Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 04-07-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 04-07-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Internal Security – Age of expansionism is over, PM says in Ladakh – Without referring to China directly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Ladakh that the “age of expansionism” was over and countries across the world were now witnessing the era of development. In a surprise visit to Ladakh, 17 days after Chinese troops killed 20 jawans in Galwan Valley, the Prime Minister said India’s determination to protect its territory was “as high as the Himalayas”. Mr. Modi’s visit came after three round of talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders to end contentious and violent face-offs between their troops. There are also reports of both countries building up troop levels along the boundary even as the talks continue.
2. Crime – 8 U.P. policemen killed during raid – Eight policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent, were in an ambush at Uttar Pradesh’s Bikru village in Kanpur during an operation to arrest an accused. Uttar Pradesh DGP H.C. Awasthi said eight policemen had died while five other policemen, one homeguard and a civilian were injured, after the assailants opened fired at the police team from the rooftops when they reached the village under the Chaubeypur police station. The team had gone to arrest Vikas Dubey, who faces 60 criminal cases, based on a complaint of attempt to murder against him, said Mr. Awasthi.
   
3. COVID-19 Updates – Plasma donation can’t be made mandatory: HC – The Delhi High Court observed that plasma donation cannot be made mandatory and it cannot be made a precondition for accessing COVID-19 treatment. A Bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan underscored the “voluntariness” involved in the donation exercise by recovered patients while hearing a petition. The plea filed by advocate and social worker Piyush Gupta sought to make it mandatory for all hospitals to obtain plasma from recovered patients — both those admitted in hospitals as well as others in home quarantine — by framing proper guidelines. While declining to entertain the petition, the Bench asked the government to treat it as representation and decide on suggestions made in it in accordance with the law.
   
4. COVID-19 Updates – ICMR’s Aug 15 deadline to vaccine maker stirs a row – An Indian Council of Medical Research letter that sought fast-tracking of approvals relating to clinical trials and spoke of the launch of a vaccine by August 15 stirred the medical and scientific community, with questions being asked on how such deadlines could be adhered to given the complexity and time required for trials on humans. A vaccine candidate by Bharat Biotech received approval to enter initial phases of human clinical trials only earlier this week. In a letter to Bharat Biotech and chosen hospitals for trials, ICMR director general Balram Bhargava advised “to fast-track all approvals related to initiation of the clinical trial and ensure that the subject enrolment is initiated no later than July 7” in view of the public health emergency and “urgency to launch the vaccine”.
5. India Social – Covid pushes JEE Main & Advanced, NEET to Sept – The JEE (Main and Advanced) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG) for admission to engineering and medical courses have been postponed to September in view of the surge in Covid-19 infections across the the country. The decision was taken on Friday on a recommendation of the expert committee set up by the HRD ministry. Computer-based multi-session JEE (Main) will be conducted from September 1-6 while JEE (Advanced) —for admission to IITs—will be held on September 27. The pen-paper mode NEET-UG will be held on September 13.
   
6. World Politics – UK grants asylum to ex-staffer at its Hong Kong consulate –  A former employee at the British consulate in Hong Kong has been granted political asylum in what he believes is the first successful UK asylum case from the former British colony. Simon Cheng, who alleges that he was detained and tortured in China last year, told The Associated Press that he hopes his successful application encourages other democracy activists from the semi-autonomous Chinese territory to seek protection in the UK as Beijing clamps down on the city's protest movement.
   
7. Natural Disasters – Over 2 lakh flood-hit return home – The flood situation in Assam improved, but one more person drowned to take the death toll to 35 since May 22. Landslips killed 24 more during this period. The person drowned in the Athani area of Dhubri district. The scenario, otherwise, is better with more than 2.76 lakh people having returned to their villages and localities during the last 24 hours. The floods affected 13.27 lakh people across 20 districts. The number of people in relief camps has reduced. Compared to 12,597 inmates across 93 relief camps on July 2, there were 11,741 people in 92 shelters till the time of reporting. The Brahmaputra and three of its tributaries, officials said, were flowing above the danger mark, but at fewer stretches than before.
8. World Politics – Turkey trial of Saudi suspects in Jamal Khashoggi murder begins – A Turkish court has opened the trial of 20 Saudi nationals indicted over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The trial began at Istanbul province's main court in Caglayan district. Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post columnist, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, after he entered the premises to obtain paperwork for his planned marriage.
   
9. World Politics – France's Macron picks Jean Castex as PM after Philippe resigns – The president swiftly named centre-right mayor Jean Castex to lead a new team of ministers after a reshuffle. Although Mr Philippe was considered more popular than the president, the ruling party had poor local election results at the weekend. President Macron promised a "new path" in an interview published. Mr Philippe met the president early in the morning and they agreed the government would resign. A reshuffle has been expected for some time, and it is common practice for a French president to replace a prime minister during the five-year term in office known as the "quinquennat".
   
10. Indian Economy – Govt’s new MSME push: providing credit to individual entrepreneurs – The government is set to make changes in the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) to enable lending to individual entrepreneurs, who comprise a large chunk of the over 6.3 crore MSMEs across the country. As of June 26, banks have sanctioned loans to 30.11 lakh MSMEs and disbursed it to 11.21 lakh such enterprises — which is roughly 4.75 per cent and 1.77 per cent, respectively, of total 6.33 crore MSMEs in the country.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Panchmahal District Coop Bank Ltd.	General Manager, Deputy General Manager, Jr Officer	155	BBA, MBA, M.Com, ICWA, CA	July 14, 2020	https://panchmahaldistrictbank.com/admin05082019/assets/images/upload/documents/qNKm20200702135944.pdf
2	Nanded Merchants Coop Bank Ltd	Chief Executive Officer, Software Engineer	7	Degree/ PG /CDAC/ CCNA	July 10, 2020	https://www.nmcbank.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NMC_RE.pdf
3	SCTIMST	Apprentice (X-Ray Technology)	5	Diploma	July 18, 2020	https://www.sctimst.ac.in/Recruitment/resources/APPRENTICE%20IN%20X%20-%20RAY%20TECHNOLOGY,%20DATE%20&%20TIME%2018.07.2020%20-%2009.00%20AM.pdf
4	Sports Authority of India	Sr Research Officer, ARO, Research Office	14	Degree	July 20, 2020	http://www.rmrims.org.in/PDF2020/July_1_2020.pdf
5	RIE, Ajmer	Visual Analyser, Lab Assistant, JPF	11	B.Ed, B,Sc, PG Degree/ Dip.	July 15, 2020	http://www.rieajmer.raj.nic.in/Home/InfoDisplay.aspx?N_typ=Tg==&NewsID=MjMxMA==
6	NTA	NEET (UG) 2020	--	12th Class	Dec. 31, 2020	https://ntaneet.nic.in/Ntaneet/ShowPdf.aspx?Type=50C9E8D5FC98727B4BBC93CF5D64A68DB647F04F&ID=1B6453892473A467D07372D45EB05ABC2031647A
7	Bihar Police	Sepoy	551	10+2	August 3, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/07/Notification-Bihar-Police-Sepoy-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 Knowledge of English doesn't determine intelligence: BCI expresses support for CLAT exam in regional languages

• The Bar Council of India (BCI) has constituted a committee to consider the viability of conducting the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for admissions into National Law Schools in regional languages, in addition to English.
• The BCI move comes after the Delhi High Court directed the Statutory Body to consider the demand made by Pratham Koushik, Naveen Koushik and Arun Bharadwaj for conducting CLAT in regional languages.
• In a letter addressed to the petitioners before the Delhi HC, the BCI has shown its inclination to conduct CLAT in regional languages and opined that "as the knowledge or lack of English language does not determine ones intelligence, ability, acumen, dedication, IQ etc., therefore, prima-facie the exam should be conducted in vernacular languages too. In fact the Bar Council of India conducts All India Bar Examination in 11 languages including English."
• In furtherance of such an endeavor, it is informed that the BCI has constituted a 7 member committee comprising of representatives of Law Schools and other stakeholders.
• Thus acknowledging its role as the regulator of legal education in the country, BCI has communicated that it will look to ensure that no deserving candidate is deprived a shot at cracking CLAT.
• Furthermore, it is informed that the Committee will consider the feasibility of rescheduling this year's CLAT to accommodate only those applicants who may wish to take the Test in a regional language.
• The seven member committee will consist of former and sitting Vice-Chancellors of National Law Universities, academicians and two members of BCI. 
• The committee will be headed by a Former Chief Justice of a High Court.

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

2.1 India opens space sector to private players

• Key point -

1. Government has announced a new organization, IN-SPACe, part of reforms to increase private participation in the space sector.

• News in detail -

1. The Cabinet approved the newly formed Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), which will act as an arm of the ISRO.
2. IN-SPACe will provide “a level playing field” to private companies in the country’s space programmes.
3. Though policies and good regulatory practices, IN-SPACe, in consultation with ISRO, will also guide and promote the private companies in their endeavour in space activities after assessing their needs and demands.
4. Private players are also allowed to use ISRO’s infrastructure, scientific and technical resources, and even data for their space programmes.
5. India currently conducts all its launches on ISRO rockets—different versions of PSLV and GSLV.
6. The newly created centre will be an interface between ISRO and private players to facilitate the best use of resources.
7. ISRO will focus more on research and development activities, new technologies, exploration missions and human spaceflight programme.
8. Right now a lot of ISRO’s resources are being consumed by routine activities, which is causing a delay in its strategic objectives.
9. If private companies take over these activities, organisations like ISRO and NASA can more focus on space exploration by carrying out scientific missions.

• Private players in Indian space programmes -

1. Until now there was limited participation from private industries in India’s space sector.
2. It was restricted mainly to the manufacturing and fabrication of rockets and satellites.
3. There is some, of late increasing, involvement from research institutes also.
4. So far, Indian private companies were unable to compete because their roles have been limited mainly to supply component and sub-systems.
5. Even they lack resources and technology to handle independent space programmes the way companies like SpaceX in the US have been doing.

• Data analysis -

1. According to ISRO, Indian industry accounts for a mere 3% in the rising $360-billion global space market.
2. Rockets and satellite launch accounts for just 2% of it. Programmes like satellite-based services and ground-based system control the rest of the market. 

2.2 National Charted Accountants Day 2020

• Highlights -

1. Charted Accountants Day or CA Day is celebrated on July 1 every year to commemorate the finding of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) by the parliament of India in 1949.
2. ICAI is India's national professional accounting body and also the second biggest accounting organization in the world.
3. Every year on the day of the establishment of the ICAI, CA Day is celebrated to honor the Chartered Accountant.
4. The ICAI is the sole licensing and regulatory body for the financial audit and accounting profession in India, and its recommendations are followed by everyone - from the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) to companies and accounting organizations.

• PM Modi’s views on CA Day 2020 -

1. Our industrious CA community has a major role to play in ensuring a healthy and transparent economy. Their services to the nation are deeply valued. 
2. Indian chartered accountants are known worldwide for their higher understanding and financial skills.
3. There are four purushartha in our Shastras - Dharma, Artha, Kaam and Moksha. When we discuss Dharma and Moksha, sages come to the foreview, similarly, chartered accountants are responsible to show the correct path for economy related subjects.
4. Calling Chartered Accountants the "architects of the nation’s economy", Prime Minister Modi likened them to doctors, as they devote their lives to uplift the economic health of an entire country.

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

3.1 Not Available Today

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

4.1 Important news across the world

• International Day of Parliamentarism observed on June 30; Geneva-based IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) founded on this day in 1889
• China to join UN Arms Trade Treaty that is designed to control the flow of weapons into conflict zones
• UN raises $7.7 billion in humanitarian aid for Syria, Germany provides highest share of $1.78 billion
• Drug Discovery Hackathon jointly launched by Union Ministers Dr Harsh Vardhan and Ramesh Pokhriyal to find cure for SARS-CoV-2
• Defence Ministry approves procurement of 12 Su-30MKIs from HAL and 21 MiG-29s from Russia.

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

5.1 Not Available Today

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Arts, Culture, History - Purandara Dasa

• News -

1. Karnataka Government took efforts to solve mystery over the birthplace of Purandara Dasa.

• Details -  

1. Purandara Dasa is hailed as father figure of Carnatic music and there are many speculations regarding his birthplace.
2. ‘Purandara Vithala’ was the pen name of his compositions.
3. It was believed that the mystic poet was born in Purandharagad, Maharashtra.
4. To explore definitive archaeological evidences that may put an end to these speculations, the Department of Archaeology, Heritage and Museums will soon start field research work at Keshavapura in Araga Grama Panchayat of Tirthahalli taluk in Karnataka.
5. According to historians, Araga in Malnad was a commercial centre during the Vijayanagar kingdom, the period to which he belonged to.
6. Referring to the names of the places in the vicinity of Keshavapura namely Varthepura, Vithalanagundi, Dasanagadde, it was argued that these places were inhabited by merchant community influenced by the
7. Vaishnava tradition to which Purandara Dasa belonged.
8. Prior to his initiation to Haridasa tradition, Purandara Dasa was a rich merchant and was called as Srinivasa Nayaka.
9. Puranadara Dasa was born in Malnad points out that ‘Nayaka’ title was attributed to locally influential people, including wealthy merchants in Malnad during the Vijayanagar rule.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 National Doctor's Day 2020

•  Highlights -

1. India celebrates National Doctor's Day on July 1 every year, on this day doctors across the country are honoured for their relentless service.
2. The National Doctor's Day is celebrated in the memory of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, a former Chief Minister of West Bengal and a well-known physician. He was born on July 1, 1882 and died on the same date in 1962, aged 80 years.
3. Dr Roy was honoured with the country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, on February 4, 1961. In 1991, India started celebrating the National Doctor's Day in honour of Dr Roy as a great physician.
4. This day is like a tribute to all medical and healthcare professionals who have attended to patients and did their bit for the society irrespective of all odds.
5. Though, Doctor’s Day is observed on different dates across the world, in the United States it is observed on the March 30, on the August 23 in Iran and in Cuba on December 3.
6. This year, the day seeks to thank all doctors and medical professionals for their service against the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
7. According to IMA, National Doctor’s Day of 2020 is of prime importance, and it encourages every member of IMA and the local branch to take a lead in their area to fight the virus.

• National Doctor’s Day 2020: Theme

1. ‘Lessen the mortality of COVID-19’.
2. The theme of National Doctor’s Day 2019 was “Zero tolerance to violence against doctors and clinical establishment”

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

8.1 Serological survey kicks off in Delhi as national capital’s Covid cases surge

• Highlights - 

1. The National Centre for Disease Control has begun carrying out a serological survey to ascertain the spread of Covid-19 in the national capital.
2. Serological tests are used to check whether a person has antibodies, which are naturally occurring proteins produced by the body’s immune system to fight off infection.
3. While a serological test cannot determine whether someone currently has coronavirus, it helps to ascertain whether they were recently exposed to the virus.
4. Two house-to-house surveys - one in the containment zones and another across the national capital - are also being conducted by the Delhi government.
5. According to a Delhi government official, nearly 600 samples were collected on the first day and more than 32 teams were on the ground.
6. Kejriwal said the survey will cover 20,000 people and determine the extent of coronavirus spread in Delhi.

• COVID-19 in Delhi -

1. Delhi recorded 2,373 fresh coronavirus cases on July 03, taking the tally in the city to over 92,000-mark, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 2,864.
2. On June 23, the national capital had reported the highest single-day spike of 3,947 cases, till date.
3. By May 15, coronavirus spread very rapidly and from the first week of June, there was shortage of beds and testing.
4. Since there was shortage of beds, the death figure also started rising.

• Plasma Bank -

1. CM Arvind Kejriwal has announced the launch of the plasma bank — the first in the country.
2. Plasma bank will be successful when people come forward to donate their plasma for patients.

 8.2 IIT Madras launched first online BSc degree of world in Programming and Data Science.

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

9.1 IIT-Bombay develops Dhruva, Indian receiver chip for NAVIC, GPS satellites

•  Highlights - 

1. IIT-Bombay has developed a homegrown receiver chip -Dhruva– that can be used in smartphones and navigation devices to find locations and routes within the country.
2. Dhruva will receive signals from India’s NAVIC group of navigation satellites as well as the US Global Positioning System-based satellites to determine these accurately under all weather conditions.
3. The radio frequency receiver chip was designed in 18 months by students and researchers at IIT Bombay. It can receive in multiple frequency bands and handle weak signals.
4. Besides, it can be converted into digital bits and processed by any standard digital signal processor (DSP) to determine one’s location precisely.
5. India has had a fleet of navigational satellites for a few years, but there have been no commercial receivers so far that could receive its signals in multiple frequencies.
6. The nine satellites under NAVIC were built as an alternative to the GPS, as part of India’s space agency’s efforts to make the navigation system accessible for commercial applications.

• Key notes -

1. NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is India’s geo-positioning system designed by ISRO to provide accurate positioning within the country.
2. NAVIC satellites were sent to orbit a few years ago, but no commercial ‘receiver’ chip was available to receive signals from the satellites.
3. Dhruva will help receive and clean up the signals received from NAVIC, which are 36,000 km above from the earth’s surface.

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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 -

• A first-of-its-kind selfie museum called Selfie Kingdom (TSK) was inaugurated in Dubai in Jan 2020.
• Chen Yufei won the Women’s Singles title at the Malaysia Masters badminton tournament in Jan. 2020.
• The Fourth Armed Forces Veterans Day was observed on January 14.
• Mumbai metro city will get a mounted police unit for traffic and crowd control after 88 years.
• 2020 Padma Bhushan awardee Manoj Das is a well-known Author from Odisha.

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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