Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 24-04-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 24-04-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. COVID-19 updates: One month of lockdown in India – India has managed to maintain a linear growth of COVID-19 cases over the one month period during its lockdown, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday even as the country reported over 1,409 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 21,700 with 16,689 active ones. There have been over 4,324 recoveries, which takes the recovery rate to 19.89 %, the Health Ministry said. A total of 686 deaths have been reported, with 34 in the past 24 hours. There are 12 districts that did not have a fresh case in the last 28 days. 78 districts from 23 States/Union Territories have not reported any fresh cases during the last 14 days. Nationwide death toll is at 718 with 23,034 cases of which 17, 428 are active ones.
2. COVID-19 updates – The government withdrew the clause allowing filing of an FIR against a company and its management if an employee tests positive for COVID-19, following concerns raised by India Inc. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, meanwhile, maintained that there was no government directive “for an FIR against a factory”.
3. COVID-19 effect on environment - According to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board, the first phase of the lockdown, from March 25 to April 15, reduced particulate matter pollution by nearly half in Delhi. This led to nearly a week-long run of the air quality index remaining in the ‘good’ and ‘satisfactory’ categories, as opposed to the unhealthy and hazardous categories the city is more accustomed to. The stint was broken by a dust storm and subsequent change in temperature and dry weather heralding summer.
4. COVID-19 predictions – There is likely to be no respite from increases in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the country for at least three weeks, predicts a mathematical model that projects the future burden on India’s healthcare system. Based on the relationship between COVID-19 deaths and cases from several countries, the model posits that the country’s healthcare system must prepare to tend to 7,928 ICU patients on May 6. Authorities have currently extended the nationwide lockdown up to May 3. As of today, India has 24,644 ICU beds, and bed-demands and deaths, according to the model’s authors, assume a “worst-case” scenario. From April 23 to 29, the model projects 1,164 deaths, and from April 29 to May 6 predicts the number of fatalities to rise to 3,964 — again the authors emphasise — based on a worst case scenario.
5. COVID-19: DRDO develops mobile virology lab - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday inaugurated through videoconference a mobile virology research and diagnostics laboratory (MVRDL). It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), together with ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad, and the private industry. The MVRDL is the combination of a bio-safety level (BSL)-3 lab and a BSL-2 lab and was set up in a record time of 15 days. It can process 1,000-2,000 samples a day.
6. IIT Delhi develops low-cost kit for detecting Covid-19  – IIT-D has developed a low-cost Covid-19 detection kit costing barely a few hundred rupees using indigenously developed technology. The kit was approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex bio-medical research body which is at the centre of the fight to contain the Covid-19 outbreak. The institute, which is the first such to get ICMR approval is now in the process of identifying an industry partner and aims to get production rolling this week. IIT Delhi’s team of 10, including four faculty members, identified unique regions (short stretches of RNA sequences) in the Covid-19 /SARS COV-2 genome. These regions are not present in other human corona viruses, providing an opportunity to specifically detect Covid-19.
7. COVID-19: Stockholm to reach herd immunity in weeks, says Sweden’s top expert – Sweden’s unusual approach to fighting the coronavirus pandemic is starting to yield results, according to the country’s top epidemiologist. Anders Tegnell, the architect behind Sweden’s relatively relaxed response to Covid-19, told local media the latest figures on infection rates and fatalities indicate the situation is starting to stabilize. “We’re on a sort of plateau,” Tegnell said. “Herd immunity could be reached in Stockholm in the coming weeks.” Sweden has left its schools, gyms, cafes, bars and restaurants open throughout the spread of the pandemic. The country’s strategy of herd immunity allows a majority of the population to gain resistance to the virus by becoming infected and then recovering.
8. Franklin Templeton to shut 6 debt funds in a 1st for MF – Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund, one of the top fund houses in India, has decided to close down six of its debt funds, which currently manage nearly Rs 25,900 crore in all. The move is due to liquidity troubles in the bond market triggered by Covid-related issues. This is the first time such an incident has happened in India. The closure is effective from April 24. As a result of this, all the systematic investment plans (SIPs), systematic withdrawal plans (SWPs), systematic transfer plans (STPs), and all redemptions and inflows will stop. The funds are Low Duration Fund, Dynamic Accrual Fund, Credit Risk Fund, Short-Term Income Plan, Ultra Short Bond Fund and Income Opportunities Fund.
9. COVID-19: Innovations - Mizoram using Mobile app ‘mCOVID19’ to act as online pass for drivers and handymen. CSIR’s IMMT (Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology), Bhubaneswar develops foot-operated wash basins, to be installed in Mumbai’s Dharavi.
10. COVID-19: Effects on Indian Economy – Remittances to India are likely to drop by 23% from USD 83 in 2019 to USD 64 billion in 2020 due to COVID-19: World Bank. COVID-19 pandemic: Centre freezes dearness allowance (DA) payable to its employees and dearness relief (DR) to its pensioners for one year from January 1, 2020.

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 The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020

• The Central government promulgated an Ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to make attacks on doctors and healthcare workers a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
• The Ordinance is called 'The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020'
• Whoever commits or abets the commitment of violence against health care worker, shall be punished with imprisonment ranging from 3 months to 5 years, and penalty ranging from Rs 50,000 to 2 lakh.
• In case of a very serious attack, the imprisonment may be for a minimum period of 6 months and maximum of 7 years, with penalty ranging from Rs 1 lakh to 5 lakh.
• As per the Ordinance, investigation into the incidents of attacks on doctors and healthcare workers has to be conducted by a senior inspector and be completed within 30 days.
• Court proceedings related to these cases shall also be conducted in a time-bound manner, and have to be decided within a year.
• The Ordinance also provides that the court shall presume that such person has committed such offence, unless the contrary is proved.
• The Ordinance states that in case of damage to vehicles or clinics of doctors or healthcare workers, the perpetrators would have to pay double the market cost of the damaged asset as compensation.
• Upon failure to pay the compensation awarded, such amount shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue under the Revenue Recovery Act, 1890.

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

2.1 Government decided to suspend up to one-year IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) provisions that trigger fresh insolvency proceedings

• In a major relief for corporate borrowers hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the government has decided to amend the insolvency law to suspend up to one year provisions that trigger insolvency proceedings against defaulters.
• Amendments to the IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) would pave the way for banks to restructure loans. Section 7, 9 and 10 of the IBC would be suspended for six months and the suspension time can be extended up to one year.  
• An enabling provision with respect to extending the time would be part of the ordinance.
• Suspension of these provisions could be extended up to one year based on the economic situation going forward. The effective date of the amendments coming into force would be the date of promulgation of the ordinance.
• Section 7 and 9 pertain to initiation of corporate insolvency proceedings by a financial creditor and an operational creditor, respectively.
• Section 10 relates to filing an application for insolvency resolution by a corporate.
• The coronavirus outbreak and the nationwide lockdown to curb spreading of infections have significantly impacted economic activities and the latest decision in a way provides more leeway for corporate borrowers in repaying their loans.

2.2 Government reconstitutes National Shipping Board; to be headed by ex DG Shipping Malini Shankar.

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

3.1 Not Available Today

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

4.1 International Girls in ICT (Information & Communications Technology) Day celebrated on April 23 (fourth Thursday of April)

• International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative backed by ITU Member States in the ITU Plenipotentiary Resolution 70 (Guadalajara, 2010) and promoted by WITNET to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
• Events are organized around the world where girls and university students are invited to spend the day at the office of ICT companies and government agencies so they better understand the opportunities the ICT sector holds for their future. International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in April every year.

4.2 COVID-19 related news

• India co-sponsors resolution calling for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines adopted by UN General Assembly,
• China announced additional US $ 30 million grant for WHO.
• Pakistan receives US $ 1.39 billion emergency loan from IMF to deal with Corona virus crisis.

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

5.1 Not Available Today

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Roundup – Defence

• Veteran Army officer Lt Gen (retd) K. P. Dhal Samanta dies aged 70 - Veteran Army officer Lt Gen (retd) K. P. Dhal Samanta, who had played a valiant role in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Operation Blue Star in Punjab, Siachen & Kargil Wars, died in New Delhi on April 13, 2020 at the age of 70.
• US to sell Harpoon air-launched anti-ship missiles, torpedoes to India - The Trump administration has notified the US Congress of its determination to sell Harpoon air-launched anti-ship missiles and Mark 54 lightweight torpedoes worth USD 155 million to India to enhance its deterrent capabilities against “regional threats” and to bolster its homeland defence.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 World Press Freedom Index 2020

• India has dropped to two places on the World Press Freedom Index, 2020.
• It ranked 142nd out of 180 countries.
• Norway is ranked first in the Index for the fourth year running.
• South Asia in general features poorly on the index, with Pakistan dropping three places to 145, and Bangladesh dropping one place to 151.
• China at 177th position is just three places above North Korea, which is at 180th.
• Reasons behind decline in India’s performance - Pressure on the media to accept the nationalist government's Hindu line, coordinated hate campaigns waged on social networks against journalists who dare to speak or write about subjects that annoy Hindutva followers and constant press freedom violations that include police violence against journalists, ambushes by political activists, and attacks instigated by criminal groups or corrupt local officials.
• Parameters of Index - Pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.
• World Press Freedom Index - It has been published every year since 2002 by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders. Based in Paris, RSF is an independent NGO with consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF). OIF is a 54 french speaking nations collective.

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

8.1 COVID-19 measures and innovations

• Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)’s Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) manufacturing and supplying nutrient-rich foods to COVID-19 patients.
• Union HRD Minister launched VidyaDaan 2.0 for inviting e-learning Content contributions in both school and higher education.
• UP became the first state to have video conferencing infrastructure in all its courts.
• Elected representatives of Kerala to take 30% cut in their monthly salary and honorarium for one year; those earning up to Rs 20,000 per month exempted.
  

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

9.1 Herd Immunity

• Sweden has chosen an unusual approach to fighting the coronavirus pandemic which is to allow to spread the disease to reach the Herd immunity.
• Anders Tegnell is the architect behind Sweden’s relatively relaxed response to Covid-19.
• What is Herd immunity? - Herd immunity (also called herd effect, community immunity, population immunity, or social immunity) is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through previous infections or vaccination, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune.
• In a population in which a large proportion of individuals possess immunity, such people being unlikely to contribute to disease transmission, chains of infection are more likely to be disrupted, which either stops or slows the spread of disease.
• The greater the proportion of immune individuals in a community, the smaller the probability that non-immune individuals will come into contact with an infectious individual, helping to shield non-immune individuals from infection.
•  Previously Britain has also chosen this model to fight with the pandemic but then later backed off.

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

10.1 Reports/ Rankings - Annual Global Report on Food Crises by UN Food program

• The 2020 edition of The Global Report on Food Crises describes the scale of acute hunger in the world.
• It provides an analysis of the drivers that are contributing to food crises across the globe, and examines how the COVID-19 pandemic might contribute to their perpetuation or deterioration.
• The report is produced by the Global Network against Food Crises, an international alliance working to address the root causes of extreme hunger.

 To download complete pdf please visit here – 

https://www.wfp.org/publications/2020-global-report-food-crises

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on April 17, 2020 changed reverse repo rate to 3.75%.
• India and China on April 1, 2020 marked 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• Jaydev Unadkat was captain of Saurashtra team that won the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament in March 2020.
• Dharohar Bhawan is the headquarters building of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in New Delhi.
• The BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise was organised in Odisha in February 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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