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9650294824 www.jigyasaias.com

Table of Contents

1. POLITY ............................................................................................................................................................ 3

1.1 Uniform Civil Code ....................................................................................................................................... 3

1.2 Leader of opposition .................................................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Article 371 (A) .............................................................................................................................................. 4

2. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ............................................................................................................................... 6

2.1 E-cigarette .................................................................................................................................................... 6

2.2 5G ................................................................................................................................................................. 7

2.3 Nipah virus ................................................................................................................................................... 8

3. ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 9

3.1 Sabarmati river ............................................................................................................................................. 9

3.2 New species of dung beetle ....................................................................................................................... 10

3.3 Olive ridley turtles ...................................................................................................................................... 10

4. ECONOMY .................................................................................................................................................... 11

4.1 GSP ............................................................................................................................................................. 11

4.2 Merger of NSSO & CSO .............................................................................................................................. 12

5. INDIA & WORLD ........................................................................................................................................... 13

5.1 BIMSTEC ..................................................................................................................................................... 13

6. MISCELLANEOUS .......................................................................................................................................... 15

6.1 PMJAY......................................................................................................................................................... 15

6.2 Oussudu lake .............................................................................................................................................. 15

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1. POLITY

1.1 Uniform Civil Code Why in news

• The Delhi high court has sought response from the Centre on a public interest litigation (PIL) which seeks framing of an Uniform Civil Code provided in the Article 44 of the Constitution to promote unity, fraternity and national integration.

What is UCC

• Article 44 of the Directive Principles in the Constitution says the “State shall endeavour to provide for its citizens a uniform civil code (UCC) throughout the territory of India.”

• The objective of this endeavour should be to address the discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise diverse cultural practices.

• The stand taken by B.R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly debates has survived the years.

• Dr. Ambedkar had said a UCC is desirable but for the moment should remain voluntary.

Why does it matter

• The codification of personal laws have historically generated protests. The Hindu Code Bill, one of the foremost pieces of social legislation, had triggered enormous opposition.

• The debate on the UCC is centred on the argument to replace individual personal customs and practices of marriage, divorce, adoption and successions with a common code.

• Those in favour of one code argue that it will end discrimination in religions.

• Detractors contend that it will rob the nation of its religious diversity and violate the fundamental right to practise religion enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution.

• In fact, they hold that a state action to introduce the UCC is against the quintessence of democracy.

• The secular state is, after all, an enabler of rights rather than an inhibitor in sensitive matters of religion and personal laws.

Way Forward

• In the Shah Bano case, the court lamented that Article 44 remained a “dead letter.”

• In its consultation in 2018, the Law Commission chose codification of personal laws over the UCC as a way to end discrimination within religions.

• Codification of various practices and customs would make them ‘law’ under Article 13 of the Constitution. Any ‘law’ that comes under Article 13 should be consistent with the fundamental rights, the Law Commission had reasoned.

• This would protect the plurality of religions, too, and may be the way forward for the near future.

• In fact, the Law Commission has suggested in no uncertain terms that the UCC is “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage in the country.”

• It said a unified nation does not necessarily need to have “uniformity.

Background

• A uniform civil code administers the same set of secular civil laws to govern all people irrespective of their religion, caste and tribe.

• The need for such a code takes in to account the constitutional mandate of securing justice and equality for all citizens.

• A uniform criminal code is applicable to all citizens irrespective of religion, caste, gender and domicile in our country.

• But a similar code pertaining to marriage, divorce, succession and other family matters has not been brought in to effect.

• The personal laws vary widely in their sources, philosophy and application.

• Therefore, there is an inherent difficulty and resistance in bringing people together and unifying them when different religions and personal laws govern them.

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1.2 Leader of opposition

Context

• While the Congress has improved its tally in the Lok Sabha from 44 in 2014 and remains the main Opposition party in the house. However, like the 16th Lok Sabha, the Congress has not qualified to have a Leader of Opposition in the 17th Lok Sabha.

About LoP

• The Leader of the Opposition is the politician who leads the official opposition in either House of the Parliament.

• To claim the status of "official opposition” in either house a party has to secure 55 seats (10%) of the seats in the Lok Sabha and likewise 25 (10%) of the seats in the Rajya Sabha.

Background

• While the position also existed in former Central Legislative Assembly of British India, and holders of it there included Motilal Nehru, it received statutory recognition through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 which defines the term "Leader of the Opposition" as that member of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha who, for the time being, is the Leader of that House of the Party in Opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised, as such, by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

• The Lok Sabha had no recognised Leader of the Opposition until 1969 . The post was also vacant between 1980 and 1989 and at present, since 2014.

Importance

• Opposition is an essential part of democratic government.What is expected from an opposition is effective criticism.

• In view of the importance of the opposition in a parliamentary democracy, the office of the Leader of the Opposition is indeed one of responsibility.

• He is a member of several committees that appoints members of CIC, CVC, NHRC and others.

1.3 Article 371 (A) Context

• Amid calls for scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution that gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, a legislator of the ruling party in Nagaland has triggered a debate on Article 371(A) that guarantees special status for the people of the north-eastern State.

• The leader had, a few days ago, attributed the lack of development in Nagaland to Article 371(A) that safeguards the customary rights of the Nagas.

About Article 371 (A)

• The parliament of India passed the (Thirteen Amendment) Act, 1962, and inserted Article 371 (A) on the eve of the creation of the new state of Nagaland.

UPSC : GS Paper 1 (2018)

Consider the following statements:

1. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was the Swatantra Party.

2. In the Lok Sabha, a “Leader of the opposition” was recognized for the first times in 1969.

3. In the Lok Sabha , if a party does not have minimum of 75 members, its leader cannot be recognized as the Leader of the Opposition.

Which of the statement given above is / are correct?

a) 1 and 3 only

b) 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1,2 and 3

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• Parliament can’t legislate in matters of Naga religion or social practices, the Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources, without concurrence of the legislative Assembly.

• This provision was inserted in the Constitution after a 16-point agreement between the Centre and the Naga People’s Convention in 1960, which led to the creation of Nagaland in 1963.

• Also, there is a provision for a 35-member regional council for Tuensang district, which elects the Tuensang members in the Assembly.

• A member from the Tuensang district is Minister for Tuensang Affairs; Governor has the final say on Tuensang-related matters.

Key-points

• Part XXI of the Indian Constitution, ‘Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions’, includes, apart from Article 370 — Temporary Provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir — special provisions for 11 other states, listed under Articles 371, 371A-H, and 371J.

• While the special provisions laid down in Art 371, 371A-H, and 371J are not as farreaching as Art 370, the existence of these provisions shows that other princely states, too, negotiated the terms and conditions of their entry into the Union, or sought special constitutional protections in view of their unique needs and conditions. Each of these constitutional provisions is, in fact, rooted in historical reasons.

• One important difference between Articles 370 and 371, and Articles 371A-H and 371J, is that while the latter set of provisions were incorporated into the Constitution by Parliament through amendments under Art 368 (which lays down the “power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and procedure therefor”), Articles 370 and 371 have been part of the Constitution from the time of its commencement on January 26, 1950.

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2. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2.1 E-cigarette Context

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has warned of a potential public health disaster if action was not taken to completely prohibit and dissuade the use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) or e-cigarettes given that the nicotine delivered by these devices adversely affect almost all systems in a human body.

• E-cigarette use adversely affects the cardiovascular system, impairs respiratory immune cell function and airways in a way similar to cigarette smoking and is responsible for severe respiratory disease.

• It also poses risk to foetus, infant, and child brain development, the council noted.

• Given the harmful health effects e-cigarettes pose to users, as well as passive exposure, failure to make appropriate interventions at the right time — by bringing together all stakeholders under one umbrella to prevent this impending epidemic of e-cigarettes use — could lead to a public health disaster in India

What are the benefits of e-cigarettes

• E-cigarettes claim to bypass many of the health risks of tobacco smoking, and to offer a more healthful alternative to cigarettes and other conventional forms of nicotine intake.

• Some studies have found that using e-cigarettes can help some smokers quit.

• There is an argument that it is better for young people to start vaping instead of smoking.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conclude that e-cigarettes can benefit adult smokers who are not pregnant, as long as they completely replace any other nicotine or tobacco products.

Risks associated with use of e-cigarettes

• Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive and triggers changes in the adolescent brain. It is hazardous during pregnancy as it can affect fetal development.

• The aerosol contains solvents, flavorings, and toxicants, which are either "harmful" or "potentially harmful."

• E-cigarettes expose the lungs to different substances. One of these is dicetyl, which can cause "popcorn lung," a severe and irreversible lung disease.

• People who seek to quit smoking will stop using conventional and medically monitored methods of doing so.

• Those who use or who have used e-cigarettes are less likely to stop smoking altogether.

• Teens who use e-cigarette products are more likely to start using regular tobacco as well.

• Second-hand smoking is not eliminated by vaping, as vaping releases carcinogenic emissions.

E-cigarettes in India

• India has one of the highest populations of smokers in the world. According to the World Health Organisation, there are nearly 106 million adult smokers in the country which makes India second only to China.

• The incidence of smoking may have dropped in recent past but vaping has increased and the crux of the issue lies in the many unknowns associated with the phenomenon.

• Various Indian states including Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Maharashtra, Mizoram, and Kerala have already banned e-cigarettes.

• India’s rules and regulations are already so lax that underage individuals have no problems obtaining normal cigarettes, making access to e-cigarettes even easier.

Key-Points

• Electronic cigarettes, also known as ecigarettes, e-vaporizers, or electronic nicotine delivery systems, are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale an aerosol, which typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings, and other chemicals.

• Nicotine is the addictive drug found in regular cigarettes and other tobacco products.

• The modern e-cigarette was invented in 2003 by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik.

• As of 2018, most e-cigarettes are made in China. Their global use has risen exponentially since they were first sold in 2004; their use is widespread in the United States and the United Kingdom.

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2.2 5G Context

• The new telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that 5G trials will start in the country by next 100 days. Prasad said that the next spectrum auctions will include 5G airwaves will also be held in this calendar year.

What’s 5G

• 5G networks are the next generation of mobile internet connectivity, offering faster speeds and more reliable connections on smartphones and other devices than ever before.

• Combining cutting-edge network technology and the very latest research, 5G should offer connections that are multitudes faster than current connections, with average download speeds of around 1GBps expected to soon be the norm.

• The networks will help power a huge rise in Internet of Things technology, providing the infrastructure needed to carry huge amounts of data, allowing for a smarter and more connected world.

Key-Points

• The internet user base in India has exceeded 500 million mark and is likely to reach 627 million by end 2019.

• 87% of the total user base, or 493 million Indians, are defined as regular users, having accessed the internet in the last 30 days.

• 293 million active internet users reside in urban India, while there are 200 million active users in rural India.

• Not surprisingly, 97% of users access the internet on their mobile device.

• Increased availability of bandwidth, cheap data plans and increased awareness driven by government programmes seem to have rapidly bridged the digital gap between urban and rural India. Consequently, the penetration in rural India has increased from 9% in 2015 to 25% in 2018.

Digital India

• Digital India is a campaign launched by the Government of India in order to ensure the Government's services are made available to citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity or by making the country digitally empowered in the field of technology.

• It is centred on three key areas – digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens.

• Launched on 1 July 2015 by Prime Minister, it is both enabler and beneficiary of other key Government of India schemes, such as BharatNet, Make in India, Startup India and Standup India, industrial corridors, Bharatmala, Sagarmala, dedicated freight corridors, UDAN-RCS and E-Kranti.

• The Government of India entity Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) which executes the BharatNet project is the custodian of Digital India (DI) project.

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2.3 Nipah virus Context

• Six people suspected of Nipah infection in Kerala have tested negative, the state government said, in a relief for the state where 17 people succumbed to the deadly disease last year.

What’s Nipah virus

• Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.

• In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.

History of the Nipah virus

• Nipah virus was first recognised in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in, Malaysia.

• During the initial phase, most human infections resulted from direct contact with sick pigs or their contaminated tissues.

• Transmission is thought to have occurred via respiratory droplets, contact with throat or nasal secretions from the pigs, or contact with the tissue of a sick animal. No new outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia since 1999.

• It was also recognized in Bangladesh in 2001, and nearly annual outbreaks have occurred in there since. The disease has also been identified periodically in Siliguri, West Bengal.

How does it spread

• According to the World Health Organisation, in the Bangladesh and India consumption of fruits or fruit products contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats was the most likely source of infection.

Treatment

• There is no medicine for this virus.

• The US government has classified this virus as an agent of bio-terrorism and they have developed an experimental molecule for which human trials have not yet been conducted.

• Intensive supportive care is recommended to treat severe respiratory and neurologic complications.

Prevention and Control

• Currently, there are no vaccines available against Nipah virus.

• Based on the experience gained during the outbreak of Nipah involving pig farms in 1999, routine and thorough cleaning and disinfection of pig farms with appropriate detergents may be effective in preventing infection.

• If an outbreak is suspected, the animal premises should be quarantined immediately.

• Culling of infected animals – with close supervision of burial or incineration of carcasses – may be necessary to reduce the risk of transmission to people.

• Restricting or banning the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease.

• As Nipah virus outbreaks have involved pigs and/or fruit bats, establishing an animal health/wildlife surveillance system, using a One Health approach, to detect Nipah cases is essential in providing early warning for veterinary and human public health authorities.

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3. ENVIRONMENT

3.1 Sabarmati river Context

• A drive to clean the polluted Sabarmati river was launched here in Gujarat to mark the World Environment Day.

• Sabarmati is counted among the most polluted rivers in the country, under the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB's) National Water Quality Programme.

Sabarmati river

• The Sabarmati river is one of the major west-flowing rivers in India.

• It originates in the Aravalli Range of the Udaipur District of Rajasthan and meets the Gulf of Khambhat of Arabian Sea after travelling 371 km in a south-westerly direction across Rajasthan and Gujarat.

• The major tributaries are the Watrak, Wakal, Hathmati, Harnav, and Sei rivers.

• The Dharoi dam is located on the main river.

• Mahatma Gandhi had set up this Ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati river after his return from South Africa in 1915.

Key-Points

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees(PPCs) is monitoring the quality of water bodies at 2500 locations across the country under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWQMP) which indicate that organic pollution is the predominant cause of water pollution.

• Based on the magnitude of organic pollution, CPCB in 2008 identified 150 polluted river stretches which increased to 302 in 2015.

• The rivers stretches are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated / partially treated sewage and discharge of industrial wastewater.

• CPCB assessed the total volume of municipal wastewater generation in the country at about 61,948 MLD as against the installed sewage treatment capacity of 23,277 MLD leaving a wide gap of more than 38,671 MLD. Similar observations were made by WHO in its reports on water pollution.

The steps taken by the Government to address the issues of water pollution include the following:-

• Preparation of action plan for sewage management and restoration of water quality in aquatic resources by State Governments.

• Installation of Online Effluent Monitoring System to check the discharge of effluent directly into the rivers and water bodies.

• Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of water quality.

• Action to comply with effluent standards is taken by SPCBs / PCCs to improve the water quality of the rivers.

• Financial assistance for installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants for cluster of Small Scale Industrial units.

• Issuance of directions for implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge.

• Issuance of directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to industries and under Section 18(1)(b) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

About CPCB

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Mo.E.F.C).

• It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974.

• The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

• It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

• It Co-ordinates the activities of the State Pollution Control Boards by providing technical assistance and guidance and also resolves disputes among them.

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3.2 New species of dung beetle Key-Points

• A new species of dung beetle has been discovered in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

• The species, Enoplotrupes tawangensis, is shining dark blue in colour and, measuring up to 27 mm, is relatively bigger than most of the dung beetles.

• Dung beetles belong to the super family scarabaeoidea, having clubbed antennae and pro-tibiae (pro-legs) modified for burrowing dung inside the soil.

• This group of insects are considered beneficial to the environment as they help in nutrient cycling of the soil.

• Often referred to as little recyclers, these scavenger beetles require mammalian dung to survive.

• Insects comprise almost 65% of all animal species on the planet.

• From India, approximately 65,000 species of insects are known, of them, more than 22,000 species are beetles.

• Dung beetles are the one of the fascinating group of insects because of their ability to bury dung deep in the soil and are indicators of the ecological health of an ecosystem.

3.3 Olive ridley turtles

Context

• A proposal has been made to establish a permanent research centre near the Rushikulya rookery on the Odisha coast to study the mass nesting of Olive Ridleys and the environmental factors related to it.

Olive ridley turtles

• The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world, inhabiting warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.

• These turtles, along with their cousin the Kemps ridley turtle, are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.

• Though found in abundance, their numbers have been declining over the past few years, and the species is recognized as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red list.

• They are carnivores, and feed mainly on jellyfish, shrimp, snails, crabs, molluscs and a variety of fish and their eggs.

• These turtles spend their entire lives in the ocean, and migrate thousands of kilometers between feeding and mating grounds in the course of a year.

• The coast of Orissa in India is the largest mass nesting site for the Olive-ridley, followed by the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica.

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4. ECONOMY

4.1 GSP Context

• Reacting to the US decision of withdrawing the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme for India that allowed duty free export of over 3,000 products from the country, the Commerce & Industry Ministry has said that it was “unfortunate” that the resolution offered by New Delhi on the matter was not acceptable to Washington.

Issue

• The US had announced its plans to terminate India’s and Turkey’s designations as ‘beneficiary developing countries’ for the GSP scheme, which is a unilateral and non-reciprocal benefited extended by the US to a number of developing countries, in March 2019.

• India was the largest beneficiary of the GSP programme in 2017 with duty free status being given to $5.7 billion worth of imports into the US.

• The Donald Trump regime, which has been miffed with India for running a trade surplus with the country, had made a number of demands including softening of price caps on medical equipment, removal of certain mandatory certifications for dairy product exports, removal of import duties on cellular phones and roll-back of certain changes made in the e-commerce policy that imposed several restrictions on foreign players for sourcing goods from vendors.

What is the programme

• The Generalized System of Preferences is the largest and oldest United States trade preference programme.

• The U.S. intended it to promote economic development by eliminating duties on some products it imports from the 120 countries designated as beneficiaries.

When was it introduced

• It was established by the Trade Act of 1974. GSP helps spur sustainable development in beneficiary countries by helping them increase and diversify their trade with the U.S.

• GSP boosts American competitiveness by reducing the costs of imported inputs used by U.S. companies to manufacture goods in the United States.

• GSP is important to U.S. small businesses, many of which rely on the programmes’ duty savings to stay competitive.

Why is it important for India

• The loss for the industry amounts to about $190 million on exports of $5.6 billion falling under the GSP category.

• But specific sectors, such as gem and jewellery, leather and processed foods will lose the benefits of the programme.

• The loss, in export of some kinds of rice for example, may even exceed 10%.

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4.2 Merger of NSSO & CSO Context

• The government announced that the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) will be merged with the Central Statistics Office to form the National Statistical Office (NSO).

• The NSO will be headed by the secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI).

• This is in contrast to the original plan proposed by experts to merge various statistical bodies such as the NSSO and others to create a unified statistics body that is accountable to Parliament, rather than the government.

Background

• In 2000, a committee headed by former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor C. Rangarajan suggested the establishment of NSO as the nodal body for all core statistical activities.

• It would have worked under the National Statistical Commission (NSC), which was to be answerable to Parliament, not the government.

• The intent was to clean up collection, calculation and dissemination of data.

• NSC was set up in June 2005, but didn’t have a statutory role.

• It was given supervisory powers over one arm of the statistical system, NSSO.

• The idea of an NSO that would include NSSO and CSO was not effected.

Benefits

• The CSO and the NSSO are two organs of the same body and need to work together. This is a measure to avoid duplication of work and leverage the strength of the statistical system.

• This will help in meeting the requirement of the statistical system as a lack of control on these two bodies was one challenge presently.

• The move will align India’s statistical system with other countries, and was a long-pending decision which has materialised after 14 years.

• It will streamline and strengthen the statistical system.

Both the wings are currently part of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). While the NSSO comes out with various sample surveys such as on consumption expenditure, employment and unemployment, the CSO releases various data such as GDP and IIP.

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5. INDIA & WORLD

5.1 BIMSTEC Context

• Newly-appointed External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said that BIMSTEC leaders were chosen over SAARC for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in because New Delhi sees 'energy, mindset and possibility in BIMSTEC'.

BIMSTEC VS. SAARC

• As a result, since 1985 when the SAARC charter was signed, the organisation has developed common cause in several fields: agriculture, education, health, climate change, science and technology, transport and environment.

❖ Each area has seen modest but sustainable growth in cooperation.

❖ For example, from 2010, when the South Asian University began in Delhi, the number of applicants for about 170 seats has more than doubled. SAARC’s biggest failure, however, comes from the political sphere, where mainly due to India-Pakistan tensions, heads of state have met only 18 times in 34 years; it has been five years since the last summit in Kathmandu.

• BIMSTEC, on the other hand, is not moored in the identity of the nations that are members. ❖ It is essentially a grouping of countries situated around the Bay of Bengal, and began in 1997 (Bhutan and

Nepal joined in 2004), a decade after SAARC. ❖ The organisation did not even have a secretariat until 2014. While it has made some progress in technical

areas, leaders of BIMSTEC nations have held summits just four times in 22 years. ❖ With India’s growing frustration over cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, it hopes to build

more on BIMSTEC’s potential. But the organisation is unlikely to supplant SAARC for a specific reason.

Why BIMSTEC

• BIMSTEC, standing for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is a regional grouping of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.

• Formed in 1997 with an aim to integrate littoral economies of the Bay of Bengal, Bimstec originally had only Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan became its part later.

• Currently, it includes all key South Asian nations except Afghanistan, Maldives and Pakistan. Many experts view it as India's effort to create an alternative mechanism to trouble-torn SAARC.

• BIMSTEC is strategically significant for India as China has diverted its attention to the Bay of Bengal with greater assertion. The Bay of Bengal acts like a funnel to the Malacca Strait, a major trade route for China, which has also undertaken massive infrastructure projects in BIMSTEC countries except India and Bhutan.

• The Bay of Bengal is the route for about 25 per cent of global trade and has huge untapped resources especially in the energy sector - massive reserve of natural gas, the future of power supply. India's robust relation with BIMSTEC will give it extra leverage in the Bay of Bengal region over China and other major powers.

Why SAARC is losing its relevance

• Terrorism emanating from Pakistan is clearly the biggest stumbling block cited by the government.

• Pakistan’s opposition to connectivity projects such as the

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Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA), energy sharing proposals and others such as the South Asia Satellite offered by India.

Conclusion

• Going forward, SAARC could adopt the “ASEAN minus X” formula — members who are unwilling to join the consensus can be allowed to join at a future date, while members who wish to go ahead with connectivity, trade or technology cooperation agreements are not impeded.

• In a region increasingly targeted by Chinese investment and loans, SAARC could be a common platform to demand more sustainable alternatives for development, or to oppose trade tariffs together, or to demand better terms for South Asian labour around the world.

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6. MISCELLANEOUS

6.1 PMJAY Key-Points

• Ayushman Bharat Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) or National Health Protection Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2018, under the Ayushman Bharat Mission of MoHFW in India.

• The project is billed as the world’s largest state-funded health scheme.

• The medical journal, Lancet, has praised the prime minister for prioritising universal healthcare through the PMJAY.

• The scheme covers 1,350 medical conditions.

• India ranks as low as 145th among 195 countries in healthcare quality and accessibility, behind even Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

• The country spends an abysmal 1.3 per cent of its GDP on health, way less than the global average of 6 per cent.

• Over 70 per cent of the total healthcare expenditure is accounted for by the private sector.

• An ambitious project like the PMJAY can succeed only if the government increases its share of expenditure dramatically.

• Currently, according to a government report, one allopathic government doctor attends to a population of 11,000 — the WHO recommends one doctor for a population of 1,000.

• Secondary-level hospitals like district hospitals and medical colleges have poor infrastructure, especially the former.

• The tehsil and district hospitals have inadequate equipment and lack specialist manpower.

• Not even one of the 20 medical colleges in India offers cardiac bypass surgery.

• There is also a gross shortage of tertiary care hospitals in the public sector with PGI, AIIMS, SGPGI and NIMHANS being among the few that can be relied upon.

• Most consumers complain of rising costs, lack of transparency and unethical practices in the private sector.

• Thus ownership and ethical commitment of the private sector are also essential for success of the PMJAY.

6.2 Oussudu lake Key-Points

• Vulnerability assessment study conducted in Oussudu lake, Puducherry had shown concern over rising plastic pollution in water bodies.

• An important bird area, located between the Pulicat and Point Calimere wetlands, the about 800-acre Oussudu lake spreads equally in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu territories.

• Though it is an artificial (man-made) lake, it has been a haven for a variety of migratory and inland birds.

• The report had highlighted that the canals have become dumping grounds for used plastic bags, thermocols, cups, plates, pipes and bottles. The dumping of plastic items had interrupted free flow of monsoon run-off. Around two-thirds of all forms of plastic getting accumulated, degrades slowly and leaches into the land and water. Plastic causes serious environmental pollution, affecting the basic life support systems such as soil, water and air.

• Recommendations : ❖ Prior to Plastic Ban, it is necessary to adopt daily usage of alternative packing items. ❖ Encourage people to identify and manufacture alternative packing items. ❖ Hoteliers should be encouraged to shift to banana leaf, teak leaf, vanathula leaf and mantharai leaf for

serving and packing food. ❖ Skill development in producing alternate packing materials should be encouraged. ❖ Enforcement of rules and regulations for the production and use of plastic.

• Under the government's renovation plan the region near the lake will be make litter free so that it becomes favourable of the migratory birds.

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