Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 18-04-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 18-04-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. COVID-19 pandemic update – The doubling rate of positive COVID-19 cases was now down to 6.2 days, compared to 3 before the nationwide lockdown that began on March 25. India reported 1,076 new cases and 32 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 13,835 and 452 deaths. As many as 1,749 persons have been cured/discharged after recovery. The active cases now are 11,616 but according to reports from the State Health Departments, the total number of positive cases are 14,250, of which 11,853 are active cases. As many as 493 persons have died of the disease. There was no evidence suggesting that novel coronavirus is showing any signs of mutation.
2. COVID-19 pandemic update – China’s coronavirus ground-zero city of Wuhan admitted missteps in tallying its death toll as it abruptly raised the count by 50% following growing world doubts about Chinese transparency. The US has led the charge in questioning China’s handling of the pandemic and how much information it has really shared with the international community since the virus emerged late last year. Authorities in Wuhan initially tried to cover up the outbreak, punishing doctors who raised the alarm online in December. Wuhan’s epidemic control headquarters said in a social media posting that it had added 1,290 deaths to the tally in the city. That brings the total deaths in the city to 3,869. But the city government only added 325 cases, raising the city’s total number of cases to 50,333. The change also pushes the nationwide death toll up by nearly 39% to 4,632. The official toll in the country of 1.4 billion people but remains well below the number of fatalities in smaller nations such as Italy and Spain.
3. COVID-19 pandemic measures - The RBI announced a slew of liquidity measures to ease financial stress and increase credit flows, while indicating that more room was likely to emerge for reduction in interest rates as inflation softens. Among the measures announced was liquidity infusion of Rs. 1 lakh crore, of which Rs. 50,000 crore is exclusively for non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), via banks. The NBFCs have experienced liquidity shortage since banks have not offered them any moratorium for repayment, while these entities have had to extend the moratorium option to their customers. The RBI will extend another Rs. 50,000 crore to refinancing agencies like Nabard, Sidbi and National Housing Bank.
4. Indian Economy: Loan Moratorium - The option of a moratorium on loan repayments announced by the Reserve Bank of India last month has mostly been availed of by micro, small and medium enterprises while salaried class borrowers have, till now, largely refrained from it. Last month, the RBI announced that banks and other financial institutions would give an option to borrowers of term loans for deferring payment of instalments falling due between March 1 and May 31, 2020. The move was aimed at addressing the liquidity crunch faced by businesses and individuals due to the economic lockdown imposed to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. World Economy: Chinese economy on worst downturn since 1960s  - China faces a drawn-out struggle to revive an economy that suffered its biggest contraction since possibly the mid-1960s after millions of people were told to stay home to fight the virus. The world’s second-largest economy shrank by 6.8% from a year earlier in the quarter ending in March after factories, offices and shopping malls were closed to contain the outbreak, official data showed on Friday. Consumer spending, which supplied 80% of last year’s growth, and factory activity were weaker than expected.
6. COVID-19 update – U.S. President Donald Trump has given Governors a road map for recovering from the economic pain of the COVID-19 pandemic, laying out “a phased and deliberate approach” to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
7. COVID-19 impact: Brizilian President fired his Health Minister - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro fired his Health Minister after clashing with him over how to fight the new coronavirus, and again called for States to end stay-at-home orders that he said were hurting the economy. Few global leaders have done more than Mr. Bolsonaro to play down the pandemic, which has killed nearly 2,000 Brazilians. He has called the virus “a little flu” and criticised State Governors for imposing restrictions supported by health experts and the popular outgoing Minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta.
8. COVID-19 impact: Myanmar to release 25,000 prisoners - More than a quarter of Myanmar’s prison population is being released, the President’s office announced on Friday, after calls grew to ease pressure on overcrowded jails with coronavirus fears gripping the country. The Southeast Asian nation grants an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark its April New Year holiday, but this is the largest recorded in recent years. It comes as governments around the world — including the U.S., parts of Europe, and Colombia — grapple with overcrowded prisons as fears spiral of virus outbreaks behind bars.
9. Indian Economy: RBI policy rates updates – RBI cut reverse repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%; benchmark repo rate kept unchanged at 4.40%.  The cut in reverse repurchase rate is to discourage banks from parking cash with the RBI and encourage them to lend. RBI raises Ways and Means Advances limit for States by 60% over and above the level as on 31 March 2020. RBI lowers liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) for banks to 80% from 100%. LCR requires banks to hold enough high-quality liquid assets such as short-term government bonds.
10. Indian Economy: RBI’s salvo on COVID-19 -  RBI allows NBFCs to extend the date for commencement of commercial operations (DCCO) for loans given to commercial real estate by additional one year without considering it as restructuring. RBI exempts accounts with moratorium benefits from asset recognition norms for 90 days. RBI announces Rs 50,000 crore special refinance facilities for NABARD (Rs 25,000 crore), SIDBI (Rs 15,000 crore), & NHB (Rs 10,000 crore). RBI debars commercial and cooperative banks from paying dividends to shareholders and promoter groups. 

 

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	DHFW, Kolkata	District Epidemiologist, Data Manager, Microbiologist	19	PG	April 21, 2020	https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/uploaded_files/careers/Advt.203_.pdf
2	DHFWS, Purulia	Medical Officer, Staff Nurse	14	GNM, MBBS	April 20, 2020	https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/uploaded_files/careers/341.pdff
3	Directorate of Medical Education, AP	General Duty Medical Officer, Specialist	1184	MBBS, MD/ DNB	April 19, 2020	http://dme.ap.nic.in/E11/2020/Recruitment_notification_14042020.pdf
4	AIIMS, Bhubaneswar	Senior Resident (Non Academic)	84	MD/MS/MDS/DM/M.Ch/DNB	May 20, 2020	https://aiimsbhubaneswar.nic.in/admin/Document/Notices/ROLLING%20ADVT417abb38-d6d9-4845-9c1a-e768c882f80b.pdf
5	MAPIT	Manager & Trainer	166	BE/ B.Tech/ M.Sc/ MCA	April 20, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/04/Notifiction-MAPIT-Manager-Trainer-Posts.pdf
6	Eastern Railway	Medical Practitioner & Nursing Staff	15	-	April 16, 2020	https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_detail.jsp?lang=0&dcd=2222&id=0,4,268#
7	North Central Railway	Contract Med Practitioner/ GDMO	37	MBBS	April 14, 2020	https://ncr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1586416891803-pers.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 Can’t we develop our own video conferencing app

• 'ZOOM' violates right to privacy: Letter petition to CJI seeks ban on video conferencing App
• Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced “innovative challenge” to develop video-conferencing solution under the Digital India programme. 
• A Letter petition has been written to the CJI SA Bobde regarding the infringement of fundamental Right to Privacy on account of permitting the use of ZOOM – a video conferencing application, and seeks for the ban on its download and usage.
• The letter-petition comes at the heels of the advisory used by the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 12 which stated that ZOOM was not a safe platform and provided steps that could be employed by private individuals (not for use by government offices/officials for official purpose) for a safer experience while navigating through the application.
• Penned by Advocates Sanpreet Singh Ajmani and Aneesh Sharma, the letter-petition states that, in view of the lockdown imposed in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, ZOOM – a video chatting/conferencing application which is available across all platforms, gained momentum and is being used as means of chatting/conferencing for various purposes such as online classes, online meetings, conferences and other allied purposes.
• It was also noticed that malicious random mails were being received by users of the application. 
• In light of the same, as it is being used excessively for online classes, the letter-petition posits that the data could be used to exploit young children.
• The letter-petition concludes on the note that as the advisory of the MHA cannot be followed by ‘every normal user of the ZOOM application’, it puts the user's data at risk, resulting in violation of right to privacy at mass level as stipulated in the case of K.S. Puttuswamy v. Union of India (2017).
• Therefore, there is an immediate and urgent need to ban the download and use of such a vulnerable application.
• Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications platform for video and audio conferencing. It was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
  

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

2.1 RBI launched Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme 2020-21 on behalf of GoI

• The government will issue Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) in six tranches beginning April 20.
• The Bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram and the tenor of the SGB will be eight years with exit option after fifth year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.
• The minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold and the maximum limit of subscription shall be 4 KG for individual, 4 Kg for HUF and 20 Kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March).
• The first tranche (2020-21 Series I) for subscription will open on April 20 and close on April 24. The bonds will be issued on April 28.
• The sixth tranche (2020-21 Series VI) has been scheduled for August 31-September 4.
• Issue Price : It will be fixed in Indian rupees on the basis of simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity, published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Limited for the last 3 working days of the week preceding the subscription period. Also, the issue price of the gold bonds will be Rs 50 per gram less for those who subscribe online and pay through digital mode.
• The SGBs will be sold through banks (except Small Finance Banks and Payment Banks), Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL), designated post offices, and recognised stock exchanges (NSE and BSE).
• The sovereign gold bond scheme was launched in November 2015 with an objective to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the domestic savings -- used for the purchase of gold -- into financial savings. 
• What Is a Government Bond? - A government bond is a debt security issued by a government to support government spending and obligations. Government bonds can pay periodic interest payments called coupon payments. Government bonds issued by national governments are often considered low-risk investments since the issuing government backs them.
  

2.2 Domestic rating agency Care Ratings appointed Ajay Mahajan as its MD and CEO.

2.3 RBI launched latest round of quarterly order books, inventories and capacity utilisation survey (OBICUS) of manufacturing sector.

2.4 Mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, laptops and stationary items will be allowed to be sold through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal from April 20.

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

3.1 COVID-19: Important Curves

• Exponential curve - This offers the worst case scenario, where the virus spreads uncontrollably. Since the word “exponent” is grounded in algebra, the curve suggests a rapid increase of the infected, as is typical of exponential growth. Let’s take a conservative estimate. If a sick person infects two others in a day, there will be 16,000 cases after 14 days. The infection rate, though varies from country to country, is higher for COVID-19, suggesting a steeper infection curve.
• Flatten the curve - Since there is no vaccine to medicine to treat COVID-19 and only limited testing kits to diagnose the virus, flattening the curve is the only effective intervention to limit the spread of the virus. The infection rate can be reduced through a combination of collective actions, such as social distancing of the entire population, case isolation, household quarantine and school and university closure. Though the same number of people may get infected in a flatter-curve scenario as in the exponential-curve scenario, a slower infection rate ensures a less stressed healthcare system, fewer hospital visits on any given day and fewer sick people being turned away.
• Sine curve - This is the basic example of a periodic curve, a graph that keeps repeating. Flattening the curve can help reduce the rate of transmission. But there will still be the risk of resurgence once interventions are relaxed. Interventions like social distancing may thus need to be in place until a vaccine is developed—after 18 months or longer.

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

4.1 Elections in South Korea

• President Moon Jae-in’s Democratic Party and its ally Together Citizens’ Party won 180/300 seats in parliamentary elections.
• South Korea - Officially the Republic of Korea is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula with its capital and Seoul and sharing a land border with North Korea. It has a long dynastic history but the modern Republic of Korea was established on August 15, 1948 after getting independence from Japan after Second World War. It has fought a war with North Korea from 1950 to 1953.

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

5.1 Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched “Kisan Rath” Mobile App to facilitate transportation of food grains and perishables during lockdown.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Roundup – Sports

•  2020 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack released - England’s Ben Stokes was named leading men’s cricketer of the year by 2020 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack while Australia’s Ellyse Perry was leading women’s cricketer of the year. England’s Jofra Archer, South Africa’s Simon Harmer, Australians Pat Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne and Ellyse Perry were picked as the five Wisden Cricketers of the year.
• Former British Formula One racing driver Stirling Moss dies aged 90 - British Formula One racing driver Stirling Moss died at the age of 90 in London on April 12, 2020. In a seven-year span between 1955 and 1961, Moss finished as championship runner-up four times.
• Former Chelsea and England goalkeeper Peter Bonetti dies aged 78 - Former Chelsea and England goalkeeper Peter Bonetti died at the age of 78 in London on April 12, 2020. At club level he helped Chelsea win the 1965 League Cup, the 1970 FA Cup and the 1971 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace observed by UN on April 6 - International Day of Sport for Development and Peace was observed on April 6, 2020 by the UN. This year’s day will focus on the health benefits of participating in sporting and physical activity in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
• World Anti-Doping Agency celebrates Play True Day on April 9 - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) celebrated the Play True Day on April 9, 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year WADA celebrated the day around the theme ‘Play Safe on Play True Day 2020’.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Freedom fighter R. V. Bhuskute passed away at the aged of 94 in Raigadh district of Maharashtra. He had participated in Quit India Movement.

7.2 Veteran Odisha trade unionist Souribandhu Kar passed away at 72.

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

8.1 National Conference on Kharif Crops 2020

• The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare addressed the National Conference on Kharif Crops 2020 through a video conference.
• Aims of Conference –  

1. To list out steps with the States about preparedness for Kharif cultivation.
2. To take up doubling of farmers’ income in mission mode.
3. To urge states to explain the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Soil Health Card Scheme to each farmer.
4. To implement the relaxations for the Agricultural sector while ensuring social distancing and social responsibility norms.
5. To start using the e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) extensively.

• Target of foodgrains production for the Financial Year 2020-21 has been fixed at 298.0 million tonnes.
• During the FY 2019-20, against the foodgrain production target of 291.10 million tonnes, higher production of about 292 million tonnes is anticipated due to enhancement of area coverage and productivity of various crops. This was possible due to the various technological advancements including varietal improvement as well as dedicated and coordinated efforts of Central and State Governments in spite of the present situation of climate change along with change in rainfall patterns.
• The cultivable/agriculture land has reduced by about 2.74 million hectare during the last two decades but during the same period the Gross Cropped Area (GCA) has increased from 182.28 million hectare to 196.50 million hectare, with net area sown remaining largely unchanged at 140 million hectare.
• Gross Cropped Area: It represents the total area sown once as well as more than once in a particular year. When the crop is sown on a piece of land for twice, the area is counted twice in GCA.
• Net Area Sown: It represents the total area sown with crops. The area sown more than once in the same year is counted only once.
• The production of foodgrains has increased from 169.92 million tonnes to 284.96 million tonnes in the corresponding period due to various technological and policy interventions. India is the second largest producer of vegetables, after China.
• For Rabi crops, all States will ensure procurement at Village/Block levels as farmers are not allowed to move out. Steps are taken for Direct Marketing/purchasing of crop produce from farmers. Relaxation has been given for movement of trucks/ vehicles loaded with seeds and fertilizers to ensure timely availability of such inputs at Village/Block levels across the country.

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

9.1 COVID-19: Innovations and Inventions

• IIT Ropar designs ‘WardBot’ to deliver food, medicines to COVID-19 patients in isolation wards without human intervention.
• DRDO developed Automatic Mist Based Sanitiser Dispensing Unit and UV Sanitisation Box & Hand-held UV device.

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

10.1  Report and Rankings – SBI Ecowrap report

•  India’s GDP growth may slide to 1.1% in 2019-20.

To download the report visit here –

 

https://sbi.co.in/documents/13958/3312806/1604201655-Ecowrap_20200416.pdf/70f9ad1c-3844-613f-ab92-abfc4d37ab05?t=1587036342088 

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• The industrial output growth, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), in February 2020 was 4.5%.
• The Indian Railways has developed a low-cost ventilator named Jeevan at Rail Coach Factory – Kapurthala.
• UN observed International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members on March 25.
• Rajya Sabha in March 2020 passed the National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019 that seeks to repeal the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.
• Maharashtra has decided to raise an all-woman battalion of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF).

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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