Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services -21-07-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 21-07-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. World – U.K. to suspend extradition treaty with Hong Kong – Britain has announced it would suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in an escalation of a dispute with China over its introduction of a national security law for the former British colony. The treaty would be suspended immediately and an arms embargo would be extended to Hong Kong. The ban is another nail in the coffin of what then Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015 cast as a “golden era” of ties with China, the world’s second-largest economy. London has been dismayed by a crackdown in Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, and the perception that China did not tell the whole truth over the COVID-19 outbreak.
2. Science & Technology – Arab ‘Hope’ to Mars takes off from Japan – The first Arab space mission to Mars, an unmanned probe dubbed “Hope”, blasted off from Japan on Monday (July 20) on a mission to reveal more about the atmosphere of the Red Planet. The launch of the probe, known as “Al-Amal” in Arabic, had twice been delayed because of bad weather, but the Monday lift-off appeared smooth and successful. Only the United States, India, the former Soviet Union, and the European Space Agency have successfully sent missions to orbit the fourth planet from the sun, while China is preparing to launch its first Mars rover later this month.
3. Internal Security – In signal to China, US & India conduct joint naval exercise – In a strong strategic signal to China amid the military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, a US carrier strike group led by aircraft carrier USS Nimitz conducted a “cooperative” exercise with Indian warships in the Indian Ocean on Monday (July 20). The message was further amplified by a hard-nosed display of military intent by India, which has now deployed around 10 Jaguar maritime strike fighters armed with deadly anti-ship Harpoon missiles at its Car Nicobar airbase in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. The import of Monday’s exercise between the Indian and US navies, which have steadily built “interoperability” through the annual topnotch Malabar war games and other exchanges over the years, will not be lost on China and will be a card that India will seek to leverage.
4. COVID-19 – U.K. vaccine prompts protective immune response in early tests – Scientists at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot. Scientists said they found that their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55 that lasted at least two months after they were immunised. The results from Oxford were followed by Indian vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute announcing it would seek regulatory approvals for trials in India and “soon start manufacturing the vaccine in large volumes”. Serum Institute has a manufacturing arrangement with British pharma giant AstraZeneca to produce a billion doses.
5. Polity & Governance – Trump refuses to commit on accepting election results – U.S. President Donald Trump is refusing to publicly commit to accepting the results of the upcoming White House election, recalling a similar threat he made weeks before the 2016 vote, as he scoffs at polls showing him lagging behind Democrat Joe Biden. Mr. Trump says it’s too early to make such an ironclad guarantee. The Biden campaign responded: “The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.” Mr. Trump also hammered the Pentagon brass for favouring renaming bases that honour Confederate military leaders — a drive for change spurred by the debate about race after George Floyd’s death.
   
6. Sports – T20WC officially postponed by ICC – As anticipated, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to postpone this year’s T20 World Cup that was scheduled to be held in Australia in October-November. The decision, taken after four months of monitoring, was arrived at an ICC board meeting held virtually on Monday (July 20). It also paves the way for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host this year’s Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The ICC also shifted the dates of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India from February-March to October-November with the final on November 26. This means there could be three consecutive ICC World Cup years, the T20 versions in 2021 and 2022 and the 50-over version in 2023.
   
7. Economy – Risk of China cyber-attacks, DoT seeks security audit – Following reports of a spike in coordinated cyber-attacks by Chinese hackers, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has written to all web portals and websites within its ambit to conduct a security audit and submit a compliance certificate as soon as possible. Government officials said such attacks have increased multifold since the border clash with Chinese troops on June 15 and the ban on 59 apps linked to China. Most of these attacks are in the nature of DDOS (distributed denial of service), phishing, data exfiltration, remote access tool malware and keylogging (tracking every keystroke made by a user).
8. Arts & Culture – Sri Lanka to research “Ravana’s aviation routes” – Sri Lanka’s aviation authority has said it will lead a research project to study the mythological character Ravana’s “aviation routes”. The officials have sought any relevant documents and literature from the public, asking them to contact an email ID and phone number to research the topic “King Ravana and the ancient domination of aerial routes now lost”. While Sri Lanka’s tourism sector promotes the ‘Ramayana trail’ for visitors from India — one of Sri Lanka’s largest tourism markets — it is the epic’s antagonist King Ravana that the majority Sinhala-Buddhists hail, like Dravidian party icons in Tamil Nadu, including former CM C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi did.
   
9. Economy – Mega Food Park in Mizoram to create 5,000 jobs, benefit 25,000 farmers – The Zoram Mega Food Park (MFP) in Mizoram will provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons and benefit about 25,000 farmers in the CPC (Core Processing Centre) and PPC (primary processing Centre) catchment areas. The Park will leverage an additional investment of about Rs 250 Crore in about 30 food processing units in the park and would eventually lead to a turnover of about Rs 450-500 Crores annually.
10. Economy – India aims to pare PSU bank count to just five: sources – India is looking to privatise more than half of its state-owned banks to reduce the number of government-owned lenders to just five as part of an overhaul of the banking industry. The first part of the plan would be to sell majority stakes in Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and Punjab & Sind Bank, leading to an effective privatisation of these state-owned lenders. The Centre is working on a privatisation plan to help raise money by selling assets in non-core companies and sectors when the country is strapped for funds due to lack of economic growth caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Northern Coalfields Lim.	Apprentice	1500	ITI	August 16, 2020	http://www.freejobalert.com/ncl-singrauli/28732/#apprentice
2	CMERI	JRF (GATE)	5	BE/ B.Tech. with Valid GATE Score	August 2, 2020	https://www.cmeri.res.in/sites/default/files/vacancy/Detail%20Advt.%2003_2020%20CSIR-JRF%20%28GATE%20%29.pdf
3	BMRC Ltd	Gen. Manager, Asst. Gen. Manager, Manager, Exe. Asst	18	Deg, MBA (Fin.), CA, ICWA	July 21, 2020	Degree (Commerce), MBA (Finance), CA, ICWA
4	DCHS, Srikakulam	MNO/ FNO, DEO	39	10th Class, Any Degree	July 25, 2020	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd/uploads/2020/07/2020071934.pdf
5	Medical & Health Dept, Prakasam	Radiographer, MNO, FNO & Other	115	10th Class, CRA, Degree	July 25, 2020	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3f3f27a324736617f20abbf2ffd806f6d/uploads/2020/07/2020071922.pdf
6	KSLU	Sr Research Asst, Jr Research Asst	6	LLM, Ph.D, NET/ SLET	July 30, 2020	http://www.kslu.ac.in/English/assets/upload/notification/570317313_Notification%20for%20Research%20Assistant%20(English).jpg
7	Kochi Metro Rail Ltd	Boat Master, Boat Operator, Serang	9	---	July 29, 2020	https://kochimetro.org/careers/site_media/notifications/75.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 Bachpan Bachao Aandolan filed a petition to the Delhi HC has sought responses from the Delhi government on a petition that said statements of child witnesses lodged at child welfare centres should be recorded through video conferencing and not physically in courts in view of the outbreak of Covid-19

• Bachpan Bachao Andolan -

1. Started in 1980 by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi it is India's largest movement campaigning for the rights of children.
2. Its mission is to Identify, release, rehabilitate and educate children in servitude through prevention, direct intervention, mass mobilisation and legal action to create a child-friendly society.
3. It organises Baal Panchayat on the occasion of World Day against Child Labour i.e. 12th June.
4. It has so far freed more than 88,000 children from servitude, including bonded labourers.

• Notable mentions – 

1. In 2014, Kailash Satyarthi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Malala Yousafzai for their contribution towards child education.
   

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

2.1 Income Tax Department rolls out new Form 26AS

• Key points - 

1. Income Tax Department has rolled out new Form 26AS with an aim to assist Tax payers in filing quick and correct Income Tax Return (ITR).
2. The new Form 26AS is expected to bring in further transparency and accountability in the tax administration.
3. The existing Form 26AS demanded information on tax deducted at source (TDS) and tax collected at source (TDS) relating to a PAN.

• Highlights -

1. The new form will carry some additional details on taxpayers financial transactions as specified in the Statement of Financial Transactions (SFTs) in various categories.
2. The additional details will facilitate voluntary compliance, tax accountability and ease of e-filing of returns.
3. The Central Board of Direct Taxes has said that these SFTs will handhold the taxpayers while filing their ITR.
4. It said, the new form will also calculate the correct tax liability based on these entries.

• What is Form 26AS – 

1.  For example, Form 26AS enables salaried individuals to check that their employers have deducted tax on salary.
2. The Form 26AS can be accessed from the income tax website using the Permanent Account Number (PAN).

 2.2 Other Important Happenings

• Moratoriums on payment of instalments on term loans don’t apply to MFs, debentures: Bombay HC.
• India and Bhutan launch new trade route between Jaigaon in West Bengal and Ahllay in Bhutan.
• RBI approves reappointment of Shyam Srinivasan as MD & CEO of Federal Bank till September 22, 2021.
• CBDT to start 11-day e-campaign on Voluntary Compliance of Income Tax for FY 2018-19 from July 20.
• Virtual ministerial meeting of the U.S.-India Strategic Energy Partnership co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan.
• Railways terminate contract of a Chinese firm for signalling and telecommunication work on 417-km section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor between Kanpur and Mughalsarai (UP).
• Civil Aviation Ministry sets up Investment Clearance Cell for prompt clearance of investment proposals.
• Defence Ministry signs contract with BEML for procurement of 1,512 Mine Plough for T-90 tanks.
• EESL (Energy Efficiency Services) & NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) set up the country’s first public EV (Electric Vehicle) charging plaza; inaugurated by R K Singh, the Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy.
• Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and Efficiency (RAISE) launched jointly by EESL and USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development); inaugurated by Union Minister R K Singh.
  

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

3.1 The National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research in Forestry for the year 2019 has been awarded to Kannan C S Warrier,  by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)

•  Key point -  

1. Kannan C S Warrier (a scientist at Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding - IFGTB) worked on releasing three salt-tolerant productive clones of Casuarina that are suitable for salt-affected soils, for the first time in the country. Warrier has also done extensive work on the conservation of endangered sacred groves in Alappuzha district of Kerala.

• Significance -

1. India has 6.73 mn hectares of salt affected land and is also the largest producer of Casuarina in the world.

• Casuarinaor - 

1. Casuarinaor or kattadi and savukku, is a plant genus with over 17 species with Casuarina equisetifolia being introduced in India in the 19th century. They have a role in nitrogen fixation in symbiotic association with bacteria Frankia. They provide fuel wood, pulp for paper making, is a preferred choice for biomass-based power generation, used at construction sites for scaffolding, used as shelterbelts in coastal areas and windbreaks for protecting agricultural crops and banana plantations, play a key role in reclaiming mined areas and afforesting nutrient-poor sites.

• Sacred Groves - 

1. Sacred groves are communally protected forests which usually have a significant religious connotation for the protecting community. In India, there are over a lakh sacred groves across different states called by different names like Kaavu in Malayalam, Koyil kaadu in Tamil, Orans in Rajasthan, Devara kaadu in Karnataka, and Sernas in Madhya Pradesh.
2. Many rare and endemic species, and species having medicinal and economic value can be found here. They are often associated with religious beliefs and felling of trees in sacred groves is considered taboo.
3. Sacred groves have been legally protected under ‘community reserves’ in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002.
4. Disappearance of the traditional belief systems, the transformation of the primitive forms of nature worship into formal temple worship, rapid urbanization and developmental interventions such as roads, railways tracks, dams including commercial forestry, invasion by exotic weeds, pressures due to increasing livestock and fuelwood collection, are some common threats to Sacred Groves. 

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

4.1 Bangladesh bans free internet services for Social media

• Key points -

1. The Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has issued orders for the telecom companies to stop free internet services to its subscribers for accessing social media.

• Why such a move:

1. The regulatory authority asked the telecom service providers to stop the service because it gives rise to unhealthy competition between the companies.
2. The BTRC order also said that this facility was being used by some people for carrying out criminal activities on the social media.
3. BTRC issued the order after it was instructed by the information ministry to ensure safe internet and maintain normal market competition.

• Other details - 

1. The four telecom companies of Bangladesh Grameenphone, Robi Axiata, Banglalink and Teletalk Bangladesh provide totally or partially free services to access social media to its subscribers under various plans.
2. The number of internet users in Bangladesh is above 102 million as in May 2020. 94 million people access the internet on mobile devices. 

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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 Nelson Mandela International Day celebrated on 18 July

•  Highlights:

1. Nelson Mandela International Day is being observed every year on 18 July to commemorate the birthday of South Africa's first black President.
2. In November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day in recognition of his contribution to freedom, justice and democracy.

• Important notes - 

1. Nelson Mandela, a Nobel Prize winner and anti-Apartheid icon, was born in the year 1918.
2. Mandela had dedicated his life fighting for human rights and he believed that everyone has the potential to make a difference in their communities for the world to be a better place.
3. Mandela was the architect of South Africa's freedom struggle, he is affectionately called Madiba in the local community.
4. He had spent 27 years in prison and later served as the independent nation's first president. He would have turned 102 this year (2020).

• Celebration in 2020 -  

1. The organisers of Mandela Day 2020 encourage everyone to be active citizens within their communities to help change the world for the better.
2. It can be a small gesture such as donating blood, cleaning up a park, giving money for a good cause, protecting others from COVID-19 by wearing a mask.
3. It can also mean something larger like organising a day of action, helping fight poverty and homelessness, combating systemic racism and helping ensure election are fair.
4. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres shared an audio message and said, Nelson Mandela reminded that “as long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

• 5 inspirational quotes by Nelson Mandela:

1. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
2. Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.
3. Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.
4. Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.
5. A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.
   

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 The government has operationalized the first Mega Food Park (MFP) of Mizoram - Zoram Mega Food Park under Mega Food Park scheme.

• Introduction

1. Currently, 18 MFP Projects are under implementation in various states and 19 Mega Food Parks have already become functional in the States. It is in accordance with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar’ vision of the GoI. It is implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which is a Body Corporate registered under the Companies Act, 2013.

• Zoram MFP - 

1. Located in Khamrang village in Kolasib District, Mizoram, it is spread over 55 acres of land and is set up at a cost of Rs. 75. 20 crores. Apart from the people of Mizoram it will also benefit to Assam. Assam has a MFP in its Nalbari district known as North East Mega Food Park.
2. It will boost the North-East Region’s potential to become the organic destination of the world due to its rich agricultural and horticultural produce.
3. Sikkim has already been declared as an organic state.

• Mega Food Park Scheme -

 

1. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries launched this scheme in 2008-09 to provide a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers income and creating employment opportunities particularly in the rural sector.
2. The Scheme is based on the “Cluster” approach and envisages setting up of modern food processing units in the industrial plots provided in the park with a well-established supply chain. It typically consists of supply chain infrastructure including collection centers (cc), primary processing centers (ppc) central processing centers (cpc), cold chain and around 25-30 fully developed plots for entrepreneurs to set up food processing units.
3. The central government provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50 Crore per Mega Food Park (MFP) project.

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

8.1 India lifted 271 mn people out of poverty between FY06-16: UN report

• Key point -   

1. About 273 million Indians moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2005-6 and 2015-16, according to a UN report, which noted that India has recorded the largest reduction in the number of people living in this category.
2. Multidimensional poverty encompasses the various deprivations experienced by poor people in their daily lives such as poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standards, poor quality of work, the threat of violence, and living in areas that are environmentally hazardous, among others.

• The UN report –

1. The data shows that 65 out of 75 countries studied significantly reduced their multidimensional poverty levels between 2000 and 2019.
2. Of the 65 countries that reduced their Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) value, 50 also reduced the number of people living in poverty.
3. The largest reduction was in India, where approximately 273 million people moved out of multidimensional poverty over 10 years.
4. Four countries – Armenia, India, Nicaragua and North Macedonia – halved their global MPIT value and did so in 5.5-10.5 years.
5. These countries show what is possible for countries with very different initial poverty levels. They account for roughly a fifth of the world's population, mostly because of India's large population.
6. The report additionally notes that India and Nicaragua's time periods cover 10 and 10.5 years respectively, and during that time both countries halved their MPIT values among children.
7. The data shows that across 107 developing countries, 1.3 billion people, 22 per cent, live in multidimensional poverty. The data also reveals that the burden of multidimensional poverty disproportionately falls on children.
8. Half of the 1.3 billion poor (644 million) have not yet turned 18, while 107 million are 60 or older, a particularly important figure during the Covid-19 pandemic.
9. About 84.3 per cent of multidimensionally poor people live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
10. 10 countries account for 60 per cent of unvaccinated children, and 40 per cent of children unvaccinated for DTP3 live in just four countries: Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Indonesia.
11. The report stressed that while the new figures released show that before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, progress was being made in tackling multidimensional poverty, but that progress is now at risk.

• Other countries:

1. Fourteen countries reduced multidimensional poverty in all their subnational regions: Bangladesh, Bolivia, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guyana, India, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nicaragua, Nepal and Rwanda.

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

9.1 ARCI, Vehant Technologies co-develop UV baggage scan for Covid-19 disinfection

• Key point -  

1. The International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad and Vehant Technologies, Noida have co-developed KritiScan, UV Baggage Disinfection System.
2. A slew of innovations such as this are making travel safe in the time of virus while fully addressing the health concerns.

• Highlights -

1. The compact UVC conveyor system can efficiently disinfect the baggage passing through the conveyor within a few seconds and is suitable for use in airports, railway and bus stations, hotels, commercial and private establishments for rapid disinfection of baggage.
2. UVC-based disinfection systems are known for their rapid disinfection capability, and the process is dry and chemical-free.
3. UVC light, when irradiated on an infected surface, quickly disrupts the genetic material in the virus and thus inhibits its multiplication.
4. The Kritiscan UV advanced baggage disinfecting system has a specially designed motorized conveyor to guide the baggage into the disinfection tunnel.
5. The system can efficiently disinfect the baggage within 8 seconds as compared to standard hand-held disinfection techniques.
   

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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 -

• PM Modi in July 2020 launched the Digital India AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge.
• India ranked 77th in terms of money parked by its citizens and enterprises with Swiss banks at the end of 2019.
• RIL became the first Indian company to cross the Rs 11 lakh crore market valuation mark on June 19, 2020.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US) has topped QS World University Rankings.
• India and Australia have elevated their relationship from a strategic partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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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