Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 13-02-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 13-02-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. AICTE bars new engg colleges for 2 yrs –The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has put the brakes on engineering education. No fresh applications for setting up new institutes will be accepted till 2022. In the 2019-20 admission seasonevery other seat in this technical stream remain vacant. India is home to the second largest cohort of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) graduates after China, but estimates show the country is the world’s capital in terms of engineering capacity. Put together, India has a total of 27 lakh seats, but only 13 lakh students took admissions in 2019-20, with seven lakh of them joining undergraduate programmes.
   
2. Only 1.5 crore pay tax: Modi –Stating that just 1.5 crore people pay taxes in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong appeal to citizens to take a pledge to pay their taxes honestly, keeping in mind the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives for the freedom of the nation.The PM said in the last five years, 1.5 crore cars were sold and more than 3 crore people travelled overseas for business or leisure, but only 1.5 crore people pay tax.
3. Pak. jails Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed –Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people and injured hundreds more, has been sentenced to jail in Pakistan for five-and-a-half years on terror finance charges. Saeed, a UN-designated terrorist and head of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), was found guilty of “being part of a banned terrorist outfit” and for “having illegal property” by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore. The ATC sentenced him and his close aide Zafar Iqbal to five-and-a-half years each and imposed a fine of Rs. 15,000 in each case. A total of 11 years sentence will run concurrently.
4. Ambassadors reach Srinagar –Twenty-five foreign Ambassadors reachedKashmir on a two-day visit to assess the situation after the Centre’s August 5 decision to revoke the erstwhile State’s special status. They sought inputs from locals, including select politicians, elected grass-roots representatives, editors, traders and members of the civil society, on the measures required to move ahead. Around 100 local delegates formed separate groups and met the envoys, including 10 from the European Union (EU). They were the same who met the Members of the European Parliament in October last and 17 foreign envoys in January this year.
5. India, US finalise defence deals worth $3.5 bn –India has finalised two more mega defence deals with the US, together worth over $3.5 billion (Rs 25,000 crore) for 30 heavy-duty armed helicopters, in the run-up to President Donald Trump’s visit on February 24-25. These soon-to-beinked deals will take the total value of Indian defence contracts bagged by the US since 2007 to well past the $20 billion mark. The $2.6 billion deal for 24 MH-60 ‘Romeo’ multi-mission helicopters for the Navy and the $930 million one for six AH-64E Apache attack choppers for the Army are set to be cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) by next week.
6. Coronavirus Outbreak - updates– Two Indian crew members are among the 39 more people who tested positive for coronavirus infection on the Diamond Princess, anchored at Yokohama over the past week. A Japan health official who had collected forms from those on board the ship also tested positive after he got off the ship.China reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in nearly two weeks, but toll hits 1,113.
7. In a first, Calcutta HC allows live-streaming of proceedings –In a first, the Calcutta high court granted permission for livestreaming of proceedings in a matter pertaining to whether the children of Parsi Zoroastrian women married to non-Parsis can be allowed access to Atash Adaran (Fire Temple) at 91, Metcalfe Street, Kolkata. Two special cameras and other equipment will be set up in the courtroom to telecast live footage of the proceedings on YouTube. The costs will be borne by the Parsi Zoroastrian Association Calcutta, an applicant in the matter.
8. Bernie Sanders wins New Hampshire primary – Independent Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders narrowly won the New Hampshire vote, establishing his position as the candidate of choice of the progressive wing of the Democratic party. The vote was mostly split between Pete Buttigieg, who came a close second, followed by moderate Amy Klobuchar. Both former Vice-President Joseph R. Biden and progressive Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren had a bad night. Mr. Sanders got 25.8% of the vote followed by Mr. Buttigieg, 38, at 24.4% with 89% of the vote counted.
9. Retail Inflation Surges to Near 6-Year High–Factory output shrank in December after a mild pickup in November while retail inflation accelerated to a 68-month high in January in twin blows to the struggling economy. Data released by the statistics office showed industrial output contracted 0.3% in December compared with a 1.8% rise in November. April-November industrial growth was 0.5% against 4.7% in the yearearlier period. The simultaneously released Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed retail inflation raced to 7.59% in January from 7.35% in December, strengthening the likelihood of a prolonged pause in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) despite muted growth.
10. Maha cabinet approved five-day week – The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra cabinet approved a five-day week for all state government employees starting February 29. While earlier, the state government’s 22 lakh employees got the second and fourth Saturday of every month off, they will now only work Monday to Friday. However, their working hours have been extended by 45 minutes every day to make up for time that might have been lost as a result of the new arrangement. So while they started work at 9.45am every day and had to swipe out at 5.30pm, they will now have to work up to 6.15pm, with a 30-minute lunch break in the afternoon.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	UPSC	Indian Forest Service Prelims Exam 2020	90	Any Degree	March 3, 2020	https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notification-IFoSE_2020_N_Engl.pdf
2	UPSC	Civil Service (Prelims) Exam 2020	796	Any Degree	March 3, 2020	https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notification-CSPE_2020_N_Engl.pdf
3	IOCL, Mktg Division	Trade Apprentice	21	12th Class	Feb. 24, 2020	http://iocl.onlinereg.in/srmd04reg/Images/Advertisement_2019-2020.pdf
4	National Jalma Inst. for Leprosy and Other Mycro	DEO, Project Asst., Project Tech., Data Mgr Consultant and Other	8	12th Class, Any Degree, PG	Feb 17, 2020	https://www.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/career_opportunity/jalma_posts.pdf
5	NIEPMD	Sr Teacher, Jr Teacher, Care Givers, Pediatrician and Other	10	Degree, PG, Diploma, Ph.D	Feb 24, 2020	http://www.niepmd.tn.nic.in/documents/Employment%20Notice_072020_110220.pdf
6	NIVEDI	Project Assistant, JRF, SRF, Young Professional – I, II	7	Diploma (Engg), Degree, PG With NET, Ph.D	Feb 24, 2020	https://nivedi.res.in/sites/default/files/2020-02/website%20advertisement%20of%20walk%20in%20interview%20for%2024th%20February%202020.pdf
7	Sainik School, Bijapur	LDC, Ward Boy, Nursing Sister, Band Master	6	10th Class, 10+2, Diploma, Any Degree	Feb 24, 2020	https://ssbj.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Contractual-Employees.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 SC appoints retired judge to prepare inventory of the Sabarimala ornaments

• The Supreme Court in February 2020 appointed retired Kerala High Court judge C.N. Ramachandran Nair to prepare a detailed inventory of the ornaments of the Sabarimala temple deity, Lord Ayyappa.
• The order was initiated on the advice of the Kerala government
• The court had asked for the State’s opinion on keeping the ornaments safe.
• Entry of women to Sabarimala case -Sabarimala Temple is a temple of Shasta situated at Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India.In the past, women devotees of menstruating age were not permitted to worship here, this ban being said to be out of respect to the celibate nature of the deity in this temple.A Kerala high-court judgement had legalized this interpretation, and forbade women from entering the temple since 1991.In September 2018, a judgement of the Supreme Court of India ruled that all pilgrims regardless of gender, including women in the menstruating age group, should be allowed entrance to Sabarimala.

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

2.1 RBI announces steps to boost loans to real estate, auto and MSMEs

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Feb. 2020 announced several measures to boost loan growth to sectors like residential real estate, automobiles, and micro, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs).
• While presenting the Union Budget 2020 on Feb 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government has asked the central bank to extend the debt restructuring window by another year ending March 31, 2021.
• The RBI has now said that banks will be allowed to deduct the equivalent of incremental credit disbursed as retail loans for automobiles, residential housing and loans to MSMEs over and above the outstanding level of credit to these segments as at the end of the fortnight ended January 31, 2020 from their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) for maintenance of cash reserve ratio (CRR).
  

2.2 AAI (Airports Authority of India) awards contract for greenfield airport project at Hollongi in Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat based Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt Ltd.

2.3 Centre and FICCI launch India-Central Asia Business Council to promote business in the region. Countries involved - India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

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

3.1 Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

• Edition – 13th
• Time – Feb 17 to 22, 2020
• Place – Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Theme – “Migratory species connect the planet and together we welcome them home”
• A total of 130 countries have been invited to participate in the convention.
• India has been a Party to the CMS since 1983.
• CMS was Signed in 1979 in Bonn, Germany, the Convention entered into force in 1983.
• India has also signed non legally binding MOU with CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Cranes (1998), Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs (2008) and Raptors (2016).
• The mascot for CMS COP13, “Gibi – The Great Indian Bustard” (in photo) is a critically endangered species which has been accorded the highest protection status under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• India is temporary home to several migratory animals and birds.
• The important among these include Amur Falcons, Bar headed Gheese, Black necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpbacked Whales, etc.
• The Indian sub-continent is also part of the major bird flyway network, i.e, the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) that covers areas between the Arctic and Indian Oceans, and covers at least 279 populations of 182 migratory water bird species, including 29 globally threatened species.
  
  

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

4.1 Nepal inks financial closure of its largest hydropower project with India

• India and Nepal in Feb2020 inked financial closure of Nepal’s largest hydropower project, the Arun-III being built with India’s assistance. India has pledged an investment of NPR 100 Billion for the 900 MW mega hydropower project being built in Nepal’s Sankhuwasabha District.
• The project has set the record for the largest Foreign direct investment (FDI) to the Himalayan nation.
• Two Nepali banks -- Everest Bank and NABIL Bank -- and five Indian banks -- State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, CANARA Bank, Axim Bank and Union Bank of India -- have committed to lend debts for construction of the mega power project.

4.2 United States launched 27-nation International Religious Freedom Alliance aimed at protecting and preserving religious freedom across the world.

4.3 World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned world running out of protective equipment against Coronavirus.

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

5.1 Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat campaign

  

• Organised by –The Information and Broadcasting Ministry 
• Time –February 10 to 28
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mooted the idea of a cultural connection between different regions during the Rashtriya Ekta Divas held in 2015.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Roundup - Accidents and Natural Disasters

• Two commandoes of unit CoBRA of Central Reserve Police Forces killed in encounter with Naxals in Bijapur district of Chattisgarh.
• BIMSTEM Disaster Management Exercise – 2020

1. Seven-nation exercise held held at the Ramachandi Beach, Puri (Odisha)
2. Time -February 11 to 13.

• Britain, Ireland hit as Storm Ciara whips over northwest Europe.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Delhi Assembly Elections, 2020

• Total number of constituencies – 70
• 36 seats needed for majority
• Turnout – 62.59%
• Leaders – AAP – Arvind Kejriwal. BJP – Manoj Tiwari. INC – Subhash Chopra
• Alliance – AAP – None. BJP – National Democratic Alliance. INC - United Progressive Alliance
• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): 62 (–5), vote share: 53.57%. 
• Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP): 8 (+3), vote share: 38.1%.

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

8.1 Cauvery delta region would be declared a Protected Special Agriculture Zone (PSAZ)

• Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami in February 2020 announced that the above mentioned zone would be declared a Protected Special Agriculture Zone as a step towards ensuring food security of the State.
• The zone will cover Cauvery delta regions in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Karur and Tiruchirapalli.
• It has been seen that in the last four decades, Tamil Nadu’s food dependence on the delta has fallen from 65% to 40%. Hydrocarbon wells are one of the major reasons behind the same.
   

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

9.1 Most cities in India turning into “urban heat islands”: IIT Kharagpur Study

• A team of researchers from IIT Kharagpur has found that most cities in the country are turning into “urban heat islands” in all seasons during day and night.
• In their study, researchers from Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL) of IIT-KGP and its Architecture and Regional Planning department showed that most big cities in the country with population more than one million have recorded rise in mercury level during daytime while showing an increasing trend in the night hours.
• The study, ‘Anthropogenic forcing exacerbating the urban heat islands in India’, noted that the relatively warmer temperatures in urban areas, compared to suburbs, have potential health hazards due to heat waves apart from pollution.
• The research is a detailed and careful analysis of urban heat islands of India, which is the difference between urban and surrounding rural land surface temperatures, across all seasons in 44 major cities from 2001 to 2017.

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

10.1  Ranking – Ease of Living Index 2019

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched two Assessment Frameworks -Ease of Living Index (EoLI) and Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2019. 
• EoLI 2019 will facilitate the assessment of ease of living of citizens across three pillars: Quality of Life, Economic Ability and Sustainability.
  
  Download pdf of the report from here –
  
  
  https://www.theglobalipcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GIPC_IP_Index_2020_FullReport.pdf

10.2 Daily dose of FIVE Facts -

• Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is based at Kochi.
• World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2.
• Padma Bhushan awardee 2020 Tsering Landol is Gynaecologist.
• Derara Hurisa won the Men’s race at the Tata Mumbai Marathon in Jan 2020.
• GV Raja awards for sportspersons has been announced by Kerala.

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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