{"id":136468,"date":"2021-09-23T21:00:50","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T15:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=136468"},"modified":"2021-09-24T10:11:14","modified_gmt":"2021-09-24T04:41:14","slug":"9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-september-23rd-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-september-23rd-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief \u2013 September 23rd, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"content-box-red\">Dear Friends,<br \/>\nWe have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs.\u00a0What we sought to do:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today\u2019s newspaper are readily available to you.<\/li>\n<li>We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough and adds value not just for GS but also for essay writing. Hence, the 9 PM brief now covers the following newspapers:\n<ol>\n<li><strong>The Hindu\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Indian Express\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Livemint\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Business Standard\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Times of India\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li>We have also introduced the relevance part to every article. This ensures that you know why a particular article is important.<\/li>\n<li>Since these changes are new, so initially the number of articles might increase, but they&#8217;ll go down over time.<\/li>\n<li>It is our endeavor to provide you with the best content and your feedback is essential for the same. We will be anticipating your feedback and ensure the blog serves as an optimal medium of learning for all the aspirants.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For previous editions of 9 PM Brief<\/strong> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-brief\/\">Click Here<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>For individual articles of 9 PM Brief<\/strong>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/daily-current-affairs-summaries-for-upsc-exam\/\">Click Here<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"p-3 mb-2 bg-info text-white text-center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Mains Oriented Articles\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><strong style=\"font-family: var(--heading--font-family); font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: var(--heading--letter-spacing-h3); background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary);\">GS Paper 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#gs11\">Let\u2019s rework incentive structures to boost IBC recovery<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#gs12\">Citizen scorecards for better accountability<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#gs13\">Judiciary must reexamine how it has viewed citizenship questions in Assam<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#gs14\">The importance of Quad meeting amidst current geopolitical flux<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>GS Paper 3<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#gs21\">How new global tax rules may reshape India?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#gs22\">A flawed calculation of inflation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#gs23\">Regaining fiscal balance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"p-3 mb-2 bg-info text-white text-center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#f1\">Risk to online freedom<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f2\">Ozone layer recovery may take several lifetimes. But Montreal Protocol saved the Earth<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f3\">These animals and plants of India could have become &#8216;possibly extinct&#8217; : IUCN<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f4\">Sea level rise is certain\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f5\">A time to introspect: On GST Council meeting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f6\">Covid deaths: Centre okays ex-gratia, state funds to cover it<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f7\">India, UAE launch CEPA negotiations, look to conclude them by year-end<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f8\">IISc researchers find a way to substitute for single-use plastics<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f9\">National Single Window System for Investors and Businesses Launched<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f10\">WHO says air pollution kills 7 million a year, toughens guidelines<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f11\">India&#8217;s income divide narrows, wealth divide persists: Survey data<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f12\">CSIR-CMERI Solar DC Cooking System- A Step Towards a Green &amp; Pollution Free India<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#f13\">Creative destruction\u2019 dents inclusion, ups output: Das<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"p-3 mb-2 bg-info text-red text-center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Mains Oriented Articles<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><strong style=\"font-family: var(--heading--font-family); font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: var(--heading--letter-spacing-h3); background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary);\">GS Paper 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><a id=\"gs11\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/lets-rework-incentive-structures-to-boost-ibc-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Let\u2019s rework incentive structures to boost IBC recovery<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article \u201c<strong>Let\u2019s rework incentive structures to boost IBC recovery<\/strong>\u201d published in <strong>Livemint<\/strong> on <strong>23rd September<\/strong> <strong>2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus: <\/strong>GS2 &#8211; Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors<\/p>\n<p><strong>Relevance<\/strong>: Reforms needed in Insolvency and bankruptcy code<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong> IBC is a landmark reform and its efficiency can be further enhanced by adopting incentive structure.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Despite value erosion at disbursal due to poor credit discipline, the IBC has yielded impressive recoveries so far. However, the Code has also been criticized on several other grounds, many of which are questionable.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Why IBC \u2018s criticism is not justified?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Number of liquidations<\/strong>: The purpose of any resolution mechanism is not to minimize liquidations, but to maximize recovery.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bankruptcy laws<\/strong>: IBC is not designed to save companies from liquidation, but to maximize value using market mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Global comparison<\/strong>: So far, close to half of all cases under the IBC have ended up in liquidation. This is an abnormally large number that implies its failure. However, according to data from US Courts, twice as many US firms file for liquidation than they do for reorganization. Hence, the proportion of liquidations (50%) under the IBC is not a cause for concern or criticism.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Long resolution times under IBC<\/strong>: For a new bankruptcy law, a lead time of 400 days is not unusual. Till 2005, the average duration in the US was 480 days.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What are the issues still pending?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Lack of focus on efficiency<\/strong>: IBC does not adequately address the fact that the ability to reorganize a business during bankruptcy is a vital driver of recovery values. Corporate bankruptcies are an opportunity for businesses to become leaner and more efficient.<\/p>\n<p>In the US, many firms employ bankruptcies strategically and use it to renegotiate contracts and streamline fixed costs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Management<\/strong>: Unlike the USA where debtors retain management control of the bankrupt firm, firms under IBC are managed by resolution professionals.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Why USA\u2019s debtor in possession model can not work in India?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Debtor-in-possession provisions<\/strong>: Experts have suggested to introduced it to allow the management to retain control of the bankrupt firm and incentivize them to streamline operations and maximize recovery. However, most firms in India are owned and operated by promoter families, hence debtor-in-possession is a recipe for disaster.<\/p>\n<p>This will also substantially increase the duration of bankruptcies, since promoters with management control will have no incentive for a quick resolution.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What is the way forward?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong><em>Firstly<\/em><\/strong>, incentivize resolution professionals, since they take charge of a bankrupt firm\u2019s management under the IBC. An incentive fee structure based on a percentage of recovery will also attract talented managers, thereby boosting IBC resolution quality.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Secondly<\/em>,<\/strong> authorities need to take a broader economic approach to incentivizing reorganization for maximizing recovery.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"gs12\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/citizen-scorecards-for-better-accountability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Citizen scorecards for better accountability<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article \u201c<strong>Citizen scorecards for better accountability<\/strong>\u201c published in <strong>Business Standard <\/strong>on\u00a0<strong>22nd September 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus<\/strong>: GS 2 Power, Functions and responsibilities of CAG and PAC.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Relevance: <\/strong>To understand the working of the Public accounts Committee and its Citizen Scorecards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Synopsis<\/strong>: The CAG&#8217;s auditing standards highlight the importance of performance audits for promoting transparency and evaluating outcomes.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Soon, Parliament is going to celebrate 100 years of establishment of the Public Account Committee in December.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What is the Public accounts Committee (PAC)?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>It was set up in 1921 under the <strong>Montagu-Chelmsford reforms<\/strong> to conduct audits of the Government or the executive. It is thus the<strong> oldest parliamentary committee<\/strong> in India. Post-independence, PAC was <strong>established through the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha<\/strong>. Similarly, the state PACs are established through their respective Vidhan Sabhas.<\/p>\n<p>It is <strong>constituted every year with 15 members from Lok Sabha and 7 members from the Rajya Sabha<\/strong>. Since 1967, a convention has developed that PAC will be <strong>headed by an Opposition member from the Lok Sabha<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What is the work of PAC?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong>It<strong> reviews the financial and performance audits<\/strong> which have been conducted by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answered-discuss-the-role-of-cag-comptroller-and-auditor-general-as-an-anti-corruption-body\/\">Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG<\/a>). The review reports are then presented to\u00a0the Parliament.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Performance Scorecards: <\/strong>Soon, it is going to develop citizen-centric performance scorecards for various ministries. This will ensure better delivery of public services to citizens. Citizen scorecards developed by PAC can be standardized by the CAG, and can also be replicated by the PACs in state Assemblies.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What are the citizen scorecards?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>All government departments and agencies are responsible for providing certain citizen-centric services to the public. These services can be tracked quantitatively through well-defined performance metrics. Using these metrics, a report card or scorecard will be developed.<\/p>\n<p>Example: \u00a0Civil Aviation Ministry provides information on passengers flown, flight punctuality, passenger grievances, seat utilisation, pilot licences issued, and so on. These are released on a monthly basis to the public and are tracked closely by the media.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>How can the scorecards be made?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The CAG could sign MoUs with various ministries and agencies to establish well-defined citizen scorecards. Once these citizen-facing output metrics are ready, they can be used to conduct high-quality performance audits for each government entity within the CAG\u2019s purview. These citizen scorecards can then be replicated in the state CAGs. The citizen scorecards could be reconciled with the SDGs as well.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>How these scorecards will prove beneficial? <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>These scorecards will bring accountability. Our bureaucracy has become used to putting facts and figures that do not directly relate to citizen\u2019s lives. This scorecard thus reverses the trend and can make the executive more accountable.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"gs13\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/judiciary-must-reexamine-how-it-has-viewed-citizenship-questions-in-assam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Judiciary must reexamine how it has viewed citizenship questions in Assam<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article \u201cJudiciary must re-examine how it has viewed citizenship question in Assam \u201cpublished in <strong>Indian Express <\/strong>on\u00a0<strong>23<sup>rd<\/sup> September 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus<\/strong>:\u00a0GS 2 Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Relevance: <\/strong>Understanding the Foreigners Acts in India.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Synopsis<\/strong>: NRC was designed to filter out the foreigners in India. However, this seems to be impacting the very right of citizenship of Indians residing in Assam.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Recently, Gauhati High Court, while hearing the case of Asor Uddin, gave its view on citizenship. Ason was declared to be a \u201cforeigner\u201d by a Foreigners Tribunal through an ex parte order.<\/p>\n<p>The HC said <strong>citizenship<\/strong>, being an important right of a person, <strong>should be decided based on merit<\/strong>. It should consider the material evidence that is produced by the person concerned. It should not be cancelled ex-parte or by default.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Why Foreigners Tribunal is in news?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>In Assam, any person, including decorated army officers, can be accused of being a \u201cnon-citizen\u201d. The <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs<\/strong> revealed in Parliament, that from 1985 to February 28, 2019, 63,959 people have been declared \u201cforeigners\u201d through ex parte orders by the Foreigners Tribunal in Assam.<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><strong>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/nrc-is-final-rules-assam-foreigners-tribunal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NRC is final, rules Assam Foreigners\u2019 Tribunal<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>So, effectively 62% of the total people, who have been challenged as foreigners, have been declared as \u201cforeigners\u201d in the state.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What is the Foreigner Act (FA)?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Its roots lie in the <strong>Foreigners Ordinance<\/strong>, which was <strong>promulgated in 1939<\/strong> to <strong>meet the emergency created by the Second World War<\/strong>. The ordinance was never meant to deal with persons who are considered citizens. Section 2(a) of the 1946 Act defines \u201cforeigner\u201d as a person who is not a citizen of India.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Foreigners Act, 1940: <\/strong>It replaced the said ordinance. Section 7 of the 1940 Act vested the <strong>burden of proof upon the foreigner<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Foreigners Act, 1946<\/strong>: It repealed the 1940 Act. But, the <strong>burden of proof<\/strong> <strong>remained the same.<\/strong>\u00a0Under it, a person can be stripped of his citizenship if he\/she failed to appear before FT when called. He will then be declared a \u201cforeigner\u2019 through an ex parte order.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What was the Supreme Court&#8217;s judgement?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The \u201cburden of proof\u201d has been validated by the Supreme Court in the <strong>Sarbananda Sonowal case. <\/strong>Sonowal challenged the <strong>Illegal Migration (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983<\/strong>, (henceforth IMDT), before the SC. IMDT emphasized procedural fairness and the <strong>burden of proof was on the state<\/strong>. But IMDT was declared unconstitutional as the apex court found these procedures \u201cextremely difficult, cumbersome and time-consuming\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, Supreme Court, based on a <strong>1998 report by former Assam Governor S K Sinha<\/strong> has stated that there are \u201cmillions of illegal Bangladeshi nationals in Assam\u201d. But the report was not based on any scientific and empirical data. To add to the complexity, Assam started detaining \u201cdeclared foreigners\u201d since 2010 to deport to the \u201ccountry of origin\u201d. But the failure to deport created a situation of indefinite detention.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What should be the way forward?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Given the fact that Citizenship is an important right, it should be given due importance.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"gs14\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/the-importance-of-quad-meeting-amidst-current-geopolitical-flux\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The importance of Quad meeting amidst current geopolitical flux<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\n<p><strong>Source:\u00a0<\/strong>This post is based on the following articles<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201c<strong>Improving the economic game<\/strong>\u201d published in\u00a0<strong>The Hindu <\/strong>on\u00a0<strong>23rd September 2021.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u201c<strong>The importance of Quad meeting amidst current geopolitical flux\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>published in <strong style=\"font-family: var(--list--font-family); background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);\">Indian Express<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>on\u00a0<strong>23rd September 2021.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u201c<strong>Understanding the American enthusiasm for the Quad<\/strong>\u201d published in <strong>Indian Express <\/strong>on<strong> 23rd September 2021.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Syllabus<\/strong>: GS 2 \u2013 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and\/or affecting India\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Relevance:\u00a0<\/strong>To understand the recent developments in Quad and suggestions to improve the Quad performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Synopsis: <\/strong>This article explains the previous Quad summit and the performance of Working groups and suggestions to improve Quad further.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The leaders of <strong>Australia, India, Japan, and the United States<\/strong> will meet for the <strong>first-ever in-person<\/strong> Quadrilateral (\u201cQuad\u201d) summit. It is especially significant as it is set against the backdrop of few important recent events.<\/p>\n<p>Such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/the-script-of-the-new-endgame-in-afghanistan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan<\/strong><\/a>, <strong>the formation of the <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/aukus-security-alliance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AUKUS security alliance<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and following the release of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/eu-unveils-indo-pacific-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Union\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>About the Development of Quad<\/strong><\/h5>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><strong>Must Read<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/quad-and-its-relevance-explained-pointwise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quad Summit and its relevance \u2013 Explained, Pointwise<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The four nations are vibrant democracies and open economies. Three are developed countries and one is an emerging market.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>About the previous meeting and its outcome<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The Quad leaders met formally but virtually for the first time in March this year, and the joint statement captured the \u201c<strong>spirit of the Quad<\/strong>\u201d, stressing democratic values while pledging to strengthen cooperation on the \u201cdefining challenges\u201d of the times. <strong>Working groups<\/strong> were set up <strong>on vaccines, critical and emerging technologies, and climate action<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><strong>Read more<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/3rd-quad-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201c3rd Quad meeting\u201d Focussed on rules-based world order<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h5><strong>What is the progress of working groups?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The Working groups (WG) fulfilling the past commitments of Quad countries. For instance,<\/p>\n<p><strong>Progress of WG on Vaccines<\/strong>: The joint vaccine production programme seems to be on track and their <strong>distribution first to needy Indo-Pacific countries will begin in early 2022<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Progress of WG on emerging and critical technologies<\/strong>: This group is reporting progress. A principal endeavour of this WG is to leverage the <strong>Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN)<\/strong> to derive benefits of interoperability of the 5G technologies offered by different vendors in the west.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Progress of WG on Climate Change<\/strong>: Cooperation on multiple dimensions of the climate challenge is proposed, including finance, emissions reduction, technology and capacity-building.<\/p>\n<p>However, some key issues remain unresolved within this group as <strong>India<\/strong>, being a developing nation, is unable to show \u201cmore ambitions\u201d regarding its climate goals. But efforts are underway to finalise technology-sharing and other cooperation to meet the challenges of climate change.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What is the significance of Quad for India?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>For India, <strong>each of the other three countries is a strategic partner<\/strong>, and bilateral and multilateral initiatives have been taken across multiple areas in different fora with each. The Quad syncs with India\u2019s other regional programmes such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/indian-prime-minister-proposes-indo-pacific-oceans-initiative\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Indo-Pacific Oceans\u2019 Initiative<\/strong><\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/supply-chain-resilience-initiative-or-scri-launched-by-india-japan-and-australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Supply Chain Resilience Initiative<\/strong><\/a> <strong>(SCRI)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What the Quad should focus upon?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Devise a matching strategy against China<\/strong>: With the China challenge now recognised as being both multi-faceted and long-term, the Quad needs to devise a matching strategy.<\/p>\n<p>So, the Quad should <strong>consider practical recommendations<\/strong> like, \u2018<strong>The Quad Economy &amp; Technology Task Force Report: A Time for Concerted Action<\/strong>\u2019 crafted by international experts and published by think tank Gateway House.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Strengthen the economic partnership further<\/strong>: To advance their goals for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, the Quad must activate business partnerships. This can be done in the following ways.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Joint efforts<\/strong> can be made by all Quad countries <strong>to establish alternative manufacturing hubs<\/strong>. This will not only aid SCRI but also make regional supply chains more diversified.<\/p>\n<p>The Quad could <strong>consider adding a trade ministers\u2019 interaction<\/strong> to its agenda which may engage in lowering trade barriers and boosting trade linkages<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ensure Quality infrastructure investment<\/strong>: Innovative financing and public-private partnership models between Quad nations can enlarge the space for private industry and support public funds in the endeavour.<\/p>\n<p><strong>India should be cautious<\/strong>: India\u2019s has to consider the initiatives of Quad with a strategic perspective as it is the <strong>only Quad power with land borders with China <\/strong>and have <strong>proximity to Afghanistan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>GS Paper 3<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><a id=\"gs21\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/how-new-global-tax-rules-may-reshape-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How new global tax rules may reshape India?<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on \u201c<strong>How new global tax rules may reshape India?<\/strong>\u201d published in <strong>Live Mint &amp; \u201cIndia, other G24 nations call for gradual withdrawal of &#8216;Google tax&#8217;<\/strong>\u201d published in <strong>Business Standard<\/strong> on <strong>23rd Sep 2021<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus<\/strong>: GS 3 \u2013 Issues related to resource mobilisation<\/p>\n<p><strong>Relevance<\/strong>: \u00a0Digital taxation and new global rules<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong> The conventional global tax system is changing, with several countries, including India, imposing a digital service tax and participating in a new global initiative to modernize tax rules.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Why there&#8217;s a need for new global tax framework?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The new tax framework <strong>seeks to tackle digital economy firms<\/strong> in particular since they do not easily fit into the conventional concept of corporate taxation, which relies on a fixed place of business in a market.<\/p>\n<p>Until now, MNCs could create a registered legal entity in multiple countries and ultimately report a bulk of their revenues in jurisdictions with a very low tax rate.<\/p>\n<p>Since there was no global agreement, individual countries had to compete with each other by lowering corporate tax rates, which is described as \u201c<strong>a race to the bottom<\/strong>\u201d. This<strong> affected the revenue<\/strong> for most nations.<\/p>\n<p>Further, countries are<strong> unable to tax tech companies in jurisdictions where they make their profit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In this context<strong>,<\/strong> OECD, is involved in preparing the blueprint for the new global tax deal. The global solution is aimed to ensure multinational entities pay more taxes in countries where they have customers or users than from where they operate.<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><strong>Must Read<\/strong>: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/oecd-g20-inclusive-framework-tax-deal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OECD\/G20 Inclusive Framework Tax Deal<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h5><strong>How India taxed global giants till now?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>India pioneered the concept of <strong>digital taxation<\/strong> by levying a <strong>unilateral digital service tax<\/strong> called <strong>equalization levy in 2016<\/strong> on online advertisements. This has subsequently been expanded to cover the sale of goods and provision of services through e-platforms.<\/p>\n<p>India\u2019s move to impose an equalization levy has since been followed by several other countries such as France, Austria, Chile and the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How will it benefit India?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>India with a large consumer base <strong>will have a bigger share of the pie<\/strong> as compared to the other market jurisdictions<\/p>\n<p>Since these companies would in any case be paying taxes in the markets where the consumers are located, it may <strong>encourage them to have physical proximity to their markets<\/strong> by way of having offices to cater to the unique preferences of each geography.<\/p>\n<p>A dent in the appeal of certain low-tax countries could in turn <strong>boost India\u2019s attractiveness<\/strong> at a time when India is offering tax incentives for setting up factories locally.<\/p>\n<p>India\u2019s lowest corporation tax is on par with the proposed global minimum tax rate, so it is <strong>not likely to impact new investments into India.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What are some issues related with it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Firstly<\/strong><\/em>, India along with other Group of 24 (G24) member nations, has objected to the withdrawal of unilateral measures like the equalisation levy (EL) in one go. They are worried that the proposed global digital tax deal covering only top 100 companies may not lead to sufficient revenue for developing countries.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Secondly<\/em>,<\/strong> the developing countries grouping also recommended that no less than 30 per cent of tax on non-routine profits of these companies should be allocated to market jurisdictions where they have sales.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Thirdly,<\/strong><\/em> India had proposed allocation of profits under fractional apportionment method. Based on this method the entire profit of the group will be apportioned to different countries in which the group operates through a formula, taking into account factors like employees, assets, sales, and users<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the way ahead?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The major changes in the international tax regimes, offers a unique opportunity for India to attract foreign investment.<\/p>\n<p>With continued policy rationalization, increased focus on ease of doing business and more business-friendly policies, India should regain its status as one of the fastest-growing large economies in the near future.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"gs22\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/a-flawed-calculation-of-inflation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A flawed calculation of inflation<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article \u201c<strong>A flawed calculation of inflation<\/strong>\u201d published in <strong>The hindu<\/strong> on <strong>23rd September<\/strong> <strong>2021<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus: <\/strong>GS3 &#8211;\u00a0 Growth, Development and Employment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Relevance<\/strong>: Factors responsible for inflation in India<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong> The current official inflation rate does not correctly measure price rise and it needs modification.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Inflation for the last four months has been worryingly high. Wholesale price index (WPI) has been above 10% and consumer price index (CPI) crossed the 6% mark.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Does the official data capture the real picture?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Data issues<\/strong>: Unlock had gradually started in June and July 2020, but normalcy had not returned. Hence, the official inflation figures for these months in 2021 do not reflect the true picture.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The price rise differs for different items of consumption<\/strong>: For WPI, the weights in production are used, for CPI, the consumption basket is used. The consumption basket is vastly different for the poor, the middle classes, and the rich. Hence, the CPI is different for each of these classes and a composite index requires averaging the baskets.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Consumer confidence<\/strong>: RBI data show that consumer confidence fell drastically from 105 in January 2020 to 55.5 by January 2021. That means, even when the economy started to grow officially, consumer confidence had not recovered.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Employment and incomes<\/strong>: they are still down and 230 million slipped below the poverty line. All this implies that the consumption basket for different sections of the population had changed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Under-representation of services<\/strong>: services are about 55% of the GDP but have no representation in WPI and about 40% in CPI. For instance, health costs shot up during the pandemic, this is not captured in inflation figures.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Why inflation is a cause of worry?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Inflation affects the consumer<\/strong>: If the rate of inflation is 10%, then compared to the previous year a person has to spend 10% more to buy the same number of things.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Impact on the poor<\/strong>: the poor have to curtail essential consumption. In India, 94% work in the unorganised sector and mostly earn low incomes and have little savings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Impacts on govt\u2019s revenues and the budgetary deficit<\/strong>: inflation puts pressure on the government to cut back budgetary expenditures, especially on the social sector. That aggravates poverty and reduces demand further.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What are the factors contributing to inflation?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Increased taxation of energy to raise resources<\/strong>: Since energy is used for all production, prices of all goods and services tend to rise and push up the rate of inflation. This is an indirect tax, it is regressive and impacts the poor disproportionately more. It also makes the RBI\u2019s task of controlling inflation difficult.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Disrupted supplies<\/strong>: it added to shortages and price rise. Prices of medicines and medical equipment and items of day-to-day consumption also rose. Fruits and vegetable prices collapsed in rural areas but rose sharply in urban areas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Big business raised prices<\/strong>: in spite of a lower wage bill, they raised prices as reflected in a sharp rise in the profits of the corporate sector.<\/p>\n<p><strong>International factors<\/strong>: Most major economies have recovered and demand for inputs has increased while supplies have remained disrupted (like chips for automobiles). So, commodity and input prices have risen. Also, the weakening of the rupee added to inflation.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"gs23\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/regaining-fiscal-balance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Regaining fiscal balance<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on \u201c<strong>Regaining fiscal balance<\/strong>\u201d published in <strong>Business Standard<\/strong> on <strong>23rd Sep<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>2021<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus<\/strong>: GS 3 \u2013 issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Relevance<\/strong>: Fiscal policies and revenue mobilisation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Synopsis: <\/strong>The advance tax numbers suggest growth in revenue collection continues to remain strong. However, Central government finances would need careful management.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>In the current financial year, the fiscal position has improved significantly and the recovery in revenue collection has surprised many.<\/p>\n<p>By July-end, the government <strong>collected revenue worth over 37%<\/strong> of its Budget Estimate (BE) for the current fiscal year. The comparable number in the last fiscal year was <strong>about 11%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Better than expected revenue collection<\/strong> has also resulted in a lower fiscal deficit so far. The government is targeting to contain the <strong>fiscal deficit at 6.8%<\/strong> of gross domestic product in the current year, compared to 9.5% last year.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Why Central government finances would need careful management?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>High expenditure to be incurred in Welfare programmes<\/strong>: According to Finance Secretary T V Somanathan, the government is also incurring expenditure above the BE. For instance, the government reintroduced the distribution of free food grains during the second wave, which is likely to cost about Rs 1 trillion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Decreased revenue from non-tax receipts<\/strong>: The government appears to be cautious on committing additional spending despite higher tax collection because non-tax receipts can be significantly lower than the BE. For instance, it is unlikely to meet the disinvestment target.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What steps need to be taken?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>In the present situation, the government can boost spending without creating permanent programmes, such as those involving cash transfers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pushing capital expenditure<\/strong>, which has been lagging so far in the current fiscal year, could be one possibility. Since the tax collection is likely to exceed the budget estimate by a significant margin, the government can use the additional fiscal room to push capital expenditure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GST Council should rationalise tax rates<\/strong>: The end of compensation payment for goods and services tax (GST) shortfall from July next year will increase fiscal risk for many states. Extending the compensation mechanism will not be feasible because the cess collection beyond June 2022 will be used to repay debt raised in the last and current fiscal year to pay compensation. In this context, The GST Council should rationalise rates as soon as possible and take them to the <strong>revenue-neutral<\/strong> level.<\/p>\n<p>This will not only improve the fiscal situation for states but also provide greater stability to central government finances and help draw the medium-term consolidation road map.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p-3 mb-2 bg-info text-red text-center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><a id=\"f1\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/risk-to-online-freedom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Risk to online freedom<\/a><\/h3>\n<h5><strong>What is the news?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The annual \u201cFreedom on the Net\u201d study is disturbing as it claims free expression has declined for the 11th year in succession.<\/p>\n<p>The study done by Freedom House covers 70 countries with over 88 per cent of the world\u2019s users. The report claims online freedom is under unprecedented strain.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What are the findings of the study?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The study assesses Freedom on the Net across nine key areas in awarding a score. <strong>Iceland<\/strong> with 96 is the most free digital nation surveyed, while <strong>China is the worst<\/strong> with a score of just 10. Freedom scores have declined even in First World democracies such as Australia and the US. While the worst deteriorations were in Myanmar, Uganda and Belarus, <strong>India also has a low freedom score<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>At least 56 of the surveyed countries have seen <strong>arrests for online speech<\/strong> in 2020-21.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, 38 countries have initiated <strong>legal changes designed to give governments more access to user-data,<\/strong> often using the rationale of data sovereignty to insist data be stored in local servers.<\/p>\n<p>Governments continue to <strong>tighten their grip on freedom of expression<\/strong>, as well as demanding more access to private personal data.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, <strong>large tech companies are being forced by governments<\/strong> into complying with greater state control and censorship. As a result, the rights of net users continue to be eroded.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities in at least 48 countries have tightened rules for posting of content in the last year, and also <strong>exploited genuine concerns about online harassment and cybercrime<\/strong> to demand access to the private data of individuals.<\/p>\n<p>There is a rising trend of <strong>users being arrested, or otherwise targeted, for non-violent political, social, or religious speech. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The governments of at least 45 countries are <strong>suspected of obtaining and deploying sophisticated spyware, and data-extraction technologies.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>India<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>India has a score of 49.<\/p>\n<p>It has seen deteriorations in areas like, social media blocks, political\/ social \/religious content blocked, deliberate disruption of networks (including shutdowns), pro-government manipulation of online media etc.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>What are the recommendations?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Governments should draft laws to robustly protect data privacy<\/strong>, restrict surveillance and set up safeguards against indiscriminate surveillance.<\/p>\n<p>They should <strong>discourage the wholesale collection of private information<\/strong> by government agencies.<\/p>\n<p>They should <strong>encourage encryption, and restrict the commercial sale of surveillance tools<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Laws to rein in big tech<\/strong> should be designed to improve transparency and accountability, and to give users control of their own data, rather than improve government access to such data.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Content moderation should be through fair and transparent processes<\/strong> rather than government fiat or arbitrary means. Unfortunately, the geopolitical trends seem to run entirely in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article \u201c<strong>Risk to online freedom\u201d<\/strong> published in <strong>Business Standard<\/strong> on <strong>22nd Sep 2021<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f2\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/ozone-layer-recovery-may-take-several-lifetimes-but-montreal-protocol-saved-the-earth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ozone layer recovery may take several lifetimes. But Montreal Protocol saved the Earth<\/a><\/h3>\n<h5><strong>What is the news?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Sep 16th is celebrated as World Ozone Day every year since 1994 to commemorate the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987.<\/p>\n<p>It has been the most successful global environmental treaty so far and the only United Nations environmental agreement to be ratified by every country in the world.<\/p>\n<p>Treaty has been successful in reducing ozone-depleting substances and reactive chlorine and bromine in the stratosphere. As a result, the ozone layer is showing signs of recovery.<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The 2019 ozone hole is indeed the smallest it has been since 1982. But the ozone is also influenced by temperature shifts and dynamics in the atmosphere through climate change.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And in 50 years or so, the stratospheric ozone levels are expected to be back to normal. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, the final recovery is expected to require several lifetimes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Must Read: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/ozone-depletion-and-the-montreal-protocol\/\">Ozone depletion and Montreal protocol<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are the other consequences of the ozone depletion?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>First,<\/strong><\/em> Ozone depletion affects the climate and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0changes the spectrum of incoming radiation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Second,<\/strong><\/em> the ozone layer may produce new molecular species that change the radiation-emitting and absorbing properties of the atmosphere. This may cause the formation of more tropospheric ozone, which will not be desirable.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong><em>Third,<\/em><\/strong> in the absence of the ozone layer, the radiations will directly flow to the earth\u2019s surface and change the vertical distribution of molecules in the troposphere and stratosphere. This will change the rate of vertical circulation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article &#8220;<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ozone layer recovery may take several lifetimes. But Montreal Protocol saved the Earth<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8221; published in the<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Down to Earth<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0on\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">22nd September 2021.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f3\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/these-animals-and-plants-of-india-could-have-become-possibly-extinct-iucn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">These animals and plants of India could have become &#8216;possibly extinct&#8217; : IUCN<\/a><\/h3>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is the news?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the latest edition of the IUCN&#8217;s Red List of Threatened Species, a number of animals and plants have been listed as \u2018possibly extinct\u2019, including many species from India.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are the findings of report?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><em><b>First<\/b><\/em><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, among animals, there is the<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0coconut crab, the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. There are also fish species such as\u00a0bovany\u00a0barb, native to the\u00a0Cauvery River\u00a0system.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>Second<\/em>,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0fishes that declared\u00a0possibly extinct include the\u00a0Deolali\u00a0minnow, the Deccan barb and the\u00a0Nilgiri\u00a0mystus. They\u00a0are found in the Deccan.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><b>Third<\/b><\/em><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>,<\/em>\u00a0birds include the Pink-headed duck,\u00a0the Siberian crane, that once famously drew crowds to\u00a0Keoladeo National Park as well as the Buffy fish-owl or Malay owl.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><b>Fourth<\/b><\/em><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the Tentacled butterfly ray, a type of ray and the Dwarf sawfish are two other animal species that are feared to be possibly extinct. The\u00a0Millepora\u00a0boschmai\u00a0or fire coral is also possibly extinct.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>Fifth<\/em>,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0there are also species that have been marked as \u2018Extinct Post-1500\u2019. They include\u00a0Green\u00a0peafowl, Cheetah, Hairy-nosed Otter,\u00a0Banteng\u00a0etc.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>Sixth<\/em>,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0plants that are possibly extinct include:\u00a0Corypha taliera, a species of palm,\u00a0Eriocaulon minutum, a species of pipewort,\u00a0Ilex gardneriana, that is found in the Nilgiris,\u00a0Vachellia\u00a0bolei, a coastal\u00a0stenoendemic\u00a0legume of southern India,\u00a0.phorbia\u00a0mayurnathanii\u00a0that is endemic to the Palghat Gap.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>Seventh<\/em>,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0species whose statuses were changed included the\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Albacore Tuna<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0that was moved from near threatened to least concern. The\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yellowfin Tuna<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0was moved from near threatened to least concern. The\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yeracud\u00a0Day Gecko<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0was moved from least concern to endangered.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><b>Eighth<\/b><\/em><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Satara Gecko<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0was moved from vulnerable to critically endangered while the\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yellow Monitor<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0was moved from least concern to endangered.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article &#8220;<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These animals and plants of India could have become &#8216;possibly extinct&#8217;: IUCN<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8221; published in the\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Down to Earth<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0on\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">22nd Sep 2021.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f4\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/sea-level-rise-is-certain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sea level rise is certain<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article &#8220;<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sea level rise is certain<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8221; published in\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Hindu<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0on\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">23rd Sep 2021.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is the news?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Recently, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a report, \u2018Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This report provides scientific reviews on the science and impacts of climate change. It also discusses different shared socio-economic pathways for the future with varying levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are the scenarios illustrated by the report?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The scenarios illustrated are the following:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>First,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>very\u00a0low and low GHG emissions, where\u00a0emissions decline to net zero around or\u00a0after the middle of the century, beyond\u00a0which emissions are net negative;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Second,<\/strong><\/em> intermediate GHG emissions;\u00a0it is extremely likely that average warming will exceed 2 \u00b0C near midcentury.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Third,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>high and very\u00a0high emissions where they are double\u00a0the current levels by 2100 and 2050,\u00a0respectively.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Today, the average global temperature is already 1.09 \u00b0C higher than preindustrial levels and CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is currently 410 ppm compared to 285 ppm in 1850.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are the findings of the report?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>First,<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0sea level rise occurs mainly due to the expansion of warm ocean waters, melting of glaciers on land, and the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. Sea level rise will continue after\u00a0emissions no longer increase, because\u00a0oceans respond slowly to warming.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Second,<\/strong><\/em> Global mean sea level (GMSL) rose by 0.2m between 1901 and 2018. Sea level rise in the last century was mainly due to thermal expansion. But glacier and ice sheet melt are now big contributors. S<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">ea level can rise as high as 1.61 m by 2100. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Third,<\/strong><\/em> ice sheets can destabilise rapidly as the water gets warm (marine ice sheet instability or MISI) and <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ice cliffs can collapse swiftly in a related process, leading to rapid sea level rise; this is marine ice cliff instability (MICI).\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Fourthly,<\/strong> <\/em><span data-contrast=\"auto\">there is\u00a0uncertainty\u00a0regarding when\u00a0high-end scenario\u00a0will\u00a0occur.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is the situation in India regarding sea level rise?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Communities along the coast in India\u00a0are vulnerable to sea level rise and\u00a0storms. They will be accompanied by storm surges, heavy rain and\u00a0flooding\u00a0in case of further increase in sea level.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are the recommendations?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Adaptation to sea level rise<\/strong> must include a range of\u00a0strict\u00a0measures, along with\u00a0coastal regulation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>The government should not insure or bail out speculators<\/strong>, coastal\u00a0communities should be alerted in advance and protected during severe\u00a0weather events. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Natural\u00a0and other barriers should be considered in a limited\u00a0manner<\/strong> to protect certain vulnerable\u00a0areas. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Retreat should be part of the\u00a0adaptation strategies<\/strong> for some very\u00a0lowlying\u00a0areas.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f5\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/a-time-to-introspect-on-gst-council-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A time to introspect: On GST Council meeting<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is the news?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Recently, GST Tax Council held its\u00a0first physical meeting during the pandemic. It approved various changes. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Concessional tax rates on vital COVID-19 equipment such as oxygen concentrators will lapse on Sep 30, while the lower rates on medicines were extended till December. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As there are no signs the virus and its variants would be extinct on New Year\u2019s Day, it was expected from the council to take a more considerate view on pandemic essentials.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What were the outcomes of the council meeting?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>First,<\/strong> <\/em>tax rate modifications were okayed for a range of sectors with long-pending course correction on inverted duty structures for several items, including footwear and textiles. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Second,<\/strong><\/em> clarity was given on the definition of an intermediary as it was hurting several sectors, including IT services exports. Double taxation on the import of leased aircraft goes. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Third,<\/strong> <\/em>council dismissed any shift of petroleum products to GST to lower the tax burden<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Fourth,<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0GST\u00a0cess\u00a0on automobiles, tobacco and aerated drinks will now be levied till April 2026, not June 2022 as originally envisaged<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Fifth,<\/strong><\/em> states requested for an\u00a0extention\u00a0of the GST compensation period. But Centre claimed that GST revenue\u00a0is below expectation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are the recommendations of the council?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>First<\/strong><\/em>, food delivery services players shall be made liable to collect and remit taxes\u00a0instead of the restaurants.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Second<\/strong><\/em>, inc in consumption may lead to inc in private investments. For that, Centre and States must begin talks on rationalising fuel taxes. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Third<\/strong><\/em>, to increase spending,\u00a0both\u00a0Centre and states need to\u00a0give up a little revenue.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Fourth<\/strong><\/em>, two ministerial groups have\u00a0been tasked to augment revenues using technology and\u00a0rate\u00a0rationalisations.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><strong>Fifth<\/strong><\/em>, Centre need to discuss States\u2019 compensation concerns, as had been promised.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Source<\/strong>: This post is based on the article &#8220;<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A time to introspect<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8221; published in\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Hindu<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0on\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">23rd September 2021.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f6\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/covid-deaths-centre-okays-ex-gratia-state-funds-to-cover-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Covid deaths: Centre okays ex-gratia, state funds to cover it<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This post is based on the following article<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>\u201c<\/b><b>Covid deaths: Centre okays ex-gratia, state funds to cover it<\/b><b>\u2019\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">published in <\/span><b>Indian Express <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on <\/span><b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><b>\u20b950,000 for each COVID death<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d published in<\/span><b> The Hindu <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on <\/span><b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>\u201c<\/b><b>Government fixes Rs 50,000 ex- gratia for kin of Covid victims<\/b><b>\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">published in<\/span><b> TOI on 23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>What is the News?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government of India has informed the Supreme Court that <strong>National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)<\/strong> has recommended an ex-gratia amount of Rs 50,000 for loss of life due to Covid-19.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Background<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong>Supreme Court of India<\/strong> had <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to recommend guidelines for giving ex gratia assistance to the families of persons who died of COVID-19 as mandated under Section 12 (iii) of the <strong>Disaster Management Act of 2005<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Note:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Section 12<\/strong> makes it mandatory for the NDMA to recommend guidelines for the \u201c<strong>minimum standards of relief<\/strong>\u201d to be provided to disaster victims. These include ex gratia assistance on account of loss of life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coronavirus disease was declared as a notified disaster under the <\/span><strong>Disaster Management Act of 2005<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the kin of people who died due to Covid would be entitled to ex-gratia compensation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What are the guidelines prepared by the NDMA?<\/b><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136296\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136296\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136296 \" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/922c1f7d_4457084_101_mr.jpg?resize=400%2C272&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/922c1f7d_4457084_101_mr.jpg?w=435&amp;ssl=1 435w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/922c1f7d_4457084_101_mr.jpg?resize=300%2C204&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136296\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: The Hindu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NDMA has recommended <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an ex-gratia amount of Rs 50,000 for loss of life due to Covid-19.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ex-gratia amount <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">would be given provided that the cause of death is certified as COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amount will be<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provided by states from the <strong>State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF)<\/strong> and distributed by the <strong>District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)<\/strong> or the district administrations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The compensation will also be paid for future Covid-related deaths as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Grievance Redressal<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In case of grievances, it will be handled by district-level committees consisting of Additional District Collector, Chief Medical Officer of Health(CMOH), Additional CMOH or the Principal or Head of Department of Medicine at a Medical College (if one exists in the district) and a subject expert.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee will propose necessary remedial measures, including the issuance of amended official documents <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for COVID-19 death after verifying facts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In case the decision of the committee is not in favour of the claimant, a clear reason for the same shall be recorded.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f7\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/india-uae-launch-cepa-negotiations-look-to-conclude-them-by-year-end\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">India, UAE launch CEPA negotiations, look to conclude them by year-end<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0This post is based on the following article<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>\u201c<\/b><b>Joint Press Statement on the Launch of Negotiations for the India \u2013 United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)<\/b><b>\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">published in <\/span><b>PIB <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on <\/span><b>22nd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><b>E<\/b><b>yeing a deal by December, India &amp; UAE to start FTA talks today<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d published in<\/span><b> TOI <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on <\/span><b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>\u201c<\/b><b>India, UAE launch CEPA negotiations, look to conclude them by year-end\u201d <\/b>published in <b>Livemint <\/b>on <b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>What is the News?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>India<\/strong> and the <strong>United Arab Emirates (UAE)<\/strong> have launched negotiations for a <strong>Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)<\/strong> aiming to conclude them by the year-end.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Both countries expected to reach a mutually beneficial economic deal by building on the progress made under the <strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in 2017.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h5><b>About India-UAE Bilateral Relations<\/b><\/h5>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136301\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136301\" style=\"width: 361px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136301 \" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/114190427_0be7ffe3-08d0-40b2-80da-d5d602809c56.gif?resize=361%2C203&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"361\" height=\"203\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136301\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: BBC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established diplomatic relations in 1972. UAE opened its Embassy in Delhi in 1972 &amp; India opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1973.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><b>About recent Economic relationships\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UAE is currently <strong>India\u2019s third-largest trading partner<\/strong> with bilateral trade in 2019\/2020 valued at USD 59 billion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UAE is also<strong> India\u2019s second-largest export destination after the US,<\/strong> with exports valued at approximately USD 29 billion in 2019-2020.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India was the<strong> UAE\u2019s second-largest trading partner in 2019,<\/strong> with bilateral non-oil trade valued at USD 41 billion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong>UAE is the eighth-largest investor in India,<\/strong> having invested USD 11 billion between April 2000 and March 2021, while investment by Indian companies in the UAE is estimated to be over USD 85 billion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>India&#8217;s major exports to the UAE include<\/strong> petroleum products, precious metals, stones, gems and jewellery, minerals, food items such as cereals, sugar, fruits and vegetables, tea, meat, and seafood, textiles, engineering and machinery products, and chemicals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>India&#8217;s top imports from the UAE include<\/strong> petroleum and petroleum products, precious metals, stones, gems and jewellery, minerals, chemicals and wood and wood products. India imported USD 10.9 billion of crude oil from the UAE in 2019-2020<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f8\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/iisc-researchers-find-a-way-to-substitute-for-single-use-plastics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IISc researchers find a way to substitute for single-use plastics<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This post is based on the article <\/span><b>\u201d<\/b><b>IISc researchers find a way to substitute for single-use plastics<\/b><b>\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">published in<\/span><b> The Hindu <\/b>on <b>18th September 2021.<\/b><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the News?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers at the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc) have found a way to make a substitute for single-use plastic that can help mitigate the problem of accumulating plastic waste in the environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the new material developed by IISc?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers have developed <strong>polymers using non-edible oil and cellulose<\/strong> extracted from agricultural stubble.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These polymers can be moulded into sheets having properties suitable for making bags, cutlery or containers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The material so made is also <strong>biodegradable, leak-proof and non-toxic<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the significance of this development?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><b>Alternative to Single-Use Plastic: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the harmful impact of single-use plastic on the environment, this material can become a substitute for single-use plastic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Usage of Agriculture Stubble: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using agriculture stubble for the replacement of single-use plastics will not address the problem of air pollution. But it will generate additional income opportunities for farmers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Can be used in Healthcare Facilities: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the material is biodegradable and non-toxic, researchers are planning to use the material for healthcare applications also.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Why is there a need to find an alternative to plastic?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a report by the <strong>Central Pollution Control Board of India<\/strong>, for the year 2018-2019, <strong>3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic waste<\/strong> are generated by Indians.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another alarming statistic is that of all the plastic waste produced in the world, 79% enters the environment. <strong>Only 9% of all plastic waste is recycled<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accumulation of plastic waste is detrimental to the environment and when this waste finds its way into the sea, there can be major harm to aquatic ecosystems too. Hence, there is a need to find an alternative to substitute the use of plastic.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f9\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/national-single-window-system-for-investors-and-businesses-launched\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Single Window System for Investors and Businesses Launched<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This post is based on the article \u201c<\/span><b>National Single Window System for Investors and Businesses Launched<\/b><b>\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> published in <\/span><b>PIB <\/b>on <b>22nd September 2021.<\/b><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the News?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has launched the National Single Window System (NSWS) for investors and businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the National Single Window System (NSWS)?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Single Window System is a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one-stop digital platform that aims at allowing investors to apply for various pre-operations approvals required for commencing a business in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The system aims to make the business registration process easier, allowing the beneficiary to get significant approvals online, without having to run to the government offices for approvals and can avail themselves of services with just a click.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, the platform hosts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> approvals across 18 Central Departments &amp; 9 States. Another 14 Central depts &amp; 5 states will be added by December 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What are the services offered by NCWS?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><b>Know Your Approval (KYA) Service:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This feature generates a list of approvals that must be obtained before a business may begin operations. It does it by asking the investor a series of questions about their anticipated business operations, and then determining which permissions are required based on the answers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Common Registration Form: <\/b>Unified information<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0capturing system and a universal registration form has been intended to guarantee a single point of submission of information and documents across Ministries and States.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>State registration form<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It allows investors to access the corresponding State Single Window System with a single click.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Applicant dashboard<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Provides a single online interface to apply, track and respond to the queries pertaining to approvals and registrations across ministries and States.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Document repository<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: An online centralized storage service for investors to enable one-time document submission and use the same across multiple approvals. This eliminates the need to submit documents at multiple portals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>E-Communication module<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It enables online response to queries and clarification requests related to applications by Ministries and States.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f10\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/who-says-air-pollution-kills-7-million-a-year-toughens-guidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WHO says air pollution kills 7 million a year, toughens guidelines<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This post is based on the following articles<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>\u201cE<\/b><b>xperts welcome stricter air quality norms<\/b><b>\u201d<\/b> published in <b>The Hindu <\/b>on <b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>\u201c<\/b><b>WHO says air pollution kills 7 million a year, toughens guidelines<\/b><b>\u201d <\/b>published in<b> Livemint <\/b>on <b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>\u201c<\/b><b>Air pollution one of the biggest environmental threats to human health: WHO<\/b><b>\u201d\u00a0<\/b> published in <b>Business standard <\/b>on <b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><b>WHO raises the bar on clean air\u201d<\/b> published in <b>Down To Earth <\/b>on <b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>What is the News?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Health Organization(WHO) has released the <strong>Global Air Quality Guidelines(AQGs)<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What are <\/b><b>Global Air Quality Guidelines(AQGs)?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global Air Quality Guidelines(AQGs) is an<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> annual mean concentration guideline for particulate matter and other pollutants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The guidelines were <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">last updated in 2005. Since then, there has been <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a marked increase of evidence that shows how air pollution affects different aspects of health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence, that&#8217;s why these new guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations by reducing levels of key air pollutants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Note:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These guidelines are <strong>not legally binding<\/strong>. They are an evidence-informed tool for policy-makers to guide legislation and policies.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What are the new guidelines?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new guidelines recommend air quality levels for six pollutants &#8212; particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM 10, ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO).<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136343\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136343\" style=\"width: 635px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136343 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/86441700.jpg.jpg?resize=635%2C599&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"635\" height=\"599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/86441700.jpg.jpg?w=635&amp;ssl=1 635w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/86441700.jpg.jpg?resize=300%2C283&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136343\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: TOI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5><b>What do these guidelines mean for India?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Questions have been raised regarding the feasibility of implementing the new guidelines, especially in challenging geo-climatic zones like South Asia, including India.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The WHO guidelines have sharpened the difference with India\u2019s ambient air quality standards that are in the intermediate category and require revision over time to finally attain the WHO limit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, India\u2019s annual average standard for PM2.5 is 40 \u03bcg \/ m3. That is eight times laxer than the new WHO guidelines. The 24-hour standard is 60 \u03bcg \/ m3, which is four times more lenient.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, the annual average standard for PM10 at 60 \u03bcg \/ m3 is four times more lax and the 24-hour standard of 100 \u03bcg \/ m3 is two times more lax than the WHO guidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India aligns with the WHO guidelines only in the case of ozone and carbon monoxide, as these have not changed. But both NO2 and SO2 guidelines are tighter than the current Indian standard.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f11\"><\/a>India&#8217;s income divide narrows, wealth divide persists: Survey data<\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This post is based on the article<\/span><b> \u201c<\/b><b>India&#8217;s income divide narrows, wealth divide persists: Survey data<\/b><b>\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">published in<\/span><b> Business Standard <\/b>on <b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the News?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>National Sample Survey Organisation(NSSO)<\/strong> has released the <strong>All India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS)<\/strong> for 2018-19. The survey has provided data on the wealth inequality in India.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What are the key highlights from the survey?<\/b><\/h5>\n<h6><b>Wealth Inequality<\/b><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2018-19, India\u2019s top 10% households held 55.67% of the wealth in urban areas and 50.84% of it in rural areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, the bottom 50% of the population possessed only 6.2% of assets in the urban region while they owned 10.2% of the total in the rural region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This wealth inequality was estimated by assigning a monetary value against all that households own like- land, livestock, buildings, vehicles, deposits in banks, post offices, shares in companies etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, when compared state-wise, the wealth inequality was <strong>highest in <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Delhi and Punjab<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h6><b>Income Inequality is lower than Wealth Inequality<\/b><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Income tax data for individuals for the assessment year 2018-19 shows that the top 10% of the taxpayers in the country account for only 38% of the country\u2019s income.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This shows that income inequality is lower than wealth inequality.<\/span><\/p>\n<h6><b>Share of bottom 10 per cent in total income has increased<\/b><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">T<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he share of the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bottom 10 per cent tax filers in total income has increased from 2.1% in 2012-13 to 3.5% in 2018-19.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u200b\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">n contrast, the total income of the top 10% of individuals doubled during this period.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>The difference between the top 10% and bottom 10% is reducing<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is because, between 2012-18, the average value of assets for the top 10% grew by 42% in rural areas. On the other hand, the lowest 10% witnessed an asset growth of 63% during this period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In urban areas, asset values jumped nearly ten times for the bottom 10% of households, but only increased marginally for the top 10% of the households.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f12\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/csir-cmeri-solar-dc-cooking-system-a-step-towards-a-green-pollution-free-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CSIR-CMERI Solar DC Cooking System- A Step Towards a Green &amp; Pollution Free India<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This post is based on the article <\/span><b>\u201d<\/b><b>CSIR-CMERI Solar DC Cooking System- A Step Towards a Green &amp; Pollution Free India<\/b><b>\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">published in<\/span><b> PIB on 22nd September 2021.<\/b><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the News?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (also known as CSIR-CMER) has developed a Solar DC Cooking System.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the Solar<\/b><b> DC Cooking System?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solar DC Cooking System is a Solar Energy based Cooking System that consists of a solar PV panel, charge controller, battery bank and cooking oven.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Benefits of this System<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solar DC Cooking System has 20-25% better efficiency and is more Economical in comparison with Conventional Solar based Cooking Systems which loses efficiency owing to AC-DC conversion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The system can also substantially<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> curb carbon dioxide emissions, as even LPG usage emits CO2. It may help save 290 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, its simple design ensures ease of manufacturing and thus provides a substantial economic opportunity to micro-industries.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What are AC and DC?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><b>Alternating Current (AC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a type of electrical current, in which the direction of the flow of electrons switches back and forth at regular intervals or cycles. Current flowing in power lines and normal household electricity that comes from a wall outlet is alternating current.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>On the other hand, Direct current (DC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an electrical current that flows consistently in one direction. The current that flows in a flashlight or another appliance running on batteries is a direct current.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"f13\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/creative-destruction-dents-inclusion-ups-output-das\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creative destruction\u2019 dents inclusion, ups output: Das<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This post is based on the following article<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>\u201c<\/b><b>Rising inequality due to Covid pandemic must be bridged: RBI Governor\u201d<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">published in <\/span><b>Business Standard <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on <\/span><b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><b>Creative destruction\u2019 dents inclusion, ups output: Das<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d published in<\/span><b> TOI <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on <\/span><b>23rd September 2021.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>What is the News?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) Governor has delivered <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">his keynote address at the National Management Convention of the All India Management Association (AIMA).<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What are the key highlights of his address?<\/b><\/h5>\n<h6><b>On Covid-19 Impact<\/b><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Covid-19 has impacted the poor relatively more than other<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s. It has affected contact-intensive service sectors, which employ a large number of informal, low-skilled and low-wage workers,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it has also <strong>unleashed \u201cc<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>reative destruction\u201d<\/strong> which will boost productivity and can alter the course of development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Note:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creative destruction is the dismantling of long-standing practices in order to make way for innovation, and is seen as a driving force of capitalism.<\/span><\/p>\n<h6><b>On Digitisation<\/b><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automation and Digitisation can improve productivity, growth and income. But there can also be an emergence of a \u201cdigital divide\u201d as digitisation gains speed after the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What is the way forward then?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">need for increased investment in healthcare education, digital and physical infrastructure to ensure sustainable growth and generate employment opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Friends, We have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs.\u00a0What we sought to do: Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today\u2019s newspaper are readily available to you. We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough and&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-september-23rd-2021\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief \u2013 September 23rd, 2021<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":80068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"9pm-brief-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,9],"tags":[8032,1542,8033],"class_list":["post-136468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9-pm-brief","category-public","tag-current-affairs-for-upsc","tag-daily-current-affairs-for-upsc","tag-upsc-current-affairs","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/9-PM-Brief-1-e1615452440806.png?fit=600%2C335&ssl=1","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136468"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136468\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}