Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 11-06-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 11-06-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. India-China Standoff 2020 – India, China start tough negotiations – India and China kicked off another round of military talks, with the two sides engaging in ‘tough negotiations’ towards de-escalating the ongoing troop confrontation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since May. The talks, led by Leh-based 3 Infantry Division commander Major General Abhijit Bapat from the Indian side, will be followed by a series of meets between brigadier and colonel level officers. Indian Army also remains concerned about major military build-up by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with over 7,000 troops, artillery guns and tanks, within its own territory along the LAC.
2. Environment and Ecology – Gir lions up 29% to 674 in 5 years –India has recorded a 29% increase in the population of Asiatic lions, living in Gujarat’s Gir forests, over the past five years with their numbers going up from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020. The period also saw a 36% rise in the distribution area of the lions—from 22,000sq km in 2015 to 30,000sq km in 2020. Currently, Asiatic lions are found in protected areas and agro-pastoral landscape of Saurashtra, covering nine districts of Gujarat. Over the last several years, lion population in Gujarat has been steadily rising. This is powered by community participation, emphasis on technology, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat management and steps to minimise human-lion conflict.
3. Environment and Ecology – Lonar lake turns pink, scientists probe the cause – In an interesting phenomenon, the 56,000-year-old Lonar crater sanctuary lake in Buldhana district has turned dark pink, almost red. The 77.69 hectare lake area is part of the Lonar sanctuary, which is spread across 3.66sqkm. It is famous as the world’s largest basaltic impact crater. Two similar ones are in Dhala and Ramgarh, in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, respectively. The reason for the unique colour is not fully understood by scientists, although many suspect it has to do something with the presence of Dunaliella salina microalgae.
4. International Relations – Modi, Netanyahu discuss cooperation in vaccines – Even as the Covid-19 pandemic rages, India and Israel are taking the next steps together in vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for the highly infectious disease. In a conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two leaders “reviewed other important topics on the bilateral agenda, and agreed that the post-Covid world would create further avenues for mutually beneficial partnerships in many areas”. The phone call was preceded by PM Modi talking to Cambodian President Hun Sen.
5. Environment and Ecology: Assam Oil Spill and Fire – Assam eco zone suffers ‘catastrophic’ damage – The Maguri-Motapung Beel (wetlands, in Assamese) is 500m away from the oil well that exploded; the 340 sq km protected area of the Dibru Saikhowa National Park 800m. The oil spill and fire have had a catastrophic effect on biodiversity zones around the site. And restoration could take years. The Dibru river is full of dead fish. Two days ago, Gangetic river dolphins floated up. A thin film of oil has covered the river. The wetland hosts 80 fish species, and 300 bird species every year. Of those, six are vulnerable species (like the Swamp Francolin and the Marsh Babbler), two endangered (Greater Adjutant and Pallas’s Fish-eagle) and six critically endangered (like Baer’s Pochard, Red-headed Vulture and White-bellied Heron). BirdLife International had recognised it as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area in 1996 — it is one of 12,000 in the world.
6. COVID-19 Updates – Govt lifts HCQ export ban; 20% domestic supply must –  The government approved the lifting of ban on export of hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug popular for its prophylactic use against Covid-19. The department of pharmaceuticals has approved the lifting of ban on export of hydroxychloroquine API as well as formulations. Manufacturers except SEZ/EOU units have to supply 20% production in the domestic market. DGFT has been asked to issue formal notification in this regard. The government had banned export of the drug and its formulations in April after India approved its use as a prophylaxis in select categories for prevention against Covid-19. The pharma industry said lifting the export ban will ensure ease of doing business.
7. COVID-19 Updates - The World Reopens, Despite Skyrocketing Coronavirus Cases – Two months ago, when there were roughly one million confirmed coronavirus cases and the primal politics of survival was sweeping the world, shutting down was the order of the day. This week, the number of cases soared past seven million, with 136,000 new infections detected on June 7 alone, the highest single-day total since the pandemic began. The order of the day? Reopening. Terrified after watching economies built over the course of decades hollow out in a matter of weeks, countries seem to be saying, in effect: Enough. For health officials who have been watching the virus with alarm as it began claiming a foothold in continent after continent, it is a dizzying moment.
8. World Politics – Swedish prosecutors close Olof Palme murder inquiry after 34 years – Swedish authorities have closed their 34-year investigation into the unsolved murder of prime minister Olof Palme, naming a graphic designer at an insurance company as the probable killer but saying he could not be prosecuted because he was now dead. Palme, 59, was shot in the back, at close range, at 11.21 pm on 28 February 1986 as he was walking home from a cinema in central Stockholm with his wife Lisbet. The assailant disappeared into a side street, prompting a huge but abortive manhunt and an investigation that has gripped Sweden for three decades.
9. World Politics – Israel court strikes down law legalising settlement homes – Israel’s Supreme Court struck down a contentious law that sought to retroactively legalise thousands of West Bank settlement homes built unlawfully on private Palestinian land. Israel’s parliament passed the law in February 2017, but it was frozen by the Supreme Court shortly thereafter while it heard petitions against it. The court’s decision was criticised by the ruling prosettlement Likud party, but welcomed by its coalition partners in the Blue and White party, exposing a rift in the fragile new government. According to the law, Palestinian landowners would be compensated either with money or alternative land, even if they didn’t agree to give up their property. Most of the global community considers Israel’s West Bank settlements illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.
10. Indian Economy – S&P retains India's sovereign rating at 'BBB-'; keeps outlook stable – S&P retained India's sovereign rating at 'BBB-' with a stable outlook, saying that while risks to growth are rising, the economy and fiscal position will stabilise and begin to recover from 2021 onwards. India's long-term rating was affirmed at 'BBB-' with a stable outlook while the short-term rating was held at 'A-3'. S&P has forecast India's economy to shrink by 5 per cent this fiscal.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	IBPS	Professor, Associate & Asst Prof., Faculty Res.	29	Degree/ PG/ Ph.D	June 30, 2020	https://www.ibps.in/wp-content/uploads/Advertisement-Various-Posts-in-IBPS.pdf
2	Karnataka Bank	System Architect, Tech Lead, Proj. Head, Head	5	BE/ MCA/ MBA	June 20, 2020	https://karnatakabank.com/sites/default/files/2020-06/KBL-Ad-Specialised%20Category-2020.pdf
3	IES/ ISS	IES/ ISS	47	Degree/ PG	June 30, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/06/Notification-UPSC-ISS-Exam-2020.pdf
4	MPEDA	Quality Control Trainee	7	PG	June 25, 2020	https://www.mpeda.gov.in/MPEDA/admin/app/webroot/files/opening/Post_252335977_1591766894.pdf
5	Vigyan Prasar Science Portal	Project Consultant, Project Manager	21	Any Degree, Diploma, PG	June 21, 2020	https://vigyanprasar.gov.in/recruitment-science-channel/
6	HMT Machine Tools Ltd	Apprentice	36	ITI, Diploma, Degree	June 16, 2020	http://www.hmtmachinetools.com/2020/NOTICE_APPRENTICE.pdf
7	CSIR-CSMCRI	Project Associate I	9	B.E./ B. Tech, M. Sc	July 3, 2020	https://www.csmcri.res.in/jobs/project-associate-i-advt-no-csir-csmcriftt-mmp2020-21

 

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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 Weekly Round-up – Constitution and Law

• SC reserves order on the Suo Motu case registered on the issue of migrants crisis, to pass further direction on June 9. Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah
• SC passes interim orders – No coercive against employers for failure to comply with March 29 order of MHA for full payment of wages. Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah
• SC dismisses CBI’s review petition against bail granted to P. Chidambaram in INX Media Case.
• Bhima Koregaon: SC stays Gautam Navlakha’s bail proceedings before Delhi High Court. Bench of Justice Arun Mishra, Abdul Nazeer and Indira Banerjee
• SC calls for common plan for regulation of movement of individuals within NCR, directs three stake holders – UP Government, Haryana Government and Delhi Government to devise plan. Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah
• Central government says no separate probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) required to be initiated in the Nizammuddin Markaz Issue: SC
• Article 113 Limitation Act – Limitation period begins to run when the right to sue accrues and not when it ‘First’ accrues: SC. Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Indira Banerjee and Dinesh Maheshwari
• SC raises concerns over RBI allowing levy of interest during moratorium. Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan, SK Kaul and MR Shah
• Unsafe to convict an accused solely on the basis of uncorroborated testimony of accomplice: SC
• SC dismisses appeal by AP government challenging HC order directing removal of flag of YSRCP from government and Panchayati buildings. Bench of Justice L Nageshwar Rao, Krishna Murari and Ravindra Bhat

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

2.1 Mercer’s ‘2020 Cost of Living Survey’

• Mumbai is India’s most expensive city for expatriates and 60th most expensive city for expatriates globally, while it ranks 19th in Asia.
• The global list was topped by Hong Kong, followed by Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) in second position.
• New Delhi (101st globally) and Chennai (143rd globally).
• Bengaluru (171) and Kolkata (185) are the least expensive Indian cities in the rankings
• Japan's Tokyo and Switzerland's Zurich remain in the third and fourth positions, respectively.
• Singapore is in fifth position, down two places from last year.
• United States' New York City at sixth place, China's Shanghai at seventh, Switzerland's Bern and Geneva at eighth and ninth place, respectively, and Beijing at the tenth slot.
• On the other hand, Tunis in Tunisia, Windhoek (Namibia), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Karachi (Pakistan) were ranked at the bottom as the least expensive cities in the world.
• The survey is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation strategies for their expatriate employees.
• New York City is used as the base city for all comparisons and currency movements are measured against the US dollar.
• This year's ranking includes 209 cities across five continents. 
  

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

3.1 Gir lions up 29% to 674 in 5 years

• News -

1. In these times of Covid crisis, wildlife conservationists have something to cheer about. 
2. India has recorded a 29% increase in the population of Asiatic lions, living in Gujarat’s Gir forests, over the past five years with their numbers going up from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020.

• Area of distribution increased too -

1. The period also saw a 36% rise in the distribution area of the lions—from 22,000sq km in 2015 to 30,000sq km in 2020. Currently, Asiatic lions are found in protected areas and agro-pastoral landscape of Saurashtra, covering nine districts of Gujarat.

• PM Modi’s tweet

1. Over the last several years, lion population in Gujarat has been steadily rising. This is powered by community participation, emphasis on technology, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat management and steps to minimise human -lion conflict. Hope this positive trend continues - PM Modi tweeted.

• 309 females, 206 males and  137 cubs among Gir Asiatic lions -

1. The increase in lion count this year shows one of the highest growth rates so far.
2. Last year, India had reported similar encouraging figures on tiger population.
3. The country had recorded highest ever increase of 33% in its tiger population — from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018.
4. Poonam Avlokan of Asiatic Lions - The data on the population of Asiatic lions has been compiled under ‘Poonam Avlokan of Asiatic Lions’—an exercise conducted by the Gujarat forest department on June 5-6, using block count method in the cluster of villages.
5. The department deployed 1,400 personnel for the exercise in the Asiatic lion landscape.  
6. They used GPS location, number of individual identification marks, radio-collar numbers and statistical software to arrive at the figures.
7. The population estimation of Asiatic lions is conducted at an interval of five years. 
8. The last population estimation was done in May 2015 which pegged the lion numbers at 523, an increase of 27% over the 2010 estimation. 
9. The latest figures on the population structure show 309 females, 206 males, 137 cubs and 22 unidentified lions in the population of 674.
10. India had in 1968 recorded only 177 lions.

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

4.1 Not Available Today

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

5.1 Rozgar Setu Portal – Madhya Pradesh government launched Rozgar Setu portal to find employment for migrant workers.

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Roundup – Corporate World

• Mubadala to invest Rs 9093.60 cr for a 1.85% stake in Jio Platforms - Reliance Industries and Jio Platforms announced on June 5, 2020 that Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), the Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor, will invest Rs 9,093.60 crore for 1.85% equity stake in Jio Platforms. With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 87,655.35 crore from leading global technology and growth investors including Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR and Mubadala in less than six weeks.
• YES Bank acquires 24.19% stake in Dish TV through pledged shares - Private sector lender YES Bank has acquired 24.19 per cent in direct-to-home (DTH) company Dish TV. The bank’s move to pick up a stake in Dish TV comes following an invocation of pledged shares to the tune of 445.3 million in the firm. The bank became the second-largest shareholder in Dish TV. The promoter family, led by Jawahar Goel, brother of Essel group promoter Subhash Chandra, now owns 30.37 per cent in Dish TV.

 

• CPCL, IOCL JV to set up 9-MMTPA refinery in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu - The board of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (CPCL) has given in-principle approval for the incorporation of a JV with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) for implementing a 9-MMTPA refinery project in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The estimated cost of the joint venture is approximately ₹28,983 crore. In the JV, IOCL and CPCL will together hold 50% stake (about 25% stake each) and the balance 50% will be held by financial/strategic/public investors.
• Mastercard, Axis Bank tie up to bring POS machines to smartphones - Digital payment giant MasterCard has tied up with Axis Bank and French payment service provider Worldline, to bring the functionality of Point of Sale devices onto android smartphones of small merchants in India. The aim is to expand acceptance infrastructure for contactless card payments in the Indian market by reducing costs of physical deployments by replacing swipe machines with an application on their NFC enabled smartphones.
• Facebook Inc to start labelling govt-controlled media organisations - Facebook Inc will start labelling Russian, Chinese and other state-controlled media organisations, and later this summer will block any ads from such outlets that target U.S. users, it said on June 4, 2020. Organisations targeted by Facebook include Russia’s Sputnik, Iran’s Press TV and China’s Xinhua News. Facebook will not label any U.S.-based news organisations, as it determined that even U.S. government-run outlets have editorial independence. Facebook has acknowledged its failure to stop Russian use of its platforms to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The new measure comes just months ahead of the November U.S. presidential election. Facebook will not use the label for media outlets affiliated with individual political figures or parties.
• Google pledges $37 million to fight racism - Google CEO Sundar Pichai has pledged $37 million to fight racism in the wake of a nationwide protest in the U.S. against the custodial killing of African-American George Floyd. The company would be giving $12 million in funding to organisations working to address racial inequities and $25 million in AdGrants to help organisations fighting racial injustice provide critical information.
• Kylie Jenner tops Forbes 2020 list of World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities - Kylie Jenner topped the annual Forbes 2020 list of World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities. Forbes compiled the list by estimating pre-tax earnings from June 2019-June 2020, before deducting fees for managers. 22-year old Jenner earned $590 million in the last 12 months, mostly from the sale of a 51% stake in her Kylie Cosmetics line to Coty in 2019. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, 52-year-old, is the only Indian to feature on the list with earnings of 48.5 million dollars.

• Biocon MD Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year - Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon Limited, has been named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year for 2020. The Biocon MD is the third winner from India after Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra.

• DLF’s K P Singh retires at 90, son Rajiv Singh to take over reins - Kushal Pal Singh, the face of India’s largest listed real estate firm DLF, on June 4, 2020 stepped down from the chairmanship of the company at the age of 90. He will be replaced by son Rajiv Singh, currently serving as vice chairman. The nonagenarian will, however, continue in a non-executive role as chairman emeritus. Singh had left an army job in 1961 to join DLF — a company started by his father-in-law in 1946 — and took over as chairman in 1995. Under his leadership, DLF expanded beyond Gurugram, building apartments, shopping malls, and hotels. In 2007, he oversaw DLF’s much-anticipated initial public offering, which raised Rs 9,188 crore through the sale of 175 million shares.

• L&T: A. M. Naik reappointed non-executive chairman for 3 yrs from Oct 1 - Engineering and construction giant Larsen & Toubro on June 6, 2020 said its board has given nod for reappointment of A M Naik as non-executive chairman of the company for a period of three years from October 1, 2020.

 

• Uday Kotak sells 2.9% stake in Kotak Mahindra Bank - Uday Kotak, promoter of Kotak Mahindra Bank, sold 2.93% stake in the bank for ₹6,900 crore in the secondary market on June 2, 2020. Kotak Mahindra Bank is required to dilute promoter stake to 26% under RBI rules. Prior to the transaction on June 2, Uday Kotak had 29.63% share in the bank. His voting rights have been capped at 15% with effect from April 1, 2020, despite his actual shareholding being higher, as per the agreement with RBI.
• Uday Kotak assumes office as president of CII for 2020-21 - Uday Kotak, MD & CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank, on June 3, 2020 assumed office as president of the Confederation of Indian Industry for the year 2020-21. Additionally, Sanjiv Bajaj, chairman and MD of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., has taken over as the vice-president of CII.
  

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Government extends validity of motor vehicle documents till Sept 30

• The government, on June 9, further extended the validity date of motor vehicle documents till September 30, 2020.
• These include documents such as validity of fitness, permit (all types), driving license, registration or any other concerned documents.  
• This is the second time the government has extended this deadline due to the lockdown.
• Earlier, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the government had extended the validity of documents related to motor vehicle till June 30, 2020.

7.2 Uttar Pradesh Cow Slaughter Prevention Act amend

• News –

1. The Yogi Adityanath cabinet has approved the Cow-Slaughter Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. 

• Details – 

1. The proposed law now includes a penal provision of imprisonment up to seven years for physical damage to the cow, and fine up to Rs three lakh in cases related to cow slaughter.
2. The cabinet has amended the Cow Slaughter Act, 1955 to make cow slaughter act more robust and effective.
3. The Section 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955 (amended) suggests punishment for transportation of bovine animals.
4. It also attracts punishment if there is a danger to their lives through physical damage or mutilation.  
5. If someone puts the life of cow in danger by not providing food and water with the intention of endangering their life, rigorous imprisonment may be awarded for at least one year, which may extend to seven years.
6. The expenditure incurred on the maintenance of the captured cows will be recovered from the owner of the vehicle for a period of one year or until the cow or bovine is released, whichever is earlier, according to the proposed legislation.
7. In case someone is found guilty of an offence under the new act, after conviction he shall be punished with double penalty provided for this offence for second conviction.
8. The promulgation of this ordinance will enable the conservation and preservation of bovines effectively.
   

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

8.1 NCERT and Rotary India sign MoU for e-learning content

• Telecast for class 1-12 will be on NCERT TV channels.
• Content currently available in Hindi and Punjabi.
• The MoU is signed under the program Vidya Daan 2.0. 

8.2 PSU BECIL floats tender to empanel agencies to fight fake news and misinformation on social media

• News – 

1. The Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has floated a tender for empanelment of agencies providing solutions and services related to "fact verification and disinformation detection" on social media platforms. 
2. The move comes amid a number of initiatives of the government to crackdown on "fake news" and disinformation.

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

9.1 Twitter launches test feature ‘fleets’ in India for tweets that disappear

• News – Twitter launched a new test feature called ‘Fleets in India’, on the lines of ‘Stories’ in Instagram or Facebook, to allow users post messages that would disappear after 24 hours.

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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 -

• Former hockey player Balbir Singh Sr. died in Mohali in May 2020 at the age of 95. He was honoured with Padma Shri.
• Rs. 15 lakhs is the investment limit for an individual under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), a social security scheme for senior citizens.
• Arif Alvi is the President of Pakistan.
• Jineth Bedoya Lima won the 2020 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. He is a journalist from Colombia.
• Mukhisa Kituyi is the Secretary General of UNCTAD.

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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