Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 06-04-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 06-04-2020

• [message]
• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. COVID 19 Cases doubled in 4.1 days in India - India’s death toll from COVID-19 rose to 83 on Sunday, with 11 fatalities. The number of confirmed infections across the country stood at 3,577 cases, with 505 new cases; 274 persons have recovered. The Ministry maintained that last month’s Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi has pushed up the doubling rate of cases in India to 4.1 days from the estimated 7.4 days. Reports from State Health Departments put the death toll across the country at 127, with 3,603 active cases. The maximum number of cases continued to be reported from Maharashtra at 748, with 13 fatalities in the past 24 hours. Tamil Nadu followed with 559 active cases .
2. Rapid antibody testing for hotspots - The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said the rapid antibody-based blood test for COVID-19 will be deployed by April 8 in clusters and hotspots showing high incidence of confirmed cases. Raman R. Gangakhedkar, head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases Division of the ICMR, explained that overall testing for COVID-19 using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA, is increasing and that India would be approaching full capacity soon.
3. Delhi lab to offer ‘drive-through test’ - To work around the challenges of home-based testing in the country, Dr. Dangs Lab (DDL) plans to offer ‘drive-through test’ for COVID-19. South Korea leads the world in the number of tests per million to check for coronavirus infection and it has been able to do it, partly, by allowing those who feel sick to drive up to a test centre where nurses wearing protective gear collect a nose or throat sample from the car itself. Results are mailed or messaged in a day. This method of mass testing has allowed reduced contact between patients and healthcare workers, thereby lessening the chances of transmission.
4. Tests, treatment free under Ayushman Bharat - The Central government has decided to provide free testing and treatment of COVID-19 under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. This, it notes, will help more than 50 crore Ayushman beneficiaries to get free testing and treatment in designated private hospitals across India. The announcement comes after India registered an increase of 302 cases in the 12 hours to Sunday morning. The total number of positive cases has risen to 3,374 in India (including 3,030 active cases, 267 cured/discharged/migrated people and 77 deaths).
5. US prepares itself for toughest virus week – US President Donald Trump warned Americans to brace for a “very horrendous” number of COVID-19 deaths in the coming days, ahead of a rare speech by Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday aimed at rallying hard-hit Britain. Global deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic have soared past 60,000, with Europe continuing to bear the brunt of the virus which has left roughly half the planet confined at home. There are now more than 1.2 million confirmed cases across the globe, and around 65,000 people have died since the virus first emerged in China late last year.
6. Biography on Manohar Parrikar - The biography of Parrikar, An Extraordinary Life (Penguin Random House) by Sadguru Patil and Mayabhushan Nagvenkar, describes in great detail the events of the evening the surgical strikes were supposed to take place.
7. Face protection mask - DRDO’s RCI (Research Centre IMARAT, Hyderabad) and TBRL (Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh) develop face protection mask for health care professionals handling COVID-19 patients.
8. Full-body disinfection chamber - DRDO’s VRDE (Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra) develops full-body disinfection chamber called ‘Personnel Sanitization Enclosure’ for healthcare workers dealing with coronavirus cases.
9. COVID Twitter Handle - Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launches dedicated Twitter handle for sharing news and updates on novel coronavirus. The account is named #IndiaFightsCorona and uses the handle @CovidnewsbyMIB.
10. Curbs on exports of diagnostic kits - Government puts curbs on exports of diagnostic kits with a view to discourage shipments amid the coronavirus outbreak. The move would help in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis as these kits are required for testing of patients.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Army Recru. Office, Mandi	Soldier (GD), Soldier Clerk/ SKT	--	10th Class, 10+2	May 16, 2020	http://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/BRAVO_NotificationPDF/ARO_MANDI_Recruitment_Notification_for_the_year_2020-21.pdf
2	Northern Railway	Staff Nurse, Radiographer	63	10th Class, Diploma, B.Sc	April 7, 2020	https://nr.indianrailways.gov.in/nr/recruitment/1585805404369_Walk%20in%20interview%20Para%20Medical.pdf
3	Northern Railway	General Duty Medical Officer & Specialist	15	MBBS	April 14, 2020	https://nr.indianrailways.gov.in/nr/recruitment/1585805298147_Walk%20in%20interview%20CMP%20Dr.pdf
4	Diesel Loco Modern.Works	General Duty Medical Officer & Nurse	13	GNM, Diploma, MBBS, MD	April 15, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/04/Notification-Diesel-Loco-Modernisation-Works-General-Duty-Medical-Officer-Nurse-Posts.pdf
5	PGIMER, Chandigarh	Sr Resident, Sr Medical Officer	159	MD/ MS/ MHA/ MDS/ M.Sc	April 26, 2020	http://pgimer.edu.in/PGIMER_PORTAL/AbstractFilePath?FileType=E&FileName=GUIDE%20LINES%20FOR%20SR01Apr2020153204.pdf&PathKey=VACANCY_PATH
6	Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission	Accounts Asst, Coordinator & Other	150	Degree, PG (Relevant Disciplines), CA	May 31, 2020	https://trlm.tripura.gov.in/
7	NHM, Parbhani	Medical Officer, Staff Nurse	80	GNM, B.Sc., MBBS, MD	April 2, 2020	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s39cf81d8026a9018052c429cc4e56739b/uploads/2020/03/2020033099.pdf

• [message]
• SECTION 2 - DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

• [message]
• 1. CONSTITUTION AND LAW (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

1.1 30 common law principles ruling the litigation front in India – Part I of III
 

• Principle 1 - Where a right or liability is created by a statute which gives a special remedy for enforcing it the remedy provided by the statute only must be availed of.
• Principle 2 - Many a time, what seems to be an open and shut case, upon hearing the accused persuades the decision maker to reach a different conclusion.
• Principle 3 - If there is a conflict between the earlier clause and the later clauses of a deed and it is not possible to give effect to all of them, then the rule of construction is well established that it is the earlier clause that must override the later clauses of the deed and not vice versa.
• Principle 4 - A taxing statute is to be strictly construed.
• Principle 5 - When a statute provides a particular thing to be done in a particular manner then it is mandatory to do the same in the manner provided and not otherwise.
• Principle 6 - There are degrees of proof within the standard of proof.
• Principle 7 - A party cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time.
• Principle 8 - Unless they reveal a contrary intention all statutes are to be interpreted as 'always speaking statutes’.
• Principle 9 - Evidence Obtained by Undesirable Methods - Whether Admissible? The test to be applied in considering whether evidence is admissible is whether it is relevant to the matter in issue. If it is, it is admissible and the court is not concerned with how it was obtained."
• Principle 10 - How the word "include or includes" used in the interpretation clauses of a statute is to be read and interpreted?

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

2.1 RBI announced further measures for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic   

• Extension of realisation period of export proceeds – 

1. Presently value of the goods or software exports made by the exporters is required to be realized fully and repatriated to the country within a period of 9 months from the date of exports. The time period for realization and repatriation of export proceeds for exports made up to or on July 31, 2020, has been extended to 15 months from the date of export.
2. The measure will enable the exporters to realise their receipts, especially from COVID-19 affected countries within the extended period and also provide greater flexibility to the exporters to negotiate future export contracts with buyers abroad.

• Review of Limits of Way and Means Advances of States/UTs – 

1. Reserve Bank had constituted an Advisory Committee (Chairman: Shri Sudhir Shrivastava) to review the Ways and Means limits for State Governments and Union Territories (UTs). Pending submission of the final recommendations by the Committee, it has been decided to increase WMA limit by 30 percent from the existing limit for all States/UTs to enable the State Governments to tide over the situation arising from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The revised limits will come into force with effect from April 1, 2020 and will be valid till September 30, 2020.

• Implementation of countercyclical capital buffer – 

1. The framework on countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) was put in place by the Reserve Bank in terms of guidelines issued on February 5, 2015 wherein it was advised that the CCyB would be activated as and when the circumstances warranted, and that the decision would normally be pre-announced. 
2. The framework envisages the credit-to-GDP gap as the main indicator, which is used in conjunction with other supplementary indicators. Based on the review and empirical analysis of CCyB indicators, it has been decided that it is not necessary to activate CCyB for a period of one year or earlier, as may be necessary.

2.2 Civil Aviation Ministry 'Lifeline Udan' flights supplied 37.63 tonnes of medical supplies across country till March 31 amid coronavirus lockdown.

2.3 Fitch Ratings cut growth forecast for India for 2020-21 to 2% from 5.1% projected earlier.

2.4 Asian Development Bank forecast growth of Indian economy to slow to 4.0% in 2020-21 before improving to 6.2% in 2021-22.

2.5 From April 7 to 17, bond and currency markets will operate between 10 am to 2 pm instead of the usual 9 am to 5 pm – Reserve Bank of India.

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

3.1 Hero to Animals Award 2020 by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

• Chief Minister of Odisha Mr. Naveen Patnaik has been conferred with an award by Hero to Animals Award 2020 by animal rights body PETA India.
• He was awarded for allocating funds to feed community animals in Odisha during the lockdown over the novel coronavirus pandemic.
• State government sanctioned Rs. 54 lakh to feed stray animals in five municipal corporations and all 48 municipalities as they are struggling to find food during the lockdown.
• Previous recipients of the 'Hero to Animals Award' include Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra for speaking out against the cruelty of circuses and taking other actions for animals.
• Delhi minister Imran Hussain (2018 winner) has also been awarded for protecting the lives of humans and other animals by banning all forms of manja and actor Rani Mukerji for helping a dog in distress on her film set.
• PETA is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia. It was founded in 1980 by  Ingrid Newkirk and fellow animal rights activist Alex Pacheco.

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

4.1 UNGA adopted resolution on COVID-19, calls for global cooperation to fight pandemic 

• The UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted its first resolution on the coronavirus pandemic co-sponsored by India and 187 other nations, calling for intensified global cooperation to defeat the deadly disease that is causing "severe disruption" to societies and economies.
• The resolution titled ‘Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)’ was the first such document on the pandemic to be adopted by the world body.
• It also emphasised the need for “full respect for human rights, and stresses that there is no place for any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in the response to the pandemic."
• The UN Security Council is yet to discuss the coronavirus outbreak, even as the total number of coronavirus cases across the world crossed one million.
• The resolution was sponsored by Ghana, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland.

4.2 Obituary - Rafael Gomez Nieto, the last surviving Spanish WWII liberator of Paris in November 1944, passed away of coronavirus at 99.  

 

 4.3 Obituary - Internationally-renowned Indian-origin South African virologist Gita Ramjee passed away due to COVID-19 aged 64.  

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

5.1 Kerala High Court stays state government order allowing liquor supply to those suffering from Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS).

5.2 Delhi Government  to provide Rs. 5,000 to drivers of public transport vehicles such as autos, taxis and e-rickshaws in the city. 

5.3 Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa donates annual salary of Rs. 24.10 lakh to the 'Chief Minister's Relief Fund COVID-19'.

• [message]
• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Not Available Today

• [message]
• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship 2020

• ARMMAN, an India-based non-profit organization, has been awarded the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship 2020 for its exceptional work in the maternal and child health space in India.
• The Skoll Awards are presented annually to select organizations with the ability to drive sustained change on the world's most pressing problems and carries a monetary investment of USD 1.5 million, along with other support.
• ARMMAN is one of five organisations to win this year, and the only one from Asia and Africa, selected from an initial shortlist of 700 organizations. ARMMAN works towards empowering mothers and enabling healthy children in India. It is implementing the largest mobile health programs in the world (Kilkari and Mobile Academy) in partnership with the Government of India.
• ARMMAN's programs have reached more than 18 million pregnant women, mothers and children and enabled refresher training of more than 160,000 community health mobilisers (ASHAs). The programs cover 16 out of the 28 States in India, with plans to reach 21 States in the next two years.
• The Skoll Foundation's year-long selection process involved a detailed evaluation of various functions including finance, impact, governance, research, technology, monitoring and interactions with stakeholders, including the government.

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

8.1 Covid 19 - Impact on Agricultural

• In a country like India which lacks the medical resources social distancing and living under a lockdown appear to be the only effective ways of dealing with the pandemic although there is limited evidence to suggest that this strategy may be working but its after-effects on thousands of migrant workers is already out in the open. Migrants are not the only ones who are facing the after-effects of the lockdown. With the economy coming to a complete halt in most of the informal and formal enterprises in urban areas, the lockdown is also likely to affect the large population in rural areas, a majority of whom are dependent on agriculture. 
• At a time when the rural economy was witnessing declining incomes, both for casual workers and self-employed workers, even before the pandemic broke out, this lockdown is only going to hurt the agricultural economy further.
•  Breakdown of supply chains - A breakdown of supply chains of agricultural produce with no facilities for transportation of produce likely to hurt those engaged in the production of fruits and vegetables, which are perishable goods and cannot be stored.
• Rabi crops - There will also be impacts on foodgrains and other rabi crops that were ready to be harvested at the beginning of April. It will be difficult for farmers to harvest the agricultural produce in the surplus States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the absence of migrant labourers. Even if standing crop is harvested, April is the labour-intensive month. Labourers are required for packing, processing, transporting and selling the produce.  
• Decline in prices - Some of the short-term impacts may affect price realisation by farmers but the real worry for farmers is going to be the decline in prices for the majority of agricultural produce. There are already signs of a collapse in agricultural prices, which predates the outbreak of the pandemic.
• What the government can do –  

1. Release the food stocks through the public distribution system. The Central government has already announced that for the next three months, 5 kg of free grains will be distributed in addition to what people are entitled to under the National Food Security Act, but this has not yet reached the State governments due to the lockdown. While this may free up FCI godowns to some extent, it will be prudent to extend the scheme to all residents, particularly migrants who may not be able to avail of free grain in urban areas.
2. The state is also expected to intervene and assure remunerative incomes to farmers. One way of ensuring this is to reduce the input costs through existing schemes of subsidies such as the fertilizer subsidy and through price reduction in petrol/diesel meant for agricultural purposes. But for the immediate short-term, farmers need to be compensated for the loss of income and the best way to do it is through the PM-KISAN scheme.

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

9.1 World Down Syndrome Day observed on March 21

• World Down Syndrome Day is observed in more than 60 countries worldwide.
• Many organizations and communities, including the United Nations (UN) and Down Syndrome International, promote World Down Syndrome Day to raise people’s awareness and understanding of Down syndrome.
• Activities and events that take place on March 21 showcase the abilities and accomplishments of people with Down syndrome. These events also focus on encouraging independence, self-advocacy and freedom of choices for people with Down syndrome.
• Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, being universally present across racial, gender and socio-economic lines.
• According to the UN, it affects about 1 in 800 births worldwide, causing intellectual disability and associated medical issues.
• Organizations such as Down Syndrome International have been organizing various activities for World Down Syndrome Day since 2006.
• In November 2011, the UN decided to officially observe the event from 2012 onwards, inviting governments and businesses to take part in World Down Syndrome Day.
• Many people wear odd socks on WDSD or ribbons or wrist bands which vary in color, but often include the words “Down syndrome” in their message.

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

10.1  Just about one-fourth of the consumers in India currently pay for news but nearly two-third are willing to pay: WEF study

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• Indian Bank launched IND- COVID Emergency Credit Line (IBCECL) for large corporates in March 2020.
• Moody’s Investors Service on March 17, 2020 lowered India’s GDP growth forecast for 2020 calendar year to 5.3%.
• India’s foreign exchange reserves in the week to March 6, 2020 was USD 487.23 billion.
• Taxpayers not availing of the Direct Tax Vivaad Se Vishwas Bill, 2020, will have to pay 10% additional disputed tax over and above the tax liability.
• Michelle Bachelet is the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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!

• [message]
• SECTION 3 - MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

Solve the online quiz given, right now. Check scores, and relative performance!

---