Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 23-04-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 23-04-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. COVID-19 updates – India reported 50 new COVID-19 deaths and the recovery of 3,959 patients, taking the recovery rate to 19.36% from 17% previously. The Union Health Ministry said 20,971 individuals have been confirmed positive as of now, while the death toll stood at 652. Reports from the States put the toll at 683 and the total number of positive cases at 21,324, out of which 16,489 are active. Maharashtra has the most number of cases (5,649), followed by Gujarat (2,407) and Delhi (2,248).
2. COVID-19 updates: Jail for attack on COVID-19 frontline workers – The Union Cabinet approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making acts of violence against medical staff a cognisable and non-bailable offence and to provide compensation for injury to healthcare personnel or for damage or loss to property. The ordinance proposes that in cases of attacks on healthcare workers, the investigation will be completed within 30 days and the final decision arrived at within one year. The punishment for such attacks will be three months to five years and the fine Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakh. In severe cases, where there are grievous injuries, the punishment will be six months to seven years and the fine Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh.
3. Terrorism in J&K: Four militants killed - Four militants were killed by security forces in a village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. The militants were encircled during a search and cordon operation at Melhora village. The operation was launched after a tip-off. The militants opened fire on the search party, triggering a gunfight. The operation was carried out jointly by the Army, the police and the Central Reserve Police Force.
4. Indian Economy: Facebook purchases 9.99% stack in Jio – Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook Inc. announced that it had agreed to buy a 9.99% stake in the Mukesh Ambani-led Jio Platforms Limited for Rs. 43,574 crore, valuing the subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) at an enterprise value of Rs. 4.62 lakh crore. The transaction, which will need regulatory approval, will help the RIL unit to leverage Facebook’s WhatsApp in accelerating business on the JioMart platform and connecting neighbourhood grocery stores with consumers. “In the near future, JioMart and WhatsApp will empower nearly 3 crore small Indian kirana shops to digitally transact with every customer in their neighbourhood,” Mr. Ambani said in a video message. Jio Platforms, which houses all of RIL’s digital businesses, intends to use a part of the funds invested by Facebook to reduce debt.
5. COVID-19: Rs. 15,000 crore investment package relived - The Union Cabinet approved a Rs. 15,000-crore investment package for the COVID-19 emergency response and health system preparedness. Post facto approval was given to the package at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar at a press conference. The funds will be used in three phases, with Rs. 7,774 crore for immediate use and the rest for medium-term support, that is one to four years. The key objectives of the package include mounting emergency response to slow and limit COVID-19.
6. Indian Economy: Poor prices for Rabi crops  – Arrivals of wheat, mustard and other major rabi crops at markets during the first two weeks of April were more than 90% lower than during the corresponding period last year but increase in the prices have not been very high. Fruit farmers have been hit the hardest with prices down 9%, despite 85% fall in arrivals. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the rabi or winter season harvest has been brutal, despite government efforts to facilitate agricultural activities. The CRISIL research showed that only one lakh tonnes of major rabi crops — wheat, gram, rapeseed and mustard — arrived in mandis between April 1 to 12, 98% less than the 51 lakh tonnes that arrived in mandis during the same period in 2019.
7. COVID-19 impact  – Fitch Solutions cuts India’s economic growth forecast for 2020-21 to 1.8% from 4.6% earlier. A large contraction in global economy in first half of 2020 inevitable because of coronavirus outbreak: IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva
8. COVID-19: update – A day after ICMR said to stop using rapid testing kits for COVID-19 for two days so that it can check complaints, they have been told to continue to use rapid test kits for surveillance purpose, RT-PCR tests as the principal diagnostic test for COVID-19.
9. Only job-based green cards to be suspended for 60 days: Donald Trump – A day after his announcement on suspension of immigration created a furore, US President Donald Trump clarified that the immigration order he is scheduled to sign will only pause employment based green cards for 60 days and not ban most temporary guest worker visas but the President said after the 60-day pause, “the need for any extension or modification will be evaluated by myself and a group of people based on academic conditions at time,” indicating that this could be the first step in reordering the immigration system through executive fiat.
10. US warships enter S China Sea amid rising tension with Beijing - American warships have sailed into disputed waters in the South China Sea, heightening a standoff in the waterway and sharpening the rivalry between the US and China, even as much of the world is in lockdown. The America, an amphibious assault ship, and the Bunker Hill, a guided missile cruiser, entered contested waters off Malaysia. At the same time, a Chinese government ship in the area has for days been tailing a Malaysian state oil company ship carrying out exploratory drilling. Chinese and Australian warships have also powered into nearby waters. Despite working to control a pandemic, Beijing has not reduced its activities in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which one-third of global shipping flows. Instead, the Chinese government’s yearslong pattern of assertiveness has only intensified.

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

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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 SC quashes order providing 100% reservation for ST candidates in teaching job in scheduled areas in AP

• The Supreme Court quashed the January 2000 order of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh which provided 100 per cent reservation to the Scheduled Tribe candidates for the post of teachers in schools in the scheduled areas, saying it was "arbitrary" and "not permissible" under the Constitution.
• A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra noted that providing 100 per cent reservation would be "unfair" and "unreasonable" and no law mandates that only tribal teachers can teach in the scheduled areas.
• Referring to the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgement, popularly called the Mandal Commission verdict, the apex court said it was emphasised that the founding fathers never envisaged reservation of all seats and 50 per cent quota shall be the rule. 
• It noted that as per the 1992 verdict, extreme caution has to be exercised and special case has to be made out for exceeding 50 per cent reservation limit.
• In its 152-page verdict, the top court said it is apparent that despite more than 72 years of attaining independence, "we are not able to provide benefits to the bottom line, i.e., downtrodden and oppressed classes. Benefits meant to such classes are not reaching them".
  

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

2.1 Cabinet approves fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers for the year 2020-21

• The subsidy would be released to fertilizer companies as per above rates so that they can make available fertilizers to farmers at a cheaper price than it would have been otherwise.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers for the year 2020-21. The approved rates for NBS are as under: -
• N – 18.789 Rs/Kg Subsidy rates; P – 14.888 Rs/Kg Subsidy rates; K – 10.116 Rs/Kg Subsidy rates;  S – 2.374 Rs/Kg Subsidy rates.  
• The CCEA also approved the inclusion of a complex fertilizer namely Ammonium Phosphate (NP 14:28:0:0) under the NBS Scheme.
• The expected expenditure for release of subsidy on P&K Fertilizers during 2020-21 will be Rs 22,186.55 crore (US$3.17 billion).
• The subsidy on the P&K will be provided on the subsidy rates approved by the CCEA to the fertilizer companies.
• Background - Government is making available fertilizers, namely Urea and 21 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/importers. The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme w.e.f 01.04.2010.

2.2 Narendra Singh Tomar participated in the G-20 Extraordinary Agriculture Ministers Meeting through Video Conferencing on the issue of COVID-19 impacts on food security, safety and nutrition

• The G-20 Agriculture Ministers virtual meeting was organized through video conferencing by the Saudi Presidency to deliberate on the ways and means of ensuring continuity of food supply value chain including livelihood of farmers.
• The G-20 nations resolved to have international cooperation in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic

1. to avoid food wastages and losses,  
2. maintain the continuity of food supply value chain across borders
3. to work together for food security and nutrition,
4. share best practices and lessons learnt, 
5. promote research, 
6. responsible investments, 
7. innovations and reforms that will improve the sustainability and resilience of agriculture and food systems,
8. to develop science based international guidelines on stricter safety and hygienic measures for  zoonosis (a disease which can be transmitted to humans from animals) control.

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

3.1 International Mother Earth Day observed on April 22

• Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. 
• First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated in more than 193 countries by the Earth Day Network.
• Background - In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.
• This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations.
• A month later a United States Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea to hold a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970. He hired a young activist, Denis Hayes, to be the National Coordinator. Nelson and Hayes renamed the event “Earth Day.” 
• Nelson was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom award in recognition of his work.
  

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

4.1 Remittances sent home by migrants from low and middle-income countries to drop by 20% in 2020 - World Bank

• The amount of money migrant workers send back to their home countries is expected to decrease by almost $110bn this year as the Covid 19 pandemic increases unemployment across the world.
• Remittances to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to fall by nearly 20% to $445bn (£360bn).
• Migrant workers were especially vulnerable to losing their jobs during coronavirus lockdowns which are still largely in place across the developed world.
• Remittances total about three times the amount of aid received by low-income countries and have become a cornerstone of living standards across the developing world.
• Migrants typically send money to their families to boost living standards in some of the poorest parts of the world, including south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America.  
• Eastern Europe is expected to be one of the worst-hit regions as migrant workers in western Europe and Russia are forced to cut back the amounts they send back to families in Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and other former Soviet bloc countries.
• Remittances alleviated poverty in lower- and middle-income countries, improved nutrition, were linked to higher spending on education, and reduced child labour in disadvantaged households.
• Countries that are large recipients of remittances, such as India, have also imposed lockdowns, causing widespread unemployment and hardship, often making the situation even worse for families that suffer a decline in money being sent home.
• Oil-dependent countries, which have seen crude prices tumble from more than $60 a barrel in January to less than $20 a barrel this week, have also been hit by the economic impact of the pandemic, limiting the amount of help they can offer poor families.
• Last year, remittances reached an all-time high of $554bn. Next year, the World Bank expects a 5.6% recovery from the $445bn predicted this year to $470bn.
• Remittance flows are expected to fall across all regions, most notably in Europe and central Asia, where the fall in income is expected to be 27.5%, followed by sub-Saharan Africa, with a 23.1% decline. For east Asia and the Pacific, which includes Indonesia and the Philippines, the fall is put at 13% .

4.2 Laisenia Qarase, who was Fiji’s PM from 2000 to 2006, dies in capital Suva aged 79

4.3 World Creativity and Innovation Day celebrated by UN on April 21

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

5.1 Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched ‘COVID India Seva’, an interactive platform on Twitter to answer queries on COVID-19.

5.2 Gujarat Government started third edition of its ‘Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan’, a conservation plan to deepen water bodies in the state before monsoon 

5.3 Pune Municipal Corporation launches Saiyam mobile app to track home-quarantined citizens. 

5.4 COVID-19 lockdown - ‘Jharkhand Bazar’ mobile app launched to help people of the state get their essential commodities.

5.5 Karnataka govt launches “Apthamitra” helpline and mobile app to fight COVID-19.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Corporates – Weekly Roundup

• Hindalco's subsidiary Novelis completes $2.8 bn acquisition of Aleris - Aditya Birla Group metals flagship, Hindalco Industries, on April 14, 2020 announced the completion of Aleris acquisition by its wholly-owned subsidiary Novelis Inc. The deal, which closed at an enterprise value of $2.8 billion, positioned Hindalco as one of the world’s largest aluminium companies, with a global footprint across 49 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.
• GMR Airports to develop greenfield International airport at Bhogapuram in AP - GMR Airports Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited, on April 13, 2020 announced that it has received the letter of award (LoA) for the development and operations of green-field International airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Govt. cautions against use of Zoom video conferencing app - The Cyber Coordination Centre (CCC) of the Ministry of Home Affairs has warned people that the Zoom video conferencing app for meetings is not a safe platform for government and official use. In the advisory, issued on April 12, it said that "secure use of Zoom meeting platform is for private individuals and not for use of government offices or official purposes".
• Uber announces Uber Essential' to facilitate essential travel - Ride-hailing major Uber said the 'Essential' category on its platform is facilitating travel to locations like hospitals and pharmacies in Bengaluru, Nashik, Gurgaon, and Hyderabad amid the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. All riders on Uber Essential are mandated to carry relevant documentation to validate their purpose of travel to authorities.
• Hero MotoCorp to provide 60 custom-built mobile ambulances for Covid-19 patients - Two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp said it is donating 60 first-responder mobile ambulances to authorities across the country as part of its Covid-19 relief efforts. The ambulances have been custom-built as an accessory to be fitted on Hero MotoCorp motorcycles, with an engine capacity of 150cc and above.
• Procter & Gamble (P&G) to donate 1.5 million face masks - FMCG major Procter & Gamble (P&G) said it will donate 1.5 million face masks to the government and relief organisations to support the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in India. The company added that these initiatives are part of its response programme 'P&G Suraksha India'.
• Tata Power supplies 1.2 lakh face masks under 'Dhaaga' initiative - Tata Power said it has provided over 1.2 lakh homemade cloth masks, through its 'Dhaaga' initiative, to the vulnerable section of local and migrant population across Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Odisha. 'Dhaaga' is a woman-based micro-enterprise initiative in which women members are trained as artisans in readymade garments manufacturing and traditional handicrafts.
• NCAER’s Business Confidence Index declines drastically in Q4 of 2019-20 - Business sentiments worsened further in the fourth quarter of 2019-20 amid the coronavirus crisis, economic think-tank NCAER said while revealing the results of its Business Expectations Survey in March 2020. NCAER’s Business Confidence Index (N-BCI), an indicator of business sentiments across Indian industry, stood at 77.3 in Q4 of 2019-20. It was 111.2 in the third quarter of 2019-20.
• India is the most digitally dexterous country in the world: Gartner Survey - The Gartner 2019 Digital Workplace Survey found that India is the most digitally dexterous country in the world - followed by the UK and the US, due to having the largest Gen Z workforce along with the desire to learn new skills using digital technologies in the workplace.
• Google Pay launches ‘Nearby Spot’ to help users find local stores selling essentials - Google has launched ‘Nearby Spot’ under Google Pay using which users in Bengaluru can see local stores selling essentials like groceries that are open, amid the lockdown. This Spot also helps users donate to PM-CARES Fund or to NGOs that are working towards procurement of protective equipment for medical workers and relief for lockdown-impacted daily wagers.
• Donation platform GiveIndia launches ‘India COVID Response Fund’ (ICRF) - Donation platform GiveIndia on April 14, 2020 said it has launched the ‘India COVID Response Fund’ (ICRF) with initial donations worth Rs 75 crore to support the on-ground COVID relief efforts being carried out by its network of verified non-profits.
• COVID 19: Matterhorn mountain in Swiss Alps lights up with Indian flag - Switzerland has expressed solidarity with India in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic by projecting the tricolour on the famous 4478 m high Matterhorn mountain in the Swiss Alps to give “hope and strength” to all Indians.
• Care Ratings appoints Ajay Mahajan as its MD & CEO - Domestic rating agency Care Ratings on April 15, 2020 announced the appointment of Ajay Mahajan as its managing director and chief executive..

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Civil Services Day celebrated on April 21

• Every year, on the 21st of April, the "Civil Service Day" is observed by all Civil Services to re-dedicate and re-commit themselves to the cause of the people.
• It provides a unique opportunity for introspection as also chalking out future strategies to deal with the challenges being posed by the changing times.
• On this occasion, all officers of Central and State Governments are honoured for excellence in public administration.  
• The 'PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration' is presented in three categories. Under this scheme of awards instituted in 2006, all the officers individually or as group or as organization are eligible.
• The award includes a medal, scroll and a cash amount of Rs.1 lakh. In case of a group, the total award money is Rs.5 lakh subject to a maximum of Rs.1 lakh per person. For an organization the cash amount is limited to Rs.5 lakh.
• Civil Service is the service which is responsible for the public administration of the government of the country. It does not include legislative, judiciary and military personnel. Civil service members are the executioners of the policies of the ruling political party. Civil Service word date back to the British time when British East India Company civilian staffs involved in administrative jobs and were known as 'Public Servants'. Its foundation has been laid by Warren Hastings and later more reforms were done by Charles Cornwallis and so he was known as the "Father of Civil Services in India".
• Civil Service in India consists of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and comprehensive list of All India Services and Central Services Group A and Group B.

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

8.1 COVID-19 measures and innovations

• ICMR study detects presence of bat coronavirus (BtCoV) in two bat species from 4 states, no evidence of transmission to humans.
• Centre launches All India Agri Transport Call Centre for addressing transportation problems being faced in inter-state movement of perishable and non-perishable agricultural commodities.
• Caregivers of senior citizens residing with them, food processing units exempted from lockdown: Govt
• Shops selling educational books, electric fans, prepaid phone recharge allowed during lockdown  
• UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes) launches online dialogues with students & educators in India on COVID-19 under its flagship Education for Justice initiative.

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

9.1 IGIB (Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi) scientists developed low cost COVID-19 test; name it after detective character ‘Feluda’.

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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 -

• Famous Golfer Doug Sanders died on April 11, 2020 in US at the age of 86.
• The National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of India was launched in New Delhi by Minister for State for Culture (I/C) Prahlad Singh Patel in April 2020.
• 6.8% is the rate of interest for National Savings Certificate for April-June 2020.
• Historian Arjun Dev known for authoring NCERT books, died at the age of 80 in March 2020.
• Achanta Sharath Kamal won men’s singles title at the ITTF Challenger Plus Oman Open tournament in March 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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