Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 26-05-2020
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- COVID-19 Updates – Domestic air travel starts with half the flights forced to cancel – Airlines ferried more than 39,000 passengers on 532 flights as domestic air travel was resumed after two months. But a large number of passengers were left stranded as airlines were forced to cancel half the flights just hours before take-off due to poor co-ordination between the Centre and the States. Airlines were told to curtail their operations after Maharashtra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, with some of the busiest airports in the country — Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai — restricted the number of flights that could be operated.
- COVID-19 Updates – Large-scale return of migrant workers need aggressive COVID-19 testing – The Union Health Ministry has admitted that Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, currently witnessing a large-scale return of migrant workers, and remote areas need aggressive COVID-19 testing capacity scale-up to clear any backlogs. The admission comes at a time when the country is among the top 10 hotspots of COVID-19 worldwide, adding approximately over 6,000 cases every 24 hours in the fourth phase of the national lockdown. The State health departments reported 6,125 cases and 151 deaths. This takes the total COVID-19 tally to 1,44,659 cases, including 79,959 active ones. The total death toll stands at 4,170.
- Internal Security – Efforts are continuing to resolve the situation along the LAC with China – Efforts are continuing on a daily basis between military commanders of India and China on the ground, in addition to other channels of communication, to resolve the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Discussions were on daily at different levels on the ground, including at the Brigade Commander and Division Commander levels but tensions continue at various places along the LAC with both sides digging in with reinforcements, and a wait and watch situation was unfolding. The green top hill above the finger area of Pangong Tso (lake) and the Galwan Nalah area seems to be the latest friction point.
- Indian Economy – No reduction in fuel prices despite surplus supply – Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan described the situation prevailing in the oil market as ‘extraordinary’ even as he ruled out any fuel price cuts in India despite the supply glut, stating that the Union government had taken a ‘cautious and conscious’ decision to use the savings for welfare. Mr. Pradhan was also optimistic that price stabilisation was likely as more and more countries were trying to restart economic activity after lengthy lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- COVID-19 Updates – Japan ends nationwide state of emergency with restrictions now lifted in Tokyo – Japan's nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic has been brought to an end after prime minister Shinzo Abe lifted restrictions in Tokyo and the four other remaining areas. Experts on a government-commissioned panel approved the lifting of the emergency in the capital, neighbouring Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures, and in Hokkaido to the north, which had remained under the emergency declaration after it was removed in most of Japan earlier this month. Japan, with about 16,600 confirmed cases and 839 deaths, has so far avoided the large outbreaks experienced in the US and Europe despite softer restrictions.
- US-China Relations - China warns U.S. of retaliation if punished for Hong Kong law – China threatened counter-measures against the U.S. if it was punished for plans to impose a sedition law on Hong Kong, that the business hub’s security chief hailed as a new tool that would defeat “terrorism”. Beijing plans to pass a new security law for Hong Kong that bans treason, subversion and sedition after months of massive, often-violent pro-democracy protests last year. But many Hong Kongers, business groups and Western nations fear the proposal could be a death blow to the city’s treasured freedoms and thousands took to the streets despite a ban on mass gatherings introduced to combat coronavirus.
- Afghan-Taliban - Afghan government frees 100 Taliban prisoners – Afghan authorities released 100 Taliban prisoners as part of the government’s response to a surprise, three-day ceasefire the insurgents called to mark the Id al-Fitr festival. The pause in fighting, only the second of its kind in Afghanistan’s nearly 19-year-old war, appeared to be holding on day two after the government welcomed the truce by announcing plans to release up to 2,000 Taliban inmates.
- Corporate World – HDFC Quarter 4 profit down by 22% – Mortgage lender HDFC reported a 22% drop in its net profit to Rs. 2,233 crore compared with the Rs. 2,862 crore in the same quarter of the previous financial year. The drop in profit is mainly due to higher provisioning for COVID-19 pandemic, lower dividend income and a lower profit from sale of investments. Dividend received in Q4FY20 was Rs. 2 crore compared with Rs. 537 crore.
- COVID-19 Updates – WHO pauses its HCQ trial for Covid over safety concerns – The World Health Organization said that it will temporarily drop hydroxychloroquine — the antimalarial drug President Trump says he is taking — from its global study into experimental Covid-19 treatments, saying that its experts need to review all available evidence to date. In a press briefing, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that in light of a paper published last week in the Lancet that showed people taking hydroxychloroquine were at higher risk of death and heart problems, there would be “a temporary pause” on the hydroxychloroquine arm of its global clinical trial .
- COVID-19 Updates – US bans entry from Brazil despite 4 times more cases – Tens of thousands of Americans flocked to beaches, pools, parks, bars and restaurants on Memorial Day weekend with little regard to social distancing even as the Trump administration banned entry of non-US citizens from Brazil and warned it would review traffic from other countries with high incidence of coronavirus infections. Citing the growing number of Covid-19 cases in Brazil, which now has the second largest number of infections with over 3,63,000 cases, the White House said the move was a “decisive action to protect our country”.
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Important Exam Notifications
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S.
No.
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Institution
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Exam
or Post Name
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Vacancies
or Seats
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Qualification
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Last
Date to Apply
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Link
for Details
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1
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Assam
Police
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Forester, Steno, Forest Guard,
Surveyor, Mahut, Carpenter and Driver
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1081
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8th Class, 12th Class, Any Degree
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June 25, 2020
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2
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DME, Assam
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Demonstrator
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5
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MD
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May 27,
2020
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3
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NHM,
Chhattisgarh
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District Laboratory Technician
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8
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10+2 with BMLT/ DMLT
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May 28,
2020
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4
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KSP
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Armed Police Constable (Men) (HK
& NHK)
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1449
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SSLC
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June 22,
2020
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5
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KSP
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Civil Police Constable (Men &
Wmen) (HK &NHK)
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2565
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Matriculation, Diploma, Degree
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June 22, 2020
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6
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Kerala
PSC
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Police Constable & Women Police
Constable
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125
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SSLC
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June 24
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7
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PCMC
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ASHA
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360
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8th Class
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1.1 A complaint has been filed before Punjab police against Over-the-top (OTT) platform Amazon Prime Video and the Producers of the web series 'Paatal Lok' for allegedly hurting religious feelings and sentiments of the Sikh community
- G.S. Dhillion, an advocate practicing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court complained to the Police Station at S.A.S Nagar District in Punjab alleging that episode 3 of the popular series, titled 'A History of Violence', was made with the intention to create communal disharmony.
- It is further alleged that the makers purposely and maliciously highlighted caste based clashes in the specified episode, showing two castes in bad light.
- The episode, set in a village in Punjab, also uses a caste portraying slur, which creates an atmosphere of enmity between two castes in the State.
- Members of the Sikh community are apparently referring to a boy as 'Manjaar', the complainant states that such portrayal is both criminal and defamatory. Further narrating sequences from the episode, Dhillon accuses the makers of portraying Sikhs as oppressors of the society, particularly women.
- In this light, the complainant seeks the registration of an FIR and strict action under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and Information And Technology Act against the production company, Clean Slate Films Pvt. Ltd, along with its directors, including well-known hindi film actor Ms. Anushka Sharma.
- "Episode No.3 of the named internet series is sub-named as 'A History Of Violence' is shown to be set in a village of Punjab. The accused have purposely and maliciously, with an intent of creating communal disharmony and caste based clashes have shown two castes in bad light besides seriously defaming members of the Sikh community and hurting the religious feelings of Sikhs at large. The accused have used a caste based slur namely ' MANJAAR' again and again for a particular caste and shown hate between the other caste namely 'Jatt Sikh'."
2.1 Odisha government promulgates ordinance allowing investors and farmers to enter into agreement for contract farming
- The decision is taken in view of the continuing uncertainties due to the pandemic.
- The ordinance is aimed at facilitating both farmers and sponsors to develop mutually beneficial and efficient contract farming system.
- The new system will lead to improved production and marketing of agricultural produce and livestock while promoting farmers’ interest.
- Since the Assembly is not in session, the ordinance has been promulgated.
- The agreement will be entered into between the contract farming sponsor, who offers to participate in any component or entire value chain including preproduction, and the contract farming producer (farmers), who agree to produce the crop or rear the livestock.
- But the government made it clear that notwithstanding anything contained in the agreement, no title, rights, ownership or possession of land or premises or other such property will be transferred or alienated or vest in the sponsor or its successor or its agent.
- Moreover, both the loans and advances given by the sponsor to the producer can be recovered from the sale proceeds of the produce and in no case be realised by way of sale or mortgage or lease of the land in respect of which the agreement has been entered into.
- The government will constitute a “Contract Farming and Services (Promotion and Facilitation) Committee” to review the performance.
- FOREX Reserves –
- Country's foreign exchange reserves increased by US $ 1.73 billion to USD 487.04 billion in the week to May 15.
- Foreign currency assets rose by US $ 1.12 billion to USD 448.67 billion
- Gold reserves rose USD 616 million to USD 32.91 billion
- Special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was up by USD 2 million to USD 1.42 billion
3.1 International Day for Biological Diversity celebrated on May 22; theme: ‘Our solutions are in nature’
- The Day is celebrated every year to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
- The theme highlights that Biodiversity remains the answer to a number of sustainable development challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate, to food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity remains the basis for a sustainable future.
- The year 2020 is a reflection, opportunity and solutions for biodiversity issues. The year will witness:
- The final period for the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan on Biodiversity and its 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
- The end of the 2011-2020 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, and start of other new pivotal biodiversity related decades for the period 2021-2030: the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
- The UN Biodiversity Summit (15th Conference of the Parties: COP-15) which will highlight the urgency of actions in support of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework that contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and places the global community on a path towards realizing the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity.
- Sustainable Goal 15 aims to “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.
4.1 India and Bangladesh on May 20, 2020 signed an agreement to operationalize five new ports of call and two new protocol routes
- The second Addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade was signed between India and Bangladesh. It will further facilitate the trade with improved reliability and cost effectiveness.
- Protocol on Transit and Trade: Both the countries have a long standing and time-tested Protocol on Transit and Trade through inland waterways which was first signed in 1972. It was last renewed in 2015 for five years with a provision for its automatic renewal for a further period of five years.
- Second Addendum to the Protocol: It includes new Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes and declaration of new Ports of Call to facilitate trade between the two countries.
- Routes: As per the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country. Under the Protocol, 50:50 cargo sharing of both the countries’ vessels is permitted for transit and inter country trade. The number of IBP routes has been increased from 8 to 10.
- Inclusion of new routes –
- Sonamura-Daudkandi stretch of Gumti river in the Protocol will improve the connectivity of Tripura and adjoining States with Indian and Bangladesh's economic centres.
- Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi Route and its extension up to Aricha, Bangladesh will help the augmentation of infrastructure in Bangladesh. It will also decongest the Land Custom Stations on both sides.
- Port of Call: A port of call is an intermediate port where ships customarily stop. There were six Ports of Call Kolkata, Haldia, Pandu, Karimganj, Silghat and Dhubari in India and Narayanganj, Khulan, Mongla, Sirajganj, Ashuganj and Pangaon in Bangladesh. Five new ports of call - Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogigopha are on the Indian side while Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad are on the Bangladesh side. Two extended Ports of Call i.e. Tribeni (Bandel), West Bengal and Badarpur, Assam on Indian side and Ghorasal and Muktarpur on the Bangladesh side. Inclusion of Jogighopa in India and Bahadurabad in Bangladesh will provide connectivity to Meghalaya, Assam and Bhutan. Multimodal Logistics Park is proposed to be established in Jogighopa.
- Movement on shallow draft mechanized vessels: It would introduce trade between Chilmari (Bangladesh) and Dhubri (India) through the use of shallow draft mechanized vessels. This would allow export of stone chips and other Bhutanese and North East cargo to Bangladesh.
- Under this Protocol, the Indian transit cargo is mainly coal, fly-ash, Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC) for power projects in North East region. The other potential cargo for movement is fertilizers, cement, food grains, agricultural products, containerized cargo etc.
4.2 India gives US $ 2 million in aid to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) working for the welfare of Palestinian refugees.
4.3 World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that WHO will initiate an independent review into its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
4.4 Africa Day observed on May 25; foundation day of Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) in 1963.
5.1 Not Available Today
6.1 Weekly Roundup – Accidents, Natural and Manmade Disasters
- Online dashboard NMIS (National Migrant Information System) developed by NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) to monitor and facilitate movement of migrants across states.
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Airbus A320 plane coming from Lahore with 107 people on board crashes near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.
7.1 Not Available Today
8.1 Not Available Today
9.1 Agappe Chitra Magna, a magnetic nanoparticle-based RNA extraction kit
- SCTIMST, Trivandrum announced commercial launch of Agappe Chitra Magna, a magnetic nanoparticle-based RNA extraction kit for use during testing for detection of COVID-19.
- The kit was developed Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum along with Cochin-based Agappe Diagnostics Ltd.
- DST’s Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bangalore develops cup-shape design mask that helps to create enough space in front of the mouth while speaking.
10.1 WEF's global energy transition index
- India has moved up two positions to rank 74th on a global 'Energy Transition Index' (ETI) with improvements on all key parameters of economic growth, energy security and environmental sustainability, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said recently.
- Sweden has topped the ETI for the third consecutive year and is followed by Switzerland and Finland in the top three.
- For India, gains have come from a government-mandated renewable energy expansion programme, now extended to 275 GW by 2027.
- India has also made significant strides in energy efficiency through bulk procurement of LED bulbs, smart meters, and programs for labelling of appliances.
- Similar measures are being experimented to drive down the costs of electric vehicles, the WEF said.
- The index benchmarks 115 economies on the current performance of their energy systems across economic development and growth, environmental sustainability, and energy security and access indicators- and their readiness for transition to secure, sustainable, affordable, and inclusive energy systems.
- The WEF said 94 economies have made progress since 2015, but environmental sustainability continues to lag.
- To read detailed report visit here - https://www.weforum.org/reports/fostering-effective-energy-transition-2020
- Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology is based in Dehradun.
- World Haemophilia Day was observed on April 17.
- Banks Board Bureau (BBB) was set up in the year 2016.
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami recently announced Mayiladuthurai as 38th district of the state.
- World Meteorological Organisation is based in Geneva.
10.3 Today's best editorials to read
- We offer you 7 excellent editorials from across 10 newspapers we have scanned.
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