Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 28-04-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 28-04-2020

• [message]
• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Modi hints at graded exit from lockdown, says danger not over – Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Chief Ministers that though the lockdown following the COVID-19 outbreak had yielded “positive results” and the country managed to “save thousands of lives in the past one and a half months”, the danger of the virus was far from over and “constant vigilance is of paramount importance”. He was addressing a videoconference with Chief Ministers. The signal to the States, many of whom asked for an extension of the lockdown, was clear — that any exit from would be graded, and would take into account case load and virulence. The decision to extend the lockdown itself, sources said, would be taken around May 3, when the current phase ends. Mr. Modi emphasised that all efforts should be made to convert the red zones (where cases have occurred in the past 14 days) to orange (where cases have not occurred in 14 days) and green zones (where no cases have occurred in 28 days).
2. ICMR says no payment made for Chinese test kits supplies – India does not stand to lose a single rupee, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in response to a clarification sought on the alleged profiteering by distributors, exposed through a legal dispute between an importer and a distributor, in the delivery of rapid antibody testing kits to it. According to details provided in the Delhi High Court, the kits procured from China, whose delivered cost was Rs. 245 a test, were sold to ICMR for Rs. 600 a test — a mark up of 145%. The matter came to light when Rare Metabolics Life Sciences Pvt Ltd and Aark Pharmaceuticals, distributors of Chinese Wondfo Biotech’s kits imported by Matrix Labs, approached the High Court recently to get delivery/payment disputes cleared. The Council, in a one-page clarification, noted that it had not made any payment whatsoever in respect of the supplies — “because of the due process followed (not going in for procurement with 100% advance amount).
   
3. RBI opens Rs. 50,000 cr. liquidity tap for MFs - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a special window of Rs. 50,000 crore for mutual funds in view of the redemption pressure that the fund houses are facing. While announcing the window, the RBI said the liquidity stress was limited to high risk debt funds and the larger industry remains liquid. Under the scheme, the RBI will conduct repo operation of 90 day tenor at the fixed rate repo. Funds availed under this facility will be used by banks exclusively for meeting the liquidity requirements of mutual funds by extending loans, and for undertaking outright purchase of and/or repos against the collateral of investment grade corporate bonds, commercial papers, debentures and certificates of deposit held by the funds, the central bank said.
4. Essential goods movement up, says govt. – There has been significant progress in removing bottlenecks and ensuring smooth movement of essential goods, according to Parameswaran Iyer, Chairman of the Empowered Group 5 on Logistics and Supply Chain of Essential Items. Trucks moving food and medicines were functioning at about 46% on March 30, and had now improved to 76%. Movement of rail rakes is also at three-fourths of the usual rate, while ports are now handling almost 90% of their usual traffic. In a key indicator with regard to the food and farm supply chain, four out of five agricultural mandis (markets) have now been reopened, said Mr. Iyer. An online portal had been set up to connect farmers with mandis, cold storage and buyers.
5. India among top 3 military spenders: report - The global military expenditure rose to $1917 billion in 2019 with India and China emerging among the top three spenders, according to a report by a Swedish think tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). In 2019, the top five largest spenders — U.S. ($732 bn), China, India, Russia ($65.1 bn) and Saudi Arabia ($61.9 bn) — accounted for 62% of the global expenditure. The annual report ‘Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2019’ was released on April 27. India’s expenditure in 2019 was 6.8% more than that in 2018, the report says the country’s military expenditure has risen significantly over the past few decades.
6. We have 56% more water in reservoirs than we had last year – The plentiful rains last year and heavy snowfall in the Himalayan States have ensured that in terms of just volumes, we are pretty well off this year. A review of 132 reservoirs under the Central government, which are out of the 5,000 total reservoirs but which provide two-thirds of the total supply of water across the country, it has been found that we have 56% more water than we had last year in the reservoirs, which is 47% higher than the average for the last 10 years.
7. Brokers seek action against Templeton – Stock brokers want the government and the capital markets regulator to take strict action against Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund, including appointing a high-powered committee to take over the management of the fund house while examining investment decisions taken by the house. The Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI), an umbrella body representing about 900 brokers, has again written to the Ministry of Finance and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) seeking urgent action to safeguard further erosion of investor wealth while enabling a plan for investors to get their money in a time-bound manner.
8. Yemen separatists declare self-rule in south – Yemen’s main southern separatist group announced that it would establish self-rule in areas under its control, which the Saudi-backed government warned would have “catastrophic consequences”. The move threatens to renew conflict between the UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Saudi-backed government, allies in Yemen’s war. The STC is one of the main groups fighting against the Houthis as part of a coalition led by Saudi Arabia. But the separatists have clashed with government forces in the past. In a statement, the STC announced emergency rule in Aden and all southern governorates, saying it would take control of Aden’s port and airport and other state institutions such as the central bank.
   
9. Franklin suspends 6 more schemes - Franklin Templeton MF, the troubled fund house that was forced to close six of its debt funds due to extreme liquidity in the market, has suspended another six fund of funds (FoF) schemes managed by it with total assets of about Rs 933 crore. These FoFs have been suspended since they had investments in two of the six schemes that were closed, and it was difficult to generate any income in the current situation. With the shutting of these FoFs, the total assets under suspension for the 12 schemes together is now at nearly Rs 27,000 crore. An FoF is a mutual fund that invests in one or more MF schemes. These can be from the same fund house, another house or both.
   
10. World Unites To Speed Up Vaccine  – World leaders pledged to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against Covid-19 and to share them around the globe, but the United States did not take part in the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were among those who joined a video conference to launch what the WHO had billed as a “landmark collaboration” to fight the pandemic.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Army Recruiting Office, Srinagar	Soldier	--	Matric/ Intermediate/ Any Degree	June 10, 2020	https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/BRAVO_NotificationPDF/Kargil_Rally_26_Jun_to_30_Jun_20.pdf
2	Northern Railway	Nursing Superintendent	36	GNM, B.Sc (Nursing)	April 30, 2020	https://nr.indianrailways.gov.in/nr/recruitment/1587542858969_New%20Document(39)%2022-Apr-2020%2013-25-06.pdf
3	Urban Devlop. & Housing Dept, Bihar	City Manager	163	PG Degree/ Diploma	May 27, 2020	https://bceceboard.bihar.gov.in/pdf_Adv/ADV_CTM20_02.pdf
4	National Institute of Design, MP	Sr Designer, Associate Sr Designer, Principal Technical Instructor	16	PG Degree/ Diploma	May 17, 2020	http://www.nidmp.ac.in/Upload/NIDMP_RecruitmentTech.pdf
5	UPPSC	PCS Prelims Exam 2020	200	Degree, PG	May  21, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/04/Notification-UPPSC-PCS-Prelims-Exam-2020.pdf
6	MKCG Medical College & Hospital	Staff Nurse, Lab Technician, Radiographer	174	10+2, Diploma, GNM/ B.Sc	April 30, 2020	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3496e05e1aea0a9c4655800e8a7b9ea28/uploads/2020/04/2020042442.pdf
7	Northern Coalfields Ltd.	General Medical Consultant	7	MBBS	--	http://www.mahanadicoal.in/OurPeople/pdf/Notification_No_31_18042020_GDMO.pdf

• [message]
• SECTION 2 - DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

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

1.1 Saudi Arabia ends death penalty for crimes committed by minors

• The announcement, citing a royal decree by King Salman, comes two days after the country said it would ban flogging.
• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - which Riyadh has signed - says capital punishment should not be used for offences carried out by minors.
• Activists say Saudi Arabia has one of the world's worst human rights records.
• They say freedom of expression is severely curtailed and critics of the government are subject to what they say is arbitrary arrest.
• A record 184 people were executed in the kingdom in 2019, according to human rights group Amnesty International. Since January 12 people have been executed.
• At least one case involved a man convicted of a crime committed when he was a minor, the rights group reported.
• It was unclear when the decision - which was not immediately carried on state media - would come into effect.
• The kingdom's human rights record has remained under intense scrutiny, despite recent changes, following the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018, while many civil rights and women's rights activists remain in prison.
• Earlier this week, the most prominent Saudi human rights campaigner died in jail after a stroke which fellow activists say was due to medical neglect by the authorities.

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

2.1 NVVN (NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam) inviteed Global Expression of Interest (EoI) for Hydrogen Fuel Cell based electric buses and cars 

• NTPC has invited global Expression of Interest (EoI) to provide 10 Hydrogen Fuel Cell (FC) based electric buses in Delhi and an equal number of Hydrogen Fuel Cell based electric cars for Leh.
• The EoI has been issued by NTPC’s wholly owned subsidiary, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) Limited.
• The move to procure Hydrogen Fuel Cell based vehicles is first of its kind project in the country.
• NTPC has already commissioned 90 public charging stations in various cities and battery charging and swapping station at Faridabad for e-3-wheelers. 
• Similarly, e-Bus solution for Andaman & Nicobar Administration is under implementation.

2.2 RBI announced Rs 50,000 crore special liquidity facility for mutual funds to ease liquidity pressures faced by them

• To ease liquidity pressures on mutual funds, RBI announced a special liquidity facility of Rs. 50,000 crore for mutual funds.
• Indian stock markets surged immediately after the RBI announced this liquidity facility for mutual funds.
• The Sensex was up about 750 points.
• Mutual fund investors had received a jolt late last week when Franklin Templeton fund house halted withdrawals from six debt mutual fund mutual schemes with large exposures to higher-yielding, lower-rated credit securities, citing lack of liquidity amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• The RBI's liquidity facility for mutual funds will be effective from today till May 11, 2020 or up to utilization of the allocated amount, whichever is earlier.
• The RBI also assured that it will review the timeline and amount, depending upon market conditions.
• Under this facility, the RBI will provide funds to banks at lower rates and banks can avail funds for exclusively meeting the liquidity requirements of mutual funds.
• Banks can extend loans to mutual funds, undertaking outright purchase of and/or repos against the collateral of investment grade corporate bonds, commercial papers (CPs), debentures and certificates of deposit (CDs) held by mutual funds.
• The RBI shall conduct repo operations of 90 days tenor at the fixed repo rate.
• This liquidity facility is on-tap and open-ended, and banks can submit their bids to avail funding on any day from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays).

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

3.1 International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day observed by UN on April 26

• International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day includes events around the world dedicated to raising awareness of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster and the risks of nuclear energy in general.
• The Chernobyl Disaster - The Chernobyl disaster was arguably the worst nuclear accident in history. On April 26, 1986, a reactor in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in today's Ukraine experienced a catastrophic explosion and fire, releasing unprecedented levels of radioactive materials into the atmosphere.  
• Although the accident itself caused a relatively small number of casualties, its long-term effects are extensive and will continue to pose challenges for many future generations. Countless studies have documented the severe health and environmental problems caused by the accident, a sharp increase of thyroid cancer among children in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia constituting only one of many harrowing examples.

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

4.1 International Delegate’s Day observed by the UN on April 25

• International Delegate’s Day marks the anniversary of the first day of the San Francisco Conference, also known as the United Nations Conference on International Organization.
• On 25 April 1945, delegates from fifty countries came together for the first time in San Francisco.
• Coming together after the devastation of the second world war, their aim was to set up an organization that would restore world peace and impose rules on the post-war world order.
• 850 delegates took part in this conference, which lasted for two months.
• Two months after the first meeting, on 26 June 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed by representatives of the 50 countries that attended the conference.  
• The agreement resulted in the creation of the United Nations, an organization that now comprises 193 Member States and serves as the main international venue for collective dialogue between the delegates of its Member States. 
• Poland, which did not have a government at the time of the conference, signed the charter later, hence bringing up the number of the Founding Member States to 51.

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

5.1 Odisha government launched portal ‘covid19.odisha.gov.in’ for registration of migrant workers who are expected to return to the state after lifting of the lockdown on May 3

5.2 Narendra Singh Tomar issues guidelines regarding SVAMITVA Scheme that is aimed at rural people the right to document their residential properties. 

5.3 Narendra Singh Tomar releases SOP for e-Gram Swaraj Yojana platform and mobile App to ensure transparency in use of funds given to the panchayats.

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

6.1 Not Available Today   

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

7.1 Appointments

• Health Secretary - Preeti Sudan (3-month extension)
• Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare given additional charge of the I&B Ministry
• Tarun Bajaj - Secretary in the Economic Affairs Department
• Ravi Mittal - Sports Secretary
• Nagendra Nath Sinha - Secretary of the Rural Development Department
• Arvind Kumar Sharma - Secretary in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry
• Leena Nandan - Consumer Affairs Secretary.
• Sudhanshu Panday - Food and Public Distribution Secretary
• Sanjeev Ranjan - Shipping Secretary
• Aramane Giridhar - Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
• Anita Karwal - Secretary in the Department of Education and Literacy
• Rameshwar Prasad Gupta - Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• Pradip Kumar Tripathi - Secretary, Ministry of Steel
• Tarun Kapoor - Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
• Rajesh Verma - Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• Anand Kumar - Culture Secretary
• Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi - Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Ram Mohan Mishra - Secretary, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes
• Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi - Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals
• Ajay Tirkey - Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

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

8.1 Jharkhand court sentenced former state minister Ainosh Ekka to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in money laundering case

• Anosh Ekka, a former minister in the Jharkhand government, has been sentenced to jail for seven years of rigorous imprisonment by a court in Ranchi in connection with a money laundering case.
• The judgment was passed by Judge Anil Mishra, based on the findings of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
• Ekka was found guilty under section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and has been asked by the court to pay a fine of Rs 2 crore. 
• Ekka was a former minister of rural development NREP, transport, panchayat raj and building construction in the cabinet of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda from March 12, 2005, to December 19, 2008.
• If Ekka fails to pay a fine of Rs 2 crore levied on him, he will have to undergo additional imprisonment of one year.
• The ED has also secured an order to confiscate Ekka's properties worth Rs 22.38 crore which was earlier attached to the case by the probe agency.
• These properties are in the form of movable and immovable assets consisting of residential properties, lands, fixed deposits, balances in bank accounts, national savings certificates, kisan vikas patras, vehicles, rifles and pistols etc.

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

9.1 Not Available Today

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

10.1 Reports/ Rankings - From the Great Lockdown to the Great Meltdown

• UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) released report ‘From the Great Lockdown to the Great Meltdown’.
• The report focus on developing country debt in the time of Covid-19

 To download complete pdf please visit here – 

https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/gdsinf2020d3_en.pdf

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• ‘Team Mask Force’ video has been created by leading Cricket players of India to promote wearing of masks in public places during COVID-19. 
• Ellyse Perry was named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer of the Year among women in April 2020.
• Singapore was ranked first in the latest World Index of Economic Freedom created by Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.
• The Reserve Bank of India on March 13, 2020 revised exposure limit for urban cooperative banks (UCBs) to a group of borrowers to 25% of tier-1 capital. 
• The Reserve Bank of India on March 13, 2020 revised exposure limit for urban cooperative banks (UCBs) to a group of borrowers to 25% of tier-1 capital. 
• 24th Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Bhubaneswar recently.

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!

---