Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 05-05-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 05-05-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Confusion prevails over who will foot migrants’ train fare – Soon after Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked the party’s State units to bear the cost of rail travel of migrant workers, the Railways said the “sending States” needed to pay for sending people home on the ‘Shramik Specials’. At a regular briefing, Health Ministry spokesman Lav Aggarwal, claimed that though the government started the ‘Shramik Specials’ at the request of the State governments to help stranded people, the Centre would bear 85% of the cost and the States the remaining 15%.
2. Nod for return of stranded Indians – The government has decided to allow hundreds of thousands of Indians stranded in different parts of the world to return home in a “phased manner” beginning May 7, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced. In the first phase, “distressed citizens” will be brought back on commercial aircraft and naval ships, according to a list prepared by the respective embassies, strictly on “payment-basis”, the government added. The returnees would also have to pay for quarantine and hospital facilities that they need on return.
3. States with high swine flu rate record most COVID-19 cases – Five States — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Tamil Nadu — account for about 70% of India’s confirmed COVID-19 cases, that stood at 46, 416. However, data from the Health Ministry’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), show that these are also States that consistently accounted for the bulk of swine flu cases, or seasonal influenza (H1N1) since 2015. Last year, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Maharashtra accounted for 15,580 cases of confirmed H1N1 — or 54 % of the confirmed infections. In 2018 again, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat, made up 65% of H1N1 cases. In 2015, which saw 42,592 cases, the largest spike in cases since the swine flu pandemic of 2009-10, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi polled 63% of the cases .  
4. Rajasthan defers staff salaries as revenues dry up – The revenue collection in Rajasthan in the first month of fiscal 2020-21, after the COVID-19 lockdown was enforced, has fallen by 70%, even as there was a shortfall of Rs. 18,000 crore in the last fiscal 2019-20, according to the State Finance Department. While the State had budgeted for revenues of Rs. 8,400 crore, including Rs. 6,800 crore through taxes and GST compensation and Rs. 1,600 crore of non-tax revenue, it has achieved only Rs. 1,800 crore by April-end.
5. Europe emerges from virus lockdown – Millions of Europeans emerged with relief from coronavirus confinement, with hard-hit Italy leading the way out of the world's longest lockdown. At least 3.5 million people are now known to have been infected, but U.S. President Donald Trump offered hope for an end to the pandemic, saying he believed there would be a vaccine by year's end. The search for a cure received a further boost when the European Union hosted a telethon for world leaders aimed at raising €7.5 billion ($8.2 billion) to discover a COVID-19 vaccine. Around 248,000 people have died since the coronavirus emerged in China late last year and swept across the globe, given wings by the network of air routes that in normal times keep the modern world ticking.
6. Former Pope says opponents are attempting to ‘silence’ him – Traditionalist former Pope Benedict XVI accuses opponents of wanting to “silence” him while associating gay marriage with “the Antichrist” and attacking “humanist ideologies” in a new authorised biography published in Germany. The 93-year-old, whose original name is Joseph Ratzinger, claims in Benedict XVI — A Life that he has fallen victim to a “malignant distortion of reality” in reactions to his interventions in theological debates. “The spectacle of reactions coming from German theology is so misguided and ill-willed that I would prefer not to speak of it,” he said. The former Pope — who dramatically resigned in 2013 — was especially criticised for a 2018 text that was seen as critical of the Jewish faith.
7. Bears on the rampage as U.S.-China spar – A mix of global and domestic factors pulled down the Indian equity benchmark indices, snapping a four-day gaining streak as well. Market participants attributed the drop to the overall weak trend in global markets as the U.S. and China engaged in a fresh spat after the former threatened fresh tariffs while alleging that COVID-19 originated in a China lab. On the domestic front, the 14-day extension of the lockdown dampened investor sentiments that was already subdued on account of weak corporate earnings by heavyweights such as Hindustan Unilever, and Reliance Industries. The 30-share Sensex lost a whopping 2,002.27 points, or 5.94%, to close at 31,715.35. As many as 28 of the 30 constituents of the benchmark ended deep in the red.
8. State govts face huge revenue shortfall – Uttar Pradesh government has spent over Rs 12,000 crore in paying salaries and pension for April, when its revenues were Rs 2,284 crore. It’s a similar story in Punjab, where wage and pension bill added up to Rs 3,000 crore in April and there was an equal amount spent on debt servicing, while total earnings were Rs 200-250 crore. Not a single bottle of alcohol was sold and there is virtually no petrol or diesel sales. Punjab earned around Rs 10 crore a day from stamp duty and registration, which is not there, and consumption being what it is, is leading to almost nil GST. But there are higher spending requirements from relief & rehabilitation and medical departments. While states have demanded that their borrowing limit be raised by allowing them to go past the prescribed fiscal deficit of 3% of GDP to up to 5% of GDP, they are awaiting clarity from the Centre to amend their laws.
9. India’s recovery to death ratio improves to 90:10 - The outcome ratio — which is the ratio of recoveries and deaths — for Covid-19 has improved to 90:10 now from 80:20, indicating better clinical management of patients affected with the virulent infection while 1,074 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, the highest number on a single day, the health ministry said. Official data showed 42,836 confirmed cases, of which, 29,685 were still active. While 11,761 cases have been cured and discharged, the toll has increased to 1,389. The total recovery rate is 27.52%, opposed to 13.06% on April 17.
10. Singapore to host World Cities Summit on July 5-9. Theme: ‘Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Adapting to a Disrupted World’.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Western Coalfields Ltd	Graduate/ Technician Apprentice	303	Diploma, B.E/ B.Tech/ AMIE	May 19, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/05/Notification-Western-Coalfields-Ltd-Graduate-Technician-Apprentice-Posts.pdf
2	Western Railway	Staff Nurse, Lab Supdt & Radiographer	13	10+2, Diploma, B.Sc	May 5, 2020	https://wr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1588153778788-COVID-19.pdf
3	Western Railway	Full Time General Duty Medical Officer	8	MBBS	May 5, 2020	https://wr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1588153545336-advertisement%20for%20CMP%20-BRC.pdf
4	DME, AP	Specialist Faculty	235	MD/ MS/ DM/ M.Ch/ DNB, MBBS, M.Sc, Ph.D	May 9, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/05/Notification-Directorate-of-Medical-Education-Specialist-Faculty-Posts.pdf
5	BPSC	Motor Vehicle Inspector	90	10th Class, Diploma	May 26, 2020	http://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in/Advt/NB-2020-04-30-02.pdf
6	BPSC	Asst. Engineer (Civil, Mechanical & Electrical)	255	Degree (Engg)	May 18, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/05/Notification-BPSC-Asst-Engineer-Posts.pdf
7	NHM, Chhattisgarh	District Microbiologist & Lab Technician	16	10+2 with DMLT, BMLT, MD/ M. Sc	May 9, 2020	http://cghealth.nic.in/ehealth/2020/NHM/Recruit/AdvertisementIDSP_01052020.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 The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) took suo moto cognizance of reports about "Bois Locker Room'; Writes to Instagram, Delhi Police

• ‘Bois Locker Room' is an Instagram chat group run by boys between the age group of 16-18 years living in South Delhi, and comprising of others as young as 13-14 years, where objectionable comments were made about minor girls. 'Bois Locker Room' is allegedly also used to share nude and morphed pictures of minor girls, in addition to objectification and explicit language. 
• The DCW has issued notice to social media platform Instagram and Delhi Police after leaked screenshots of lurid discussions from the group surfaced recently.
• DCW took suo motu cognizance of chats among Delhi schoolboys in this group, which revealed that they were sharing private photos of underage girls, sexualising them and planning to rape minor girls.
• Noting that this group comprises of several hundred members, DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal has highlighted the seriousness of the matter as several illegal activities are supposedly being carried out in an open media platform.
• Given the gravity of the situation, an inquiry has been instituted and Instagram and the Delhi Cyber Police have been asked to furnish a response by May 8. Details of group admins and members have been sought, along with information regarding action being taken by the Social Media platform in this regard.
• The issue has raised several concerns regarding the safety and privacy of women, especially minor girls, on video sharing platforms.

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

2.1 According to a recent IHS Markit India monthly survey, Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 27.4 in April, 2020 from 51.8 in March, 2020 

 

• This contraction is due to national lockdown restrictions. The new business orders have collapsed at a record pace. This is the sharpest deterioration in business conditions across the manufacturing sector since data collection began over 15 years ago.
• The deteriorating demand conditions has led the manufacturers to drastically cut back staff numbers.
• Export orders have also witnessed a sharp decline.
• There was also evidence of supply-side disruption due to the lockdown. 
• The PMI slipped into contraction mode, after remaining in the growth territory for 32 consecutive months. 
• According to the 12-month outlook for production the demand will rebound once the Covid-19 threat is diminished and lockdown restrictions are eased.
• The Index (PMI) is compiled by IHS Markit for more than 40 economies worldwide. IHS Markit is a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets.
• Purchasing Managers' Index - Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an indicator of business activity - both in the manufacturing and services sectors. It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is also constructed. The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current and future business. The PMI is a number from 0 to 100. PMI above 50 represents an expansion when compared to the previous month; PMI under 50 represents a contraction, and A reading at 50 indicates no change. The PMI is usually released at the start of every month. It is different from the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which also gauges the level of activity in the economy.
• Index of Industrial Production - The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index which details out the growth of various sectors in an economy such as mineral mining, electricity, manufacturing, etc. It is compiled and published monthly by the National Statistical Organisation (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The Base Year of the Index of Eight Core Industries has been revised from the year 2004-05 to 2011-12 from April, 2017. The eight core industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• Difference between PMI and IIP - IIP covers the broader industrial sector compared to PMI. IIP shows the change in production volume in major industrial sub sectors like manufacturing, mining and electricity. Similarly, the IIP also gives use based (capital goods, consumer goods etc) trends in industrial production. PMI is more dynamic compared to a standard industrial production index.

2.1 CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) to launch national e-commerce marketplace ‘bharatmarket’ for all retail traders.

2.3 Non-subsidised LPG prices cut by Rs. 162.50 per cylinder.

2.4 SIDBI to launch ‘India SME Services Platform’ to give MSMEs information about starting operations, getting finance or credit enhancement and other support services.

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

3.1 The Kashmir Saffron got Geographical Indication (GI) tag status

• History - Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around the 1st Century BCE. It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine and represents the rich cultural heritage of the region.
• Kashmiri Saffron - It is a very precious and costly product. In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron is referred to as ‘bahukam’. It is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir. Its growth at an high altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m above mean sea level, thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, high quantity of crocin (colouring strength), safranal (flavour) and picrocrocin (bitterness) are some of the feature which make it different from other types of Saffron. There are three types of Kashmiri Saffron— Lachha Saffron, Mongra Saffron and Guchhi Saffron.
• Uses  of Kashmiri Safforn - Kashmir saffron is used globally as a spice. It also helps in revitalizing health. It is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes.
• Benefit of tag: With the GI tag, Kashmir saffron would gain more prominence in the export market. Iran is the largest producer of saffron and India is a close competitor.

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

4.1 The virtual Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group Summit held recently on “United against Covid-19” through video conferencing

• The meeting was convened at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, in his capacity as chair of the Non Aligned Movement. 30 Heads of State and other leaders had joined the Summit. The Summit was also addressed by the UN General Assembly president and World Health Organisation (WHO) chief.
• It was the first time that PM Narendra Modi participated in a NAM Summit since he assumed the office in 2014. He became the first Indian Prime Minister to skip the NAM Summit in 2016 and in 2019.
• The Summit adopted a Declaration underlining the importance of international solidarity in the fight against Covid-19. It announced the creation of a ‘Task Force’ to identify needs and requirements of member States. A common database reflecting counties’ basic medical, social and humanitarian needs in the fight against Covid-19 will be created.
• Role of India - India is regarded as the pharmacy of the world especially for affordable medicines. Despite its own needs during Covid-19 pandemic, it has ensured supply of medicines to 123 partner countries including 59 NAM members. India is also active in global efforts to develop remedies and vaccines for Covid-19.
• Need for the New Template of Globalisation - India stated that Covid-19 has shown limitations of the existing international system. The world needs more representative international institutions and thus world order should be more representative. Thus, in the post-Covid world, a new template of globalisation, based on fairness, equality, and humanity is needed.
• Other Issues - India also flagged the issues of “terrorism” and “fake news”, calling them “deadly viruses” at a time when the world fights the novel coronavirus.
• Non-Aligned Movement - The Non-Aligned Movement was formed during the Cold War as an organization of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union, but sought to remain independent or neutral. The Non-Aligned Movement was founded and held its first conference (the Belgrade Conference) in 1961 under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and Sukarno of Indonesia.
• NAM does not have a formal constitution or permanent secretariat, and its administration is non-hierarchical and rotational. Decisions are made by consensus, which requires substantial agreement, but not unanimity. It has 120 members as of April 2018 comprising 53 countries from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean and 2 from Europe (Belarus, Azerbaijan). There are 17 countries and 10 international organizations that are Observers at NAM.

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

5.1 The SARAS Collection

• Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar launched “The Saras Collection” on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
• The Collection showcases daily utility products made by rural self-help groups (SHGs) and aims to provide SHGs in rural areas with market access to Government buyers.
• The collection is a unique initiative of GeM and the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Not Available Today

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has approved funding for 11 projects under the MATRICS scheme for studying mathematical modelling and computational aspects to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic

• These studies attempt to propose mathematical/simulation models to account for various factors relevant to Covid-19 by modifying the basic SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) models.
• An SIR model is an epidemiological model that computes the theoretical number of people infected with a contagious illness in a closed population over time.
• The name of this class of models derives from the fact that they involve coupled equations relating the number of susceptible people , number of people infected , and number of people who have recovered .
• Some of such factors are heterogeneity of population, the role of asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) population, migration and quarantine, effect of social distancing and lockdown, socioeconomic factors and so on.
• Purpose –  

1. To study Indian conditions and provide an estimate of Basic Reproduction Number (R0)- the qualitative indicator of the degree of contagiousness of the disease. R0 tells the average number of people who will catch the disease from one contagious person; the larger this number, the more contagious is the disease caused by the virus and the faster it will spread in the community.
2. Identify the maximum likelihood infection tree when infection reports and contact network structure are known to the administration.
3. To identify possible cures of Covid-19 through the study of DNA (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid) structures by creating patterns of DNA of different viruses.

• MATRICS Scheme - It was launched in 2017 by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). It aims to provide fixed grant support to active researchers with good credentials in Mathematical Sciences, Theoretical Sciences and Quantitative Social Sciences. The support is provided in the form of research grant of Rs. 2 lakh per annum plus overheads for a period of three years.

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

8.1 Not Available Today

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

9.1 The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection Tower for rapid and chemical free disinfection of high infection prone areas

• The equipment named “UV blaster” is designed and developed by Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) with the help of M/s New Age Instruments and Materials Private Limited, Gurugram
• LASTEC is the Delhi based premier laboratory of DRDO.
• The UV blaster is a UV based area sanitiser useful for high tech surfaces like electronic equipment, computers and other gadgets in laboratories and offices that are not suitable for disinfection with chemical methods.
• The product is also effective for areas with large flow of people such as airports, shopping malls, metros, hotels, factories, offices, etc.
• The UV based area sanitiser may be used by remote operation through laptop/mobile phone using wifi link.

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

10.1 Reports/ Rankings – Not Available Today 

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• Andhra Pradesh recently launched mobile app ‘Covid Pharma’ to keep a track of people purchasing medicines over-the-counter (OTC) for cough, cold and fever.
• China recently announced an additional 30 million US $ grant to the WHO.
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Ropar has developed ‘WardBot’ for delivering medicines and food to COVID-19 patients.
• Raghuram Rajan has been included in her external advisory group on coronavirus pandemic by IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva in April 2020.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced that the deadline for tax amnesty plan ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ has been extended to June 30.

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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