Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 22-04-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 22-04-2020

• [message]
• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. ICMR asks States to stop using rapid tests for the next 2 days – The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) directed the States not to use the COVID-19 rapid testing kits for the next two days following reports of wide variations in results. The kits would be tested and validated by ICMR teams and an advisory issued in the next two days. If they were found to be not up to the mark, replacements would be sought from the manufacturers. The Rajasthan government decided to halt rapid antibody tests after an experts’ team questioned the use of the newly distributed Chinese kits following inaccurate results. The Rajasthan government did rapid tests on 168 confirmed cases but only 5.4% tested positive for antibodies. The majority of the confirmed cases tested negative.
2. India 17th country to hit 20,000 +ve cases, death toll crosses 600 – India on Tuesday registered over 1,336 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total number to 18,985. The total number of deaths stood at 603, while 3,259 people have recovered so far. The country has registered a recovery rate of 17.48%, the Health Ministry said. Reports from the States put the death toll at 646, with 15,498 active cases out of a total of 20,004 cases.
3. For first time since April 8, no COVID-19 deaths in Delhi - For the first time since April 8, no new death was reported due to COVID-19 in the Capital but the city reported 75 fresh cases, taking the total to 2,156. The toll stands at 47. Of the 2,156 cases, 611 have recovered, bringing down the tally of active cases to 1,498. 180 people recovered and the total number of active cases have also decreased. The Delhi government also added three areas to its list of containment zones, taking the total to 87.
4. Trump vows immigration halt, visa hopes to be hit – US President Donald Trump announced that he will sign an executive order to “temporarily suspend” immigration into the US, citing “the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens”. The cryptic tweet convulsed prospective immigrants and immigrant families in the US and immigrant hopefuls and asylum-seekers across the world who aspire for the American dream, making the country the most powerful demographic magnet in the world. The US admits about 1.1 million legal immigrants into the country every year, more than any other country. About 600,000 are new arrivals and about 500,000 are status adjustments of people already in the country. The announcement also threw into turmoil the already-fraught careers and lives of more than three million guest workers and students — nearly a million from India — with its vague opacity. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), nearly three out of four current H-1B visa holders (approximately 310,000 out of 420,000) are from India.
5. CBDT sticks with Budget’s tax target - Even as the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown to combat it has brought the economy to a near standstill, the Centre has gone ahead and set its Income Tax authorities a daunting target of collecting Rs. 13.2 lakh crore for the fiscal year ending in March 2021. In a correspondence to all Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (PCCIT) dated April 16, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has spelt out zone wise targets for the collection of corporate tax, personal income tax and security transaction tax (STT).
6. China seeks to ease travel curbs to stabilise economy – China has reached an agreement with South Korea to set up a “fast track” procedure for businesspeople to travel between the countries as Beijing looks to ease an entry ban on foreigners imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19. With the deadly disease spreading globally, China last month blocked almost all foreigners from entering as authorities fretted over cases being imported from abroad. Beijing is also in talks with other countries, including Singapore, to set up a similar channel to stabilise economic cooperation and ensure supply chains run smoothly.
7. Pakistan removes names from terrorism watch list - Pakistan has quietly removed around 1,800 terrorists from its watch list, including that of the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind and LeT operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, ahead of a new round of assessments by the global anti-money-laundering watchdog FATF, according to a U.S.-based start-up that automates watchlist compliance. The so-called proscribed persons list, which is maintained by Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), is intended in part to help financial institutions avoid doing business with or processing transactions of suspected terrorists. The list in 2018 contained about 7,600 names. It has been reduced to under 3,800 in the past 18 months, according to Castellum.AI, a New York-based regulatory technology company.”
8. Oil hits two-decade lows on demand, storage woes - June oil futures plunged on Tuesday, as the panic that sent U.S. May futures to below minus $40 per barrel on Monday bled further into the markets due to worries about the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on fuel demand in a market overrun by supply. U.S. crude futures slumped in dramatic fashion on Monday, with the front-month May contract, which expires Tuesday, falling to close at negative-$37.63 a barrel. The fall came as traders scrambled to get out of that contract to avoid taking delivery of barrels for fear of nowhere to store the oil and lack of customers who want to buy it.
9. Sri Lanka EC announces polls on June 20; Opposition voices concern – Sri Lanka’s Election Commission has set the country’s parliamentary election for June 20, after it postponed the April 25 polls in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka has reported 309 coronavirus cases and seven deaths so far. A total of 33 infections were detected on April 20, the highest number to be recorded on a single day, prompting authorities to move 1,010 people from a working class neighbourhood in Colombo to quarantine.
10. Regulator sweetens TLTRO deal for banks lending to NBFCs - The Reserve Bank of India has allowed banks to exclude loans extended to non-banking finance companies from the funds availed under the Targeted Long Term Repo Operations ((TLTRO) for determining priority sector targets. This is intended to incentivise banks to lend to NBFCs. Securities kept in the held-to-maturity category will now be excluded from computation of adjusted non-food bank credit, The banking regulator had announced TLTRO worth Rs. 50,000 crore for banks on April 17.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	National Institute of Design	Professor, Instructor, Designer/ Faculty, Dy Engineer & Asst Eng.	16	Diploma, Degree, PG Degree/ Diploma	May 17, 2020	https://nidmp.ac.in/Upload/NIDMP_RecruitmentTech.pdf
2	IIM, Kashipur	CEO, Business Manager, Asst Manager, Exe	5	Any Degree, PG	May 11, 2020	http://www.iimkashipur.ac.in/sites/default/files/Advertisement%20for%20Positions%20in%20FIED%20IIM%20Kashipur.pdf
3	SPRERI	SRF, Project Asst, Research Asso., Project Coord, Field Asst	17	Degree, PG, Ph.D (Engg)	April 25, 2020	http://spreri.org/Job-Opeings.htm
4	BPPI	Asst General Manager, Manager, Jr Marketing Officer, Executive	84	Degree, PG (Relevant Discipline)	April 30, 2020	http://janaushadhi.gov.in/vacancies/Recruitment%20no.%2003_17042020.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	IIT, Palakkad	Asst Registrar, Jr Tech. Super., Jr Technician,	6	Diploma, Degree, PG	May 15, 2020	https://iitpkd.ac.in/sites/default/files/2020-04/StaffRecruitmentIITPalakkad04152020.pdf
7	DRDO-RAC	Scientist C, D, E, F	40	Degree (Engg)	--	https://rac.gov.in/cgibin/2020/advt_135_result/public/pdf/advt_135.pdf?a6271ddc2fa0db5abfbfc176e33e2026=1

• [message]
• SECTION 2 - DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

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

1.1 Open court hearings - media access to courts

 

• The unmatched suspension of the working of the Delhi HC and its subordinate courts in the Capital due to COVID-19 pandemic has presented it with the challenge of holding open court hearings.
• Urgent cases are being heard through videoconferencing and daily orders are uploaded on official websites. While the SC has made special arrangement for a separate room on its premises where a limited number of journalists can watch the daily proceedings while maintaining social distancing, the same is not the case with the Delhi HC or its subordinate courts.
• History - In March 1966, a nine-judge Constitutional Bench of the SC had emphasised about the efficacy of open trials for upholding the legitimacy and effectiveness of the courts and for enhancement of public confidence and support. Over half-a-century later, in September 2018, the SC made a landmark verdict allowing live streaming of its proceedings in cases of constitutional and national importance.
• While the verdict remains unimplemented, the COVID-19 lockdown nudged the top court to hear urgent matters through videoconferencing from March 27.
• The hearings took place with judges and lawyers sitting at their respective homes. The feeds from the videoconference is made available only to a limited audience, including journalists, on the Supreme Court premises.

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

2.1 Why are oil prices in negative terrain?

• Introduction - Prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the American benchmark for crude oil, fell to less than zero on April 20. The price of a barrel of WTI fell to minus $37.63 a barrel. Is that mean that sellers have to pay buyers to get rid of their crude?
• Oil market and trading dynamics - WTI oil is traded as futures contracts in the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) where traders buy and sell monthly futures such as, for instance, May futures, June futures and so on. The sellers of such futures will have to deliver a barrel of crude oil at the contracted price in the contracted month just as buyers will have to take delivery at the contracted date. As with all trading in commodities, there’s a huge speculative participation in oil futures trading too. So speculators buy and sell contracts with no intention of taking delivery (in the case of buyers) or offering delivery (in the case of sellers) of the physical oil, on the contracted date.
• These speculators have to unwind their “positions” on the contract expiry date. If they fail to do so, they will have to take physical delivery of the crude oil on the contracted date.  
• What happened on April 20 was that speculators who had taken large bets on May futures began to unwind their “positions”. This was because the futures contracts are set to expire on April 21. Those not intending to take physical delivery have to square off their contracts before the expiry date. So, speculators who did not want to take delivery in May proceeded to unwind their “positions,” leading to the massive fall in prices. It could be that these were financial speculators who never take physical delivery and hence closed their contracts.
• Traders now are buying cheap oil storing it for release in future when demand and prices rise. Such a practice became famous during Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 when a trader took massive positions at cheap prices ahead of the invasion and sold them when prices rose after the invasion. Oil was stored in tankers floating on the sea and unloaded at considerably higher prices. Traders are doing the same now. Year-long hiring contracts for VLCC (very large crude carriers) that can store up to 2 million barrels of oil are soaring through the roof. 
• India is benefiting from this price crash in two ways. First, the oil import bill will fall sharply this fiscal year, giving tremendous relief to the government on the external account front. Second, India is quietly building up its strategic reserves, taking advantage of the cheap prices. India has a capacity to hold over 39 million barrels of oil at its strategic reserves in Visakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur, near Udupi. But since the economy is shut down, and opening up of lockdown too won’t see major movement anytime soon, there won’t be any big economic relief for India in the medium term (from higher consumption).

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

3.1 Accidents and Natural Disasters – Weekly Roundup

• Spitting in public now an offence under Disaster Management Act: MHA - Spitting in public has been made a punishable offence under the strict Disaster Management Act by the Union Home Ministry in its revised guidelines for lockdown issued on April 15, 2020 to contain COVID-19. The guidelines issued by the ministry also make wearing of face masks in public places mandatory. Spitting in public is an offence under municipal laws in various cities, but it is hardly taken seriously by people.
• Tropical Cyclone Harold hits Luganville town of South Pacific island nation Vanuatu.
• Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupts.

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

4.1 Israel Politics - PM Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud Party and his MAIN RIVAL Benny Gantz of the Blue and White party agree on setting up COALITION Government.

• The deal ends months of political paralysis and averts what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year.
• Terms of the agreement weren’t immediately announced but Israeli media said it called for a three-year period with Netanyahu serving as prime minister for the first half, and Gantz taking the job for the second half.
• After the last vote on March 2 ended in a stalemate, Netanyahu and former military chief Benny Gantz agreed late last month to try to form a unity government because of the burgeoning coronavirus crisis.
• The talks have dragged on and stalled several times since, reportedly over Netanyahu’s personal legal problems, sparking concern that the collapse of a deal would force the country into new elections.
• Although Netanyahu repeatedly came up short in the last elections, the coalition agreement returns the long-serving leader to the premiership, defying critics who predicted his downfall and restoring his reputation as a political wizard. 
• Sticking points - Negotiations between the two leaders largely revolved around Netanyahu's corruption trial set to start next month. Main sticking points included a demand by the prime minister to have more say on judicial appointments, which could play a role if his case eventually reaches the Supreme Court. The glue holding together Gantz's different backers was their shared animosity toward Netanyahu. The opposition leader had begun to move forward with legislation that would have disqualified the indicted Netanyahu from serving as prime minister in the future.
• Protests over corruption charges - Several thousand demonstrators, including Gantz’s former political partner Yair Lapid, gathered in Tel Aviv to protest the expected government deal. Protesters accused Netanyahu of using the coronavirus crisis to shield himself from prosecution and accused Gantz of abandoning his central campaign promises. Netanyahu is awaiting trial on charges of accepting bribes, breach of trust and fraud. He has denied any wrongdoing and portrays himself as a victim of a media and judicial witch hunt. Citing the coronavirus crisis, Netanyahu’s hand-picked justice minister has already delayed the trial by two months by shuttering most of the court system. 
• There has also been growing criticism over Netanyahu’s approach to beating back the virus, with accusations that he has sidelined democratic norms in the name of fighting the virus. The government has also come under criticism for moving too slowly in compensating workers and businesses hit by the crisis.

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

5.1 Not Available Today.

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

6.1 Arts and Culture – Weekly Roundup 

• National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India launched - The National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India was launched in New Delhi by Minister for State for Culture (I/C) Prahlad Singh Patel on April 18, 2020. It aims to raise awareness about various intangible cultural heritage elements from different states. 13 of India’s ICH traditions have been recognized by UNESCO as ICH of Humanity.
• World Heritage Day celebrated on April 18 – It is also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) established the day in 1982 and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved it in 1983. Theme for 2020: Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility.
• Chilean author Luis Sepulveda dies in Spain at 70 from COVID-19 - Chilean author Luis Sepulveda, best known for ‘The Old Man Who Read Love Stories’, passed away on April 16, 2020 of COVID-19 in the Asturias region of Spain where he lived for several decades. He was 70.
• Algeria’s Abdelouahab Aissaoui wins $50,000 International Prize for Arabic Fiction - Algerian author Abdelouahab Aissaoui on April 14, 2020 won the $50,000 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) for his novel “The Spartan Court”. IPAF is financed by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism. Funds will be provided to translate the book into English.
• Actor Ranjit Chowdhry dies aged 65 in Mumbai - Actor Ranjit Chowdhry, best known for his roles in ‘Khatta Meetha’, ‘Baton-Baton Mein’ and ‘Bollywood/Hollywood’, died at the age of 65 in Mumbai on April 15, 2020. His last reported film role is Breakaway in 2011, an Akshay Kumar production, which was dubbed in Hindi as Speedy Singh.
  
   

  

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

7.1 Former IAS officer Kapil Dev Tripathi appointed as the Secretary to President Ram Nath Kovind

• Kapil Dev Tripathi was appointed Secretary to President Ram Nath Kovind.
• The 1980-batch retired IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre will replace Sanjay Kothari, who was selected as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner in February.
• Mr. Tripathi’s tenure is on a contract basis and is co-terminus with the tenure of the President.
• Mr. Tripathi, who retired as the Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in June 2018, was heading the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) that does top-level recruitments in the central public sector enterprises.
• His appointment comes nearly two months after Mr. Kothari, a 1978 batch (retired) IAS officer of Haryana cadre, was selected as the next CVC. However, the government has not notified the appointment as finding his successor took time.
• Mr. Kothari’s selection as the next CVC was opposed by Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a member of the selection committee, who sent two dissenting notes to the Prime Minister.

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

8.1 World liver day observed on April 19

8.2 Reliance Foundation’s ‘Mission Anna Seva’ aiming to provide over 3 crore meals amid COVID-19 lockdown.

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

9.1 'COVID Sample Collection Kiosk' developed by DRDL, Hyderabad.

• A COVID-19 Sample Collection Kiosk which gets automatically disinfected without the need for human involvement has been developed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad.
• The kiosk is for use by health care workers to take samples from suspected infected patients.
• A patient has to walk into the kiosk where a nasal or oral swab is taken by a health care professional from outside through built in gloves.
• After he exits, four nozzle sprayers disinfect the empty chamber by spraying disinfectant mist for 70 seconds.
• It is further flushed with water and Ultra violet light disinfection and is ready for use by the next patient in less than two minutes.
• Voice command can be given through two-way communication system integrated with the COVSACK.
• The shielding screen of the kiosk cabin protects the health care worker from aerosols/droplet transmission while samples are being taken.
• This reduces the need for health care workers to change Personal Protective Equipment.
• The unit has been developed by DRDL (under the DRDO), in consultation with doctors of ESIC (Employees' State Insurance Corporation), Hyderabad.
• COVSACK costs nearly Rs one lakh and the identified industry based at Belgaum in Karnataka can support 10 units per day.

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

10.1  Not Available Today

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan and Purav Raja won the men’s doubles title at the KPIT MSLTA Challenger event tennis in Pune on November 17, 2019.
• The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has appointed retired IAS Officer Girish Chandra Chaturvedi as its new Chairman.
• Manuel Marrero Cruz was recently appointed as Cuba’s first Prime Minister since 1976?
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on December 26, 2019 released a postage stamp on Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.
• Ashwani Kumar and Congress leader has authored the book ‘‘Human Dignity – A purpose in perpetuity’.

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!

---