Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 29-05-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 29-05-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. International Relations – MEA trying to solve the LAC issue with China calmly – Indian and Chinese sides remain “engaged” through diplomatic and military channels in Delhi and Beijing and at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in order to resolve the situation along the boundaries in Ladakh and Sikkim. Indicating that India would not accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between the two countries, it said the matter was being discussed bilaterally. While giving no details of the nature and extent of the standoff, which has been going on for weeks, the MEA said the contact between both sides on the issue included talks in “Delhi and Beijing”.
2. COVID-19 Updates – Govt. will focus on 13 rregions – As Lockdown 4.0 nears an end, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba held a meeting with Municipal Commissioners and District Magistrates of 13 regions which account for 70% of the total COVID-19 cases in the country. The areas of focus are Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Thane, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata/Howrah, Indore, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Chengalpattu and Thiruvallur. The country registered 7,227 new cases and 175 fatalities, according to the State Health Departments. The overall tally stood at 1,65,242 cases, including 89,624 active ones, and 4,707 deaths.
3. Terrorism/Kashmir – Security forces avert car-bombing in Pulwama – A 2019 Pulwama-style car-bombing by a suicide bomber was prevented in south Kashmir on Thursday, with security forces spotting the vehicle and later defusing over 40 kg of explosives. The militant, however, managed to escape. Timely action by security forces averted a major tragedy. A suicide attacker jumped two checkpoints before leaving a vehicle behind late on Wednesday in the Ayegund area of Rajpora, Pulwama.
4. Social – Blanket ban on sale of properties: TTD – The Board of Trustees of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) resolved to impose a blanket ban on the sale of all landed properties received as donations. The ban would come into force with immediate effect, and under no circumstances would the lands, house sites, flats or any other endowed property be allowed for sale. Speaking to presspersons after a meeting held through videoconference, TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy said the organisation was committed to safeguarding the properties of Lord Venkateswara.
5. World Politics – Asia – China passes controversial Hong Kong law – China’s Parliament passed new legislation for Hong Kong that will for the first time empower Beijing to draft national security laws for the Special Administrative Region (SAR). At the closing session of the annual National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, the draft legislation was passed overwhelmingly, with 2,878 votes for, one against and six abstentions in the Communist Party-controlled legislature. The law, called the “NPC Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security”, essentially empowers the NPC to draft new national security laws for Hong Kong. That could happen as early as June, when the NPC Standing Committee, which convenes every two months, holds its next sitting.
6. USA – Protests over the death of a Black Man in custody went violent – Demonstrators clashed with police, looted stores and set fires as a man was fatally shot during a second night of protests in the US city of Minneapolis over the killing of a black man by a police officer. Police fired tear gas and formed a human barricade to keep protesters from climbing a fence surrounding the Third Precinct, where the officers accused of killing George Floyd worked before they were fired. They pushed protesters back as the crowd grew, a day after firing rubber bullets and more tear gas on thousands of demonstrators angered by the latest death of an African-American at the hands of US law enforcement.
7. COVID-19 Updates - 6 local vaccine candidates identified, 30 groups on job – India has identified at least six local vaccine candidates with 30 groups trying to develop a vaccine for Covid-19. Besides, around 10 drugs are being repurposed for use in treatment of the disease and are under different stages of trials, the government said while also highlighting that it was working on guidelines to prioritise distribution of the vaccine once it is available. Underlining efforts by the scientific community and pharmaceutical companies to develop and manufacture vaccines, drugs and diagnostic kits locally to combat Covid-19, the government said science was the key weapon in the battle against the pandemic.
8. India-Nepal Relations – Nepal pushes for talks, India says need to create trust first – With Nepal insisting on foreign secretary-level talks to address the Kalapani border issue, even while simultaneously pushing through a constitutional amendment to validate its new map, India said it was important to create an environment of trust and confidence for dialogue. After the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, sought more time and the Madhesis demanded that the proposed amendment also address their concerns, the K P Oli government hasn’t been able to table the bill in parliament yet. India said it had noted this matter was receiving “careful consideration” in Nepal, taking into account its seriousness.
9. Indian Economy – FDI inflows surge 18% in 2019-20 to record $74bn – India’s FDI inflows, including reinvested earnings, rose 18% to a record $73.5 billion during 2019-20, buoyed by a spurt in inflows into computer hardware and software, telecom, and hotel and tourism, while services, the traditional mainstay, witnessed a decline. Excluding reinvested earnings, inflows were 14% higher at just a shade under $50 billion, which is also an all-time high. In fact, the large flows acted as a counterweight to low FII inflows during the year, which were estimated at $247 million (on a net basis) during the last financial year. The data naturally led to some celebration in government, given the overall gloomy economic situation and weak domestic investment.
10. Indian Economy – Ice cream cos start home delivery as sales dive 40% – The Indian ice cream industry has been hit so hard that major companies from Hindustan Unilever (HUL) to Mother Dairy have started delivering the frozen dessert to consumers’ homes to make up for lost ground. The industry, which was pegged at around Rs 17,639 crore in 2019 by Euromonitor, has lost a major chunk of its yearly sales due to the Covid-19 imposed lockdown and the absence of migrant workers, who man ice cream carts in several markets across the country.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	RBI	Medical Consultant	6	MBBS, PG	June 29, 2020	https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Content/PDFs/BMC2705202063B37051DFAE40EEB4535E97ABCD0B7B.PDF
2	BECIL	MTS	464	8th Class	June 15, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/05/Notification-BECIL-MTS-Posts.pdf
3	CIMFR	Technical Assistant	23	Diploma, Degree	July 25, 2020	http://cimfr.nic.in/upload_files/current_opportunity/1590495877_Final%20Advt.%2002-2020.pdf
4	NBPGR	Research Associate III, Project Associate I, Scientific Administrative Asst	12	Any Degree, PG, Ph.D	June 15, 2020	http://www.nbpgr.ernet.in/Downloadfile.aspx?EntryId=8942
5	Army Recruiting Office, Patial	Soldier	--	10th Class, Intermediate	July  16, 2020	http://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/BRAVO_NotificationPDF/PATIALA__RALLY_NOTIFICATION_2020.pdf
6	Dept of Women & Child Devlpt, Delhi	Member	6	--	June 10, 2020	http://www.wcddel.in/pdf/AdvNoticeDCPCR2020Member.pdf
7	NHM, Kolhapur	Medical Officer, Cardiologist, Anaesthesia	22	Degree, PG	May 30, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/05/Notification-PCMC-ASHA-Posts.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 Competition Commission of India (CCI) has started looking into allegations against Google.

• Google have allegations of abusing its market position to unfairly promote its mobile payments app (Google Pay) in the country.
• The complaint alleges that Google more prominently showcases its Google Pay app inside its Android app store in India which give it an unfair advantage over apps of competitors.
• Google Pay allows users to do digital transactions, inter-bank fund transfers and bill payments.
• Softbank-backed Paytm and Walmart’s PhonePe are its competitors. Facebook’s WhatsApp is also planning a similar service in the near future.
• Google has not responded to the allegations yet and is expected to respond in due course. 
• The CCI can direct its investigations unit to conduct a wider probe into the allegations or dismiss the case if it finds no merit in it after Google will appear before the CCI.
• This is Google’s third major antitrust challenge in India.
• In 2018, the CCI fined Google $21 million for ‘search bias’ - It was alleged that Google was indulging in abuse of a dominant position in the market for online search through practices leading to search bias and search manipulation.
• In 2019, the CCI started probing Google for allegedly misusing its dominant position to reduce the ability of smartphone manufacturers to opt for alternate versions of its Android mobile operating system.
• Competition Commission of India - It is a statutory body responsible for enforcing the objectives of the Competition Act, 2002. A Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government for it.
• Antitrust law, also referred to as Competition law, aims to protect trade and commerce from unfair restraints, monopolies and price-fixing. The Competition Act, 2002 is India’s antitrust law. It repealed and replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) on the recommendations of the Raghavan committee.
• The Competition Act, 2002 - It was passed in 2002 and was amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007. In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) were established.
• The government replaced COMPAT with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2017.

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

2.1 India awaiting its deepest recession 

• India’s economy will face its worst recession in 40 years, contracting by at least 5% this fiscal.
• March quarter GDP print, which are going to released soon will partially reflect the unfolding impact of the pandemic on the economy.
• S&P Global Ratings said the Indian economy will contract 5% in FY21
• The rating agencies made this prediction assuming that the ongoing outbreak in India will peak in the September quarter
• Swiss bank UBS said India’s economy could shrink 5.8% during the current financial year amid weaker-than-expected domestic economic activity and the ongoing global recession.
• Before to this, S&P’s Indian arm Crisil, Fitch Ratings and Goldman Sachs projected India’s economy to contract 5% in FY21.
• Although the government has eased restrictions and allowed businesses to restart operations, India’s more than two-month-long lockdown and flight of migrant workers from urban and industrial centres have crippled economic activity.  
• Goldman Sachs has pointed out that India’s stringent lockdown and tepid fiscal support, small compared with even other emerging economies, may lead to GDP contracting by a massive 45% in the June quarter.
• Big hit to growth would mean a large, permanent economic loss and deterioration in balance sheets throughout the economy. Is India awaiting its deepest recession?

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

3.1 World Bee Day celebrated on May 20

• Bees and other pollinators like bats, butterflies are gradually under the global threat of extinction due to human activities. According to experts, the survival of our ecosystem is largely dependent on the fundamental process of pollination. Most of the flowering plant species either entirely or partly are dependent on animal pollination. Not only that but pollinators also contribute towards food security and conserving biodiversity.
• Hence to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, World Bee Day is celebrated. Like every year, World Bee Day 2020 will be celebrated on May 20.
• World Bee Day 2020 will aim at strengthening measures to protect bees and other pollinators like every year. According to United Nations guidelines, World Bee Day aims at significantly contributing to solving problems related to the global food supply chain and eliminate hunger in developing countries.
• World Bee Day theme 2020  - World Bee Day 2020 theme is “Save the Bees” according to the UN. The theme of World Bee Day 2020 stresses the protection of bees and other pollinators. Not only that but the World Bee Day 2020 theme also aims at protecting the natural habitat of pollinators.
• On May 20, the pioneer of beekeeping Anton Jansa was born in 1734 in Slovenia hence every year this year is celebrated as World Bee Day. Approved by the United Nations, the First World Bee Day was celebrated on Sunday, May 20, 2018. World Bee Day 2020 falls on a Wednesday, this year. The purpose of the Bee Day is to acknowledge the role of bees in the ecosystem. The United Nations Member States approved the proposal of World Bee Day in December 2017.
• The World Bee Day is celebrated with a lot of gusto and enthusiasm in the world. A lot of organisations come together to conduct activities, workshops, and programmes which talk about the importance of the World Bee Day. Charity events are also conducted so that people can contribute towards preserving the species. Amid coronavirus pandemic, public events will not be organised on World Bee Day 2020 as lockdown is to be followed strictly as per government orders.

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

4.1 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attends Special Board of Governors meeting of Shanghai-based New Development Bank (NDB) through video-conferencing.

4.2 Brazil’s Marcos Troyjo replaces India’s K. V Kamath as the new President of NDB.

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

5.1 The Union Administration has extended Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) for a period of three years

• This social security scheme for senior citizens will now be valid till March 2023.
• Initially for the year 2020-21 an assured rate of return of 7.40% per annum will be provided and later it would be reset (Finance Minister will decide it) every year in line with the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS).
• The PMVVY was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Finance to offer a guaranteed payout of pension to senior citizens every month. The Scheme can be purchased offline or online through the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). Person with minimum age of 60 years upto no limit or maximum age can apply for the scheme. Maximum amount of Rs. 15 lakh can be invested. The tenure of policy is set at 10 years.
• Senior citizens can draw a minimum pension of Rs. 1,000 per month depending on the amount invested in the scheme. The maximum pension amount is limited at Rs. 10,000 per month.
• Pension will be payable as per the frequency of monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, yearly as chosen by the pensioner at the time of purchase. Aadhar has been made mandatory to avail the benefit of the scheme.
• Role of the Government - The Government’s financial liability is limited to the extent of the difference between the market return generated by LIC and the assured rate of return (7.4% for 2020-21). The pension is based on the assured rate of return. Loan upto 75% of Purchase Price shall be allowed after 3 policy years. The scheme is exempted from Goods & Services Tax (GST).

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Roundup – Defence

• Govt. implements recommendations on creating border infrastructure - Union Government has implemented Lt. General D B Shekatkar Committee’s recommendations related to creating border infrastructure. These were related to speeding up road construction leading to socio-economic development in the border areas. On the matter related to creating border infrastructure, the Centre has implemented recommendation to outsource road construction work beyond optimal capacity of Border Roads Organization. It has been made mandatory to adopt Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) mode for execution of all works costing more than 100 crore rupees.
• Govt mandates purchase of 26 military equipment only from domestic firms - The defence ministry on May 20, 2020 issued directives providing for procurement of 26 spares and equipment for military use only from domestic suppliers in sync with the government’s focus on encouraging indigenous defence manufacturing.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 ADB to provide $177 million loan for 450 km Maharashtra State Road Improvement Project.

7.2 Announcements by Finance Minister

• FM Nirmala Sitharaman launches facility of Instant PAN allotment through Aadhaar based e-KYC
• FM Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 22nd Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)

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

8.1 Over 2 lakhs medical, engineering aspirants downloaded National Test Abyaas App within 72 hours of launch by HRD Ministry’s National Testing Agency (NTA).

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

9.1 Not Available Today

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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 -

• India’s grid-connected solar power generation capacity till October 2019 was 31,696 Mega Watt.
• Megan Rapinoe won the 2019 Ballon d'Or for Women.
• Antonio Vitorino is the Director General of UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).
• Anjum Chopra, Krishnamachari Srikkanth won the 2019 CK Nayudu Lifetime Award given by the BCCI.
• Parasite was the Best Foreign Language Film at the 77th Golden Globe awards given in Los Angeles in January 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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