Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 24-02-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 24-02-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Trump’s India Visit–Ahmedabad’s new Motera Stadium is set to welcome US President Donald Trump with PM Narendra Modi playing host and over a lakh people expected in the arena for the ‘Namaste Trump’ event. A packed stadium will greet Trump and Modi when they reach the venue after a 22km roadshow that will take them to Sabarmati Ashram en route. The US president has indicated in tweets that he is looking forward to the big public reception planned for him in Ahmedabad.
2. Trump’s India Visit–The India-US strategic partnership will see the two countries focusing on four key objectives this week — peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean, counter-terrorism, free and fair trade, and energy. President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi will also consider ways to promote regional connectivity based on transparency, responsible debt practices and, importantly for India, without violating sovereignty and territorial integrity.Beyond attempts to weed out irritants in bilateral ties, regional and international cooperation will be an important focus area for Trump and Modi when they meet on Tuesday. While the US is expected to encourage India to further promote stability and security in Afghanistan, the Indian side will seek an unambiguous condemnation of cross-border terrorism so as to ensure Pakistan doesn’t feel further emboldened at a time it is openly claiming credit for the Afghan peace deal.
3. Delhi CAA riots: 15 hurt in stone-pelting–Violence erupted in the Jafrabad area of northeast Delhi anti and pro-CAA protesters came face to face, leading to stonepelting and vandalising of vehicles and shops. Police and paramilitary forces managed to restore calm by late evening. Fifteen people, including six policemen and two camera persons were reported injured.
4. Regional Peace – SAARC revival–Successful regional integration — both economic and security — depends on the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) becoming fully functional at the highest levels, Sri Lanka’s former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Emphasising the need for countries in the region to link up both strategically and economically, Mr. Wickremesinghe said the postponement of the Kathmandu SAARC Summit in 2017 due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan had brought the regional grouping “to a standstill”.
5. New highway in AP, threat to wildlife –Even as work is under way since 2013 to lay a 156 km road through the Namdapha National Park, India’s easternmost tiger reserve, a new highway project to build with a 692.7 km highway through the 862 sq km Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in East Kameng district. Named the East-West Industrial Corridor, the highway aims to connect Bhairabhunda in West Kameng district and Manmao in Changlang district along Arunachal Pradesh’s border with Assam. The project makes no mention of compensation for people likely to be displaced. What has set alarm bells ringing for environmentalists is a 40 km elevated stretch through the heart of the PTR as advised by a Gujarat-based firm. As experts says that elevation is no guarantee against felling of trees and disturbing wildlife in the sensitive PTR. This corridor will be a threat to the adjoining Nameri Tiger Reserve in Assam too.
6. Gangster Ravi Pujari held in South Africa –Fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari has been arrested in South Africa and was being brought to India by a team of officials. Pujari is wanted in many cases in different parts of the country, including Karnataka. He had been on the run for over 15 years, and was deported to Senegal in West Africa following his arrest, and later extradited. He jumped bail in Senegal last year after being arrested there.
7. COVID-19 updates–In response to growing concerns about the spread of Covid-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus first observed in Wuhan, China — in South Korea, President Moon Jae-in has raised the country’s threat alert level to the highest of its four levels. The country is currently struggling to stop the rapid spread of the novel virus, and has the second largest number of confirmed cases in the world, 602 (not counting the passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked on the shores of Japan). In the span of less than a week, the number of confirmed South Korean cases has jumped more than tenfold, six people have died, and over 8,000 people considered to be at risk of infection are still undergoing testing.
8. US Presidential Elections – Bernie Sanders Won Nevada Caucuses, Strengthening His Primary Lead. His triumph will provide a burst of momentum that may make it difficult for the still-fractured moderate wing of the Democratic Party to slow his march to the nomination. The Vermont senator defeated his opponents by a large margin, showing strength with minority and working-class voters. But the other candidates vowed to fight on.
9. Earthquake at Turkey-Iran border – Nine people, including three children, have died following a 5.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Turkey-Iran border region. Twenty-one people were injured — including eight who were in a critical condition.
10. Firms to be allowed direct foreign listing – In a move that could open up a fresh source of funding for domestic unicorns and new-age companies, an expert committee constituted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has endorsed direct listing of Indian firms on foreign exchanges. The panel has also proposed measures to encourage global companies to list in India. The existing legal framework doesn’t allow a company incorporated in India to directly list on foreign bourses. Similarly, companies incorporated outside India cannot directly list their equity shares on the Indian stock exchanges.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	UPSC	Jr Scientific Officer, Regional Home Economist, Scientist	41	Degree (Engg), PG	March12, 2020	https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Advt-04-20-Details-ORA-Engl_0.pdf
2	Northern Coalfields Ltd	Dumper Operator, Dozer Operator & Other	307	10th Class, ITI with Valiid Driving License	March 30, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/02/Notification-Northern-Coalfields-Ltd-Dumper-Operator-Dozer-Operator-Other-Posts.pdf
3	Ministry of Culture	Administrative Officer, Librarian, Guide, Driver, Carpenter	7	5th, 8th Class, Degree, PG (Relevant Discipline)	--	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/02/Notification-Ministry-of-Culture-Samiti-Librarian-Guide-Other-Posts.pdf
4	MECON Ltd	Assistant Manager, Deputy Manager, Medical Officer & Other	49	MBBS, Degree (Engg), PG	March20, 2020	http://www.meconlimited.co.in/Writereaddata/Downloads/AdvtLateral12022020.pdf
5	MECON Ltd	Asst Project Engineer, Asst Executive, Executive & Other	31	Any Degree, Degree (Engg), PG Degree/ PG Diploma	March 5, 2020	http://www.meconlimited.co.in/Writereaddata/Downloads/AdvtFTFT12022020.pdf
6	IDTR	Sr Manager, Manager, Sr Eng, Eng, Personal Asst, Technician	12	ITI, Diploma/ Degree	--	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/02/Notification-IDTR-Sr-Manager-Manager-Other-Posts.pdf
7	MECON Ltd	Sr. Project Engineer, Project Engineer & Other	102	Degree (Engg), MCA	Feb 26, 2020	http://www.meconlimited.co.in/Writereaddata/Downloads/WALKIN_ADVT_ENGINEER.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 International Judicial Conference, 2020

• Time – Feb 22 and 23, 2020.
• Place – Supreme Court, New Delhi. 
• Theme - 'Judiciary and the Changing World.'
• Aim– To facilitate cross fertilisation of ideas between judges of India and those from abroad
• Highlights– Issues of emphasis were discussed 

1. The need for technology to deliver speedy justice.
2. The government’s effort to connect every court of the country.
3. Removal of obsolete laws and framing of new laws.
4. The synergy of artificial intelligence (AI) and human conscience. 

• Participants  - Distinguished Judges of the Supreme Court and various High Courts, Eminent lawyers and delegates from overseas also took part in the Conference.

1.2 SC appointed interlocutors Santosh Hegde, Sadhana Ramachandran and Wajahat Habibullah (former CIC) continued talks with Anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protesters at Shaheen Bagh area in New Delhi.

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

2.1 Total food-grain production to hit a record high

• As per Second Advance Estimatesfor 2019-20, total foodgrain production in the country is estimated at record 291.95 million tonnes (mt) which is higher by 6.74 million tonnes than the production of foodgrain of during 2018-19.
• It is higher by 26.20 mt than the average production of foodgrain of previous five years.
• Total production of rice is estimated at record 117.47 mt. It is higher by 9.67 mt than the average production (previous five years’ average).
  
• Production of wheat is estimated at record 106.21 million tonnes. It is higher by 2.61 million tonnes as compared to wheat production during 2018-19 and is higher by 11.60 million tonnes than the average production.
• Production of Nutri / Coarse Cereals estimated at 45.24 million tonnes, which is higher by 2.18 million tonnes than the production of 43.06 million tonnes achieved during 2018-19 annd 2.16 million tonnes than the average production.
• Total Pulses production during 2019-20 is estimated at 23.02 million tonnes which is higher by 2.76 million tonnes than the average production.
• Total Oilseeds production in the country during 2019-20 is estimated at 34.19 million tonnes which is higher by 2.67 million tonnes than the production during 2018-19 and was higher by 4.54 million tonnes than the average production.
• Total production of Sugarcane in the country during 2019-20 is estimated at 353.85 million tonnes. Higher by 4.07 million tonnes than the average production.
• Production of Cotton is estimated at 34.89 million bales (of 170 kg each) is higher by 6.85 million bales than the production during 2018-19. Production of Jute and Mesta is estimated at 9.81 million bales (of 180 kg each).
  

2.2 CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) started capturing district-wise data or origin of export goods.

2.3 IRFC (Indian Railway Finance Corporation) listed US $ 1 bn medium-term notes on BSE-owned India International Exchange (India INX).

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

3.1 Not Available Today

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

4.1 The Points Based Immigration System of the United Kingdom (UK)

• Context–The UK has launched the new points-based immigration system for EU citizens which will came into effect from Jan 1, 2021 and which intends to change the way EU migrants will come to the UK to work, study, visit or join their family. Non-EU citizens already follow a points-based system to migrate to the UK.
• What is it? – Under this system, points will be assigned for specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions and visas will be awarded to those who will have enough points.
• Requirements – Non-British citizens need to show the job offer from an approved sponsor and that they speak English. Salary thresholds have been established. With some tradable characteristics, a total of 70 points are required to be eligible to apply.
• Criticisms – The system relies on the government’s perception of what skills are valuable, rather than on the views of the employers who are to recruit them. Eligibility criteria can be unpredictable because the bar for admission will be higher in periods when more other people are applying.
• Note – The implementation of system does not change the status of those EU citizens already in the UK as per the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
   

4.2 UAE issued reactor licence for Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, the first in Arab world.

4.3 South Sudan president Salva Kiir, rebel leader Riek Machar agree to form UNITY GOVERNMENT.

4.4 Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar resigned after his Fine Gael party came third in general elections.

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

5.1 Nadu Nedu Scheme

• Aim – To improve quality standards in government schools and hospitals.
• Targets – 15,715 schools
• State – Andhra Pradesh
• ‘Nadu Nedu’ is a Telugu word which means ‘then and now’
• Finance – 15,337 crore
• Andhra Pradesh CM –YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Movie Review –1917

• Director – Sam Mendes
• Studio – Universal Pictures
• Cast – George MacKay as Lance Corporal Schofield, Dean-Charles Chapmanas Lance Corporal Blake, Mark Strong (II)as Captain Smith, Andrew Scottas Lieutenant Leslie, Richard Maddenas Lieutenant Joseph Blake Claire Duburcqas Lauri
• Running Time – 110 minutes
• Theme – At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (Captain Fantastic's George MacKay) and Blake (Game of Thrones' Dean-Charles Chapman) are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers -Blake's own brother among them.
•  Awards and Honours -  The need for technology to deliver speedy justice.
  
  1. 77th Golden Globe Awards – Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Best Director.
  2. 92nd Academy Awards – Best Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, and Cinematography.
  3. 25th Critics' Choice Awards – Best Director
  4. 73rd British Academy Film Awards – Best Film, Best Director and Outstanding British film.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Appointments - Sanjay Kothari - next Chief Vigilance Commissioner(CVC).

• The Central Vigilance Commission is the apex vigilance institution set up in 1964 on the recommendations Shri K. Santhanam committee. It was accorded the status of independent statutory authority through the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.
• It consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Member). 
• They are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a Committee consisting of the PM (Chairperson), the Minister of Home Affairs (Member) and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People (Member).
• The term of office is 4 years or 65 years whichever is earlier.
• The CVC or vigilance commissioners can be removed from the office by the President on the grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity but only after the Supreme Court has held an inquiry into his case and recommended action against him

7.2 Bimal Julka selected as the new Chief Information Commissioner.

7.3 Election Commission awarded ‘Silver’ award for Excellence in Government Process re-engineering for digital transformation from DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances).

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

8.1 Statehood Day of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh celebrated on February 20

• Mizoram

1. History - The Mizo hills area became the Lushai Hills district within Assam at the time of independence. In 1954 it was renamed the Mizo Hills District of Assam. The Mizo National Front (MNF) under Laldenga’s leadership intensified the movement for secession from Assam when Nagaland was given separate status as a Central Government Administrative Agency in 1957 and statehood in 1963. After signing an accord with the moderates of the MNF the Union Government established Mizoram with the status of a Union Territory in 1972. The Union Territory of Mizoram was conferred the status of a full state in 1986. 
2. Details -Capital: Aizawl. Gender Ratio: 975 female per 1000 male. Literacy: 91.58 %

• Arunachal Pradesh – 

1. History - The area of Arunachal Pradesh was integrated into Assam at the time of independence. But the presence of China with an unsettled border made the area militarily important for the government. The area was upgraded to the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh in 1972 and was granted statehood by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986.
2. Details -Capital : Itanagar. Gender Ratio: 938 female per 1000 male. Literacy: 65.38 %.

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

9.1 Larry Tesler, the computer scientist who invented the CUT, COPY and PASTE features, passed away at 74.

• He was born in the Bronx, NY in 1945 and would, later on, go on to study computer science at Stanford University in California.
• His skillset would go to work with big corporations like Amazon, Apple, Yahoo, and more.

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

10.1   Ranking – Sustainability Index, 2020   

• India was ranked 77th while Burundi was first on Sustainability Index that takes into account per capita carbon emissions and ability of children in a nation to live healthy lives. 
• Index released by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The Lancet medical journal. 

Download pdf of the report from here –

https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2819%2932540-1

10.2 Daily dose of FIVE Facts -

1. The UNDP launched the country chapter of its Accelerator Lab in New Delhi in Nov 2019. 
2. England Cricket team’s ex-captain Bob Willis died at the age of 70 in Dec2019.
3. The International Universal Health Coverage Day was celebrated onDecember 12.
4. The European Parliament is located in Strasbourg, France? 
5. EAMS Jaishankar in Dec2019 met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran.   

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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