Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 05-02-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 05-02-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. No document will be collected during updation of NPR - Govt–The government informed the Lok Sabha that till now it has not taken any decision to prepare National Register of Citizens (NRC) at the national level. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai was responding to a question by Lok Janshakti Party’s (LJP) Chandan Singh and Telangana Rashtra Samithi’s (TRS) Nama Nageswara Rao on whether the government had any plans to introduce the NRC all over the country. Government is in discussion with the States having concerns in regard to the preparation of National Population Register (NPR).Several Opposition-ruled States have vociferously opposed the NPR, slated to begin from April 1 onwards along with the decennial Census. According to the Citizenship Rules, 2003, the NPR is the first step towards the compilation of the NRC.
2. SC asks why no action on pleas – The Supreme Court gave Tamil Nadu Speaker P. Dhanapal a week’s time to inform when he will take cognisance of the disqualification petitions filed under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) against Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and 10 other AIADMK MLAs for voting against the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami in February 2017. A three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde, asked Tamil Nadu Advocate General Vijay Narayan and Additional Advocate General Jayanth Muthuraj to confer with the Speaker and report back on February 14. The court questioned the Speaker’s inaction, repeatedly asking why he kept the disqualification petitions pending for three whole years without even issuing notice.
3. Two under observation for nCoV flee to S. Arabia –Two persons who had returned from China recently and were under observation for novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection in Kozhikode, Kerala, have left the country for Saudi Arabia, violating the State Health Department’s instructions to remain under home quarantine till the end of the 28-day incubation period of the virus. District Medical Officer V. Jayasree said efforts were being made to trace the two persons.
4. Govt to SC: Male troops won’t accept women commanders – The Centre has told the Supreme Court that women may not be suitable for command posts in the Army as male troops are not yet prepared to accept women officers. It also cited greater family demands and the danger of them being taken prisoner of war to oppose the plea of a few women officers for command posting after getting permanent commission. Male and female officers cannot be treated on a par in the matter of postings because of their different physical standards and exposures, and reservations over exposing women officers to combat situations.
5. Interference of government in Collegium – In an unprecedented instance in the more than two-decade-long existence of the collegium system, the Centre appears to have blocked the appointment of Karnataka judicial officer P. K. Bhat as a high court judge despite the CJI-led panel iterating its recommendation a record third time in three years. Bhat’s name was first recommended by the Supreme Court collegium on August 23, 2016. But the law ministry returned it, enclosing a May 3, 2016, complaint by a woman judicial officer levelling sexual harassment charges against Bhat. She alleged that on complaining against denial of orderly allowance, Bhat would summon her to his residence at night and often made her wait till the early hours with a “dishonourable intention”.
6. Tally-by-App experiment of Iowa Fails – Glitches to a mobile app and a backup phone-in plan for reporting results in Iowa’s Democratic presidential caucuses delayed the outcome and heightened concerns about the integrity of the voting process in the 2020 elections. After failure some Democratic Party officials in the 1,700-plus caucus sites complained about the rollout and difficulties in downloading and using the app. Some said a final version was only made available this past weekend. Still, others said that when they tried to phone results to party leaders, they were put on hold or disconnected. The faulty kickoff led Democratic candidates to express frustration. Nevada’s State Democratic Party, which holds its caucuses later this month, announced that it wouldn’t use the app that malfunctioned in Iowa.
7. Coronavirus death in Hong Kong; Second outside mainland China – Coronavirus cases continue to surge in China while new infections are being reported around the world. Stock markets in China, reopening after the Lunar New Year holiday, recorded their sharpest falls in more than four years, reflecting increasing concern about the damage the outbreak is inflicting on the local economy. Death toll 400+ with 20,438 confirmed cases in China. 146 confirmed cases in 23 countries outside China.
8. Pak to buy more Malaysian palm oil – Pakistan will buy more palm oil from Malaysia, aiming to help offset lost sales after top buyer India put curbs on Malaysian imports last month amid a diplomatic row. India imposed restrictions on refined palm oil imports and informally asked traders to stop buying from Malaysia, the world’s biggest producer of the edible oil. The move was in retaliation for Malaysia’s criticism of India’s new citizenship law and its policy on Jammu and Kashmir.
9. Markets roar back after Budget shock – A sharp drop in crude oil prices, coupled with a rally in global equities, propelled the domestic market, helping the benchmark indices close at levels seen before the Union Budget. The Sensex soared 917 points, or 2.30 per cent, to end at 40,790, while the Nifty50 index rose 272 points, or 2.32 per cent, to close at 11,980. Both the indices logged their biggest single-day gains since September. The Sensex had ended at 39,735 on Feb 01, following the worst sell-off in three years as investors dumped equities due to Budget disappointment.
10. Bharti Airtel loss – Bharti Airtel INSE 0.45% reported a bigger-than-expected loss of Rs. 1,035 crore, but improvement in mobile average revenue per user (ARPU), highest-ever quarterly rise in 4G users, surge in data traffic and likely tariff hikes were among the key positives. Analysts poll had projected a loss of Rs. 638 crore.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	CIPET	Sr Officer, Officer, Asst Officer	7	Any Degree, PG Diploma, CA, ICWA	Feb 17, 2020	https://www.cipet.gov.in/job-opportunities/downloads/03-02-2020-001/Advertisement_SC_2020.pdf
2	Heavy Water Board	Technical Officer, Driver & Other	277	10th, 12th Class, Diploma, ITI, Degree	Feb 10, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/01/Notification-Heavy-Water-Board-Category-I-II-Stipendiary-Technical-Officer-Other-Posts.pd
3	NIT, Patna	Superintendent, Junior Assistant	24	12th Class, Any Degree/ PG, Computer Knowledge	Feb 11, 2020	http://nitp.ac.in/uploads/AdvtforNon-teaching08Jan2020.pdf
4	IIT, Patna	Jr Technical Superintendent, Jr Mechanic, Jr Superintendent & Other	17	10th Class, Diploma, Degree	Feb 10, 2020	https://www.iitp.ac.in/images/pdf/Recruitment_Notice_08.01.2020.pdf
5	NPCIL	Trade Apprentice	90	ITI	Feb 10, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/01/Notification-NPCIL-Trade-Apprentice-Posts.pdf
6	THSTI	Principal Scientist – I, II, other	13	MD, M.V.Sc, Ph.D	Feb 10, 2020	https://thsti.in/ethsti/writereaddata/157857358469THS-RN-08-2020.pdf
7	CFTRI	Scientist, Senior Scientist, Principal Scientist	31	B.E/ B.Tech, M.E/ M.Tech, Ph.D (Engg)	Feb 6, 2020	https://www.cftri.res.in/ApplicationForm/0_24039500_1578308175.pdf

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• SECTION 2 - DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

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• 1. CONSTITUTION AND LAW (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

1.1 SABRIMALA REVIEW

• Context - The 9-judge bench of the Supreme Court constituted to answer the questions mentioned in the SABRIMALA REVIEW order will consider the preliminary issue whether a reference is possible in a review petition.
• Details – 

1. In the hearing held on Feb 03, Senior Advocate F S Nariman had raised a preliminary objection to the proceedings by stating that the Sabarimala review bench could not have made the reference. 
2. He remarked that the order passed by the Sabarimala review bench on November 14, 2019 was an 'adjournment order' and not a reference.
3. On this, CJI Bobde, who is heading the 9-judge bench, observed that this could be considered as a preliminary issue.
4. On January 13, the CJI had asked the lawyers in the case to have a conference for re-framing the issues.
5. The lawyers had a conference on January 17, but could not reach a common ground regarding the issues.

• Observations - On November 14, a 5-judge bench headed by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi observed that certain issues in the Sabarimala review were common to the pending cases concerning women entry in Mosques, validity of the practice of  Female Genital Mutilation among Dawoodi Bohra community and the right of Parsi women who had married outside community to enter Fire Temples.
• November 14 order - The following are the issues, that 'could' arise for the consideration of larger bench – 

1. Regarding the interplay between the freedom of religion under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution and other provisions in Part III, particularly Article 14.
2. What is the sweep of expression 'public order, morality and health' occurring in Article 25(1) of the Constitution.
3. The expression 'morality' or 'constitutional morality' has not been defined in the Constitution. Is it overarching morality in reference to preamble or limited to religious beliefs or faith?
4. What is the meaning of the expression 'sections of Hindus' appearing in Article 25(2)(b) of the Constitution.
5. Whether the "essential religious practices" of a religious denomination or even a section thereof are afforded constitutional protection under Article 26.
6. What would be the permissible extent of judicial recognition to PILs in matters calling into question religious practices?
   

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• 2. ECONOMY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper

2.1 Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das named the Central Banker of the Year, Asia-Pacific 2020, by the Banker magazine.

2.2 Pramod Agrawal assumed charge as the new CMD of Coal India Ltd.

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• 3. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper)

3.1 World Wetlands Day observed on February 2 with theme of ‘Wetlands and Biodiversity’

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• 4. FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

4.1 Maldives rejoins Commonwealth

• Maldives was officially readmitted to the Commonwealth more than three years after the Indian Ocean archipelago nation quit the organisation over criticism of its human rights record.
• This will take the count of the bloc's membership countries back to 54.
• The island nation's rejoining came just over an hour after the United Kingdom left the European Union following 47 years of membership.
• The island nation had quit the Commonwealth in October 2016 after being threatened with suspension over its human rights record and lack of progress on democratic reform.
• Maldives President - Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (in photo).

4.2 Longest-serving President of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi, passed away at the age of 95 in Nairobi. He served country for 24 years from 1978 to 2002

4.3 Frequency of Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express and Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express trains connecting India and Bangladesh increased.

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• 5. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES (Prelims, GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3)

5.1 Haryana construction workers to avail free travel in state buses

• Construction workers in Haryana will soon be able to travel for free between their homes and places of work in state transport buses.
• The government will provide free bus passes to construction workers to commute between their residences and work places in state transport buses.
• Chief Minister of Haryana - Dushyant Chautala

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Arts and Culture –Weekly Roundup

• Obituary

1. Veteran Odia filmmaker Manmohan Mohapatra passed away in Bhubaneswar on January 13, 2020 at the age of 69.
2. Sahitya Akademi Awardee winner Punjabi writer Jaswant Singh Kanwal dies at 101 in Moga district of Punjab.
3. Bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark passed away at the age of 92.
4. World Records -Himachal Pradesh’s Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation entered the Guinness Book of Records for preparing 1995 kg serving of beans and rice (Khichdi) in Tattapani, Mandi district.  

• Inaugurations – 

1. PM Modi on unveiled a life size statue of Swami Vivekananda at IIM Kozhikode through video conference. He was participating in the international conclave on “Global Indian Thought” organised by IIM Kozhikode.
2. President opened annual Udyanotsav of the Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Public can visit gardens from February 5 to March 8.

• Awards and Honours – 

1. Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF): ‘Babenco: Tell Me When I Die’, by Brazilian filmmaker Barbara Paz, wins Golden Conch Award for Best Documentary Film 
2. BAFTA Awards - British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards presented in London. Best Film: 1917. Best Film Not in the English Language: Parasite (Korean) directed by Bong Joon-ho. Best Director: Sam Mendes for 1917. Best Actor in a Leading Role: Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’. Best Actress in a Leading Role: Renée Zellweger in ‘Judy Garland’. 
3. Hindi poet-novelist Vinod Kumar Shukla presented inaugural Mathrubhumi Book of the Year award for his translated book "Blue Is Like Blue" in Thiruvananthapuram.
4. Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman gets Kishore Kumar Samman of MP government for 2018.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Awards, 2020

• PMMVY awards presented by Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani.
• Under PMMVY (started in 2017), Rs. 5000 is paid to pregnant women and lactating mothers for the first living child of the family as compensation for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare.
• In the category of best performance since inception of the Scheme to States/ UTs having population of more than 1 crore Madhya Pradesh was FIRST.
• For States/ UTs having population of less than 1 crore, Dadra and Nagar Haveli was FIRST.
• Indore (MP) was first in district level award for States/UTs with population of more than 1 crore.
• Serchhip district of Mizoram was first in district level award for States/UTs with population of less than 1 crore.

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• 8. SOCIAL ISSUES (Prelims, GS Paper 1, GS Paper 2)

8.1 World Cancer Day (WCD) observed on February 4

• The WCD is observed on February 4 every year.
• It is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008.
• Theme for 2019 to 2021 - I Am and I Will. 2016 to 2018 theme – We can. I can.
• Mustafa World Cancer Day was established on February 4, 2000 at the World Cancer Summit Against Cancer for the New Millenium, which was held in Paris.
• Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells that can have severe health consequences, and is a leading cause of death. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach, and liver cancer are the most common types in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, uterine cervix, and stomach cancer are the most common among women. More than 30% of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, especially tobacco use.
• According to World Cancer Report released by World Health Organisation, one in 10 Indians will develop cancer during their life-time and one in 15 Indians will die of cancer.
   

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• 9. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3)

9.1 Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) captured its first image of the Sun

• DKIST is the world's largest solar telescope.
• It issituated in Hawaii (US).
• It captured its first image of the sun, which is the highest-resolution image of our star to date.
• The image began a nearly 50-year study of the Earth's most important star.
• The new images reveal small magnetic structures in incredible detail.
• Unique resolution and sensitivity of DKIST will allow it to probe the sun's magnetic field for the very first time as it studies the activities that drive space weather in Earth's neighbourhood.
• Charged particles shed from the sun can interfere with Earth's mechanical satellites, power grids and communication infrastructure.
• The new telescope will also delve into one of the most counterintuitive solar mysteries - why the sun's corona, or outer layer, is hotter than its visible surface.
• Construction began on the Inouye Solar Telescope in 2012.

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• 10. FACTS, CHARTS, RANKINGS and EDITORIALS (Prelims + GS Mains)

10.1  Ranking – Nature Risk Rising Report, 2020

• Report is generated by World Economic Forum.
• Over half the world’s total GDP is dependent on nature and as a result exposed to risks from nature loss.
  
  Download pdf of the report from here –
  
  
  http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_New_Nature_Economy_Report_2020.pdf

10.2 Daily dose of FIVE Facts -

1. India has pledged to contribute US $ 5 millionin 2020 to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
2. Soma Roy Burman took charge as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA) in Dec 2019.
3. Carolina Marin won the Women’s Singles title at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament in 2019.
4. Stefan Lofven is the Prime Minister of Sweden.
5. SAARC Charter Day is celebrated on December 8.

10.3 Today’s best editorials to read 

• We offer you 7 excellent editorials from across 10 newspapers we have scanned. 

CLICK HERE TO OPEN AND READ!

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• SECTION 3 - MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

Solve the online quiz given, right now. Check scores, and relative performance!

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