Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 26-08-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 26-08-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Economy – ‘Centre may consider a second stimulus once infections abate’ – The government may look at introducing a second set of fiscal stimulus measures once the COVID-19 infections abate and the psychological fears in people’s minds ebb. The government has also observed that 40% of the cash transfers directly into the beneficiaries’ accounts recently have been saved and not spent, leading to a feeling that there are limitations of the stimuli measures and hence, making timing the most important factor. The government’s first round of fiscal stimulus was announced in late March. The RBI delivered two deep rate cuts before surprising all with a pause this month, leading some analysts to opine the government will have to do the heavy lifting now.
2. Economy – China floats BRICS 5G base as India mulls ban – China has proposed the creation of what it calls a ‘BRICS innovation base’ to take forward 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation among the five countries. China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xiao Yaqing “urged fellow nations, including India, to boost cooperation in areas including 5G and AI”, Chinese media reported, adding that China was “actively considering the establishment of a BRICS innovation base in China, in order to strengthen practical cooperation with the BRICS”. The move could pose an awkward question for India, which is the only country in the grouping that is leaning towards excluding Chinese participation in the roll-out of its national 5G network.
3. Economy – Bank frauds jump 159% in 2019-20; PSBs account for Rs 1.48 lakh crore – The total cases of frauds (involving Rs1 lakh and above) reported by banks and financial institutions (FIs) shot up by 28 per cent by volume and 159 per cent by value during 2019-20 despite the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tightening the supervision and vigilance. While there were 6,799 frauds involving Rs 71,543 crore as of March 2019, the number of frauds jumped to 8,707 involving a whopping Rs 1,85,644 crore. According to the RBI, a major chunk of the frauds were reported on the advances front with 4,610 cases for Rs 1,82,051 crore, which works to around 98 per cent of the total value of frauds. Public sector banks topped the fraud table with 4,413 cases involving Rs 1,48,400 crore. Private banks reported 3,066 frauds involving Rs 34,211 crore.
4. Economy – New govt employment in June falls over 60% from FY20 monthly average level – New employment in government sector fell by over 60 per cent in June 2020, compared with the monthly average of the last financial year. The central government had introduced the National Pension System (NPS) with effect from January 1, 2004 (except for armed forces) on a mandatory basis. As per the latest NSO data, only 3,537 new subscribers joined in the NPS from the central government sector, compared with the monthly average of 9,213 in FY19 and 9,904 in FY20. Similarly, from the state government sector, only 20,222 joined in the NPS in June 2020, compared with the monthly average of 45,209 in FY19 and 41,333 in financial year 2019-20.
5. Economy – No Rs 2,000 note printed in FY20; Rs 500 in circulation sharply increases – The number and value of Rs 2,000 notes in circulation declined during the year ended March 2020, even as the Rs 500 notes in circulation sharply increased. It disclosed that Rs 2,000 notes were not printed in 2019-20, while 1,200 crore pieces of Rs 500 notes were printed. The central bank printed 5 crore Rs 2,000 notes in 2018-19. While 32,910 lakh pieces valued at Rs Rs 6,58,199 crore of Rs 2,000 notes were in circulation in March 2019, the numbers declined to 27,398 lakh and Rs 547,952 crore in March 2020. On the other hand, the value of Rs 500 notes spurted sharply to Rs 14.72 lakh crore in March 2020 from Rs 10.75 lakh crore a year ago.
6. Science & Technology – Facebook plans news service launch in UK, India, Brazil – Facebook Inc plans to launch its news service in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, India and Brazil in the coming months, after having introduced the feature in the United States last year. The social media giant's news service currently pays U.S. publishers for content and has original reporting from more than 200 outlets, including thousands of local news organizations. Facebook, which has 2.7 billion monthly active users, has come under fire for its lax approach to fake news reports and disinformation campaigns, which many believe affected the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, won by Trump. Following the criticism, CEO Mark Zuckerberg had said the company would prioritize “trustworthy” news in its feed by identifying high-quality outlets.
7. World – Kremlin defies calls to probe Navalny illness, says poisoning not certain – Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny attends a mass march marking the one-year anniversary of the killing of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov on February 27, 2016 in Moscow, Russia. The Kremlin said on Tuesday (August 25) it saw no need for now to investigate circumstances leading up to opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s grave illness, and that a German clinic’s initial diagnosis of poisoning was not yet conclusive. Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called for an investigation and for Russia to hold the perpetrators accountable after German doctors found indications of a toxic substance in his body. Navalny, an outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was airlifted to Germany for treatment on Saturday after collapsing on a plane while flying back to Moscow from Siberia.
8. Policy & Governance – Two-wheelers neither luxury nor sin goods: FM – Two-wheelers are neither a luxury nor sin goods and so, merit a GST rate revision. Ms. Sitharaman said a rate revision proposal would be taken up by the GST Council. Two-wheelers currently attract 28% GST. Last year, the country’s largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp had urged the government to consider a phase-wise reduction in GST on the segment, starting with bringing bikes up to 150 cc into the 18% slab. Mopeds and cycles fitted with an auxiliary motor are taxed under the highest bracket under GST — 28 per cent.
9. Economy – Economy to shrink in Q2, says RBI report – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) foresees the economic contraction triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic extending into the second quarter, especially as the shock to consumption has been severe, and said government consumption would be key to the revival of demand. “High frequency indicators that have arrived so far point to a retrenchment in activity that is unprecedented in history,” the RBI said in its Annual Report. “The upticks that became visible in May and June after the lockdown was eased in several parts of the country appear to have lost strength in July and August.”
10. Education – NEET, JEE: MHA hints at rethink on dates – Facing escalating demands from political leaders and student organisations to push back the JEE-NEET exams due to COVID-19 fears, a Home Ministry official indicated that reconsideration was on the cards. However, his Education Ministry colleague denied that a rethink was under way. Last week, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition from students seeking postponement of the exams.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	Arunachal Pradesh PSC	Assistant Auditor	11	Degree, PG	SEPT-26-2020	EShttps://appsc.gov.in/upload/RECINS001/Advertisement_Assitant_Auditor(AA).pdf
2	BPSC	Associate Professor (Electri. & Electro Engg)	17	PG or Ph.D	SEPT-11-2020	http://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in/Advt/NB-2020-08-24-02.pdf
3	BPSC	Associate Professor (Civil Engg.)	120	PG or Ph.D (Civil Engg)	SEPT-11-2020	http://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in/Advt/NB-2020-08-24-04.pdf
4	NHM, Pulwama	Staff Nurse, Dialysis Tech., Nursing Tutor	18	10+2 with Dip, B.Sc, B.Sc	SEPT-3-2020	https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3c75b6f114c23a4d7ea11331e7c00e73c/uploads/2020/08/2020082482.pdf
5	Kerala Social Security Mission	Administrator	10	-	AUG-29-2020	http://www.socialsecuritymission.gov.in/e-suraksha/CAREER/notifications.php#
6	CSAUK	SMS (Agrometeorology), Agromet Observer	16	10+2, PG	15 & 16-09-2020	http://csauk.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Walk-in-interview-DAMU-1.pdf
7	ESIC Hospital, Okhla	Part/ Full Time Specialist, Sr Resident	31	MBBS, PG Deg/Dip	AUG-26-2020	MBBS, PG Degree/ Diploma

 

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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 Weekly Round-up – Banking and Finance

• RBI to pay Rs 57,128 crore dividend to centre for 2019-20 financial year -The Reserve Bank of India on April 14, 2020 said its central board has approved a dividend payout of Rs. 57,128 crores to the government for 2019-20. It has decided to maintain a contingency risk buffer of 5.5 percent at the minimum threshold recommended by the Jalan committee to review RBI's capital framework. In 2018-19, RBI had made a record payment of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.
• SEBI penalises LIC, BoB and SBI for failing to pare stake in UTI MF below 10% - The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on August 14, 2020 imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh each on Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) for failing to bring down their stake below 10% in UTI Mutual Fund (MF) within the stipulated time period. Under SEBI’s regulations, no sponsor of a mutual fund is allowed to hold more than 10% shareholding of any other mutual fund or a trustee company.

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

3.1 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to modify the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

• Key points –

1. It proposes 20-30% reduction of air pollution by 2024.
2. NCAP  is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target, it was launched by the MoEFCC in January 2019.
3. The plan includes 102 non-attainment cities (those that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years), across 23 states and Union territories.
4. The Right to Clean Air stood recognized as part of Right to Life and failure to address air pollution is a denial of Right to Life under Article 21.

• Directions –

1. The target of reduction needs to be increased.
2. Ministry to review and action in terms of shift to e-vehicles and CNG vehicles
3. Intensifying public transport system, mechanical cleaning of roads, enhancement of public parking facilities, improvement in fuel quality, and traffic management.
4. The state pollution control boards to ensure the assessment and installation of the requisite number of real-time online continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems within six months.
5. An expert team of the Central Pollution Control Board to design a model for source apportionment and carrying capacity assessment within two months.
6. National Green Tribunal is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. It draws inspiration from India’s constitutional provision of Article 21.

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

4.1 Over 10,000 Islamic State fighters active in Iraq, Syria: U.N.

• Key points –

1. More than 10,000 Islamic State fighters are estimated to remain active in Iraq and Syria two years after the militant group’s defeat, and their attacks have significantly increased this year.
   The global threat from IS is likely to increase if the international community fails to meet this challenge, the head of the U.N. Office of Counter-Terrorism warned.

• Highlights –

1. Islamic State fighters move freely “in small cells between the two countries.
2. The Islamic State extremist group — also known as IS, ISIL and ISIS — has regrouped and its activity has increased not only in conflict zones like Iraq and Syria but also in some regional affiliates.
3. However, in non-conflict zones, the threat appears to have decreased in the short term.
4. Measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19, such as lockdowns and restrictions on movement, seem to have reduced the risk of terrorist attacks in many countries.
5. Nonetheless, there is a continued trend of attacks by individuals inspired online and acting alone or in small groups, which could be fueled by ISIL’s opportunistic propaganda efforts during the COVID-19 crisis.
6. The pandemic’s impact on IS recruitment and fundraising activities remains unclear, and there is no clear indication of a change in the extremist group’s strategic direction under its leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi.

• IS in Africa –

1. The Islamic State in West Africa Province remains a major focus of IS global propaganda, and its total membership of approximately 3,500 makes it one of the largest of the remote `provinces.’
2. It continues to reinforce links with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, which remains the most dangerous group in the tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Niger.
3. In Afghanistan, IS’s affiliate has conducted high-profile attacks in various parts of the country, including Kabul, and seeks to use Afghan territory to spread its influence across the region and to attract fighters who oppose the recent peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban.

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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 Weekly Round-up – Accidents and Natural Disasters

• Google partners Central Water Commission for flood forecasting initiative - Google in association with the Central Water Commission (CWC) has taken flood forecasting initiative over the past several months, and sent numerous public alerts to people in impacted regions across the country. These alerts provide timely, updated, and critical information that can help users make informed decisions on their safety.
• Kolkata Metro completes India's deepest ventilation shaft - The country's deepest underground rail ventilation shaft equal to a 15-storey building and an important part of the Kolkata's East-West Metro line was completed on August 10, 2020. The ventilation shaft, which is 43.5 m deep, was completed jointly by Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) and Afcons, a private engineering company. Such shafts are not only used to provide ventilation to the tunnels, but also for evacuation during an emergency. The evacuation shaft is located on Strand Road near Hooghly river.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 AFSPA extended for six months in Assam

• Key points –

1. The Assam government has has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in the state for six more months with effect from August 28.
2. The state has been declared a “disturbed area” on account of recent insurgent attacks on security forces in the Northeast and recovery of illegal arms and ammunition from different areas of Assam.
3. Many civil society groups and activists have been demanding the withdrawal of the draconian law from the state.
4. The AFSPA, which empowers security forces to conduct operations, arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice, has been continuing in Assam since November 1990.
5. It is renewed every six months.

• Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act –

1. Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 is an act of the Parliament of India that grant special powers to the Indian Armed Forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.
2. According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976 once declared ‘disturbed’, the area has to maintain status quo for a minimum of 3 months.
3. One such Act passed on 11 September 1958 was applicable to the Naga Hills, then part of Assam. In the following decades it spread, one by one, to the other Seven Sister States in India's northeast (at present, it is in force in the States of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur {excluding Imphal Municipal Council Area}, Changlang, Longding and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and areas falling within the jurisdiction of the eight police stations of districts in Arunachal Pradesh bordering the State of Assam).
4. Another one passed in 1983 and applicable to Punjab and Chandigarh was withdrawn in 1997, roughly 14 years after it came to force.
5. An Act passed in 1990 was applied to Jammu and Kashmir and has been in force since.
6. The Acts have received criticism from several sections for alleged concerns about human rights violations in the regions of its enforcement alleged to have happened.
7. National Politicians like P. Chidambaram and Saifuddin Soz of Congress have advocated revocation of AFSPA, while some like Amarinder Singh are against its revocation.

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

8.1 DIAT develops Ayurvedic face mask, and antimicrobial body suit

• Key point –

1. Pune-based Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) has developed Ayurvedic biodegradable face mask and anti-microbial body suit.

• Highlights –

1. The transfer of technology (ToT) for this product was signed in June 2020 between DIAT and Kolhapur-based Siddheshwar Techtessile Pvt Ltd for actual production on mass scale to help contain the spread of Covid-19.
2. The company has launched the first-ever Ayurvedic biodegradable face mask named Pavitrapati for sale.
3. Siddheshwar Techtessile has developed 10,000 masks and has received good response for the product.
4. The anti-microbial body suit named Aushada Tara has superhydrophobic, breathing, anti-microbial, and comfort feeling properties.
5. The suit has cleared splash-resistant tests; it has strong fluid-repellent property.
6. Production of Aushada Tara has started, and the initial order is already placed and executed.

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

9.1 IIT Bombay, Shiv Nadar Researchers develop sustainable, cost-efficient Lithium batteries

• Key point –   

1. Researchers of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Shiv Nadar University claim to have developed a technology for production of eco-friendly Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries which will be three times more energy-efficient and cost-effective than the Li-S batteries currently in use.

• Important details –

1. The new lithium-ion batteries could help electric vehicles with 400 km range quadruple its efficiency at lesser cost.
2. Potentially it could mean driving from Delhi to Mumbai on a single charge and still being left with power.
3. According to the team, the Li-S battery technology leverages principles of green chemistry, incorporating usage of by-products from the petroleum industry (Sulfur), agro-waste elements and copolymers such as cardanol (a by-product of cashew nut processing) and eugenol (clove oil) as cathodic materials.
4. The researchers said the technology has the potential to aid multi-billion dollar industries including tech gadgets, drones, electric vehicles (EV) and several more that depend on such batteries.
5. The new battery technology synthesises a bio-based molecule, capable of commercial-scale production.
6. The research includes a new type of cathode for Li-S batteries, which can help push the promising battery technology to higher performance levels.

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• 10. FACTS, CHARTS, RANKINGS and EDITORIALS (Prelims + GS Mains)

10.1 Bank frauds jump 159% in 2019-20; PSBs account for Rs. 1.48 lakh crore 

• Key points – 

1. The total cases of frauds (involving Rs1 lakh and above) reported by banks and FIs shot up by 28 per cent by volume and 159 per cent by value during 2019-20 despite the RBI tightening the supervision and vigilance.
2. While there were 6,799 frauds involving Rs 71,543 crore as of March 2019, the number of frauds jumped to 8,707 involving a whopping Rs 1,85,644 crore.

• Detailed report –

1. According to the RBI, a major chunk of the frauds were reported on the advances front with 4,610 cases for Rs 1,82,051 crore, which works to around 98 per cent of the total value of frauds.
2. Public sector banks topped the fraud table with 4,413 cases involving Rs 1,48,400 crore.
3. Private banks reported 3,066 frauds involving Rs 34,211 crore.
4. However, the RBI indicated that the frauds registered during 2019-20 actually occurred in the previous years.
5. The average lag between the date of occurrence of frauds and their detection by banks and FIs was 24 months during 2019-20. In large frauds — Rs 100 crore and above — the average lag was 63 months.
6. The sanction of the credit facility in many of these accounts was much older.
7. Frauds have been predominantly occurring in the loan portfolio (advances category), both in terms of number and value. There was a concentration of large value frauds, with the top 50 credit-related frauds constituting 76 per cent of the total amount reported as frauds during 2019-20.
8. However, the RBI said the number of frauds and the amount showed a downward trend in the April-June period of 2020-21.
9. Incidents relating to other areas of banking — off-balance sheet and forex transactions — fell in 2019-20 when compared to the previous year.
10. The RBI is now engaged in interlinking various databases and information systems to improve fraud monitoring and detection.

• RBI’s view –

1. Weak implementation of Early Warning Signals (EWS) by banks, non-detection of EWS during internal audits, non-cooperation of borrowers during forensic audits, inconclusive audit reports and lack of decision making in Joint Lenders’ meetings account for delay in detection of frauds.

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• PM Modi in Aug 2020 announced a project for conservation of Asiatic Lions.
• Pradeep Singh topped the 2019 civil services examination in result announced in August 2020.
• King Felipe is the monarch of Spain.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three high throughput COVID-19 testing facilities located at Kolkata, Mumbai and Noida on July 27, 2020.
• Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon passed away on July 21, 2020 in Lucknow at the age of 85.

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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