Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 28-08-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 28-08-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. World – China fires missiles into South China Sea – China has fired at least two missiles into the South China Sea in what Chinese media described as a warning to the U.S., amid escalating tensions between the countries over Chinese maritime claims and the military exercises being conducted in disputed waters by China. The missiles were fired into waters between Hainan province and the Paracel Islands in an area that China had previously notified would be off-limits because of planned drills, also expected to include missile tests. Chinese media reported the missiles were fired a day after the U.S. flew spy-planes through at least two areas where drills were being held.
2. Constitution & Law – States can have sub-groups among SC/STs, says court – The SC has held that States can sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Central List to provide preferential treatment to the “weakest of the weak”. The Constitution Bench, led by Justice Arun Mishra, said reservation has created inequalities within the reserved castes itself. There is a “caste struggle” within the reserved class as the benefits of reservation are being usurped by a few, the court pointed out. With this, the Bench took a contrary view to a 2004 judgment delivered by another Coordinate Bench of five judges in the E.V. Chinnaiah case. The Chinnaiah judgment had held that allowing the States to unilaterally “make a class within a class of members of the Scheduled Castes” would amount to tinkering with the Presidential list.
3. World – Turkey says it will hold military drills in east Mediterranean – Turkey has said it will hold firing exercises in the eastern Mediterranean on September 1-2, the latest in a series of military drills which have fuelled tensions with Greece. The announcement came hours before Parliament in Greece is expected to ratify an agreement with Egypt, which defines maritime boundaries between the two countries, a step which Turkey considers an affront. Greece and Turkey, both members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have been locked in a dispute over control of eastern Mediterranean waters, which escalated after Ankara sent a seismic survey vessel to the disputed region this month in a move which Athens called illegal.
4. Economy – Fed adopts average inflation target, elevates focus on jobs – The Federal Reserve has rolled out an aggressive new strategy to restore the U.S. to full employment and lift inflation back to healthier levels in a world where weak inflation, low interest rates, and slow growth appear here to stay. Under the new approach, the U.S. central bank will seek to achieve inflation averaging 2% over time, offsetting below-2% periods with higher inflation “for some time.” The new statement also pledges to make sure employment doesn’t fall short of a “broad-based and inclusive goal” of maximum employment, a nod to racial equity and its role in promoting economic growth.
5. Economy – ‘Women entrepreneurs saw big revenue drop in lockdown’ – Women entrepreneurs experienced significant reduction in sales and revenues amid the COVID-19 lockdown, according to a survey report. The report also said that these entrepreneurs were looking to the government for support. The number of women-owned enterprises is about 12% of the total micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in India. One of the key findings of the survey was that many women-owned enterprises were in the informal sector and that they could not easily avail themselves of government- or public-assistance programmes. Transport restrictions had disrupted receipt of input material and delivery of products; women faced increased responsibility for domestic care, increased social pressures and limited family support.
6. Economy– Borrow from RBI to bridge GST gap, Centre tells States – The Centre has acknowledged that States are likely to face a GST revenue gap of ₹3 lakh crore this year, as the economy may contract due to COVID-19, which FM Nirmala Sitharaman termed an unforeseen “act of God”. Compensation cess collections are only expected to bridge 22% of this gap. Of the remaining ₹2.35 lakh crore, the Centre said only ₹97,000 crore was due to GST implementation itself, rather than caused by the impact of COVID-19. At the GST Council meeting, it claimed that this ₹97,000 crore is the portion “hardwired” into the compensation law. The Centre then offered States two options for borrowing to meet the shortfall. “A special window could be provided, in consultation with the RBI, so that the States can get this ₹97,000 crore at a reasonable rate of interest, and this amount can be repaid after five years through the collection of cess,” said Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey. “Another option is that this entire gap of ₹2.35 lakh crore can be met by the borrowing by the States. There also, arrangement could be made with the RBI and certain facilities could be provided.”
7. COVID-19 – With Over 77,000 Covid Cases, India Sees Record One-Day Rise – India has once again seen a record daily rise in coronavirus cases with 77,266 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total count to 33,87,500. An additional 1,057 new deaths brought the overall death count to 61,529. India has the third-highest number of virus infections in the world, after the United States and Brazil. 25,83,948 patients have recovered from the infection in the country, taking the recovery rate to 76.27 per cent. Maharashtra remains the hardest-hit state in the pandemic, accounting for 7,33,568 cases. Since August 4, India's daily coronavirus case count has been the highest in the world.
8. Economy – Govt. moots action against personal guarantors – The finance ministry has asked public sector banks (PSBs) to monitor cases where insolvency proceedings could be initiated against individuals who are guarantors of corporate debtors that have defaulted on loans. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) provides for a time-bound and market-linked resolution of stressed assets. The Code also provides for initiation of insolvency proceedings against personal guarantors of corporate debtors, even though the provision has not been used much by lenders to recover dues.
9. Economy – India’s state refiners halt crude oil purchases from Chinese firms – Indian state refiners have stopped buying crude oil from China-linked companies after New Delhi’s recent regulation aimed at restricting imports from countries that it shares a border with. The new regulation, put in place on July 23, comes after a border clash between India and China that killed 20 Indian soldiers and soured relations between the two neighbours. Since the new order was issued, state refiners have been inserting a clause in their import tenders on new rules restricting dealings with companies from countries sharing a border with India.
10. Business – HC stays insolvency action against Ambani – The Delhi HC has stayed the insolvency resolution process (IRP) proceedings against Reliance Communications (RCom) Chairman Anil Ambani in relation to recovery of ₹1,200 crore of loans given by the State Bank of India to two of his group firms. The court also restrained Mr. Ambani from “transferring, alienating, encumbering or disposing of his assets or legal rights and interests therein till the next date of hearing” on October 6. RCom and Reliance Infratel Limited (RITL) had availed of credit facilities amounting to ₹565 crore and ₹635 crore, respectively, from the State Bank of India (SBI) with Mr. Ambani as the personal guarantor for the corporate loans.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	NBRI	Project Scientist I, Project Associate I	11	Degree, PG	03 & 04-09-2020	https://nbri.res.in/media/06-Project-2020.pdf
2	National Fertilizers Ltd.	Engineer, Manager	40	B.Tech/ B.E/ B.Sc (Engg)	SEPT-25-2020	https://www.nationalfertilizers.com/images/pdf/career/noida/ENGLISH%20-%20DETAILED%20ADVT-EXPERIENCED%20TECHNICAL%20PROFESSIONAL-2020.pdf
3	Central Railway	Staff Nurse, Pharmacist & Other	48	GNM, D.Pharm, DMLT, B.Phar	SEPT-2-2020	https://cr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1598442674264-Contract_Paramedical_notification_BSL_26042020.pdf
4	Office of the Dy Comm., Karimganj	Orunodoi Sahayak	20	Any Degree	AUG-31-2020	https://niyukti.assam.gov.in/karimganj/files/advertise.pdf
5	BPSC	HOD, Mechanical Engineering	35	Degree, PG, Ph.D	SEPT-16-2020	http://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in/Advt/NB-2020-08-26-02.pdf
6	BPSC	HOD, Civil Engineering	37	Degree, PG, Ph.D	SEPT-16-2020	http://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in/Advt/NB-2020-08-26-04.pdf
7	BPSC	HOD, Electronics Engineering	39	Degree, PG, Ph. D	SEPT-16-2020	http://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in/Advt/NB-2020-08-26-06.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’s overall growth projected at minus 4.5% for 2020-21:RBI

• Key points –

1. The Reserve Bank has projected India's growth rate at (-) 4.5 percent for 2020-21.
2. In its annual report released today, RBI projected global growth rate between (-) 6.0 per cent and (-) 7.6 per cent.
3. The report says that expected headline inflation will remain elevated in the current quarter, but likely to ease in the second half of the fiscal.

• Highlights –

1. Stating that it is difficult to accurately assess the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic as the dynamics are still evolving, RBI said it looks like the decline in economic activity reaches its trough in April-June quarter of 2020-21 and recovers thereafter, albeit at a gradual pace. It adds that the growth is likely to turn positive from January-March quarter 2020-21.
2. In its report, RBI has asked for wide-ranging reforms to regain losses due to COVID-19 crisis adding that it will take quite some time to mend and regain the pre-COVID-19 momentum.
3. Noting that meeting the fiscal targets budgeted in 2020-21 has become even more challenging due to COVID-19, RBI has said that the government must have a clear exit strategy with credible consolidation milestones and timelines in reworking the path towards fiscal rectitude in the coming years.
4. The report also notes that government consumption spending has provided a measure of relief, with the central government's revenue expenditure, having risen by 33.7 per cent in the first quarter.
5. It stressed that the pandemic will inflict deep disfigurations on the world economy adding that the future is heavily contingent upon the evolving intensity, spread and duration of COVID-19 and the discovery of the elusive vaccine.

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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 Weekly Round-up II

• UAE to establish diplomatic ties with Israel - President Donald Trump said on August 13, 2020 that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. UAE is the first Gulf nation and only the third Arab nation after Jordan and Egypt to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. On August 16, foreign ministers of Israel and UAE inaugurated direct phone services between the two countries.
• UNSC defeats U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend arms embargo on Iran - The U.N. Security Council on August 14, 2020 resoundingly defeated a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, with only the US and the Dominican Republic supporting it. The vote in the 15-member UNSC was 2 in favour, 2 against and 11 abstentions. Minimum 9 yes votes were required for adoption of the resolution.
• US seizes four Iranian fuel shipments to Venezuela, confiscates cargo - The United States said on August 14, 2020 it had confiscated four Iranian fuel shipments that had been bound for Venezuela, disrupting a key supply line for both Tehran and Caracas as they defied U.S. sanctions. The US has imposed sanctions on both countries to choke oil exports and deprive them of their main source of revenue in its bid to see the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and change the behavior of Iran’s government.
• Israel tests Arrow-2 advanced missile defense system - Israel’s Defense Ministry said on August 13, 2020 it conducted a successful test of Arrow-2 – the country’s advanced missile defense system against long-range ballistic attacks. Arrow-2 is part of the multi-layered system Israel has developed to defend against missiles of short as well as long ranges. It includes Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow-3 system.

• Chinese President launches 'Clean Your Plate Campaign' - China has officially launched a new version of “Clean Your Plate Campaign” flagged by Chinese President Xi Jinping. “Different from the previous campaign, which was aimed at putting an end to officials' extravagant feasts and receptions, the 2.0 version calls for the public to stop wasting food,” state-run Global Times reported on August 13, 2020.

 

• Russia becomes world’s first country to approve use of COVID-19 vaccine - Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a coronavirus vaccine developed in the country has been registered for use and one of his daughters has already been inoculated. Russia has become the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine and named it ‘Sputnik V’ for the foreign markets. Sputnik was world’s first satellite.
• Belarus: Alexander Lukashenko re-elected as President - Official results of Presidential election in Belarus handed incumbent Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, a landslide victory on August 10, 2020. His rival Svetlana Tikhanouskaya got just 9.9% while Lukashenko won 80% of the vote in the election held on August 9. National Assembly is the parliament of Belarus. Minsk is the capital and Belarusian ruble is the currency.

 

• Lebanon’s PM Hassan Diab resigns over major blast in Beirut on Aug 4 - Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his government’s resignation on August 10, 2020, saying a huge explosion that devastated Beirut and triggered public outrage was the result of endemic corruption. President Michel Aoun accepted the resignation and asked Diab to continue in caretaker capacity.

• Sri Lanka: Former Navy Chief appointed new Foreign Secretary - The Sri Lankan government on August 14, 2020 appointed ex-commander of the Navy Admiral Jayanath Colombage as the new Foreign Secretary, days after the new Cabinet took the oath with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa retaining the key defence ministry. Rajapaksa-led Sri Lanka People’s Party (SLPP) won a record 145 seats in the 225-member parliament.
• Hong Kong’s Chief Executive returns Cambridge college’s fellowship - Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she has “returned” her honorary fellowship to Cambridge University’s Wolfson College after the latter began looking into the state of academic liberty in Hong Kong. Lam said she was “deeply disappointed by the college smearing a person on the basis of hearsay instead of facts”.

4.2 Plane carrying comatose Russian dissident Navalny lands in Germany

 

• Key points –

1. A plane carrying Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who is in a coma after a suspected poisoning, touched down early Saturday (August 22) in Berlin, where he will be treated in the German capital's main hospital.
2. Navalny, a 44-year-old politician and corruption investigator who is one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics, was admitted to an intensive care unit in the Siberian city of Omsk on Thursday.
3. His supporters believe that tea he drank was laced with poison — and that the Kremlin is behind both his illness and the delay in transferring him to a top German hospital.

• Detailed news –

1. He was allowed to be transported to Germany only after much wrangling that his supporters denounced as a ploy by authorities to stall until any poison in his system would be no longer traceable.
2. He was flown in to Berlin on a plane organized by supporters that was equipped with advanced medical equipment and accompanied by German medical specialists.
3. The Kremlin denied that resistance to the transfer was political, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that it was purely a medical decision. However, the reversal came as international pressure on Russia's leadership mounted.
4. It would not be the first time a prominent, outspoken Russian was targeted in such a way — or the first time the Kremlin was accused of being behind it.
5. Leaders of France and Germany said the two countries were ready to offer Navalny and his family any and all assistance and insisted on an investigation into what happened.
6. The most prominent member of Russia's opposition, Navalny campaigned to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election but was barred from running. Since then, he has been promoting opposition candidates in regional elections, challenging members of the ruling party, United Russia.
7. While his supporters and family members continue to insist that Navalny was poisoned, doctors in Omsk denied that and put forward another theory.
8. The hospital's chief doctor said that a metabolic disorder was the most likely diagnosis and that a drop in blood sugar may have caused Navalny to lose consciousness.
9. Another doctor with ties to the politician said that diagnosing Navalny with a “metabolic disorder” says nothing about what may have caused it — and it could have been the result of a poisoning.
10. Western toxicology experts expressed doubts that a poisoning could have been ruled out so quickly.
11. Like many other opposition politicians in Russia, Navalny has been frequently detained by law enforcement and harassed by pro-Kremlin groups. In 2017, he was attacked by several men who threw antiseptic in his face, damaging an eye.
12. Last year, Navalny was rushed to a hospital from jail where he was serving a sentence on charges of violating protest regulations. His team also suspected poisoning then.

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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 – Corporate World

• Defence Minister launches SRIJAN portal for indigenization in Defence Sector - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 14, 2020 launched an online portal that provides information about defence equipment and items that can be taken up for indigenisation by private sector companies. The aforementioned online portal that will promote indigenisation of defence items' production is called ‘SRIJAN’. August 14 was the concluding day of ‘Atma Nirbharta Week’ (self-sufficiency week) being observed by the Defence Ministry.  
• BEML signs MoU with NASSCOM; Mazagon Dock with Medha Servo Drives - BEML signed an MoU with NASSCOM CoE (Centre of Excellence) for artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT)-related areas. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) signed an MOU for “indigenous overhauling of main motor of SSK Class Submarines” with Medha Servo Drives Private Limited.
• Konkurs Missile Test & Launcher Equipment developed by Bharat Dynamics Ltd. - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 13, 2020 launched Konkurs Missile Test Equipment and Konkurs Launcher Test Equipment, which have been indigenously designed and developed by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). These products were earlier being imported from Russia.

 

• Navy inks deal for setting up centre of excellence in UP defence corridor - The Indian Navy on August 13, 2020 inked a deal with the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority to set up a “centre of excellence” in the state’s defence corridor to help promote innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in the defence sector. For defence industrial corridor, 1,289-hectare land has been acquired in Kanpur, Jhansi, Aligarh and Chitrakoot.
• Corporate Affairs Ministry’s panel calls for renaming Business Responsibility Report - A committee constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in 2018 has proposed that the Business Responsibility Report of corporates should be called as the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR). The committee has suggested two formats for disclosures by corporates -- a comprehensive format and a “lite version”.
• 7 Indian companies in 2020 Fortune Global 500 list - Reliance Industries (96th) is among the seven Indian companies in 2020 Fortune Global 500 list released on August 11, 2020. The companies are ranked by total revenues for their respective fiscal years ended on or before March 31, 2020. Walmart topped the Fortune 2020 list with a revenue of $524 billion. The other Indian companies on the list include Indian Oil (151), ONGC (190), SBI (221), BPCL (309), Tata Motors (337) and Rajesh Exports (462). Reliance had a revenue of $86.2 billion.
• Reliance Foundation ties up with USAID, W-GDP to bridge gender digital divide - Reliance Foundation has partnered with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, which aims to reduce the gender digital divide in India, the philanthropic arm of the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) said on August 12, 2020. In February 2019, the US government launched the W-GDP initiative that seeks to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025 by focusing on three aspects -- women prospering in the workforce, women succeeding as entrepreneurs and women enabled in the economy.
• ByteDance asked to divest interest in US TikTok operations within 90 days - President Donald Trump ordered ByteDance on August 14, 2020 to divest the US operations of its video-sharing app TikTok within 90 days.   
• NTPC develops infrastructure at Rihand project for increased use of fly ash - PSU National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has developed an infrastructure at Rihand project in Uttar Pradesh to transport fly ash in bulk to cement plants at a cheaper cost. The development is in line with NTPC’s commitment towards 100 percent utilization of fly ash from power plants.        
• INOX group to be official sponsor of Indian team at 2021 Tokyo Olympics: IOA - The INOX group will be the official sponsor of the Indian team for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8, 2021), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced on August 13, 2020.
• HDFC Bank launches 'Shaurya KGC Card' for personnel of armed forces - HDFC Bank on August 14, 2020 launched 'Shaurya KGC (Kisan Gold Credit) Card', a loan product for the armed forces that comes with a life cover of Rs 10 lakh. It is based on the Kisan Credit Card guidelines by the government.
• NSE, IIM-Bangalore join hands, unveil platform for investor education - The National Stock Exchange (NSE) on August 14, 2020 announced the launch of a digital learning platform for investor education. The platform, an online investor education resource centre, has been developed jointly by NSE Investor Protection Fund Trust and IIM Bangalore.
• Isher Judge Ahluwalia steps down as Chairperson of ICRIER - Isher Judge Ahluwalia has stepped down as chairperson of think tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) after being in this position for 15 years. Pramod Bhasin will now be the new chairman. Isher will continue as chairperson emeritus. 

 

• PSEB selects Soma Mondal as the next Chairperson of SAIL - Soma Mondal has been selected by the Public Enterprises Selection Board as the next chairman of public sector steel major Steel Authority of India Limited (PSEB selects Soma Mondal as the next Chairperson of SAILSAIL). She graduated in Electrical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Rourkela in 1984 and started her career as a Graduate Engineer Trainee in NALCO. She joined SAIL in 2017.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Home Ministry uploads details of proclaimed offenders on its portal

• Key points –

1. On the directions of the Supreme Court, the Union Home Ministry has uploaded the details of proclaimed offenders across the country on its portal, digitalpolice.gov.in.

• Highlights –

1. The portal was launched in 2017 for citizens to file crime-related complaints and seek antecedent verification of prospective employees, tenants and to seek certification of their own antecedents.
2. On February 17, the SC, while hearing a case of a convict who had jumped bail in 2011 and was yet to be arrested by the Haryana police even after 49 raids, had issued notice to the Home Ministry.
3. The court said a national portal be set up with details of such proclaimed offenders. The portal should also be accessible to the general public.
4. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was tasked to develop the system. The NCRB has launched the online citizen service.
5. Directors General of Police of all States were asked to mandatorily fill the “proclaimed offenders” details and their photographs on the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
6. The CCTNS software interconnects more than 15,000 police stations and additional 5,000 offices of supervisory police officers across the country and has digitised data related to FIR registration, investigation and chargesheets in all police stations.

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

8.1 India government fourth largest requestor of information globally: Twitter

•  Key point –

1. At 9 per cent of the overall global request, the India government was the fourth largest requestor of information from Twitter between July-December 2019.

• Detailed report –

1. India had placed a total of 3,264 information requests, accounting for 4 per cent of the 73,658 global information requests Twitter received between July-December 2019.
2. India's requests comprised 2,415 routine (38,835 worldwide), 369 emergency (9,870 worldwide) and 480 combined (24,953 worldwide). There were 2,700 legal demands, Twitter revealed.
3. While the US was the single largest source of government requests, it now accounts for only 26 per cent of the global volume, down from 80 per cent in 2012. The US is followed by Japan (22 per cent) and France (12 per cent).
4. France, India, South Korea (5 per cent), Turkey (5 per cent), the United Kingdom (5 per cent), and Germany (4 per cent) together account for 40 per cent of all global information requests, and 32 per cent of all global accounts specified.
5. Global governments and law enforcement agencies submitted approximately 21 per cent more information requests (combined emergency and routine requests) compared to the previous reporting period.

• Removal requests –

1. India has also fared 'well' when it comes to the number of removal requests. It was the fifth largest 'requestor' among countries for removing content on Twitter and Periscope based on local laws.
2. Twitter received 27,538 legal demands to remove content specifying 98,595 accounts.
3. 86 per cent of the total global volume of legal demands originated from Japan, Russia and Turkey. 
4. While legal demands from Japan increased by 143 per cent, accounting for 45 per cent of the global requests received, during the said period, the next highest volume countries were Russia (22 per cent of global legal demands) and Turkey (19 per cent of global legal demands), which has historically been the highest requester until this reporting period.
5. South Korea ranked fourth in global volume (5 per cent), followed by India as the fifth largest requester (3 per cent) to submit legal demands to remove content.
6. Four tweets were withheld in India under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Twitter also withheld 16 accounts and 1,481 tweets in response to legal demands from India.
7. Emergency requests increased by 26 per cent during this reporting period, while the aggregate number of accounts specified in these requests increased by 32 per cent.
8. The US submitted the highest volume of global emergency requests (27 per cent), followed by South Korea (19 per cent), and Japan (16 per cent).

• Non-governmental requests –

1. Twitter received 29 per cent more non-government information requests during the period. Notably, the number of accounts specified in these requests increased by 39 per cent, while the compliance rate also increased to 39 per cent.

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

9.1 Weekly Round-up

• NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter recharges its batteries in flight - NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter received a checkout and recharge of its power system on August 7, 2020, one week into its near seven-month journey to Mars with the Perseverance rover. This marks the first time the helicopter has been powered up and its batteries have been charged in the space environment. "This was a big milestone, as it was our first opportunity to turn on Ingenuity and give its electronics a 'test drive' since we launched on July 30," said the operations lead for Mars Helicopter at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

 

• Dwarf planet Ceres not barren, is a water-rich world: NASA Dawn spacecraft - The dwarf planet Ceres, which lies in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is not a barren space rock as earlier believed. New data from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft have shown that it is a water-rich world. The Dawn spacecraft arrived at Ceres in 2015.
• DIAT develops face mask “Pavitrapati”, anti-microbial body suit “Aushada tara” - Pune-based Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) developed a biodegradable face mask named “Pavitrapati” which acts a virus neutraliser and an anti-microbial body suit named “Aushada tara”. Both were manufactured by Kolhapur-based textile company M/s Siddheshwar Techtessile Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra.
• PM launches submarine optical fibre cable from Chennai to A&N Islands - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10, 2020 launched a 2,300-km-long submarine optical fibre cable between Chennai and Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands that would give residents of the islands faster Internet connection. This will boost digital services like tele-education, tele-health, e-governance services and tourism on the island. Seven islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands other than Port Blair are connected namely Swaraj Dweep, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar, Long Island, and Rangat.

• WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan honoured with TN CM's special award - Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan was on August 15, 2020 conferred with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's special award, in recognition of her advisory role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Swaminathan received the award from Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on the 74th Independence Day celebration at Fort St George in Chennai. The WHO representative has been offering suggestions to the state health department to step up measures in fighting the pandemic
• US to set up task force to investigate UFO sightings - US government’s Pentagon said on August 14, 2020 that it was setting up a new task force under the U.S. Navy to investigate UFO sightings. With the setting up of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), the Defense Department hopes “to improve its understanding of, and gain insight into, the nature and origins of UAPs.” 

9.2    Chandrayaan–2 completes a year around Moon, adequate fuel for 7 more years: ISRO

 

• Key points –  

1. India’s second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 has completed one year in orbit around the moon and all instruments are currently performing well and there is adequate onboard fuel to keep it operational for about seven more years.
2. Chandrayaan-2 was launched to further expand the knowledge about the moon through a detailed study of its topography, mineralogy, surface chemical composition, thermo- physical characteristics and atmosphere, leading to a better understanding of the origin and evolution of the moon.
3. Indias first mission to the Moon Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, had given clear evidence on the extensive presence of surface water and the indication for subsurface polar water- ice deposits.

• Important details –

1. Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22, 2019 and inserted into the lunar orbit on August 20, exactly one year ago.
2. Though the soft-landing attempt (of the lander carrying the rover) was not successful, the orbiter, which was equipped with eight scientific instruments, was successfully placed in the lunar orbit.
3. The orbiter completed more than 4,400 orbits around the Moon and all the instruments are currently performing well.
4. The agency in a statement said the spacecraft was healthy and the performance of subsystems normal.
5. Chandrayaan-2 mission was India’s first attempt to make a softlanding of a rover on the unchartered South Pole of the lunar surface. However, the lander Vikram hard-landed in September last year.
6. The scientific payloads, including high resolution camera, onboard the oribter for mapping the lunar surface and study the exosphere (outer atmosphere) of the Moon.
7. The first-year observations from Chandrayaan-2 demonstrate the in-orbit performance of payloads, strongly indicating its ability to contribute significantly to lunar science.
8. The anticipated long life of this orbiter can contribute much to the current resurgence of interest among the global scientific community for a sustained presence on the Moon. 

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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 -

• The dwarf planet Ceres lies in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
• Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar passed away in Pune in Aug 2020 at the age of 88. He was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 1985-86.
• Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister Kamal Rani Varun passed away in Aug 2020.
• Top Parent mobile app was launched by Madhya Pradesh government for parents of children in 3-8 years age group.
• India and European Union have renewed its Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the next five years (2020-2025).

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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