Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 13-03-2020

Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 13-03-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. India’s first COVID-19 death in Karnataka; cases touch 74 - Health officials in Karnataka reported the country’s first COVID-19 death after samples of a 76-year-old man, who was a suspected COVID-19 patient and passed away, tested positive for the disease. The patient from Kalaburgi also had co-morbidities such as asthma, hypertension and diabetes. He had returned from Saudi Arabia on February 29. According to reports, he fell ill soon after and was admitted to a private hospital and later shifted to the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS). His throat swab was sent to check for COVID-19 infection.
2. Sensex slumps 2,919 points, Nifty sinks to 33-month low - A day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, equity markets worldwide went into a bear phase — denoted by more than 20% fall from the recent highs of the benchmarks. The Indian benchmarks registered their biggest single-day fall , with the Sensex plunging 2,919.26 points, or 8.18%, to close at 32,778.14 — over 22% lower than its January high of 42,273.87. This was the lowest close for the index in nearly two years. All 30 stocks in the Sensex ended the day with deep losses, with heavyweights such as HDFC Bank, TCS, Axis Bank, ONGC, State Bank of India (SBI) and ICICI Bank shedding over 9% each. Most of the Sensex constituents touched their 52-week lows.
3. Delhi declares COVID-19 an epidemic, shuts schools, colleges and cinemas - The COVID-19 was declared an epidemic by the Delhi government. Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal chaired a meeting at Raj Niwas with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to review the preparedness to contain the disease. All cinemas, schools and colleges — except those where exams are on — will remain shut till March 31. Disinfecting all public and private places will be made compulsory. The Delhi government is preparing more quarantine facilities. Rashtrapati Bhavan will remain closed for exploratory tour visits from March 13 till further notice.
4. Supreme Court refers appeal against posters to larger Bench - A Vacation Bench of the Supreme Court  did not stay an Allahabad High Court order to the district and police authorities in Lucknow to ‘forthwith’ remove roadside banners displaying the personal details of persons accused of ‘vandalism’ during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests in December 2019. It ordered that the case be listed before an appropriate Bench in the coming week. The court reopens after Holi vacations on March 16. On March 9, a High Court Bench, led by Chief Justice Govind Mathur, held that the wayside posters were a violation of individual privacy, a fundamental right which globally ‘underpins human dignity and key values of a democracy’.
5. Retail inflation eases to 6.58%, industrial production quickens - Retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index slowed to 6.58% in February, while the industrial production growth as measured in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) quickened to 2% in January amid subdued performance by the manufacturing sector. Retail inflation, which was 7.59% in January 2020 and 2.57% in February 2019, slowed mainly due to easing food prices. Inflation in the food basket was 10.81% February 2020, lower from 13.63% in the previous month.
   
6. IPL to be played in front of empty stands? - The Sports Ministry has asked all the national sports federations, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to adhere to the Health Ministry’s guidelines on barring all “public gatherings.” The Ministry of External Affairs advised the BCCI not to go ahead with the Indian Premier League (IPL) “at this time” but left it to the discretion of the board. The BCCI continued to explore various options ahead of IPL Governing Council (GC) meeting to decide the fate of the 13th edition which is scheduled to start in Mumbai on March 29.
7. Colour-blind may soon be eligible for driving licence - Colour blindness may not remain a bar any more for getting a licence to drive private vehicles and those with ‘mild or moderate colour vision deficiency’ may get to drive commercial vehicles too. The road transport ministry is preparing the draft norms after a panel of ophthalmologists from AIIMS gave its recommendations on this issue. The ministry had referred the case to AIIMS. Debarring people with colour blindness would impact around 3% of the population.
8. Trump suspends travel from Europe to US –US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping travel restrictions on 26 European countries in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The ban applies to travellers from countries which are members of the Schengen border-free travel area. The UK, Ireland and other non-Schengen countries are unaffected. US citizens are also exempt. The EU condemned the measures, which it said were taken "unilaterally and without consultation". There are 1,135 confirmed cases of the virus across the US, with 38 deaths so far.
9. Coronavirus Outbreak –COVID may delay roll-out of Vivad se Vishwas scheme - Vivad se Vishwas, the government’s flagship scheme for resolving direct tax disputes, may get an extended deadline beyond March 31 on account of the coronavirus outbreak and a late notification, which is still to come.
10. Ujjwala may get a facelift with refills at doorsteps - Soon, consumers might get an option to refill cooking gas cylinders for amounts as small as Rs. 50-100 at their doorstep. The option can be exercised after the proposed introduction of mobile liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vans across the country.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Theni District Central CoopBank	Assistant/ Clerk/ Supervisor	20	Any Degree	March 31, 2020	http://www.drbtheni.net/recruitment/admin/images/Instruction734915_1583588681.pdf
2	Sivagangai District Central Cooperative Bank	Assistant/ Clerk	7	Any Degree	April3, 2020	http://drbsvg.net/recruitment/admin/images/drb%202020-%20ucb%20notification-11.3.2020199479_1583858085.pdf
3	Sivagangai District Central Cooperative Bank	Assistant	30	Any Degree	April 3, 2020	http://drbsvg.net/recruitment/admin/images/drb%202020-%20dccb%20notification-11.3.2020910613_1583858885.pdf
4	Perambalur District Central Coopeartive Bank	Assistant	28	Any Degree	April 6, 2020	http://www.drbpblr.net/recruitment/admin/images/DRB%20Notification%202020334227_1583844423.pdf
5	Ariyalur District Central Coopeartive Bank	Clerk	25	Any Degree	April 9, 2020	http://www.drbariyalur.net/recruitment/admin/images/DRB%20Advertisement%20in%20Ariyalur%2001-2020752492_1583934213.pdf
6	Kanyakumari District Central Cooperative Bank	Assistant	15	Any Degree	April 15, 2020	https://www.kkadrb.in/doc_pdf/Notification_2.pdf
7	Kanyakumari District Central Cooperative Bank	Assistant	25	Any Degree	April 15, 2020	https://www.kkadrb.in/doc_pdf/Notification_1.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 COVID 19 and Force Majeure: An Indian View

• The virus -The corona virus has spread to as many as 112 countries and territories around the world. This virus has found a foothold on every continent except for Antarctica. There are now about 119,223 reported cases and more than 4,299 reported deaths attributed to this new virus. WHO has announced it a pandemic.
• Act of God -This global outbreak may be construed as a force majeure event or an ‘act of God’, and can be taken as a defenceto absolve a non-performing party from any liability arising out of failure to perform or delay in performance of its part of the obligations under an agreement.
• What is Force Majeure (a French term) - At the outset, one of the fundamental premises of contract law is the principle of "pacta sunt servanda", which means "agreements must be kept".  Having said this, accounting for exceptional circumstances that may render a party unable to honour its part of the obligations a force majeure clause forms a boilerplate clause in agreements across the world today and aims at absolving one or both parties from liability to perform contract obligations when the inability to perform is due to some factor/ event/ circumstance beyond the parties' control.
• The concept of force majeure is essentially a circumstance or event, the occurrence of which is beyond the control of the contracting parties rendering performance of their contractual obligations by the party(ies) impossible.
• Will it possible to blame on virus for everything -Some in Corporate India could be looking to invoke in case of a breakdown in contracts because of the coronavirus outbreak.But it might not work in all cases. As different contracts and governing laws stipulate different requirements for different situations.
• What companies need to do - The companies have to proactively manage the related legal risk and carefully assess which party would bear financial losses caused by breakdown.
  

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

2.1 Defence expenditure as part of GDP

• The Minister of State for Defence gave information about the defence expenditure as a part of GDP in Rajya Sabha. The defence expenditure is increasing every year in absolute terms but as a percentage of GDP it may appear to be decreasing.
• In Budget Expenditure (BE) 2019-20, total Defence Budget (including Miscellaneous and Pensions) is 15.47% of total Central Government Expenditure. In BE 2019-20, the Capital Budget of the Ministry of Defence is approximately 31.97% of the total capital expenditure of the Central Government Expenditure.
• The expenditure on operations/maintenance and Defence Infrastructure has been maintained optimally.
• GDP stands for "Gross Domestic Product" and represents the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced (and sold on the market) within a country during a period of time.
• Capital expenditure is the money spent on the acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as well as investment in shares.
• Capital Budget consists of Capital receipts. Capital receipts are loans raised by the government from the public (which are called market loans), borrowings by the government from the Reserve Bank and other parties through sale of treasury bills, loans received from foreign bodies and governments, and recoveries of loans granted by the Central government to state and Union Territory governments and other parties.
• Capital payments consist of capital expenditure on acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, and equipment, as also investments in shares, loans and advances granted by the Central government to state and Union Territory governments, government companies, corporations and other parties.
• Capital Budget also incorporates transactions in the Public Account.

2.2 The Direct Tax Vivaad Se Vishwas Bill 2020 passed by Lok Sabha.Taxpayers can settle disputes by paying just due taxes with complete waiver of interest and penalty by March 31.

2.3 Government sets up 12-member high-level panel chaired by Corporate Affairs Secretary Injeti Srinivas to prepare an investigation manual for probe agency SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office).

2.4 SC stays RBI’s April 2018 circular asking banks and FIs to stay away from dealing in crypto currencies, including Bitcoin.

2.5 Governmentto amend FDI policy on civil aviation allowing NRIs to acquire 100% equity stake in Air India from 49% earlier.

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

3.1 Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) - Star Rating Programme

• Context - To commemorate its 19th foundation day, BEE, Ministry of Power organized a Stakeholder Consultation to develop a vision towards building an energy fficient India.
• Key Points –  

1. On this occasion, BEE expanded the coverage of its star labelling programme by including energy efficient Deep freezer and Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC).
2. With this inclusion BEE will cover 26 appliances.
3. Deep freezer and Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC) are major energy guzzlers in commercial space.
4. The program will be initially launched in voluntary mode from 2nd March, 2020 to 31st December, 2021. Thereafter, it will be made mandatory after reviewing the degree of market transformation in this particular segment of appliances.
5. Through this initiative, it is expected to save around 2.8 Billion Units by FY2030, which is equivalent to GreenHouse Gas (GHG) reduction of 2.4-million-ton Carbon Dioxide.
6. The Star Labeling Programme has been formulated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
7. During the event, a database on energy efficiency named Urja Dakshata Information Tool (UDIT) was also launched. This initiative has been taken by the BEE with the World Resources Institute (WRI).
8. It is a user-friendly platform that explains the energy efficiency landscape of India across industry, appliances, building, transport, municipal and agriculture sectors.
9. It will also showcase the capacity building and new initiatives taken up by the Government across the sectors in the increase energy efficiency domain.

• Energy Efficiency in India - India’s energy sector is set for a transition with recent developmental ambitions of the Government e.g. 175 GW of installed capacity of renewable energy by 2022, 24X7 Power for all, Housing for all by 2022, 100 smart cities mission, promotion of e-mobility, electrification of  railway sector, 100% electrification of households, Solarization of agricultural pump sets, and promotion of clean cooking. Energy Efficiency has the maximum GreenHouse Gas (GHG) abatement potential of around 51% followed by renewables (32%), biofuels (1%), nuclear (8%), carbon capture and storage (8%) as per the World Energy Outlook (WEO 2010).
• Significance - India can avoid building 300 GW of new power generation up to 2040 with implementation of ambitious energy efficiency policies. It can contributed to electricity savings of 7.14% of total electricity consumption of the country and emission reduction of 108.28 million tonnes of CO2 during 2017-18. 
• Bureau of Energy Efficiency - The Government of India set up BEE on 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. The mission of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles, within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 with the primary objective of reducing energy intensity of the Indian economy.
• The Standards and Labeling Programme – It is one of the major thrust areas of BEE. A key objective of this scheme is to provide the consumer an informed choice about the energy saving and thereby the cost saving potential of the relevant marketed product. The scheme targets display of energy performance labels on high energy end use equipment & appliances and lays down minimum energy performance standards..

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

4.1 Updates on happenings at international level on from of COVID 19 outbreak

• Coronavirus confirmed as pandemic by World Health Organization.
• World Economic Forum launches ‘COVID Action Platform’ with WHO’s support for collective action by global business community to combat coronavirus impact.
• US suspends all travel from European countries except UK for the next 30 days due to coronavirus.
• Manila-based Asian Development Bank to provide US $ 200 million to companies manufacturing and distributing medicines, and other items needed to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

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

5.1 Jharkhand govt. to provide Rs. 5000 to Rs 7000 per annum assistance to unemployed graduate and post-graduate youth.

5.2 Jammu & Kashmir: Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu launched ‘Student Health Card’ for better healthcare for school children.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Roundup – Defence

The Indian Coast Guard's Offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varad has been commissioned

• The ship Varad will be based at Paradip in Odisha, under the operational control of the Coast Guard North Eastern Region.
• The 98 meter long vessel has been designed and built by the L&T at its yard at Kattupalli near Chennai. The ship is fitted with modern navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery. It is equipped with 30 mm and 12.7 mm guns. It has special on-board features like the Integrated Bridge System, Platform Management System, Automated Power Management System and High Power External Fire-Fighting system.
• The ship Varad can carry a twin engine helicopter and four high speed boats for swift boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.
• The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment for oil spill response at sea.
• The ship will be deployed extensively for the surveillance of India's Exclusive Economic Zone and to safeguard the maritime interests of the country.
• Indian Army unveils the renovated Animal Memorial at Agram Grounds in ASC Centre and College in Bengaluru.
  

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Government comes out with format to file complaints with Lokpal

• Nana Shankarsheth or Jaggannath Shankarsheth Murkute was an Indian philanthropist and educationalist. He was born in the wealthy Murkute family of the Daivadnya Brahmin community in Mumbai. Unlike his forefathers, who performed priestly duties for his community, he engaged in commerce and soon developed a reputation as a very reliable businessman. So high was his credit that Arabs, Afghans and other foreign merchants chose to place their treasures in his custody rather than with banks. He soon acquired a large fortune, much of which he donated to the public.

7.2 Jammu University and Airport to be Renamedafter Hindu Dogra monarchs Maharaja Hari Singh and Maharaja Gulab Singh, respectively

• Maharaja Gulab Singh founded the Dogra dynasty and became the first monarch of J&K in 1846. 
• Maharaja Hari Singh was the last Dogra monarch, who acceded to India in 1947.
• Soon after the accession, an interim state government was instituted by a proclamation made by the Maharaja on March 5, 1948.
• The Instrument of Accession (IoA) is a legal document executed by Maharaja Hari Singh, the then ruler of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, on October 26, 1947, declaring that the state accedes to India.
• The IoA gave India’s Parliament the power to legislate in respect of J&K only on the matters of defence, external affairs and communications.
• Apart from defence, communications and external affairs, the IoA mentions ancillary subjects that include elections to the dominion legislature.

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

8.1 Janaushadhi week being celebrated across the country from March 1 to 7 at various Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

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

9.1 Govt. to organise a summit on Artificial Intelligence titled RAISE 2020 – ‘Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020’ in New Delhi in April

• The RAISE 2020 summit will also host a ‘Startup Pitchfest.’
• The summit will be aimed at bringing together people to exchange ideas on the use of Artificial Intelligence for "social empowerment, inclusion and transformation" in industries such as education, smart mobility, agriculture, and healthcare among others. 
• A data-rich environment like India has the potential to be the world's leading AI laboratory which can eventually transform lives globally.
• AI technology is a powerful tool that can be used to create a positive impact in the Indian context, further becoming the AI destination for the world During the summit, startups will have the opportunity to showcase their AI solutions aimed at the social transformation, inclusion and empowerment.
• Interested startups around the world can participate in the Pitchfest. The finalists will showcase their solutions at the summit and even get live feedback.

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

10.1   Ranking– Reports–Demand for grants for school education 2020-21,Report submitted by the parliamentary panel on education to Rajya Sabha   

• Almost half the government schools in the country do not have electricity or playgrounds.
• Budgetary allocations saw a 27% cut from proposals made by the School Education Department. Despite proposals for Rs. 82,570 crore, only Rs. 59,845 crore was allocated. Similar 27% reductions for the central and centrally sponsored schemes as well.
• Only 56% of schools have electricity, with the lowest rates in Manipur and Madhya Pradesh, where less than 20% have access to power.
• Less than 57% of schools have playgrounds, including less than 30% of schools in Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir.
• The panel recommended that 

1. these core schemes get additional funds at the revised estimates stage.
2. the HRD Ministry collaborate with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to construct boundary walls, and work with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to provide solar and other energy sources so that schools have access to power.

For more information download pdf from here –

https://mhrd.gov.in/documents_reports?field_documents_reports_category_tid=10

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• The ‘International Seminar on Climate Smart Farming Systems’ for BIMSTEC countries was organised in New Delhi on Dec11-13, 2019. 
• The National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill 2019 seeks to declare the National Institute of Design located at Kurukshetra in Haryana as institutions of national importance. 
• The trial of the Agni-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile was carried out on Nov30, 2019. 
• The Cabinet on Dec4, 2019 approved a proposal to extend reservation for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies for another10 years. 
• United Kingdom hosted the 2019 Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Dec2019.. 

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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