Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services -17-07-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 17-07-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. COVID-19 – India surges past 1m cases with record one-day spike – India has recorded over 1 million Covid-19 cases and 25,000 deaths from Coronavirus, crossing the twin milestones on Thursday (July 16) amid a massive surge in the pandemic. The country added over 36,000 new cases and 684 deaths during the day, both by far the highest in a single day. India is the third country, after the US and Brazil, to log one million cases and the eighth to register over 25,000 deaths. India’s caseload has risen from 8 lakh to 10 lakh (1 million) in just six days, as compared with nine days while moving from 6 lakh to 8 lakh and 11 for the previous 2 lakh cases. Likewise, the death toll has risen from 20,000 to 25,000 in just 10 days.
2. Society – India registers a steep decline in maternal mortality ratio – The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India has declined to 113 in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016. One of the key indicators of maternal mortality is the MMR, defined as the number of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births. The target 3.1 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births. As per the WHO, maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management. The MMR of various States includes Assam (215), Bihar (149), Madhya Pradesh (173), Chhattisgarh (159), Odisha (150), Rajasthan (164), UP (197) and Uttarakhand (99). The southern States registered a lower MMR — Andhra Pradesh (65), Telangana (63), Karnataka (92), Kerala (43) and TN (60).
   
3. World – Russia accused of trying to steal vaccine data – Britain, the U.S. and Canada have accused Russia of trying to steal information from researchers seeking a COVID-19 vaccine. The three nations alleged that hacking group APT29, also known as Cozy Bear and said to be part of the Russian intelligence service, is attacking academic and pharmaceutical research institutions involved in vaccine development. Britain’s National Cybersecurity Centre made the announcement, which was coordinated with authorities in the U.S. and Canada. Cozy Bear has been identified by Washington as one of two Russian government-linked hacking groups that broke into the Democratic National Committee computer network and stole emails ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
4. Internal security – Disengagement process intricate: Army – The disengagement process on the border to resolve the tensions is “intricate and requires constant verification”, and both India and China remained committed to the objective of complete disengagement. Officials said both sides had agreed “at specific points to redeploy towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the Line of Actual Control [LAC]”, which it said were mutually agreed reciprocal actions to be taken by both sides and there was absolutely “no change” with respect to India’s position on the LAC.
5. Polity and governance – No postal ballot facility for voters above 65: EC – The Election Commission has said the postal ballot facility for electors above the age of 65 in the Bihar Assembly elections, which would have been the first time it would have been used since the Centre had notified it on June 19, would not be implemented. The EC said the decision was taken for the Assembly elections and bypolls due soon due to logistical challenges. It had instructed Bihar authorities to limit the number of electors to 1,000 per polling station due to the pandemic, for which 34,000 additional stations are being set up. The option of postal ballots would be available to electors over 80 years of age, persons with disabilities, essential service workers and those infected with COVID-19 or suspected to be.
   
6. World – Twitter hack targets high-profile users – Twitter is investigating a massive hack in which high- profile users from Elon Musk to Joe Biden had their accounts hijacked by scammers. Posts trying to dupe people into sending hackers the virtual currency Bitcoin were tweeted by the official accounts of Apple, Uber, Kanye West, Bill Gates, Barack Obama and many others on July 15. The posts said people had 30 minutes to send $1,000 in the cryptocurrency, promising double returns. A total of 12.58 bitcoins — worth almost $116,000 — were sent to e-mail addresses mentioned in the tweets.
   
7. International relations – Iran had gone silent on rail project: India – The Government of India says it had not received any response from Iran since December 2019 on the future of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway project that the state-owned railway construction company IRCON was to have constructed and financed. The ONGC’s foreign arm OVL is also out of the Farzad-B gas field exploration project. The government cited policy changes by the Iranian government, Iran’s precarious finances, and the U.S. sanctions situation as the reasons for the decisions on Indian infrastructure projects in Iran, which would both be undertaken through local companies instead. Last week, Iranian Railways and its transport department inaugurated laying of track for the 628-km stretch from the southern port city of Chabahar to Zahedan on the border with Afghanistan. The track would now be funded by Iran’s own National Development fund.
8. Economy – ‘Plasma donors in Assam may get preference in jobs’ – Plasma donors in Assam may get preference in jobs and government schemes as a gesture for helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Donating plasma can also entail extra marks in interviews besides acknowledgement. Similarly, the name of someone at the bottom of the beneficiary list for PMAY [Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana] will be put on top if that person is a plasma donor.
   
9. World – EU court scraps US data-sharing agreement over ‘snooping’ woes – Europe’s top court has struck down a trans-atlantic agreement that allows scores of companies to move data between the European Union and the US, causing uncertainty for businesses who rely on moving digital information seamlessly around the world. The court ruled that the agreement, known as Privacy Shield, did not comply with European privacy rights. Privacy Shield, created in 2016, allows businesses in the EU and the US to move data more easily between the two regions. More than 5,000 firms use the system.
10. Economy – China first major eco to see growth since Covid – China has become the first major economy to return to growth since the coronavirus started sweeping across the world earlier this year. China’s GDP expanded 3.2% in the three months to June from a year ago, reversing a 6.8% decline in the first quarter and beating the median forecast of 2.4%. In the first half however, output is still down 1.6% compared to the same period in 2019. Having shut its economy in the first quarter to arrest the virus spread and managed so far to largely defeat subsequent outbreaks, China is claiming global leadership in dealing with the deadly disease.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Cochin Shipyard Limited	Technician Apprentice, Trade Apprentice	358	Vocational Higher Secondary Education, ITI	August 4, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/07/Notification-Cochin-Shipyard-Ltd-Technician-Trade-Apprentice-Posts.pdf
2	Institute for Plasma Research	Scientific Assistant	9	Diploma, B.Sc	August 15, 2020	http://www.ipr.res.in/documents/Advt_5_2020_2_Scientific_Assistant-C-Eng.pdf
3	Institute for Plasma Research	Scientific Officer	6	B.E/ B.Tech, PG, Ph.D	August 15, 2020	http://www.ipr.res.in/documents/Advt_5_2020_1_Scientific_Officer-D_Scientific_Officer-E-Eng.pdf
4	AIIMS, New Delhi	Research Officer, SRF, Lab Technician, DEO	12	MD/ MS/ DNB/ MPH, M.Sc/ M.Tech	August 5, 2020	https://www.aiims.edu/images/pdf/recruitment/advertisement/rpc-14-7-20.pdf
5	APVVP, Ananthapuramu	Theatre Assistant, Nursing Orderly, Data Entry Operator	69	SSC, DMST, Any Degree	July 31, 2020	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s333e8075e9970de0cfea955afd4644bb2/uploads/2020/07/2020071527.pdf
6	Arunachal Pradesh PSC	Section Officer	32	Any Degree	July 31, 2020	https://appsc.gov.in/upload/P652375_RECINS001/P652375_RECINS001.pdf
7	Assam Police	Jr Asst, Stenographer, Asst Enforcement Inspector	225	HSLC, HS, Diploma, Degree	August 8, 2020	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/07/Notification-Assam-Police-Jr-Asst-Stenographer-Asst-Enforcement-Inspector-Other-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 Not Available Today

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

2.1 India sees trade surplus in June for 1st time in 18 years

• Key point - 

1. India recorded a trade surplus in June for the first time in more than 18 years as the domestic demand slump following the coronavirus outbreak hit imports harder than exports.

• Highlights -

1. In June 2020, merchandise exports contracted 12.4%, while imports dipped 47.6%, leading to a trade surplus of $790 million.
2. Indian exports and imports have been falling since March and worsening India-China relations, shrinking global demand and disruptions in supply chains are likely to pressure the trade outlook over the next few quarters.
3. Asia’s third largest economy is projected to contract by up to 5% this financial year, beginning April, from an earlier government estimate of nearly 6% growth as an over two-month-long Covid-19 lockdown has hit economic activities and consumer demand.
4. India last posted a trade surplus - a slim $10 million - in January 2002, according to Refinitiv data.
5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pushing for import substitutions and has so far resisted industry pressure to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union.
6. Total merchandise imports fell by more than 50% to $60.44 billion during April-June quarter while exports were down 36.71% from the year-ago period to $51.32 billion.

• Crude oil -

1. Imports of crude oil, electronic items, gold jewellery and other products fell sharply during the three months to end June.
2. In June, crude oil imports fell 55.29% year-on-year to $4.93 billion due to a tumble in global commodity prices as well as local demand, while gold imports were down by more than 77% to $608.7 million. 

2.2 Sanitizers are disinfectants like soaps, Dettol; attract 18% GST - Finance Ministry.

 2.3 Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off first container ship from Kolkata Port to Agartala via Chattogram port.

2.4 Government imposed curbs on import of power tillers and its components. Now DGFT license will be required or imports.  

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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 BRICS promotes young business leaders and entrepreneurs to tap potential of five nations

•  Key points -

1. The BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) has launched a BRICS CCI Young Leaders Initiative on Wednesday with a vision to nurture and empower young leaders and entrepreneurs.
2. The programme is committed to enabling young leaders to become better resources and contributors to global development while also helping them explore sustainable and lucrative work opportunities across member nations Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa.

• Detailed analysis - 

1. The initiative will provide extensive industry exposure and vibrant opportunities to young leaders from the BRICS nations to invest in themselves as well as the global economy.
2. BRICS CCI Young Leaders intends to hold numerous activities each year under the pillars of Youth Leadership, Nation Building, Thought Leadership, and will further connect with students through its institutional network.
3. The program will play an important role not only in preparing new generations to succeed in the professional market, but also in bringing together BRICS countries’ future leaders to discuss alternatives to the challenges ahead.

4.2 Trump ends preferential treatment for Hong Kong

• Highlights -  

1. US President Donald Trump has signed an order to end preferential economic treatment for Hong Kong, after China enacted a new security law there.
2. United States can ban anyone deemed to be undermining freedom in the city from holding property in the country and refuse them and their family entry.
3. Existing punitive tariffs the US imposed on mainland China will be applied to Hong Kong exports.
4. The US sees the security law as a threat to the freedoms Hong Kong has enjoyed under a 1984 agreement.
5. That special status was agreed between China and Hong Kong's former colonial power, the UK, before sovereignty was returned to Beijing in 1997.
6. The new security law - which outlaws criticism of China's government - is the most sweeping change to the political landscape of Hong Kong since then.

• What did President Trump say - 

1. His executive order would end preferential treatment for Hong Kong.
2. This law gives my administration powerful new tools to hold responsible the individuals and the entities involved in extinguishing Hong Kong's freedom.
3. We hold China fully responsible for concealing the [coronavirus] and unleashing it upon the world.
4. Mr Trump's own administration is under scrutiny for its response to the pandemic. The US has 3.4 million recorded cases, the highest in the world, and more than 136,000 deaths.

• How did China respond -

1. China has strongly criticised the move, vowing to take retaliatory action.
2. China's foreign ministry condemned the latest US moves, saying they were a "gross interference" in its domestic affairs.

• What is going on with US-China relations -

1. Washington-Beijing ties have become increasingly frayed in recent months. 
2. With Mr Trump facing an uphill battle for re-election this November, he and Mr Biden have accused each other of being weak on China.
3. The administration has condemned China's military build-up in the South China Sea, accusing it of bullying neighbours.
4. The US has also officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization, which Mr Trump had accused of being beholden to China.
5. Recently, the Trump administration announced sanctions against Chinese politicians who it says are responsible for human rights violations against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

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

5.1 Shripad Naik inaugurates Conference on Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Technologies

•  Key points -  

1. Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik has said that Indian Defence and Aerospace industry is on the threshold of transformation, under the several initiatives of Government  to promote ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Abhiyaan.
2. The webinar was jointly organized by Tamil Nadu Technology Development and Promotion Centre, Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers  and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

• Highlights - 

1. The theme of the conference was  Empowering India with ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Mission’.
2. Mr Naik exhorted that the Indian Aerospace and Defence Industry has to rise to the occasion to shoulder greater responsibility in making the nation self-reliant in Defence Production and achieve 26 billion US Dollar domestic production by 2025.
3. The target is the stated objective of the Defence Production Policy. The defence sector has grown extensively.
4. It has increased at a Compound Annual Growth Rate  of 9.7 per cent from 2008 to 2016, reaching current levels of  42.83 billion US dollars in the year 2017-18.
5. The Aerospace and Defence industry in India is estimated to reach around 70 billion dollar by 2030.
   

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Roundup – Corporate

• Qualcomm Ventures picks up 0.15% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 730 cr - Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries on July 12, 2020 said it has secured Rs 730 crore from wireless technology leader Qualcomm by selling a small stake in its technology venture, adding to a slew of investments since April that has crossed Rs 1.18 trillion. With this deal, Reliance has sold 25.24 per cent stake in Jio Platforms Ltd - the unit that houses India’s youngest but largest telecom firm Jio Infocomm and apps. In total, Jio has raised Rs 118,318.45 crore.

• Paytm to acquire general insurance company Raheja QBE for Rs 568 crore - Cashless payment firm Paytm and its CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma will acquire Raheja QBE, a Mumbai-based private sector general insurer, for Rs 568 crore. Raheja QBE is 51 per cent owned by Prism Johnson and 49% by QBE Australia. One97 is the parent company of Paytm.
• SpiceJet offers flyers first-of-its-kind COVID-19 insurance cover - SpiceJet has become India’s first airline to offer COVID-19 hospitalisation insurance cover to its flyers. Passengers can avail of the medical insurance cover by paying a minimum premium of Rs 443. SpiceJet has collaborated with Go Digit General Insurance Limited to offer this cover.
• Instagram launches short video format Reels in India - Facebook’s photo sharing app Instagram has announced the extension of testing of its short video format Reels in India from July 9, 2020. Reels will enable people to record and edit 15 seconds multi clip videos with audio effects and users could share Reels content on their feed, or through a new space on the explore section.
• Bombardier Transportation awarded contracts for Agra, Kanpur metro projects - Bombardier Transportation, having manufacturing unit in Vadodara, Gujarat, won ₹2,051 crore contract from Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) to build and deliver 201 metro coaches and an advanced signalling solution for the Agra Metro (30 km) and Kanpur Metro (32 km) projects.

• JLL’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index ranks India 34th among 99 countries - India’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index ranking has improved by one notch to 34 on the back of regulatory reforms, better market data and green initiatives, according to property consultant JLL. The United Kingdom (UK) ranks first in the list of 99 countries.
• Govt. extends tenure of NCLAT’s acting chairperson for next three months - The government extended the tenure of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal’s (NCLAT) acting chairperson Justice B. L. Bhat for next three months from June 15, 2020. NCLAT hears appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal. 
• Injeti Srinivas appointed Chairman of IFSCA - The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Injeti Srinivas as chairman of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) for a period of three years. The IFSCA was recently established by the finance ministry as the unified authority to regulate all financial services in IFSCs in the country.
• ED attaches ₹2,203 crore assets of Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor, others - ED (Enforcement Directorate) attaches assets worth about ₹2,203 crore of Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor and DHFL promoter brothers Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan under PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act). 
• Nirav Modi’s ₹329 cr assets confiscated under Fugitive Economic Offenders Act - Assets worth ₹329.66 crore of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud ‘mastermind’ Nirav Modi, which were earlier attached by the Enforcement Directorate, have been confiscated under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. In the money-laundering case against the diamond merchant, the ED has so far attached properties valued at ₹2,348 crore.
• RIL, BP commence fuel retailing JV RBML (Reliance BP Mobility Limited), to start re-branding petrol pumps as Jio-BP.
• Google to pick 7.7% stake in Reliance Industries’ Jio Platforms for ₹33,737 crore.
  

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Government allows invalid pension for soldiers with less than 10 years of service

• Key point - 

1. Till date, invalid pension was granted to those armed forces personnel who had more than 10 years of service and were invalided for reasons that were neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service.
2. If the service rendered was less than 10 years at the time of invaliding, only invalid gratuity was paid to the soldier till date.

• Highlights -

1. The defence ministry has allowed invalid pension to those armed forces personnel who have less than 10 years of qualifying service.
2. The minisry said that an armed forces personnel, whose service is less than 10 years and who became invalided due to any bodily or mental infirmity that is neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service, and which permanently incapacitated him from military service as well as civil re-employment, will be benefited by this decision.
3. The proposal has been approved by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.
4. Benefit of this decision will be available to those armed forces personnel who were in service on or after 04.01.2019.

7.2 Bihar assembly polls – Election C limits postal ballot facility  

• Bihar assembly polls – Election C limits postal ballot facility for 

1. those above 80 years of age  
2. Persons With Disabilities 
3. COVID-19 positive 
4. Quarantined 
5. Those engaged in essential services.
   

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

8.1 15th India-EU Summit takes place in virtual format

•  Key point -  

1. The 15th Summit between India and the European Union was held in virtual format.

• Highlights -

1. Terming India-EU Summit as an extremely fruitful one, PM Modi revealed that he interacted on a number of subjects such as the COVID-19 situation, multilateralism, environment, trade, investment, and the digital economy.
2. The 15th India-EU Summit also witnessed the participation of European Council president Charles Michel and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
3. Contending that the future belongs to technology, the PM stressed that it was crucial to use the latest technology for the benefit of people.

• PM Modi addresses India-EU Summit –

1. PM Modi reiterated his commitment to deepening the India-US relationship.
2. To achieve this objective, he suggested the adoption of a long-term strategic perspective and an action-oriented agenda.
3. Listing the universal values shared by India and the EU, he maintained that this partnership was also important for world peace and stability. 

• Agreements signed – 

1. The EU leaders and the PM agreed to strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership, intensify cooperation on health security and pandemic crisis preparedness, develop trade relations, support sustainable modernization, and harness human-centric digitalization.
2. Moreover, they adopted the "India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” to guide cooperation between India and the EU over the next 5 years.
3. They welcomed the signing of the India-EURATOM Agreement on research and development cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the renewal of the India-EU Science and Technology Agreement for another five years.
4. Additionally, the Joint Declaration on Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy was also adopted by the two sides. 

 8.2 Shree Purushottam Priyadasji Swamishree Maharaj, Head priest of Maninagar Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, passed away in Ahmedabad at the age of 78

 

 

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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 -

• Under the ‘Shishu’ category of the flagship Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), collateral free loans of up to Rs. 50,000 are given to beneficiaries..
• Twenty Indian personnel were killed in violent clashes with Chinese troops in June 2020 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. The martyred included Colonel Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment.
• Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the Government of India’s foreign-currency issuer rating to Baa3 from Baa2 in June 2020.
• Kotak Bank in May 2020 introduced India’s first Video KYC facility for opening a savings account.
• The US government’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has committed US $ 3.6 million to assist India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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