of raw jute and jute packaging material, and of persons engaged in the production thereof, and for matters connected therewith. € Jute Geo-Textiles (JGT):The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a Technical € Major jute producing states include West Textiles Mission which includes Jute Geo-Textiles. Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, z JGT is one of the most important diversified Meghalaya and Tripura. jute products. It can be applied in many fields ¾ Uses: like civil engineering, soil erosion control, € It is known as the It is used in road pavement construction and protection golden fibre. of river banks. making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts. € Jute SMART: ¾ Government Initiatives: z It is an e-government initiative which was launched in December 2016 to promote € Golden Fibre Revolution and Technology Mission transparency in the jute sector. on Jute and Mesta are two of the government initiatives to boost jute production in India. z It provides an integrated platform forprocurement of sacking by Government agencies. z Due to its high cost, it is losing market to € Collaboration between the National Jute Board synthetic fibres and packing materials, and the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad: particularly nylon. z A Jute Design Cell for development of Jute Shopping Bags and Lifestyle Accessories has Increased Foreign been set up at the Innovative Centre for Natural Fibres (ICNF) of National Institute of Design Portfolio Investments (NID), Ahmedabad. Why in News Jute ¾ Temperature: Between 25-35°C. The Sensex has risen 11.36%, post Union Budget 2021-22 presentation, due to increasedForeign Portfolio ¾ Rainfall: Around 150-250 cm. Investments (FPIs). ¾ Soil Type: Well drained alluvial soil. ¾ Sensex, otherwise known as the S&P BSE Sensex ¾ Production: index, is the benchmark index of the Bombay Stock € India is the largest producer of jute. Exchange (BSE) in India. It comprises 30 of the largest € It is mainly concentrated in eastern India because and most actively-traded stocks on the BSE, and is of the rich alluvial soil of Ganga-Brahmaputra the oldest stock index in India. delta. ¾ A stock is an investment that represents a share, or

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partial ownership, of a company. Corporations issue Differences Between FDI and FPI (sell) stock to raise funds to operate their businesses.

Key Points ¾ Reasons for Inflow: € Increased Liquidity: z Stock market is responding to the Budget 2021- 22 that has infused liquidity (money supply in market) in the Indian economy and been pro-growth with privatisation gaining ground. z Several reforms aimed at protecting shareholder rights and improving the ease of doing business have also been a contributing factor. € Post Covid Recovery: z India, with a recovering economy, is moving back to a higher nominal growth trajectory versus the western world (which continues to struggle with the second wave of Covid and related lockdowns) and looks as a credible destination for growth seeking developed world investors. € A Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an investment ¾ Sectors Wise Investments: made by a firm or individual in one country into € Performing Sectors: business interests located in another country. z Sectors like private banks, Fast-Moving FDI lets an investor purchase a direct business Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Information interest in a foreign country. Technology (IT) have seen foreign flows as z Example: Investors can make FDI in a number of Indian companies have exhibited resilience ways. Some common ones include establishing and demonstrated growth post lifting of the a subsidiary in another country, acquiring or lockdown restrictions. merging with an existing foreign company, or z In 2020, the pharma sector was a preferred starting a joint venture partnership with a choice and the sector did very well. foreign company. z The Banking stocks underperformed due to € Foreign portfolio investment (FPI) consists of potentialNon-Performing Asset (NPA) concerns. securities and other financial assets passively Now, the banking stocks are again sought after held by foreign investors. It does not provide the by the FPIs. investor with direct ownership of financial assets ¾ Benefit: and is relatively liquid depending on the volatility € Build Forex Reserve: of the market. z Increased inflow of investments will conservatively z Examples of FPIs include stocks, bonds, mutual allow to build forex reserves so that India has funds, exchange traded funds, American a buffer to maintain resilience in case of any Depositary Receipts (ADRs), and Global future contagion from excessive liquidity and Depositary Receipts (GDRs). rising fiscal deficits. ¾ Other Details Related to FPI: € FPI is part of a country’s capital account and is Foreign Portfolio Investment shown on its Balance of Payments (BOP). ¾ Foreign Capital: z The BOP measures the amount of money flowing € FPI and FDI are both important sources of funding from one country to other countries over one for most economies. monetary year.

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€ The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) € TheRBI also prevented HFC to accept or renew brought new FPI Regulations, 2019, replacing the public deposits unless it has obtained a minimum erstwhile FPI Regulations of 2014. investment grade rating for fixed deposits from € FPI is often referred to as “hot money” because any one of the approved credit rating agencies, of its tendency to flee at the first signs of trouble at least once a year. in an economy. ¾ Cover for Public Deposits: € FPI is more liquid and less risky than FDI. € The RBI asked HFCs to ensure that at all times, there is full cover available for public deposits RBI Directives to HFCs accepted by them. z In case an HFC fails to repay any public deposit or part thereof as per the terms, it shall not Why in News grant any loan or other credit facility or make Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued any investment or create any other asset as directives toHousing Finance Companies (HFCs). long as the default exists. ¾ HFC is an Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) € It also barred HFCs from lending against their whose financial assets, in the business of providing own shares. finance for housing, constitute at least 60% of its ¾ Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR): total assets. € Every housing finance company shall maintain a ¾ The directions, which shall come into force with minimum CAR on an ongoing basis. an immediate effect, are aimed at preventing the z It shall not be less than 13% as on March, 2020, affairs of any HFCs from being conducted in a manner 14% on or before March, 2021, and 15% on or detrimental to the interest of investors and depositors. before March, 2022. ¾ Lending Limit: Key Points € An HFC also cannot lend to any single borrower ¾ Liquidity Risk Management: exceeding 15% of its owned fund, and any single € All non-deposit taking HFCs with asset size of Rs. group of borrowers exceeding 25% of its owned 100 crore and above and all deposit taking HFCs fund. (irrespective of asset size) shall pursue liquidity ¾ Investment in other Companies: risk management. € It also cannot invest in the shares of another € It should cover adherence to gap limits, making company exceeding 15% of its owned fund and in use of liquidity risk monitoring tools and adoption shares of a single group of companies exceeding of stock approach to liquidity risk. 25% of its owned funds. ¾ Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR): ¾ Market Exposure: € HFCs shall maintain a liquidity buffer in terms of € The RBI said the aggregate exposure of an HFC to LCR, which will promote their resilience to potential the capital market in all forms (both fund based, liquidity disruptions by ensuring that they have and non-fund based) should not exceed 40% of its sufficient High-Quality Liquid Asset (HQLA) to net worth as on 31st March of the previous year. survive any acute liquidity stress scenario lasting for 30 days. Key Words ¾ Loan-To-Value (LTV) Ratio: ¾ Liquidity: € € HFCs lending against the collateral of listed shares It is the ability of a firm, company, or even an shall maintain a LTV ratio of 50%. individual to pay its debts without suffering catastrophic losses. € For loans granted against the collateral of gold ¾ jewellery, HFCs shall maintain an LTV ratio not Liquidity risk: exceeding 75%. € It stems from the lack of marketability of an ¾ Investment Grade Rating: investment that can’t be bought or sold quickly

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enough to prevent or minimize a loss. It is typically Scheme of Fund for Regeneration reflected in unusually wide bid-ask spreads or large price movements. of Traditional Industries ¾ Liquidity Risk Management: € Liquidity risk management encompass the Why in News processes and strategies a bank uses to: The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises z Ensure a balance sheet earns a desired (MSME) inaugurated 50 artisan-based SFURTI clusters, net interest margin, without exposing the spread over 18 States, to provide a boost to the MSME institution to undue risks from the interest sector. rate volatility. ¾ The Ministry of MSME is implementing a Scheme z Plan and structure a balance sheet with a of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries proper mix of assets and liabilities, to optimize (SFURTI) with a view to organize traditional industries the risk/return profile of the institution going and artisans into clusters to make them competitive forward. and increase their income. z Assess its ability to meet its cash flow and Key Points collateral needs (under both normal and ¾ The Ministry of MSME launched this scheme in the year stressed conditions) without having a negative 2005 with the view to promote Cluster development. impact on day-to-day operations or its overall financial position. € Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is the nodal Agency for promotion of Cluster z Mitigate that risk by developing strategies development for Khadi as well as for Village designed to and taking appropriate actions Industries products. ensure that necessary funds and collateral ¾ SFURTI clusters are of two types i.e., Regular Cluster are available when needed. (500 artisans) with Government assistance of up to Rs. ¾ Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR): 2.5 crore and Major Cluster (more than 500 artisans) € It refers to the proportion of highly liquid assets with Government assistance up to Rs. 5 crore. held by financial institutions, to ensure their ¾ The Ministry supports various interventions including ongoing ability to meet short-term obligations. setting up of infrastructure through Common Facility ¾ Loan-To-Value (LTV) Ratio: Centers (CFCs), procurement of new machineries, € It is a financial term used by lenders to express creating raw material banks, design intervention, the ratio of a loan to the value of an asset improved packaging, improved skills and capacity purchased. development, etc. ¾ Liquidity Buffer: ¾ Besides, the scheme focuses on strengthening the € It refers to the stock of liquid assets that a cluster governance systems with the active participation banking organization manages to enable it to of the stakeholders, so that they are able to gauge meet expected and unexpected cash flows and the emerging challenges and opportunities and collateral needs without adversely affecting the respond to them. banking organization’s daily operations. € It is done through building innovative and traditional ¾ Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR): skills, improved technologies, advanced processes, market intelligence and new models of public-private € It is the ratio of a bank’s capital in relation to its partnerships, so as to gradually replicate similar risk weighted assets and current liabilities. It is models of cluster- based traditional Industries. also known as Capital-to-Risk Weighted Asset Ratio (CRAR). It is decided by central banks Other Recent Initiatives to Promote MSME Sector to prevent commercial banks from taking ¾ Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM): It is a simple excess leverage and becoming insolvent in the one-page registration form to promote ease of doing process. business for MSMEs in India.

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¾ A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry steel have filed an application before the DGTR for and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE): The scheme a sunset review of anti-dumping duty imposed promotes innovation & rural entrepreneurship on imports of seamless tubes, pipes and hollow through rural Livelihood Business Incubator (LBI), profiles of iron, alloy or non-alloy steel from China. Technology Business Incubator (TBI) and Fund of € The applicants have alleged that dumping of these Funds for start up creation in the agro-based industry. products from China has continued even after ¾ Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme: To facilitate easy imposition of anti-dumping duty, and there has flow of credit, guarantee cover is provided for been a significant increase in the volume of imports. collateral free credit extended to MSMEs. € DGTR would review the need for continued ¾ Prime Minister’s Employment Generation imposition of the duties in force and examine Programme (PMEGP): It is a credit linked subsidy whether the expiry of existing duties is likely to scheme, for setting up of new micro-enterprises lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and to generate employment opportunities in rural and impact the domestic industry. as well as urban areas of the country. ¾ Anti-Dumping Duty: ¾ Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) for € About Dumping: Technology Upgradation: CLCSS aims at facilitating z Dumping is said to occur when the goods are technology upgradation of Micro and Small exported by a country to another country at a Enterprises (MSEs) by providing 15% capital subsidy price lower than the price it normally charges for purchase of plant & machinery. in its own home market. z This is an unfair trade practice which can have Anti-Dumping Duty on a distortive effect on international trade. Steel Imports from China € Objective: z Imposition of Anti-dumping duty is a measure to rectify the situation arising out of the dumping Why in News of goods and its trade distortive effect. Recently, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies „ In the long-term, anti-dumping duties can (DGTR) has initiated a probe toeview r the need for reduce the international competition of continuing imposition of anti-dumping duty on certain domestic companies producing similar goods. types of steel products imported from China, following z It is a protectionist tariff that a domestic complaints from domestic industry. government imposes on foreign imports that ¾ The duty on the certain steel products was first it believes are priced below fair market value. imposed in February 2017 and is set to expire on z The use of anti-dumping measures as an 16th May 2021. instrument of fair competition ispermitted by Directorate General of Trade Remedies the World Trade Organisation. ¾ It is the apex national authority under the Ministry € Different From Countervailing Duties: of Commerce and Industry for administering all z An Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD) is a customs duty trade remedial measures including anti-dumping, on imports providing a protection against the countervailing duties and safeguard measures. dumping of goods at prices substantially lower ¾ It provides trade defence support to the domestic than the normal value whereas Countervailing industry and exporters in dealing with increasing duty is a customs duty on goods that have instances of trade remedy investigations instituted received government subsidies in the originating against them by other countries. or exporting country. ¾ WTO’s Provisions Related to Anti-Dumping Duty: Key Points € Validity: An anti-dumping duty isvalid for a period ¾ About: of five years from the date of imposition unless € Some of the major private domestic producers of revoked earlier.

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€ Sunset Review: It can be extended for a further z The Flexible Inflation Target (FIT) was adopted period of five years through a sunset or expiry in 2016. This has put India on par with other review investigation. nations in terms of flexible inflation targeting. z A Sunset review/ expiry review is an evaluation z The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was of the need for the continued existence of a amended to provide a statutory basis for a program or an agency. It allows for an assessment FTI framework. of the effectiveness and performance of the z The amended Act provides for the inflation target program or agency. to be set by the Government, in consultation z Such a review can be initiated suo moto or with the RBI, once every five years. on the basis of a duly substantiated request € The FIT Framework: received from or on behalf of the domestic z India adopted a flexible inflation targeting industry. mandate of 4 (+/-2) percent and headline consumer price inflation was chosen as a key Flexible Inflation Target indicator. € Purpose: Inflation targeting is known to bring more stability, predictability, and transparency in Why in News deciding monetary policy. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its Currency and z This is because of the argument that rising Finance (RCF) report for the year 2020-21 has said that prices create uncertainties and adversely affect the current inflation target band (4% +/-2%) is appropriate savings and investments. for next 5 years. € Fixed Accountability: The framework made the RBI more accountable to explain to the government Key Points if it fails to meet the inflation targets. ¾ Inflation Targeting: z The flip side of this is such targets will restrain € Meaning: the RBI from taking any tight or accommodating z It is a central banking policy that revolves monetary policy stance. around adjusting monetary policy to achieve ¾ RBI’s Stand (Findings of the RCF Report): a specified annual rate of inflation. € The trend inflation has fallen from above 9% before z The principle of inflation targeting basedis on FIT to a range of 3.8-4.3 % during FIT, indicating the belief that long-term economic growth is that 4% is the appropriate level of the inflation best achieved by maintaining price stability, target for the country. and price stability is achieved by controlling € An inflation rate of 6% is the appropriate upper inflation. tolerance limit for the inflation target. € Strict inflation targeting is adopted when the central z On the other hand, a lower bound above 2% bank is only concerned about keeping inflation as can lead to actual inflation frequently dipping close to a given inflation target as possible, and below the tolerance band. nothing else. z While, a lower bound below 2% will hamper € Flexible inflation targeting is adopted when the growth, indicating that aninflation rate of 2% central bank is to some extent also concerned about is the appropriate lower tolerance bound. other things, for instance, the stability of interest € During the FIT period, monetary transmission has rates, exchange rates, output and employment. been full and reasonably swiftacross the money ¾ India’s Flexible Inflation Target Framework: market (trading in very short-term debt instruments) € Background: but less than complete in the bond markets. z The central bank and the government agreed z While there has been an improvement in in 2015 on a policy framework that stipulated transmission to lending and deposit rates of a primary objective of ensuring price stability banks, external benchmarks across all categories while keeping in mind the objective of growth. of loans and deposits could improve transmission.

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Monetary Policy z These measures are meant to make money ¾ It is the macroeconomic policy laid down by the less expensive to borrow and encourage central bank. It involves management of money more spending. supply and interest rate and is the demand side € A tight monetary policy is implemented to economic policy used by the government of a contract economic growth. country to achieve macroeconomic objectives like z Converse to accommodative monetary policy, inflation, consumption, growth and liquidity. a tight monetary policy involves increasing ¾ In India, monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of interest rates to constrain borrowing and to India is aimed at managing the quantity of money stimulate savings. in order to meet the requirements of different sectors of the economy and to increase the pace Monetary Policy Committee of economic growth. ¾ It is a statutory and institutionalized framework ¾ The RBI implements the monetary policy through under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, for open market operations, bank rate policy, reserve maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind system, credit control policy, moral persuasion and the objective of growth. through many other instruments. € The Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman of Accommodative and Tight Monetary Policy the committee. ¾ To avoid inflation, most central banks alternate be- ¾ The MPC determines the policy interest rate tween the accommodative monetary policy and the (repo rate) required to achieve the inflation target tight monetary policy in varying degrees to encourage (4%). growth while keeping inflation under control. € An RBI-appointed committee led by the € Accommodative monetary policy is adopted then deputy governor Urjit Patel in 2014 when central banks expand the money supply recommended the establishment of the Monetary to boost the economy. Policy Committee.

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International Relations

Highlights z CECPA: India & Mauritius z Transatlantic Alliance z Ceasefire Along Line of Control z Boosting Cooperation in South Asia z India-China Hotline z New York Convention z FATF Retains Pakistan In Grey List z World Trade Organisation z India - Maldives z IAEA - Iran Deal over Nuclear Inspections z Quad Meeting z Senkaku Island Dispute

CECPA: Types of Trade Agreements ¾ Free Trade Agreement (FTA): India & Mauritius € A free trade agreement is an agreement in which two or more countries agree to provide Why in News preferential trade terms, tariff concession etc. to the partner country. The Union Cabinet has approved signing of the € India has negotiated FTA with many countries Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership e.g. Sri Lanka and various trading blocs as well Agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius. e.g. ASEAN. ¾ The India-Mauritius CECPA is thefirst trade agreement ¾ Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA): signed by India with a country in Africa. € In this type of agreement, two or more partners Key Points give preferential right of entry to certain products. This is done by reducing duties on an agreed ¾ About CECPA: number of tariff lines. € It is a kind of free trade pact that aims to provide € Tariffs may even be reduced to zero for some an institutional mechanism to encourage and products even in a PTA. India signed a PTA with improve trade between the two countries. Afghanistan. € Under this agreement, countries reduce or eliminate ¾ Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement the duties on the products. The countries also give (CEPA): relaxation in the norms to promote the services € Partnership agreement or cooperation agreement trade. are more comprehensive than an FTA. € CEPA covers negotiation on the trade in services and investment, and other areas of economic partnership. € India has signed CEPAs with South Korea and Japan. ¾ Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA): € CECA generally covers negotiation on trade tariff and TRQ (Tariff Rate Quotas) rates only. It is not as comprehensive as CEPA. India has signed CECA with Malaysia.

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¾ India-Mauritius CECPA: of the projects implemented under this package. € About: This was jointly inaugurated by both the countries in 2020. z It is a limited agreement that will cover only select sectors. It will cover Trade in Goods, Rules € India and Mauritius have jointly inaugurated the of Origin, Trade in Services, Technical Barriers Phase-I of the Metro Express Project and the 100-bed to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) state of the art ENT hospital project in Mauritius, measures, Dispute Settlement,etc. also built under the special economic package. € Benefit to India: € According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), in 2019, the main import partners of Mauritius z More than 300 domestic goods from agriculture, were , , textiles, electronics and other sectors will get India (13.85%) China (16.69%) South Africa , and market access at concessional customs duties (8.07%) UAE (7.28%). in Mauritius. € The bilateral trade between India and Mauritius has registered a growth of 233% from USD 206.76 z Indian service providers will have access million in the Financial Year (FY) 2005-06 to USD to around 115 sub-sectors from the 11 690.02 million in FY 2019-20. broad service sectors, such as professional services, computer related services, research € Mauritius was the second top source of Foreign & development, other business services, etc. Direct Investment (FDI) into India in 2019-20. ¾ € Benefit to Mauritius: Other Recent Developments: € z It will benefit frompreferential market access India and Mauritius into India for its 615 products, including frozen signed a USD 100 fish, speciality sugar, biscuits, fresh fruits, juices, million Defence Line mineral water, beer, alcoholic drinks, soaps, bags, of Credit agreement medical and surgical equipment, and apparel. € Mauritius would get a Dornier aircraft z India has offered around 95 sub-sectors and an Advanced from the 11 broad services sectors, including Light Helicopter Dh- professional services, R&D, other business ruv on lease which services, telecommunication, environmental, would build its maritime security capabilities. health, etc. € The two sides also discussed the Chagos Archipelago € Negotiation on Automatic Trigger Safeguard dispute, which was an issue of sovereignty and Mechanism (ATSM): sustainable development before the United z India and Mauritius have also agreed to negotiate Nations (UN). an Automatic Trigger Safeguard Mechanism z In 2019, India voted at the UN General Assembly (ATSM) for some highly sensitive products within in support of the Mauritian position on the two years of the signing of the agreement. issue. India was one of the 116 countries that z ATSM protects the country from any sudden voted demanding that the UK end its “colonial or dramatic increase in imports. administration” from the group of islands. z Under this mechanism, if the imports of a € India delivered 1,00,000 Covishield vaccines to product are rising alarmingly, then after reaching Mauritius. a certain threshold, India can impose safeguard duties on imports from Mauritius automatically. The same provision applies to Mauritius as well Ceasefire Along Line of Control against Indian imports. ¾ India-Mauritius Economic Relations: Why in News € India had extended a ‘Special Economic Package’ India and Pakistan have agreed to observe the 2003 of USD 353 million to Mauritius in 2016. The New ceasefire agreements along the Line of Control (LoC) Mauritius Supreme Court building project is one and all other sectors.

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¾ The agreement comes in the wake of over 5000 € The agreement may contribute to an improve- instances of Cross Fire Violations (CFVs) along the ment of the security situation on the ground in Line of Control (LoC) and other areas in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir, resulting in 46 fatal casualties in 2020. € India has often alleged that many of the ceasefire ¾ The decision was taken after discussion between violations were aimed at providing cover to the two Director Generals of Military Operations infiltrating militants. Infiltration attempts may now (DGsMO). drop, and go some way in meeting a key Indian Key Points demand on cross-border terrorism. ¾ India - Pakistan Recent Developments: ¾ 2003 Ceasefire Agree- € The two sides last connected at the highest level ments: during the Christmas day of 2015, when Indian € The original cease- Prime Minister landed in Lahore for an unannounced fire agreement was visit to meet Pakistani Prime Minister. reached in Novem- ber 2003, four years € Dialogue broke down soon thereafter because of nd after theKargil War the Pathankot airbase attack of 2 January, 2016, (1999). which was followed by the attack at the garrison € The 2003 ceasefire agreement remains a milestone in Uri and the Indian response with a surgical as it brought peace along the LoC until 2006. strike along the border. Between 2003 and 2006, not a single bullet was € Bilateral ties continued to nosedive because of fired by the jawans of India and Pakistan. the Pulwama terror attackof 14th February, 2019, € But since 2006, ceasefire violations have become and the Balakot operation by India. the norm with increasing frequency. Line of Control ¾ Backchannel Diplomacy: ¾ The Line of Control (LoC) emerged from the 1948 € Several signs indicate that back channel diplomacy ceasefire line negotiated by the United Nations led up to the talks and helped produce a joint (UN) after the Kashmir War. statement between the two sides, beginning with ¾ It was designated as the LoC in 1972, following Pakistan Army chief General’s call for resolving the the Shimla Agreement between the two earlier in the month Kashmir issue “peacefully” countries. of February 2021. ¾ LoC is demarcated upto the Siachen Glacier (Point € Pakistan supported India’s five proposals for NJ9842)- the world’s highest battlefield. collaboration at the South Asian level on containing ¾ LoC is delineated on a map signed by the Director Covid-19. General of Military Operations (DGMO) of both € India allowed the aircraft carrying Pakistan Prime armies and has the international sanctity of a legal , where the Minister a clear passage to Sri Lanka agreement. Pakistani leader declared a USD 50 million defence line of credit for Colombo. Back Channel Diplomacy € However, during these apparent signs of back ¾ The back channel diplomacy is one of the channel negotiations, both sides have maintained diplomatic tactics practiced by states to achieve the their respective positions on the Kashmir issue. objectives of foreign policy in solving international disputes z After the Pakistan government moved to provide outside official bureaucratic structures provisional provincial status for Gilgit Baltistan and formats. in November2020, India hit out saying Gilgit ¾ It takes place away from the eyes and lenses of Baltistan was an “integral part of India”. the media in order to ensure the confidentiality of ¾ Significance of the Latest Re-commitment to the information and keep them away from official and 2003 Agreement: media trading until they reach the target.

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two countries rose in Ladakh, with a multi-place India-China Hotline mobilization of troops. € June 2020: Indian and Chinese armies were engaged Why in News in the standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Recently, India and China announced that both have Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh which became the heart of the recent . agreed to establish a Hotline. LAC tensions € June 2020: India banned 59 apps originating from China. € November 2020: India blocked 43 new mobile apps, mostly Chinese. z The ban has been enforced under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. € February 2021: India and China decided to finally reach an agreement on disengagement at Pangong Lake.

FATF Retains Key Points Pakistan In Grey List ¾ Hotline: € The decision to install a Hotline between the two Why in News countries was taken over a telephonic meeting The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided between India’s External Affairs Minister and to retain Pakistan on the “greylist” till the next review of China’s Foreign Affairs Minister. its performance on its recommendations during the June z Hotline is a direct telephone line in constant Plenary session. operational readiness so as to facilitate immediate communication. Key Points € The Hotline will be helpful in timely communication ¾ Background: and exchange of views between the two countries. € During the October-2020 Plenary, due to the ¾ India’s Stand: Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan was given an € Reiterated the ‘three mutuals’ (mutual respect, extension for full compliance with the 27-point mutual sensitivity and mutual interests) as the action plan till February 2021. approach to the relationship. z It had then not fully complied with 6 of the 27 € Disengagement, followed by de-escalation, will directives. lead to peace along the Line of Actual Control € The FATF had issued the 27-point action plan (LAC), and eventually normalisation of ties. after placing Pakistan on the ‘Grey List’ in June ¾ China’s Stand: 2018. The action plan pertains to curbingmoney € The boundary situation should not be placed at the laundering and terror financing. front and centre of the relationship, but instead ¾ About: at a “proper place” in overall ties. € FATF acknowledged Pakistan’s significant progress € The indication was the two sides should return in combating terrorism,however it was still to fully to business as usual while the issue is dealt with. comply with three of the 27-point action plan. ¾ Recent Developments: € The three points pertain to effective steps in € May 2020: Chinese and Indian forces clashed at terms of financial sanctions and penaltiesagainst Nathu La, Sikkim (India). the terror funding infrastructure and the entities z After the Sikkim scuffles, tensions between the involved.

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€ After assessing the measures taken during the € Grey List: June 2021 session, the FATF would verify the z Countries that are considered safe haven implementation and test the sustainability of for supporting terror funding and money reforms undertaken by Pakistan, to review its laundering are put in the FATF grey list. inclusion or exclusion on the grey list. z This inclusion serves as a warning to the ¾ Significance: country that it may enter the blacklist. € In Pakistan’s case, the FATF has taken cognisance of € Black List: the inaction against several banned organisations z Countries known as Non-Cooperative involved in raising funds for terror activities and Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in those linked to global terrorists like Jaish-e- the blacklist. Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e- Taiba’s Hafiz Saeed and its operations chief Zaki-Ur z These countries support terror funding and Rahman Lakhvi. money laundering activities. z The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding € On several occasions, India has also raised the involvement of elements within Pakistan in a number or deleting entries. of terror cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai and ¾ Sessions: The FATF Plenary is the decision making Pulwama attacks. body of the FATF. It meets three times per year. € Perpetual containment of Pakistan on the grey list of FATF would further pressurise Pakistan to India - Maldives take adequate measures to prevent such terrorist attacks on India from its soil. Why in News Financial Action Task Force Recently, India and the Maldives have signed a ¾ About: defence Line of Credit agreement worth USD 50 million. € It is an inter-governmental body established in ¾ The agreement was signed during the visit by the 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris. External Affairs Minister of India to Maldives. € The FATF assesses the strength of a country’s Key Points anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing frameworks, however it does not go by individual ¾ Defence Line of Credit: cases. € It was signed pursuant to the request by the ¾ Objectives: Government of Maldives in April 2013 for in enhancing € To set standards and promote effective imple- India’s support and cooperation mentation of legal, regulatory and operational the capability of the Maldives Defence Forces in measures for combating money laundering, maritime surveillance, and subsequent requests terrorist financing and other related threats to in October 2015 and March 2016. the integrity of the international financial system. € It is seen as key to India’s and Maldives’ strategic ¾ Headquarters: interests, particularly given China’s increasing footprint in the Indian Ocean Region. € Its Secretariat is located at the Organisation ¾ for Economic Cooperation and Development Assistance to Build Dockyards: (OECD) headquarters in Paris. € A dockyard will be developed at the Uthuru Thila ¾ Member Countries: Falhu (UTF) Naval Base with Indian assistance, a few miles northwest of Male, which will strengthen € The FATF currently has 39 members including the Maldivian defence capabilities. two regional organisations — the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India z The agreement is part of the defence action is a member of the FATF. plan signed in 2016 by then Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom during a visit ¾ Lists under FATF: to India.

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¾ Indicating deepening z Nearly 50% of India’s external trade and 80% security cooperation, of its energy imports transit these SLOCs in the an agreement to Arabian Sea. develop, support and € Part of Important Groupings: Besides, Maldives maintain a Maldives is a member of the South Asian Association for National Defence Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the South Force Coast Guard Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC). Harbour at Sifavaru was also signed. ¾ Cooperation Between India & Maldives: € India will also support development of other € Security Cooperation: Through the decades, India infrastructure needed for the harbour, support has rushed emergency assistance to the Maldives, the development of communications resources whenever sought. and radar services, and provide training. z In 1988, when armed mercenaries attempted ¾ Countering Terrorism: a coup against President Maumoon Abdul € Agreed to convene the first meeting of the Joint Gayoom, India sent paratroopers and Navy Working Group on Counter Terrorism, countering vessels and restored the legitimate leadership Violent Extremism and De-radicalisation at the under Operation Cactus. the earliest. z India and Maldive conduct the joint military ¾ Review of Infrastructure Projects: exercise ‘Ekuverin’. € A number of India-backed infrastructure projects € Disaster Management: The 2004 tsunami and the including the National College of Policing and Law drinking water crisis in Male a decade later were Enforcement Studies. other occasions when India rushed assistance. ¾ Collaboration at Multilateral Bodies: z The Maldives has been one of the biggest € Discussed collaboration at multilateral bodies like beneficiaries of the Covid-19 assistance and the General Assembly and Security Council of the vaccines delivered by India among India’s all United Nations Organisation. of neighbouring countries. z The Maldivian side assured India of its support z When the world supply chains were blocked for permanent membership of India at the “expanded and reformed” UN Security Council. because of the pandemic, India continued to provide crucial commodities to the Maldives z India has also extended support for the under Mission SAGAR. candidature of the Maldives for the Presidency of the 76th session of the General Assembly. € People To People Contact: Maldivian students attend educational institutions in India and patients ¾ Cooperation for Police Reforms: fly here for superspeciality healthcare, aided bya € Noted progress on institutionalising linkages between liberal visa-free regime extended by India. the police organisations to support collaboration and cooperation in training management and € Economic Cooperation:Tourism is the mainstay of exchange of trainers and trainees. Maldivian economy. The country is now a major tourist destination for some Indians and a job India - Maldives Relations destination for others. ¾ Geo-Strategic Importance of Maldives to India: z Given the geographical limitations imposed on the Maldives, India has exempted the nation € Maldives, a Toll Gate in Indian Ocean: from export curbs on essential commodities. z Located at the southern and northern parts ¾ of this island chain lies the two important sea Irritants in Relations: lanes of communication (SLOCs). € Political Instability: India’s major concern has z These SLOCs are critical for maritime trade been the impact of political instability in the flow between the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of neighbourhood on its security and development. Hormuz in West Asia and the Strait of Malacca z The February 2015 arrest of Maldives’ opposition in Southeast Asia. leader Mohamed Nasheed on terrorism charges

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and the consequent political crisis have posed a in the international seasand peaceful resolution real diplomatic test for India’s neighbourhood of disputes. policy. € Reiterated their “common vision for a free, open € Radicalisation: In the past decade or so, the number and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, with clear support of Maldivians drawn towards terrorist groups like for ASEAN cohesion and centrality”, and noted that the Islamic State (IS) and Pakistan-based madrassas the Indo-Pacific concept had “gathered growing and jihadist groups has been increasing. international support, including in Europe”. z Political instability and socio-economic € Discussed climate change and cooperation in uncertainty are the main drivers fuelling the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and rise of Islamist radicalism in the island nation. supply chain resilience. z This gives rise to the possibility of Pakistan based € Agreed on holding ministerial meetings of the Quad terror groups using remote Maldivian islands at least once a year and meetings at senior and as a launch pad for terror attacks against India working levels on a regular basis to bolster coop- and Indian interests. eration on advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific. ¾ € China Angle: China’s strategic footprint in India’s Significance: neighbourhood has increased. The Maldives has € The meeting, held in the backdrop of the ongoing emerged as an important ‘pearl’ in China’s “String withdrawal of Chinese forces from positions along of Pearls” construct in South Asia. the Line of Actual Control, underlines that India’s interest in the Quad is not tactical but profoundly z Given the uncertain dynamics of Sino-Indian relation, China’s strategic presence in the strategic. Maldives remains a concern. z For India, the Quad is also about addressing the growing power imbalance with China that has z Also, the Maldives have started using the China manifold consequences for India’s security and card to bargain with India. prosperity as well its regional and international standing. Quad Meeting € It signalled the new USA administration’s com- mitment to the Quad as a key formation in the Why in News Indo-Pacific. z The momentum behind the Quad picked up in Recently, India joined Australia, Japan and the United 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, China’s States for a ministerial meeting under theQuadrilateral growing assertiveness, and deterioration of grouping (Quad) and discussed issues across Indo-Pacific China’s bilateral relations with all Quad partners. and the military takeover in Myanmar. € Chinese officials have likened the Quad to a Key Points “mini NATO” and said its activities are aimed at targeting third parties, a charge rejected by the ¾ Meeting Highlights: four members of the group. € Discussed contemporary challenges, especially z NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)is a the impact of Covid-19 and agreed to enhance political and military alliance whose primary access to affordable vaccines, medicines and goals are the collective defence of its members medical equipment. and the maintenance of a democratic peace in € Discussed countering disinformation, counter- the North Atlantic area. terrorism, maritime security, and the “priority of strengthening democratic resilience in the Quad broader region”. ¾ Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is an informal € Emphasised their commitment to upholding a strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and rules-based international order, underpinned by Australia with a shared objective to ensure and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation region.

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¾ The idea of Quad was first mooted by former z However, this historic, long-established friendship Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. between the world’s two largest economies has However, the idea couldn’t move ahead with Australia become strained in recent years. pulling out of it, apparently due to Chinese pressure. € Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ¾ In December 2012, Shinzo Abe again floated the (T-TIP): concept of Asia’s “Democratic Security Diamond” z T-TIP is an ambitious, comprehensive, and high- involving Australia, India, Japan and the USA to standard trade and investment agreement safeguard the maritime commons from the Indian being negotiated between the United States Ocean to the western Pacific. and the European Union (EU). ¾ In November 2017, India, the USA, Australia and „ The TTIP negotiations were launched in Japan gave shape to the long-pending “Quad” 2013 and ended without conclusion at the Coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the end of 2016. critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any z T-TIP will be a cutting edge agreement aimed at influence (especially China). providing greater compatibility and transparency ¾ In 2020, all four Quad Countries - Japan, India, in trade and investment regulation, while Australia and the USA took part in the Malabar maintaining high levels of health, safety, and exercise. environmental protection. ¾ € Malabar exercise is an annual trilateral naval Reason for Strained Relations: exercise between the navies of India, Japan, and € The Donald Trump (former) administration flaunted the USA which is held alternately in the Indian its foreign policy through an “America First” lens. and Pacific Oceans. € The former American president not only attacked the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - the fundamental structure of transatlantic alliance Transatlantic Alliance but also withdrew from virtually all multinational agreements recently championed by the European Why in News Union (EU), such as the Iran nuclear deal and the The USA President Joe Biden in his first address to Paris climate agreement. the annual Munich Security Conference declared that € The USA and the EU appear to be at odds with each the ‘transatlantic alliance is back’and stressed the need other currently regarding their China interests, to defend democracy around the world. particularly on the economic and trade front. ¾ The USA President intended to improve the strained ¾ Significance of the Latest Declaration: relationship between the USA and other European € A boost to multilateralism. . allies € Concerned with maintaining its global strategic ¾ The Munich Security Conference is an annual primacy, the USA was once equivocal about conference on international security policy that has European defence and strategic autonomy. But taken place in Munich, Bavaria (Germany) since 1963. as power has shifted eastward, subsequent USA governments have been keen to devote as much Key Points attention, money, and military muscle as possible ¾ About: to the Indo-Pacific. € The Transatlantic Alliance has been thecornerstone € The Alliance can lead to development of an EU- of the post-World War II world order. USA carbon border adjustment mechanism, and z It is a real-world expression of West - of a sense can help in averting most catastrophic impacts that both sides of Atlantic are in it together. of climate change. € It is the foundation on which the collective security € On Iran, Europeans can anticipate renewed and shared prosperity of the USA and Europe are negotiations on a revamped nuclear dealaimed built. at de-escalating tensions across the region.

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization neighbouring countries should consider creating a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses, so that they could ¾ Establishment: North Atlantic Treaty Organization travel quickly within the region during health emergencies, (NATO) was established by the North Atlantic Treaty on the request of the receiving country. (also called the Washington Treaty) of 4th April, 1949, by the United States, Canada, and several ¾ This suggestion was made during a workshop on Western European nations to provide collective ‘Covid19 Management: Experience, Good Practices and security against the Soviet Union. Way Forward’ hosted by India with nine neighbouring nations, including Pakistan. € NATO provides a unique transatlantic link for political and security cooperation. ¾ The eight members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Mauritius and ¾ Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium. Seychelles participated in the workshop. ¾ Functioning: ¾ SAARC comprises the following member States: € NATO is a whose political and military alliance Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, primary goals are the collective defence of its Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. members and the maintenance of a democratic peace in the North Atlantic area. Key Points € NATO has an integrated military command ¾ Measures Proposed by India in the Workshop: structure but very few forces or assets are exclusively its own. € Creating a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses. z Most forces remain under full national command and control until member countries € The civil aviation ministries should coordinate on agree to undertake NATO-related tasks. a regional air ambulance agreement for medical contingencies. z All 30 allies have an equal say, the Alliance’s decisions must be unanimous and consensual, € Creatinga regional platform for collating, compiling and its members must respect the basic values and studying data about the effectiveness of that underpin the Alliance, namely democracy, Covid-19 vaccines among populations. individual liberty and the rule of law. € A regional network for promoting technology assist- ¾ Members: As of 2020, there are 30 member states, ed epidemiology for preventing future pandemics. with North Macedonia (2020) becoming the latest € Sharing of successful public health policies and member to join the Alliance. schemes. € Member Countries: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, z From India, Ayushman Bharat and Jan Arogya Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, schemes may be useful case-studies for the Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, region. Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, ¾ Other Highlights: the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, € Barring Pakistan, which hasn’t requested vaccines Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the from India, the other participating countries United Kingdom, Montenegro, North Macedonia thanked India for supplies of vaccines, medicines and the United States. and equipment amid the pandemic. € Germany’s Merkel spoke about the need of a € South Asia was among the first regions to come transatlantic policy towards Russia. together in recognising the threat (Covid-19) and committing to fight it together. Boosting z The countries in the region created a Covid-19 emergency response fund and shared resources, Cooperation in South Asia equipment and knowledge. € The region shares many common challenges – Why in News climate change, natural disasters, poverty, illiteracy, Recently, the Prime Minister suggested that and social and gender imbalances, and also share

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the power of centuries-old cultural and people- Key Points to-people linkages. ¾ About: ¾ Significance: € The Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement € The participation of all the SAARC members of Foreign Arbitral Awards, also known as the including Pakistan has opened an opportunity to “New York Arbitration Convention” or the “New resolve the issues among its members and restart York Convention”, is one of the key instruments the regional development cooperation initiatives in international arbitration. such as South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). z Arbitration is a procedure in which a dispute is ¾ SAARC Issues: submitted, by agreement of the parties, to one or € Lack of Unanimity: more arbitrators (an independent person/body) z Consensus building continues to be a challenge who make a binding decision on the dispute. th on major decisions. For e.g. During the 18 SAARC € It applies to the recognition and enforcement Summit in Kathmandu in 2014, the signing of of foreign arbitral awards and the referral by a the SAARC motor vehicle agreement (MVA) court to arbitration. had to be stalled as Pakistan declined to it. € The Convention was adopted by theUnited Nations € Tussle Between Countries: (UN) following a diplomatic conference held in z Most of the smaller states and external players May and June 1958 at the UN Headquarters in believe that the India-Pakistan conflict has New York, and entered into force on 7th June, 1959. undermined SAARC. ¾ Parties to Convention: z Pakistan’s use of terror as an instrument of € The Convention has166 state parties (Countries). foreign policy has made normal business € India is a party to the Convention. impossible. Therefore, India pulled out of the ¾ Aim: summit that was to be held in Pakistan in 2016 € The Convention’s principal aim is that in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack. foreign and non-domestic arbitral awards should not be dis- z Dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan criminated against by courts asked to enforce them. over the Durand line, is also a reason for tussle z It obliges Contracting States to ensure foreign within SAARC. awards are recognised and generally capable € Domination by India: of enforcement in their jurisdiction in the same z India’s economic position vis-a vis other SAARC way as domestic awards. countries, has often been the subject of criticism € To require courts of Contracting States touphold that India acts as a big brother rather than a valid arbitration agreements and stay court strategic partner. proceedings in respect of matters which the parties € Marginalisation by Other Organisations: have agreed should be resolved by arbitration. z SAARC has become almost marginal to the z By signing up to the Convention, astate agrees regions’ collective consciousness and other that its courts will respect and enforce parties’ organisations such as theBay of Bengal Initiative agreements to arbitrate, and to recognise for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic and enforce any resulting arbitral award in Cooperation (BIMSTEC) came into the forefront. its jurisdiction subject to only very limited grounds for refusal. New York Convention World Trade Organisation Why in News Recently, Cairn Energy has filed a case, in accordance Why in News with the New York Convention, in the USA district court Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed as to enforce a USD 1.2 billion arbitration award it won in Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a tax dispute against India. the leading international trade body.

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¾ Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the first African official and of representatives of all WTO members, which the first woman to hold the position. is required to meet at least every two years and which can take decisions on all matters Key Points under any of the multilateral trade agreements. ¾ Origin of WTO: € General Council: € The WTO is the successor to the General Agreement z It is composed of all WTO members and is on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was created required to report to the Ministerial Conference. in 1947. € Dispute Settlement Body and Trade Policy Review € The Uruguay Round (1986-94) of the GATT led to Body: st the WTO’s creation. WTO began operations on 1 z General Council convenes in two particular forms: January, 1995. „ Dispute Settlement Body: To oversee the z The Agreement Establishing the WTO, commonly dispute settlement procedures. known as the “Marrakesh Agreement”, was „ Trade Policy Review Body: To conduct regular signed in Marrakesh, Morocco in 1994. reviews of the trade policies of individual ¾ About: WTO members. € WTO is an international organization dealing with ¾ Objectives: the rules of trade between nations. € To set and enforce rules for international trade. € Main difference between GATT and WTO was that € To provide a forum for negotiating and monitoring GATT mostly dealt with trade in goods, the WTO further trade liberalization. and its agreements could not only cover goods € To but also trade in services and other intellectual resolve trade disputes. properties like trade creations, designs, and € To increase the transparency of decision-making inventions. processes. € Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. € To cooperate with other major international ¾ Members: economic institutions involved in global economic management. € The WTO has 164 members (including European Union) and 23 observer governments (like Iran, € To help developing countries benefit fully from Iraq, Bhutan, Libya etc). the global trading system. ¾ € India is a founder member of the 1947 GATT and Achievements of WTO: its successor, the WTO. € Global Facilitation of Trade: ¾ Governing Structure: z By building binding rules for global trade in € Ministerial Conference: goods and services, WTO has facilitated dramatic growth in cross-border business activity. z Structure of the WTO is dominated by its highest authority, the Ministerial Conference, composed z The WTO has not only enhanced the value and quantity of trade but has also helped in eradicating trade and non-trade barriers. € Improved Economic Growth: z Since 1995, the value of world trade has nearly quadrupled, while the real volume of world trade has expanded by 2.7 times. z Domestic reforms and market-opening commitments have resulted in the lasting boost to national income of nations. € Increased Global Value Chains: z The predictable market conditions fostered by the WTO, have combined with improved

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communications to enable the rise of global z Recently, however, the moratorium has been value chains, trade within these value chains called into question by developing countries today accounts for almost 70% of total because of its implications for collecting revenue. merchandise trade. € Agriculture and Development: € Upliftment of Poor Countries: z Agreement on agriculture is facing issues due z The least-developed countries receive extra to food security and development requirements attention in the WTO. All the WTO agreements for developing countries like India. recognize that they must benefit from the greatest possible flexibility, and better-off IAEA - Iran Deal members must make extra efforts to lower import barriers on least-developed countries’ over Nuclear Inspections exports. ¾ Recent Challenges: Why in News € China’s State Capitalism: Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency z China’s state-owned enterprises present a (IAEA) have agreed to temporary measures to offset Iran’s major challenge to the free-market global decision to restrict access to inspectors. trading system and the rulebook of the WTO ¾ In December 2020, Iran’s Parliament passed the law is inadequate for addressing these challenges. demanding a suspension of some inspections if the z It is due to this that USA-China are also engaged USA failed to lift sanctions. in Trade war. € Institutional Issues: Key Points z The Appellate Body’s operations have effectively ¾ About: been suspended since December 2019, as the € Iran will stop the implementation of the voluntary USA’s blocking of appointments has left the measures as envisaged in the 2015 nuclear deal, body without a quorum of adjudicators needed as of 23rd February 2021. to hear appeals. € However, Iran will continue to implement fully and z The crisis with the dispute settlement function without limitation itsComprehensive Safeguards of the WTO is closely linked to the breakdown Agreement with the IAEA as before. in its negotiation function. z Under a comprehensive safeguards agreement, € Lack of Transparency: the IAEA has the right and obligation to ensure z There is a problem in WTO negotiations asthere that safeguards are applied on all nuclear material is no agreed definition of what constitutes a in the territory, jurisdiction or control of the State developed or developing country at the WTO. for the exclusive purpose of verifying that such z Members can currently self-designate as material is not diverted to nuclear weapons or developing countries to receive ‘special and other nuclear explosive. differential treatment’ – a practice that is the € No access will be given to the IAEA beyond subject of much contention. safeguards of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. € E-commerce & Digital Trade: € Iran would deny the IAEA real-time access to z While the global trade landscape has changed footage from surveillance cameras installed at significantly over the past 25 years, WTO rules some sites and, if sanctions are not lifted within have not kept pace. three months, delete it. z In 1998, realizing that e-commerce would play ¾ Significance of the Deal: a growing role in the global economy, WTO € It certainly seems likely to defuse a mounting members established a WTO e-commerce sense of crisis surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities moratorium to examine all trade-related issues and efforts to breathe new life into the 2015 relating to global electronic commerce. nuclear deal.

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€ It significantly reduces the impact of a new Iranian € Since sanctions were tightened, Iran has been law, passed in 2020, which would have seriously steadily breaking some of its commitments to hampered the IAEA’s ability to do its work. pressure the remaining signatories to find a way ¾ 2015 Nuclear Deal: to provide sanctions relief. € In 2015, Iran with the P5+1 group of world € The USA held that it would attempt to force all powers - the USA, UK, France, China, Russia, and countries to stop buying Iranian oil and put pressure Germany agreed on a long-term deal on its nuclear on Iran to negotiate a new nuclear accord. programme. ¾ IAEA’s Stand: € The deal was named as Joint Comprehensive € In 2018, an International Atomic Energy Agency’s Plan of Action (JCPOA) and in common parlance report concluded that Iran’s stockpile of uranium as Iran Nuclear Deal. and heavy water, as well as its implementation of additional protocols, were “in compliance” with € Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear activity in return for the lifting of sanctions and the agreement. access to global trade. International Atomic Energy Agency € The agreement allowed Iran to accumulate small ¾ About: amounts of uranium for research but it banned € Widely known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace the enrichment of uranium, which is used to make and Development” organization within theUnited reactor fuel and nuclear weapons. Nations family, the IAEA is the international centre € Iran was also required to redesign a heavy-water for cooperation in the nuclear field. reactor being built, whose spent fuel could contain ¾ Establishment: plutonium suitable for a bomb and to allow € The IAEA was created in 1957 in response to the international inspections. deep fears and expectations generated by the ¾ USA Abandoning the Deal in 2018: discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology. € In May 2018, the USA abandoned the deal criticising ¾ Headquarter: Vienna, Austria. it as flawed and reinstated and tightened its ¾ Objective: sanctions. € The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. z In 2005, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work for a safe and peaceful world. ¾ Functions: € It is an independent international organization that reports annually to the United Nation General Assembly. € When necessary, the IAEA also reports to the UN Security Council in regards to instances of members’ non-compliance with safeguards and security obligations.

Senkaku Island Dispute

Why in News Recently, China called the Japan-USA mutual security pact a product of the Cold War following USA’s criticism of the presence of Chinese coast guard vessels in Japanese- claimed territorial waters.

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Key Points z Both Japan and China claim ownership of these islands. ¾ About: € Location: € The 1960 Japan-USA mutual security treaty assures the USA would come to Japan’s aid in the event of z Eight uninhabited islands lie in the East China an outside attack on Japanese forces or territory. Sea. They have a total area of about 7 sq km € The USA criticized China as the Chinese ships and lie northeast of Taiwan. have been repeatedly encroaching the Japanese € Strategic Importance: territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku island. z Islands are close to strategically important € Whereas China has long accused the USA of shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and maintaining a “Cold War mentality’’ due to which are thought to contain oil deposits. it tries to bring Japan in its Bloc against China. € Japan’s Claim: z After World War II, Japan renounced claims to a number of territories and islands including Taiwan in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco. z But under the treaty, the Nansei Shoto islands came under USA trusteeship and were then returned to Japan in 1971. z Japan says that Senkaku islands are part of the Nansei Shoto islands and hence they also belong to Japan. „ Recently, a local council in southern Japan has approved a bill to change the name of an area containing Senkaku Islands from Tonoshiro to Tonoshiro Senkaku. z Besides, China raised no objections to the San Francisco deal. Only since the 1970s, when the issue of oil resources in the area emerged, Chinese and Taiwanese authorities began ¾ The Senkaku Island Dispute: pressing their claims. € About: € China’s Claim: z The Senkaku Island dispute concerns a territorial z These Islands have been part of its territory dispute over a group of uninhabited islands since ancient times, serving as important fishing known as: grounds administered by the province of Taiwan. „ Senkaku Islands in Japan, z When Taiwan was returned in the Treaty of „ Diaoyu Islands in China, and San Francisco, China said the islands – as part „ Tiaoyutai Islands in Taiwan. of it – should also have been returned.

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Science and Technology

Highlights z Epilepsy z Bhuvan Portal z Genetically Modified Organisms as Imported Food Crops z Sandes: Government Instant Messaging System z Airline Mapping of Ocean Floor z Bhuvan Portal z National Technology Awards 2020 z Beema Bamboo Crash Barrier z NASA’ s Mars 2020 Mission z Silver Antimony Telluride: A Material to Tap Waste Heat

€ It is the first global report on epilepsy summarizing Epilepsy the available evidence on the burden of epilepsy and the public health response required at global, Why in News regional and national levels. Recently, a major drugmaker has developed the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and the finished ¾ APIs, also called bulk drugs, are significant ingredients dosage formulation of Brivanext, a drug for epilepsy. in the manufacture of drugs. The Hubei province of China is the hub of the API manufacturing industry. Key Points ¾ India is heavily import-dependent for APIs from ¾ Epilepsy: China. India’s API imports stand at around $3.5 € Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) billion per year, and around 70%, or $2.5 billion, disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, come from China. causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Genetically Modified Organisms € Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages. as Imported Food Crops € Anyone can develop epilepsy, but it’s more common in young children and older adults. It occurs slightly Why in News more in males than in females. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ¾ Symptoms: (FSSAI) in a recent order has set 1% threshold for € Alterations to sense of taste, smell, sight, hearing, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in food crops or touch, dizziness, tingling and twitching of limbs, imported into India. Staring blankly, unresponsiveness, performing ¾ Earlier in August 2020, FSSAI had issued the order repetitive movements. that 24 food crops the country imports would need € It may or may not involve loss of awareness or a ‘non-GM-origin-cum-GM-free certificate’ issued consciousness. by a competent authority. ¾ Cure: Key Points € There’s no cure for epilepsy, but the disorder can be managed with medications and other strategies. ¾ Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): ¾ Initiative to Raise Awareness: In 2019, a report € These are living organisms whose genetic material Epilepsy, a public health imperative was released has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory by the World Health Organization. through genetic engineering.

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€ Its role was diluted with the enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and FSSAI was asked to take over approvals of imported goods.

Airline Mapping of Ocean Floor

Why in News The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is planning to conduct airline mapping of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep to get a better picture of the ocean floor. € This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, ¾ Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian Sea. and virus genes that do not occur in nature or These are coral islands located off the coast of Kerala. through traditional crossbreeding methods. The Andaman and the Nicobar Islands lie to the ¾ Genetically Modified Crops: southeast of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal. € Conventional plant breeding involves crossing of species of the same genus to provide the offspring Key Points with the desired traits of both parents. ¾ About ICOIS: z Genus is a class of items such as a group of € INCOIS is an autonomous organizationunder the animals or plants with similar traits, qualities Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). or features. € It is located in Hyderabad & was established in 1999. € Bt cotton is the only Genetically Modified (GM) € It is a unit of the Earth System Science Organization crop that is allowed in India. It has alien genes (ESSO), New Delhi. from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) z The ESSO operates as an executive arm of the that allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for its policies the common pest pink bollworm. and programmes. € Herbicide Tolerant Bt (Ht Bt) cotton, on the other € Mandate of INCOIS: To provide the best possible hand is derived with the insertion of an additional ocean information and advisory services to society, gene, from another soil bacterium, which allows the industry, government agencies and the scientific plant to resist the common herbicide glyphosate. community through sustained ocean observations € In Bt brinjal, a gene allows the plant to resist and constant improvement through systematic attacks of fruit and shoot borers. and focused research. € In DMH-11 mustard, genetic modification allows ¾ Recent Initiative: cross-pollination in a crop that self-pollinates in € The INCOIS is planning to take the help of the nature. National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)to conduct ¾ Legal Position of GM crops in India: ‘bathymetric’ study of Andaman and Nicobar € In India, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Islands and Lakshadweep. Committee (GEAC) is the apex body that allows z NRSC: It is one of the primary centres of Indian for commercial release of GM crops. Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department € Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract a of Space (DOS). jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh under z Bathymetry: the Environment Protection Act, 1986. „ It is the study of the “beds” or “floors” of ¾ Regulation of Imported Crops: water bodies, including the ocean, rivers, € The task of regulating GMO levels in imported streams, and lakes. consumables was initially with the Genetic „ The term “bathymetry” originally referred Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). to the ocean’s depth relative to sea level,

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although it has come to mean “submarine depths in a high resolution scale, compared to topography,” or the depths and shapes of other buoys in the seas. underwater terrain. ¾ Similar Global Initiative: € NRSC has already done a similar high resolution € Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between topographic Airborne Laser Terrain Mapping the Nippon Foundation of Japan and the General (ALTM) for entire coastal areas of the country. Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO). z ALTM is an active remote sensing technology € The project aims to bring together all available that employs Light Detection and Ranging bathymetric data to produce the definitive map (LIDAR) to measure topography at high spatial of the world ocean floor by 2030 and make it resolution over large areas. available to all. z ALTM pulses a laser to measure the range between an airborne platform and the Earth’s surface at many thousands of times per second. National z Using a rotating mirror or other scanning Technology Awards 2020 mechanism inside the laser transmitter, the laser pulses can be made to sweep through an Why in News angle, tracing out a line or other patterns on A total of 12 companies have been selected for the the reflecting surface. National Technology Awards 2020 for successful com- € The scientists are in the process of integrating the mercialization of innovative indigenous technologies. data for a 3D multi-hazard mapping of both the east and west coastline for a more precise picture Key Points of the ocean floor. ¾ The awards are conferred by the Technology ¾ Significance: Development Board (TDB). € Such a study has become imperative in view of ¾ Every year TDB seeks applications for prestigious the recent tsunamis warning. National awards for commercialization of technologies € Recently, at Indonesian coasts, where more than under three categories - Indigenous technologies, the quake related high waves, damage was due MSME, and Startups. to landslides that had under the sea beds causing € Category 1: National Award For Successful sudden wave surge leading to much damage without Commercialization of Indigenous Technology: giving sufficient time to alert people. z This award is given to an industrial concern which ¾ Other Initiatives: has successfully developed & commercialized € It had also identified ‘gaps’ across the coast of an indigenous technology. Andhra Pradesh and Odisha for installing more z In case, the technology developer / provider and tide gauges for better monitoring of the sea and the company commercializing the technology more accurate prediction of impending disasters are two different organizations, each is eligible like cyclones. for award of Rs. 25 Lakh and a trophy. € The INCOIS scientists in association with their € Category 2: National Award For MSMEs: counterparts in the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and an z The award of Rs. 15 lakhs each in this category is United States independent scientific agency, given to selected MSMEs that have successfully Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic commercialized the product based on indigenous Institute (WHOI), have been mining the data technology. recorded by a unique ‘Flux Buoy’ retrieved from € Category 3: National Award For Technology the Bay of Bengal off the Kolkota coast. Start-ups: z The buoy was dropped off into the sea to z This award is given to a technology start-up for monitor the temperatures, pressures, salinity, promising new technology with potential for radiation and geo-chemical changes at various commercialization.

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z The award in addition to the trophy includes a collect all samples from the different locations, cash award of Rs. 15 Lakh. and return to the lander. ¾ These awards conferred to various industries provide a € Transfer: These samples will be transferred to platform of recognition to Indian industries and their the Mars Ascent Vehicle which will meet with technology provider, who have worked as a team, an Orbiter. to bring innovation to the market and contributed to € Return: The Orbiter will carry the samples back the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. to Earth.

Technology Development Board Perseverance Rover ¾ The Technology Development Board is a statutory ¾ About: body of the Government of India functioning under the Department of Science of Technology. It was € Perseverance established in 1996. is the most ad- vanced, most ex- ¾ It provides financial assistance to companies working pensive and most for commercialization of indigenous technologies and sophisticated mo- adaptation of imported technologies for domestic bile laboratory sent to Mars. applications. € It is different from previous missions because it ¾ The National Technology Day (11th May) is organised is capable of drilling and collecting core samples every year by the TDB. of the most promising rocks and soils, and setting them aside in a “cache” on the surface of Mars. NASA’ s ¾ Launch: 30th July, 2020 Mars 2020 Mission ¾ Landing: 18th February, 2021 ¾ Landing Site: Why in News € Jezero Crater (an ancient river delta that has rocks and minerals that could only form in water). National Aeronautics and Space Administration ¾ Power Source: (NASA’s) Perseverance Rover has landed on Mars. € A Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric ¾ This was one of the most crucial aspects of the Mars Generator (MMRTG) which converts heat from the 2020 Mission. natural radioactive decay of plutonium (Plutonium Key Points Dioxide) into electricity. ¾ Instruments: It carries seven instruments, two ¾ About: microphones and 23 cameras in total in order to conduct € The mission is designed to better understand the unprecedented science and test new technology on geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life. Mars. Few important instruments are: ¾ Objectives: € Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation € Assess ancient habitability. Experiment (MOXIE): € Demonstrate technology for future robotic and z This will use power to produce oxygen using human exploration. atmospheric carbon dioxide. ¾ Duration:At least one Mars year (about 687 Earth days). z If successful, it can be scaled up to provide the ¾ Mission Steps: two very critical needs of humans: oxygen for € Collect: Perseverance will collect rock and soil breathing, and rocket fuel for the trip back to samples in cigar-sized tubes. The samples will be Earth. collected, the canisters will be sealed, and left on € Radar Imager for Mars’ Subsurface Experiment the ground. (RIMFAX): € Fetch: A Mars Fetch Rover (provided by the z RIMFAX will provide high resolution mapping European Space Agency) will land, drive, and and also look for subsurface water on Mars.

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€ Mars Helicopter: € Like Earth, Mars has distinct seasons, but they last z It is actually a small drone to test whether the longer than seasons on Earth since Mars takes helicopter can fly in the sparse atmosphere on longer to orbit the Sun (because it’s farther away). Mars. The low density of the Martian atmosphere makes the odds of actually flying a helicopter € Martian days are called sols—short for ‘solar day’. or an aircraft on Mars very low. ¾ Surface: € Mastcam-Z: € It has colors such as brown, gold and tan. The z An advanced camera system with panoramic reason Mars looks reddish is due to oxidation and stereoscopic imaging capability will help or rusting of iron in the rocks, and dust of Mars. determine mineralogy. Hence it is also called Red Planet. € SuperCam: € Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system z It can provide imaging, chemical composition i.e. Olympus Mons. It’s three times taller than analysis, and mineralogy at a distance. Earth’s Mt. Everest with a base the size of the € Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry state of New Mexico. (PIXL): ¾ Atmosphere: z An X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and high- € Mars has a thin atmosphere made up mostly of resolution imager that will provide capabilities carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon gases. that permit more detailed detection and analysis ¾ Magnetosphere: of chemical elements than ever before. € Mars has no magnetic field till date, but areas of € Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman the Martian crust in the southern hemisphere & Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals are highly magnetized, indicating traces of a (SHERLOC): magnetic field. z A spectrometer that will provide fine-scale ¾ Moons: imaging and uses an ultraviolet (UV) laser to map mineralogy and organic compounds. € Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, that may be captured asteroids. z SHERLOC will be the first UV Raman spectrometer to fly to the surface of Mars and will provide ¾ Previous Mars Missions: complementary measurements with other € The Soviet Union in 1971 became the first country instruments in the payload. to carry out a Mars landing, Mars 3. € Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA): € The second country to reach Mars’s surface is z Sensors that will provide measurements of the United State of America (USA). Since 1976, temperature, wind speed and direction, pressure, it has achieved 8 successful Mars landings, the relative humidity, and dust size and shape. latest being the ‘InSight’ in 2019. Mars € European Space Agency has been able to place their spacecraft in Mars’s orbit through the Mars ¾ Size and Distance: Express Mission. € It is the fourth planet from the Sun and the ¾ second-smallest planet in the Solar System. India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan: € € Mars is about half the size of Earth. It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh by Indian Space ¾ Similarity to the Earth (Orbit and Rotation): Research Organisation in November 2013. € As Mars orbits the Sun, it completes one rotation every 24.6 hours, which is very similar to one € It was launched on board a PSLV C-25 rocket with day on Earth (23.9 hours). aim of studying Martian surface and mineral composition as well as scan its atmosphere for € Mars’ axis of rotation is tilted 25 degrees with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. methane (an indicator of life on Mars). This is similar with Earth, which has an axial tilt ¾ Reasons for Frequent Missions to Mars: There are of 23.4 degrees. two primary reasons:

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utilising earth observation datasets, € Similar to Earth: Navigation in Indian Constellation (NavIC), Web Services and z First, Mars is a planet where life may have APIs (application programming interface) available evolved in the past. Conditions on early Mars in MapmyIndia. roughly around 4 billion years ago were very similar to that of Earth. z API is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. z It had a thick atmosphere, which enabled the stability of water on the surface of Mars. z It is a computing interface that defines interactions between multiple software z If indeed conditions on Mars were similar to intermediaries those on Earth, there is a real possibility that microscopic life evolved on Mars. ¾ Significance of the Portal: € € Most Suitable among Other Planets: True Maps: z Its services will z Mars is the only planet that humans can visit reflect the true borders of the or inhabit in the long term. Venus and Mercury country as per the information available from have extreme temperatures – the average Government of India. temperature is greater than 400 degree C. € Protects Privacy: All planets in the outer solar system starting z By using MapmyIndia maps and applications with Jupiter are made of gas – not silicates instead of the foreign map apps, users can or rocks – and are very cold. better protect their privacy. z Mars is comparatively hospitable in terms z As foreign search engines and companies of temperature, with an approximate range claim to offer ‘free’ maps, but in reality, they between 20 degrees C at the Equator to minus make money by targeting the same users with 125 degrees C at the poles. advertising, byinvading the user’s privacy and auctioning private location and movement data. However there is no such provision of Bhuvan Portal advertisement in MapmyIndia. € Atma Nirbhar Bharat: Being an Indian platform, Why in News it is well aligned with the government’s Mission Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. and MapmyIndia have partnered to come up with an ¾ MapmyIndia: indigenious geospatial portal known as ‘Bhuvan’. € About: ¾ This is in line with the above discussed new guidelines z It is an Indian technology company that builds for the Geo-Spatial Sector in India. digital map data, telematics services, Global Information System and Artificial Intelligence Key Points services. ¾ Geospatial Portal (Bhuvan): z It is an alternative to Google Map, which covers € It is a type of web portal used to find and access as many as 7.5 lakh Indian villages and 7,500 geographic information(geospatial information) cities. and associated geographic services (display, € Database: editing, analysis, etc.) via the Internet. z The database has a road network connected ¾ The Collaboration: by 63 lakh km and the organisation claims € MapmyIndia’s database will be connected with to consist of the most exhaustive digital map ISRO’s high-end satellite catalogue and earth database of the country. observation data, which it generates through a € Use: constellation of its satellites. z Almost all the vehicle manufacturers in India € The collaboration will enable them to jointly who come with built-in navigation systems are identify and build a holistic geospatial portal using MapmyIndia.

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€ Other Products: Information Technology. It provides network backbone z App called ‘Move’ that provides real-time traffic and e-Governance support to the Central Government, updates and navigation. State Governments and UT Administrations.

Navigation in Indian Constellation (NavIC) Key Points ¾ About: ¾ Sandes App: € It is an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite € About: System (IRNSS), developed by the Indian Space z It is a Government Instant Messaging System Research Organization (ISRO). (GIMS) that can be used for official or casual z IRNSS consists of eight satellites, three use by any Government employee or public satellites in geostationary orbit and five user having a valid Mobile No./Email ID. satellites in geosynchronous orbit. € Features: € It works just like the established and popular z It offers features such as group making, broadcast U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) but within message, message forwarding and emojis. a 1,500-km radius over the sub-continent. z Although there is no option to transfer the € It has been certified by the 3rd Generation chat history between two platforms, the chats Partnership Project (3GPP), a global body for on GIMS can be backed up to a users’ email. coordinating mobile telephony standards. z The user will have to re-register as a new user ¾ Objective: in case they wish to change their registered € The main objective is toprovide reliable position, Email Id or phone number on the App. navigation and timing services over India and z It allows a user to mark a message as confidential, its neighbourhood. which will allow the recipient to be made aware ¾ Potential Uses: the message should not be shared with others. € Terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation; ¾ Significance: € Disaster management; € Ensures Secure Communication: € Vehicle tracking and fleet management (especially z The Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert- for mining and transportation sector); In) and the Ministry of Home Affairs in April, € Integration with mobile phones; 2020 had issued an advisory to all government € Precise timing (as for ATMs and power grids); employees to avoid using platforms like Zoom € Mapping and geodetic data capture. for official communication over safety and ¾ Other Global Navigational Systems: privacy concerns. € BeiDou / BDS (China) € Promoting Indegenous Products: € Galileo (Europe) z The launch of the App is also a part of the government strategy to push for use of India- € GLONASS (Russia) made softwareso as to build an ecosystem of € Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) (Japan) indigenously developed products.

Sandes: Government Bhuvan Portal Instant Messaging System Why in News Why in News Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has launched and MapmyIndia have partnered to come up with an an instant messaging platform called Sandeson the lines indigenious geospatial portal known as ‘Bhuvan’. of WhatsApp. ¾ This is in line with the above discussed new guidelines ¾ NIC is under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and for the Geo-Spatial Sector in India.

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Key Points € Database: ¾ Geospatial Portal (Bhuvan): z The database has a road network connected by 63 lakh km and the organisation claims € It is a type of web portal used to find and access to consist of the most exhaustive digital map geographic information(geospatial information) database of the country. and associated geographic services (display, editing, analysis, etc.) via the Internet. € Use: ¾ The Collaboration: z Almost all the vehicle manufacturers in India who come with built-in navigation systems are € MapmyIndia’s database will be connected with using MapmyIndia. ISRO’s high-end satellite catalogue and earth observation data, which it generates through a € Other Products: constellation of its satellites. z App called ‘Move’ that provides real-time traffic € The collaboration will enable them to jointly updates and navigation. identify and build a holistic geospatial portal Navigation in Indian Constellation utilising earth observation datasets, Navigation ¾ in Indian Constellation (NavIC), Web Services and About: APIs (Application Programming Interface) available € It is an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite in MapmyIndia. System (IRNSS), developed by the Indian Space z API is a software intermediary that allows two Research Organization (ISRO). applications to talk to each other. z IRNSS consists of eight satellites, three ¾ Significance of the Portal: satellites in geostationary orbit and five € True Maps: satellites in geosynchronous orbit. z Its services will reflect the true borders of the € It works just like the established and popular country as per the information available from USA’s Global Positioning System (GPS) but Government of India. within a 1,500-km radius over the sub-continent. € Protects Privacy: € It has been certified by the 3rd Generation z By using MapmyIndia maps and applications Partnership Project (3GPP), a global body for instead of the foreign map apps, users can coordinating mobile telephony standards. better protect their privacy. ¾ Objective: z As foreign search engines and companies € To provide reliable position, navigation and claim to offer ‘free’ maps, but in reality, they t