Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 10-02-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 10-02-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Invest in Jammu and Kashmir – The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration is highlighting good quality air and low crime rate in the newly created Union Territory to attract investors. As per the J&K Information Technology (IT) Policy 2020, the administration is offering an incentive to IT companies to operate in three-shifts and to facilitate women working during the night by providing transportation and security. At least 15% of “plug and play” premises in designated IT parks will be reserved for women entrepreneurs, the policy says. The policy document says that J&K contributes only 0.1% of the total cognisable crimes under the Indian Penal Code.
2. Jammu and Kashmir updates – Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah’s combination of “radical methodology” and “capacity to influence people”, reflected in his ability to draw voters to polling booths in defiance of terrorist diktats, has been cited in a dossier issued by Srinagar DM Shahid Iqbal Choudhary as the reason for his detention being extended by three months under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The dossier on Mehbooba Mufti, the third ex-CM to be detained under that law after Farooq Abdullah and Omar, labels her a “daddy’s girl” who “glorified terrorists after death” and declared in a public rally that “tampering with Article 35A would be akin to lighting a powder keg”.
3. Coronavirus outbreak - updates – The death toll from the novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak in China rose to 811, as authorities geared up for millions of people returning to work after the extended Lunar New Year break.China’s National Health Commission recorded 89 deaths on Feb 8, pushing the total well above the 774 killed by SARS in 2002/2003. The confirmed coronavirus cases in China stood at 37,198.
4. Endangered species’ list will be updated – Ten endangered species of migratory animals/ birds from across the globe, including three from India (Great Indian Bustard, Asian Elephant and Bengal Florican), will be included in a special global list for protection under the ‘Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species’ (CMS) — an international treaty to protect such species throughout their range countries. Different countries have submitted their proposals to a UN body which will decide on a range of issues affecting migratory species at a conference in Gandhinagar from February 15.
5. New Delhi LA elections: more women voted – More women stepped out of their houses and voted in this election than ever before. This was revealed by the voter turnout data shared by the Election Commission. Not just that, the usual gap between male and female voters also narrowed to a record minimum of 0.07%. Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh said 62.62% men and 62.55% women cast their votes, while the total voting percentage was 62.59%. Though there was a dip in this year’s voter turnout compared with the record turnout of 67.1% in the 2015 assembly polls, in absolute terms the number of people who voted actually went up from 89.3 lakh to 92.5 lakh this time, an increase of 3.1 lakh or 3.5%.
6. Vanishing-toilet scam in MP – More than 4.5 lakh Swachh loos have been flushed into oblivion in Madhya Pradesh, along with the Rs. 540 crore it took to build them. The toilets may never be found — though the administration has GPStagged photographs of each of them — but the government aims to recover every paisa spent on them. It is a reminder of the toilet door scam unearthed in Guna district in 2017, where the iron doors of 42,000 toilets were built 10kg lighter, leading to siphoning of crores. The ‘vanishing’ toilets were supposed to have been built — at least on paper — between 2012 and October 2018. But they don’t exist. Officials believe that the photographs submitted as proof of Swachh toilet construction were actually clicked elsewhere, perhaps at the neighbours’ homes as proof of money spent.s
7. Rebeld Foods targets $1 bn valuation – Mumbai-based cloud kitchen startup Rebel Foods, which operates the Faasos brand, has raised $125 million in the ongoing Series D round from Coatue Management, Goldman Sachs, Indonesia’s Go-Jek, and others.   Post investment, the company’s valuation is said to be $525 million, as per a Bloomberg report. It is now expanding its presence into Southeast Asia and the Middle East.  Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing major Go-Jek also infused $5 million (Rs 34.7 crore) in Faasos last month through its venture capital arm Go Ventures.
8. Israel drawing up map for West Bank annexations: Netanyahu – “We are already at the height of the process of mapping the area that, according to the Trump plan, will become part of the state of Israel. It won’t take too long,” Netanyahu said at an election campaign rally in the Maale Adumim settlement. He said the area would include all Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley - territory Israel has kept under military occupation since its capture in the 1967 Middle East war but which Palestinians want in a future state.
9. Thailand gun shoot – Holding candles and writing condolences as monks chanted prayers, hundreds of Thais held an evening vigil Sunday for the 29 victims of an "unprecedented" mass shooting carried out by a soldier. Sharpshooters killed the gunman after a 17-hour ordeal, including a night of firefights and terrifying dashes for mall exits by shoppers trapped in the Terminal 21 mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat. The provincial governor told reporters that the total death toll - including the gunman - stood at 30.The dead include civilians, one of them a 13-year-old boy.
10. India's fiscal gap one of the highest in emerging markets: Report – At around 7.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), the revenue-to-expenditure gap in India is one of the highest among major emerging markets. According to estimates by International Monetary Fund (IMF), total government expenditure was equivalent to around 27.1 per cent of GDP while total government revenue was around 19.6 per cent of GDP in the last calendar year. The revenue-to-expenditure gap in India is similar to that in Brazil but much higher compared to China, Russia and Indonesia.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Tiruvallur District Central Coopeartive Bank	Assistant	30	Any Degree	March  2, 2020	http://www.tvldrb.in/doc_pdf/Notification_1.pdf
2	UPSC	Scientist-B, Assistant Geophysicist & Other	53	MBBS, Degree, PG (Relevant Discipline)	Feb. 27, 2020	https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Advt-03-20-ORA-Engl_0.pdf
3	Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology	SRF, Project Associate, Office Asst & Other	13	--	Feb. 25, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/02/Notification-IPFT-Consultant-SRF-Other-Posts.pdf
4	Army Recruiting Office, Ludhiana	Soldier	--	10th Class, 10+2	March  3, 2020	https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/BRAVO_NotificationPDF/Rally_Notification_of_Ludhiana_Rally_wef_07_Apr_to_16_Apr_20.pdf
5	Army Recruiting Office, Ranchi	Soldier	--	8th Class, 10th Class, 10+2	March 3, 2020	https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/BRAVO_NotificationPDF/Army_Recruitment_Rally_-_ARO_Ranchi.pdf
6	ITBP	GDMO	14	--	March 24, 2020	http://itbpolice.nic.in/itbpwebsite/news/dirMedical479-83.pdf
7	DRDO-NPOL	Trade Apprentices	41	ITI	March 6, 2020	https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/whats_new_document/NPOL_Advt_Trade_Apprentice_2020-21.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 Reservation in promotions for government jobs is not a fundamental right: Supreme Court

• Context -The Supreme Court has held that states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments and there is no fundamental right to claim quota in promotions.
• Background - The apex court said this while dealing with pleas regarding Uttarakhand government’s September 5, 2012 decision to fill up all posts in public services in the state without providing reservations to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.The government’s decision was challenged in the Uttarakhand high court, which struck it down.
• Decision was given by a two judge bench and they referred to Article 16(4) for this decision.
• Article 16 and Substantive Equality - The first is the Court's characterisation of Article 16(4) as a purely enabling provision, and its conclusion from that inadequacy of representation is a matter within "the subjective satisfaction" of the State. This, however, is at odds with the scheme of Article 16 of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court. Until the mid-1970s, the Supreme Court's position was that Article 16(4) was an exception to the guarantee of equality of opportunity set out in Article 16(1). In other words, 16(4) carved out a space (for inadequately represented sections) where the normal principles of equality of opportunity would not apply. It was, of course, up to the State whether or not it chose to avail of this exception, and provide for reservations.

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

2.1 Allocation of funds of the North-Eastern Council approved

• The Union Cabinet in Jan2020 approved the allocation of 30 per cent of funds of the North-Eastern Council for new projects.
• These funds will be usedfor focused development of deprived areas, neglected sections of society and emerging priority sectors.

2.2 A new Major Port at Vadhavan

1. Context - Cabinet gavein-principle approval for setting up of the 13th major port of India near Dahanu in Maharashtra. Total cost of the project will be Rs. 65,545 crore.
2. Background - Currently, India has 12 major ports – Deendayal, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar, V O Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia). 
3. The Vadhavan port will be developed on landlord model.
4. Landlord Model - Where infrastructure is leased to private firms or industries and chemical plants.
5. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be formed, with the government planning to hold 51 per cent stake in the project.Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to own at least 50% in Vadhavan Port.
6. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) is the largest in India. It is ranked 28th in the world and has a traffic of 5.1 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units). Jawaharlal Nehru Port will be the 17th largest container port in the world after the completion of the fourth terminal with capacity addition of 10 million TEUs by 2023. 
7. India will join the top 10 container port countries in the world after the development of the Vadhavan port. It caters to the needs of Maharashtra, North Karnataka, Telangana and secondary enclaves of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, NCR, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.
8. Development of Vadhvan port is part of the government’s plan to develop infrastructure projects with a cost of Rs. 100-lakh crore over the next five years.
9. Significance - JNPT and Mundra, the two largest container handling ports of the country (for mid-size container ships only), have drafts of 15 metres and 16 metres. Vadhavan port has a natural draft of about 20 metres close to the shore, making it possible for it to handle bigger vessels at the port. Development of Vadhavan port will enable call of container vessels of 16,000-25,000 TEUs capacity, giving advantages of economies of scale and reducing logistics cost.

2.3 According to Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) the Unemployment rate in the country was 6.1% in 2017-18.

2.4 Cabinet approved Alliance Air (subsidiary of Air India) to start flights services between India, Sri Lanka. 

2.5 Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik:

1. First-ever helicopter services of Uttarakhand started by Heritage Aviation. Service is from Sahastradhara helipad of Dehradun to Gauchar and Chinyalisaur.
2. Trujet starts Bidar-Bengaluru flight in Karnataka.

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

3.1 Germany provide compensation for coal phase-out

• Context - Germany will pay utility companies billions of euros to speed up the shutdown of their coal-fired power plants by 2038 as part of the country’s efforts to fight climate change.
• Background - Some regions of Germany particularly in the less prosperous east, are heavily dependent on mining lignite, or brown coal.Together with imported bituminous — or black — coal it provides about a third of Germany's electricity needs but is also responsible for a big share of the country's carbon emissions.
• The government has set a target of generating 65% of Germany’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Germany will need a massive expansion of wind and solar energyas the country is also in the process of exiting atomic power. The last nuclear reactor is set to go offline at the end of 2022.
• According to Finance Minister of Germany Olaf Scholz operators of heavily polluting coal-fired power plants in western Germany will receive 2.6 billion euros ($2.9 billion) in compensation for switching them off early, while 1.75 billion euros will go to those with plants in the east.
• The compensation is separate from up to 40 billion euros that the government has already promised to coal-mining regions to soften the blow of abandoning the fossil fuel.
• Reviews will be carried out in 2026 and 2029 to determine whether Germany can exit coal-fired electricity generation in 2035, three years before the final deadline.
• Environmental campaigners criticized the decision though, noting that the agreement will see a new coal-fired plant — Datteln 4 — go on-line this year and allow for the expansion of the Garzweiler open-cast mine in western Germany, though a nearby forest that has been the target of long-running protests will be spared.

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

4.1 Annual African Union summit, 2020

• Edition – 33rd
• Place -Addis Ababa
• Time - January 21 to February 10, 2020.
• Theme - Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development.
• Details - Comprising statutory meetings and side events, the summit held to achieve the Aspirations of Africa's Agenda 2063, specifically Aspiration 4, which envisions a peaceful and secure Africa, thereby making peace a reality for African people.
• African Union - The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa.The bloc was founded on May 26, 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and launched on July 9, 2002 in Durban, South Africa.The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa.
  

4.2 India and Norway signed MoUs in the field of research and higher education during visit of Director General of Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, Anne Line Wold.

4.3 Parliament of Bhutan passed legislation making it mandatory for visitors from India to pay a fee of Rs. 1200 per day for its "sustainable development" from July 2020.

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

5.1 Maharashtra govt. to set up “Bharosa centre” in Raigad district to “monitor the impact of social media on youth”

• Scheme is launched by Haryana Government.
• Under this scheme Rs 6,000 per year will be given to families having an annual income below Rs. 1.80 lakh and land holdings up to five acres.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Movie Review – Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

• Director –Om Raut

1. Cast: Ajay Devgn (Tanhaji Malusare), Saif Ali Khan    Saif Ali Khan (Udaybhan Singh Rathod), Kajol (Savitribai Malusare)
2. Running Time – 135 minutes
3. Language - Hindi
4. Story:Set in the 17th century, the story revolves around the life of Tanaji Malusare, depicting his attempts to recapture the Kondhana fortress once it passes on to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who transfers its control to his trusted guard Udaybhan Singh Rathore.
5. Aout Tanhaji Malusare -Tanaji Malusare was a military assistant of Maratha King Shivaji. He came from a Hindu Koli family.A local poet Tulsidas,wrote a powada describing Tanaji's heroics and sacrifice of life in the Battle of Sinhagad, which has since made him a popular figure in Marathi folklore. Hindutva Ideologue V. D. Savarkar had written a ballad on him, which was banned by the colonial British government. Gad ala pan sinh gela, a Marathi novel by Hari Narayan Apte was written in 1903, based on his life.
6. The Treaty of Purandarwas signed on June 11, 1665, between the Rajput ruler Jai Singh I, who was commander of the Mughal Empire, and Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji was forced to sign the agreement after Jai Singh besieged Purandar fort. Shivaji kept twelve forts, along with an area worth an income of 100,000 (1 lakh) huns under the treaty. He had to give up his forts at Purandar, Rudramal, Kondana, Karnala, Lohagad, Isagad, Tung, Tikona, Rohida fort, Nardurga, Mahuli, Bhandardurga, Palaskhol, Rupgad, Bakhtgad, Morabkhan, Manikgad (Raigad), Saroopgad, Sakargad, Marakgad, Ankola, Songad, and Fort Mangad.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 National Conference on e-Governance

• Edition – 23rd
• Time – 7th and 8th February
• Place – Mumbai
• Organised – Jointly by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India and Department of Information Technology, Government of Maharashtra.
• Theme -India 2020: Digital Transformation
• Details – The conference is a platform for policy makers, practitioners, industry, academia for actionable strategy in public service delivery. 

7.2 According to Election Commission the voter turnout in Delhi Assembly polls held on February 8 was 62.59%.

7.3 110 year old Kalitara Mandal, the oldest voter of Delhi, casts her vote in Assembly polls.

7.4 Veteran Rashtriya Swamyak Sangh pracharak P. Parameswaran passed away in Kochi at the age of 93. 

 

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

8.1 International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy to Dr. N. S. Dharmashaktu (Indian nomination-individual category) and the Leprosy Mission Trust (institutional category).

8.2 Kerala governmentto set up 1,000 'Kudumbashree' hotels to provide subsidised meals at Rs. 25.

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

9.1 Not Available Today

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

10.1  Ranking – World Cancer Report 2020

• Report was released by World Health Organisation
• One in 10 Indians will develop cancer during lifetime and one in 15 will die in of Cancer.
  
  Download pdf of the report from here –
  
  
  https://www.iarc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/brochureWCR.pdf

10.2 Daily dose of FIVE Facts -

1. Rani Rampal won the World Games Athlete of the Year award given by the International World Games Association.
2. Wetlandsin India account for 4.7% of the total geographical area.
3. Padma Shri awardee 2020, Neminath Jain is the founder chairman of Prestige Education Group.
4. Red Fort in New Delhi hosted the Bharat Parv organised by the government in January 2020.
5. Khagendra Thapa Magar was the world’s shortest man who could walk died in Nepal at the age of 27 in Jan2020.

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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