Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 27-03-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 27-03-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Rs. 1.7 lakh cr. lockdown package rolled out – The Centre announced a Rs. 1.7 lakh crore relief package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and countrywide lockdown, providing free food and cash transfers to support the poorest and most vulnerable citizens during the crisis. Announcing the details, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the foodgrain rations for 80 crore poor people would be doubled for the next three months and supplemented by 1 kg of local pulses. The Centre will provide Rs. 50 lakh medical insurance cover for the next three months for about 22 lakh health workers in government hospitals, including ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) staff, medical sanitary workers in government hospitals, paramedics, nurses and doctors.
2. COVID 19: Rate of spread has slowed relatively – With 16 deaths and 694 COVID-19 positive cases, India is now showing a relatively slower spread of COVID-19 infection rate. Reports from the States put the number of deaths at 18 with Maharashtra, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir each reporting a fatality. The total number of positive cases stood at 712 — Kerala had the highest number at 137, followed by 125 in Maharashtra and 52 in Karnataka.
3. New Parliament design will take more time – The design for the new Parliament building that the Centre is hoping to complete by August 2022 could be delayed by a few weeks as the country remains in lock-down. The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry’s construction agency, the Central Public Works Department, was expecting to prepare the detailed project report for the building in March and present the same to the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Vice-President soon after.
4. e-commerce firms slowly coming back on stream - Following assurances of safe passage for their delivery agents from local authorities, online delivery services such as Flipkart and Grofers began resuming operations. He added that for these cities, the company would be ramping up capacities in the coming days to fulfil the backlog of orders. Commerce and Industry Minister held a virtual meeting with the e-commerce and logistics industry to discuss the challenges faced by them.
5. Coronavirus deaths cross 1,000 in U.S. – U.S. deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic topped 1,000 in another grim milestone for a global outbreak that is taking lives and wreaking havoc on economies and the established routines of ordinary life. In a recognition of the scale of the threat, the Senate late passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and healthcare systems. The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides about whether it goes too far or not far enough and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced.
6. Chinese city eases lockdown but life is far from normal – Banners warning that playing cards together is suicide and guards yelling at crowds to separate: a Chinese city near the coronavirus ground zero remains far from normal even after emerging from a two-month lockdown. Huanggang, home to 7.5 million people, was among the worst-affected areas in Hubei, the province where the new coronavirus first emerged late last year. Travel restrictions were loosened and — if healthy — people were allowed to leave Hubei, where more than 50 million people were placed under lockdown in January to prevent the spread of the virus.
7. Beijing blocks UNSC meet on coronavirus - China blocked a discussion in the UN Security Council on the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, sought earlier this week by Estonia, in a sign that reflects the limitations of the apex body of global governance to debate the burning issues of the day. Estonia, a non-permanent member, had asked for a meeting on the pandemic last week. The document stressed the “growing concern about the unprecedented extent of the Covid-19 outbreak in the world, which may constitute a threat to international peace and security". The proposal, however, did not go far, with both China and Russia nixing the idea.
8. Venezuela president is charged in US with drug trafficking - President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela was charged in the US with drug trafficking crimes after an investigation by federal authorities in Washington, New York and Florida, people briefed on the matter said. The charges were expected to be announced at a live-streamed video news briefing by the head of the US justice department’s criminal division in Washington and the top federal prosecutors in New York and Miami. In addition to Maduro, charges are also expected to be announced against nearly a dozen others, including the Venezuelan government and intelligence officials and members of the largest rebel group in Colombia, the Revolutionary Armed Forces, known as FARC, which has long drawn its financing from the cocaine trade.
9. Markets on edge, economic fears intensify as coronavirus spreads – The rapid spread of a deadly virus from China is top of emerging-market investors’ minds as they ponder its impact on the global economy. Concern the outbreak will develop into something akin to the SARS pandemic of 2003 halted a seven-week rally in emerging markets, and continued to weigh on currencies, stocks and bonds. With China’s markets closed for the Lunar New Year holidays, the nation’s assets abroad came under pressure. The offshore yuan slid to the weakest level this year and neared 7 per dollar, while a China-focused exchange-traded fund in Europe plunged 6%, poised for its biggest decline since May.
10. FY21 GDP growth may crash to 3-decade low on Covid-19 –  The impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the consequent 21-day countrywide lockdown will slow India’s GDP growth to 2.6% for FY21, the lowest in nearly three decades, according to an estimate released by SBI group chief economic adviser Soumya Kanti Ghosh. Moreover, ratings agency Crisil has also slashed its forecast for next fiscal to 3.5% from the earlier 5.2%. The total cost of the ongoing lockdown will be at least Rs 8 lakh crore in nominal terms — an income loss of Rs 1.77 lakh crore and a loss in capital income of Rs 1.7 lakh crore. Estimates showed that, over a 60-year period, global GDP declined only once annually in 2009 by 1.7%. Assuming that global GDP declines at nearly a similar rate in 2020 and, given India’s share in global GDP at 3.5%, it implies a contraction of 2% of real GDP in FY21.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	JLN Medical College, Ajmer	Sr Resident	5	MD/ MS/ Diploma/ DNB	-	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/03/Notification-JLN-Medical-College-Ajmer-Sr-Resident-Posts-1.pdf
2	PPSC	Principal, HM, BPEO	544	Degree, B.Ed, D.El.Ed, PG	April 30, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/03/Notification-PPSC-Principal-Posts.pdf
3	CPCB	Consultant	5	PG (Relevant Disciplines)	April 7, 2020	https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=Q2FyZWVyRmlsZXMvMjAwXzE1ODQ5NTAwMjNfbWVkaWFwaG90bzIzODE4LnBkZg==
4	BHEL, Hyderabad	Graduate Apprentice	8	BE/ B.Tech	March 24, 2020	http://portal.mhrdnats.gov.in/sites/default/files/file_upload/BHEL_RND_HYDERABAD-Graduate_Apprentice-01-2020_24-03-2020.pdf
5	Indian Institute of Packaging	Tech. Manpower/ Personnel	6	Degree/ PG	April 3, 2020	https://iip-in.com/uploads/Tenders/Pdf/requirement-of-technical-manpowerpersonnel-jrfsrf-for-iip-delhi-on-contract-basi-293.pdf
6	BHEL, Bhopal	Graduate & Diploma Apprentice	229	Diploma, Degree	April 3, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/03/Notification-BHEL-Bhopal-Graduate-Diploma-Apprentice-Posts.pdf
7	Assam Police	Junior Assistant, Stenographer	204	Degree (Arts, Science, Comm)	May 4, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/02/Notification-Assam-Police-Constable-Sub-Officer-Other-Posts.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 Not Available Today

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

2.1 Scheme for Promotion of manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors approved

• The Union Cabinet on March 22, 2020 approved a Rs. 3,285 crore scheme for promotion of manufacturing of electronics components and semiconductors (SPECS).
•  SPECS will give financial incentive of 25% on capital expenditure for the identified list of electronic goods comprising downstream value chain of electronic products--electronic components, ATMP units, specialized sub-assemblies, among others--all of which involve high value-added manufacturing.
• SPECS will be applicable on investments in new units and expansion of capacity and diversification of existing units.
• The scheme will be open for applications initially for 3 years from the date of its notification.
• The incentives will be available for investment made within 5 years from the date of acknowledgement of application. 
• The funds allocated will be spread over eight years.

2.2 RBI board recommended aligning central bank's accounting year (July-June) with the financial year (April-March) from 2020-21.

2.3 Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India  launched 'Credai Awaas' app to connect homebuyers with its member developers to purchase properties.

2.4  Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurates India Pavilion at GulFood 2020 in Dubai (UAE).

2.5 US-India Business Council (USIBC) appoints Vijay Advani as new Chair of its Global Board of Directors.

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

3.1 Excess March rainfall: What it means for COVID-19 outbreak

• Excessive rainfall in March 2020 — accompanied by thunder, hail and lightning — severely damaged crops. The irregular weather patterns come close on the heels of an economic quarantine, itself the fallout of a worldwide pandemic caused by the COVID-19 disease outbreak.
• The country recorded 77 per cent more rain than normal between March 1 and March 19, 2020. There was large excess rainfall  more than 60 per cent than normal recorded in 381 districts, 57 per cent of all districts in India.
• Around 6,50,000 farmers in Uttar Pradesh suffered estimated economic losses up to Rs. 255 crore.
• he distribution of rainfall throughout the country was uneven. UP and Delhi recorded 698 per cent and 621 per cent excess rain respectively. Bihar received nine times the normal rain it usually receives at this time period, while Jharkhand received eight times more in the same period.  
• Almost all districts in these states recorded large excess rainfall. Chhattisgarh similarly received large excess rainfall in 25 of its 27 districts. Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Haryana also witnessed large excess rain.
• But States in the North East received next to no rain, with Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura recording large deficits of rainfall at 68, 77, 99 and 84 per cent, respectively. Assam and Nagaland were also not far behind, with 48 and 50 per cent deficit rainfall, respectively. Only Meghalaya and Sikkim, known to naturally receive more rainfall, recorded normal rainfall in March till date.
• Goa remained the only state in the country to receive no rainfall. The union territories of Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Puducherry did not receive any rain either.
• The southern peninsula received moderately high rain, with Tamil Nadu receiving next to no rain, an 87 per cent deficit.
• Change in weather conditions - The copious amount of rainfall in March also meant cooler than normal temperatures in these regions, delaying the onset of summer. An extended winter season in 2019 had meant a sudden jump from cold to extremely warm temperatures. 
• These weather conditions hold significance amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If the virus thrives in cooler temperatures, the districts that received large excess rain provide decent conditions for the virus to spread.
• But some research papers suggested high humidity and temperatures slow the spread of the virus, though these papers were not peer reviewed.
• Scientists warned that the virus spread faster in countries lying in the southern hemisphere, like Australia, set for cooler temperatures in the winter season. But this warning does not come with a detailed study of how weather affects SARS-CoV-2. It is based on the behaviour of other viruses, human behaviour (people mostly huddle together during wintertime) and reduced human immunity to viruses during this period.

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

4.1 Cabinet approves Extradition Treaty between India and Belgium

• The Union Cabinet on March 22, 2020 approved signing and ratifying of the Extradition Treaty between India and Belgium.  Offences relating to taxation, or revenue or offences of fiscal character also fall within the scope of the treaty.

4.2 Ajay Kumar appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Uganda

• Ajay Kumar has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Uganda, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on March 17, 2020.

 4.3 UN launched USD 2 billion ‘Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID19’

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

5.1 Govt Schemes specially announced for COVID 19 pandemic

• Finance Minister announced Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) for the poor in view of coronavirus lockdown.
• Insurance cover worth Rs 50 lakh per person for sanitation workers, ASHA workers, doctors, nurses and paramedics who are on the frontlines of the coronavirus battle.
• 80 crore poor people will get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the next three months.
• Women Jan Dhan account holders to get Rs 500 per month for next three months.
• MNREGA wage increased to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182. 
• For old age pensioners and widows, an additional ex-gratia amount of Rs 1,000 for the next three months available in two instalments.
• For the beneficiaries of Women Ujjwala Scheme, free cylinders will be given to 8.3 crore BPL families for three months.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Roundup – Corporate

• Defence Ministry places order for 16,479 LMG - The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on March 19, 2020 signed a ₹880-crore contract with the Israeli Weapon Industries (IWI) for procurement of 16,479 Light Machine Guns (LMG). The contracted Negev 7.62X51 mm LMG is a combat-proven weapon and currently used by several countries.
• Maruti Suzuki India expands commercial vehicles portfolio with Tour range - Maruti Suzuki India announced the expansion of its commercial network portfolio. The Company's Commercial network will now also sell the extensive Tour range of vehicles, namely Tour H1 (hatchback), Tour H2 (hatchback), Tour S (sedan), Tour V (van) and Tour M (MPV). Maruti Suzuki Commercial network already retails light commercial vehicle Super Carry and van Eeco.
• Volkswagen launches SUV T-Roc priced at Rs 19.99 lakh - Volkswagen India on March 18, 2020 said it has launched new SUV T-Roc in the country at an introductory price of Rs 19.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
• SBI Cards and Payment Services lists after successful IPO - The shares of SBI Cards and Payment Services listed at Rs 661 on March 16, 2020, 12.45% below its issue price of Rs 755, as the uncertainty regarding the fallout of coronavirus epidemic continued to keep investor sentiment in check.
• Karur Vysya Bank launches pre-paid card Enkasu - Karur Vysya Bank has launched Enkasu, a pre-paid card in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The bank undertook a Quit Cash Movement in Karur - a movement to reduce the usage of cash in the district of Karur.
• Microsoft India and NASSCOM Foundation launch Innovate for Accessible India campaign - Microsoft India and NASSCOM Foundation on March 17, 2020 launched the Innovate for Accessible India campaign aimed at empowering people with disabilities with the technology and tools required for better integration into society and access to equal opportunities.
• TCS launches business ecosystem integration services suite - Tata Consultancy Services has launched the Business Ecosystem Integration Services (BEIS) suite to help businesses integrate with larger ecosystems and create new customer-centric, augmented offerings.
• Arundhati Bhattacharya to join Salesforce as Chairperson, CEO India - Global leader in customer relationship management (CRM) Salesforce said on March 18, 2020 that Arundhati Bhattacharya will join the company on April 20 as Chairperson and CEO of its India subsidiary to lead the company's growth and expansion across the market. Bhattacharya is a former Chairperson of the State Bank of India.
• COVID-19: Singer Rihanna donates $5 million in aid - Singer Rihanna’s non-profit organisation, the Clara Lionel Foundation, has donated $5 million to COVID-19 response efforts. The charity will be supporting Direct Relief, Partners In Health, Feeding America, the International Rescue Committee and World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund as they continue to fight the pandemic in the U.S., the Caribbean and Africa.
• Ravinder Singh Dhillon appointed CMD of Power Finance Corporation (PFC) - The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared the appointment of Ravinder Singh Dhillon as Chairman and Managing Director of Power Finance Corporation (PFC), according to an order on March 16, 2020.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Lok Sabha passes Appropriation Bill

• The Lok Sabha on March 16, 2020 passed the Appropriation Bill 2020-21 that empowers the government to draw over ₹110 lakh crore from the Consolidated Fund of India for its working, as well as for the implementation of its programmes and schemes. 
• With the passage of the Appropriation Bill, two-thirds of the exercise for the approval of the 2020-21 Budget has been completed as both Houses had debated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget proposals in the first half of the current session.
• The Appropriation Bill, passed by a voice vote, envisages spending of ₹110.4 lakh crore during the Financial Year 2020-21. Speaker Om Birla applied “guillotine” — the Parliamentary tool to club all other pending subjects for discussion — after the discussion on the demand for grants to the Ministry of Tourism was completed. Earlier, the House had discussed in detail the demands for grants for Railways, and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Lok Sabha passes Appropriation Bill

• The Lok Sabha on March 16, 2020 passed the Appropriation Bill 2020-21 that empowers the government to draw over ₹110 lakh crore from the Consolidated Fund of India for its working, as well as for the implementation of its programmes and schemes. 
• With the passage of the Appropriation Bill, two-thirds of the exercise for the approval of the 2020-21 Budget has been completed as both Houses had debated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget proposals in the first half of the current session.
• The Appropriation Bill, passed by a voice vote, envisages spending of ₹110.4 lakh crore during the Financial Year 2020-21. Speaker Om Birla applied “guillotine” — the Parliamentary tool to club all other pending subjects for discussion — after the discussion on the demand for grants to the Ministry of Tourism was completed. Earlier, the House had discussed in detail the demands for grants for Railways, and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

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

8.1 Tamil Nadu: Sanitary personnel to be called 'cleanliness workers'

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on March 19, 2020 announced in the Assembly that 64,583 sanitary personnel employed by urban and rural civic bodies in the State will from now on be called 'cleanliness workers' to honour their work.

8.2 Book on Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi published by The Hindu Group

• A book on Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, published by The Hindu Group of Publications, was launched at Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu on March 20, 2020. It has been titled, Who Am I, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, 1879-1950.

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

9.1 Digital Industry to temporarily default HD content streaming to SD till April 14

9.2 Govt banned export of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine

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

10.1   Not Available Today

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• CISF was adjudged the Best Marching Contingent in the category of paramilitary forces in the Republic Day Parade in January 2020.
• Tímea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic won the Women’s Doubles title at the 2020 Australian Open tennis.
• World Cancer Day was observed on February 4, 2020.
• The President of Portugal is Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
• Ramesh Sippy won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 65th Filmfare Awards presented in Mumbai in Feb 2020.

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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